Correlations between clinical parameters and PSQ in children with suspected OSA.

The aim of this study was to measure tonsils and adenoid vegetations, investigate the modified Mallampati score, determine BMI according to body mass and corresponding percentile, and compare these data with the results of the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ). The subjects were children aged 2 to 18 who were indicated for adenotonsillectomy at the Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. A doctor specialist conducted the clinical examinations.

Feasibility study of determining a risk assessment model for obstructive sleep apnea in children based on local findings and clinical indicators.

Objective: To test a feasible and reliable model for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children, based on the clinically relevant parameters, in comparison to a polysomnography.

Methods: A total of 94 children with the suspected underlying OSA were included in the analyses. An association between clinical parameters (modified Mallampati score, tonsil size, adenoid size, age, gender, and body mass index) and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) obtained following an overnight polysomnography was assessed, and significant variables were incorporated in the logistic regression model.

Assessing chemical contamination in the coastal waters of the Adriatic Sea using active mussel biomonitoring with Mytilus galloprovincialis.

The MYTIAD project focused on the assessment of chemical contamination (metals, PAHs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides) in the Adriatic coastal waters by active mussel watching. Its purpose was harmonising and standardising strategies and methodologies used to assess the contamination status of the Adriatic Sea, in the framework of the WFD, the MSFD and UNEP/MAP Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme. Data on metals pointed out some hotspots along the eastern and western Adriatic Sea coasts, with the highest values of total PAH concentration detected in Split, Trieste, and Taranto (Ionian Sea).

Obstructive sleep apnea in children: How it affects parental psychological status?

Purpose Of The Study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children on maternal and paternal anxiety.

Patients And Methods: This prospective study was conducted from January 2013 until January 2016 in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department at the University Hospital of Split, Croatia. The parents of 59 children with a median age of 5 years (range: 2-9) who were suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to adenotonsillar hypertrophy were enrolled into the study.

Formula for the prediction of apnea / hypopnea index in children with obstructive sleep apnea without polysomnography according to the clinical parameters: Is it reliable?

Purpose Of The Study: The aim of the study was to propose "the risk formula" for obstructive sleep apnea in children according to the general and local clinical parameters and findings relevant for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity. The unmet need for this formula arises from the economic burden of polysomnography (device, staff, training, special sleep centers, etc) as the golden standard for the diagnostics.

Materials And Methods Used: The study was performed from January 2013 until January 2016 in the Sleep Center, Department for Neuroscience, School of Medicine of the University of Split, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Split, Croatia and ENT Dept.

Comparative assessment of cardiac activity and DNA damage in haemocytes of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in exposure to tributyltin chloride.

This study gives an insight in sensitivity of heart rate (Hr) of Mytilus galloprovincialis as a physiological biomarker. Impact of tributyltin chloride (TBT-Cl) on Hr was studied in parallel with evaluation of mutagenic, genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of TBT-Cl (10, 100 and 1000μg/L) within 96h treatment in static conditions. Mutagenic potential was assessed by SOS/umuC assay while genotoxicity was assessed in haemocytes of M.

[Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma in a 17-Year-Old Female Patient].

Anaplastic carcinoma of thyroid gland is one of the four most malignant tumors in humans. It appears in one or two patients per million per year. It is very rare in children.

The Epidemiological Characteristics of Hepatitis B in Croatia: The Results of the Prevention.

This study shows epidemiological characteristics and preventive measures implemented for the prevention and control of hepatitis B infections in Croatia. We analyzed the data from obligatory infectious disease reports and notifications of death due to infectious diseases, data on the hepatitis B infections in Croatia, and data collected by survey of the population. The average prevalence of the disease is 3.

Synthesis and biological activity of amino acid derivatives of avarone and its model compound.

A series of eighteen derivatives of marine sesquiterpene quinone avarone and its model system tert-butylquinone with amino acids has been synthesized by nucleophilic addition of amino acids to the quinones. In vitro cytotoxic activity toward human cancer cell lines (HeLa, A549, Fem-X, K562, MDA-MB-453) and normal MRC-5 cell line was determined. Several compounds showed very strong inhibitory activity with IC50 values less than 10 μM.

Prevalence and risk factors for developing oral allergy syndrome in adult patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and the possible risk factors for its development. This cross-sectional study was conducted in primary care offices in the Split-Dalmatia County during the period from March 1 to September 30, 2012. Data sources were medical history with confirmation of SAR (positive skin-prick test to seasonal inhalant allergens: grass, tree and weed pollens), anthropometric patient data (age, sex, weight and height), and a questionnaire in which patients evaluated their nasal and ocular symptoms, comorbidities and lifestyle.

Genotoxic potential and heart rate disorders in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to Superdispersant-25 and dispersed diesel oil.

The effects of ex situ exposure of Mytilus galloprovincialis to Superdispersant-25 (S-25), diesel oil and dispersed diesel oil mixtures were studied by the impact on level of DNA damage in haemocytes (comet assay) and the cardiac activity patterns of mussels. Specimens were exposed for 72 h in a static system to diesel oil (100 μL/L and 1 mL/L), S-25 (5 and 50 μL/L), and dispersed diesel oil mixtures M1 (diesel oil 100 μL/L + S-25 5 μL/L) and M2 (diesel oil 1 mL/L + S-25 50 μL/L). For positive control 40 μM CdCl2 was used.

Evaluation of single-cell gel electrophoresis data: combination of variance analysis with sum of ranking differences.

