Acute Thyroiditis Associated with Brucellosis: A Case Report.

Brucella thyroiditis represents an extremely rare focal form of brucellosis. In this case report we describe a 55 years old male, diagnosed with brucellosis and peripheral arthritis with subsequent development of acute thyroiditis. The symptoms duration consistent with brucellosis started two weeks before establishing the diagnosis.

Characteristics of an Outpatient Cohort with HBeAg-Negative Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background: Patients with hepatitis Be antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B (HBeAg-negative CHB), and patients' inactive carriers (IC) have similar laboratory and serologic characteristics and are not always easy to distinguish.

Aim: To characterise hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis B cohort based on their laboratory and virology evaluations at one point of time.

Methods: A prospective non-randomized study was conducted on 109 patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B treated as outpatients at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions.

Noninvasive Biomarkers in Assessment of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with HBeAg Negative Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background: Liver biopsy for evaluation of liver fibrosis has several adverse effects, for which reason noninvasive tests have been developed.

Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of noninvasive biomarkers, qHBsAg and HBV DNA levels in predicting liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Material And Methods: This prospective study included 50 patients with HBeAg negative CHB.

Impact of measures to control brucellosis on disease characteristics in humans: experience from an endemic region in the Balkans.

Aim: To analyze the impact of measures undertaken to control brucellosis in the Republic of Macedonia on demographic, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the disease in humans.

Methods: Demographic, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 340 patients with brucellosis were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were treated at the University Clinic of Infectious Diseases in Skopje during three time periods: 1989-1990 when no national strategy for disease control existed, 2000-2001 when some activities for control were performed and 2011-2014 when an organized and financially supported strategy was accomplished.

Childhood brucellosis: Review of 317 cases.

Objective: To describe the main epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features, treatment options and outcome in children with brucellosis.

Methods: Retrospectively evaluated data were obtained from 317 pediatric patients with brucellosis that were treated at the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions in Skopje, during the period from 1989 to 2011. The medical records and follow-up protocols were used for evaluation.

Cervical Lymph Nodes as a Selective Niche for Brucella during Oral Infections.

Cervical lymph nodes (CLN) are the first lymph nodes encountered by material taking the oral route. To study their role in orally acquired infections, we analyzed 307 patients of up to 14 years treated in the university clinic of Skopje, Macedonia, for brucellosis, a zoonotic bacterial disease frequently acquired by ingestion of contaminated dairy products. From these children, 36% had lymphadenopathy.

Osteoarticular involvement in childhood brucellosis: experience with 133 cases in an endemic region.

Aim: To describe the main clinical and laboratory characteristics, frequency and distribution of osteoarticular involvement, therapeutic options and outcome in children with osteoarticular brucellosis.

Methods: This descriptive study includes 133 pediatric patients with osteoarticular brucellosis who were treated at the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, during the period between 1989 and 2011. Brucellosis was presumptively diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs and confirmed by the detection of specific antibodies at significant titers.

Doxycycline-rifampin versus doxycycline-rifampin-gentamicin in treatment of human brucellosis.

This prospective, non-randomized trial, compared the efficacy and tolerance of a doxycycline-rifampin regimen, administered for 45 days, versus doxycycline-rifampin given for 45 days plus gentamicin for the first 7-10 days, in the treatment of human brucellosis. Of 238 patients that were initially included in the study, 181 were finally evaluated. Ninety-four were treated with the doxycycline-rifampin and 87 with the doxycycline-rifampin-gentamicin regimens.

Human brucellosis in Macedonia - 10 years of clinical experience in endemic region.

Aim: To present our 10-year clinical experience with brucellosis patients at the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.

Methods: A total of 550 patients with brucellosis treated between 1998 and 2007 were retrospectively assessed for their demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Results: Of the 550 patients, 395 (72%) were male.