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Introduction: Due to treatment of end‐stage‐renal‐disease (ESRD), continuous peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is used in 11% of cases and is associated with several PD‐associated infections. Methods: Clinical data on 71 patients with CAPD were evaluated in addition to exit site infections and episodes of acute peritonitis (AP). Results: There were 39 men and 32 women. Average age was 61 years when we began CAPD and average time spent on CAPD program was 3.35 years. Illness that dominantly caused ESRD was diabetes (23 patients). Exit site infection was mostly caused by S epidermidis‐MRSE and AP was most commonly caused by Staphylococcus sp. group. Most common cause of death was cardiovascular disease. At the end of this study, 9 patients were alive and still on CAPD, 10 were transplanted, 15 switched to HD and 36 died. Conclusion: Optimal prevention measures and treatment of infectious complications in CAPD is necessary for better treatment possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Antibiotic resistance decreases success of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication. Recently published results show low rate of resistance and better compliance with moxifloxacin based regiments. Aims&methods Whether 7 days moxifloxacin with lansoprasole and amoxycillin can be compared with 10 days moxifloxacin with lansoprasole and amoxycillin according to moxifloxacin resistance. Patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia who had culture and histology positive Hp infection (n = 150) were randomly assigned into two groups. The first group (n = 75) received moxifloxacin 400 mg/d during 7 days and the other (n = 75) received moxifloxacin 400 mg/d during 10 days. All patients received amoxycillin 1 g twice daily, lansoprasole 30 mg twice daily. All Hp cultures were tested for sensitivity to moxifloxacin. Results 138 patients (92%) completed the study, 68 in the first group and 70 in the second. Eradication rates were 84% (57/68) and 76% (57/75) in the 7 days moxifloxacin group and 90% and 84% in the second group (63/70, 63/75) according to the PP and ITT analysis; p = n.s. Among 129 patients (86% of study group), 6% of strains were primary resistant to moxifloxacin. Eradication of moxifloxacin sensitive/resistant strains was 98%/66%, p < 0.05 Conclusion According to our results we recommend 7 days moxiflixacin based triple therapy.

Copyright of Alcoholism & Psychiatry Research is the property of Center for Study & Control of Alcoholism & Addictions and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Association of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection with the length of dialysis in dialysis patients is contradictory. This study was conducted in order to determine the association between the duration of dialysis and the HP infection status in the dialysis patients. Furthemore, biochemical parameters were monitored in two subject groups that were included in this study., Subjects and Methods: The study included 51 patients on chronic hemodialysis program who had gastrointestinal symptoms. The subjects were divided in two groups per the length of dialysis treatment. In this study we analyzed age, gender, the time period since the onset of the chronic hemodialysis program, body mass index, biochemical parameters, and whether the patients have arterial hypertension and/or diabetes. The presence of HP antigen was determined in the stool samples with use of he UlcoGnost AG test plate., Results: The incidence of HP infection in hemodialysis patients, with some of the gastrointestinal symptoms, was 25.5%. Patients on hemodialysis for less than 24 months had lower incidence of HP infection than those on hemodialysis program for more than 24 months. HP positive and HP negative subjects were also compared by gender, age, biochemical parameters and body mass index. There was no statistical significant difference between the groups in any of those characteristics. When comparing the HP status of the subjects with the presence of arterial hypertension and diabetes, no statistically significant difference was found between the groups., Conclusion: This study showed negative correlation between HP infection and the length of hemodialysis program. Analysis of age, gender, body mass index, biochemical parameters, presence of arterial hypertension and/or diabetes showed no statistically significant difference was found between the hemodialysis patients who were HP positive and those who were HP negative. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the correlation mechanism between the HP infection and the duration of dialysis, in order to examine how long the dialysis time period is the most susceptible to HP infection, and then to improve the prognosis of patients with renal disease.

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most frequent arrhythmias diagnosed in clinical practice and it is also relatively common in dialysis patients. Atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction disturbances are less investigated in hemodialysis patients and data about their prevalence are insufficient. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular blocks and bundle branch blocks in hemodialysis patients and to analyze different clinical risk factors. The study included 140 patients on long-term hemodialysis treatment. The presence of atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular blocks and bundle branch blocks was determined by electrocardiogram. Patients were divided into groups depending on the presence or absence of atrial fibrillation/bundle branch blocks and investigated variables were compared. Atrial fibrillation was present in 11 (7.9%) of the 140 patients. In multivariate analysis, age and higher concentration of uric acid were associated with atrial fibrillation. Prevalence of first-degree atrioventricular block was 2.9% (4 patients) and second- and third-degree atrioventricular blocks were not found. Prevalence of bundle branch blocks was 17.1% (24 patients): 5% of patients had a complete right bundle branch block, 6.4% had an incomplete right bundle branch block, 3.6% had a complete left bundle branch block and 2.1% of patients had an incomplete left bundle branch block. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation and bundle branch blocks in this study was relatively high in patients on hemodialysis and greater than that observed in general population. Presence of atrial fibrillation was associated with older age and higher concentration of uric acid.

