Alloxan induced cataract in a rat.

We have measured lipid peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in lenses of alloxan injected rats. After 12 weeks alloxan treated rats developed lens cataract. Diabetes rats had both lower lens weight and lower level of proteins in soluble fraction of lens homogenate.

Senile cataract and the absorption activity of cytochrome C oxidase.

The aim of the study was to determine the activity of cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondrial fractions of cataractogenic epithelial cells of lenses of 60 patients (34 females and 26 males). According to clinical criteria patients were divided into three groups: group 1--patients with senile cataract, group 2--active smokers with senile cataract, and group 3--diabetic patients with cataract as diabetic complication. In the extracted lenses we determined the absorption activity of mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome c oxidase.

Protein carbonylation and glycation in human lenses.

It has been observed protein carbonylation and glycation in the lens epithelial cell fractions of lenses in people with mature cataract. We used lenses of diabetic patients, weak and strong cigarette smokers and people who had senile cataract. The protein glycation is the highest in a diabetic senile cataract patients and the lowest in non-diabetic senile cataract patients.

Amoxycillin, clarithromycin and either sucralfate or pantoprazole for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer (a randomized controlled trial).

Background: Sucralfate enhances the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of antimicrobials and has an inhibitory effect on H. pylori.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of one-week sucralfate-based eradication therapy for H.

Antineoplastic activity of novel N-1-sulfonypyrimidine derivatives.

We evaluated the potential activity of novel N-1-sulfonyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases uracil and cytosine on pancreatic carcinoma cells (MIAPaCa2), colon carcinomas cells (HT-29, CaCo2), cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) and poorly-differentiated cells from lymph node metastasis of colon carcinoma (SW-620). The cytotoxicity of N-1-sulfonylpyrimidine derivatives was analyzed with the MTT cell survival assay and their antiproliferative activity was measured via radioactive precursors incorporation assay. The N-1-sulfonylpyrimidine derivatives affected the growth of all examined cell lines at concentrations of 10(-8)-10(-5) M, by 25-70%.

Posttraumatic stress disorder among Croatian veterans: a causal model.

The present study investigates the etiological roles of premilitary risk factors, military entry conditions, war zone experiences, dissociative reactions to war zone experiences and homecoming reception in the development of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Croatian veterans. A total of 150 Croatian war veterans with the diagnosis of chronic combat-related PTSD, who sought treatment at Psychiatric Clinic, Osijek, Croatia, in the period 1993-1998, and who provided complete data, were selected as the sample for the present study from the treatment-seeking group of the ex-soldier population. Structural equation modeling is used to develop an etiological model concerning the relationships of premilitary risk factors, military entry conditions, war zone experiences, dissociative reactions, and homecoming reception with current symptoms of PTSD.

The influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastrin and somatostatin values present in serum.

Background/aims: Recent studies on the role of Helicobacter pylori in pathogenesis of duodenal ulcers have focused on the mechanism by which H. pylori infections causes exaggerated gastrin release.

Methodology: We compared the gastrin and somatostatin serum values between two groups of patients; 37 H.

In vitro cytotoxicity of three 4,9-diazapyrenium hydrogensulfate derivatives on different human tumor cell lines.

DNA intercalating agents interfere with DNA's role as a template in replication and transcription by inserting an intercalator molecule between adjacent base pairs. We synthesized three potential novel intercalators, 4,9-diazapyrenium hydrogensulfate derivatives: 5, 10-diphenyl-4,9-dimethyl-4,9-diazapyrenium hydrogensulfate (FDAP), 4, 9-dimethyl-4,9-diazapyrenium hydrogensulfate (GDAP) and 2,4,7, 9-tetramethyl-4,9-diazapyrenium hydrogensulfate (MDAP) and tested their biological effects in vitro on four human tumor cell lines (SKBr3: breast carcinoma, HeLa: cervical carcinoma, CaCo2: colon carcinoma and SW620: poorly differentiated cells from lymph node metastasis of colon carcinoma). Cytotoxic effects on cell growth and viability were determined using tetrazolium dye (MTT) assay.

Influence of prolonged stress on cerebral hemodynamics.

The author has investigated the impact of psychological and socio-economic factors on cerebral hemodynamics and development of cerebrovascular disease (CVD). A group of 120 war sufferers with signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and adaptation disturbances, and 120 persons of the control group with no traumatic war experience have been studied. The blood flow velocity and various parameters of spectral frequency analysis have been measured, using the method of transcranial doppler sonography (TCD).

Pantoprazole, amoxycillin and either azithromycin or clarithromycin for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer.

Background: Studies have shown that 1-week triple therapy consisting of a proton pump inhibitor, amoxycillin and clarithromycin may cure Helicobacter pylori infection in the majority of patients.

Aim: To establish whether pantoprazole plus amoxycillin in association with either azithromycin or clarithromycin is useful in curing H. pylori infection in patients with a duodenal ulcer.

Symptom structure and psychiatric comorbidity of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder.

The placement of the diagnostic category of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among anxiety disorders reflects the recognition that anxiety is a predominant reaction to trauma. Indeed, the symptoms of PTSD overlap considerably with those of other anxiety disorders. The nosological criteria render PTSD as quite a heterogeneous diagnosis.

