ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER AND URINE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH MALIGNANT TUMORS OF URINARY TRACT IN OSIJEK-BARANJA COUNTY, CROATIA.

Increased values of arsenic in potable water in eastern Croatia has been a matter of scientific interest for the past two decades due to numerous health effects, including carcinogenic ones. This study investigated whether prolonged exposure to increased arsenic from water could be detectable through increased arsenic in urine, and whether it influenced the incidence of kidney and bladder cancer in Osijek-Baranja County. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for analysis of water samples from available water sources (wells, aqueducts).

KIDNEY CANCER IN CROATIA - TRENDS IN INCIDENCE AND MORTALITY IN THE 21 CENTURY.

Kidney cancer is estimated to be responsible for more than 400 000 new cancer cases and 180 000 cancer deaths a year. Its incidence is increasing in the majority of developed countries, due to an increased prevalence of recognized risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use and obesity, as well as incidental findings on unrelated diagnostic imaging procedures. Mortality is decreasing in the majority of European countries, due to improvements in treatment and stage at diagnosis shift with more tumors being diagnosed at an early stage.

Worldwide trends in esophageal cancer survival, by sub-site, morphology, and sex: an analysis of 696,974 adults diagnosed in 60 countries during 2000-2014 (CONCORD-3).

Background: Esophageal cancer survival is poor worldwide, though there is some variation. Differences in the distribution of anatomical sub-site and morphological sub-type may help explain international differences in survival for all esophageal cancers combined. We estimated survival by anatomic sub-site and morphological sub-type to understand further the impact of topography and morphology on international comparisons of esophageal cancer survival.

Epidemiology of vulvar cancer in Croatia.

Aim: To assess the incidence and mortality trends of invasive vulvar cancer in Croatia between 2001 and 2019/2020.

Methods: The incidence data for the period 2001-2019 were obtained from the Croatian National Cancer Registry. The number of deaths from invasive vulvar cancer by age groups between 2001 and 2020 was obtained from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics.

THE ROLE OF SALIVARY AND SERUM CA125 AND ROUTINE BLOOD TESTS IN PATIENTS WITH OVARIAN MALIGNANCIES.

The use of routine blood tests has recently been shown to be promising in determining disease-free and overall survival in patients with various malignancies, and also in gynecologic malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether salivary and serum CA125 levels correlate and whether salivary and serum CA125, C-reactive protein and routine blood tests might serve as a prognostic factor in malignant ovarian tumors, and whether they might differentiate between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. A total of 98 women were included (48 with benign ovarian tumors and 50 with malignant ovarian tumors), in whom routine blood tests were made and salivary and serum CA125 levels were determined by use of ELISA.

100 Years apart: Psychiatric admissions during Spanish flu and COVID-19 pandemic.

The last pandemic comparable to the current COVID-19 pandemic was the Spanish flu. Using the admission record books for the years 1917 and 1918 and electronic health records for the years 2019 and 2020, we extracted the relevant data and explored how they affected the numbers of emergency psychiatric admissions. The general trend in both pandemics was that they did not cause a rise in psychiatric admissions, findings which go along with reports around Europe.

Is it too expensive to fight cancer? Analysis of incremental costs and benefits of the Croatian National Plan Against Cancer.

This cost-effectiveness study analyses the expected impacts of activities proposed by the Croatian National Plan Against Cancer (NPAC) on cancer incidence and survival rates, as related to their respective costs. We evaluated the impact of the NPAC on two main outcomes, namely, reduced incidence and the improved survival of cancer patients, expressed as life years gained (LYGs), which enabled the calculation of incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) in the form of cost per LYG. In the analysis of costs, we considered both the direct costs of NPAC activities as well as the wider indirect societal costs of cancer, thus permitting the calculation of the ICER both from the narrower national health insurer's perspective (accounting only for the direct costs) and the wider societal perspective (accounting both for the direct and indirect costs).

Prevalence of somatic comorbidities among coronavirus disease 2019 patients in Croatia in the first pandemic wave: data from national public health databases.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of common somatic comorbidities among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients in Croatia in the first pandemic wave, and assess the differences in clinical outcomes depending on the presence of comorbidities.

Methods: We analyzed data from patients confirmed to be SARS-CoV-2-positive from February through May 2020. The data were obtained from clinical laboratories, primary health care providers, and hospitals.

Do Athletes Practicing Outdoors Know and Care Enough About the Importance of Photoprotection?

Athletes practicing and competing outdoors are exposed to considerable UV radiation and at an increased risk for the development of UV-related skin conditions, including skin cancer. Risk factors for skin cancer include genetics, immune status, and particularly UV radiation. Independent factors, such as phototype, family or personal history of melanoma, number of nevi, atypical nevi and solar lentigines, as well as sunburn history are also important risk indicators for skin cancer, especially melanoma (1-3).

Trend analyses of breast cancer incidence and mortality in Vojvodina.

Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common type of malignant tumor in women and one of the most significant public health problems in the world. The purpose of this work was to determine breast cancer epidemiology in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in a 20-year period (1993 to 2012) by determining breast cancer incidence and mortality in female population and analyzing the trend in the specified period.

Methods: The research involved the population of women in Vojvodina in the period from 1993 to 2012.

