Paralelno s razvojem suvremenog društva rastu i broj i vrste rizika s kojima se suvremeno društvo suočava. Jedan je vid takvih rizika prekogranično zagađenje okoliša. Napor država da se nose sa ...zagađenjem na svom teritoriju nedostatan je zbog činjenice da zagađenje nastaje i širi se svuda, ne ograničavajući se na državne granice. Iz tog razloga potrebna je suradnja među državama kako bi se utvrdili standardi i mehanizmi za njegovo sprečavanje i smanjenje. U članku su predstavljene tri studije slučaja prekograničnog zagađenja okoliša između Republike Hrvatske i Bosne i Hercegovine: zagađenje zraka u Slavonskom Brodu uzrokovano ispuštanjem štetnih tvari u zrak iz Rafinerije nafte Brod u BiH; poplave koje su pogodile regiju u svibnju 2014.; te takozvano „sedamnaesto jezero" Plitvičkih jezera nastalo zbog neriješenog sustava odvodnje koje je uzrokovalo zagađenje izvora pitke vode u Bihaću u BiH. U sva tri slučaja opisani su specifični konteksti prekograničnog zagađenja, glavni akteri uključeni u problem i njegovo rješavanje, kao i načini na koje se države nose s prekograničnim zagađenjem. Pažnja je posvećena i zakonodavnim aktima Europske unije o zaštiti okoliša i svjetskim konvencijama na koje se oslanjaju zakonodavstva ovih dviju država. Analizom tri slučaja došli smo do zaključka da obje države trebaju unaprijediti svoju okolišnu politiku uz naglasak na važnost međudržavne suradnje kako bi se postiglo učinkovitije upravljanje rizikom prekograničnog zagađenja.
This project examines the effect that aesthetic reflection can have on the formation of ethical subjects and the development of reciprocal relations between individuals. In particular, it ...investigates whether aesthetic judgement, precisely because it encourages the development of a critically self-reflexive subject, provides a valuable model for ethics. The groundwork for this investigation is laid by Immanuel Kant who depicts the individual as an autonomous, rational agent that is capable of, and indeed responsible for, determining his or her own judgement. Kant's insight regarding the autonomy of the subject enables him to create a system of ethics that is upheld by imperatives, which he argues command respect because they are universally valid for all rational beings. Friedrich Nietzsche and Theodor Adorno build upon Kant's claim concerning the subject's autonomy to put forward two very different interpretations of what it means to be or become an ethical subject. Nietzsche encourages individuals to create or shape their identity as highly individualised, dynamic subjects akin to living works of art, rather than universalised and disembodied subjects. Nietzsche's emphasis on the subject's flourishing and growth provides important insights into the formation of oneself as an ethical subject, but it provides little in terms of recognising and developing reciprocal, ethical relations with others. Theodor Adorno's dialectical approach, on the other hand, interprets the subject as intersubjectively developed, which acknowledges the importance of reciprocal relations with others. Adorno's constant reference to the generic subject and object, however, does not differentiate between various types of subjects and objects and their relationships and in so doing, threatens to negate the agency of individuals. In order for Adorno's approach to be a viable means through which ethical subjectivity can be formulated, it needs to be able to acknowledge that ethical interaction occurs between socially embedded individuals because it is through these relationships that individuals can be challenged and exercise their agency as ethical subjects.
Longevity is a hallmark of successful ageing and a complex trait with a significant genetic component. In this study, 43 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were chosen from the literature and ...genotyped in a Croatian oldest-old sample (85+ years, sample size (N) = 314), in order to determine whether any of these SNPs have a significant effect on reaching the age thresholds for longevity (90+ years, N = 212) and extreme longevity (95+ years, N = 84). The best models were selected for both survival ages using multivariate logistic regression. In the model for reaching age 90, nine SNPs explained 20% of variance for survival to that age, while the 95-year model included five SNPs accounting for 9.3% of variance. The two SNPs that showed the most significant association (p ≤ 0.01) with longevity were TERC rs16847897 and GHRHR rs2267723. Unweighted and weighted Genetic Longevity Scores (uGLS and wGLS) were calculated and their predictive power was tested. All four scores showed significant correlation with age at death (p ≤ 0.01). They also passed the ROC curve test with at least 50% predictive ability, but wGLS90 stood out as the most accurate score, with a 69% chance of accurately predicting survival to the age of 90.
