Kastriot Shytaj

Background: Research on the effects of corticosteroids in bacterial meningitis (BM) yielded conflicting results. While some studies reveal that corticosteroids improve the outcomes in BM treatments, others provide strong evidence that patients do not profit from this treatment. We investigated the factors that may impact the dexamethasone efficacy in patients with BM. Methodology: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the medical records of patients with probable acute bacterial meningitis hospitalized

This study evaluated the effects of Albanian propolis on the inflamed pulpal tissue after pulpotomy in piglets. In five piglets, two teeth each were infected using special pathogenic microbial flora that was prepared in advance in order to cause inflammation of the pulp. Pulpotomy was performed in the maxillary and mandibular central and lateral incisors. Microbial flora pathogenesis prepared from the section of infected teeth, containing Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus albus and mixed flora were used to cause artificial pulpitis. The first group consisted of piglets with the teeth having pulpal inflammation and regeneration without medication served as the control group. In the second group, the teeth were treated with pure propolis after vital amputation. In the 3rd, 4th and 5th groups, the teeth were treated after vital amputation with the compounds of ZnO+10%, ZnO+20% propolis in ethanol, and with the paste composed of Ca(OH) ...

Background: Healthcare workers are reported to be in a higher risk for drug allergy, due to their professional exposure. This study intends to measure the prevalence of these allergies in healthcare workers in Albania. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital Centre ‘Mother Theresa’ where 662 nurses were requested to fill up a questionnaire. Six hundred and thirty-nine of them accepted to answer the questionnaire. The questionnaire has detailed questions about the drug that caused the allergy, its nature, treatment, and diagnostics tests. The RR and the chi-square were calculated between three subgroups; 0–9, 10–19 and >20 years of work in health services, with 95% CI. The data were analyzed with MS Excel 2007 and PASW Statistics 18. Results: The prevalence of drug allergy as reported by the subjects was 13.62% (87). Only one subject reported allergy of more than one chemically unrelated drug (penicillin and streptomycin). As analyzed by the therap...

Background: Different studies demonstrate superiority of Cetirizine over Loratadine in the suppression of flare reactions caused by Epicutaneus Skin Prick Test with Histamine (ESPTH) but there are contradictory evidences regarding their effect on the weal reactions. This study aimed to compare these superiorities. Method: Loratadine 10 mg and Cetirizine 10 mg were given to 26 volunteers in a double-blind, randomized cross-over method. The subjects performed the ESPTH immediately before the medications were administered, and then 30 minutes, 1, 3, 5, 6 and 24 hours after they received the drugs. Twenty minutes after each ESPTH, flare and weal were drawn into a transparent paper. After four weeks the subgroups changed the drugs and underwent the same procedure. To analyze the differences between flare and weal, we carefully cut the transparent paper tracings and weighed them in an analytical weighing-machine. The differences were analyzed with Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. Results: Cetirizine ...

Background: Allergies are increasing among Albanian children. For now, studies about their prevalence are exclusively focused in Tirana, the capital of Albania. This study intends to check the prevalence in Gjirokast€er, one of the southern districts of Albania. Method: This is a cross-sectional survey where participated all the children of the third and fourth level of the elementary schools of the Gjirokast€er town in 2010. 313 children with a mean age of 9.34 � 1.16 years old, 139 (44.4%) males, received a questionnaire that was filled up by their parents. The questionnaire included ISAAC questions on ever wheezing, current wheezing, allergic diseases and allergic reactions. The data were analysed with PASW Statistics 18. Results: 23.72% (74) had experienced at least once wheezing during their life, but only 5.81% (18) had experienced wheezing last year. 2.59% (8) answered positively to the asthma ever question, and 23.72% (74) to the allergic rhinitis ever. 18.53% respond positi...

Background: The frequent and extensive use of latex gloves is known to noticeably impact the increasing prevalence of latex allergies among the health care workers. At the same time skin prick test is routinely used to evaluate the sensitivity to latex. The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between latex exposures its allergy, and skin prick test positivity in Albanian healthcare workers. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study, at a university hospital centre, involving 662 nurses filling up a questionnaire. Simultaneously, we performed a skin prick test with latex and negative control solutions, on the forearm of each participant. From among them, 639 participants accepted to answer the questionnaire; while 602 accepted to undergo the skin prick test. RR and the chi-square test were used to test the differences. PASW Statistics 18 and MS Excel 2007 were used to analyze the data. Results: 2.33% (14) participants showed positive results for latex skin prick test; ...

Background. Parietaria is a highly allergenic herb that is found mainly in the Mediterranean area. Bronchial Asthma associated with rhinoconjuctivitis is the main disease of Parietaria pollinosis. This is most commonly found in rough and dry areas around ancient castles. The aim of this study was to find out if exposure to this allergen increases sensitivity in allergic patients. Method. This is a retrospective study based on review of clinical records of patients presented at Allergology Clinic of University Health Centre “Mother Theresa” of Tirana Clinic between 1996-2002 from districts of Kruja, Berat and Tirana. Results. 1368 patients were found to have respiratory symptoms. All of them had undergone a skin prick test with a standard battery of 20 most common pneumoallergens with at least one positive allergen. There was no significant difference between prevalence of sensitization from Parietaria among Kruja and Berat, but there were a very significant differences (p<0.001) ...

