Rotavirusi su jedni od najvažnijih uzročnika akutnog gastroenteritisa kod ljudi i životinja, a između devet prepoznatih vrsta rotavirusA se posebno ističe zbog velike proširenosti i patogenosti. I ...danas, uz visoki pobol i hospitalizaciju oboljele djece u zemljama s visokimhigijenskim standardom, u zemljama u razvoju uzrokuju značajnu smrtnost. Takav je učinak posebno vidljiv kada dostupna cjepivanisu dio nacionalnog imunizacijskog programa. Zbog prirode svoga genoma rotavirusi izrazito brzo evoluiraju, prvenstveno zahvaljujućiučestaloj pojavi točkastih mutacija i genomskog preslagivanja. Stoga nije iznenađujuća visoka genetska heterogenost, patako danas poznajemo ukupno 36 genotipova G i 51 genotip P rotavirusa A. Kada izravno prijeđu vrsnu barijeru, rotavirusi uglavnomnisu sposobni učinkovito inficirati ili se širiti u novom domaćinu. No baš pojava genomskog preslagivanja omogućuje nastanaknovih, potencijalno emergentnih humano-animalnih reasortanata. Stoga je potreban stalni nadzor životinjskih sojeva rotavirusakako bi se dobila točna slika o životinjskim rezervoarima koji u budućnosti mogu biti odgovorni za unos novih rotavirusa uljudsku populaciju ili rotavirusnih gena u genetsku osnovu humanih sojeva. Sustavno praćenje molekularnih značajki rotavirusa kojicirkuliraju u određenom području od posebne je važnosti prije uvođenja nacionalnog imunizacijskog programa, ali i dok je aktivnaimunizacija u tijeku. Opsežnije istraživanje rotavirusa A u ekosustavu Republike Hrvatske je u tijeku, a omogućit će otkrivanje životinjskihrezervoara te pridonijeti boljem razumijevanju zoonotskog potencijala ovih virusa.
Element concentrations were measured in multifloral honeys sampled from Central and Eastern Croatia. The mean levels of elements ranged from (µg/kg): Al 323–7228, Cu 103–1033, Cr 14.4–139, Fe ...295–2336, Ni 122–523, Pb 9.65–154, Zn 442–2025. In all samples, As and Cd content were below the LOD values. Significant differences in the concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn (
p
< 0.01) were found in honeys from different locations within regions and within locations of each region. Also, significant differences in total element contents between the two regions were determined for Cr and Cu (
p
< 0.01). No significant differences were observed in total Al, Fe, Pb and Zn levels between regions. The highest Al, Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn concentrations were measured in Central Croatia, while Ni and Pb in Eastern Croatia. The results confirm the decisive influence of collection location on the composition of toxic and trace elements in honey.
Background
Community pharmacists can play an important role in optimizing warfarin treatment, which is very important in vulnerable patient groups such as the elderly patients in rural areas.
...Objective
To evaluate the impact of a community pharmacist’s interventions on the quality of anticoagulation in elderly rural patients receiving warfarin.
Setting
A community pharmacy in Donji Miholjac in Croatia’s province of Slavonia.
Method
We conducted a prospective randomized trial. Eligible patients were recruited at the pharmacy and randomized into two groups. All participants were followed up monthly for a period of 6 months. Repeated education and a follow up plan were provided to the participants in the intervention group, and their general practitioners were contacted to correct the warfarin dose or to avoid drug interactions.
Main outcome measure
Time in therapeutic range (TTR) calculated by the Rosendaal method.
Results
A total of 140 patients were randomized and 131 patients finished the study, 65 patients in the intervention group. Median age was 73 years. At the end of the follow-up period, the median TTR was significantly higher in the intervention group (93 vs. 31.2% for intervention and control, respectively;
P
< 0.001). The proportion of patients with TTR ≥ 65% was also significantly higher in the intervention group (86.2 vs. 7.6% for intervention and control, respectively;
P
< 0.001). Factors independently associated with TTR ≥ 65% were intervention (
P
< 0.001), less frequent dose change (
P
= 0.005), better adherence (
P
< 0.001) and less variable vitamin K intake (
P
= 0.010).
