The influence of the tooth preparation finish line position on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and the presence of periodontopathogens in the gingival crevicular fluid.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the concentration of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and changes in the presence of periodontopathogens in the gingival crevicular fluid before and after tooth preparation with the subgingival and equigingival finish line position. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical prospective study included 20 subjects with an indication for upper canine preparation, with the subgingival (group 1) and equigingival finish line (group 2). Samples were taken in four observation intervals: 5 minutes before (control samples), as well as 15 minutes, 24 and 72 hours after tooth preparation (experimental samples). Measurement of MMP-9 was done using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The presence of bacteria in the gingival fluid was proven by the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. RESULTS: The MMP-9 values did not differ statistically significantly between the groups (p=0.524). The MMP-9 values showed a statistically significant difference in the given observation period (p<0.001) with a significant linear increase in values (p<0.001). A significant quadratic trend recorded a decrease in the MMP-9 values 15 minutes after preparation, and an increase 24 hours after preparation, without a significant difference in the interaction between groups (p=0.392). After preparation, a significant difference in the presence of periodontopathogens was confirmed, i.e., a decrease in the presence of Prevotella intermedia (p=0.025) and Tannerella forsythia (p=0.016) in group 1, and an increase in the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in both groups (p=0.029, p=0.026). CONCLUSIONS: The study is a good basis for determining the influence of tooth preparation on gingival inflammation, with therapeutic (choice of preparation technique) and preventive significance regarding the protection of the periodontal tissue from possible iatrogenic damage.

Molecular Basis of Inherited Colorectal Carcinomas in the Macedonian Population: An Update.

Hereditary factors are assumed to play a role in ~35.0-45.0% of all colorectal cancers (CRCs) with about 5.0-10.0% associated with high penetrant disease-causing mutations in genes correlated to hereditary polyposis (HP) or hereditary non polyposis syndromes (HNPCC). Although inherited germline mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) and the APC genes contribute significantly to CRC, genetic diagnosis cannot yet be obtained in more than 50.0% of familial cases. We present updated data of 107 probands from the Macedonian population with clinically diagnosed HP (n = 41) or HNPCC (n = 66) obtained by next generation sequencing (NGS) with three different gene panels covering the coding, flanking and promoter regions of 114 cancer predisposition genes. Using this approach, we were able to detect deleterious mutations in 65/107 (60.7%) patients, 50.4% of which were in known well-established CRC susceptibility genes and 10.2% in DNA repair genes (DRG). As expected, the highest frequencies of deleterious variants were detected in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and in HNPCC patients with microsatellite instability (MSI) tumors (93.8 and 87.1%, respectively). Variants of unknown significance (VUS) were detected in 24/107 (22.4%) patients, mainly in HNPCC patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors or patients with oligopolyposis. The majority of VUS were also found in DRG genes, indicating the potential role of a doble-strand brake DNA repair pathway deficiency in colorectal cancerogenesis. We could not detect any variant in 18/107 (16.8%) patients, which supports the genetic heterogeneity of hereditary CRC, particularly in HNPCC families with MSS tumors and in families with oligopolyposis.

Blood donors' awareness and attitudes towards blood transfusion safety in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the awareness and attitudes related to blood transfusion safety among blood donors from the Autonomous Province (AP) Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia. BACKGROUND: Blood donors are at the initial point of safe blood transfusion systems. The active participation of blood donors in the selection process contributes to increasing the safety of blood transfusions and reduces potential risks for the recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional survey included 1191 blood donors from AP Vojvodina. The awareness and attitudes regarding safe blood supply were measured as 5-point scales of agreement/disagreement with statements on a Likert scale. The data were analysed using non-parametric methods by frequency modalities. RESULTS: Male blood donors, the youngest age group (18-20 years), those who donate blood for the first time and those with a lower educational level showed the lowest awareness of, and the most negative attitudes about, blood safety. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that there is a small but, for the safety of transfusion, significant number of blood donors who do not have a positive attitude or awareness of their own impact on safe transfusion therapy and who are not discovered during standard selection procedures.