Changes in disease burden in Poland between 1990-2017 in comparison with other Central European countries: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

Background: Systematic collection of mortality/morbidity data over time is crucial for monitoring trends in population health, developing health policies, assessing the impact of health programs. In Poland, a comprehensive analysis describing trends in disease burden for major conditions has never been published. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides data on the burden of over 300 diseases in 195 countries since 1990.

Birth seasonality of childhood central nervous system tumors: Analysis of primary data from 16 Southern-Eastern European population-based registries.

Season of birth, a surrogate of seasonal variation of environmental exposures, has been associated with increased risk of several cancers. In the context of a Southern-Eastern Europe (SEE) consortium, we explored the potential association of birth seasonality with childhood (0-14 years) central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Primary CNS tumor cases (n = 6,014) were retrieved from 16 population-based SEE registries (1983-2015).

THE ROLE OF COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH COLORECTAL CANCER.

- Chronic inflammation has been linked with many cancers. It seems that easily available and usual blood inflammatory markers might serve as a prognostic factor for overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with various cancers. Preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), as well as hemoglobinemia, thrombocytosis, elevated C-reactive protein values, neutropenia and leukocytosis have been shown to affect overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), however, with controversial results.

Malignant brain neoplasms incidence and mortality trends in Croatia from 2001 to 2014.

Aim: To analyze the sex-specific incidence and mortality trends of brain malignancies in Croatia from 2001 to 2014.

Methods: Incidence and mortality rates per 100000 population were calculated using data obtained from the Croatian National Cancer Registry and the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Rates were age-standardized to the European Standard Population, and trends were assessed using joinpoint regression.

HPV-driven oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer in Croatia - Demography and survival.

Objectives: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Main HNSCC risk factors are tobacco, alcohol, and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV+ oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) usually have different etiology, increasing incidence and often show an improved survival when compared to HPV-negative cases.

Overdose mortality rates in Croatia and factors associated with self-reported drug overdose among persons who inject drugs in three Croatian cities.

Background: Drug overdose is the major cause of morbidity and mortality among persons who inject drugs (PWID). We assessed factors associated with the non-fatal drug overdose among PWID in three Croatian cities and national trends of overdose-related mortality (OM), and rates of uptake of opioid agonist drug treatment (OAT).

Methods: We used a respondent-driven sampling method to recruit 830 PWID in Zagreb, Split and Rijeka in 2014/2015.

Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer in Croatia - Situation and Perspectives.

Prostate cancer represents a significant public health burden in Croatia, as well as in other developed countries. The aim of this paper was to present the current epidemiological situation in Croatia in comparison to other similar countries, using basic indicators such as incidence, mortality, prevalence and survival, and to discuss future possibilities in this field. The incidence of prostate cancer in Croatia has been rapidly increasing since the mid-nineties; recent data indicates that the trend is levelling off.

Plasma Fucosylated Glycans and C-Reactive Protein as Biomarkers of HNF1A-MODY in Young Adult-Onset Nonautoimmune Diabetes.

Objective: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants in is the most common type of monogenic diabetes. Frequent misdiagnosis results in missed opportunity to use sulfonylureas as first-line treatment. A nongenetic biomarker could improve selection of subjects for genetic testing and increase diagnosis rates.

Completeness of Data on Malignant Melanoma Skin Sites and Morphology in the Croatian National Cancer Registry 2000-2014: An Overview of Recent Progress.

Mortality rates and five-year relative survival for malignant melanoma (MM) of the skin in Croatia are poor compared with most European countries. Epidemiological data recorded at the National Cancer Registry (CNCR) are used for informing various decision-makers and researchers, as well as for comparisons with other countries. We analyzed CNCR data on MM skin and morphology for 2000-2007 and 2008-2014 and compared them with European 2000-2007 data.

Survival and mortality rates of Wilms tumour in Southern and Eastern European countries: Socioeconomic differentials compared with the United States of America.

Background: Despite recent therapeutic advancements, Wilms tumour (WT) presents remarkable survival variations. We explored mortality and survival patterns for children (0-14 years) with WT in 12 Southern and Eastern European (SEE) countries in comparison with the United States of America (USA).

Methods: A total of 3966 WT cases (0-14 years) were registered by a network of SEE childhood cancer registries (N:1723) during available registration periods circa 1990-2016 and surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program (SEER) (N:2243; 1990-2012); mortality data were provided by the respective national statistical services.

Persisting inequalities in survival patterns of childhood neuroblastoma in Southern and Eastern Europe and the effect of socio-economic development compared with those of the US.

Aim: Neuroblastoma outcomes vary with disease characteristics, healthcare delivery and socio-economic indicators. We assessed survival patterns and prognostic factors for patients with neuroblastoma in 11 Southern and Eastern European (SEE) countries versus those in the US, including-for the first time-the Nationwide Registry for Childhood Hematological Malignancies and Solid Tumours (NARECHEM-ST)/Greece.

Methods: Overall survival (OS) was calculated in 13 collaborating SEE childhood cancer registries (1829 cases, ∼1990-2016) and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER), US (3072 cases, 1990-2012); Kaplan-Meier curves were used along with multivariable Cox regression models assessing the effect of age, gender, primary tumour site, histology, Human Development Index (HDI) and place of residence (urban/rural) on survival.