On the classification of normally distributed neurons: an application to human dentate nucleus

One of the major goals in cellular neurobiology is the meaningful cell classification. However, in cell classification there are many unresolved issues that need to be addressed. Neuronal classification usually starts with grouping cells into classes according to their main morphological features. If one tries to test quantitatively such a qualitative classification, a considerable overlap in cell types often appears. There is little published information on it. In order to remove the above-mentioned shortcoming, we undertook the present study with the aim to offer a novel method for solving the class overlapping problem. To illustrate our method, we analyzed a sample of 124 neurons from adult human dentate nucleus. Among them we qualitatively selected 55 neurons with small dendritic fields (the small neurons), and 69 asymmetrical neurons with large dendritic fields (the large neurons). We showed that these two samples are normally and independently distributed. By measuring the neuronal soma areas of both samples, we observed that the corresponding normal curves cut each other. We proved that the abscissa of the point of intersection of the curves could represent the boundary between the two adjacent overlapping neuronal classes, since the error done by such division is minimal. Statistical evaluation of the division was also performed.     

Importance of correct therapeutic procedure selection in voice recovery

Psychological and physical patient state as well as the influence of other social factor is of great influence voice rehabilitation. A team of experts in the field of voice and its function are involved in voice therapy. Our research was focused on the successfulness of voice recovery depending on the patient vocal disorder approach. We made a comparison of two methods: RVT and Accent method. We attempted to evaluate clinically relevant voice disorders in relation to certain vocal methods, we propose that a lot can be learned about voice trough therapeutic procedures, which can also be used to enhance the practical application of vocal methods and raise the level of success in dealing with people that suffer from voice pathology.     

Life satisfaction in persons of the third age after retirement

The aim of this research was to determine the role of gender, type of residence, living arrangement, self-rated health status, loneliness, and sense of humor in self-reported life satisfaction in elderly retirees. The study included 300 elderly retirees from Zagreb, Croatia. Demographic data were collected with a structured questionnaire, whereas data on self-reported health status, loneliness, and sense of humor were collected with the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Life Satisfaction Index, HOPA-86, and SF-36 Health Survey. Participants living in a retirement home showed higher life satisfaction than those who lived in their own households. Those who had children showed greater life satisfaction No differences in life satisfaction were found with respect to gender, marital status, or living arrangement. The investigated demographic variables, self-rated health status, self-rated loneliness, and a sense of humor explained 52.8% of variance in life satisfaction. An active sense of humor was the most significant predictor. Living in a retirement home, having children, and having an active sense of humor had a positive influence on self-reported life satisfaction, whereas poorer self-rated health and loneliness had a negative influence. Taking into account the predictors of life satisfaction in preventive activities may contribute to successful aging.     

Gender related differences in quality of life and affective status in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

According to the literature, quality of life has been shown to be reduced in females compared with males with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Psychosocial factors are also playing an important role in IBD, especially emotional lability. The aims of study was to investigate the sex differences in general and specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL), anxiety and depression in IBD patients. Hundred and twelve outpatients of the Gastroenterology Division, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, were enrolled in our study and divided in two groups: 50 females (31 with ulcerative colitis, UC and 19 with Crohn disease, CD) and 62 males (30 with UC and 32 with CD), age range 19 to 74 (M = 41.46; SD = 13.06). Most patients have been in long clinical remission or with mild disease according to Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score for CD and Clinical Activity Index (CAI) score for UC. There were significant differences in physical (F = 13.96, p < .0001) and mental (F = 9.44, p < .001) component of the general HRQoL, emotional domain ((F = 9.26, p < .001) and bowel symptoms (F = 7.04, p < .001) of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality of life (IBDQoL), as well as, in anxiety (F = 7.03, p < .001) and depression (F = 12.09, p < .0001) between men and women with IBD. Women have expressed significantly lower level of the general HRQoL and more emotional disturbances connected with their disease as well as more frequent bowel symptoms compared with men. Effect sizes of those differences were large. Results of this study confirm that women with IBD are more prone to the negative impact of the disease on their HRQoL than men. Women with higher level of depression and anxiety experienced more emotional disturbances, bowel and systemic symptoms and lower general HRQoL. These results should deserve more considerations in the clinical treatment of IBD patients.     

Body size changes in elite junior rowers: 1997 to 2007

The aim of this study was to determine whether elite international junior rowers in 2007 were heavier and taller than those evaluated in 1997, and to compare this change among finalists and non-finalists, and sweep rowers and scullers. Body weight and height data obtained by a questionnaire from a total of 398 rowers (42% female, 58% male) at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Beijing, People's Republic of China, in 2007 (65.9% of all competitors), were compared with data from 603 rowers measured at the Junior World Rowing Championships in Hazewinkel, Belgium in 1997 (36.5% female, 63.5% male, representing 90% and 89% of all competitors, respectively, by gender). Male and female rowers in 2007 were significantly taller compared to those in 1997 (1.0 cm, p = 0.009 and 2.1 cm, p < 0.001, respectively; one-sample t-test). No statistically significant difference was found for body mass. The finalists and sweep rowers were taller and heavier compared to nonfinalists and scullers at both Championships respectively. The heights of elite level junior rowers increased significantly over the decade. The finalists at World Junior Rowing Championships were again taller and heavier compared to the nonfinalists.     