Novel RET mutations in macedonian patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma: genotype-phenotype correlations.

Medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs) are rare neoplasms comprising 2-10% of all thyroid malignnancies. More than 75% are sporadic tumors and the remainder is familial and MEN2 related. Both sporadic and syndromic MTCs frequently show mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. It has been noted that some MTC cases present an indolent, and some an aggressive clinical course. Ki-67 expression is generally low, with documented exceptions, whereas high expression of Bcl-2 has been reported in majority of the cases. Some studies have shown that Ki-67 and Bcl-2 expressions have prognostic value, as well as RET mutational status. We analyzed 20 unrelated MTC cases for Ki-67, Bcl-2 expression and RET mutations and tested their intercorrelations, correlations to the morphologic features and stage of the tumors, as well as their influence on survival. In 13 of the 20 analyzed cases we found 23 sequence changes distributed in exons 8, 10-13 and 16. There were 11 different missense mutations, single nucleotide deletion with frameshift, and 8 different synonymous mutations. Only 4 of the sequence changes have been previously published. Twelve patients (60%) had tumors expressing one or more missense mutations or single nucleotide deletion and 7 of them (35%) had at least one damaging or possibly damaging RET mutation. Most of the tumors had low Ki-67 expression (mean 6.48% of cells) and high Bcl-2 expression (mean 68.3%). Significantly better survival was observed in cases with low Ki-67 (< 6.5%; p < 0.05), high Bcl-2 expression (> 68.3%; p < 0.01) and younger age at diagnosis (< 51 years; p < 0.05).

Morphology of renal interstitial fibroblasts.

INTRODUCTION: Renal fibrogenesis is a process common to all progressive kidney diseases. The main executive cell in this process is the fibroblast, by secreting and remodelling the extracellular matrix. The number of fibroblasts is minor in a healthy kidney interstitium, but it increases during the process of fibrosis. Their morphology and immunophenotype vary due to different intrinsic and extrinsic factors which makes their identification and visualization, as well as determination of their origin, very difficult. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed morphological and immunohistochemical analyses on kidney biopsies with interstitial fibrosis, using the following antibodies: Vimentin, α-SMA, S100A4, Cadherin 9 and CD34. We also did light-microscopy analyses of semithin sections of tissue embedded in epoxy resin and stained with Toluidine blue. RESULTS: Our observations show that different cells in the fibroblastic population show positivity for different markers, thus contributing to the theory that there are different subpopulations of fibroblasts, with different origins, that take part in renal fibrogenesis.

The importance of the detail forensic-neuropathological examination in the determination of the diffuse brain injuries.

UNLABELLED: According to the contemporary classification, traumatic brain damage is divided on focal and diffuse brain injuries, and primary and secondary brain damage. The aim of this paper is to emphasize the necessity of the forensic-neuropathological examination in the determination of the diffuse brain injuries. In those injuries frequently neither the most sophisticated clinical-investigation techniques like CT and MRI, nor the routine post-mortem forensic pathological examination, give any results with discovering an intracranial mass lesion, despite the fact that patients had manifested a serious brain failure. In a series of 80 cases with closed head injuries where forensic-neuropathological examination has been undertaken (examination of a fixed brain tissue and immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against ß-amyloid precursor protein), the occurrence of the diffuse brain injuries in the absence of any other massive intracranial lesion has been established in 14 (17,7%) of the cases. Hence, forensic-neuropathological examination has been the only way to establish the diagnosis of the brain injury that caused a serious brain failure and in most of them occurred as a concrete cause of death. This method has already been affirmed in the forensic medicine science and has been implemented in a Recommendation No 99 of the Council of Europe where medico-legal autopsy rules are given, thus, establishing it as an unavoidable part of the daily forensic medicine practice. KEYWORDS: diffuse axonal injury - diffuse vascular injury - closed head injuries - traumatic brain damage - diffuse brain damage.

