Angiotensin II type 1 receptor is involved in flow-induced vasomotor responses of isolated middle cerebral arteries: role of oxidative stress.

This study aimed to determine the mechanosensing role of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ATR) in flow-induced dilation (FID) and oxidative stress production in middle cerebral arteries (MCA) of Sprague-Dawley rats. Eleven-week old, healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats on a standard diet were given the ATR blocker losartan (1 mg/mL) in drinking water (losartan group) or tap water (control group) ad libitum for 7 days. Blockade of ATR attenuated FID and acetylcholine-induced dilation was compared with control group.

Analysis of association of risk factors for age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To evaluate the significance of risk factors and analyze their interrelationship in developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Materials And Design: This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted in eight ophthalmology centers in Europe. The STARS (Simplified Thea AMD Risk-Assessment Scale) questionnaire was used to assess 12 risk factors grouped in four major categories.

Tetraploid acute promyelocytic leukemia with double translocation t (15,17) PML/RARA: the first case report in Croatia and Europe.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by the translocation t (15;17)(q22;q21) cytogenetic abnormality in the majority of cases. In most of the cases the cells of APL have normal, diploid karyotype. There are very few cases presented with very rare tetraploid karyotype with double translocation t(15;17)(q22;q12).

Perindopril/amlodipine-induced thrombotic microangiopathy.

This is the first report on a case of perindopril/amlodipine-induced thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) syndrome. A 48-year-old female was admitted complaining of nettle rash all over the body, bloody urine, and weakness shortly after starting antihypertensive therapy with perindopril/amlodipine. Shortly thereafter, she developed pronounced hemiparesis, somnolence, and sensorimotor aphasia.

Anthropometric and Biochemical Parameters in Relation to Dietary Habits as Early Indicator of Cardiovascular Impairment in Young Adult Cohort.

Adjusted dietary assessment questionnaire was used to determine dietary habits of medical students which were related to biochemical and anthropometric markers of studied cohort. Thirty-seven young and healthy volunteers aged 19-28 years old entered the protocol and were divided according to sex and according to residence. Subjects were given questionnaires for tracking food/beverage consumption.

Geospatial clustering of childhood IgA vasculitis and IgA vasculitis-associated nephritis.

Objectives: Research on spatial variability of the incidence of IgA vasculitis (IgAV) in children and its potential implications for elucidation of the multifactorial aetiology and pathogenesis is limited. We intended to observe spatial variability of the incidence of IgAV and IgA vasculitis-associated nephritis (IgAVN) using modern geostatistical methods, and hypothesised that their spatial distribution may be spatially clustered.

Methods: Patients' data were retrospectively collected from 2009 to 2019 in five Croatian University Hospital Centres for paediatric rheumatology, and census data were used to calculate the incidence of IgAV.

Presence of pepsin in laryngeal tissue and saliva in benign and malignant neoplasms.

Objectives: The current study was performed to determine the presence of pepsin in saliva and laryngeal tissue among participants with benign and malignant laryngeal neoplasms.

Study Design: Case-control study included three groups of patients with: (1) benign laryngeal neoplasms, (2) malignant laryngeal neoplasms and (3) control subjects without symptoms or signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

Methods: Eighty-one voluntary participants were included into study.

Beliefs and preferences regarding biological treatments for severe asthma.

Background: Severe asthma is a serious condition with a significant burden on patients' morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Some biological therapies targeting the IgE and interleukin-5 (IL5) mediated pathways are now available. Due to the lack of direct comparison studies, the choice of which medication to use varies.

From Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries (MINOCA) to Chronic Coronary Syndrome: Clinical Diagnostic Use of Laser Doppler Flowmetry in Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND MINOCA is defined as myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary changes, or the absence of atherosclerotic coronary plaques (less than 50%). The long-term prognosis of these patients is as poor as for those with obstructive coronary disease. Possibilities for treatment follow-up and improvement are still lacking.

Assessment of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms where an undiagnosed neurological disease is suspected: A report from an International Continence Society consensus working group.

Aim: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a common urological referral, which sometimes can have a neurological basis in a patient with no formally diagnosed neurological disease ("occult neurology"). Early identification and specialist input is needed to avoid bad LUTS outcomes, and to initiate suitable neurological management.

Methods: The International Continence Society established a neurological working group to consider: Which neurological conditions may include LUTS as an early feature? What diagnostic evaluations should be undertaken in the LUTS clinic? A shortlist of conditions was drawn up by expert consensus and discussed at the annual congress of the International Neurourology Society.

Glycaemia, renal function and body mass in men and women with type 2 diabetes.

Aim To determine parameters of glycaemic control, renal function and anthropometric measurements in patients with type 2 diabetes in family medicine offices and to examine whether there is a difference in these parameters between genders. Methods This cross-sectional study included 136 patients of both genders diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, with an average age of 69.33±10.

Progress in Occupational Asthma.

