Overtraining Syndrome as a Risk Factor for Bone Stress Injuries among Paralympic Athletes.

In this review, we have explored the relationship between overtraining syndrome (OTS) and bone stress injuries among paralympic athletes. OTS is a complex condition that arises from an imbalance between training volume, nutrition, and recovery time, leading to significant negative effects on paralympic athlete's performance and overall well-being. On the other hand, bone stress injuries occur when abnormal and repetitive loading is applied to normal bone, resulting in microdamage accumulation and potential.

[Obesity--a public health problem and challenge].

Obesity is a major health problem today that grows into a global epidemic. According to the World Health Organization report, 1.5 billion adults were overweight, over 500 million of them were obese, and the prevalence of obesity is expected to rise in the years to come.

[Dance as a risk factor for injuries and development of occupational diseases].

Injuries and diseases can significantly affect the creativity and artistic performance. The link between working conditions and artistic performance had been recognised as early as the medieval age. Physically demanding performance arts such as dance can sometimes result in injuries, illnesses, inability to perform, and even end artist's career.

Known symptoms and diseases of a number of classical European composers during 17th and 20th century in relation with their artistic musical expressions.

Medical history and relationship to the medical conditions as well as to the music creativity and productivity of some of the classical European composers have been described. In this review article we analyzed their illnesses as well as association between physical or mental diseases and their creativity and adaptability to disease. Some classical composers suffered from organic diseases, while others complained of mental disturbances.

Five-year cumulative incidence of unhealthy diet in adult Croatian population: the CroHort study.

This study investigated 5-year cumulative incidence of unhealthy dietary habits across various gender and age groups within the CroHort study, a repeated cross-sectional survey of Croatian adults. The results monitoring the frequency of certain foodstuffs consumption indicate that 10.6% of examinees (10.

Differences in eating and lifestyle habits between first- and sixth-year medical students from Zagreb.

Eating and lifestyle habits of first (n=169) and sixth (n=272) year students, aged 18 to 26 years, attending a Medical School in Zagreb, were compared related to the years of study. A self-administered questionnaire created for this study incorporated a food frequency questionnaire. Both year students reported similar number of meals per day, irregular consumption of meals, skipping breakfast, frequency of vegetables, fruits, cereals, sweets, milk and dairy products consumption, body mass index (BMI) calculated from self-reported weight and height and alcohol consumption.

[Using of household budget survey data for public health monitoring of dietary habits in Croatia--DAFNE initiative].

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine mean food availability based on the data of national Household Budget Surveys (HBS) provided for the years 1999 and 2004, and also to identify the trends in dietary patterns of the Croatian population according to the Data Food Networking (DAFNE) procedure.

Subjects And Methods: The Croatian National Statistics Bureau conducted the first HBS survey in 1999 on the sample of 2937 households and the second in 2004 on 2847 households, respectively. Those two raw data sets together with the data on relevant socio-demographic characteristics: household locality, number of household members, education and occupation of the household head were sent to the DAFNE coordinating centre in Athens.

[Reason for dietary salt reduction and potential effect on population health--WHO recommendation].

It is well known that reduction of salt results in lowering blood pressure and cardiovascular incidents. Daily salt is double the recommended daily quantity and mainly comes from processed food. The assessment of daily salt intake for Croatia is 12 g/day (WHO recommendation is <5 g/day).

[Regional features of Croatian nutrition].

Aim: To investigate dietary habits and assess pertinent regional differences observed in different parts of the Republic of Croatia. Based on these results, to identify the geographical regions where inhabitants are at the highest risk of developing hypertension.

Subjects And Methods: The study was carried out in 2003, using a modified food consumption questionnaire (Croatian Health Survey, CHS 2003), and included a total of 9070 adults aged > or =18.

[Human lifespan: to live and outlive 100 years?].

Aged population dominates in developed countries. Centenarians are a select group, and only one in 7,000 to 10,000 reach that age. Factors of longevity are numerous and include genetic predisposition (a locus on chromosome 4), environment, healthy lifestyle (hypocaloric diet, regular physical and mental exercise), accessible health services, and efficient health protection at old age.

Regional differences in dietary habits of adult Croatian population.

The aim of this study was to investigate the dietary habits of the adult Croatian population according to geographical regions and gender. Date was obtained from the Croatian Adult Health Survey questionnaire, carried out in six regions of Republic of Croatia (Eastern, Northern, Central, City of Zagreb, Mountainous and Coastal), with a total of 9,070 responses. Results have shown that the highest prevalence of unhealthy dietary habits was recorded in Eastern and Central regions, while Coastal region and city of Zagreb had significantly lower prevalence of unhealthy dietary habits (P < 0.

Respiratory function in wind instrument players.

Background: The playing of wind instruments has been associated with changes in respiratory function.

Study Objectives: To investigate the effect of playing wind instruments on lung function and respiratory symptoms.

