The comparison of methods experiment is important part in process of analytical methods and instruments validation. Passing and Bablok regression analysis is a statistical procedure that allows ...valuable estimation of analytical methods agreement and possible systematic bias between them. It is robust, non-parametric, non sensitive to distribution of errors and data outliers. Assumptions for proper application of Passing and Bablok regression are continuously distributed data and linear relationship between data measured by two analytical methods. Results are presented with scatter diagram and regression line, and regression equation where intercept represents constant and slope proportional measurement error. Confidence intervals of 95% of intercept and slope explain if their value differ from value zero (intercept) and value one (slope) only by chance, allowing conclusion of method agreement and correction action if necessary. Residual plot revealed outliers and identify possible non-linearity. Furthermore, cumulative sum linearity test is performed to investigate possible significant deviation from linearity between two sets of data. Non linear samples are not suitable for concluding on method agreement.
Attitudes towards open peer review, open data and use of preprints influence scientists' engagement with those practices. Yet there is a lack of validated questionnaires that measure these attitudes. ...The goal of our study was to construct and validate such a questionnaire and use it to assess attitudes of Croatian scientists. We first developed a 21-item questionnaire called Attitudes towards Open data sharing, preprinting, and peer-review (ATOPP), which had a reliable four-factor structure, and measured attitudes towards open data, preprint servers, open peer-review and open peer-review in small scientific communities. We then used the ATOPP to explore attitudes of Croatian scientists (n = 541) towards these topics, and to assess the association of their attitudes with their open science practices and demographic information. Overall, Croatian scientists' attitudes towards these topics were generally neutral, with a median (Md) score of 3.3 out of max 5 on the scale score. We also found no gender (P = 0.995) or field differences (P = 0.523) in their attitudes. However, attitudes of scientist who previously engaged in open peer-review or preprinting were higher than of scientists that did not (Md 3.5 vs. 3.3, P<0.001, and Md 3.6 vs 3.3, P<0.001, respectively). Further research is needed to determine optimal ways of increasing scientists' attitudes and their open science practices.
Viral infections during pregnancy are a considerable cause of adverse outcomes and birth defects, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Among those, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection ...stands out as the most common intrauterine infection in humans, putatively causing early pregnancy loss. We employed murine CMV as a model to study the consequences of viral infection on pregnancy outcome and fertility maintenance. Even though pregnant mice successfully controlled CMV infection, we observed highly selective, strong infection of corpus luteum (CL) cells in their ovaries. High infection densities indicated complete failure of immune control in CL cells, resulting in progesterone insufficiency and pregnancy loss. An abundance of gap junctions, absence of vasculature, strong type I interferon (IFN) responses, and interaction of innate immune cells fully protected the ovarian follicles from viral infection. Our work provides fundamental insights into the effect of CMV infection on pregnancy loss and mechanisms protecting fertility.
Display omitted
•Cytomegalovirus strongly infects all ovarian cells except follicular cells•Infection of corpus luteum compromises progesterone production and pregnancy•Blood follicle barrier and innate immune responses protect the follicles•IFNβ signaling is the main factor of follicular cell resistance
Although viral infections are known risk factors during pregnancy, little is known about their effect on reproductive organs and fertility. Tomac et al. demonstrate how human cytomegalovirus infection of the ovaries could result in abortion and identifies immunological barriers protecting future fertility.
Aim
To evaluate the effects of vitamin D on transient elastography (TE, FibroScan) indices of liver steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter CAP) and fibrosis (liver stiffness measurement LSM) in ...adults with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Patients and Methods
In this randomized (2:1), double‐blind, single‐centre, 12‐month trial, patients with NAFLD were treated with vitamin D (1000 IU/day) (n = 201) or a matching placebo (n = 110). Two co‐primary outcomes were changes in CAP and LSM after 360 days of treatment versus baseline. Two main secondary outcomes were CAP/LSM changes after 180 days of treatment.
