Smijeh kao lijek (Can laugh be a medicine?)

Ljekovitost smijeha se odavno koristi u medicini. Među najranijim pisanim zabilješkama   o zdravstvenim dobrobitima humora su Mudre izreke u Bibliji, a neki kirurzi su još u 13. st. koristili humor kako bi pacijentima odvratili pažnju od boli tijekom zahvata. Učinci smijeha na zdravlje bili su predmet istraživanja medicinskih krugova početkom 20. stoljeća, a u novije vrijeme publicirane su znanstvene činjenice o mehanizmu ljekovitog djelovanja smijeha

Smijeh kao lijek (Can laugh be a medicine?)

Ljekovitost smijeha se odavno koristi u medicini. Među najranijim pisanim zabilješkama   o zdravstvenim dobrobitima humora su Mudre izreke u Bibliji, a neki kirurzi su još u 13. st. koristili humor kako bi pacijentima odvratili pažnju od boli tijekom zahvata. Učinci smijeha na zdravlje bili su predmet istraživanja medicinskih krugova početkom 20. stoljeća, a u novije vrijeme publicirane su znanstvene činjenice o mehanizmu ljekovitog djelovanja smijeha

Epidemija Zika virusne infekcije

Virus Zika je flavivirus kojeg primarno prenose komarci iz roda Aedes, za koje je karakteristično da su aktivni danju, od izlaska do zalaska sunca. Kompetentni vektori su Ae.aegypti i Ae.albopictus (tigrasti komarac), dok se ostali komarci iz roda Aedes  smatraju potencijalnim vektorima. Virus Zika može se prenijeti i transplacentarno ili tijekom porođaja zaražene majke, te spolnim putem. Zika virus je detektiran u krvi, urinu i slini tijekom akutne faze bolesti. Zika virusna RNA može biti prisutna u sjemenoj tekućini najmanje dva mjeseca nakon oporavka od Zika virusne infekcije. Postoji potencijalni rizik prijenosa Zika virusa zaraženom krvlju i transfuzijskim pripravcima te doniranjem sjemena davatelja povratnika iz rizičnog područja. Ne postoji cjepivo ili mogućnost kemoprofilakse infekcije

Epidemija Zika virusne infekcije

Virus Zika je flavivirus kojeg primarno prenose komarci iz roda Aedes, za koje je karakteristično da su aktivni danju, od izlaska do zalaska sunca. Kompetentni vektori su Ae.aegypti i Ae.albopictus (tigrasti komarac), dok se ostali komarci iz roda Aedes  smatraju potencijalnim vektorima. Virus Zika može se prenijeti i transplacentarno ili tijekom porođaja zaražene majke, te spolnim putem. Zika virus je detektiran u krvi, urinu i slini tijekom akutne faze bolesti. Zika virusna RNA može biti prisutna u sjemenoj tekućini najmanje dva mjeseca nakon oporavka od Zika virusne infekcije. Postoji potencijalni rizik prijenosa Zika virusa zaraženom krvlju i transfuzijskim pripravcima te doniranjem sjemena davatelja povratnika iz rizičnog područja. Ne postoji cjepivo ili mogućnost kemoprofilakse infekcije

Poster 9. - Prehrambene navike učenika srednjih škola

Doba adolescencije je razdoblje intenzivnog rasta i razvoja te populacije pa im je dostatna i pravilna prehrana osobito važna. Stoga je nužno razvijanje dobrih prehrambenih navika s ciljem sprječavanja nastanka bolesti uzrokovane neadekvatnom prehranom. Cilj: Ispitati prehrambene navike učenika srednjih škola na području RH

Poster 9. - Prehrambene navike učenika srednjih škola

Doba adolescencije je razdoblje intenzivnog rasta i razvoja te populacije pa im je dostatna i pravilna prehrana osobito važna. Stoga je nužno razvijanje dobrih prehrambenih navika s ciljem sprječavanja nastanka bolesti uzrokovane neadekvatnom prehranom. Cilj: Ispitati prehrambene navike učenika srednjih škola na području RH

Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of the measles resurgence in the Republic of Serbia in 2014-2015

The Republic of Serbia is a country with ongoing endemic transmission of measles. The aim of this study is to summarize the main characteristics of the measles resurgence that occurred in Serbia in 2014-2015. The national surveillance data on measles was analysed in relation to the clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data. Between November 2014 and December 2015 a measles resurgence with 420 cases was observed in Serbia. Measles virus was initially introduced by and spread among citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina with temporary residence in Serbia, before spreading to the resident population. Of the 223 patients with available medical records, 173 (77.6%) were unvaccinated. The overall measles incidence during the outbreak was 5.8/100.000. The highest age-specific incidence rate was recorded in children aged lt = 4 years (25.9/100.000), but most cases (67.9%) were gt = 20 years old. Hospitalization rate was high (32.9%) and included two cases of encephalitis associated with measles. In total, 42 health-care workers and 22 related cases including hospitalized patients (n = 13) contracted measles. The overall percentage of laboratory confirmed cases was 81.7% (n = 343/420). All measles virus sequences except one (D9) belonged to genotype D8, suggesting interruption of transmission after the previous outbreak in 2010-2011 caused by genotype D4 viruses. The growing number of adult patients as compared to previous epidemics, suggests an urgent need for supplementary immunization activities targeting susceptible health care workers, unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated adults as well as people without vaccination records. The comprehensive investigation of the 2014/2015 measles resurgence will contribute to decisions about appropriate countermeasures to stop the future measles resurgences in Serbia

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Alcohol Abuse among University Students from Eastern Croatia: Questionnaire Study

The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of alcohol abuse among university students in Osijek, Croatia and its possible interconnections with gender, year of study, repetition of year of study, faculty subject area, sources of financing and type of residence during study. A validated questionnaire was self-administered to cross-faculty representative student sample of »J. J. Strossmayer« University of Osijek in June 2006. General demographic data, as well as data on academic features and student socio-economical status were obtained. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used for assessing the extent of alcohol consumption, with cut off value of 8 indicating possible alcohol problems. The majority of study participants 90.9% (755/831) had tried alcohol at least once in their life. Among this group, 43.8% (331/755) had an AUDIT total score of 8 or more: 69.2% (229/331) were males and 30.8% (102/331) were females. Among the study participants who screened positive, 70.4% (233/331) responded positively to simple advice focused on the reduction of hazardous drinking (AUDIT 8–15), 14.5% (48/331) needed brief counseling and continued monitoring (AUDIT 16–19), and 15.1% (50/331) clearly warranted further diagnostic evaluation for alcohol dependence (AUDIT 20 and above). Significantly different statistical data was found within the following factors: gender, repetition of year of study, faculty subject area and type of residence (c2=76.232, p=0.0000; Fisher exact test=31.828, p=0.0000; c2=11.667, p= 0.0086 and c2=6.639, p=0.0362 respectively). Alcohol consumption resulting in risk behaviors is common among university students from eastern Croatia. These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive and effective preventative strategies directed towards student population

Measles situation in Serbia in an era of measles elimination (2007-2009)

Following the introduction of measles immunization in Serbia in 1971, measles outbreaks were recorded every 3 to 5 years until 1997. The outbreak in 1997 with 4000 cases was the last large outbreak in Serbia. In 2007, an outbreak with 191 laboratory confirmed or epidemiologically linked cases was reported in Vojvodina. In 2008 and 2009, only 3 cases were confirmed. From 2007-2009, measles infections were most frequently detected in the Roma population but also in non-immunized or partially immunized persons from the general population

