Some anthropometric characteristics, reactions on physical stress, and blood pressure in males aged 18 in "Primorsko-Goranska" County, Croatia.

The paper presents the distribution and average values of some anthropometric characteristics in 1,210 males aged 18 in "Primorsko-Goranska" County, as well as some manifestations of physical fitness parameters and some correlations between these two groups of characteristics. The prevalence of hypertensive and limit values for systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 8.6% and for diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 2.1%. Body weight and body mass index were in a significantly positive correlation with SBP and DBP Body mass index showed a significantly positive correlation with heart rate after step-test. Therefore, it can be concluded that overweight reduces tolerance on workload.

Lethal midline granuloma starting as granuloma laryngis.

We report a case of lethal midline granuloma in a 34-year-old male patient. The patient was referred to our hospital because of long-lasting hoarseness. He was treated for granuloma laryngis. After two years nasal obstruction developed followed by ulceration of the hard palate and destruction of part of the nose and the upper lip. A biopsy demonstrated polymorphic infiltrate consisting of small lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages, atypical lymphoid cells and eosinophils. Radiotherapy was very effective and led to long-term remission. The different etiological aspects of this syndrome are discussed.

Work conditions as risk factors for varicose veins of the lower extremities in certain professions of the working population of Rijeka.

This research aims to establish the effect of working conditions on the appearance of varicose veins. The epidemiological study was carried out on 1,324 examinees, 530 males and 794 females, employed in 5 highly represented groups of professional activities in Rijeka (catering, trade, light industry, heavy industry and finances). The data were collected by survey and clinical examination. Varicose veins were more prevalent in the trade than in the office workers (odds ratio (OR) = 2.08; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.31-3.31), and more prevalent in catering industries than in the office workers (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.001-2.43). chi 2-testing suggested that standing in the workplace (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 0.95-1.92), weight handling while working (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.01-1.64) and working indoors (OR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.02-2.53) were risk factors for varicose veins. By multiple logistic regression, the following risk factors were isolated in the total population: female sex (OR = 1.92; 95% CI = 1.37-2.67), workplace (OR = 0.89; 95% CI = 0.78-0.99), age (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 1.03-1.07), body mass index (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01-1.07) and family history of the disease (OR = 1.99; 95% CI = 1.55-2.57).

A 20-year epidemiological study of cutaneous melanoma in the Rijeka district of Croatia.

A retrospective study was made of the incidence of cutaneous melanoma among the population of the district of Rijeka (Croatia) during the period 1977-96. A total of 397 patients with cutaneous melanoma was documented during this period. Over the 20-year period the incidence of the tumour increased, the mean annual rate being 4. 8 (4.0 in males and 5.4 in females) in the first 10-year period and 7.16 in the second (7.1 in males and 7.3 in females). The number of registered cases in males and females was almost identical (1 : 1.05). The number of melanoma cases increased with age in both sexes, whereas it was rare in children. The most affected anatomical location was the trunk in males and the lower limbs in females. The results indicate the need for active prevention and educational programmes in this population.

Intracrown ring for crown and fixed partial denture abutments.

When a tooth prepared for a crown does not comply with the general principles of retention and resistance form, and it is not possible to correct it without damage to the biologic structures of the tooth, consideration must be given to the purpose of the crown, such as whether it is a single crown, a retainer for a fixed restoration, or a retainer for a fixed removable prosthesis with precision attachments. The crown prepared with receptacles for internal attachments will undoubtedly require more retention and resistance to dislodgment than a single crown because of forces that will be applied to it through the removable portion of the restoration. The purpose of this article is to present an alternative procedure that uses the intracrown ring, which provides additional retention for the abutment crown because of the compressible ring. The compressible ring is placed in the groove prepared in the lower third of the abutment during the crown preparation.

The effect of air pollution on ventilatory function in nonsmoking women.

This study investigated disorders of ventilatory function in unemployed nonsmoking women living in areas with different air pollution. Subjects from Bakar and Krasica had lived in areas with large industrial plants in the vicinity. Continuous air quality measurements showed that SO2 concentrations exceeded the recommended values. The control group had lived in the Viskovo area where measurements showed the air to be clean. Ventilatory functions were measured on two occasions, in 1986 and in 1990. FVC, FEV1, Tiffeneau index, and FMF25-75 were taken and expressed as absolute and relative values. In both 1986 and 1990 measurements, women of Viskovo manifested significantly better values of ventilatory function than the women living in Bakar, except for the Tiffeneau index. The same stands for the 1986 comparison between Viskovo and Krasica women, whereas the second, 1990 measurement showed no difference between the two groups. Decreased ventilatory function in the Bakar women over both measurements and in the Krasica women at the first measurement may be associated with a long-term exposure to an increased air pollution with respect to the Viskovo area.

Comparative trial of azithromycin and ciprofloxacin in the treatment of gonorrhea.

This single-blind (investigator) comparative study was designed to determine the efficacy and tolerability of 1 g of azithromycin vs 500 mg of ciprofloxacin both given as a single oral dose in patients with gonorrhea, who were constantly on the move. One hundred eight patients (59 men and 49 women) with clinically suspected gonococcal infection, confirmed by Gram-stain and culture, were enrolled. Data of 50 patients treated with azithromycin and 51 with ciprofloxacin were evaluable for efficacy and tolerability at the end of the study. After 2 weeks clinical and microbiological cure rates were 96.0% (48 out of 50) for the patients treated with azithromycin and 92.15% (47 out of 51) for the patients treated with ciprofloxacin (p > 0.05). Adverse reactions were reported in 5 patients treated with azithromycin and 6 with ciprofloxacin. In conclusion, 1 g azithromycin is at least as clinically and microbiologically effective and well tolerated as 500 mg of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of gonococcal infections. The drug is particularly useful for sailors and people constantly on the move.

[Etiologic aspects of disorders of social adaptation in children and adolescents]. / Etioloski aspekti poremecaja socijalne adaptacije djece i omladine.

Social adjustment disorders of children and youth make a significant problem of contemporary society. It provokes general interest of health services, social environment, administration of justice, public security services, in fact of society on the whole. These disorders are not born in a social vacuum, but there and now, between us. Most often they are provoked by other people examples, in which are involved other factors, that divided authors in three categories within biological, psychological and sociological theories about disorders of social adjustment in the development age of children. Each of the theories is largely analysed. At the end the authors present the important signals, which help us to detect these disorders on time, and make it possible to prevent their further development by therapeutic means.

[Manifestations of glue sniffing in secondary school students]. / Pojava udisanja para ljepila kod ucenika srednjih skola.

The habit of glue sniffing among pupils has been noted recently. Most sniffers are experimental consumers who seek pleasure and conditional paradise through glue sniffing. An epidemiological investigation carried out in three secondary schools in Rijeka, by means of a questionnaire, showed that among 2254 pupils, aged 14-18 years, 15.2 per cent of the boys and 11 per cent of the girls were sniffers. According to the results of the investigation the pupils who sniffed were more inclined to take up smoking or drugs than those who did not sniff (p less than 0.005). Among the boys who sniffed only 14.7 per cent were non-smokers. The percentage of non-smokers among the girls was 15.2.