Prevalence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes in community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the District of Pomoravlje.

Background/aim: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphjlococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strains appear to have rapidly disseminated among population in the community without established risk factors for MRSA worldwide. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a cytolytic toxin, encoded by the lukF-PV and lukF-PV genes. PVL may be the key toxin responsible for enhanced virulence of CA-MRSA.

[Autologous stem cell transplantation in the treatment of multiple myeloma--single center experience].

Background/aim: In comparison to standard therapy autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) with high doses mel-phalane has improved treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment of MM patients in our center with ASCTconditioning with melphalane or combining busulphane, cyclophosphamide and melphalane.

Methods: We performed 62 ASCT procedures in 47 patients from 1998 till 2008.

Clinical manifestations, therapy and outcome of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 in hospitalized patients.

Background/aim: Increasing number of epidemiological and clinical studies to date showed that the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009, by its characteristics, significantly differs from infection caused by seasonal influenza. Therefore, the information about clinical spectrum of manifestations, risk factors for severe form of the disease, treatment and outcome in patients with novel flu are still collected. METHODS; A total of 98 patients (mean age 32 +/- 15 years, range 14-88 years) with the signs and symptoms of novel influenza were treated in the Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Military Medical Academy.

[Therapy of chronic hepatitis C--virologic response monitoring].

Background/aim: Virological testing is considered to be essential in the management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in order to diagnose infection, and, most importantly, as a guide for treatment decisions and assess the virological response to antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of a sustained virological response (SVR) and various factors associated with response rates in chronic hepatitis C infected patients treated with peg interferon alpha (PEG-INF) and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy.

Methods: A total of 34 patients, treated with PEG-IFN and RBV were studied.

Monitoring of cytomegalovirus infection after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Background/aim: More than 90% of worldwide population is infected with human cytomegalovirus (CMV), one of the most common agents which complicate immunocompromised patients. Viral infections, in particular CMV ones are still a major cause of moratality and morbidity after stem cell transplantation (SCT). Monitoring is performed by detecting CMV-Ag or virus DNA in peripheral blood.

Empirical antimicrobial therapy of acute dentoalveolar abscess.

Background/aim: The most common cause of acute dental infections are oral streptococci and anaerobe bacteria. Acute dentoalveolar infections are usually treated surgically in combination with antibiotics. Empirical therapy in such infections usually requires the use of penicillin-based antibiotics.

[Impact of vaginal and cervical colonisation/infection on preterm delivery].

Background/aim: Preterm delivery together with insufficient body weight and death cases in newborns is the main issue in obstetrics. About 40% of preterm delivery is caused by infections. The aim of this study was to investigate whether and which bacterial infections of genital tract can be associated with preterm delivery, and depending on when diagnosis was made.

[SARS corona virus--a new dilemma].

In late 2002, cases of life-threatening respiratory disease with no identifiable cause were reported from Guangdong Province, China, and they were followed by reports from other countries. The syndrome was designated "severe acute respiratory syndrome" (SARS). Investigators used a combination of traditional methods and molecular techniques to identitify the unknown pathogen.

[Oncogenic viruses and their role in tumour formation].

Oncogenic viruses trigger persistent infections, which can stimulate uncontrolled cell growth by inducing cell transformation. Different oncogenic viruses use different mechanisms for infecting cells. Most oncogenic DNA viruses integrate transforming sets of genes into the host chromosome and encode proteins that bind and inactivate cell growth regulatory proteins, such as p53 and retinoblastoma gene product.

[Emerging diseases. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever].

Introduction: Recognized for many years in central Asia and Eastern Europe, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a severe zoonotic disease which affects people coming into contact with livestock or ticks. The range of the CCHF virus is now known to extend form central Asia to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and to most of Saharan and sub-Saharan Africa.

Etiology: CCHF virus is a member of the Bunyavirus family, and is classified as a Nairovirus.

[Smallpox--in the past or not?].

Smallpox is a potentially deadly illness caused by the variola virus, an orthopoxvirus. Severe illness followed by blister-like body rash is the sign of smallpox. Smallpox symptoms develop about 12 days after exposure.

[Early diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infections in organ recipients].

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections and acute rejection of organs are the commonest complications in the early posttransplantation period. Clinical picture of CMV reactivation in organ recipients may have a dramatic course, occasionally even with a fatal outcome.

Diagnosis Of Cmv: In order to prevent acute rejection of organs in the posttransplantation period, patients are subjected to immunosuppressive therapy, which sustains reactivation of CMV.

Isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis or Ureaplasma urealyticum from the synovial fluid of patients with Reiter's syndrome.

Background: The aim of this study was to contribute to the insight of the role of the infectious agent in ethiopathogenesis of the Reiter's syndrome development, which could directly influence the choice of treatment of these patients.

Methods: Eighteen patients with urogenital form of the Reiter's syndrome and 16 controls (6 with rheumatoid arthritis and 10 with pigmented villonodular synovitis) were included in the study. In all patients standard laboratory analyses of the blood, urine and stool were made; antibody titer to Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum was determined in synovial fluid and serum; isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in urethral, cervical and conjunctival swabs, as well as in prostatic and synovial fluid, was also made.