[Transmission of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among intravenous drug abusers in Belgrade].

The prevalence of HIV infection among intravenous drug addicts (IVDAs) was 11% in Belgrade in 1997 (500 IVDAs). There are only two ways of transmission of HIV infection among IVDAs: the use of contaminated needles and syringes and sexual intercourse with an infected partner. We established in the counselling office for IVDAs that only 47.

[Clinical spectrum of HIV infection and classification systems].

Diseases spectrum caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) manifests with a wide range of clinical symptoms, due to the involvement of different organs and systems. Patients infected with HIV may present with a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe immunodeficiency associated with different secondary infections, tumors, or other conditions. Since 1981 when the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was recognized and the causative agent discovered thereafter, various systems have been proposed to classify manifestations of HIV infection and AIDS definition has bean revised several times.

Neoplastic angioendotheliomatosis (NAE) of the CNS in a patient with AIDS subacute encephalitis, diffuse leukoencephalopathy and meningo-cerebral cryptococcosis.

A 12-year-old, hemophilic boy died with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) after a clinical course characterized by progressive psycho-organic syndrome and opportunistic infections. Postmortem neuropathological examination revealed a cerebral form of neoplastic angioendotheliomatosis (NAE), leukoencephalopathy, giant cell encephalitis and meningo-cerebral cryptococcosis. The most unusual finding was the presence of proliferated neoplastic cells within lumina of some blood vessels throughout the central nervous system (CNS).

[Pathogenesis of infection due to human immunodeficiency virus].

The constant increase in number vf patients with AIDS contributed to an increased interest for the mechanisms by which the human immunodeficiency virus provoked disorders of the immune system and disturbed functions of infected tissues and organs. The complex structure, tropism for some cell populations, specific life cycle and multiple interactions with host defence-system make the human immunodeficiency virus one of the most challenging pathogenic agents in medicine. The article deals with data from literature on some known facts as well as with assumptions which partially elucidate the pathogenesis of infection with human immunodeficiency virus.

[The effect of vaccination status on the clinical form and outcome of the disease in smallpox patients (author's transl)].

During the smallpox epidemic in Yugoslavia in 1972, which involved 175 persons altogether, with 35 (=20 per cent) fatal cases, a number of very important aspects emerged, especially at Kosowo (124 cases0: smallpox vaccination gives almost complete protection for 5 years and a relative immunity for about 10 years. Vaccinations carried out on the first 2 days after contact with smallpox patients provide a convincing protection, reduce mortality and result in the appearance of a particular form of smallpox. The highest mortality (52.