Disease and treatment outcome in chronic active hepatitis C with occult HBV infection.

Background/aims: To evaluate the clinical course and effect of antiviral treatment in chronic active hepatitis C with coexisting occult hepatitis B infection.

Methodology: Basic liver enzymes, histological activity of hepatitis (Ishak score), biochemical and virological response rate at the end of treatment and 6 months later of 30 patients (15 of them positive for hepatitis B core antibody in serum) with chronic active hepatitis C are compared. All patients were treated with Interferon alpha-2b 3ME three times weekly and oral Ribavirin 1000/1200 mg daily for six months.

Topical mononitrate treatment in patients with anal fissure.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and patient compliance of topical mononitrate hydrogel for the treatment of anal fissure.

Materials And Methods: Nineteen patients with symptomatic chronic anal fissures were randomly allocated to receive either active (10 patients) or placebo (nine patients) gel treatment. Rectal administration of hydrogel containing 0.

[Clinical assessment in patients presenting brain metastases].

Over the period January 1988 to January 1998, in the clinic of emergency neurology and neurosurgery of the University Hospital "Queen Giovanna"--Sofia a total of 348 patients with brain tumors are hospitalized. Of them 329 cases are subjected to operation, and in 19 no surgery is undertaken. Forty-four patients with metastatic brain tumors are operated, and in 14 no operation is done.

[Factors influencing the cosmetic outcome in early breast cancer patients following salvage surgery and radioisotope teletherapy].

It is the purpose of the report to analyze the factors exerting effect on the cosmetic outcome in breast cancer patients (I-II clinical stage), following organ-salvaging operation in conjunction with telegammatherapy. Assessment of the cosmetic results in 100 female patients with early mammary gland cancer is done 5 years after complex treatment (conservative surgery, postoperative radiotherapy, and chemo- and/or hormonotherapy when indicated). The influence of eight factors on the cosmetic outcome attained is evaluated through correlative statistical analysis, namely: breast size, scope of the surgical intervention, number of lymph nodes dissected, type of operative cicatrix, dose exposure of the entire mamma, homogeneity of radiation dose distribution in tre entire mammary gland, dose exposure of the tumor bed and adjuvant therapy.

[The role of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of nodular hepatocellular lesions].

The diagnostic relevance of laparoscopy (LS) and laparoscopic echography (LE) in nodular hepatocellular lesions is studied. LS is done using a R. Wolf laparoscope, and LE--with a 7.

[Minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy - analgesia and pulmonary function].

This is a report on 27 patients subjected to cholecystectomy for calculous cholecystitis through minilaparotomy. In 21 of them minicholecystectomy is performed under conditions of intubation inhalatory anesthesia. In the remainder (6 cases) intraoperative epidural analgesia is approbated, proceed-in during the short postoperative period.

[Primary colorectal carcinoma as an underlying cause of obturation of the ileum].

This is a report on 169 patients presenting colorectal carcinoma with complication assuming the form of occlusive ileus, observed over the period 1993 through 1998. Obturation is the commonest complication of colonic carcinoma (48.9%) with the left colon being more often involved (58.

[Combined and extended radical operations in colorectal carcinoma patients].

This is a report on radical operative interventions performed in 273/385 patients presenting complicated colorectal carcinoma, covering the period 1993 through 1998. Fifty-four patients are subjected to combined and extended operations, distributed as follows: 31 combined and 23 extended. In fifteen patients with abdomino-perineal extirpation the combined interventions include: hysterectomy (6), ovariectomy (8), resection of vagina (7), prostate gland resection (3) and bladder resection (2).

[Duodenal decompression in the surgical management of complicated ulcers].

Operative duodenal decompression for correction of and prophylaxis against duodenostasis is discussed. The methods used for treating complicated pyloric or duodenal ulcers include: perforation suture according to Opel-Polykarpov, resection of the stomach after Billroth-Haberer-Finney, resection of the stomach after Billroth-Vitebsky. All procedures listed above are performed in conjunction with operative interventions aimed at duodenostasis decompression.

A system for the objective screening of dysphonia and the possibilities for its application in exposed workers.

Modern computers and their implementation have enabled the development of software based on mathematical computations, which analyse the parameters of voice signals in real time, as well as in the spectral and capstral domains. A software system written on the basis of specific methods and algorithms for pathological voice analysis allows the evaluation of: to D; PPQ, APQ, D S, D DISS, HNR, DH and GQ. The system was tested (using the vowel "a") on 900 workers at the Neftochim and Devnya chemical refineries in Bulgaria, exposed to irritating gases (NOx, SOx, etc.

Granisetron in repeated cycles of chemotherapy with platinum.

The aim of the present study was to assess the antiemetic efficacy of granisetron in repeated cycles of chemotherapy with platinum derivatives. The study included 50 patients (28 females, 22 males; aged 17-72, mean age 51 years). From 2 to 5 cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin or carboplatin were performed.

Ebrotidine versus ranitidine in the treatment of acute duodenal ulcer. A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

A total of 478 patients with endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcer entered this randomized, parallel, double-blind trial. Patients were randomly assigned to receive ebrotidine (N-[(E)-[[2-[[[2-[(diaminomethylene)amino]- 4-thiazolyl]methyl]thio]ethyl]amino]methylene]-4-bromo-benzenesulfona mid e, CAS 100981-43-9, FI-3542) 400 mg or ranitidine 300 mg tablets (4:1) respectively, administered in single evening doses. Endoscopy, clinical examination and symptom assessment were performed at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8.