Synthesis and Structural Determination of the Disordered Bixbyite Cu Sb O with Spin-Glass Behaviour.

The ternary copper antimony oxide Cu Sb O (x=0.23) has been synthesized under 0.8-1.

Тhe influence of peers over adolescents' sexual conduct in Macedonia.

Unlabelled: The main objective of the study was to investigate the influence of peers on the main determinants of adolescents' sexual conduct in Macedonia, in order to identify both risk and protective factors.

Methodology: Data were obtained through a quantitative cross-sectional survey using a standardized paper-and-pencil self-administered questionnaire prepared for the WHO "Health Behaviour in School-aged Children" study. The study was conducted among 1226 secondary school students aged 15 and 17 (1st and 3rd year) from 10 different secondary schools in Macedonia.

Gender analysis of sexual behaviour of senior high-school students in Skopje, R. Macedonia - cross-sectional study.

Unlabelled: (Full text is available at http://www.manu.edu.

Epidemiological characteristics of the metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy persons.

The risk factors that define the metabolic syndrome lead to an accelerated development of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases in apparently healthy persons. The goal of the research is determining the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome as well as the participation of the risk factors that define this condition in apparently healthy persons. The metabolic syndrome is defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel.

Screening of Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infections among the male and female population of the Republic of Macedonia.

Background: Noninvasive urine screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infections offers a valuable public health tool, that could be of vast importance in Chlamydia control programs.

Objective: The goal was to determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis infections among a sexually active population, to define the epidemiological factors associated with it, and to develop potential selective screening strategies among asymptomatic individuals in the Republic of Macedonia, using a highly sensitive and specific DNA amplification method for C.

Public health capacity building in southeastern Europe: a partnership between the Open Society Institute and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The political disintegration of former Yugoslavia inaugurated in 1991 resulted in the decentralization of health systems in the federation's successor nation-states. Efforts by the Open Society Institute improved public health planning and management needs consequent to health sector changes. Beginning in Croatia in 2001, the Institute developed ongoing collaborations between Andrija Stampar School of Public Health and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

[Evaluation of occupational risk for workers producing polyvinyl chloride resin pipes, profiles and fixtures].

Studies are performed on work and hygienic conditions in the production of pipes, profiles and fittings from polyvinylchloride resin, in relation to the toxic factor. Concentrations above TLV are established for vinylchloride, vinylchloride resin dust, phthalates and lead aerosols. Complex clinico-laboratory examinations are carried out on 133 workers, as special attention is paid to the nervous system, liver function, cardio-vascular system and the skeleton system.

[The occupational risk in the manufacture of mineral pigments and iron oxide dyes].

The mineral pigments and ferric oxide dyes are used on a large scale in the paint and varnish industry, in building, chemical industry, polygraphy etc. For their production as basic raw materials are used lead, chromium and iron compounds. The concentrations of the toxic and accummulating lead and chromium in the air of the work environment surpass MAC and create most frequently "especially unfavourable" conditions of work.

[New epidemiological study data on the manufacture of divinyl].

Complex labour-hygienic studies were carried out on the working environment in divinyl production as well as on the health state of the workers. The leading deleterious factor of the environment are the concentrations of divinyl, hydrocarbons and ammonia above the norms. The latter have been determined by stationary and personal sample collecting.

Effect of carbon disulphide on the cardiovascular system.

Biochemical, histological and electron-microscopic examinations of the heart and the aorta of albino rats exposed to carbon disulphide in concentrations of 10, 50, 100 and 200 mg . m-3 were carried out. Changes in the metabolic and energetic processes in the myocardium and in the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the connective tissue of the aortal vessel wall were observed.

[Liver enzyme function and humoral immunity in workers exposed to vinyl chloride].

The work aims at studying the enzyme function of the liver, as well as the humoral immunity of workers engaged in the production of vinyl chloride and polyvinylchloride with proved hepatotropic and Raynaud syndromes. About 191 workers /experimental group/ from the synthesis and polymerization of vinyl chloride and 2 control groups--34 persons from Varna and 54 from G. Traĭkov were examined.

