Browsing by Author "Bjekic, M. (6602745387)"

This paper describes the features of an outbreak of early syphilis in an institution for the care of adults with mental disorders. A case-note review was performed. In the period June to November 2001, 87 cases of syphilis were diagnosed [25 primary, 21 secondary and 41 early latent syphilis in 983 inmates (crude attack rate 8·9%)]. Among them 82 were heterosexual, four were homosexual or bisexual, and for one case sexual preference was not established. About half the cases were known to be promiscuous. The initial case was not identified. Penicillin therapy was administered to all cases and all known or suspected sexual contacts. Sporadic cases of syphilis have, however, continued to emerge from time to time. Institutions for patients with mental disorders are vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, and special strategies should be devised for their control. © 2005 Cambridge University Press.

Background: Basal-cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of cancer in white population. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for BCC. Methods: Case-control study was performed in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, from February to November 1996. By the use of a questionnaire, data on suspected risk factors were obtained from one hundred BCC cases and the same number of controls, individually matched by year of birth, sex and place of residence. For statistical analysis, t test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used. Results: According to conditional logistic regression analysis the following factors were related to BCC: blue eyes (Odds ratio - OR=5.95, 95% confidence interval - CI = 1.10-32.13), freckling (OR = 1.08 95% CI = 0.49-2.37), sunburns (OR = 20.83 95% CI = 2.49-174.38), farming (OR = 3.04 95% CI = 0.99-9.30), outdoor sports and recreation (OR = 9.09 95% CI = 0.97-84.90), radiotherapy (OR = 6.27 95% CI = 0.99-39.65), smoking (OR = 4.79 95% CI = 1.33-17.28) and family history of any malignant tumor (OR = 6.89 95% CI = 1.27-37.21). A significantly increased risk for BCC was also seen in sun-sensitive subjects whose skin tended to burn rather than tan in the sun (OR = 3.02 95% CI = 1.24-7.34). Acne vulgaris were inversely related to BCC (OR = 0.28 95% CI = 0.09-0.83). Conclusion: Pigmentary traits and sun sensitivity of the skin confirmed their role in the occurrence of BCC. Among environmental factors sunlight exposure, radiotherapy and smoking were independent risk factors for this malignant tumor. Acne vulgaris had a protective effect on BCC.

Objective: To define risk factors for gonococcal infection. Methods: A case-control study comparing 200 gonorrhoea cases with 400 patients with non- gonococcal genitourinary infections and 400 patients with various skin diseases, all of them attending City Department for Skin and Venereal Diseases in Belgrade (Yugoslavia) from October 1993 to December 1994. Results: According to multivariate logistic regression analysis the following factors were significantly related to gonorrhoea in men: education level, sexual contact same day as meeting, condom use, history of prior gonorrhoea, and casual and/or new sex partner in the past month. Age, sexual contact same day as meeting, number of partners in the past year, and frequency of sexual intercourse in the past month were independently, significantly related to gonorrhoea in women. Also, in females, gonorrhoea was significantly more frequent in industrial workers and supported people. Conclusion: Since sexual behaviour, low education level, younger ages, and low socioeconomic status were found to be related to gonococcal infection, health education at early age seems to be the most appropriate means of altering high risk behaviour.