Histological features, Ki-67 and Bcl-2 immunohistochemical expression and their correlation with the aggressiveness of pheochromocytomas.

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are rare neoplasms. Approximately 10% may present malignant behaviour. There are no reliable morphological signs of malignancy, except for the presence of metastasis. We performed morphological and immunohistochemical analysis on 15 pheochromocytomas and 5 paragangliomas aiming to find correlations between the morphological features of the tumours, immunohistochemical expressions of Ki-67 and Bcl-2, and the biological behaviour of the tumours. According to the biological behaviour of the tumors, the patients were divided into an indolent disease group (ID), and an aggressive disease group (AD). The morphological analysis included the PASS core parameters, greatest tumour diameter and weight, as well as age and gender of the patients, survival and disease-free periods after operation. According to histomorphological parameters, tumours were divided into tumours with "benign-like" morphology and tumours with "malignant-like" appearance. The disease course was neither correlated to the PASS score, nor to the individual parameters comprising it. The rest of the morphological parameters and the immunohistochemical expressions of Ki-67 and Bcl-2 were not able to predict the disease course, although we found significantly higher Ki-67 expression in paragangliomas in comparison to pheochromocytomas (p<0.01). Some of the PASS parameters (vascular invasion and presence of atypical mitoses) were positively correlated to the tumour weight (R=0.75; p<0.01, and R=0.56; p<0.05, respectively). The disease course was in positive correlation to the tumour weight, presence of vascular invasion and atypical mitoses; however there were no statistically significant differences regarding those parameters between the ID and AD groups (p>0.05).

Acute renal failure in a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: case report.

INTRODUCTION: Renal parenchymal involvement is common in systemic lymphomas. In almost all cases, renal involvement appears to be a secondary process, either by direct extension from a retroperitoneal mass or via haematogenous spread in the setting of disseminated disease. Secondary renal involvement in systemic lymphomas is generally presented as multiple masses, but also as a solitary nodule. Acute renal failure by a lymphoma infiltration of the kidney is extremely rare. Primary renal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is even more uncommon and it is a debated issue because of the absence of lymphoid tissue in normal kidneys. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on the case of a 62-year old woman, who had melena, abdominal pain, malaise and fever. She was hospitalized at the Nephrology Clinic due to severe anemia and signs of acute renal failure. The peripheral blood smear showed the presence of dysplastic erythroblasts and hypo-granular neutrophils. Ultra-sound was performed, which showed enlarged kidneys with signs of urinary obstruction of the first degree, with swollen, hypoechogenic parenchyma. After not responding to the conducted treatment, the patient died from heart failure. An autopsy was performed and Non-Hodgkin's, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma infiltrating multiple parenchymal organs was determined as the main cause of death. CONCLUSION: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with multiple organ affection and secondary renal involvement, presented as an acute renal failure is a rare case. We report on this case to update the literature concerning this topic and highlight the importance of renal biopsy in the diagnostics.

Immunosupressive treatment with cyclosporin-A for a patient with hypoplastic myelodisplastic syndrome: a case report.

BACKGRAOUND: Imunosupressive therapy with antithymocyte globulin (ATG), cyclosporine (CsA) or both has been shown to induce haematological responses in a subset of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), in particular in the hypocellular form of MDS. CASE REPORT: We report our first case with hypocellular MDS treated with CsA. A 54-year-old female referred to our Department due to weakness and severe pancytopenia. Hypocellular form of MDS was diagnosed after bone marrow biopsy. Treatment with CsA was started one year after diagnosis. Treatment with CsA resulted in clinical improvement, a very good partial haematological response, resolution of transfusion requirement and an increase in bone marrow cellularity. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, immunosuppressive treatment with CsA and/or ATG could be an alternative for patients with hypoplastic MDS for whom there is no possibility of allogenic bone marrow transplantation as only curative therapy.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients with multiple myeloma treated with bisphosphanates.