Common ragweed is a highly allergenic invasive species in Europe, expected to become widespread under climate change. Allergy to ragweed manifests as eye, nasal and lung symptoms, and children may ...retain these throughout life. The dose-response relationship between symptoms and pollen concentrations is unclear. We undertook a longitudinal study, assessing the association between ragweed pollen concentration and allergic eye, nasal and lung symptoms in children living under a range of ragweed pollen concentrations in Croatia. Over three years, 85 children completed daily diaries, detailing allergic symptoms alongside daily location, activities and medication, resulting in 10,130 individual daily entries. The daily ragweed pollen concentration for the children's locations was obtained, alongside daily weather and air pollution. Parents completed a home/lifestyle/medical questionnaire. Generalised Additive Mixed Models established the relationship between pollen concentrations and symptoms, alongside other covariates. Eye symptoms were associated with mean daily pollen concentration over four days (day of symptoms plus 3 previous days); 61 grains/m3/day (95%CI: 45, 100) was the threshold at which 50% of children reported symptoms. Nasal symptoms were associated with mean daily pollen concentration over 12 days (day of symptoms plus 11 previous days); the threshold for 50% of children reporting symptoms was 40 grains/m3/day (95%CI: 24, 87). Lung symptoms showed a relationship with mean daily pollen concentration over 19 days (day of symptoms plus 18 previous days), with a threshold of 71 grains/m3/day (95%CI: 59, 88). Taking medication on the day of symptoms showed higher odds, suggesting responsive behaviour. Taking medication on the day prior to symptoms showed lower odds of reporting, indicating preventative behaviour. Different symptoms in children demonstrate varying dose-response relationships with ragweed pollen concentrations. Each symptom type responded to pollen exposure over different time periods. Using medication prior to symptoms can reduce symptom presence. These findings can be used to better manage paediatric ragweed allergy symptoms.
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•The dose-response between ragweed concentrations and allergy symptoms is unclear.•We used a longitudinal study to determine daily allergy symptoms in 85 children.•Associations between daily symptoms and ragweed concentrations were examined.•Symptom types showed different non-linear associations with ragweed concentration.•Symptom types responded to pollen exposure over differing time periods.
Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. are important emerging causes of disease in dogs. Alongside these domesticated hosts, there is increasing recognition that these piroplasms can also be found in a ...range of wild animals with isolated reports describing the presence of these pathogen in foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and captive grey wolves (Canis lupus). The prevalence and impact of these infections in free-ranging populations of canids are unknown. To gain a better insight into the epidemiology and pathogenesis of piroplasm infections in free-ranging grey wolves, pathological and molecular investigations into captive and free-ranging grey wolves in Croatia were performed.
The carcasses of 107 free-ranging wolves and one captive wolf were the subjects of post-mortem investigations and sampling for molecular studies. A blood sample from one live captured wolf for telemetric tracking was also used for molecular analysis. PCR amplification targeting the 18S RNA gene revealed that 21 of 108 free-ranging wolves and one captive animal were positive for Theileria/Babesia DNA. Subsequent sequencing of a fragment of the 18S RNA gene revealed that 7/22 animals were positive for Babesia canis while the other amplified sequence were found to be identical with corresponding 18S rDNA sequences of Theileria capreoli isolated from wild deer (15/22). Haematological and cytological analysis revealed the presence of signet-ring shaped or pear-shaped piroplasms in several animals with the overall parasite burden in all positive animals assessed to be very low. Pathological investigation of the captive animal revealed fatal septicemia as a likely outcome of hemolytic anaemia. There was little or no evidence of hemolytic disease consistent with babesiosis in other animals.
Importantly, the presence of B. canis in free-ranging grey wolves has not been described before but has been reported in a single fox and domestic dogs only. That B. canis infections cause disease in dogs but have little impact on wolf health possibly suggests that the wolf is the natural and the domestic dog is a secondary host. Surprisingly, the frequent finding of Theileria capreoli in wolves suggests that this Theileria species is not restricted to ungulates (cervids) but commonly infects also this carnivore species. Nevertheless, the potential role that these asymptomatically infected animals may play in the dispersal of these pathogens to susceptible sympatric species such as domesticated dogs requires further investigation.
In the scope of this research, the petrographic and geochemical analyses of clastic sedimentary rocks from the St. Barbara, copper and iron ore mine in Rude near Samobor, have been made, aiming to ...classify and determine the provenance and environment of formation of clastic sedimentary rocks, as well as the influence of hydrothermal fluids on their properties. Eight samples were collected in total from different locations in the mine. Six of those samples have been studied in detail. The results showed structural and geochemical variability and uneven hydrothermal alteration intensity in the samples. Based on petrographic analyses, three rocks are classified as sublithoarenite, quartz arenite and quartz greywacke. Three of the samples are classified as ore breccia, ore sandstone, and ore silt-sandstone due to the pronounced hydrothermal alterations and ore mineralisation. Comprehensively, petrographic and geochemical analyses indicate that the source rocks of the investigated clastic sedimentary rocks were felsic (La/Sc = 0.9-6.2; Th/Sc = 1.3-2.4), most probably sedimentary, possibly resedimented rocks. The extent of source rock weathering was very high (Chemical Index of Alteration CIA = 52.1 - 81.3 %) and the geotectonic position of the sedimentary basin was very likely to be at the passive continental margin.
After information about a dengue case in Germany acquired in Croatia, health professionals and the public in Croatia were alerted to assess the situation and to enhance mosquito control, resulting in ...the diagnosis of a second case of autochthonous dengue fever in the same area and the detection of 15 persons with evidence of recent dengue infection. Mosquito control measures were introduced. The circumstances of dengue virus introduction to Croatia remain unresolved.
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