Specimens of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis were collected from five sites in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Adriatic Sea, Montenegro) during the period summer 2011-autumn 2012. Three types of tissue, haemolymph, digestive gland were used for assessment of DNA damage. Images of randomly selected cells were analyzed with a fluorescence microscope and image analysis by the Comet Assay IV Image-analysis system.

Polypoid angiomyofibroblastoma tumor of nasal cavity: case report.

We report an extremely rare case and localization of polypoid angiomiofibroblastoma tumour, a case report and review of the world literature concerning angiomiofibroblastoma tumour. We present the case of a 74-year-old man who underwent left anterior and posterior ethmoidectomy with extirpation of tumour mass from left nasal cavity, epipharinx and left sphenoid sinus. The prognosis for this group of tumour is good and patient didn't receive any kind of therapy except surgical treatment.

Direct molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis suspected to be the specific infection in a case of recurrent tonsillitis.

We report a case of a 21-year-old man with recurrent tonsillitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. For a period of 5 months, the patient had tonsillitis seven times and was treated with several oral or parenteral antibiotics. On one of these occasions, tonsillitis was complicated with a peritonsillar abscess that was treated by incision.

Incidence of acute angle-closure attacks in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia.

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of acute angle-closure attacks among residents of the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, during a 6-year period. In this retrospective, interventional case series study, hospital records of 53 consecutive patients (33 female, mean age 71.7 +/- 16.

Chitin-based renewable materials from marine sponges for uranium adsorption.

Marine sponges of the order Verongida form three-dimensional networks of fibrous chitin, which can easily be extracted. In the hydrated state, these networks are flexible, mechanically stable and can be cut or pressed into any desired form. Here, we show for the first time that chitin-based networks of sponge origin are useful for effective uranium adsorption.

Q fever in Croatia: war-induced changes in epidemiological characteristics.

The article describes the epidemiological characteristics of Q fever in Croatia, during the period before and after the Homeland War. In the ten years prior to the Homeland War (1983-1992) 1053 cases of Q fever were recorded, 16.2% (171) of which on islands and in coastal areas.

Three-dimensional chitin-based scaffolds from Verongida sponges (Demospongiae: Porifera). Part II: Biomimetic potential and applications.

In order to evaluate the biomedical potential of three-dimensional chitinous scaffolds of poriferan origin, chondrocyte culturing experiments were performed. It was shown for the first time that freshly isolated chondrocytes attached well to the chitin scaffold and synthesized an extracellular matrix similar to that found in other cartilage tissue engineering constructs. Chitin scaffolds also supported deposition of a proteoglycan-rich extracellular matrix of chondrocytes seeded bioconstructs in an in vivo environment.

Three-dimensional chitin-based scaffolds from Verongida sponges (Demospongiae: Porifera). Part I. Isolation and identification of chitin.

Marine invertebrate organisms including sponges (Porifera) not only provide an abundant source of biologically active secondary metabolites but also inspire investigations to develop biomimetic composites, scaffolds and templates for practical use in materials science, biomedicine and tissue engineering. Here, we presented a detailed study of the structural and physico-chemical properties of three-dimensional skeletal scaffolds of the marine sponges Aiolochroia crassa, Aplysina aerophoba, A. cauliformis, A.

Synthesis and biological activity of derivatives of the marine quinone avarone.

Nine alkyl(aryl)thio derivatives of the marine sesquiterpene quinone avarone were synthesized by nucleophilic addition of thiols or thiophenol to avarone. In most cases only one regioisomer was obtained. Their cytotoxic activities, brine shrimp lethality and antibacterial activity were evaluated, as well as those of some previously synthesized avarone derivatives.

Self-perception of drug abusers and addicts and investigators' perception of etiological factors of psychoactive drug addiction.

The aim of this study was to compare investigators' perception of three most important etiological factors for drug addiction and drug abuse with the self-perception of heroin addicts and drug abusers who used cannabis products and/or ecstasy. The study included 207 heroin addicts (mean age, 26.7 +/- 5.

Visual acuity and acute angle-closure glaucoma in Split-Dalmatia County.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma in Split-Dalmatia County and correlation between visual acuity and time (days) elapsed from the disease onset to hospital admission. Twenty-nine cases were retrospectively analyzed. There were 19 female patients aged 36-91 (median age 68) years and 10 male patients aged 35-88 (median age 70) years, with attacks of acute closure glaucoma treated at University Department of Ophthalmology, Split University Hospital Center from January 2002 until December 2005.

A novel lectin from the sponge Haliclona cratera: isolation, characterization and biological activity.

A lectin from the Adriatic sponge Haliclona cratera was purified by ion-exchange and gel chromatography. The molecular mass of the lectin is approximately 29 kDa. Purified lectin is rich in hydrophobic and basic amino acids and has an isoelectric point at pH 8.

Labelling of breast carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma and melanoma with manno- and galacto-specific lectins from marine invertebrates.

Three marine invertebrate FITC-labelled lectins, CNL, GCL, and GSL, isolated respectively, from the sponges Chondrilla nucula, Geodia cydonium, and the hexacoral Gerardia savaglia, were used as potential diagnostic tools for different breast tumors. The lectins vary in their carbohydrate binding properties: GSL is D-mannose specific, GCL and CNL D-galactose specific. GSL labels most investigated types of malignant tissues distinctively, while the results with CNL and GCL are less consistent.