The connection between socio-economic status and health is documented, yet not fully understood. The goal of this research was to analyze the relationship between socio-economic status, lifestyle and ...health status, availability of health-care, social capital, and satisfaction with life.
Subjects were 1117 women aged 25-65 years divided in two groups. Group 1 consisted of women who receive public assistance (N1=591), while Group 2 consisted of women who do not (N2=526). The sample was stratified by random choice into multiple stages based on six regions of Croatia, residential area size, and the age of respondents. Visiting nurses surveyed the deprived population, while in Group 2 self-interviewing was conducted. A questionnaire entitled "Inequalities in health" was used. The respondents participated in this research voluntarily and anonymously.
Socially deprived women consume spirits and wine more often (p<0.001). There is no difference between groups regarding tobacco consummation. Working women perform significantly less strenuous physical tasks (p<0.001). Deprived women are significantly less engaged in physical activities (p<0.001). Health conditions in deprived women more commonly limit their physical activity (p<0.001). There is a significant difference in utilization of health-care among groups (p<0.001). Younger women who are married, with a higher number of household members, a larger income, and with higher education are generally more satisfied with life (p<0.001). Although deprived women are significantly less satisfied with their lives, feel less free, are less physically active, and less likely to consume spirits or beer, they are significantly happier than working women (p<0.001).
Personal health status and lifestyle, access to health-care services, and life satisfaction have a high importance as predictors and protective factors of mental health in women - recipients of state-provided financial welfare.
The majority of environmental diseases are multifactorial airway illnesses, including genetic background and exposure to different kind of airborne irritants and allergens. Altered lifestyle and ...changes in environmental exposures contribute to the occurring of these diseases. The term of environmental illnesses includes the disease primarily caused by pollution of air and water, chemical and physical agents, radiation, contaminated food and direct contact with the toxins we are exposed to natural and/or working environment. The members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family are involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. MMPs comprise a large family of structurally related zinc metalloendopeptidases with different substrate specificities and possibilities to degrade protein constituents of the extracellular matrix. We investigated immunological status and level of MMP-9 in workers occupationally exposed to volatile aromatic hydrocarbons compared to urban residents and rural areas. The phenotypic profiles of peripheral blood lymphocytes were done by flow cytometry. The method of enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) was used to determine enzyme expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). The occupationally exposed group had a significantly elevated level of enzyme MMP-9 in the urine, accompanied with augmentation of cells of innate immunity in peripheral blood, which could contribute to the monitoring, early detection of environmental diseases and consequent earlier and more effective treatment.
Increasing burden of melanoma in Croatia Malatestinić, Dulija; Nadarević-Stefanec, Vesna; Suljić, Petra ...
Collegium antropologicum
35 Suppl 2, Številka:
supp 2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Melanoma consists 4-5% of all skin cancers, but it contributes to 71-80% of skin cancers deaths. It is controversial whether worldwide increases in melanoma incidence represent a true epidemic but at ...the same time that dramatic increase in incidence occur in setting of relatively stable mortality trends, observed in Croatia also. The majority of authors accept that main risk factors for melanoma relate to environmental exposure and genetics with epidemiologic studies linking sun exposure to melanoma development. Data were obtained from Croatian cancer register for patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2008, for malignant melanoma of the skin (ICD-10 code C43) at national level and from 2003 to 2008, at the County level (Primorsko-goranska County). Melanoma incidence nearly doubled in males from 8.75 to 13.4/10(5) per year, fold in females from 9.1 at the start of observation to the end of 12.0/10(5) per year in Croatia. Melanoma incidence rates were much more higher for Primorsko-goranska County with range from 10.1 to 17.5/10(5) per year. The greatest increase of melanoma incidence rates was in males 60 years and over year group at diagnosis. National comparison of variation in cancer incidence by region and age can provide basis for public health prevention. It requires the integration of information on risk factors, incidence that could help to reduce regional inequalities in incidence and reduce the future cancer incidence.
