Treatment and follow up of children with chronic hepatitis C in Albania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Treatment of Hepatitis C in children has a better outcome than in adults, and for this reason the treatment had different views. However, in pediatric age hepatitis C is seen to have an evolution towards chronicity. Today is a normal option to treat chronic hepatitis C as early as possible according to certain criteria. The aim of this study is to show the results of treatment with interferon and ribavirin and the follow-up of children diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C in our service.</p> <p>Patients and methods</p> <p>This is a prospective study which has included children 3 up to 15 years old (13 boys and 4 girls) diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C. All patients underwent a certain protocol, including liver biopsy prior to treatment. Treatment consisted in use for 48 weeks of INF α-2b, 3 MIU/m2 three times a week s/c and ribavirin 15 mg/kg orally divided bid. Two patients were treated with PEGINF α-2b with dose 1.5 mcg/kg once a week s/c and ribavirin 15 mg/kg. After the treatment all patients have stayed under our control for an average period of 24 weeks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>At the end of the treatment we detected a patient with HCV-RNA positive. End Treatment Viral Response was 94%. Six months later we found three patients who showed relapse of disease. Sustained Viral Response was approximately 83%</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The combination therapy of interferon with Ribavirin in treatment of children with chronic hepatitis C provides a higher SVR when treatment is initiated at the earliest stages of hepatic changes. Side effects of therapy are insignificant in comparison with results obtained</p

External auditory canal osteoma: a case report

Osteoma is benign tumor composed of well- differentiated matured osseous tissue. Its presence in mandible and paranasal sinuses is common, yet appearance in external auditory canal is rare. We present a case of a 26- year- old male complaining of hearing loss and pain in the affected ear. Pathohistological analysis of surgically removed tissue revealed tumor consisted of mature trabecular bone, which represents benign lesion without tendency of metastasis

Taliglucerase alfa in the longterm treatment of children and adolescents with type 1 Gaucher disease: the Albanian experience

IntroductionEnzyme replacement therapy is already recognized as the gold standard of care for patients with Gaucher disease. Taliglucerase alfa is one of the three alternatives recommended for treatment of Gaucher disease in children and adults.AimThis study aims to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of Taliglucerase alfa in children and adolescents with Type 1 Gaucher disease.Patients and methodsOver a six-year period, we monitored the efficacy of continuous treatment in 10 patients by assessing various parameters, including hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, liver and spleen volume, bone mineral density, glucosylsphingosine level, chitotriosidase activity, and growth parameters. Safety was evaluated by immunogenicity and adverse event monitoring.ResultsThe mean age of patients was 13.4 ± 3.6 years and the treatment duration was 60.24 ± 13.4 months. From baseline to end line the parameters change as follows: hemoglobin concentration improved from 12.7 (±1.3) to 14.6 (±1.5) and platelet count from 180 (±74) to 198 (±79). The spleen volume, was reduced by 46% (p = 0,007). The chitotriosidase activity decreased from 4,019.7 (±3,542.0) nmoles/ml/hr to 2,039.5 (±1,372.2) nmoles/ml/hr (46% reduction). Glucoylsphingosine level dropped from 119.2 (±70.4) ng/ml to 86.2 (±38.1) ng/ml, indicating a reduction of 28%. Bone mineral density Z-score, improved from −1.47 (±1.76) to −0.46 (±0.99) (69.7% reduction). Out of the 1,301 total administrations, our patients reported only 37 (2.8%) infusion-related adverse events which were mild and transitory.ConclusionTaliglucerase alfa exhibits good efficacy and a safe profile in the treatment of children and adolescents with Type 1 Gaucher disease

The use of patch testing for the diagnosis of contact dermatitis: an Albanian experience

Introduction: The daily increase of using chemical, aromatic and cosmetic products has been associated with significant increase in frequency of skin diseases such as eczemas and contact dermatitis (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of patch testing (PT) for the diagnosis of CD and provide current data on the frequency of sensitization to various contact allergens among patients with CD in the Albanian population. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive patients clinically suspected for CD during the period February 2010 – February 2011, in the outpatient setting. PT was done using Baseline European Series consisting of 31 allergens. Risk factors (age, gender, occupation and place of residence) and sensitization to various contact allergens were evaluated.   Results: In total, 193 patients clinically suspected for CD were included in the study and underwent PT. The highest prevalence of CD was found in the age-group of 31-40 years (32.6%), with a statistically significant difference between other age-groups (X2 = 141.2, p<0.01). Positive PT results with at least one allergen were seen in 144 (74.6 %) patients suspected for CD. The two most common allergens were nickel and potassium dichromate. Construction worker and hairdresser were the most affected professions. Females had a chance of 1.8 times higher for having a positive patch test result compare to males (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 0.91 – 3.39). Conclusion: Determination of allergens that cause contact dermatitis is a necessity not only to confirm the correct diagnosis, but also for the qualitative treatment and prevention of the disease. Patch testing, even though an old method, still remain a valuable and non-invasive approach to determine the causes of contact dermatitis

The use of patch testing for the diagnosis of contact dermatitis: an Albanian experience

Introduction: The daily increase of using chemical, aromatic and cosmetic products has been associated with significant increase in frequency of skin diseases such as eczemas and contact dermatitis (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of patch testing (PT) for the diagnosis of CD and provide current data on the frequency of sensitization to various contact allergens among patients with CD in the Albanian population.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive patients clinically suspected for CD during the period February 2010 – February 2011, in the outpatient setting. PT was done using Baseline European Series consisting of 31 allergens. Risk factors (age, gender, occupation and place of residence) and sensitization to various contact allergens were evaluated.  Results: In total, 193 patients clinically suspected for CD were included in the study and underwent PT. The highest prevalence of CD was found in the age-group of 31-40 years (32.6%), with a statistically significant difference between other age-groups (X2 = 141.2, p&lt;0.01). Positive PT results with at least one allergen were seen in 144 (74.6 %) patients suspected for CD. The two most common allergens were nickel and potassium dichromate. Construction worker and hairdresser were the most affected professions. Females had a chance of 1.8 times higher for having a positive patch test result compare to males (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 0.91 – 3.39).Conclusion: Determination of allergens that cause contact dermatitis is a necessity not only to confirm the correct diagnosis, but also for the qualitative treatment and prevention of the disease. Patch testing, even though an old method, still remain a valuable and non-invasive approach to determine the causes of contact dermatitis

The 6th Albanian Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery

After a three-year quarantine from the deadliest global pandemic of the last century, ASTES is organizing to gather all health professionals in Tirana, The 6th Albanian Congress of Trauma and Emergency Surgery(ACTES 2022) on 11-12 November 2022, with the topic Trauma & Emergency Surgery and not only...with the aim of providing high quality, the best standards, and the best results, for our patients ...ACTES 2022 is the largest event that ASTES (Albanian Society for Trauma and Emergency Surgery) has organized so far with 230 presentations, and 67 foreign lecturers with enviable geography, making it the largest national and wider scientific event.The scientific program is as strong as ever, thanks to the inclusiveness, where all the participants with a mix of foreign and local lecturers, select the best of the moment in medical science, innovation, and observation.The scientific committee has selected all the presentations so that the participants of each medical discipline will have something to learn, discuss, debate, and agree with updated methods, techniques, and protocols.I hope you will join us on Friday morning, and continue the journey of our two-day event together