Raising Epidemiological Awareness: Assessment of Measles/MMR Susceptibility in Highly Vaccinated Clusters within the Hungarian and Croatian Population-A Sero-Surveillance Analysis.

Perceptions of the complete eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) may foster complacency and compromise vaccination efforts. Decreased measles vaccination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic have heightened the risk of outbreaks, even in adequately vaccinated populations. To address this, we have aligned with ECDC recommendations, leveraging previous cross-border sero-epidemiological assessments between Pécs, Hungary, and Osijek, Croatia, to identify latent risk groups and uncover potential parallels between our nations.

Following Natural Autoantibodies: Further Immunoserological Evidence Regarding Their Silent Plasticity and Engagement in Immune Activation.

Contradictory reports are available on vaccine-associated hyperstimulation of the immune system, provoking the formation of pathological autoantibodies. Despite being interconnected within the same network, the role of the quieter, yet important non-pathological and natural autoantibodies (nAAbs) is less defined. We hypothesize that upon a prompt immunological trigger, physiological nAAbs also exhibit a moderate plasticity.

The adaptation of noise-induced temporary hearing threshold shift predictive models for modelling the public health policy.

Objectives: It has been shown that monitoring temporary threshold shift (TTS) after exposure to noise may have a predictive value for susceptibility of developing permanent noise-induced hearing loss. The aim of this study is to present the assumptions of the TTS predictive model after its verification in normal hearing subjects along with demonstrating the usage of this model for the purposes of public health policy.

Material And Methods: The existing computational predictive TTS models were adapted and validated in a group of 18 bartenders exposed to noise at the workplace.

Measles Vaccination and Outbreaks in Croatia from 2001 to 2019; A Comparative Study to Other European Countries.

Due to the current burden of COVID-19 on public health institutions, increased migration and seasonal touristic traveling, there is an increased risk of epidemic outbreaks of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). The aim of the present study was to analyze the epidemiological data on MMR immunization coverage and the number of measles cases in 2001−2019 in Croatia and a number of European countries. Results revealed a decreasing trend in vaccination in 2001−2019 throughout Europe.

Dynamic Features of Herd Immunity: Similarities in Age-Specific Anti-Measles Seroprevalence Data between Two Countries of Different Epidemiological History.

(1) Background: Measles immunization gap(s) raise the concern of potential outbreaks. Both Croatia and Hungary are situated in the vicinity of measles-endemic countries. Potentially compromised immunization activities due to the COVID-19 surge is a ground for concern.

Adenoma Characteristics and the Influence of Alcohol and Cigarette Consumption on the Development of Advanced Colorectal Adenomas.

: Colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the leading public health problems worldwide, is a disease that can be prevented when it is detected in time. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to investigate the characteristics of colorectal adenomas and whether alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking correlated with the development of advanced adenomas in participants in The National Programme for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer (NP) in Osijek-Baranja County (OBC), Croatia. : The screening methods were the guaiac Faecal Occult Blood Test (gFOBT), colonoscopy, histological analysis, and risk factor questionnaire.

A Data-informed Public Health Policy-Makers Platform.

Hearing loss is a disease exhibiting a growing trend due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the mundane exposure to the noise and ever-increasing size of the older population. In the framework of a public health policymaking process, modeling of the hearing loss disease based on data is a key factor in alleviating the issues related to the disease and in issuing effective public health policies. First, the paper describes the steps of the data-driven policymaking process.

Malignant neoplasms of breast and female genital organs (C50, C51-C58) in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia.

Breast cancer (C50) and neoplasms of female genital organs (C51-C58) represent one of the most frequent cancer groups among females in economically developed countries. The Institute of Public Health of the Osijek-Baranja County in collaboration with different county institutes provide updated information on the cancer occurrence and trends in the Osijek-Baranja County (OBC). The aim of this article is to provide information on the tendencies relating to these cancer groups in the OBC during the period from 2001 to 2009, which will be the first report on these cancer sites on a county level in Croatia.

Malignant neoplasms of respiratory and intrathoracic organs (C30-C39) in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia.

The Institute of Public Health of the Osijek-Baranja County in collaborate with different county institutes provide updated information on the cancer occurrence and trends in the Osijek-Baranja County (OBC). The cancers were defined according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10), codes of malignant neoplasms of respiratory and intrathoracic organs (C30-C39). The aim of this article was to show the size of cancer problem with the C30-C39 cancer group in the Osijek-Baranja County (OBC).

Value of cytology in small cell lung carcinoma diagnostic--single-center study.

Small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCLC) together with the large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), typical carcinoid (TC), and atypical carcinoid (AC) make a group of morphologically identifiable neuroendocrine tumors. The differential diagnosis of SCLC includes, first of all, other neuroendocrine tumors, and primary or metastatic non-small cell carcinomas. Although the criteria for the morphologic separation from other tumors of the lung are defined, in everyday practice it can be a problem, both in cytology and with histological samples.

Malignant neoplasms of digestive organs (C15-C26) in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia.