This article explores who among the doctors, other health care workers, family or somebody else most frequently advised women about their lifestyle changes related to cardiovascular health (including ...smoking, nutritional habits and physical activity). We analyzed who advised the most, in relation to the parameters important in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases: age, systolic blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). Sample was a part of comprehensive Croatian Adult Health Survey, comprised of women from Primorje-Goran, Istra and Lika-Senj Counties. Results indicated low frequency of advising on lifestyle changes in primary health care in all three counties, with most advice from general practitioners on nutritional habits. Family and other health care workers advised about smoking and nutrition and had strong influence in the youngest age groups. The GPs failure to counsel younger population and disease-free women could be regarded as the missed opportunity for avoidance of preventable risk factors that are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Other subjects in the health care process, as well as the family and media could fill the gaps between the patients and health care system messages. In order to create and develop such heterogeneous network approaches to training various programs and activities have to take into account all specific gender and regional characteristics.
Voda je jedan od čimbenika opstanka čovjeka i stoga predstavlja bogatstvo i dobro od općega interesa svake države. To ukazuje potrebu za intenzivnu brigu i nadzor vodoopskrbe, te primjenu tehnoloških ...postupaka pročišćavanja i dezinfekcije vode. U Hrvatskoj se putem sustava organizirane komunalne vodoopskrbe opskrbi oko 80% ljudi, a putem lokalnih vodovoda oko 260.000 korisnika ili 6% ukupne populacije. Vodu za piće iz individualnih izvora, bunara i cisterni koristi 14% ukupne populacije. Republika Hrvatska donijela je Zakon o sanitarnoj inspekciji 2009. godine kojim je uređena organizacija i ustrojstvo sanitarne inspekcije, te njezine nadležnosti i ovlasti. Budući da sanitarna inspekcija ima izuzetno široko polje djelatnosti, Zakon propisuje da je na 15.000 stanovnika potrebno zaposliti jednog inspektora, kako bi se zaštita zdravlja stanovništva kvalitetno mogla obaviti. Tako ukupni zbroj sanitarnih inspektora iznosi, i u operativi i administrativnim pozicijama, 258, te po postojećem kriteriju na razini cijele RH nedostaje samo 37 inspektora. Ipak ovi brojevi dovode u zabludu, jer gledajući distribuciju po županijama, situacija je daleko lošija, budući da na mjestu gdje se neposredno obavlja 80% sanitarnog nadzora nedostaje 101 inspektor. Trenutačno osnovni problem u upravljanju vodama i proizvodnji vode za piće su mala materijalna sredstva, te bi stoga veću pažnju trebalo posvetiti upravo zaštiti onoga što imamo, a sanitarna inspekcija u tome igra značajnu ulogu. Država bi i dalje trebala ulagati u edukaciju i organizaciju sanitarne službe, a
njezin položaj treba ojačati kao integralni dio Ministarstva zdravstva i socijalne skrbi.
The majority of environmental diseases are multifactorial airway illnesses, including genetic background and exposure
to different kind of airborne irritants and allergens. Altered lifestyle and ...changes in environmental exposures contribute
to the occurring of these diseases. The term of environmental illnesses includes the disease primarily caused by
pollution of air and water, chemical and physical agents, radiation, contaminated food and direct contact with the toxins
we are exposed to natural and/or working environment. The members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family are
involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. MMPs comprise a large family of structurally related zinc metalloendopeptidases
with different substrate specificities and possibilities to degrade protein constituents of the extracellular matrix. We investigated
immunological status and level of MMP-9 in workers occupationally exposed to volatile aromatic hydrocarbons
compared to urban residents and rural areas. The phenotypic profiles of peripheral blood lymphocytes were done by
flow cytometry. The method of enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) was used to determine enzyme expression of matrix
metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). The occupationally exposed group had a significantly elevated level of enzyme MMP-9 in
the urine, accompanied with augmentation of cells of innate immunity in peripheral blood, which could contribute to the
monitoring, early detection of environmental diseases and consequent earlier and more effective treatment.
Increasing Burden of Melanoma in Croatia Janković, Suzana; Šuljić, Petra; Glažar, Bojan ...
