Morphological and functional convergence of visual projection neurons from diverse neurogenic origins in Drosophila.

The Drosophila visual system is a powerful model to study the development of neural circuits. Lobula columnar neurons-LCNs are visual output neurons that encode visual features relevant to natural behavior. There are ~20 classes of LCNs forming non-overlapping synaptic optic glomeruli in the brain.

The employment of recommended root canal treatment procedures by dentists in Croatia and the Czech Republic.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the compliance of dentists in Croatia and the Czech Republic with endodontic recommendations and identify the subjective and objective factors influencing their adherence to them.

Methodology: A total of 1386 dentists from Croatia and the Czech Republic participated in an online survey through a self-administered, author-designed questionnaire. After excluding those who did not perform root canal treatments (RCT), 1376 responses (394 from Croatia and 982 from the Czech Republic) were statistically analysed.

causes changes in mitochondrial bioenergetics response in MCF-7 and MRC-5 cell lines.

Numerous studies reported about potential effects of L-carnosine in regulation of tumor growth and metabolism. We evaluated the effects of different concentrations of L-carnosine from supplement on mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes of human embryo lung fibroblasts (MRC-5) and human breast cancer cells (MCF-7), with different energy pathways. Also, we analyzed the proliferation index and expression of various markers of oxidative stress.

Control values of intraocular pressure in different species: a review of literature.

It is generally accepted that intraocular pressure (IOP) depends on the rate of aqueous humor production, system outflow resistance, and episcleral venous pressure. Therefore, control IOP values are expected to be within the strict and predictable limits in specific animal species, and there should be no vast differences between species. However, in the literature the control IOP values significantly vary (from potentially "hypotensive" to "hypertensive") within the same species, and especially between species depending on the measurement technique, head position in relation to the rest of the body, circadian rhythm, age, and topical and systemic drugs (anesthetics) applied.

Lung long distance: histopathological changes in lung tissue after COVID-19 pneumonia.

Aim: To investigate histopathological changes in the lung tissue of long-COVID patients.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, transbronchial lung biopsy was performed in long-COVID patients with persisting symptoms and radiological abnormalities. Histopathologic analyses were performed by using hematoxylin-eosin, Martius, Scarlet and Blue, Movat's, thyroid transcription factor 1, CD34, and CD68 staining.

Alcohol use among Croatian adolescents: the alignment of 13-year-old and 15-year-old girls with boys, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: To determine age and gender patterns of alcohol use among Croatian pupils and assess whether alcohol use was associated with factors related to school, peers, family, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Data were collected from the 2022 Health Behavior in School-aged Children cross-sectional study conducted in Croatia involving 5338 pupils. Pearson χ2 test and multivariate logistic regression were performed.

Conceptualization of pain in Croatian adults: a cross-sectional and psychometric study.

Aim: To ascertain whether Croatian respondents' knowledge on pain aligns with modern pain science, and determine the measurement properties of the Croatian version of the Concept of Pain Inventory for Adults (COPI-Adult).

Methods: A cross-sectional, online survey was used to collect the respondents' sociodemographic, clinical, and COPI-Adult (CRO) data (n = 509). A Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to assess the correlations between sociodemographic, clinical, and COPI-Adult (CRO) data.

Phosphorylation of N-glycans in the brain: The case for a non-canonical pathway?

Asparagine-linked glycosylation (N-glycosylation) is a common co- and post-translational modification that refers to the addition of complex carbohydrates, called N-linked glycans (N-glycans), to asparagine residues within defined sequons of polypeptide acceptors. Some N-glycans can be modified by the addition of phosphate moieties to their monosaccharide residues, thus forming phospho-N-glycans (PNGs). The most prominent such carbohydrate modification is mannose-6-phosphate (M6P) which plays a well-established role in trafficking of acid hydrolases to lysosomes.

Predictive performance of ROX index and its variations for NIV failure.

Objective: To determine whether the ROX index and its variations can predict the risk of intubation in ICU patients receiving NIV ventilation using large public ICU databases.

Design: Retrospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Patient data was extracted from both the AmsterdamUMCdb and the MIMIC-IV ICU databases, which contained data related to 20,109 and 50,920 unique patients.

Seasonal variability and risk evaluation of emerging organic contaminants in European river: linking in silico and in vitro approaches to prioritize hazardous EOCs.

Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) are a growing concern for aquatic ecosystems, underscoring the need for advanced risk assessment methodologies. This study employed an integrated approach to evaluate the risks associated with 563 EOCs across 13 monitoring sites along the Sava River in Croatia. Sampling was conducted during the winter and spring months, spanning February to May.

RADON in a high karst area of Montenegro - A case study.

The national radon surveys in Montenegro revealed that the highest annual average radon concentrations (C) in ground floors of dwellings and schools were found in a rural region characterized as a typical high-karst area. In this region, spanning approximately 800 km, C values in 9 houses and 16 schools ranged from 219 to 2494 Bq/m, with AM = 977 Bq/m. To investigate the causes of these elevated indoor radon concentrations, the following parameters were measured near the 25 surveyed buildings: soil humidity, electrical conductivity, pH, activity concentrations of Ra, U, U, Th and K, radon concentration in soil gas (c), soil permeability for radon gas (k), and gamma dose rate in the air.

