Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor in HIV positive patients.

The aim of this study was to determine the difference of anti-CCP and RF between HIV positive patients and a healthy control group. The rheumatological complications in HIV positive patients are rather common and are recognized as a serious problem that requires more attention. Anti-CCP and RF are the only laboratory tools for rheumatoid disorder diagnostics and predictors of the course of the disease.

[Prevalence of hepatitis B and C among prison population in Croatia].

In 2007, incarcerated persons accounted for 0.41% (approximately 16,500) of the Croatian population. In the heterogeneous structure of the prison population in Croatia, some 25%-30% of the prisoners are drug abusers.

[Viral hepatitis. Croatian consensus conference--2009].

Summarized text of Croatian Consensus Conference on Viral Hepatitis of 2009 comprises the following chapters: 1) Epidemiology, 2) Clinical Picture, 3) Diagnostic Procedure, 4) Aims of Treatment of Viral Hepatitis, 5) Terminology, 6) Medicaments (6.1. Interferon, 6.

[Laboratory diagnosis of viral hepatitis B and C].

Accurate diagnosis of viral hepatitis is based on determination of specific viral markers. In HBV infection they include HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBc, IgM anti-HBc, and HBV DNA. There are patients with HBV marker constellation indicating serologic recovery, but with HBV DNA in the liver indicating continuous viral replication.

[Viral hepatitis: Croatian consensus statement].

There has been a dramatic improvement in diagnostic procedures and therapy of viral hepatitis in the last 20 years. Improvements in therapy caused an increase in actual cost, however, with significant long-term savings through a decreased cost of treatment of advanced liver disease including liver transplantation. The Croatian National Board for Viral Hepatitis has decided to initiate the organization of consensus conference on viral hepatitis enabling the leading experts in the country to give the best possible recommendations for the diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy in our circumstances.

Identification of HIV-1 protease cleavage site in human C1-inhibitor.

We have investigated the ability of HIV-1 protease to cleave human complement proteins of the classical complement pathway: C1q, C2 and C4 as well as the regulatory protein, C1-inhibitor. Purified complement proteins were incubated with recombinant HIV-1 protease in vitro and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting assay. The only cleavage site was found in N-terminal region of C1-inhibitor, and it was located between residues Leu-32 and Phe-33 as determined by amino acid sequence analysis of the 85 kDa proteolytic fragment after 12 Edman degradation cycles.