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Biomedical subjects

S Andonova

Publications and source records attributed to S Andonova.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Ultrasound screening for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities by fetal nuchal translucency measurement between 11-14 weeks of gestation].

AIM: To assess the feasibility of nuchal translucency [NT] measurement as a screening tool for Down syndrome [DS] and other chromosomal anomalies [ChA] between 11-14 weeks of gestation [w.g.]. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal prospective follow up study was carried out at a tertiary referral center including 408 singleton pregnancies between 11+0 and 14+0 w.g. Three experienced sonographers performed transabdominal and/or transvaginal scans using high-resolution ultrasound equipment. The ultrasound examinations included assessment of fetal number and viability, NT measurement and fetal anatomy survey. Down syndrome [DS] risk was calculated using the specialized computer program provided by the Fetal Medicine Foundation [FMF], UK. In cases of estimated DS risk > or = 1:300 invasive prenatal diagnosis was offered--chorionic villus sampling [CVS] between 11-14 w.g. or amniocentesis [AC] after 15 w. g., as well as follow-up scans including fetal echocardiography. The samples were tested by cytogenetic analysis, DNA analysis and/or FISH. When chromosomal fetal abnormality was detected termination of pregnancy was an option. Pregnancy outcome was ascertained from hospital records, referring physicians or the patients themselves. RESULTS: 108 (26%) out of the 408 women were ?35 years and 300 (74%)--below that age. A total number of 9 fetal chromosomal anomalies [ChA] were found including 6 cases with DS, 2--with trisomy 18 [T18] and 1--with Turner syndrome. The overall sensitivity for DS was 66.7% for a false-positive rate [FPR] of 13.4%. The figures for all ChA were 77.7% and 12.8%, respectively. All three cases of ChA other than DS were in the screen-positive group. The overall sensitivity and FPR for ChA for patients > or = 35 years was 80% and 35%, while for patients < 35 years it was 75% and 5.1 %, respectively. Diagnostic invasive procedures were performed in 50 out of 58 screen-positive cases, including 7 of the cases with ChA. In all 7 cases with prenatal diagnosis of fetal ChA the parents chose to terminate the pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: First trimester DS screening by NT measurement has high sensitivity and specificity. Screening for other chromosomal abnormalities missed by second trimester biochemical serum tests is also possible. Invasive prenatal diagnosis is performed at an early gestational age when termination of affected pregnancies by D&C is still an option. Other important advantages are the possibility of screening for ChA in multiple gestations, as well as early diagnosis of major fetal anomalies.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed2001

Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in three major population groups in Bulgaria.

A total of 280 unrelated males from the three largest population groups in Bulgaria: Bulgarians, Bulgarian Turks and Gypsies, were analyzed for seven Y-chromosome STRs (DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393). Comparison of the allele frequency distributions revealed significant differences between the three ethnic groups which were confirmed with haplotype analysis. This permits us to suggest that population differentiation should be taken into account in forensic case analysis and paternity testing in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria↗
PubMed1999

Our experience in the treatment of acute Amanita phalloides poisoning.

INTRODUCTION: The present study aimed at investigating phalloid mushroom poisoning and the toxicological aid services in Plovdiv region as this pathology shows in this country high mortality rate (40-100%) and increasing incidence; it is difficult to diagnose and is far from featuring adequately in the literature in our country. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A caseload of 270 patients with mushroom poisoning from Plovdiv region, Bulgaria, admitted for treatment to the Clinic of Toxicology, Higher Medical Institute, Plovdiv, for the period 1991-1998 was studied. Of these 270 patients 25 (9.26%) had an acute phalloid poisoning. The following indicators were registered: gender, age, reported type of consumed mushrooms, time of appearance of the first complaints after the mushroom consumption, time of medical aid, disease outcome. The diagnosis and the applied treatment was based on our own diagnostic-therapeutic protocol for phalloid intoxication. RESULTS: All phalloid poisoning cases were accidental by character. The most frequently reported type of ingested mushroom was unidentified wild edible mushrooms. Of all the patients males were 56%, females--44% with mean age of 47.71 years (SD = 17.53). From 25 phalloid poisoning cases 15 survived (60%), 10 died (40%). The summer-fall seasonal pattern of phalloid poisoning occurrence was apparent. The mean duration of the latency period was 12 hours (SD--6.66). In 4 (16%) patients the disease exhibited an unusually early onset--up to 2 hours after the mushroom ingestion. The mean time period from the mushroom ingestion to the presentation in a medical institution for first medical aid was 32 hours (SD--21.69), for men--27.59 hours, for women--43.75 hours. Almost one third (32%) of the diseased presented for medical help more than 36 hours after the poisoning. CONCLUSIONS: The acute mushroom poisoning cases in adults comprise 7.01% of the total acute poisoning caseload. The phalloid poisoning accounts for 9.26% of the total number of patients with mushroom poisoning admitted for treatment. The application of contemporary diagnostic-therapeutic protocol lowers the hospital lethality rate from phalloid poisoning to 40%. There were no statistically significant differences in the compared parameters between the subgroups of patients with favorable and lethal outcome and between the subgroups of men and women--most probably due to the small sample. In order to lower the incidence and mortality rate from phalloid mushroom poisoning the authors recommend preventive health education on the problem, targeting the population at risk and the introduction of contemporary diagnostic and treatment methods--determining the amatoxins, intravenous application of Silibinin and liver transplantation.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Aspects of granulocyte function in workers professionally exposed to pesticides.

Granulocyte function in 92 workers from a chemical plant for the production of pesticides was tested by means of the nitro-blue tetrazolium test (spontaneous and stimulated) and the phagocytosis test. Two opposite types of change were identified, namely increased and reduced functional activity. No reliable correlation between the studied parameters and length of service was found. In comparison with the routine hematological methods, the identified functional changes in polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes serve as an early indicator of an impact on the leukocytes. The applied methods are accessible and may be used as an objective means of studying the dynamics of the unfavorable effect of zineb and of identifying groups at increased toxicological risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Endoscopic assessment of hemorrhage from the gastrointestinal tract].

The causes of gastrointestinal bleedings was assessed by fiber gastroscopy, rectoromanoscopy and fiber colonoscopy. The most frequent causes of bleedings from the upper gastrointestinal tract are gastric and duodenal ulcers, erosive hemorrhagic gastritis, gastric cancer, liver cirrhosis with bleeding from varicose veins, polyps, diverticuli, Mallory-Weiss syndrome, etc. The most frequent causes of bleedings from the lower gastrointestinal tract are hemorrhoids, anal fissures, colonic polyps, chronic ulcerohemorrhagic colitis, rectal carcinoma, etc. The diagnostic importance of urgent endoscopic examinations is pointed out.

Emergencies↗
PubMed1989

[Comparative fiber colonoscopic and x-ray studies in diseases of the large intestine].

For a two year period 79 patients were examined by fiber colonoscopy and X-ray examination of the colon. The purpose of the study is to find out the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the methods for the diagnosis of the most frequent diseases of the colon. The results allow the conclusion that fiber colonoscopy is the method of choice in the diagnosis of the neoplasms and the inflammatory diseases of the colon. When all segments of the colon cannot be examined by fiber colonoscopy a double-contrast barium enema is advised. Fiber colonoscopy should be performed to all patients with clinical data suspicious for a colonic disease and a negative X-ray examination of the colon.

Adult↗