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The present catalogue of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Bulgaria is made on a base of critical reconsideration of literature (covering the period from 1892 till 2009 and part of 2010) as well as on examination of the authors‘ and several museum‘s collections. A lot of data were omitted in the previous Bulgarian monograph on ants, lots of new data were recently added and many important additions and alterations were made due to taxonomic revisions of Eurasian Formicidae during the last three decades. Two new species are reported for the country [Temnothorax graecus (Forel, 1911) and Temnothorax cf. korbi (Emery, 1924)].This catalogue contains a list of 163 ant species belonging to 40 genera of 6 subfamilies now known from Bulgaria. Synonyms and information on the previously reported names in relevant publications are given. Known localities of the species are grouped by geographic regions. Maps with concrete localities or regions for each species were prepared. The conservation status of 13 ant species is given as they are included in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Bulgarian Biodiversity Act. In comparison with adjacent Balkan regions the ant fauna of Bulgaria is quite rich and its core is composed of South European elements.

AIM: To study the cholestatic forms of viral hepatitis A that are described as unusual and very rare, but that are of great signifi cance because of their severe course and high morbidity rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe herein 17 cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection with pronounced cholestasis treated in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases at St. George University Hospital between 2002 and 2006. They are taken from a contingent of 820 patients we studied in the course of the research: of these 400 were cases of sporadic disease and 420 patients were involved in an epidemic outbreak of the disease. All got this diagnosis based on an anti-HAV/IgM test. Eight parameters were analyzed: age, max TBil, max ALT, ALP, GGT, no urobilinogen in urine, ultrasound monitoring of hepatomegaly, and hospital stay. RESULTS: The 17 patients we discuss here are 2.07% of the total 820 patients with viral hepatitis A (VHA). In 14 the disease had a cholestatic component; 3 cases were a cholestatic form of the disease. The mean hospital stay was 49.1 ± 11.5 days, the longest - 75 days. The hyperbilirubinemia had high levels at the disease climax - the mean concentration was 356.6 μkmol/l, and remained greater than 150 μkmol/l for more than a month. In 10 patients (58.2%) transaminase activity was over 1400 U/l, (mean 2011 U/l). CONCLUSION: Viral hepatitis A ran with cholestatic syndrome in 2.07%; 23.5% of these cases were classifi ed as severe forms of the disease and 76.5% - as moderate. This is evinced by the enhanced transaminase activity, the elevated TBil, pronounced intoxication, the adynamia, vomiting, headache, the vertigo, all of these items in the objective severity score system we used.

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Bariatric surgery is a component of the multimodal treatment of obesity, which consists of multidisciplinary evaluation and diagnosis, conservative and surgical treatments, and lifelong follow-up care. The current guideline extends the BMI-based spectrum of indications that was previously proposed (BMI greater than 40 kg/m(2), or greater than 35 kg/m(2) with secondary diseases) by eliminating age limits, as well as most of the contraindications. A prerequisite for surgery is that a structured, conservative weight-loss program has failed or is considered to be futile. Type 2 diabetes is now considered an independent indication under clinical study conditions for patients whose BMI is less than 35 kg/m(2) (metabolic surgery). The standard laparoscopic techniques are gastric banding, gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and biliopancreatic diversion. The choice of procedures is based on knowledge of the results, long-term effects, complications, and individual circumstances. Structured lifelong follow-up should be provided and should, in particular, prevent metabolic deficiencies.