Results
Both CAP and LSM gradually decreased in vitamin D‐treated patients and slightly increased in the placebo arm. Vitamin D was superior to placebo for both primary outcomes (mean differences in CAP and LSM changes (−49.5 dB/m 95% CI −59.5 to −39.4 and −0.72 kPa 95% CI −1.43 to 0.00, respectively) and both secondary outcomes (−22.1 dB/m −32.1 to −12.1 and −0.89 kPa −1.61 to −0.17, respectively). Of a number of exploratory outcomes (change at 12 months vs. baseline), vitamin D reduced serum uric acid (−17.9 μmol/L −30.6 to −5.2), gamma‐glutamyltransferase (−8.9 IU/L −15.5 to −2.3) and fasting serum insulin levels (−5.1 pmol/L −9.3 to −0.8) as well as the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index (−1.6 −3.1 to −0.2) (false discovery rate 5%‐adjusted P‐values between .0572 and .0952).
Conclusion
Low‐medium dose supplementation of vitamin D (1000 IU/day) over 12 months reduces TE indices of liver steatosis (CAP) and fibrosis (LSM) in NAFLD patients.
Vitamin D testing is excessively used in clinical practice, despite of the clinical guidelines statements against population screening for vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to assess an annual ...number of performed 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) tests that were unsupported by the national guidelines for prevention, detection and therapy of vitamin D deficiency in adults and to calculate associated financial burden for the publicly funded healthcare.
A representative sample of requested 25(OH)D tests in 2018 (N = 474) was formed after selection and randomisation of data set (N = 5298) collected from the laboratory information system database of the Clinical Department for Laboratory Diagnostics, the Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka. Records were classified in two groups depending on associated medical condition(s) according to the national guidelines. An annual cost of the total and group specific vitamin D testing was calculated on the base of a single test price reimbursed by the Croatian Healthcare Insurance Fund (CHIF).
Medical conditions with high-risk for vitamin D deficiency were detected in 43% (206/474) of vitamin D requests (group 1). Conditions not associated with vitamin D deficiency were detected in 57% (268/474) requests (group 2). A total cost of 25(OH)D testing for the CHIF was 58,729.50 EUR (25,523.79 EUR in the group 1 and 33,205.71 EUR in the group 2).
More than half of all 25(OH)D tests performed in the clinical laboratory represent avoidable cost for the public healthcare. Prevention of population screening by vitamin D testing is needed.
The aim was to evaluate the stability of serum bicarbonate at room temperature, depending on time to centrifugation and air exposure.
Stability study was conducted in the laboratory of Clinical ...Hospital Centre Rijeka, Croatia in January-February 2022. Nine samples from 10 volunteers were collected in clot activator gel tubes (Greiner Bio-One). Bicarbonate was measured on Beckman Coulter AU480 (Beckman Coulter, Brea, USA). Three tubes were left at room temperature for 30 min, three tubes for 2 h, three tubes for 4 h until centrifugation. First tube from first group (baseline) was measured immediately after centrifugation. Other measurements were expressed as percentage deviation (PD%) from baseline. First tube was remeasured after 1 and 2 h (OT_0h_1h; OT_0h_2h). Second and third tubes were opened 1 and 2 h after centrifugation (C_0h_1h; C_0h_2h). Second group of tubes was processed the same way with 2-hour centrifugation delay (WB_2h; OT_2h_1h; OT_2h_2h; C_2h_1h; C_2h_2h), and third group with 4-hour delay (WB_4h; OT_4h_1h; OT_4h_2h; C_4h_1h; C_4h_2h). PD% was compared to Maximum Permissible Difference (MPD=5.69%). MedCalc statistical software was used (MedCalc, Ostend, Belgium).
Bicarbonate baseline mean value (range) was 27.3 (23.4-29.6) mmol/L. Obtained PD% (95%CI) were: C_0h_1h 0.46 (-1.21, 2.12); C_0h_2h 0.18 (-2.22, 2.57); OT_0h_1h -6.46 (-7.57, -5.36); OT_0h_2h -10.67 (-12.13, -9.21); WB_2h -0.15 (-2.04, 1.74); C_2h_1h 0.01 (-1.52, 1.54); C_2h_2h -0.40 (-2.65, 1.85); OT_2h_1h -5.43 (-7.30, -3.55); OT_2h_2h -11.32 (-13.57, -9.07); WB_4h -0.85 (-3.28, 1.58); C_4h_1h -2.52 (-4.93, 0.11); C_4h_2h -3.02 (-5.62, 0.43); OT_4h_1h -7.34 (-9.64, -5.05); OT_4h_2h -11.85 (-14.38, -9.33).