Bisphosphonates are pyrophosphate analogues which inhibit osteoclastic activity. Long term use of bisphosphonates has recently been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) defined as a three month non-healing defect in the jaw. ONJ is commonly precipitated by a tooth extraction or other stomatological procedure in patients treated with long-term, potent, high dose intravenous bisphosphonates for the management of myeloma, breast or prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of ONJ in patients with MM treated with bisphosphonates during the last 8 years in our institution and to pre-sent the first two cases. We have analysed 247 myeloma patients diagnosed in our institution in the period 2002-09. Only 190/247 patients (76.9%) were treated with bisphosphonates. The incidence of ONJ in our group of patients treated with bisphosphonates was 2/190 (1%). The most commonly used bisphosponate was i.v. pamidronate (17.8%) and 46.6% were treated with two or more types of bisphosphonates. Sixty-five patients (34.2%) received oral forms of bisphosphonates; 42.1% patients were treated with i.v. forms of pamidronate, ibondronate or clodronate, and 45 patients (23.7%) received a combination of oral and i.v. forms of bisphosphonates. The mean duration of bisphosphonates therapy was 24.7±17.7 months. The low incidence of ONJ in our institution could be explained by the rare use of zolendronate, which is the most commonly referred bisphosphonate causing ONJ, and by a relatively shorter duration of bisphosphonates treatment in patients with MM. Despite the fact that ONJ is a rare complication in our institution, preventive measures must be considered.

Morphological changes in the tubulointerstitial compartment in primary glomerulopathies.

The renal interstitium structurally supports the functional renal units and is involved in almost all renal functions. The degree of renal disfunction strongly correlates to the changes in the tubulointerstitial compartment present in almost all types of glomerular diseases. A phenomenon arising in such an environment is epithelial-mesenchymal transition, i.e. a change of the cell;s epithelial phenotype into a mesenchymal one. Histochemical, immunohistochemical and morphometric analyses were made of 50 renal biopsies with primary glomerulopathies, as well as light-microscopy analyses of semi-thin sections embedded in epoxy resin. Double immunohistochemical stainings with pairs of epithelial and mesenchymal antibodies were also done. The results were analyzed and correlated with the clinical data of the renal function of the patients. The immunohistochemical analyses of the atrophic tubular epithelial cells showed a loss of expression of Cytokeratin and E-cadherin, an enhanced expression of HLA-DRalpha, and a de novo expression of Vimentin and alphaSMA as markers for epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The double immunohistochemical stainings with Cytokeratin/Vimentin and Cytokeratin/alphaSMA showed a simultaneous expression of these antigens in atrophic tubular cells. Their proliferative index was mildly enhanced. Interstitial fibrosis was present in 98% of the analysed biopsies. The analyses show correlations among all the changes in the tubulointerstitial compartment as well as the concentration of creatinine in the serum as a parameter of renal function. The study emphasizes the usefulness of the implementation of histomorphometrical and immunohistochemical techniques as well as ultrastructural and molecular analyses in the process of nephropathological diagnosis.

Evaluation of telomerase activity in patients with chronic B lymphocytic leukemia versus age matched controls. Correlation between telomerase activity and bone marrow infiltration.