Combined effect of some physical and chemical factors.

The effect of simultaneous exposure to noise and dimethylformamide (DMF), noise and xylol and also vibration and lead on the metabolism of the myocardium of albino rats was studied. Combined effect of the factors was examined by the method of bifactorial design of the experiment. The animals were exposed to noise, intensity 46, 85 and 95 dB (2 and 4 hours), DMF in doses of 0.

[Assessment of the occupational risk to workers engaged in the manufacture of divinyl-styrene rubber].

The production of synthetic rubber, one of the varieties of petro-chemical branch in our country, is new and very prospective. The Bulgarian synthetic rubber is synthesized from petroleum products divinyl and styrene. After the hygienic assessment of the technological processes, a complete characteristic of labour conditions was made and the character of the working process was studied of the main occupations of the workers, attending the installations of Synthetic Rubber Plant.

[Changes in the biochemical indices of workers exposed to vinyl chloride and dichloroethane].

Complex laboratory investigations were carried out to 280 workers from a plant, exposed to vinylchloride and dichlorethane. Some hematological indices were followed up (hemoglobin, erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets) and liver function (GGTP, GOT, GPT, AP, OCP and blood glutathione). Again GGTP and blood platelets significance was confirmed as a diagnostic sign of VCh disease.

[Industrial hygiene studies in the production of various fibers and plastics].

The results from the labour-hygienic and clinical laboratory studies on working environment and workers engaged in production of polyamide (PAS) and polyacrylnitrile fibres (PAN) are summed up as well as in the production and processing of polyvinylchloride resin, polyurethan, polysterene and glass fibre laminates. The main deleterious factors in those productions are the chemical ones: caprolactam, acrylonitrile,tolyl diisocyanate, vinylchloride, styrene, etc. Noise and microclimate are the other unfavourable on-the-job factors.

[Histoautoradiographic analysis of the liver of albino rats treated with low doses of vinyl chloride].

The authors examined experimental albino rats, treated with low vinyl chloride doses via electronmicroscopic autoradiography by marking with thymidine H3. It was established that no blastic processes developed in liver with the low vinyl chloride doses used. THe authors found a certain inhibition of the plastic functions of hepatocytes, manifested by the diminished marking of thymidine H3 in the nuclei of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells, being of essential importance for an eventual development of the blastic processes in liver.

[Prognosis and determination of the threshold of chronic effect of carbon disulfide and styrene].

Two series of studies were carried out: I--in workers exposed to four different mean annual CS2 concentrations--6 mg/m3; 12 mg/m3; 51 mg/m3 and 247 mg/m3 and II series-in workers exposed to three styrene concentrations--I mg/m3; 40 mg/m3 and 400 mg/m3. The results obtained in series I show the role of the primary toxic effect (inhibition of oxidases with mixed function) and of the adaptation reactions to it with a view to accurate specifying the threshold of chronic CS2 effect. The mathematical expression of the correlation between styrene concentration in air and blood, of phenyl-glyoxylic and mandelic acid in the urine of the exposed subjects enables the prognosis that the threshold of the noxious styrene effect is within the range of 150 mg/m3 to 250 mg/m3.

[Effect of the intermittent and continuous action of dimethylformamide on adaptation processes].

Two series of experiments were carried out with 960 mg/kg and 3840 mg/kg DMF, applied dermally to albino rats every second, third day and daily as well. The treatment scheme quarantees equitoxic quantities of DMF with a dynamic observation by the 4th, 8th, 14th and 28th day from the beginning of the exposure and after 14 days of rehabilitation. The complex investigation with integral and specific clinical-laboratory tests revealed a cumulation of the toxic effect with progressing changes in the liver function, better manifested with the intermittent regimes.

[Experimental substantiation of the maximum permissible concentration (MAC) of polyvinyl chloride resin].

The acute and chronic oral, dermal and inhalatory toxicity of PVH resin is studied in white rats. It is established that in acute treatment, irrespective of the route of PVC resin penetration into the organism, its effect proves weakly toxic. During chronic oral and inhalatory experiments, a slight affection of peripheral blood elements only is noted.