Understanding and Practices of Oral Hygiene in the Intensive Care Units: Perspectives of Medical Staff at Two University Hospital Centers.

Objective: This study assesses the knowledge, practices, and attitudes of medical staff in intensive care units (ICUs) regarding oral hygiene care for critically ill, bedridden patients.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study included 65 employees from the Intensive Care Units of the Sestre Milosrdnice Clinical Hospital Centre (CHC SM) and the Clinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the University Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb (CHC ZG). A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, methods, frequency, and attitudes towards oral care for mechanically ventilated patients.

Epstein - Barr Virus Salivary Shedding in Patients with Acute Infectious Diseases: A Pilot Study.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a widely disseminated herpesvirus for which antibodies have been demonstrated in over 90% of adults worldwide. After subclinical primary EBV infections, as well as after infectious mononucleosis, the virus can be shed in saliva for a prolonged period of time.

Aim: Diseases and disorders that can induce EBV salivary shedding include mental disorders and sex, connective tissue disease, multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, malaria and HIV infection.

Changes in Serum IL-12 Levels following the Administration of H1-Antihistamines in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

Introduction: Research regarding the role of the IL-12 cytokine family in modulating immune and inflammatory responses is continuously evolving. In this study, the contribution of the p35 and p40 subunits as monomers (noted as IL-12p35 and IL-12p40) and heterodimers (noted as IL-12p70 or IL-12p35/p40) was analysed in the pathophysiology and progression of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).

Materials And Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, case-control study involving 42 CSU cases and 40 control cases comprising adults without associated conditions.

Direct-acting antivirals in women of reproductive age infected with hepatitis C virus.

Eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the population of women of reproductive age is important not only for the health of women themselves but also for the health of newborns. This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of this goal by analysing the effectiveness of contemporary therapy in a large cohort from everyday clinical practice along with identifying factors reducing therapeutic success. The analysed population consisted of 7861 patients, including 3388 women aged 15-49, treated in 2015-2022 in 26 hepatology centres.

Molecular epidemiology and mechanisms of carbapenem and colistin resistance in Klebsiella and other Enterobacterales from treated wastewater in Croatia.

Among the most problematic bacteria with clinical relevance are the carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), as there are very limited options for their treatment. Treated wastewater can be a route for the release of these bacteria into the environment and the population. The aim of this study was to isolate CRE from treated wastewater from the Zagreb wastewater treatment plant and to determine their phenotypic and genomic characteristics.

An Overview of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Epidemiology in Endemic Regions of Continental Croatia, 2017-2023.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) represents an important public health problem in Europe. We analyzed the epidemiology of TBE based on data from humans, animals, and ticks in endemic regions of continental Croatia. In the period from 2017 to 2023, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples of 684 patients with neuroinvasive diseases, 2240 horse serum samples, and 300 sheep serum samples were tested for TBEV.

Psoriasis: What Is New in Markers of Disease Severity?

. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease and is the result of the interaction between numerous external and internal factors. Psoriasis presents a wide range of skin manifestations encompassing individual lesions varying from pinpoint to large plaques that can evolve into generalised forms.

Unusual Localization of AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma in a Heterosexual Male during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report.

Kaposi's sarcoma is an AIDS-defining illness and remains the most frequent tumor arising in HIV-infected patients with multifactorial etiology. We present a case of a 30-year-old Caucasian male with an 18-year history of HIV infection. The patient was presented with a one-week history of fever, non-productive cough, and skin lesions.

Hypothyroidism and sinus dysfunction associated with lithium-paliperidone combination therapy for bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms: a case report.

Background And Aim: Lithium is considered to be the first-line treatment for bipolar disorder, and paliperidone was approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute bipolar manic/mixed episodes. However, both agents have been associated with thyroid dysfunction and cardiovascular adverse effects like subclinical hypothyroidism, bradycardia, and sinus arrest, even at therapeutic doses.

Case Presentation: Here, we reported a case of a 17-year-old Han Chinese female who developed symptomatic hypothyroidism, sinus bradycardia, and sinus arrest while being treated with lithium and paliperidone for bipolar disorder with psychotic features including auditory hallucinations.

Differences in integrated assessment and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for people with HIV across the WHO European region.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the extent of integration of non-communicable disease (NCD) assessment and management in HIV clinics across Europe.

Methods: A structured electronic questionnaire with 41 multiple-choice and rating-scale questions assessing NCD assessment and management was sent to 88 HIV clinics across the WHO European Region during March-May 2023. One response per clinic was collected.

Steatotic Liver Disease and Sepsis Outcomes-A Prospective Cohort Study (SepsisFAT).

: While it has been shown that steatotic liver disease (SLD) is associated with systemic changes in immune response, the impact of SLD on sepsis outcomes has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between SLD and sepsis severity and outcomes. : A prospective observational study included consecutively hospitalized adult patients with community-acquired sepsis during a 16-month period.