Telomerase is a ribonucleoproteic enzyme associated with cellular immortality and malignancy. This enzyme, besides the catalytic subunit bearing reverse transctiptase activity, contains an RNA template complementary to TTAGGG telomeric repeats, thus permitting de novo synthesis of telomeric DNA onto chromosomal telomeric ends. Increased telomerase activity has been reported in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) by many authors. In order to investigate the telomerase activity in patients with CLL and its correlation to commonly used morphologic prognostic markers, 38 frozen blood lymphocyte samples from patients with CLL and 47 age-matched controls were investigated for telomerase activity using the Telomerase PCR ELISA-plus kit from Roche. Trepanobiopsies from the same patients were analysed for the type of bone marrow infiltration as well. Analysis showed highly variable Relative Telomerase Activity (RTA) in B-CLL patients, ranging from comparable or even lower than the mean RTA of controls (in Binet A stage patients) to manifold increase in the majority of patients with advanced stage disease. The sex and age of the patients showed no influence on RTA in CLL patients, in contrast to the control group, where the age influenced telomerase activity. We found a positive correlation between the RTA and disease stages (Binet), as well as between RTA and the type of BM infiltration.

Gastrointestinal malignant lymphomas in Macedonia.

The gastrointestinal tract including oral cavity is the most common location of extranodal lymphomas. In this retrospective study, the histomorphological, immunohistochemical and clinical features of 21 Macedonian cases with diagnosed malignant lymphomas were investigated. The series included 15 males and 6 females, mean age 44 (4-78) years. The most common locations were hard palate (n = 7), gastric site (n = 5), small intestinal wall (n = 2), large intestinal wall (n = 5), and lingual root (n = 2). All cases were B cell lymphomas, 23.8% of them low grade B cell lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue, 4.7% mantle cell lymphoma, 47.6% diffuse large cell lymphoma, and 23.8% Burkitt type lymphoma. There was no T cell lymphoma. Most of the cases were positive for CD20 and CD79a. Monoclonality was confirmed by light chain restriction, except for nine cases where it failed due to poor tissue preservation. The fact that eight cases were in the clinically advanced third and fourth stage implied a conclusion that not only primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas but also secondary lesions could invade the gastrointestinal tract. Immunohistochemical staining was helpful in differentiation between benign and malignant infiltration in low grade lymphomas, and in distinguishing diffuse large cell lymphomas from undifferentiated epithelial neoplasms.

[Implementation of a quality control system in transfusion practice]. / Implementacija sistema kontrole kvaliteta u transfuzioloskoj praksi.

Quality assurance and improving systems, standardization of all transfusion procedures as well as quality control and standardization of prepared blood products are necessary elements for work of transfusion centers in the future. Requirements for blood and/or blood products for therapy are: safety, adequate concentration of all active components needed, and treatment efficacy. To satisfy these requirements, we decided to adjust the work process of transfusion service to requirements of ISO 9001 standard series. To achieve this aim, quality control system documentation is created. Creation of quality control system documentation is one of the most difficult and most comprehensive parts the quality control system implementation process. The quality policy is adopted, whereas the basic procedures for blood products quality control, which are the subject of this paper, are created.

[Evaluation of the quality control system in blood transfusion service]. / Provera sistema kvaliteta u transfuzioloskoj sluzbi.

INTRODUCTION: Implementation of quality system improvement at the Blood Transfusion Institute Novi Sad, included adjustments in practice to the request of ISO 9001 standard. Quality improvement must be a permanent activity of the Institute. The audit is a management tool for monitoring the quality assurance system and is either a quality audit or a medical audit. A well planned, comprehensive quality audit covers each activity of the Blood Transfusion Institute. The procedures may be internal or external. INTERNAL AUDIT: Quality manager is responsible for annual internal quality audits. The purpose of internal audits is to check the efficiency of the quality system in terms of realization of quality policy, fulfullment of designed targets and implementation of quality system documents. An internal quality audit is performed in accordance with the procedure and audit findings are reported to the management in a form of internal quality report as a part of quality system review. The findings must be communicated to all persons responsible for the controlled area. Quality manager can initiate an internal quality audit whenever it is realized that problems about the quality system have occurred. Audits are conducted by the quality manager or an audit team. The accurate list of internal auditors is kept in the Institute archive. MEDICAL AUDIT: Medical audit carried out by a transfusion committee, evaluates the quality of blood transfusion for determining the degree of compliance with established local or national guidelines, in order to promote optimal transfusion practice. CONCLUSION: Audits are not only used for determining further quality management activities, but also make basis for creating and maintenance of excellent relations with product and service users. Considering all this, Blood Transfusion Institute exceeds the requirements of ISO 9000 standards series.