Methods: The present study included 99 wind instrument players and a group of 41 string instrument players as a control from 3 major orchestras in Zagreb, Croatia.

Gender and respiratory findings in workers occupationally exposed to organic aerosols: a meta analysis of 12 cross-sectional studies.

Background: Gender related differences in respiratory disease have been documented. The aim of this study was to investigate gender related differences in respiratory findings by occupation. We analyzed data from 12 of our previously published studies.

Women in medicine through the ages.

Background: Female practitioners of the medical arts have been active since the ancient world The role of women in science, and particularly in medicine, has changed significantly over time.

Methods: We provide a chronological review of the growing knowledge in medicine related to women's activities through the ages with particular attention to occupational medicine. Throughout history hazards have been shaped by the forces that shape work itself social evolution, shifting economic powers and demographic changes.

[Causes of climatic changes and their consequences on human health].

Environmental disasters are common phenomena caused by human factors. Disaster episodes may be the result of climatic changes such as global warming, which can lead to floods or drought. Greenhouse gases, and especially the ozone, represent a special problem.

Ancient medicine--a review.

Different aspects of medicine and/or healing in several societies are presented. In the ancient times as well as today medicine has been closely related to magic, science and religion. Various ancient societies and cultures had developed different views of medicine.

[Effects of volcanic eruptions on environment and health].

Volcanoes pose a threat to almost half a billion people; today there are approximately 500 active volcanoes on Earth, and every year there are 10 to 40 volcanic eruptions. Volcanic eruptions produce hazardous effects for the environment, climate, and the health of the exposed persons, and are associated with the deterioration of social and economic conditions. Along with magma and steam (H2O), the following gases surface in the environment: carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), carbon sulphide (CS), carbon disulfide (CS2), hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen bromide (HBr) and various organic compounds, as well as heavy metals (mercury, lead, gold).

Occupational health hazards of artists.

Artists may be exposed to a variety of potentially noxious materials. The modern techniques they use imply exposure to environmental hazards. Occupational health was evaluated in individuals engaged in different arts such as sculpture, painting, printmaking, restoration photography, glass-work and ceramics, because of exposure to toxic chemicals in art materials, tools and methods used in their work.

[Relationship of regional alcohol drinking habit and cardiovascular risk factors in Croatia].

Aim: The aim was to investigate regional distribution of drinking habit and its relation to the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors.

Subjects And Methods: Nine thousand and seventy participants older than 18 questioned during THE 2003 Croatian health Survey were analyzed and weighted data extrapolated to the adult Croatian population. Study group included subjects reporting regular intake of any type of alcohol drink (liquor, wine or beer) during the past year.

[Dietary habits: Croatian health survey].

Objective: To examine dietary habits and to determine the presence of possible regional differences in Croatia.

Subjects And Methods: Survey was performed during 2003 by means of modified food frequency questionnaire. Survey included randomly selected 9070 adult examinees at the age of 18 and above in the whole Croatia.

Chronic respiratory symptoms in Croatian Adriatic island metapopulations.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms in 9 metapopulations on Adriatic islands in Croatia, and the relationship between respiratory symptoms and individual genetic background.

Methods: We obtained random sample of 1001 adult inhabitants of 9 Adriatic island villages in Croatia, that also included immigrants to these villages. European Union respiratory health questionnaire and World Health Organization non-communicable diseases questionnaire were used.

Body mass index and nutrition as determinants of health and disease in population of Croatian Adriatic islands.

Aim: To investigate the relationships between body mass index (BMI), dietary habits, and cardiovascular risk factors in isolated Adriatic island populations of Croatia.

Methods: Random sample of subjects (n=1001) was interviewed, using a validated questionnaire developed for this research program. Dietary habits were assessed on the basis of applied Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ).

Dietary habits and folate status in women of childbearing age in Croatia.

Folic acid and folates have an important role in prevention of neural tube defect that appears in the first weeks of pregnancy, when women are still not aware of their pregnancy, especially when pregnancy is not planned. Since ensuring sufficient quantities of folates and folic acid in this period is essential, dietary habits of childbearing age women are very important. In line with that the intake of folates and folic acid in nutrition of women age group 20-30 years is examined, as well as the frequency of consumption of foodstuffs rich in vitamins and folic acid supplements.

Respiratory findings in pharmaceutical workers.

Background: Pharmaceutical workers may be at risk for the development of respiratory problems as a result of their work environment.

Methods: This study investigated 163 female and 35 male workers, employed in a pharmaceutical plant processing different types of medication, primarily antibiotics, in order to characterize the risk of this environment. Chronic respiratory symptoms were recorded by using the British Medical Research Council questionnaire.

Immunological and respiratory changes in tobacco workers.

Background: Tobacco workers develop respiratory changes following occupational exposure to tobacco dust.

Methods: This study investigated 102 tobacco workers as well as a group of 30 matched control workers. Immunological testing, symptom questionnaire, and lung function measurements were performed in all workers.