Bruno Atalić

Sexual behaviour of Croatian blood donors as a threat to the health of blood recipients.

BACKGROUND In this cross-sectional study we assessed the prevalence of the various blood safety sexual risk behaviours among blood donors from East Croatia and the possibilities for improving the present blood donor screening procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 423 blood donors of both sexes who completed a specially designed anonymous questionnaire immediately after their blood donations. The questionnaire contained questions on demographic data, sexual preferences, and possible sexual risk behaviours in the period before the blood donation. RESULTS The study revealed that the most common forms of sexual risk behaviour among Croatian blood donors had been irregular condom use during sexual contacts with new partners (294/423; 69.5%) and five or more sexual partners during the lifetime (213/423; 50.4%). More male than female subjects had had five or more sexual partners during their lifetime (p<0.0001). Compared to married donors, single subjects more frequently reported sexual contacts without using a condom with their new partners in the period from the last blood donation (p<0.0001) and also in the period of 1 month before current blood donation (p=0.0060). A larger number of younger than older subjects had practiced different types of sexual intercourses during the lifetime (p=0.0002) but more older than younger subjects reported irregular use of condom on sexual contacts with a new partner during their lifetime (p=0.0231). CONCLUSION Blood donors who were involved in various forms of sexual risk behaviour represent a serious threat to the health of blood recipients. In this respect a new approach to blood donor screening procedure with additional questions on sexual behaviour in anonymous donor questionnaires would improve the safety of transfusion treatment in East Croatia.

An unexpected position of the dialyses catheter during routine x-ray examination: a case of the double superior vena cava

This paper presents a case of a 55 year old male patient, who after hospitalization at the Intensive Care Unit, due to acute renal failure, at first had a central venous catheter inserted through his right subclavian vein, and then a dialysis catheter inserted through his left subclavian vein. A routine X-ray examination confirmed that the central venous catheter was visualised in the expected position of the right atrium, which was reached via superior vena cava. The dialysis catheter was not visualised in the expected position of the right atrium, but in the surprising location of the left ventricle, with its line continuously passing by the left sternal edge instead of crossing the middle line in order to enter the superior vena cava, thus raising a concern over its misplacement and possible side-effects (abstract image photo). Due to the absence of pneumo- or haemato-thorax, as the most common signs of the venous rupture, the possible explanation was an anatomical variation. Dialysis catheter displacement in the left internal thoracic vein was proposed as another possibility. Literature research explained it as a case of double superior vena cava, which was confirmed by analysis of the computerised tomography pulmonary angiogram.

Evaluation of Influences of the Viennese Anatomical School on the work of the Croatian Anatomist Jelena Krmpotić-Nemanić

ZusammenfassungZIEL: Diese Arbeit untersucht die Verbindungen zwischen der Wiener anatomischen Schule und der kroatischen Anatomin Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic. MATERIAL UND METHODEN: Für die Analyse wurden 17 Veröffentlichungen von Professor Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic ausgewählt, die sie im letzten Jahrzehnt ihres Lebens verfasst hat. Diese können in drei Gruppen unterteilt werden: Solche, die die anatomische Terminologie, bewerten, die die Entwicklung anatomischer Strukturen untersuchen und solche, die die anatomischen Variationen beschreiben. Die erwähnten Veröffentlichungen wurden in Bezug auf ihre Themen, ihre Methoden und die verwendenten Referenzen analysiert. ERGEBNISSE: Die Analyse der genannten Veröffentlichungen ergab eine indirekte Verbindung zwischen der Wiener anatomischen Schule und Professor Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic durch ihren Mentor Professor Drago Perovic in Bezug auf die Themen und die Methoden ihrer anatomischen Forschung. Es ist aber auch ihre Vorliebe für österreichische und deutsche Anatomie-Lehrbücher und Atlanten erkennbar (die in Wien und Jena veröffentlicht wurden und nicht in England oder Amerika). Abschließend werden ihre direkten Verbindungen mit dem Wiener Institut für Geschichte der Medizin und dem Wiener Josephinum Wachsmodelle Museum unterstrichen. DISKUSSION UND SCHLUSSFOLGERUNG: Die o.a. direkten und indirekten Einflüsse der Wiener anatomischen Schule auf die Arbeit von Professor Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic wurden kritisch bewertet.SummaryOBJECTIVE: This paper tries to evaluate the connections between the Viennese Anatomical School and the Croatian Anatomist Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 17 papers written by Professor Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic in the last decade of her life were chosen for analyses. According to their themes they could be divided into three groups: ones which evaluate the anatomical terminology, ones which research the development of anatomical structures, and ones which describe the anatomical variations. Mentioned papers were analysed through their topics, methods of research and cited references. RESULTS: Analyses of the mentioned papers revealed the indirect link between the Viennese Anatomical School and the Professor Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic, through her mentor Professor Drago Perovic, regarding the themes and the methods of her anatomical researches. It has also showed her preference for Austrian and German anatomical textbooks and atlases, primarily ones published in Vienna and Jena, rather than English and American ones. Finally, her direct connections with the Viennese Institute for the History of Medicine and the Viennese Josephinum Wax Models Museum were emphasized. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Mentioned indirect and direct influences of the Viennese Anatomical School on the work of Professor Jelena Krmpotic-Nemanic were critically appraised.