[Baldo and Ante Bibica, Father and Son - Two Physicians from Dubrovnik] / Baldo i Ante Bibica, otac i sin ­ dva dubrovacka lijecnika

Medicine and physicians in Dubrovnik during the last two centuries, i.e. in the period after the dissolution of the Republic of Dubrovnik by Napoleon's Army, have attracted less interest among medical historians. In this paper, the lives and medical careers of two physicians from Dubrovnik, father and son, Baldo and Ante Bibica, have been reconstructed from the end of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century by searching through the contemporary medical journals and newspapers as well as private archives of the members of family Bibica. Baldo Bibica graduated medicine in Vienna and spent the whole professional life as a municipal physician, at first, in the places in the vicinity of Dubrovnik and from 1903 in Gruz. Ante Bibica studied medicine in Graz and in Zagreb to become the first person from Dubrovnik promoted at the School of Medicine, Zagreb University. He specialized in dermatovenereology in Vienna and worked, as a specialist, in Dubrovnik. They both were active in the professional medical societies (at local and national levels) and were influential in the social life in Dubrovnik.

Mal de Meleda: A great imitator.

Mal de Meleda is an hereditary palmoplantar keratoderma named for the Mljet Island in Croatia. The lives of those affected by this disease represent a complex situation that encompasses members of a vulnerable group. They require enlightenment and should be approached with awareness, taking into account their overall psychophysical status and the environment of each patient. Those afflicted with Mal de Meleda not only have to deal with a difficult life due to their affliction, but they also must cope with the hardships of socialization while trying to realize a normal life within their island community. This is compounded by the frequent interviews and examinations of researchers interested in the various aspects of their illness. The subject of this contribution is not about the nature of this disease, rather about the traces it has left on the (sub)consciousness of the population. It is also concerned with exploring ways of how to access patients and understanding the depth of their vulnerability. We present some thoughts tied to the interpersonal experiences of researchers and patients afflicted with Mal de Meleda.

Mal de meleda - through history and today.

Meleda disease is an indigenous dermatological disease classified as a hereditary palmoplantar keratoderma. The disease was first described on the island of Mljet, Croatia, by Luko Stulli in 1826. We present a historical review of the literature data throughout the centuries till today. Recently, the gene responsible for the disease has been identified on chromosome 8qter within the cluster of Ly-6 homologous human genes. Various mutations in the secreted LY6/PLAUR-related protein1 gene (SLURP1) located on the aforementioned chromosome were identified as the cause of the disease. Due to similarity between the islands of Malta and Mljet, we are proud of the fact that, to the credit of Croatian researchers and scientists, Mal de Meleda entered the international scientific literature under that very name and has preserved it until today.

A brief history of dermatovenereology in Dubrovnik.

Since its inception, Dubrovnik has been associated with medicine. The citizens of Dubrovnik have felt the need for the development and improvement of public health conditions in their city as the basic conditions of their existence. In this context, we focused our attention on the development of dermatology and venereology to date; from the first hospital Domus Christi to the modern hospital Medarevo; from the first doctors to specialist doctors, who have marked dermatovenereology in Dubrovnik and Croatia. Domus Christi started accepting patients in 1540 as a public sector hospital and operated for more than 350 years. In 1847, doctors Pinelli and Lopisic operated on breast cancer in this hospital with the use of ether narcosis (one year after ether narcosis had been discovered). A doctor is first mentioned in Dubrovnik in 1280, until this time it could be said that there were no doctors. Medical operations were performed by barbers. The first written records of a doctor in Dubrovnik practicing in dermatovenereology are those of military doctor Marko Bibica. In the context of Dubrovnik dermatovenereology, we must mention doctor Luko Stulli, who was the first to describe Mal de Meleda.

[Leprosy--today forgotten in Croatia?]. / Lepra--danas zaboravljena u Hrvatskoj?

Leprosy is an infectious skin disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which predominantly affects the skin, peripheral nerves and mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity. In spite of today's efficient treatment, leprosy represents a public health problem in some countries of the world. It is estimated that 12 to 15 million patients are currently affected in the world. Leprosy ravaged across Europe, including Croatia, for centuries, so this paper provides a few historical facts on leprosy in Croatia. In 1956, the last case of leprosy was recorded in Blizna, a small village near Trogir, which was considered an endemic region in the Republic of Croatia. Although there is no indigenous leprosy nowadays in Croatia, there is a possibility of the disease re-emergence from tourists or crew members from large vessels, or from the infected persons returning to Croatia from abroad. Therefore, Croatian physicians, especially dermatovenereologists, must be familiar with the basics of the disease; therefore, this article points out the clinical picture, classification and basic principles of pathogenesis and treatment of the disease.

Educating people about importance of photoprotection: results of campaign on the islands in Dubrovnik area.

After an increasing number of skin cancer cases and some skin cancer deaths among young people in Dubrovnik area had been noted, a field research was done in the period from 2003 to 2007. The examinations were done on the islands in Dubrovnik area (Korcula, Mljet, Lopud, Sipan, Kolocep and on the peninsula Peljesac). Research tasks were collecting information on sun-protection behaviors and attitudes and usage of sun protecting factor products, detection of the presence of skin cancer in the area and advising those diagnosed ill about further medical procedure, educating and informing local population as well as local physicians in the area with investigation results. In spite of wide media campaign, more then half of examined people did not use sun protective factor (SPF) products. It can be concluded that better education about damaging effects of ultraviolet radiations as well as further education how to properly protect its adverse effects is required.