Wearable devices may aid the recognition of fluctuation-related pain in Parkinson's disease-An exploratory, cross-sectional analysis of two prospective observational studies.

Fluctuation-related pain (FRP) affects more than one third of people with Parkinson's disease (PwP, PD) and has a harmful effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but often remains under-reported by patients and neglected by clinicians. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends The Parkinson KinetiGraphTM (the PKGTM) for remote monitoring of motor symptoms. We investigated potential links between the PKGTM-obtained parameters and clinical rating scores for FRP in PwP in an exploratory, cross-sectional analysis of two prospective studies: "The Non-motor International Longitudinal, Real-Life Study in PD-NILS" and "An observational-based registry of baseline PKG™ in PD-PKGReg".

Survival of Eurasian lynx in the human-dominated landscape of Europe.

Survival and cause-specific mortality rates are vital for evidence-based population forecasting and conservation, particularly for large carnivores, whose populations are often vulnerable to human-caused mortalities. It is therefore important to know the relationship between anthropogenic and natural mortality causes to evaluate whether they are additive or compensatory. Further, the relation between survival and environmental covariates could reveal whether specific landscape characteristics influence demographic performance.

Current Trends in Endodontic Clinical Practice in Croatia: A Report From a Croatian National Survey.

Objective: To assess the state of endodontic practices and identify factors influencing the use of modern endodontic techniques among dental practitioners in Croatia.

Materials And Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to all dental offices in Croatia, yielding 819 responses (27% response rate). Data were descriptively analyzed and statistically modeled.

Differentiation of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia response to ibrutinib and acalabrutinib treatment by single-cell MALDI-TOF MS imaging.

Ibrutinib and acalabrutinib, Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) used for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment, aim the same target but their off-target effects are different. The aim of this study was to use single-cell MALDI TOF mass spectrometry imaging to compare the CD19+ lymphocytes' mass spectra in untreated and ibrutinib- or acalabrutinib-treated subjects in order to better understand the therapeutic effect of BTKi. 180 cells from 9 male subjects divided in 3 groups (untreated, ibrutinib-treated and acalabrutinib-treated) were analyzed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analyzer.

Phototoxic reaction to oral terbinafine due to Tinea capitis in a child.

We report the case of an 18-month-old boy who developed a phototoxic skin reaction to terbinafine on his scalp, ears, and face in the form of disseminated erythematous plaques, which resembled subacute lupus erythematosus (SCLE) in their clinical presentation. Skin changes appeared a short time after the boy was exposed to sunlight during the period of time when he was treated with oral terbinafine due to Microsporum canis fungal scalp infection. Tinea capitis is a common dermatophyte infection primarily affecting prepubertal children (1).

Safety and Efficacy of Long-term Use of Infliximab in Severe Juvenile Dermatomyositis - 12 Years of Follow-up.

Juvenile dermatomyositis with emphasized vasculopathy is rare, but the most severe form of the disease, with a poor prognosis with relapsing and chronic course or, in some cases, lethal outcome. We present a case of a 19-year-old Caucasian female, who developed severe acute juvenile dermatomyositis with emphasized multisystem vasculopathy, including retinal vasculopathy and maculopathy (cotton-wool spots, retinal hemorrhages, macular edema) at the age of 8. Due to no response to standard treatment protocols and rapid worsening of clinical symptoms and laboratory findings, a TNF inhibitor (infliximab) was introduced after the third week of treatment resulting in complete normalisation of muscle enzyme levels and complete resolution of eye changes within the next 2 weeks with a gradual general recovery.

Diagnosis, Investigation and Management of Non-immediate (Type IV) Cutaneous Adverse Drug Reactions.

Pathophysiologically, drug hypersensitive reactions (DHRs) are classified into four types: type I, immediate reactions, and types II, III, and IV, non-immediate reactions. They are further categorized as severe or non-severe based on clinical severity. Genetic predisposition and viral reactivation are cofactors of severe DHR type IV.

The Influence of Psychological Stress on the Levels of the Skin's Natural Moisturizing Factor in Croatian Medical Students.

Psychological stress may affect skin barrier homeostasis and slow down its recovery. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association between psychological stress levels and natural moisturizing factor (NMF) levels in the stratum corneum (SC). NMF levels were determined in the SC of 25 third-year and 25 sixth-year medical students in two periods (stressful and non-stressful) using the tape stripping method, high-performance liquid chromatography, and spectrophotometry.

First insights into the ectoparasitic helminth fauna of freshwater fish on an Adriatic island.

Surface flow of freshwater on Adriatic islands is rare due to the extreme permeability of the karst terrain. Hence, most helminthological studies of freshwater fishes in the Adriatic drainage have focused on mainland freshwater systems, while data from islands are scarce. We collected minnow, (Schinz, 1840), specimens in the Suha Ričina stream on Krk Island and screened them for helminth ectoparasites.