[Complications in the use of blood transfusions--alloimmunization in polytransfused patients]. / Komplikacija primanja transfuzija krvi--aloimunizacija politransfundovanih bolesnika.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this paper was to examine the frequency of red blood cell (RBC) alloantibodies in polytransfused hematologic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood samples of 2669 polytransfused hematologic patients were examined on clinical significant alloantibodies using antibody screening and identification according to Standards of AABB Technical Manual (1). Available medical charts were reviewed for sex, age and medical history and total number of given transfusions. RESULTS: During a three year period blood samples of 2669 polytransfused hematologic patients were examined for RBC alloantibodies. Alloantibodies were detected in 48 cases with the incidence of 1.79%. 36 patients (1.35%) developed single antibody while in 12 patients (0.45%) multiple antibodies were detected. Antibodies were registered more frequently in females than in males (37:17). In patients with single antibody next specificity was detected: anti-D (38.89%), anti-K (22.22%), antibodies to antigens MNSs system (22.22%), while anti-Le, anti-Fy and anti-P specificity was detected in 13.89%. Patients with multiple antibodies had specificity to Rhesus, Kell, Duffy, MNSs, Lewis and P blood group systems. All patients received more than 10 RBC transfusions. CONCLUSION: The incidence of alloimmunization was 1.79%. Sensibilization occurred more frequently in females than in males. Usually, the discovered alloantibodies were clinically significant and made problems in pretransfusion testings and required special efforts in blood selection for transfusion. For patients with the risk of frequent transfusions we suggest to include blood transfusion charts with complete phenotyping against antigens in Rhesus, Kell, Kidd and MNSs blood group systems and the data of all received transfusions.

[Antibiotic therapy in the treatment of inflammatory diseases in the minor pelvis]. / Antibiotska terapija u lecenju inflamacionih oboljenja u maloj karlici.

UNLABELLED: Pelvic inflammatory diseases are usually caused by sexually transmitted microorganisms, as are Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis, either alone or associated with endogenous flora of the lower genital tract, as with other gram-positive and gram-negative anaerobic and aerobic bacteria [1, 2]. SUBJECT: The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of three broad-spectrum combinations of antimicrobial therapy in the treatment of pelvic inflammatory diseases in hospitalized patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed the therapeutic success of some antimicrobial therapies in 154 patients with pelvic inflammatory disease, who were treated in the Narodni Front Hospital of Gynaecology and Obstetrics in Belgrade, during 1992 and 1993. Three drug therapies were applied. The combination of Ceftriaxon plus Doxycycline was given to 51 women. Fifty five women were treated by a combination of Gentamycin plus Clidamycin, and 48 women were treated by a combination of Gentamycin and Metronidazole. RESULTS: The therapeutic success after the application of the three different antibiotic therapies was recorded in 139 of 154 women (90.26%). Of 136 patients with uncomplicated pelvic inflammatory diseases, the therapeutic success was noted in 129 (94.85%) individuals, while of 18 women with tubo-ovarian abscess therapeutic success was recorded in 10 (55.56%) patients. Of 51 women treated by the combination of Ceftriaxon plus Doxycycline, the therapeutic success was observed in 46 (90.19%) patients. Fifty five women treated by the combination of Gentamycin plus Clindamycin, the therapeutic success was noted in 50 (90.19%) subjects. Of 48 women, treated by the combination of Gentamycin plus Metronidazole, the therapeutic success was found in 43 (89.58%) women. No statistically significant difference was found among the applied antibiotic therapies (p > 0.05). Of 18 women with tubo-ovarian abscess 8 were operated on. Of these 8 women in 6 patients hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed and in two women unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was carried out. DISCUSSION: Pelvic inflammatory diseases are often of polymicrobial aetiology. In 43 patients we found two types of bacteria in the cervical culture. The therapeutic success was achieved by these three antibiotic therapies. It was 90.26%, the therapeutic success in the treatment of pelvic inflammatory diseases by Ceftriaxon plus Doxycycline was noted in 90.19% of patients. The therapeutic success of antibiotic therapy with Gentamycin plus Clindamycin was obtained in 90.91% of patients. The success of antibiotic therapy with Gentamycin plus Metronidazole was recorded in 89.59% of patients. Our results are similar to those of other authors [3, 4, 6, 7]. No statistically significant difference was found among the applied antibiotic therapies. CONCLUSION: An early diagnosis and an aggressive treatment may prevent serious sequelae of this increasingly common sexually transmitted disease. The antibiotics should be of antimicrobial broad spectrum. Good effects can be best reached by a combined antibiotic therapy. Duration of parenteral administration of antibiotics should be several days and for at least 48 hours after the patient's defervescence.

