BACKGROUND:Disorders in the metabolism of iron in the direction of iron overload are observed not only in primary hemochromatosis but also in some chronic liver diseases other aetiology. Elevation of serum iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation is reported in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol, chronic hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis.AIM:Aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the frequency of the iron serum markers in patients with various chronic liver diseases.MATERIAL AND METHODS:The study included a total of 246 persons -186 patients with chronic liver disease without cirrhosis (-115 men, women -71; average age of 50.41 ± 12.85, from 23 to 77 years) and 60 healthy controls (-30 men, women -30, middle-aged 50.50 ± 11.31, from 29 to 83 years). Medical history, physical examination and demographic data including height, weight, laboratory and instrumental studies were performed.RESULTS:The highest incidence of elevated serum iron, transferrin saturation and ferritin and decreased serum hepcidin found in cases of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC).CONCLUSION:Finally, analysis of the changes in serum markers of iron metabolism shows that the difference between healthy and sick with liver disease is primarily due to changes in alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, particularly steatohepatitis, and chronic hepatitis C.

The aim of this study was to determine the species composition of streptococci causing subclinical, and clinical mastitis in dairy cows, their prevalence and antimicrobial drug sensitivity with respect to appropriate therapy. The study subject was the involvement and prevalence of bacteria from the genus Streptococcus in the etiology of subclinical, and clinical mastitis in dairy cows. The survey was conducted in eight cattle farms from different regions in Bulgaria in 2020 and 2021. After clinical examination and rapid mastitis test, a total of 239 cows were diagnosed with udder inflammation - 34 (14.2%) with clinical signs and 205 (85.8%) with subclinical mastitis. Laboratory analyses were performed on 346 samples. Two hundred and seventy two bacterial strains were isolated, and 151 (55.5%) were determined to belong to Streptococcus spp. Lancefield grouping and species identification of haemolytic variants was done. It was found out that in subclinical forms of mastitis, 54.5% of isolates belonged to Streptococcus spp., respectively 63.3 % of isolates in clinical forms of mastitis also belonged to Streptococcus spp. Out of them, 38.6% were S. uberis, 35.6% were identified as S. agalactiae and 25.8% − as S. dysgalactiae. In vitro tests of the sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs from various groups and classes were conducted with all field isolates. The tests demonstrated a relatively well-preserved sensitivity to antimicrobial agents with the exception of tetracycline

During the training process, nurse students acquire knowledge, skills and competencies to work with different groups of patients. Working with elderly people has its difficulties and specificities. The acquisition of practical skills by students for planning and documenting individual health care for the elderly people is a process in which teachers and mentors have a leading role. Objectives: To identify the factors which make it difficult for nurse students to work with elderly people. Methods: The study involved 52 3rd year nurse students – from the Faculty of Medicine of Trakia University in Bulgaria. A questionnaire was used, including open-ended and closed-ended questions, allowing more than one answer. The data was processed mathematically and graphically. Results: The main difficulties for students in working with the elderly people are as follows: the process of communication (92.16%), difficult perception of new information (80.64%) and memory impairment in the elderly patient (61.44%); The main difficulties related to the organization of activity - insufficient experience in working with geriatric patients (92.16%); insufficient time for communication with patients (94.08%); lack of comfort in the patient's home (57.60%); a "Diary for tracking and self-monitoring of the condition" of an elderly person - it is very useful for 90.24% of students so that they can monitor the condition of the elderly person; It was found that 65.28% of students do not want to work with elderly people, as 46.09% of them indicate the motive for this as mental strain. Conclusion: The teacher and the mentor are leading figures in preparing students to work with elderly people. The practical preparation for planning and documenting individual health care for elderly people is very important in the training process of nurse students.

BACKGROUND: In the context of health education, the lifestyle of each individual includes social and behavioral factors that are potentially manageable and preventable in general. A health-educated person adheres to healthy lifestyle, which is characterized by the presence of: active attitude to his own health, positive health motivation, skills for health protection and strengthening, and useful health habits. Stimulating one of them is the systematic monitoring and registration of the main vital indicators, as a good prerequisite for active monitoring of the health condition. As of December 31, 2019 the population of Bulgaria is 6,951,482 people, and the people, aged 65 and over are 1,504,088, or 21.6% of the country’s population. AIM: The objective of this study was to establish the degree of personal commitment and responsibility for their health of people over 65-year-old, living in Bulgaria. Tasks: (a) To make a questionnaire, (b) Processing of the received information and analysis of results, (c) Formulation of conclusions regarding awareness, health motivation and lifestyle of the respondents, (d) Reporting the degree of responsibility for their health of the respondents. METHODS: Mathematical-statistical – dispersion, comparative analysis, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient/p/;desk research; interview. Contingent: 113 people; average age – approx. 68.168 ± 8.80 years. Time: 2019. RESULTS: (1) A statistically significant relationship was found: p = 0.001 and x2 = 21.886. The respondents with two chronic diseases – 40.5% are well aware of the normal values of the measured indicators. (2) Two thirds of the respondents/74.3%/are well informed about the normal and pathological values of the main vital indicators, which they can measure and register themselves. (3) 76% of the respondents have received the necessary health information from the medical team/partnership model. (4) Only half of the older respondents in the study/51.4%/follow a diet complied with their health status. CONCLUSION: In our professional medical care for the elderly people in Bulgaria, we must place emphasis on their preventive and prophylactic commitment to their own health. The useful and practical combination of properly received and internalized medical information from the elderly people is an important prerequisite for their informed commitment to their own health.

Bulgaria is the second-fastest aging nation in Eastern Europe and fifth in the world. Older people are the largest and ever-growing group of people in health care. The most common diseases in this age group are circulatory, endocrine, digestive, musculature, neoplasms, and respiratory systems. Some of the main reasons for these diseases include an unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and obesity. One hundred twelve adult patients with chronic diseases were interviewed. The aim of the study is to establish the awareness of older people about overweight-related problems. In order to increase their knowledge and improve their quality of life and independence, we prepared a training program (Table4).