Influence of the soil on certain dermatophytes and their evolutional trend

Conclusions From our experiments it could be seen that a quite definite relationship exists between various dermatophytes and the soil which is expressed on the one side by antagonistic action of the microflora in the soil inhibiting the growth of dermatophytes and on the other, by ability of some dermatophytes to persist in the soil or to use the soil as habitat in their saprophytic life. This condition appears to be the reflection of the evolutive tendency of dermatophytes to develop from its primary habitat, the soil, to the parasitic life on man and animal. It is persumed that this evolution of dermatophytes is based on mutations of gens as one of the fundamental phenomenons in nature. It is obvious that this evolution of dermatophytes is not completed. Our experiments regardingT. mentagrophytes indicate that this species is at present still to a certain extent in a transitional evolutive stage with retained but limited ability to the life in the soil and with an evident tendency for adaption on small rodents and human beings. In this course of development on a lower level isK. ajelloi andM. gypseum with full ability of saprophytic life in the soil and with slowly but increasing pathogenicity for men and animals. E. I. Grin, Prof. of Dermatology, Med. Faculty, Univ. Sarajevo, Director Institute of Dermatovenerology. L. Oegovi, Prof. of Intern. Dis., Veter. Faculty, Univ. Sarajevo, Chief of Dept. of Mycology Inst. of Dermatovenerology.     

Identification of biomotor structures as a precondition for programming kinesiologic education in children aged seven to nine years

A sample consisting of 487 children (249 male and 236 female) aged 7-9 years (+/- 2 months) underwent programmed kinesiologic transformation procedures for 18 months. The morphological and motor development was followed up by use of 14 morphological and 12 motor variables at 9-month intervals. Three taxonomic analyses for each measurement time point were calculated for either sex in order to determine the initial and transitive position for each individual study subject, and to identify most homogeneous groups within the sample as a whole. Three taxonomic variables were isolated on each measurement for either sex. Study results revealed female children to undergo faster development with earlier formation of the three morphological-motor structures ranked according to their predominance: mass, i.e. ectomesomorphy, motor, and endomorphy. Entity projections upon taxonomic variables at particular measurement points clearly identified the morphological-motor variables to be addressed by general and differentiated programs of kinesiologic education in order to achieve optimal effects during the development of the child's body as a whole.     

Analysis of indicators of load during the game in activity of the second line attacker in water polo

Water polo, as an activity, belongs in the category of polystructural complex move sports. The activities of a player's in role of second line attacker is observed on the sample of competitive games in the First national league. The study is aimed to define a set of new measurement variables for the objective recording of amount, intensity and duration of player's activities, and its evaluation by means of factor validity criteria. On the sample of 87 players, 29 variables were applied. Competent, trained officials made measurements. Basic statistics of all measured variables is presented as referent values of various player activities. In the factor analysis, three factors are found to be significant, explaining 84.6% of source variability, which is a subset of multivariate normally, distributed variables. Factors are interpreted as: "quantity of actions", "intensity of activity in the vertical body posture", and "intensity and extensity of activity in horizontal body posture". Of the last two, body posture is found to be specific in water polo, due to specifics of the game that is played in water. It is concluded that the proposed variables and measurement procedures are very well suited and objectively instrument for the purpose of measurement of the energetic aspect of kinesiological activity analysis.     

The quantitative analysis of the vascularization following two basic auditory canal skin incisions

Three groups of nine patients each were analyzed. The first two groups consisted of those that underwent tympanoplastic due to chronic inflammation of middle ear. Two different standard auditory canal skin incisions were applied, i.e. tympanomeatal flap (TMF) or vascular strip (VS). The third control group consisted of non-operated patients. All the operated patients were subjected to a quantitative analysis of the auditory canal revascularization by means of the Weibel stereological test method, i.e. the B 100 double network system. The density of capillaries, arterioles, venulolymphatic spaces and a total volume density of all vascular elements of the auditory canal skin were measured. The obtained results of vascularization were compared with those of the target control group. It was found out that there were no significant differences in vascularization of auditory canal skin between TMF and VS patients from one side and the control group on the other side.     