C-myc expression in the microvessels of medulloblastoma

The increased expression of c-myc is related to neoplastic transformation and angiogenesis. Therefore, the assessment of expression of c-myc in endothelial cells and neovascularization could help to determine the biological behavior of the tumor. We analyzed neovascularization and c-myc expression in 36 medulloblastoma specimens. The results were shown by determining immunohistochemical staining index (ISI), the sum of staining intensity (SI) and the percentage of positive cells (PPC) in the blood vessels endothelium of the tumor. We also performed the microvessel count (MVC) in 10 high-power fields (400X) with the most prominent vascularization and expressed it as microvessel density per mm2 (MVD). C-myc immunostaining intensity index in blood vessel endothelium is grouped into four groups, 0--no reaction, I-weak reaction (ISI = 1 or 2), II--moderate reaction (ISI = 3 or 4), III--strong reaction (ISI = 5 or 6). Statistically significant differences (p = 0.0214) have been found between groups 0 and 1 compared to groups 2 and 3. A higher percentage of positive cells has been found in male patients than in female ones (p = 0.0483). C-myc PPC 0 or 1 has on the average smaller density of blood vessels per mm2 than c-myc PPC 2 or 3, but the difference is not statistically significant. C-myc ISI 0 or 1 has, on the average, smaller density of blood vessels per mm2 than c-myc ISI 2 or 3, but the difference is not statistically significant. We concluded that c-myc staining intensity was associated with higher microvessels density.     

Influence of surgery onto the appearance of the hip joint periarticular calcification in patients with the acetabular fracture

The intention of this study was to investigate the influence of surgery onto the appearance of the hip joint periarticular calcification in different groups of patients who suffered the acetabular fracture. A series of 103 patients with the acetabular fracture was analysed in a retrospective case-control study during a seven-year period. The patients were divided into two groups. The case group was comprised of 21 patients who were operated on due to the posterior acetabular wall fracture, while the control group was formed from 82 patients who underwent conservative treatment and who suffered complex acetabular fracture. To obtain the results, the rate and grade of the hip joint post-injury periarticular calcification formation were observed and analysed. They were considerably lower in patients from the case group who were operated on, compared to patients from the control group where the hip joint arthrosis was more common. In conclusion, considering the results of this paper, the rate and grade of the hip joint osteodegenerative changes may be highly decreased by surgery in patients who sustained the acetabular fracture.     

Salivary analytes in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Literature data indicates that measurement of certain salivary constituents might serve as a useful diagnostic/prognostic tool in the patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In 24 patients with OSCC (60 +/- 2.5 yrs) and in 24 controls (24 +/- 3.7 yrs) we have determined levels of salivary magnesium, calcium, copper, chloride, phosphate, potassium, sodium, total proteins and amylase. Sodium, potassium and chloride were determined by indirect potentiometry whereas copper, magnesium and phosphate were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Total proteins were determined by pyrogalol colorimetric method. Amylase levels were determined by continued colorimetric method. Statistical analysis was performed by use of chi2 test and Spearman's correlation test. The results of this study indicate that the concentrations of sodium and chloride were significantly elevated in patients with OSCC when compared to the controls. However, level of total protein was significantly decreased when compared to the healthy controls. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between alcohol consumption and total protein concentration in patients with oral carcinoma. We might conclude that in patients with OSCC increased salivary sodium and chloride might reflect their overall dehydration status due to alcohol consumption rather than consequence of OSCC itself.     

Impaired cerebral vasoreactivity in type 2 diabetes mellitus

The aim of our study was to assess cerebral vasoreactivity (CVR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and factors which may influence on it. According to previous studies, evaluating CVR in DM2 on the similar way, the results were dubious. For the evaluation CVR we used breath holding index (BHI) and transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) in 50 patients with DM2 and 50 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. We observed epidemiologic and clinic data, other vascular risk factors and laboratory parameters. We found statistically significant difference in BHI between patients with DM2 (BHI = 0.69 +/- 0.31) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (BHI = 1.33+/-0.28) (p < 0.05 ). Because of a significant correlation between BHI and age (p < 0.001) in healthy controls we made an adjustment of BHI for age before further analyses (BHIadj). In DM2 group we found a significant correlation between BHIadj and age (p = 0.0004), fasting glycemia (p = 0.04), and albuminuria (p = 0.04) (creatinine clearance in multivariate analysis (p = 0.007)). Our study has shown that CVR is impaired in DM2 patients and that it's severity was associated with age, fasting glycemia and renal function. Functional TCD is a very good screening method for detection and monitoring of cerebral microangiopathic changes in DM2 patients.