Summary Chronic periodontitis is a result of polymicrobial infection and its treatment aims removal of dental calculus and biofi lm from the periodontal pocket. Many hand and power-driven instruments are created for this purpose. In recent years, lasers are widely discussed tools for periodontal therapy. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the early microbiological and clinical effectiveness of the Er:YAG laser in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. 30 patients with moderate chronic periodontitis were enrolled in the study. Using a split-mouth design they were treated either with Er:YAG laser (chisel tip, 100 mJ, 15 Hz, 5-6 water spray)-test group or with Gracey curettes- control group. Probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession (GR), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing and plaque presence were evaluated at baseline and one month after the therapy. Microbiological samples were taken from the deepest four pockets of each quadrant from 20 randomly selected patients (n = 80). They were evaluated using real time PCR for periodontal pathogens from the red complex (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia). One month after therapy in the control group PPD decreased from 4.59 mm to 3.36 mm, the CAL gain was 1.09 mm and the reduction of bleeding and plaque - from 87.9% to 33.7% and from 75.9% to 40.9%, respectively. In the test group PPD decreased from 4.58 mm to 3.15 mm, the CAL gain was 1.37mm and the reduction of bleeding and plaque was from 85.6% to 25.9% one month after the treatment. The results were statistically significant in favour of the laser group (p < 0.05). Microbiological analysis revealed that the pathogens from the red complex decreased 3 times in the control and 6 times in the test group. Therefore, the Er:YAG laser demonstrate pronounced early effectiveness in chronic periodontitis treatment and would be appropriate alternative of the conventional periodontal therapy.

Premature birth is a serious medical, social and economic problem. Its consequences are multiple health complications leading to high neonatal mortality worldwide. Respiratory insufficiency and surfactant deficiency significantly increase the risk of developing Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD) and other forms of Respiratory Distress (RDS). These are the most common causes of death in premature babies. In prenatal and neonatal medicine, new and adaptive prophylaxis is being implemented to reduce the risk of death of premature babies and reduce the development of health complications. The goal of effective corticosteroid prophylaxis is to reduce mortality, reduce complications in prenatal new-borns, and shorten their stay in neonatal and intensive units respectively. A retrospective study of 167 preterm infants was conducted, of which 89 (53.3%) had prophylaxis with dexamethasone. In 25 (15%) of preterm infants, there was a Hyaline Membrane Disease (HMD) and 101 (60.5%) developed other forms of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). The results obtained show that the incidence of HMD in preterm infants is mediated by the early gestational age and advanced age of the mother, and decreased by corticosteroid therapy.

The proven associations in the study are important indicators in the purposeful search for NTDs in early prenatal ultrasound diagnosis.

AbstractPost-communist Bulgaria has experienced the full impact of a socioeconomic disaster. Under prolonged and powerful stress the human body may exhaust its adaptive potential and a variety of pathophysiological symptoms may occur. The cardiovascular system is most vulnerable to stress. The aim of this study is to analyze the role of psychological factors correlating with Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) during the transition period in post-communist Bulgaria. A case-control epidemiological study was performed. 306 cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and 210 controls were studied. Analysis of patients’ records was made and a direct face-to-face interview was carried out. The study covers a 15-year transition period lasting from 1989 until 2005. The interview questions are based on W. Zung’s standardized self-evaluation tests of anxiety and depression (Self Rating Depression Scale — SDS, 1965, SAS-Self Rating Anxiety Scale, 1976) and on a test of aggression, as a part of the Minnesota Multiphase personality inventory, adapted from A.A. Krilov and F. Korozi’s FPI test. Average levels of anxiety and depression appear to be higher among patients suffering from coronary heart diseases than in control group members. Levels of aggression do not show a direct correlation with coronary heart disease. Both groups demonstrate symptoms of psychological disturbances caused, most probably, by the socio-economic instability of the transition period. In conclusion, certain socioeconomic factors significantly increase the level of anxiety and depression in the respondents. The AMI patients are considerably more anxious and depressed than the controls. The results provide evidence that high levels of anxiety and depression may correlate to and be interpreted as a potential risk factor for coronary heart disease.