The closing of the “Golden Gate” to the promised land, the United States of America, after the First World War triggered a new wave of migration to the developed countries of Europe, primarily ...France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. This was the time of the first Yugoslavia, officially known as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Part of these migrations included Slovene emigrants and their children. The interwar period was marked by a major economic crisis and intensified ideological and political pressures. The Catholic Church was a strong presence with regard to the emigrants. The book ('Slovene emigrants and Western Europe during the time of the first Yugoslavia') describes and analyses the emigrants’ everyday lives, the work of emigrant societies, the publication of emigrant newsletters, the work of emigrant teachers and priests, the work of consular offices, the organisation of contacts with the homeland, the organisation of children’s holiday camps, and the children’s pen-pal contacts all over the world. It discusses emigrant activities, the zeitgeist, creativity and contacts with the new environments. We also find numerous simple literary highlights in the emigrant contacts. Singing, acting and music were always and everywhere present among the emigrants, both during joyful celebrations and solemn occasions. The book gives us a deep insight into the world of the emigrants during the period between the two world wars.
Choroidal melanoma is the most common primary malignancy of the eye, which frequently metastasizes. The Cancer Registry of Slovenia reported the incidence of choroid melanoma from 1983 to 2009 as ...stable, at 7.8 cases/million for men and 7.4/million for women. The aim of the retrospective study was to determinate the prognostic factors of survival for choroidal melanoma patients in Slovenia.
From January 1986 to December 2008 we treated 288 patients with malignant choroidal melanoma; 127 patients were treated by brachytherapy with beta rays emitting ruthenium-106 applicators; 161 patients were treated by enucleation.
Patients with tumours thickness < 7.2 mm and base diameter < 16 mm were treated by brachytherapy and had 5- and 10-year overall mortality 13% and 32%, respectively. In enucleated patients, 5- and 10-year mortality was higher, 46% and 69%, respectively, because their tumours were larger. Thirty patients treated by brachytherapy developed local recurrence. Twenty five of 127 patients treated by brachytherapy and 86 of 161 enucleated patients developed distant metastases. Patients of age ≥ 60 years had significantly lower survival in both treatment modalities. For patients treated by brachytherapy the diameter of the tumour base and treatment time were independent prognostic factors for overall survival, for patients treated by enucleation age and histological type of tumour were independent prognosticators. In first few years after either of treatments, the melanoma specific annual mortality rate increased, especially in older patients, and then slowly decreased.
It seems that particularly younger patients with early tumours can be cured, whereby preference should be given to eyesight preserving brachytherapy over enucleation.
Slovenia was among the first European countries to introduce laws and regulations in the social security field, including public health. The current health legislation is the culmination of a ...century-long development of the health care system through different periods and diverse political and economic conditions affecting the region. The present organization of the health care system reflects the pattern of partnership which already existed in the former Yugoslavia. The ultimate goal of all countries is to implement health care activities within a system ensuring active participation and partnership of citizens who are universally covered by a public health insurance scheme, health legislators and providers of health services. Slovenia has therefore not been confronted with any major difficulties in implementing health care system reforms. By amending and modifying its health legislation Slovenia will build upon its good points, improve clarity and integrate certain approaches important for the functioning of its health care system in the European Union when Slovenia becomes a full member. Changes are directed towards: - strengthening inter-sectoral cooperation and health and safety at work; - creating environments supporting a healthy life style and emphasizing personal responsibility for one's own health; - maintaining a unified public health insurance scheme and sufficient financing through employer and employee contributions; - introducing voluntary health insurance; - developing in a controlled way an efficient and effective private medical practice; - strengthening of management in public health institutions and increasing staffs responsibility for business success. - implementing quality improvement systems.
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