[Diagnostic value of hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in infertile women]. / Dijagnosticka vrednost histerosalpingografije i laparoskopije kod neplodnih zena.

UNLABELLED: Tubal pathology with tubal blockage due to the pelvic inflammatory diseases is one of the most frequent causes of infertility in a woman [1]. The two most important diagnostic procedures which are used for evaluation of tubal patency are hysterosalpingography and laparoscopic hydrotubation [4]. SUBJECT: The aim of the study was the comparison of hysterosalpingographic and laparoscopic findings and determination of accuracy of these two procedures in the diagnosis of tubal patency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied and compared the results of hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in 102 infertile women who were operated on at the Narodni Front Hospital of Gynaecology and Obstetrics in Belgrade during 1993 and 1994. Of 102 operated women 47 women were with primary infertility and 55 with secondary infertility. The patients were from 20 to 41 years of age, the average 28 +/- 2.4 years. RESULTS: Of one hundred and two operated women tubal blockage was found in 94 (92.1%) patients. Unilateral hydrosalpinx was found by hysterosalpingography in 16 (15.7%) subjects and bilateral hydrosalpinx in 30 (29.4%) women. Unilateral hydrosalpinx was found by laparoscopy in 17 (16.1%) patients and bilateral hydrosalpinx in 32 (31.4%) subjects. The concordant findings by hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in the diagnostics of unilateral hydrosalpinx were found in 76.5% of cases, and in bilateral hydrosalpinx in 70.4%. This difference was not statistically significant. Unilateral tubal blockage was identified by laparoscopy in 26 (25.5%) patients and bilateral in 27 (26.5%) subjects. The concordant findings by hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in unilateral tubal blockage were found in 61.5% of cases, and in bilateral tubal blockage in 70.4% of women. The total concordant findings by hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy in tubal blockage were found in 65.7 of cases, and concordant findings after hysterosalpingography and surgery were noted in 61.7% cases. The findings by laparoscopy and surgery were in harmony in 86.3% patients. Ovarian abnormalities were found by laparoscopy and surgery in 22 (21.6%) women. Pelvic adhesions were found by laparoscopy in 42 women of 49 patients in whom pelvic adhesions were found during the operation. Uterine congenital anomalies were found by laparoscopy in 3 (2.9%), women and by hysterosalpingography in 6 (5.9%) patients. DISCUSSION: Of 102 operated women tubal blockage was found in 94 (92.2%) women. Unilateral tubal blockage was found in 38 (40.4%) patients, and bilateral tubal blockage in 56 (59.6%) subjects. Hysterosalpingographic and laparoscopic hydrotubation findings in the diagnosis of tubal patency were concordant in 65% of cases, hysterosalpingographic and operative findings in 61.7% of patients, and laparoscopic and operative findings in 86.3% of subjects. Although concordant findings of 65.7% were noted in this study, which were similar to findings of other authors, the percentage of 62.5% [4], and 76% was observed [5]. During the operation pelvic adhesions were found in 49 patients, and laparoscopic in 42 women only. Ovarian abnormalities were found by laparoscopy in 22 (21.6%) patients, while uterine fibroid was found in 10 (9.8%) subjects. Uterine congenital anomalies were found by hysterosalpingography in 6 (5.9%) cases and by laparoscopy only in 3 (2.9%) patients. The advantage of visual hysterosalpingography seems to be in identification of some congenital uterine anomalies. However, the advantage of laparoscopy is identified by the possibility of visualisation of some other pelvic abnormalities which may be the cause of infertility. CONCLUSION: There are some hysterosalpingographic and laparoscopic advantages and disadvantages in the diagnosis of infertility in women. Only by using both procedures accurate results can be achieved in the tubes, the uterus and the ovary, that can be a cause of infertility in women.