Background Health information and patient education on lifestyle changes may have a positive effect on the prevention of many chronic conditions, especially cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We ...performed a parallel, three-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 6-month educational intervention in a form of letters containing a reminder of the participant's CVD risk with or without Cochrane blogshots to reduce CVD risk among women aged 45-65 with one or more known CVD risk factors. Methods The control group received a letter about their CVD risk at the beginning of the trial. The intervention groups received the initial letter about their CVD risk and remainder letters about their CVD risk every 2 months, with or without Cochrane blogshots: (1) effect of calcium in the prevention of high blood pressure, (2) effect of reducing saturated fat acids in eating habits, and (3) effects of green and black tea in CVD prevention. The primary outcome was CVD risk reduction calculated as the difference between the baseline and 6-month score for a 10-year risk of fatal CVD according to the ACC/AHA guidelines. Results After both interventions, CVD risk reduction was significantly higher compared to the control group (P < 0.001, Kruskal-Wallis H test). The number of participants who decreased their CV risk was 29% (20/70) in the control group, 69% (48/70) in the group receiving the reminder letters, and 70% (49/70) in the group receiving the reminder letters and blogshots. The number needed to treat to achieve risk reduction was 2.41 (95% CI = 1.77 to 3.78) for letters with a CVD risk reminder and 2.50 (1.81 to 4.03) for letters with a reminder and a blogshot. The group receiving reminder letters with Cochrane blogshots had a significant change in the category of CVD risk, mainly from high to moderate and from moderate to low CVD risk category. Conclusions A simple and inexpensive intervention method in a form of letters reminding women about their CVD risk with or without providing additional health information in the form of Cochrane blogshots about interventions for important CVD risk factors may be effective in CVD management and could be considered by primary care providers. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04601558. Retrospectively registered on October 19, 2020 Keywords: Cochrane blogshots, Educational intervention, CVD risk, Women
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the average dentin wall thickness (DWT) of the maxillary central incisor (MCI) required for performing finite element analysis (FEA) models of root ...development. Material and methodsA total of 137 intraoral periapical radiographs of MCI in children aged 7 to 11 years were examined and then classified into 5 groups according to root development stages, which included 1/2 of root development (S1), 3/4 of root development (S2), more than 3/4 of root development (S3), complete development with wide-open apex (S4) and complete development with closed apex (S5). DWT was measured at three reference (horizontal) lines: at a distance of 1 mm from the apex (M), 4 mm from the apex (L) and at the cervical line (K). The distal dentin wall thickness (M1, L1, and K1), the pulp thickness (M2, L2, and K2), the mesial dentin wall thickness (M3, L3, and K3), and the apex thickness (N) were measured using the diagnostic software Soredex Scanora 5.1.2.4. Statistical analysis compared the values of the parameters K, L, and M between developmental stages (multivariate ANOVA) and the linear correlations between the parameters (Pearson's correlation analysis). All analyses were performed at significance level α = 0.05. ResultsThere were statistically significant differences between the developmental stages for parameters L and M, while no significant differences were found for parameter K. Most of the correlations between the parameters were statistically significant, with the values of the Pearson correlation coefficient R > 0.6 considered practically significant. All parameters on the same reference line for distal and mesial dentin wall thickness and for pulp thickness correlated well with each other (R = 0.46 - 0.68), but there was no statistically significant correlation with total root thickness on the same reference line (parameters K, L, or M), except for parameter K3 (R = 0.42). ConclusionDespite the limitations of this study, the mean values of the selected parameters for the 5 groups of developmental stages of the maxillary central incisor could be used to model dentin wall thickness using finite element analysis.
We assessed the methodological quality and transparency of all the national clinical practice guidelines that were published in Croatia up until 2017 and explored the factors associated with their ...quality rating. An in-depth quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed using rigorous methodology. We evaluated the guidelines using a validated AGREE II instrument with four raters; we used multiple linear regressions to identify the predictors of quality; and two focus groups, including guideline developers, to further explore the guideline development process. The majority of the guidelines (N = 74) were developed by medical societies. The guidelines’ quality was rated low: the median standardized AGREE II score was low, 36% (IQR 28–42), and so were the overall-assessments. The aspects of the guidelines that were rated best were the “clarity of presentation” and the “scope and purpose” (median ≥ 59%); however, the other four domains received very low scores (15–33%). Overall, the guideline quality did not improve over time. The guidelines that were developed by medical societies scored significantly worse than those developed by governmental, or unofficial working groups (12–43% per domain). In focus group discussions, inadequate methodology, a lack of implementation systems in place, a lack of awareness about editorial independence, and broader expertise/perspectives in working groups were identified as factors behind the low scores. The factors identified as affecting the quality of the national guidelines may help stakeholders who are developing interventions and education programs aimed at improving guideline quality worldwide.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading global cause of death. Due to the disparities in cardiovascular risk factors between rural and urban populations, this study aims to assess the differences in ...the prevalence of risk factors in urban and rural areas of eastern Croatia.