Background: Generally atopy is defined as a genetic disposition to develop allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, or atopic dermatitis. It is also known as an increased capacity to produce IgE response to common environmental antigens. This study intends to measure the relative risk of atopic individuals to develop allergy to food, drug and latex. Method: In a cross-sectional study, 639 nurses (from 662 that were asked for) at the UHC ‘Mother Theresa’ in Tirana, accepted to fill up a questionnaire where questions about personal atopy, food, drug and latex allergy were included. About 589 were females and they have a mean age 43.28 (+10.71) years. We considered atopic every person that has at least any of the atopic diseases (allergic rhinitis, asthma, or atopic dermatitis). The chi-square test and the RR with a 95% CI were calculated for each case. MS Excel 2007 and PASW Statistics 18 were used to analyze the data. Results: 20.81% (133) of nurses reported to have had a...

Background Cetirizine is widely used to prevent the symptoms of allergies, especially in the skin, eye, and nose. Meanwhile Histamine Wheal and Flare inhibition is a standard biological test widely used to test the effect duration and intensity. The aim of our study was to test the Histamine weal and flare inhibition by Zyrtec (Cetirizine) on Albanian healthy volunteers. Method This was an open, single dose, clinical study. 16 healthy volunteers, 5 males, with a mean age of 21+1 years participated in this study. After they received 10 mg of Zyrtec, they were tested with a skin prick test with Histamine on the forearm on thirteen occasions. Flare and weal were drown in a transparent paper, twenty minutes after each skin prick test and the weal and flare surface were measured with software. The data distribution were tested Shapiro–Wilk Test. Differences were analyzed with Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test and all tests used were two-sided with significance at 5% level. Results The subjects ...

Introduction: Studies conducted across Western Europe reported that bronchial asthma (BA) has an important impact on patients' lives quality. We present Albanian asthmatic patients’ views based on the questionnaire generated from the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients Associations (EFA). Materials and methodology: In this study participated 145 Caucasian patients consecutively and prospectively diagnosed with BA. Results: The vast majority of patients reported lifestyle' limitations because of uncontrolled BA, three-fourth of them reported restriction of physical activity, and 20% felt their professional perspectives were limited. Additionally, up to 80% of the subjects were not optimistic about achieving the guideline goals but they were optimistic regarding the availability of more qualitative medicines and improvement of healthcare level over the next years. Our patients indicated that optimal treatments should be fast-acting and long-lasting, sh...

Echinococcosis is an endemic zoonosis in the Mediterranean area, with Albania interested actually to a level that is becoming a public health concern. Authors describe preliminary data from the only tertiary (university) medical facility of Albania, positioned in the capital of the country (Tirana), with 333 new cases diagnosed and treated during the period 2005 – 2011. Out of all these 333 new cases an impressive majority of 91% had a surgical treatment right from the first admission, rendering the disease almost a surgical exclusivity. Even more, 80% of all patients from the study group were hospitalized straightforwardly in surgical wards, with options of surgical intervention’s percentages outrunning figures from other sources and authors of the same geographical area. Such a situation, together with a very important level of patients’ origin from highly urbanized areas such as those of the capital, suggest the necessity of well-organized interventions, among which might be the ...

Background.
Parietaria is a highly allergenic herb that is found mainly in the Mediterranean area. Bronchial Asthma associated with rhinoconjuctivitis is the main disease of Parietaria pollinosis. This is most commonly found in rough and dry areas around ancient castles. The aim of this study was to find out if exposure to this
allergen increases sensitivity in allergic patients.
Method.
This is a retrospective study based on review of clinical records of patients presented at Allergology Clinic of University Health Centre “Mother Theresa” of Tirana Clinic between 1996-2002 from districts of
Kruja, Berat and Tirana.
Results.
1368 patients were found to have respiratory symptoms. All of them had undergone a skin prick test with a standard battery of 20 most common pneumoallergens with at least one positive allergen. There was no significant difference between prevalence of sensitization from Parietaria among Kruja and Berat, but there were a very significant differences (p<0.001) between these two regions and Tirana. 17% of patients had Allergic Rhinits only, and 83% had both Allergic Rhinitis and Bronchial Asthma.
Discusion and Conclusion
Tirana, Kruja and Berat are regions located both in the Middle of Albania with close proximity to each other and nearly the same distance from the sea shore. Citizens of Kruja and Berat are living near ancient castles, which are areas that are infested by Parietaria. Patients from these two regions had increased prevalence of sensitization compared to patients residing in Tirana.