ZIKA VIRUS – A NEWLY EMERGING ARBOVIRUS OR GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT

Zika virus (ZIKV) izoliran je 1947. godine iz majmuna na području šume Zika u Ugandi. Do 2007. godine virus se održavao u enzootskom ciklusu na području Afrike uz sporadične humane slučajeve. Nakon epidemije 2007. godine na mikronezijskom otoku Yap bilježe se epidemije na pacifi čkim otocima, a 2015. godine virus je unesen u Brazil odakle se proširio Srednjom i Južnom Amerikom. U prirodnom se ciklusu ZIKV održava između majmuna i različitih vrsta komaraca roda Aedes. U urbanom su ciklusu rezervoar ljudi, a vektori komarci Ae. aegypti i Ae. albopictus. Interhumani prijenos moguć je transfuzijom krvi, presatkom organa, spolnim putem te sa zaražene majke na dijete transplacentno/tijekom poroda. U većine zaraženih osoba (~80 %), ZIKV infekcija prolazi asimptomatski. Klinički se infekcija u >95 % oboljelih očituje kao blaga bolest praćena subfebrilnom temperaturom, osipom, mialgijom, artralgijom te konjunktivitisom. Infekcija nastala tijekom trudnoće može rezultirati spontanim pobačajem ili kongenitalnim malformacijama (mikrocefalija). Najčešće opisana neurološka komplikacija je Guillain-Barreov sindrom. Dijagnostika se potvrđuje detekcijom ZIKV RNA ili ZIKV protutijela. Zbog mogućih križnih reakcija s ostalim fl avivirusima, inicijalno reaktivne rezultate testa ELISA potrebno je potvrditi neutralizacijskim testovima. Na području Hrvatske do sada je testirano ukupno 106 povratnika iz endemskih područja, od kojih je u tri potvrđena klinički manifestna ZIKV infekcija.Zika virus (ZIKV) was isolated in 1947 from a febrile rhesus monkey in the Zika forest, Uganda, and subsequently (1948) from Aedes africanus mosquitoes in the same region. First human cases were reported in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania.until 2007, ZIKV was maintained in enzootic cycle within Africa with only sporadic human cases reported. After the outbreak on the Yap Island (Federated States of Micronesia) in 2007, several outbreaks were reported on the Pacifi c Islands (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Easter Island). In 2015, ZIKV was introduced in Brazil with further spreading across Central and South America. Comparing the pre-epidemic Asian and African lineage strains with the epidemic ZIKV strains, several amino acid substitutions were only present in the epidemic strains which could be associated with changes in virulence and the rapid spread of the virus. In a sylvatic cycle, ZIKV is transmitted between monkeys and different mosquito species of the genus Aedes. In an urban cycle, the virus is transmitted between humans through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and less effi cient, Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Some other modes of inter-human transmission have been demonstrated, including sexual transmission, blood transfusion/organ transplantation, transplacental and perinatal transmission. Although ZIKV RNA has been detected in breastmilk, transmission through breastfeeding has not been reported. The majority of infections (~80%) are asymptomatic. The main symptoms associated with ZIKV infection include fever, rash, myalgia, arthralgia and conjunctivitis. However, meningitis, encephalitis and myelitis have also been reported. Guillain-Barre syndrome is the most commonly reported neurological complication. ZIKV infection during pregnancy can result in spontaneous abortion or congenital ZIKV syndrome. The congenital abnormalities associated with maternal ZIKV infection include microcephaly, intracerebral calcifi cations, ventriculomegaly and chorioretinal atrophy. Diagnosis of ZIKV includes direct (viral isolation, RT-PCR) and indirect (serology) methods. ZIKV RNA can be detected in blood, urine, saliva, semen and amniotic fl uid. Since cross-reactive antibodies with other fl aviviruses are commonly observed, especially with dengue virus, initially reactive results should be confirmed using neutralization tests. Due to similar clinical symptoms and geographical distribution, dengue and chikungunya should be included in the differential diagnosis of ZIKV infection. Many importations of ZIKV infections have been reported in European countries since 2013. In Croatia, 106 travelers returning from endemic areas were tested so far. Clinically manifest ZIKV infection was serologically confi rmed in three patients