The cross-sectional study included 280 participants (140 from urban and 140 from rural areas) registered at studied general practice offices. Methods included e-health records, questionnaire, physical examination methods, and blood sampling for laboratory tests.
The most common risk factors among participants were elevated total cholesterol (83.6%), elevated LDL cholesterol (81.8%), increased body mass index (75.0%), increased waist-hip ratio (82.9%), increased waist circumference (63.2%), and arterial hypertension (70.1%). The rural participants had a significantly higher prevalence of arterial hypertension (p = 0.023), increased body mass index (p = 0.004), increased waist circumference (p = 0.004), increased waist-hip ratio (p < 0.001), and increased LDL cholesterol (p = 0.029), while the urban participants had a significantly higher prevalence of insufficient physical activity (p < 0.001).
In the examined sample, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is generally high. Participants from rural areas are significantly more susceptible to cardiovascular risk factors than participants from urban areas.
Prikazani su nalazi istraživanja o doprinosu skupa psihosocijalnih čimbenika: obrazovanja, broja djece, odnosa s obitelji, kvalitete života i subjektivnog funkcioniranja duljini života dugovječnih ...osoba promatranih u razdoblju od 10 godina (projekt HECUBA, HRZZ IP-01-2018-2497). Uzorak je činio 191 sudionik u dobi od 80 do 97 godina (prosječno 88 godina), 73% žena, korisnika 13 domova za starije osobe u Zagrebu. Sudionici su ispitani 2008. godine, individualno, Upitnikom za osobe duboke starosti, kroz strukturirani intervju. Datum odnosno dob njihove smrti utvrđeni su 2018. godine. Sudionici su doživjeli prosječno 92 godine. Ispitani muškarci školovali su se značajno više godina od žena, dok u ostalim varijablama nisu nađene značajne rodne razlike. Utvrđena je značajna povezanost dužeg života sudionika s većim brojem djece i boljom procjenom kvalitete života. Višestrukom regresijskom analizom utvrđen je značajan mali doprinos (10%) skupa promatranih varijabli objašnjenju duljine života uzorka dugovječnih sudionika, odnosno 16,4% u poduzorku žena. Pojedinačni značajni prediktori dužeg života cijelog uzorka bili su veći broj djece, odnosno više godina školovanja i veći broj djece u poduzorku žena. Nalazi upućuju na potrebu za longitudinalnim istraživanjima psihosocijalnih čimbenika dugovječnosti kako bi se unaprijedile kvaliteta života i usluge skrbi o sve većem broju osoba u dubokoj starosti, do kraja njihova života. Ključne riječi: dugovječne osobe, duboka starost, duljina života, psihosocijalni čimbenici, rodne razlike
Prikazani su nalazi istraživanja o doprinosu skupa psihosocijalnih čimbenika: obrazovanja, broja djece, odnosa s obitelji, kvalitete života i subjektivnog funkcioniranja duljini života dugovječnih ...osoba promatranih u razdoblju od 10 godina (projekt HECUBA, HRZZ IP-01-2018-2497). Uzorak je činio 191 sudionik u dobi od 80 do 97 godina (prosječno 88 godina), 73% žena, korisnika 13 domova za starije osobe u Zagrebu. Sudionici su ispitani 2008. godine, individualno, Upitnikom za osobe duboke starosti, kroz strukturirani intervju. Datum odnosno dob njihove smrti utvrđeni su 2018. godine. Sudionici su doživjeli prosječno 92 godine. Ispitani muškarci školovali su se značajno više godina od žena, dok u ostalim varijablama nisu nađene značajne rodne razlike. Utvrđena je značajna povezanost dužeg života sudionika s većim brojem djece i boljom procjenom kvalitete života. Višestrukom regresijskom analizom utvrđen je značajan mali doprinos (10%) skupa promatranih varijabli objašnjenju duljine života uzorka dugovječnih sudionika, odnosno 16,4% u poduzorku žena. Pojedinačni značajni prediktori dužeg života cijelog uzorka bili su veći broj djece, odnosno više godina školovanja i veći broj djece u poduzorku žena. Nalazi upućuju na potrebu za longitudinalnim istraživanjima psihosocijalnih čimbenika dugovječnosti kako bi se unaprijedile kvaliteta života i usluge skrbi o sve većem broju osoba u dubokoj starosti, do kraja njihova života. Ključne riječi: dugovječne osobe, duboka starost, duljina života, psihosocijalni čimbenici, rodne razlike
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