Collegium antropologicum,
09/2011, Letnik:
35 - supplement 2, Številka:
2
Paper
Odprti dostop
Melanoma consists 4–5% of all skin cancers, but it contributes to 71–80% of skin cancers deaths. It is controversial
whether worldwide increases in melanoma incidence represent a true epidemic but at ...the same time that dramatic increase
in incidence occur in setting of relatively stable mortality trends, observed in Croatia also. The majority of authors
accept that main risk factors for melanoma relate to environmental exposure and genetics with epidemiologic studies
linking sun exposure to melanoma development. Data were obtained from Croatian cancer register for patients diagnosed
between 1999 and 2008, for malignant melanoma of the skin (ICD-10 code C43) at national level and from 2003 to
2008, at the County level (Primorsko-goranska County). Melanoma incidence nearly doubled in males from 8.75 to
13.4/105 per year, fold in females from 9.1 at the start of observation to the end of 12.0/105 per year in Croatia. Melanoma
incidence rates were much more higher for Primorsko-goranska County with range from 10.1 to 17.5/105 per year. The
greatest increase of melanoma incidence rates was in males 60 years and over year group at diagnosis. National comparison
of variation in cancer incidence by region and age can provide basis for public health prevention. It requires the integration
of information on risk factors, incidence that could help to reduce regional inequalities in incidence and reduce
the future cancer incidence.
This article explores who among the doctors, other health care workers, family or somebody else most frequently advised women about their lifestyle changes related to cardiovascular health (including ...smoking, nutritional habits and physical activity). We analyzed who advised the most, in relation to the parameters important in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases: age, systolic blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). Sample was a part of comprehensive Croatian Adult Health Survey, comprised of women from Primorje-Goran, Istra and Lika-Senj Counties. Results indicated low frequency of advising on lifestyle changes in primary health care in all three counties, with most advice from general practitioners on nutritional habits. Family and other health care workers advised about smoking and nutrition and had strong influence in the youngest age groups. The GPs failure to counsel younger population and disease-free women could be regarded as the missed opportunity for avoidance of preventable risk factors that are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Other subjects in the health care process, as well as the family and media could fill the gaps between the patients and health care system messages. In order to create and develop such heterogeneous network approaches to training various programs and activities have to take into account all specific gender and regional characteristics.
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for massively-parallel, cost-effective tests monitoring viral spread. Here we present SARSeq,
saliva analysis by RNA sequencing
, a method to ...detect SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses on tens of thousands of samples in parallel. SARSeq relies on next generation sequencing of multiple amplicons generated in a multiplexed RT-PCR reaction. Two-dimensional, unique dual indexing, using four indices per sample, enables unambiguous and scalable assignment of reads to individual samples. We calibrate SARSeq on SARS-CoV-2 synthetic RNA, virions, and hundreds of human samples of various types. Robustness and sensitivity were virtually identical to quantitative RT-PCR. Double-blinded benchmarking to gold standard quantitative-RT-PCR performed by human diagnostics laboratories confirms this high sensitivity. SARSeq can be used to detect Influenza A and B viruses and human rhinovirus in parallel, and can be expanded for detection of other pathogens. Thus, SARSeq is ideally suited for differential diagnostic of infections during a pandemic.
The aim of the study was to explore the influence of various time-of-flight (TOF) and non-TOF reconstruction algorithms on positron emission tomography/computer tomography (PET/CT) image quality.
...Measurements were performed with a triple line source phantom, consisting of capillaries with internal diameter of ~ 1 mm and standard Jaszczak phantom. Each of the data sets was reconstructed using analytical filtered back projection (FBP) algorithm, iterative ordered subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithm (4 iterations, 24 subsets) and iterative True-X algorithm incorporating a specific point spread function (PSF) correction (4 iterations, 21 subsets). Baseline OSEM (2 iterations, 8 subsets) was included for comparison. Procedures were undertaken following the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU-2-2001 protocol.
Measurement of spatial resolution in full width at half maximum (FWHM) was 5.2 mm, 4.5 mm and 2.9 mm for FBP, OSEM and True-X; and 5.1 mm, 4.5 mm and 2.9 mm for FBP+TOF, OSEM+TOF and True-X+TOF respectively. Assessment of reconstructed Jaszczak images at different concentration ratios showed that incorporation of TOF information improves cold contrast, while hot contrast only slightly, however the most prominent improvement could be seen in background variability - noise reduction.
On the basis of the results of investigation we concluded, that incorporation of TOF information in reconstruction algorithm mostly affects reduction of the background variability (levels of noise in the image), while the improvement of spatial resolution due to incorporation of TOF information is negligible. Comparison of traditional and modern reconstruction algorithms showed that analytical FBP yields comparable results in some parameter measurements, such as cold contrast and relative count error. Iterative methods show highest levels of hot contrast, when TOF and PSF corrections were applied simultaneously.
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