Severe strongyloidiasis and systemic vasculitis: comorbidity, association or both? Case-based review.

A possible association between strongyloidiasis and systemic vasculitis is rarely reported in the literature. We report the case of a patient with severe strongyloidiasis and an angiographic finding consistent with polyarteritis nodosa. Diagnosis of strongyloidiasis was made by finding of larvae and adult parasites in samples of the upper gastrointestinal tract mucosa and stool.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Secondary Antiphospholipid Syndrome after Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis - A Case Report.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and myasthenia gravis (MG) are autoimmune diseases that show some similarities: a higher incidence in young women, relapsing-remitting course and positive anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA). However, they are two different clinical syndromes, which can coexist or precede each other. Thymectomy is a therapeutic option for patients with severe MG or thymoma.

Sjögren's Syndrome and Silicosis - a Case Report.

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology where immune response to self-antigens is believed to result from interactions between genetic and environmental factors. We describe the case of a patient who has been diagnosed with Sjögren's syndrome based on typical clinical and immunological parameters. The clinical picture was dominated by the respiratory symptoms, and radiographic and multislice computed tomography examination of the chest showed certain changes characteristic of pneumoconiosis.

CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND TREATMENT OF MELKERSSON-ROSENTHAL SYNDROME--OVERVIEW OF SIX PATIENTS.

Introduction: Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is a rare disease of unknown etiology. Histopathologically, it presents as granulomatous cheilitis. From laboratory aspect, it is a nonspecific, differential diagnostically and therapeutically complex condition.

[Pathophysiology, Clinical Manifestation and Management of Angioedema - Our Experience].

Introduction: Angioedema is characterized by subcutaneous and/or submucosal swelling usually localized to the lips, eyelids, tongue, oral cavity, larynx and pharynx. Various types of angioedema, caused by different pathophysiologic mechanisms, can have the same or very similar clinical picture and require different diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The immediate threat to life as a result of rapidly developed edema of the pharynx and larynx with airway obstruction requires endotracheal intubation or emergency tracheotomy.

Long-term mental health of war-refugees: a systematic literature review.

Background: There are several million war-refugees worldwide, majority of whom stay in the recipient countries for years. However, little is known about their long-term mental health. This review aimed to assess prevalence of mental disorders and to identify their correlates among long-settled war-refugees.

Gender differences revealed by the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire in allergic rhinitis.

Background: The increasing prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) is reported worldwide. Illness perception (IP) assessment is warranted in current routine clinical practice to assist communication between patients and medical staff, and improve adherence to treatment and disease outcome.

Objective: To investigate a group of patients with AR in terms of their IP by the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) and to correlate the findings with demographic and clinical features.

Acute meningoencephalitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Infections in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are a significant factor of morbidity and mortality. Although central nervous system infections, including septic meningitis, are rare in patients with SLE, they can be significant causes of mortality inspite of the prompt and accurate diagnosis and proper management.

Case Report: We presented a woman with the diagnosis of SLE and diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.

Recovery from posttraumatic stress symptoms: a qualitative study of attributions in survivors of war.

Objective: The study explored factors to which people traumatized by war attribute their recovery from posttraumatic symptoms and from war experiences.

Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with two groups of participants with mental sequelae of the war in the former Yugoslavia: 26 people who had recovered from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and 17 people with ongoing symptoms of PTSD. Participants could attribute their recovery to any event, person or process in their life.

Subjective quality of life in war-affected populations.

Background: Exposure to traumatic war events may lead to a reduction in quality of life for many years. Research suggests that these impairments may be associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms; however, wars also have a profound impact on social conditions. Systematic studies utilising subjective quality of life (SQOL) measures are particularly rare and research in post-conflict settings is scarce.

The utilization and perceived usefulness of health care and other support services by people exposed to traumatic events related to the war in the Balkans.

Objective: To explore which health care and other support services people exposed to traumatic events related to the war use, how helpful they perceive them in the course of their post-war adaptation and whether utilization and perceived usefulness depend on the mental health status of participants.