Influence of prolonged stress on risk factors for cerebrovascular disease.

The main purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of psychological and socio-economic factors on the frequency and characteristics of risk factors for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) among Croatians. A group of 120 war sufferers with signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and adaptation disturbances have been studied, and compared with a control group of 120 persons with no traumatic war experience. The risk factors for CVD were registered using epidemiological, clinical and functional measures, and level of the risk.

Association of heart rate and heart-rate variability with scores on the emotion profile index in patients with acute coronary heart disease.

We investigated the link between the eight basic emotions named by Plutchik and heart rate, heart-rate variability in the 114 patients, 86 men and 28 women (M = 53.8 yr., SD = 8.

Changes in sex hormones during an oral glucose tolerance test in healthy premenopausal women.

Objective: To assess the effect of an acute elevation in circulating insulin on serum androgen levels in healthy obese women with different body-fat distributions.

Design: Controlled clinical study.

Setting: The Endocrinology Unit of an academic medical center.

Adolescent acceptance of different foods by obesity status and by sex.

This work investigated possible differences in food preference between obese and normal-weight adolescents, as well as between female and male seventh-grade pupils (average age = 13.1 years). Survey of affinities for nine food groups was determined with a facial hedonic scale.

Homicides in war and peace in Croatia.

This work shows the interdisciplinary investigation of homicides in the Osijek area during the war and prewar periods. Similarities between the prewar and wartime perpetrators are related to social-demographic characteristics. Nevertheless, significant differences are found in the homicidal method of selection among victims and participation of victims involved.

Socioeconomic changes associated with medical indices in the Democratic Republic of Croatia.

In Croatia after the demise of socialism, unemployment and poverty have risen dramatically. Associated health problems have increased in prevalence. Examples are mortality from cardiovascular disease and use of illicit drugs.

Schizophrenic disorder and social functioning.

Social functioning is assessed according to 84 questioned subjects with schizophrenic disorder and their 84 key figures. Schizophrenic subjects showed significant dysfunction in all reviewed areas of behaviour and social roles. Key figures of all schizophrenic subjects most often showed a positive attitude in regard to the future of the schizophrenic members of their family.

Omeprazole, azithromycin and either amoxycillin or metronidazole in eradication of Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer patients.

Background: Azithromycin is a new generation, acid stable, macrolide antibiotic that achieves remarkably high concentrations in gastric tissue (above the minimal inhibitory concentration for Helicobacter pylori) after oral administration.

Aim: To establish whether azithromycin plus omeprazole in association with either amoxycillin or metronidazole are useful in curing H. pylori infection in patients with a duodenal ulcer.

A current psychodynamic understanding of panic disorder.

While there has been burgeoning interest in the psychiatric literature about the phenomenology and biology of panic disorder, there is little new information about the psychodynamics of this condition. The reintroduction of a psychodynamic perspective could be useful in guiding research strategies to identify traits which predispose to panic and in designing treatments to address such traits. A psychodynamic model hypothesizes a relationship between current psychological functioning, early experiences, and ongoing psychological traits.

Hyperinsulinemia and sex hormones in healthy premenopausal women: relative contribution of obesity, obesity type, and duration of obesity.

Insulin secretion in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and sex hormone levels (free testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEAS], estradiol, and sex hormone-binding globulin [SHBG]) were evaluated in 49 healthy obese premenopausal women (body mass index [BMI], 30 to 50.6 kg/m2) and 21 control subjects (BMI, 17.8 to 24.

Heart rate and heart-rate variability in patients with acute coronary heart disease classified on Bortner's scale as type A and type B.

We investigated heart rate and heart-rate variability in 82 patients, 60 men and 22 women (M = 54 yr., SD = 9) with acute coronary heart disease and scores on Bortner's scale at hospital admission and discharge. 48 patients were classified by their scores on Bortner's scale as Type A and 34 as Type B.

War injuries of the ureter.

During the 18 months of war in Croatia, from 1991 until 1992, 4,425 wounded patients were treated at Clinical Hospital Osijek. Urogenital injuries were present in 115 treated patients (2.6%), and among them ureteral injuries were present in 11 patients (9.

Copper and zinc content in human milk in Croatia.

The aim of this paper was to research whether there had been any statistically significant difference in the content of Cu and Zn in human milk depending on the social status of women (refugee and non-refugee), age, number of deliveries, days after delivery, weight gained by nursing women and smoking habits, as well as whether the infants had received sufficient quantities of these elements. The elements were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The samples were collected in the Clinical Hospital Osijek and Refugee Centre Nabrde, near Osijek, Eastern Croatia.

Bortner type A scores and eight basic emotions for survivors of ventricular fibrillation and left ventricular failure during acute myocardial infarction.

We examined Bortner scores for behavioral patterns and eight basic emotional dimensions named by Plutchik for patients with acute myocardial infarction who survived ventricular fibrillation and left ventricular failure. There were 70 patients, 48 men and 22 women ages 26 to 69 yr. (M = 54, SD = 8), admitted to the coronary care unit within 24 hours of the onset of a long-lasting chest pain.