Antiviral treatment significantly reduces the levels of CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 in chronic hepatitis C.

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the changes in the immune response during antiviral treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C, with an emphasis on the chemokine dynamics and their association with liver fibrosis. Serum concentrations of 12 chemokines. (CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL11, CCL17, CCL20, CXCL1, CXCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11) were measured in 32 patients with chronic hepatitis C before direct-acting antiviral treatment and after sustained virological response using bead-based flow cytometry.

Antimicrobial activity of hydralazine against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible .

is a human pathogen responsible for high mortality rates. The development of new antimicrobials is urgent. The authors evaluated the activity of hydralazine along with its synergism with other drugs and action on biofilms.

Attributable mortality of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales: results from a prospective, multinational case-control-control matched cohorts study (EURECA).

Objectives: To assess the mortality attributable to infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) and to investigate the effect of clinical management on differences in observed outcomes in a multinational matched cohort study.

Methods: A prospective matched-cohorts study (NCT02709408) was performed in 50 European hospitals from March 2016 to November 2018. The main outcome was 30-day mortality with an active post-discharge follow-up when applied.

A Panel of Potential Serum Markers Related to Angiogenesis, Antioxidant Defense and Hypoxia for Differentiating Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas from Actinic Keratoses.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) arising from the malignant proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes is the second most common skin cancer. Actinic keratosis (AK), which is considered cSCC in situ, may progress into invasive tumors. Currently, there are no serum markers that can differentiate cSCC from AK.

Validation of Diagnostic Accuracy and Disease Severity Correlation of Chest Computed Tomography Severity Scores in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia.

The aim of our study was to establish and compare the diagnostic accuracy and clinical applicability of published chest CT severity scoring systems used for COVID-19 pneumonia assessment and to propose the most efficient CT scoring system with the highest diagnostic performance and the most accurate prediction of disease severity. This retrospective study included 218 patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and chest CT. Two radiologists blindly evaluated CT scans and calculated nine different CT severity scores (CT SSs).

Screening and prevention of HPV-related anogenital cancers in women living with HIV in Europe: Results from a systematic review.

Background: Women living with HIV (WLWH) are at increased risk of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers. Throughout Europe, there is great heterogeneity among guidelines for screening programmes, access to HPV testing and HPV vaccination. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize available data on screening and prevention measures for HPV-related anogenital cancers in WLWH across the WHO European Region (WER).

Barriers to HIV testing and possible interventions to improve access to HIV healthcare among migrants, with a focus on migrant women: Results from a European survey.

Background: According to European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports, women and migrants are more likely to have delayed HIV diagnosis (CD4 <350 cells/mm). As a follow-up to a previously published systematic review revealing a range of barriers to HIV testing among migrant women, the aim of the present study was to identify barriers to HIV testing from the perspective of service providers and to formulate possible interventions to improve access to HIV healthcare among migrants in Europe, with an emphasis on migrant women.

Methods: Between November 2021 and February 2022 an online survey, consisting of 20 questions, was forwarded to 178 stakeholders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working with migrant populations in 33 countries from the World Health Organization (WHO) European region.

Perspectives of primary care physicians on academic detailing for antimicrobial stewardship: feasibility and impact assessment.

Objective: To understand primary care physicians' perspectives on academic detailing from an antimicrobial stewardship team to combat antibiotic overuse for upper respiratory infections and bronchitis in the COVID-19 era, which will help prevent avoidable outpatient visits.

Methods: In this prospective study, 14 female Croatian physicians completed standardized qualitative interviews using a semi-structured guide. The data were analyzed using inductive methodology based on reflexive thematic analysis.

Invasive meningococcal disease in South-Eastern European countries: Do we need to revise vaccination strategies?

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an acute life-threatening infection caused by the gram-negative bacterium, . Globally, there are approximately half a million cases of IMD each year, with incidence varying across geographical regions. Vaccination has proven to be successful against IMD, as part of controlling outbreaks, and when incorporated into national immunization programs.

Treatment of the most difficult-to-cure hepatitis C virus-infected population with sofosbuvir / velpatasvir.

Introduction: Pangenotypic therapies for infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV), although universal and highly effective, entail a risk of treatment failure.

Objectives: Our study aimed to identify the population of HCV‑infected patients most difficult to cure with the sofosbuvir / velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) regimen.

Patients And Methods: The effectiveness of the SOF/VEL regimen with a possible addition of ribavirin (RBV) was evaluated in populations known to be less responsive to treatment, and then in a population characterized by the combination of all factors impairing effectiveness, comprising patients treated with this regimen in the EpiTer‑2 multicenter retrospective study.