Craniofacial anthropometric pattern profile in hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia--application in detection of gene carriers

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is characterized by clinical manifestations of severe hypodontia or anodontia, hypotrichosis, hypohidrosis, and specific facial appearance. Affected males show complete expression of clinical features of this condition. Their mothers, who are gene carriers, express only some signs, which are usually very mild. Currently available clinical methods are not sufficient for routine identification of the HED heterozygous gene carriers. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the facial characteristics of HED patients and their mothers and to evaluate the usefulness of craniofacial pattern profile analysis (CFPP) in the diagnosis of this syndrome and the detection of gene carriers. In this study six affected males and their mothers were evaluated. Z-scores for each variable were calculated and compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Anthropometric analysis showed a specific dysmorphic pattern in CST patients that includes decreased skull base width (t-t: -1.67 Z); decreased forehead width (ft-ft: -1.8 Z), decreased midface depth (sn-t: -2.02 Z), markedly decreased total facial height (n-gn: -3.4 Z), and markedly decreased maxillary arc (t-sn-t: -2.5 Z). Gene carriers showed a similar tendency in their pattern profiles. They showed the same tendency towards lower Z-values for forehead width, facial height, and mouth width. The values for these measurements were between those of the affected and healthy controls. The most pronounced findings were increased head width (eu-eu: +2.83 Z), increased lower face width (go-go: +2.06 Z), and reduction of total facial height (n-gn: -0.95 Z). They also displayed increased nose width (al-al: +2.41 Z) and increased biocular distance (ex-ex: +2.01 Z). When used in conjunction with other methods the anthropometrics pattern profile analysis can considerably enhance detection of gene carriers for HED and increase objective assessment of the craniofacial region in HED patients.     

Comparative research on substance abuse and self-perception among adolescents with physical handicap

The research on substance (alcohol, tobacco and drug) abuse and on self-perception was done by comparing a test group of physically disabled adolescents and a test group of non-disabled adolescents. The respondents of the experimental group were students of the only special high school for physically handicapped persons in Croatia, Zagreb. The respondents of the control group were the students of two regular high schools in the capital of Croatia. The instrument used in this research was a self-reported, anonymous questionnaire. The respondents completed the questionnaire in the classroom. The data analysis regarding alcohol abuse indicated that physically disabled adolescents drink more often and out of quite different motives than their non-disabled peers. Regarding the prevalence, frequency, quantity and motives for smoking, no statistically significant difference has been found between the tested groups. On the contrary, significant differences between handicapped and non-disabled adolescents were evident regarding drug abuse. Only one physically disabled examinee used a drug--marijuana, only a few times a year. On the other hand, almost one quarter of the non-disabled adolescents use at least one, five at the most, type of drug sometimes or often. The results on the self-perception scale show that adolescent with physical disabilities have a much more negative attitude toward themselves than non-disabled controls. Their self-esteem and self-confidence are seriously diminished. Described findings could have a mighty impact on ways of preventing substance abuse, and on ways of increasing self-esteem among disabled and non-disabled adolescents.     

Toxic metals in freshwater fish from the Zagreb area as indicators of environmental pollution

The aim of this investigation was to determine the levels of heavy metals and metalloids in freshwater fish from the Zagreb area. A total of 216 freshwater fish samples from 5 sites were examined: Sava river upstream from Zagreb, Sava river at Zagreb, Sava river downstream from Zagreb, Jarun Lake, and 5 "ecologic" fishponds from the Zagreb surroundings. The metals lead, cadmium, mercury and the metalloid arsenic were determined by the method of atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean pooled levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic in all fish samples were 112.3 +/- 95 micrograms/kg, 8.5 +/- 11 micrograms/kg and 23.5 +/- 36 micrograms/kg, and did not exceed the allowed levels of 1,000 mg/kg, 100 micrograms/kg and 200 micrograms/kg, respectively. In 4 fish samples, the levels of mercury exceeded the allowed limit of 500 micrograms/kg (509, 596, 605 and 788 micrograms/kg), however, the pooled mean level of mercury was 127.8 +/- 90 micrograms/kg. There was no major difference in the levels of heavy metals between the two fish families observed, although the levels of lead, cadmium and mercury were higher in the family Ictaluridae (144 vs. 107 micrograms/kg, 10.4 vs. 8.2 micrograms/kg, and 153 vs. 124 micrograms/kg, respectively), whereas the level of arsenic was higher in the family Cyprinidae (23.8 vs. 21.8 micrograms/kg). Although the Sava river at Zagreb is the main recipient of sewage and wastewater in the Republic of Croatia, the levels of heavy metals were within the allowed limits in all groups of freshwater fish samples, with the exception of 4 samples that contained moderately elevated levels of mercury. Study results suggest that only mercury could be considered a good indicator of environmental pollution, because higher levels of mercury were measured in the fish from the Sava river than in the fish from the Jarun Lake and fishponds from the Zagreb surroundings, considering both pooleded and fish family specified data.     