[Use and preparation of thrombocyte concentrates]. / Priprema i cuvanje koncentrata trombocita.

Blood component transfusion therapy is an achievement of up-to-date transfusiology and is possible due to plastic equipment, centrifuge with air conditioning and modern technology which enables splitting blood into its components. Platelet concentration is a preparation of platelets gained from one unit of the whole blood and is used in therapy of patients with thrombocytopenias and thrombocytopathies. It can be preserved, depending on plastic bags, from 1 to 5 days with rotation on 22 degrees Celsius. This paper presents two methods of platelet concentration preparation (out of thrombocytes rich plasma and buffy coat) contribution of thrombocytes in concentrations and contamination of concentration with leucocytes, as well as changes during 72 hours of concentration preservation. One hundred units of thrombocytes had an average volume 51.42 ml. Platelet concentration gained out of thrombocyte rich plasma was 0.98 x 1011/l, and 0.80 x 109/l leucocytes. The number of thrombocytes in concentrations from buffy coat was 0.82 x 101/l, and 0.10 x 109/l leucocytes. Plasma pH after preparation was 7.21, and three days of conservation later it was 6.68. During these 72 hours of preserving the concentration there has not been a significant decrease in regard to the number of thrombocytes.

[Transfusion aspects of viral hepatitis C]. / Transfuzioloski aspekti virusnog hepatitisa C.

The investigation comprised 83 patients with acute non-A, non-B hepatitis who were treated at the Clinic of Infectious and Dermatovenerology Diseases in Novi Sad in the period 1986-1991. They were receiving blood transfusions and/or blood products from blood donors who had not been previously tested for presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV). In order to establish diagnosis anti-HCV ELISA screening tests from various producers were used. Out of 83 blood screening assays 17 patients (20.48%) were found to be anti-HCV seropositive. Out of these 17 seropositive patients 3 patients were intravenous drug-addicts (IVDA), while 14 patients (16.68%) previously received blood transfusions, whereas out of these 7 patients underwent open heart surgery. Only 2 blood donors, out of 48 whose blood was used for therapeutical purposes, were found to have anti-HCV antibodies after blood screening assays. The blood with detected anti-HCV antibodies caused acute post transfusion hepatitis C in 6 blood recipients. The obtained results show that comprehensive and thorough blood screening assays should be performed in all blood donors in order to prevent incidence of post transfusion C hepatitis. The Blood Transfusion Center in Novi Sad introduced compulsory viral screening assays for all blood donors on November 15, 1994, and since then 15019 blood donors have been tested. Only 38 (0.25%) were found to be anti-HCV seropositive, and were excluded from further blood donation and are under constant control. Now it is impossible to transmit HCV to patients who receive blood transfusion and/or blood products, and at the same time anti-HCV seropositive donors are prevented to develop chronic hepatitis and adverse complications due to HCV presence.