Through the treatment of anaemia in dialysis patients part of the iron ions remain free in the serum which is at the bacterias disposal for growth and the strengthening of their virulence. The linear relation of the increased serum iron level and tissue iron stores in the body and the infection incidence in dialysed patients has become more emphasised. The need of a clearly defined upper threshold of the serum iron concentration limit has been mentioned in scientific journals intensely, and consequently the demand for more precise professional instructions for anaemia treatment. For the purpose of participating in these professional and scientific discussions, we have observed the relation between the iron overload of the organism and complication incidence in 120 of our haemodialysis uremic patients, with special emphasis on infections. It has been established that the sepses incidence is much higher in patients with a serum ferritin concentration above 500 microg/L, than in those patients with a ferritin level lower than the mentioned value ( 2 = 7.857, p = 0.005). The incidence of vascular access infection is significantly higher in those patients with a serum ferritin level above 500 microg/L than in those patients with a ferritin level lower than the mentioned value (Chi2 = 23.186, p = 0.001). Furthermore, it has been determined that the incidence of total infection in patients is 3.8 episodes per 100 patients months, which is in accordance to the referral values of other authors. CONCLUSION--In the analysis of the achieved results, it has been determined that the infection incidence is significantly higher in dialysed patients with a serum iron level higher than 500 g/L, than in those patients with lower values.

Unlabelled: BASE: There are numerous studies that indicate the co-morbidity of a metabolic syndrome and mental disorders. Metabolic syndrome and mental disorders in pregnant women are rarely investigated, especially in pathological pregnancy., Goal: To determine a relationship between predisposed factors in pregnancy and the occurrence of metabolic syndrome as well as to determine the occurrence of psychological symptoms and disorders in pregnant women., Subjects and Methods: The tested sample consisted of 162 pregnant women (80 with normal and 82 with pathological pregnancy). For the examination, 3 questionnaires were used: clinical, laboratory, ultrasound and radiological scanning. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to WHO criteria, and psychological symptoms by using the SCL 90-R questionnaire., Results: Metabolic syndrome was confirmed in 19 (23.2%) women with pathological pregnancy. These women had a greater prevalence of psychological symptoms (p<0.001)., Conclusion: Women with pathological pregnancy who are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome showed significantly more psychological symptoms.

The pathogenesis of renal hypertension has not yet been fully clarified. As the potential role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) has been postulated, their concentrations were determined in plasma and urine of diabetic patients. The study included 30 diabetic patients (both IDDM and NIDDM) with initial or advanced diabetic nephropathy (decreased endogenous creatinine clearance, proteinuria) and 20 healthy control subjects. The correlation with blood pressure and other renal function parameters was monitored and compared with the control group. Also, the effect of ACE inhibitors (ACEI) on ET-1 and NO patterns was monitored in correlation with arterial hypertension. In diabetic patients that did not receive ACEI therapy, the increase in plasma ET-1 was associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure elevation, whereas in those administered ACEI the increase in plasma ET-1 was associated with a systolic blood pressure decline. In addition, the increase in plasma NO was accompanied by a statistically significant decline of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in diabetic patients receiving ACEI.

Aims: To compare ranitidine bismuth citrate with omeprazole as to their efficacy to eradicate H. pylori in two different treatment schedules both consisting of a combination of either of above with two antibiotics for 1 week, and to relate these treatment results to primary antibiotic resistance., Methods: 256 H. pylori positive patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia were randomised to one of the following four treatment groups: omeprazole 20 mg + clarithromycin 500 mg + amoxycillin 1000 mg (OCA); ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg + clarithromycin 500 mg + amoxycillin 1000 mg (RBCCA); omeprazole 20 mg + clarithromycin 500 mg + metronidazole 500 mg (OCM); ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg + clarithromycin 500 mg + metronidazole 500 mg (RBCCM). All drugs were given twice daily for one week. The patients were assessed for prevalence of H. pylori by CLO test, histology and culture on gastric biopsy samples obtained during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy before randomisation and 4-6 weeks after completion of therapy. Bacterial sensitivity to clarithromycin, metronidazole and amoxycillin was determined by E-test., Results: On per-protocol analysis, overall eradication rates were 96% for RBCCA vs. 85% for OCA (p = 0.03), and 95% for RBCCM vs. 79% for OCM (p = 0.01). Amongst the 196 patients (77% of the entire study group) in whom antibiotic sensitivity testing was technically feasible, primary resistance was found in 8% for clarithromycin, in 33% for metronidazole, and in 0% for amoxycillin. Eradication of clarithromycin sensitive/resistant strains was 89%/40% for OCA (p = 0.0042) and 98%/80% for RBCCA (p = 0.0428). When strains were sensitive to both antibiotics, cure rates with OCM/RBCCM were 87%/96% respectively (p = 0.39), for strains resistant to clarithromycin only, eradication was achieved in 82% with OCM vs. 94% with RBCCM (p = 0.2), and in the case of metronidazole resistance in 85% with OCM vs. 94% with RBCCM (p = 0.09)., Conclusions: Ranitidine bismuth citrate in combination with clarithromycin and either metronidazole or amoxycillin produced higher eradication rates than omeprazole co-administered with the same antibiotics. This appeared especially prominent in the subgroups with clarithromycin resistance without, however, reaching statistical significance. Efficacy of neither eradication regimen was influenced by metronidazole sensitivity to a significant degree.