Platinum, palladium, rhodium, molybdenum and strontium in blood of urban women in nine countries.

Background: There is little reliable information on human exposure to the metals platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh), despite their use in enormous quantities in catalytic converters for automobile exhaust systems.

Objectives: To evaluate blood concentrations of Pt (B-Pt), Pd (B-Pd) and Rh (B-Rh) in women from six European and three non-European countries, and to identify potentially influential factors. In addition, molybdenum (Mo) and strontium (Sr) were analysed.

[Anxiety and depression in elderly - prevalence and association with health care].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in the elderly inhabiting Koprivnica-Kri evci, Istria and Dubrovnik-Neretva Counties and their association with socio-demographic characteristics and healthcare utilisation.

Methods: A cross-sectional cluster survey carried out in 2006, encompassing a total of 1,469 examinees aged 70+. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale was used to screen for self-reported symptoms of anxiety and depression, which were further associated with socio-demographic characteristics and healthcare utilisation.

Cadmium, mercury and lead in the blood of urban women in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, China, Ecuador and Morocco.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to make an international comparison of blood levels of cadmium (B-Cd), lead (B-Pb) and mercury (B-Hg) of women in seven European, and three non-European cities, and to identify determinants.

Materials And Methods: About 50 women (age: 46-62) from each city were recruited (totally 480) in 2006-2009. Interview and questionnaire data were obtained.

[Monitoring of nitrate content in drinking water in Koprivnica-Krizevci County].

Aims: The aim of the study was to establish nitrate concentrations in drinking water originating from shallow wells across Koprivnica-Krizevci County, to assess the influence of agricultural point sources on nitrate water contamination, and to explore the correlations between water nitrate concentrations and agro-ecologic factors.

Methods: During the 2002-2007 period, a total of 1170 potable water samples were taken from 104 shallow wells across Koprivnica-Krizevci County. Given the geographical and developmental determinants, the investigated area was divided into three sections: Koprivnica, Krizevci and Durdevac areas.

Differences in healthcare service utilisation in elderly, registered in eight districts of five European countries.

Aims: The aim of the study was to compare and analyse the differences in self-reported frequencies of visits paid to physicians and hospitalisation rates, as well as their association with socio-demographic factors and health status self-rated by elderly.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in eight districts of five European countries (Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Croatia, and Greece). A total of 3540 persons aged 70 or more were interviewed by trained interviewers.

[Study of accidents in the Koprivnica area].

The aim of this paper is to present injury incidence, risky population groups, circumstances and activities before the accident and injury mechanism in Koprivnica district (715 km2, 61,052 inhabitants). Data were taken from the Register which includes all population who were injured in this area. Register was located in surgical unit, general hospital in Koprivnica.

[The Mediterranean diet and occurrence of malignant tumors of the digestive system in the Croatian islands].

The aim of this study was to compare the age-standardised incidence rates of gastric bowel and pancreatic cancer between two regions of the Republic of Croatia: (1) five middle Dalmatian islands (Brac, Hvar, Korcula, Vis and Lastovo) with "Mediterranean" nutrition; (2) the control population of Koprivnicko-krizevacka County (KKC) with "continental" nutrition. The characterisation of nutrition habits in the two study regions revealed very significant differences. The newly registered cases of gastric, bowel and pancreatic cancer between 1986 and 1995 were retrieved from the Cancer Registry of Croatia.