[Gunshot injuries of the ureters--retrospective study of 12 patients over 27 years period].

AIM: To retrospectively study the gunshot injuries of the ureters, operated in the surgical departments of Military Medical Academy, Sofia and Medical Institute Ministry of Interior, Sofia for a period of 27 years. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The gunshot injuries of the ureters of twelve patients are retrospectively studied in the period 1980 to 2007. For all patients the localization of the injuries, urinanalysis, imaging examination results, the associated injuries, the operative procedures and complications were reviewed. RESULTS: All patients are males aged 19-28 years. Seven patients have right ureteral injuries and five have left ureteral inuries. In three patients the urinanalysis is normal, five have microscopic and four have gross hematuria. The injury is located in the proximal third of the urether for six patients, in four it is in the mid and in another two in the the distal ureter. Complications are registered in 40% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the high ratio of false negative results from the urinanalysis and the imaging studies, careful and precise exploration of the retroperitoneum in order no to omit a possible injury of the ureters.

Use of immunogold assay for a rapid evaluation of antigens of spotted fever group rickettsiae.

Rabbit-antihuman IgG, yolk immunoglobulins (IgY) and monoclonal antibodies against Rickettsia conorii were adsorbed to colloidal gold. Thus obtained conjugates were found to be active and responded specifically to the agent of the Mediterranean Spotted fever. The suitability of the immunogold assay as a alternative to other known immunoenzymatic or immunofluorescent methods for assessing the presence and/or activity of rickettsial antigens is discussed.

Incidence of Q fever in two inadequately investigated occupational groups.

In 1973 the authors investigated the incidence of Q fever serologically by means of the reaction of complement fixation (RCF) and the method of immunofluorescent titration (MIFT) in two inadequately investigated occupational groups--communal workers from the town of Russe and medical workers in obstetric departments of several towns in North Bulgaria. In addition, they carried out comparative studies in order to characterize the incidence and the degree of affection from the same disease in other persons exposed and not exposed at work in the same area--transport workers and blood donors. Out of 198 communal workers, 91 (45.95 +/- 3.54%) had positive titres for Q fever (1:8--1:512). A high incidence of Q fever was established in dustmen (61.40%), sweepers (46.55%) and drivers of dust cars (38.00%), i.e. persons collecting and rendering harmless the garbage of big town. Out of 174 medical workers in obstetric departments 65 (37.36% +/- 3.78%) were positive in titres 1:8--1:512. A high incidence of Q fever was established in obstetricians (57.14%), midwives (38.11%) and hospital attendants (34.38%), i.e. persons providing medical care for pregnant women or women in childbirth. In both groups the occupational hazard increases with the length of service. Out of 244 transport workers 82 (33.60% +/- 3.02%) were positive for Q fever, and out of 237 blood donors 19 (8.01 +/- 2.54%) were serologically positive for Q fever. The authors suggest continued investigation of these two occupational groups.