Methods: A community sample of 3304 adults exposed to at least one war-related traumatic event was randomly selected in different regions in the former Yugoslavia. A specifically designed instrument, the Matrix for the Assessment of Community and Healthcare Services, was used to record service utilization and their perceived usefulness.

Co-occurrence of major depressive episode and posttraumatic stress disorder among survivors of war: how is it different from either condition alone?

Objective: Major depressive episode (MDE) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been shown to be the most common mental disorders following traumatic war experiences and have been found to frequently co-occur. This study, designed as a randomized cross-sectional interview survey, aimed to identify whether the co-occurence of MDE and PTSD following exposure to war-related experiences is associated with different demographics, exposure to previous traumatic events, and clinical characteristics than either condition alone.

Method: After a random-walk technique was used to randomly select participants, face-to-face interviews were conducted among war-affected community samples in 5 Balkan countries (N = 3,313) in the years 2006 and 2007.

[Importance of dysphagia examination in patient with dermatomyositis--case report].

Introduction: Polymiositis belongs to the group of inflammatory myopathies which are manifested by muscle weakness of the shoulder blade and pelvic region. The presence of typical skin manifestations is suggestive of dermatomyositis. These patients may also develop dysphagia (10-54%) as a result of involvement of the oropharyngeal and upper oesophageal striated muscles.

Course of post-traumatic stress disorder following war in the Balkans: 1-year follow-up study.

Background: Prevalence rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the experience of war have been shown to be high. However, little is known about the course of the disorder in people who remained in the area of conflict and in refugees. Method We studied a representative sample of 522 adults with war-related PTSD in five Balkan countries and 215 compatriot refugees in three Western European countries.

Refugees' views of the effectiveness of support provided by their host countries.

Background: The war in former Yugoslavia, which commenced in 1990, caused the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. There are numerous research investigations into the trauma and associated problems. However, there is no available publication concerning refugees' own perception of the provided support in host countries.

Health services and the treatment of immigrants: data on service use, interpreting services and immigrant staff members in services across Europe.

Background: The number of immigrants using health services has increased across Europe. For assessing and improving the quality of care provided for immigrants, information is required on how many immigrants use services, what interpreting services are provided and whether staff members are from immigrant groups.

Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with 15 health services (9 primary care, 3 emergency departments, 3 mental health) located in areas with high immigrant populations in each of 16 European countries (n=240).

Psychological symptoms as long-term consequences of war experiences.

Background/aims: War experiences can affect mental health, but large-scale studies on the long-term impact are rare. We aimed to assess long-term mental health consequences of war in both people who stayed in the conflict area and refugees.

Method: On average 8 years after the war in former Yugoslavia, participants were recruited by probabilistic sampling in 5 Balkan countries and by registers and networking in 3 Western European countries.

Factors associated with mental disorders in long-settled war refugees: refugees from the former Yugoslavia in Germany, Italy and the UK.

Background: Prevalence rates of mental disorders are frequently increased in long-settled war refugees. However, substantial variation in prevalence rates across studies and countries remain unexplained.

Aims: To test whether the same sociodemographic characteristics, war experiences and post-migration stressors are associated with mental disorders in similar refugee groups resettled in different countries.

Long-term impact of war on healthcare costs: an eight-country study.

Objective: Exposure to war can negatively affect health and may impact on healthcare costs. Estimating these costs and identifying their predictors is important for appropriate service planning. We aimed to measure use of health services in an adult population who had experienced war in the former-Yugoslavia on average 8 years previously, and to identify characteristics associated with the use and costs of healthcare.

Health care for immigrants in Europe: is there still consensus among country experts about principles of good practice? A Delphi study.

Background: European Member States are facing a challenge to provide accessible and effective health care services for immigrants. It remains unclear how best to achieve this and what characterises good practice in increasingly multicultural societies across Europe. This study assessed the views and values of professionals working in different health care contexts and in different European countries as to what constitutes good practice in health care for immigrants.