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The aim of this study is to define specifics of sex life and methods of birth control among students at the University of Osijek. Participants were students who study at Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. A newly formed questionnaire containing 31 questions was used for this purpose. The study included 549 voluntarily students, 54.3% of students had first sexual experience between 16 and 18 years of age. Most of them were long-term couples, who are managing better with sexual activities then students in short-term relationships, who are more stressed because of their studies. When it comes to the type of contraceptives, 71, 9 % of students used some of birth control methods, and most common is condom (75.9 %). However, 27. 9 % of students believe that natural methods of birth are safe enough. There are no significant differences in age at the time of first sexual activity considering gender, year at university and residency. The biggest reason for not using contraception is long-term relationship in which students do not feel fear of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.

The study aimed to determine behavioral responses (symptoms) to chronic stress of senior medical students induced by academic demands and to identify learning and lifestyle behaviors associated with these symptoms. The study included 116 students of the two last university years (5thand 6th) of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Osijek, eastern Croatia. A newly formed 31-item questionnaire was used for this purpose. A large majority of students (95.7%) had at least one symptom and 62% had 3 or more, out of the maximum 6 symptoms examined. Symptoms showed a tendency for grouping in a graded manner. Participant students were divided into two groups according to the lower or higher levels of the symptom complexity expression (

Background: To explore correlation between clinical and endoscopic indices in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Subjects and methods: There were 112 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. All patients with diagnosed IBD was established a degree of clinical and endoscopic disease activity. CDAI (Crohn's disease activity index) was used as clinical and SESCD (Simplified Endoscopic Crohn Disease Index) as endoscopic index for Crohn's disease. For ulcerative colitis Truelov & Witts index was used as clinical and Baron as endoscopic activity index. Correlation of clinical and endoscopic indices were compared in Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Patients were analyzed by clinical entities - CD and UC, according to sex, age, parameters of anemia, duration of disease and education. Results: In the total of 112 IBD patients there were 69 patients diagnosed as ulcerative colitis (61.6%) and 43 as Crohn's disease (38.4%). There were 58 (51.8%) women and 54 (48.2%) men. Comparison between endoscopic and clinical indices in CD and UC demonstrated no significant differences in ilnness activity. Endoscopic and clinical disease activity was associated with a higher inflammatory parameters (CRP and leucocytes, L) and lower parameters of hemoglobin (Hb) and MCV. Conclusion: Our research has established a good correlation between clinical and endoscopic index of disease activity in the CB and UC in inflammation. Clinical indices can be used for monitoring inflammation.

Aim: The main goal of this study was to compare the biochemical and histopathological findings in patients with sustained virological response (SVR) before and two years after the therapy with pegylated interferon α-2a and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C. Subjects and methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Internal Medicine and the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of the Clinical Hospital Mostar. The study included 48 patients whose treatment for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon α-2a and ribavirin was finished two years prior to the achieved SVR at the end of the treatment. The main criterion for inclusion was a negative result of HCV RNA, determined by the RealTime HCV assay. After taking a history, physical examination, laboratory tests: AST, ALT, GGT, a liver biopsy were performed with the help of the ultrasound. The assessment of necroinflamatory score was determined by histologic activity index (HAI) score, and the stage of fibrosis according to Knodell's numerical score. Results: The values of AST and ALT levels were statistically significantly decreased after the successful treatment (p