Voluntary Blood Donation in Modern Healthcare: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Voluntary blood donation plays a crucial role in public health by ensuring a stable supply of blood and its components, essential for medical treatments including surgeries, trauma care, and chronic disease management. Voluntary donors, often healthier individuals, enhance the safety of the blood supply and play a vital role in emergency preparedness. Beyond its societal benefits, regular blood donation may offer health advantages for donors, including improved cardiovascular health due to reduced iron levels and psychological benefits stemming from altruism and a sense of social responsibility.

Prevalence of potential risk of eating disorders among young, unprofessional European athletes: results of the ERASMUS+ project SCAED.

Introduction: Adolescent athletes are at higher risk of developing eating disorders (ED) due to sports environment pressures and developmental characteristics. The ERASMUS+ project Sports Community against Eating Disorders (SCAED) aims to assess the prevalence of the potential risk of eating disorders among young, unprofessional European athletes and to provide them with easier access to professional support and knowledge.

Methods: The online survey included 462 unprofessional athletes from six European countries aged 12-25 (average age 18.

Regeneration of Critical Calvarial Bone Defects Using Bovine Xenograft, Magnesium-Enriched Bovine Xenograft and Autologous Dentin in Rats: Micro-CT, Gene Expression and Immunohistochemical Analysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of autologous dentin (AD), bovine xenograft (BX) and magnesium-enriched bovine xenograft (BX + Mg) in the healing of critical cranial bone defects (CCBDs) in rats. Eighty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: BX, BX + Mg, AD and the control group (no intervention). Eight mm CCBDs were created and treated with the respective biomaterials.

The Effect of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound on Bone Regeneration and the Expression of Osterix and Cyclooxygenase-2 during Critical-Size Bone Defect Repair.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a form of ultrasound that utilizes low-intensity pulsed waves. Its effect on bones that heal by intramembranous ossification has not been sufficiently investigated. In this study, we examined LIPUS and the autologous bone, to determine their effect on the healing of the critical-size bone defect (CSBD) of the rat calvaria.

Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection and characterisation of hepatitis B surface antigen mutants among adults in western Croatia.

Introduction And Objectives: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is characterised by low levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the blood/liver of patients with negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). This study aimed to determine the OBI prevalence and virological characteristics (viral genotypes and HBsAg mutants) in patients with an "anti-HBc only" serological profile.

Materials And Methods: A total of 24 900 serum samples were routinely screened for hepatitis B markers over a five-year period.

Analysis of the Gut Microbiome and Dietary Habits in Metastatic Melanoma Patients with a Complete and Sustained Response to Immunotherapy.

Immunotherapy has improved the prognosis of metastatic melanoma patients, although most patients do not achieve a complete response. While specific gut microbiome and dietary habits might influence treatment success, there is a lack of concordance between the studies, potentially due to dichotomizing patients only into responders and non-responders. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether metastatic melanoma patients with complete and sustained response to immunotherapy exhibit differences in gut microbiome composition among themselves, and whether those differences were associated with specific dietary habits.

Deposition of heavy metals in biological tissues of workers in metal workshops.

Welding and cutting of metals produce large amounts of particulate matter (PM), which poses a significant health risk to exposed workers. Appropriate biological markers to estimate exposure are of great interest for occupational health and safety. Here, hair and nail samples from metal workers were analyzed, which appear to be more suitable than blood or urine samples for assessing long-term exposure.

Combined Inhibitory Effect of Fir ( Mill.) Honeydew Honey and Probiotic Bacteria on the Growth of Serotype Typhimurium.

Honey is a natural food consisting mainly of sugars, enzymes, amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, minerals and aromatic substances. In addition to specific organoleptic properties, honey also has other components that contribute to its nutritional and health value. Proteins, vitamins, minerals, organic acids and phenolic compounds, the most variable components of honey, are predominantly responsible for its strong bioactive effect.

The Outcome of COVID-19 Lockdown on Changes in Body Mass Index and Lifestyle among Croatian Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic altered adults' and children's lifestyles and habits, causing an increase in body weight. Adolescents are sensitive to habit changes and, because of their insufficient capacity to deal with the unexpected COVID-19 changes, were at greater risk of noncommunicable disease development due to the consequences of adopting unhealthy habits. The survey aimed to reveal the changes in nutritional status and lifestyle habits of school children in Croatia and to assess their nutrition knowledge and emotional state and feelings about COVID-19 lockdown.

Antibiotic Prescribing Habits and Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness of Dental Practitioners in Primorsko-Goranska County, Croatia.

The goal of this study was to investigate the differences in dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding antibiotic use and resistance among two areas of Primorsko-Goranska County (P-GC), Croatia. A cross-sectional study based on a structured questionnaire that was given to 230 dental practitioners in outpatient settings of P-GC in 2018. The overall response rate was 68.

Metabolic and Hepatic Effects of Energy-Reduced Anti-Inflammatory Diet in Younger Adults with Obesity.

Background: Associated with epidemics of obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming the most prevalent liver disease worldwide. The cornerstone of therapy for NAFLD is lifestyle intervention, mainly focused on weight loss. Significant weight loss results from energy-restricted diets, regardless of macronutrient distribution.

The Efficacy of an Energy-Restricted Anti-Inflammatory Diet for the Management of Obesity in Younger Adults.

There is growing evidence of the dietary impact on obesity-induced low-grade chronic inflammation and the associated chronic non-communicable diseases modification. We determined changes in body composition and cardiometabolic and inflammatory status of participants with obesity after 24 weeks of a dietary intervention based on an energy-reduced anti-inflammatory diet and examined the relationship of these changes with changes in the inflammatory potential of the diet. The anthropometric and body composition parameters of 81 participants (average age of 43 years, 74 women) were assessed.

