Mortality of cerebrovascular diseases in Croatia--1958-1997

The aim of this investigation was to analyze secular trend of mortality from cerebrovascular diseases in Croatia and its regional characteristics. The research comprised all deaths from cerebrovascular diseases in Croatia in persons aged between 35 and 74 years over the period 1958-1997. The investigated period is divided in eight 5-year periods, and for that 5-year periods proportional mortality rates, standardized mortality rates and specific mortality rates, according to the age and gender were calculated. Number of all deaths in the population aged 35-74 in Croatia, by 5-year periods rose from 18,913 to 26,788 (increase of 42%), deaths from cerebrovascular diseases from 2831 to 3959 (increase of 40%). Proportional mortality rate for this disease increased from 9.0% in the first 5-year period to 14.8% in the last 5-year period (increase of 64%). Standardized mortality rates for cerebrovascular diseases increased from 118 to 206 per 100,000 inhabitants (increase of 75%). The specific mortality rates over a 5-year period have shown a trend of increase in all men age groups and stagnation or decrease in women age groups. At the same time the rates standardized by age and sex increased by 62%. Standardized mortality rates for cerebrovascular diseases in continental communities (Osijek, Varazdin) are much higher (twice or even threefold) than those in coastal communities (Split, Rijeka). A data analysis showed that, although mortality trends of cerebrovascular diseases stagnated or even declined in some communities during the recent years, the secular trend for the entire country had a tendency of constant rise over the whole period of research. Therefore, the short-term prognosis predicts further increase of both the number and rates of deaths from cerebrovascular diseases in our country.     

Determination of standard zinc values in the intact tissues of mice by ICP spectrometry

The most commonly encountered difficulties for the quantitative measurement of zinc in biological samples are the limited sample amount, total and effective digestion of connective and fatty residues, and low zinc concentrations. These problems often lead to the determination of lower zinc values than actually present, so that the sample preparation, digestion, and analytical procedure deserve careful attention. In this short communication, a new method for microwave tissue disintegration is described. The authors have obtained consistent and reproducible results with tissue samples of 0.5 g or less.     

The role of the spectral domain ocular coherence tomography in detection of age-related macular degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is one of the most common causes of the vision loss and blindness in developed countries. Among other harmful effects, exposure to the UV radiation is the most prominent factor for the development of the disorder. Using the method of SD OCT (Spectral Domain Ocular Coherence Tomography) we performed measurement of the neurosensory retinal thickness of 19 eyes of low vision patients from the population of Primorsko-Goranska County of Republic of Croatia, with dry form of the terminal macular degeneration. These results we compared with control measurements performed on 28 eyes of healthy, normal vision subjects from same County. We determined following parameters: central foveal thickness (CFT), macular volume (MV) and mean foveal thickness (MFT) in the both groups. Results showed statistically significant reduction of CFT in the group of normal vision female patients when compared to males, while any significant difference of CFT between total groups of normal vision individuals and low vision patients was not detected. Furthermore, we noticed statistically significant (p < 0.000001) decrease of the MV in the group of the low vision patients in comparison to healthy subjects and statistically significant (p < 0.000001) reduction of the MFT of the low vision patients when compared to normal vision individuals. In our study we detected the absence of any significant difference of the CFT between healthy and low vision population, what looks like controversial finding, because neurosensory retina in the ARMD is thin and atrophic, but on the other side it is known that fixation point in low vision patients is translocated from the damaged fovea to extrafoveal region, usually above the fovea, where neurosensory retina is of the normal thickness, but with the less sensitivity. Furthermore, our results suggest possible connection of higher incidence of ARMD with lower CFT in females. Owing to the thicker neurosensory retina in males and better protection, damaging effect of the UV irradiation, which is the proven factor of ARMD development, is smaller. From the evolutionary point of view it is possible that males in all vertebrates have more resistant macula because during the evolutionary process they have spent much more time outside in the sunlight than females.     

The effect of temperature on midgut and brain protein profiles in Morimus funereus larvae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The 7-days shift of M. funereus larvae, from nature to a constant temperature of 23 degrees C led to changes in midgut and brain protein quality and quantity. The changes in midgut protein profiles are characterized by an intensified protein band Mr of 29 kD, the absence of protein Mr of 22 kD and less intense bands Mr of 8.5-2.5 kD. Electrophoretic patterns of brain proteins showed less intense Mr of 66-2.5 kD protein bands.     

Crustacean plankton community (Crustacea: Copepoda and Cladocera) in gypsum karst lakes and their relation to abiotic parameters

Two gypsum karst lakes and one non-gypsum karst lake were studied for copepod and cladoceran species composition in relation to specific habitat characteristics. The investigation was conducted from March to June 2007. Four copepod and six cladoceran species were recorded. Gypsum karst lakes are characterized as sulphate lakes and they show significant differences from non-gypsum karst lakes in conductivity, TDS, alkalinity, calcium and sulphates. Data on environmental variables and zooplankton were analyzed using redundancy analysis (RDA). The model explained 65.73% of the variance of the crustacean zooplankton and environmental data by the first two axes. The analysis confirmed that the major environmental variables influencing zooplankton in gypsum karst lakes are conductivity, TDS, calcium and sulphates. In the non-gypsum karst lake, on the contrary, the major variables were oxygen concentration and alkalinity. Specific habitat characteristics of gypsum karst lakes influence the zooplankton community by reducing the number of species and leading to the dominance of one of them.     

iLAP: a workflow-driven software for experimental protocol development, data acquisition and analysis

Background  

In recent years, the genome biology community has expended considerable effort to confront the challenges of managing heterogeneous data in a structured and organized way and developed laboratory information management systems (LIMS) for both raw and processed data. On the other hand, electronic notebooks were developed to record and manage scientific data, and facilitate data-sharing. Software which enables both, management of large datasets and digital recording of laboratory procedures would serve a real need in laboratories using medium and high-throughput techniques.     

The effects of the level of physical activity on calcaneal ultrasound measurements: bone properties of medical and physical education students

The aim of the study was to compare bone properties of two groups of students which strongly differ in the level of their everyday physical activity; the School of Medicine (SM) students and the Faculty of Physical Education (FPE) students, University of Zagreb. Quantitative ultrasound parameters--broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and speed of sound (SOS) were measured. Quantitative ultrasound index (QUI) and estimated bone mineral density (BMD) were calculated by the device software. The final study sample consisted of 165 students from SM (94 males and 71 females) and 215 students from the FPE (164 males, 51 females). Sixty eight percent of FPE students and 21% of SM students reported a high level of everyday physical activity (P < 0.001). All ultrasound parameters were significantly higher in FPE students than in SM students (at the P < 0.001 level). The multiple regression model of the QUI confirmed that the school students attended was the single significant predictor variable for both genders. Our data indirectly showed the beneficial role of physical activity on bone properties.