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

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