Measurement of mandibular movements in patients with temporomandibular disorders and in asymptomatic subjects

The aim of the study was to investigate the range of mandibular movements and to analyze the difference in range of mouth opening, right and left lateral movements, and protrusive movement between patients with clinical diagnoses of temporomandibular disorders and asymptomatic subjects (control group) in a young male population. A total of 240 subjects, aged 19-28, were included in the study. The TMD sample comprised 180 patients (60 patients with muscle disorders; 60 patients with disc displacement with reduction; and 60 patients with muscle disorders and disc displacement with reduction) and was compared with 60 healthy control subjects. All participants were evaluated by the attending dentists at baseline by means of a physical examination of the masticatory system and a history questionnaire which included the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) Axis I measures. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the post hoc Bonferroni criteria showed significant difference in ranges of mandibular movements between and within the groups of asymptomatic subjects and TMD patients for active mouth opening (p = 0.001), right lateral movement (p = 0.002), left lateral movement (p = 0.006), and protrusive movement (p = 0.05). It has been found that there are statistically significant differences in the range of mandibular movements that separate asymptomatic subjects and patients with muscle disorders and disc displacements with reduction in this young male population. However, we cannot conclude that measurements of active mandibular movements can discriminate one group (TMD patients) from the other (asymptomatic subjects), because the mean ranges of these active movements between the groups were measured in clinically "normal" values.     

Craniofacial anthropometric analysis in Down's syndrome patients

Past investigations of Down's syndrome (DS) have indicated that there are marked abnormalities in the craniofacial morphology. The aim of this study was to establish the craniofacial anthropometric variables which discriminate DS group from healthy population and also to observe the changes occurring with growth. Using noninvasive method of craniofacial anthropometry, craniofacial pattern profile (CFPP) analysis (from twenty-five anthropometric measurements per person) was performed in 104 DS individuals and 365 healthy controls, aged seven to fifty-seven and divided into four age ranges. Z-scores were calculated for each variable and the variations in the craniofacial region have been identified by multivariate discriminative analysis. The results showed that three variables (head length (g-op), head circumference (OFC) and outer canthal distance (ex-ex) were responsible for 85.68% variability (p < 0.001). The analysis of z-scores showed that the majority of variables were in subnormal (under -2 SD) and normal range (from -2SD to +2SD), but none of them was in the supernormal range (over the +2SD). Some craniofacial characteristics are age-related. On the basis of craniofacial anthropometric traits it was possible to separate even 91.35% of DS patients from the healthy population. It could be concluded that these findings demonstrate the usefulness of application of CFPP in defining abnormal craniofacial dimensions in DS individuals.     

Finite element method analysis of the tooth movement induced by orthodontic forces

The finite element method is a useful technique for measuring structural stress and for movement analyses. The objective of this investigation was to get a more accurate estimation of tooth movement depending on application point when a tipping orthodontic force is applied. The three-dimensional model of un upper canine, consisting of 4,000 hexahedron elements with 2,367 nodes was obtained. Horizontal, orally directed 1N tipping orthodontic force was applied to the model on five different levels of the tooth crown. The three-dimensional mathematical finite element model is useful in analyzing the tooth movement in response to orthodontic forces. The tipping tooth movement is greater if the force is applied closer to its neck, or more gingivally.