The Institute of Public Health for the Osjek-Baranja County (OBC) has processed the data on cancer patients that were collected from mandatory county hospitals data reports, county bureaus of statistics and the County Register of Deaths. The cancers were defined according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10), codes of malignant neoplasms of digestive organs (C15-C26). The aim of this article is to show the size of the problem and the burden of the health care system caused by cancers of the digestive system (C15-C26) in the OBC in the period 2001-2006.

The burden of hospitalised carcinoma patients in Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia, 1998-2010.

The purpose of this paper was to determine the number and trend of hospitalisations caused by carcinoma in the Osijek-Baranja County, to to determine the proportion of these hospitalizations compared to all other hospitalization, as well as to determine the burden put on the hospitals by external patients (those not residing in the Osijek-Baranja County area). There has been an average of 10.1% of hospitalisations caused by carcinoma in the Osijek-Baranja County from 1998 to 2010.

Neoplasms (C00-D48) in Osijek-Baranja County from 2001 to 2006, Croatia.

The Institute of Public Health of the Osijek-Baranja County has processed the data on cancer patients that were collected from mandatory county hospitals data reports, county bureaus of statistics and the County Register of Deaths. The cancers were defined according the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10), codes of malignant neoplasms (C00-C97), in situ neoplasms (D00-D09) and neoplasms of uncertain or unknown behaviour (D37-D48). The aim of this article was to show the size of the cancer problem in Osijek-Baranja County (OBC) according to the all ICD-10 cancer groups.

First six years of implementing colorectal cancer screening in the Osijek-Baranja County, Croatia--can we do better?

The primary goal of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in the Osijek-Baranja County. The screening method for early detection of colorectal cancer was the guaiac Faecal Occult Blood Test (gFOBT) and colonoscopy for gFOBT positive finding. The target population were asymptomatic subjects at average risk, aged 50-74.

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

The aim of this paper is to investigate the incidence of smoking and changes in smoking habits in Croatia during a 5-year period. Data from the Croatian Adult Health Study of 2003 and 2008 was used for the study (N = 3229). The results of this study suggest that the incidence of smoking is the highest in youngest men and decreases with age.

Drinking in adolescents--qualitative analysis.

The aim of this paper was to explore alcohol consumption and the development of this habit in the adolescent population based on qualitative data from 59 anonymous essays written by high school students. We found that the most of adolescents had their first experiences with alcohol in the seventh or eighth grades. They reported that they usually drank alcohol to be happy, to relax, to be courageous in approaching the opposite sex, to fit into society, and to be popular.

Risk behavior of customers in centers for free voluntary HIV counselling and testing in two Croatian cities--Osijek and Zadar.

The primary goal of this research is to compare risks and occurrence of HIV infection in Osijek-Baranja and Zadar County. Several chosen socioeconomic factors controlled by sex and age were investigated including level of education, employment and marital status of the free-of charge voluntary counseling and testing center (VCT) customers in the towns of Osijek and Zadar and their risk behaviors for acquiring HIV. Bivariate analysis of the differences between the customers from Osijek and Zadar showed statistically significant differences in the following variables: gender, education, number of VCT clients who use intravenous drugs (IDU), promiscuous behavior, number of homosexual clients, mode of receiving information on the VCT services, marital and partnership status, having children, inclination towards homosexual and bisexual relations, the main reasons for not using condoms, injecting drugs (IDU) needle sharing and the occurrence of hepatitis C.

The heart frequency and its variability in hypertensive patients considering A/B type of behaviour and eight basic emotions and levels of anger expression.

The aim of this paper was to compare between autonomic regulation of the heart rate and it's variability within 100 essential hypertensive patients and 100 examinees in healthy control group. Essential hypertensive patients had significantly shorter average RR interval, that is, faster heart frequency then the control group. Average variability of the heart frequency was statistically considerably lower in hypertensive than in the healthy control group.

Health related quality of life of smokers in Croatia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the health related quality of life (HRQOL) in relation to the smoking status. The data from the Croatian Adult Health Survey conducted in 2003 were used for this study. Sample comprised 9,070 participants, 68.

Characteristics of heavy smokers in Croatia.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics of heavy smokers in comparison to group the characteristics of light smokers and non-smokers. Data used for this study was collected within the Croatian Adult Health Survey (CAHS). The results show a significant gender differences in the prevalence of heavy smoking, with higher prevalence among men in all age groups.

Regional pattern of smoking in Croatia.

The aim of this paper was to investigate the regional smoking pattern in Croatia. The data from the Croatian Adult Health Survey from 2003 were used for the study (N = 9,070). The results of this study suggest that the prevalence of smoking among men was the highest in the Eastern parts of the country, followed by the Mountainous region.

[Croatian health survey: cigarette smoking].

Aim: The aim of the study was to calculate the prevalence of smoking habit among Croatian population according to sex, age groups and country regions. The aim was also to analyze the use of health services by smokers and nonsmokers.

Methods: Data collected during the 2003 Croatian Health Survey were used in the study.