Medical University of Varna

About: Medical University of Varna is a education organization based out in Varna, Varna, Bulgaria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 1199 authors who have published 1273 publications receiving 32940 citations. The organization is also known as: MU-Varna & Higher Medical Institute of Varna.

Assessment of health related quality of life in paediatric patients with asthma - methods and disease determinants

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the methods for assessing Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in children with a focus on both the instruments available for measuring HRQOL in pediatric patients with asthma and the disease determinants. Adolescents with bronchial asthma often have substantially lower HRQOL. Frequent exacerbations impair children`s normal daily routines such as school activities, play and sleep. The factors affecting children`s HRQOL largely vary from those affecting the HRQOL in adults. Chronic diseases in childhood are a risk factor associated with serious psychosocial consequences - low self-esteem, behavioral problems, and difficulties in learning. Assessment of HRQOL can be successfully integrated in achieving the primary aim of the disease management - to maintain health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.

The Quality Management System as a Factor for the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

Abstract: Introduction: The regulatory requirements for the quality of medicines and the strong competition in the pharmacy sector necessitate the establishment of effective quality management systems (QMS) that both meet regulatory requirements and contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of pharmaceutical manufacturers. The aim of the study is to investigate the attitudes of the Bulgarian pharmaceutical companies’ senior managers to the QMS as a factor of competitiveness. Materials and methods: An analysis of scientific literature on the competitiveness of pharmaceutical manufacturers in Bulgaria was carried out. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with executives and quality managers between May 2017 and August 2018. An online semi-structured interview with 17 closed-ended questions and 5 open questions was sent to 34 companies, with responses received from 21 respondents. Results: The competitive pressure in the pharmaceutical market in Bulgaria, according to the majority of the senior managers of pharmaceutical manufacturers (76%), is stronger in terms of the price of pharmaceuticals compared to quality, unlike the competitive pressure of the world market where the quality is of prime importance. All respondents have indicated that the QMS can significantly influence competitiveness. According to more than half of the respondents (52%), effective QMS contributes to increasing competitiveness, mainly by reducing the number of defective / rejected products, which is related to lowering total costs. Conclusion: Effective QMS has an impact on various business indicators and its contribution is most significant in ensuring quality of the products and activities; reducing costs and increasing profitability; expanding external markets and introducing innovation. Bulgarian manufacturers have a positive attitude towards the effective functioning of the QMS and use it as a means of adding value.

Health, Social and Economic Costs of Complex Treatment of Heroin Addiction

Abstract: The use of drugs is a significant health and social problem worldwide. It gets increasingly complicated due to the emerging new challenges that give rise to concerns about public health. Besides the controlled use for medical purposes, around 250 million, (5.7%) of the world population aged 15-64 years, use illegal drugs. The opioid addiction is a mental and behavior disorder with complex bio-psycho-social genesis and chronic recidivistic course. One of the treatment methods is the so-called medication-assisted treatment that is performed by use of opiate agonists (methadone, etc.). Practically, this treatment means administration of the relevant medicine products in combination with a wide range of medical and rehabilitation services to alleviate the adverse medical, psychological and physiological effects that are inherent of opioid addiction. It is presented a good practice of a treatment methadone program by describing the organization of the Methadone Treatment Program at the Mental Health Center of Varna. It is presented an assessment of the effectiveness of the Program and its dynamics over the years as an expression of the health, social and economic costs of complex treatment of heroin addiction

Bruxism, Bruxomania - Causes and treatment with a brace and thermoforming technology

Abstract: Бруксизмът е несъзнателен акт на търкане и триене на зъбите. Често това става по времна сън и по тази причина човек даже и не подозира за заболяването си. Наблюдава се при всички възрасти, дори и при децата. При леки форми не създава проблеми. При по-тежки е причина за болки в долночелюстната става, напрежение или болки в мускулите, повишена чувствителност в зъбите, разрушаване на зъбните корони, главоболие. Най-разпространеният метод за лечение е изработването на шина, с която пациентът спи през нощта. Целта на настоящата публикация е чрез проучване на литературни източници да се опише състоянието бруксизъм, методите за лечение и по-конкретно термоформинг технологията за изработване на шината при бруксизъм.

An interesting case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma with rare localization

Abstract: The mucoepidermoid carcinoma constitutes the majority of malignant neoplasms found in both major and minor salivary glands. It consists of various proportions of mucous, epidermoid, intermediate, columnar, and clear cells, and is often cystic in pattern. Most of them (84-93%) arise within the parotid glands. On rare occasions, it may also occur within the submandibular or the sublingual gland. We present here a case of a 47-year-old man with painless mass in the region of his right submandibular gland persisting with voice change and swallowing difficulty. Radical neck dissection provided a large oval material sized 13/11 cm with a tumor formation sized 5/7 cm, grossly presented with multiple cyst cavities filled with hemorrhagic and purulent infiltrate. The growing edge of the tumor was surrounded by multiple identical whitish satellites; one of them distinguishing in size - approximately 2 cm in diameter. Histologically the tumor and the satellites appear with epidermoid, intermediate and mucus-excreting cells with atypia and necrotic fields; with lymphoid infiltration and invasion in the surrounding soft tissues, as well as a metastasis in one of the regional lymph nodes. This case is an example of both rare location and a typical satellite growth pattern. According to the literature, it might be suggested that this type of growth is also associated with poor prognosis.