Determination of the Variability of Biophenols and Mineral Nutrients in Olive Leaves with Respect to Cultivar, Collection Period and Geographical Location for Their Targeted and Well-Timed Exploitation.

The interactive effects of cultivar, collecting period, and geographical location on the content and composition of biophenols and macro and micronutrients in olive ( L.) leaf were investigated. Leaves of six cultivars were collected at three periods in two locations in Croatia.

Growth inhibition and recovery patterns of common duckweed Lemna minor L. after repeated exposure to isoproturon.

Aquatic non-targeted organisms are more likely to be exposed to herbicides in multiple pulse events then long continuous exposure. The potential of an organism to recover between exposures has an important role in the overall effects of the toxicant. Common duckweeds show high potential for recovery after a single exposure to isoproturon.

Complex PTSD among treatment-seeking veterans with PTSD.

: In the ICD-11 hierarchical classification structure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) are separate and distinct but also 'sibling' disorders, meaning that the diagnoses follow from the parent category of traumatic stress disorders. : The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of CPTSD in treatment-seeking war veterans with PTSD more than 20 years after the exposure to cumulative war-related trauma(s). The second aim was to examine if there was an association between demographic and psychosocial variables and CPTSD or PTSD.

Metabolic syndrome and its association with the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) in a Croatian working population.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global public health concern, although its association with the inflammatory potential of the diet is still indefinite. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the association of MetS and its components with the inflammatory potential of the diet in a Croatian working population with sedentary occupations.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, Croatian workers (n = 366) self-administrated questionnaires for sociodemographic and health-related data.

Occurence of Ochratoxin A and Biogenic Amines in Croatian Commercial Red Wines.

Food safety is one of the main concerns in the world and in wine it depends mostly on metabolites of microbial origin. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of natural contaminants, ochratoxin A and biogenic amines (cadaverine, histamine, putrescine and tyramine), in Croatian commercial red wines originating from different Croatian wine-making regions. Ochratoxin A was detected in 92.

Impact of antibiotic consumption on the carriage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by school children.

Background: Antibiotic consumption in the paediatric population is one of the key drivers of the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, which is a serious global threat to public health and clinical medicine. The aims of this study were to investigate systemic antibiotic consumption in school children and to assess the associations among antibiotic consumption, carriage rate and resistance of respiratory pathogens residing in the upper respiratory tract mucosa.

Methods: In this prospective study, throat and nasopharyngeal swabs from 450 school children, 6-15 years of age (225 healthy children and 225 patients who were ambulatory treated for upper respiratory tract infection), were processed in 2014 in Rijeka, Croatia, and clinical data were obtained via a questionnaire.

Parental Knowledge and Awareness Linked to Antibiotic Use and Resistance: Comparison of Urban and Rural Population in Croatia.

To investigate the differences in parental knowledge, attitudes, and practice about antibiotic use and resistance among the urban and rural populations in Croatia. A cross-sectional study based on a structured questionnaire was distributed to 1,000 parents of children attending 11 elementary schools of Primorsko-Goranska County in 2017. The overall response rate was 65.

Croatian Wines from Native Grape Varieties Have Higher Distinct Phenolic (Nutraceutic) Profiles than Wines from Non-Native Varieties with the Same Geographic Origin.

Croatian wines made from native (Plavac mali and Teran) and non-native grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot), all grown in Croatian coastal regions, were investigated. Analyses included measurements of antioxidant activities, total phenolic contents and concentrations of non-colored phenolic compounds, chosen based on their known nutraceutical properties. Plavac mali wines were distinguished by higher antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and catechin concentrations but lower flavonol concentrations.

Phytotoxicity assessment of isoproturon on growth and physiology of non-targeted aquatic plant Lemna minor L. - A comparison of continuous and pulsed exposure with equivalent time-averaged concentrations.

Phenylurea herbicides are often present in the aquatic ecosystems and may be accumulated by the non-targeted organisms and impose a negative effect on the organism and the community. This study aims to investigate and compare the effects of two different isoproturon (IPU) pulse exposure scenarios on the non-targeted aquatic plant Lemna minor with effects observed in the standard test with continuous exposure. The obtained results showed that continuous IPU treatment causes significant reduction of photosynthetic pigment concentration and proteins as well as inhibition of L.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Capacity, Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Potential of Fir ( Mill.) Honeydew Honey Collected from Gorski kotar (Croatia).

The paper examines the antiproliferative, antimicrobial and antioxidative effects of fir ( Mill.) honeydew honey from mountain region of Croatia (Gorski kotar) as a potential replacement for standard antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents. Cell viability, annexin V assay and flow cytometry analysis served to analyse the antiproliferative effect on, apoptosis induction in and cell death of cancer cell lines: HeLa, MCF-7, SW620, CFPAC-1, MIA PaCa-2 and normal diploid human fibroblasts (BJ).

Synergistic potential of Juniperus communis and Helichrysum italicum essential oils against nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Objective: The present study evaluated the possible synergistic antimycobacterial interactions of Juniperus communis and Helichrysum italicum essential oils (EO).

Methods: Antimycobacterial potential was tested against Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare using broth and water dilution method and checkerboard synergy method. Antiadhesion and antibiofilm effect of EOs was evaluated on biotic (HeLa cells) and abiotic surface (polystyrene).

The association between the Mediterranean diet and high physical activity among the working population in Croatia.

Background: Unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity constitute an emerging public health problem. The working population is of special interest for public health monitoring and evaluation because workers' unhealthy lifestyles may lead to reduced work ability. The aim of this study was to determine diet quality and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), according to the level of physical activity, and to detect variables associated with the working population's being highly physically active.