Changes of attitudes toward epilepsy in college-preparatory high school students population: an indicator of global campaign successfulness?

Purpose: Within the "Out of the Shadows" campaign in Croatia, numerous activities have been organized. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy in the population of college-preparatory high school students, and to consider whether such changes could be the result of these activities carried out between 2002 and 2010.

Methods: This study was completed in Croatia's capital city, Zagreb, and sampled adolescent college-preparatory high school students.

Prevalence of increased body weight and hypertension in the population of Croatian mainland and Adriatic Islands--are islanders really healthier?

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of the hypertension and the increased body weight (BMI) between Croatian mainland and Adriatic island population. The data from the Croatian Adult Health Survey (N = 9,070) served as an estimate for the mainland Croatian population, while the data from "1001 Dalmatian study" (N = 1,001) were collected from four Adriatic islands; Rab, Vis, Lastovo and Mljet. The prevalence of increased body weight and hypertension was calculated for the four age groups and analyzed using chi-square test.

Genome-wide association study of biochemical traits in Korcula Island, Croatia.

Aim: To identify genetic variants underlying biochemical traits--total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, albumin, and fibrinogen, in a genome-wide association study in an isolated population where rare variants of larger effect may be more easily identified.

Methods: The study included 944 adult inhabitants of the island of Korcula, as a part of larger DNA-based genetic epidemiological study in 2007. Biochemical measurements were performed in a single laboratory with stringent internal and external quality control procedures.