Occupational asthma (OA) represents one of the major public health problems due to its high prevalence, important social and economic burden. The aim of this review is to summarize current data about clinical phenotypes, biomarkers, diagnosis and management of OA, a subtype of work-related asthma. Most studies have identified two phenotypes of OA.

Personality traits of core self-evaluation as predictors on clinical decision-making in nursing profession.

Core self-evaluation (CSE) is a theory that includes four personality dimensions: self-esteem, self-efficacy, locus of control and emotional stability. CSE proved to be a significant predictor of the research on cognitive, emotional and behavioral responses across various situations in the workplace. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between personality traits of the core self-evaluation and clinical decision-making in nurses' profession.

Urgent Off-Pump Coronary Bypass Grafting in Moyamoya Disease: A Case Report.

Moyamoya disease is a rare progressive cerebrovascular occlusive disease that predominantly occurs in countries in Northeast Asia. We report a 54-year-old male patient with moyamoya and coronary artery disease, on whom urgent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was performed after cardiopulmonary reanimation due to ventricular fibrillation. This patient had left main trunk disease, a Pudenz peritoneal catheter (Medtronic, Inc.

The Influence of Self-Concept on Clinical Decision-Making in Nurses and Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study is to examine the influence of nurses' self-concept (NSC) on clinical decision-making (CDM) among nursing students and hospital nurses. A further aim is to examine whether there is a difference in CDM and NSC between hospital nurses with various levels of experience and nursing students. A cross-sectional study was conducted during 2018 in the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health and the University Hospital Center, in Osijek, Croatia, EU.

Association between arsenic exposure and biomarkers of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Croatian population: A comparative observational pilot study.

Chronic exposure to high inorganic As levels in drinking water has been related to many diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The association with low and moderate As levels, however, remains controversial and has yet not been studied in European populations. This study aimed to investigate possible association between As exposure and biomarkers of T2D in Croatian population.

Assessment of the Quality of Life in Patients before and after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): A Prospective Study.

The aim of this study was to examine the quality of life and to report on the utility and QALY measures in patients before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); to investigate whether the SF-12 is comparable with the SF-36 for measuring health-related quality of life of patients with CABG; and to determine the impact of individual predictors on poor quality of life assessment after rehabilitation. This prospective study was conducted between January 2017 and December 2018 at the University Hospital Center Osijek, at three time points: pre-operation, 1 month after surgery, and after rehabilitation. The study was conducted with the SF-36 and SF-12 health questionnaires on 47 participants.

Parental Perception of Changes in Basic Life Needs of Children with Disabilities after Six Months of Therapeutic Horseback Riding: A Qualitative Study.

Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) has a positive effect on the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning of children with disabilities. Parents' reports of the effects of THR on their children support professionals in individualizing the THR program. With this qualitative study, we aimed to explore parents' perceptions of changes in the basic life needs of their children with disabilities after six months of THR lessons and to survey parents' explanations for the causes of these changes.

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis E in patients on haemodialysis in Croatia.

Purpose: Data on the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in heamodialysis (HD) patients are conflicting, ranging from 0 to 44%. The aim of this study was to determine the HEV seroprevalence and risk factors among HD patients in Croatia.

Methods: A total of 394 HD patients from six medical facilities in five Croatian cities (three sites in the continental and three sites in the coastal region) were tested for HEV IgM/IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Screening for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome risk in patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) using Levine questionnaire for assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome - related symptoms severity and patients' functional status and to examine the relation of the determined risk with the participants' demographic, anthropometric and laboratory data.

Participants And Methods: This crosssectional study included 78 chronic HD patients at Department for Nephrology in University Hospital Osijek. All participants filled out the Levine questionnaire to examine the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome - related symptoms and their functional state.

Prevalence and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder after ischaemic stroke.

Although most often considered a consequence of traumatic event, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also occurs after illness. The aim of this study was to establish prevalence of PTSD in patients with ischaemic stroke (IS) and its correlation to lesion location, degree of disability, age, gender and marital status. The study included 85 patients with IS.

Beta-blockers in asthma: myth and reality.

: Patients with asthma often have important co-morbidities which reduce the likelihood of gaining optimal asthma control. Beta2-blockers are commonly prescribed for the treatment of different clinical indications, including coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmia, arterial hypertension, heart failure and glaucoma. : The aim of this reviw is to summarize current evidence on the effect of systemic and local β-blockers on asthma outcomes based on their pharmacologic properties,and to help clinicians when prescribing for patients with asthma and co-morbidities.

Fraction of air coming from conductive airways has the negative balance in heat dissipation after maximal effort exercise-a physiological basis for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Exhaled breath temperature (EBT) has recently been used as a tool to assess the level of inflammation in airways. The newest technology can also assess EBT coming from different fractions of exhaled air (fEBT). We aimed to assess the changes in fEBT after a maximal cardio-pulmonary exercise test in healthy athletes.