Serum bicarbonate is stable for 4 h in closed uncentrifuged tubes, another 2 h in closed tubes after centrifugation, and is unstable within 1 h in opened tube.
To develop and test the psychometric characteristics of a questionnaire measuring attitudes toward plagiarism.
Participants were 227 undergraduates and graduate students (128 women and 99 men) from ...three Croatian universities, with a median age of 21 years (range 18 to 48). Research was conducted from March to June 2009. For the purpose of construction of the first version of the questionnaire, 67 statements (items) were developed. The statements were based on the relevant literature and were developed following rules and recommendations for questionnaire writing, and 36 items were chosen for final validation. Factor analysis was used to find out the factor structure of the questionnaire and to measure construct validity.
The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 29 items divided into a three-factor structure: factor I - positive attitude toward plagiarism (12 items); factor II - negative attitude toward plagiarism (7 items); and factor III - subjective norms toward plagiarism (10 items). Cronbach alpha was calculated to confirm the reliability of the scale: factor I - alpha=0.83; factor II - alpha=0.79; and factor III - alpha=0.85. Correlations between factors were: -0.37 between I and II, -0.41 between I and III, and +0.31 between II and III.
Attitudes Toward Plagiarism questionnaire was developed, with good psychometric characteristics. It will be used in future research as a standardized tool for measuring attitudes toward plagiarism.
To assess the prevalence of plagiarism in manuscripts submitted for publication in the
Croatian Medical Journal
(CMJ). All manuscripts submitted in 2009–2010 were analyzed using plagiarism detection ...software:
eTBLAST
,
CrossCheck,
and
WCopyfind
. Plagiarism was suspected in manuscripts with more than 10% of the text derived from other sources. These manuscripts were checked against the
Déjà vu
database and manually verified by investigators. Of 754 submitted manuscripts, 105 (14%) were identified by the software as suspicious of plagiarism. Manual verification confirmed that 85 (11%) manuscripts were plagiarized: 63 (8%) were true plagiarism and 22 (3%) were self-plagiarism. Plagiarized manuscripts were mostly submitted from China (21%), Croatia (14%), and Turkey (19%). There was no significant difference in the text similarity rate between plagiarized and self-plagiarized manuscripts (25% 95% CI 22–27% vs. 28% 95% CI 20–33%; U = 645.50;
P
= 0.634). Differences in text similarity rate were found between various sections of self-plagiarized manuscripts (H = 12.65,
P
= 0.013). The plagiarism rate in the Materials and Methods (61% (95% CI 41–68%) was higher than in the Results (23% 95% CI 17–36%, U = 33.50;
P
= 0.009) or Discussion (25.5 95% CI 15–35%; U = 57.50;
P
< 0.001) sections. Three authors were identified in the
Déjà vu
database. Plagiarism detection software combined with manual verification may be used to detect plagiarized manuscripts and prevent their publication. The prevalence of plagiarized manuscripts submitted to the
CMJ
, a journal dedicated to promoting research integrity, was 11% in the 2-year period 2009–2010.
Regulatory T (Treg) cells dampen an exaggerated immune response to viral infections in order to avoid immunopathology. Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are herpesviruses usually causing asymptomatic ...infection in immunocompetent hosts and induce strong cellular immunity which provides protection against CMV disease. It remains unclear how these persistent viruses manage to avoid induction of immunopathology not only during the acute infection but also during life-long persistence and virus reactivation. This may be due to numerous viral immunoevasion strategies used to specifically modulate immune responses but also induction of Treg cells by CMV infection. Here we demonstrate that liver Treg cells are strongly induced in mice infected with murine CMV (MCMV). The depletion of Treg cells results in severe hepatitis and liver damage without alterations in the virus load. Moreover, liver Treg cells show a high expression of ST2, a cellular receptor for tissue alarmin IL-33, which is strongly upregulated in the liver of infected mice. We demonstrated that IL-33 signaling is crucial for Treg cell accumulation after MCMV infection and ST2-deficient mice show a more pronounced liver pathology and higher mortality compared to infected control mice. These results illustrate the importance of IL-33 in the suppressive function of liver Treg cells during CMV infection.
PDF
