Genome-wide meta-analysis of 158,000 individuals of European ancestry identifies three loci associated with chronic back pain.

Back pain is the #1 cause of years lived with disability worldwide, yet surprisingly little is known regarding the biology underlying this symptom. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of chronic back pain (CBP). Adults of European ancestry were included from 15 cohorts in the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium, and from the UK Biobank interim data release.

Bone Biopsy Results in Chronic Kidney Disease: a Single-Center Experience.

Background/aims: Although bone histology remains the diagnostic standard in renal osteodystrophy (ROD), biomarkers are used more commonly. Data comparing bone biopsy results and biomarkers of bone metabolism remain sparse.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective analysis of bone biopsy results (105) stratified by renal function, compared with intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and other biomarkers.

Testicular adrenal rest tumors in congenital adrenal hyperplasia-cross-sectional study of 51 Croatian male patients.

Unlabelled: Testicular adrenal rest tumors (TARTs) are common cause of infertility in males with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). We studied the role of genotype and disease regulation on TART development, their impact on gonadal function, and frequency in 47 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) and four 11-hydroxylase deficiency (11-OHD) male patients. Testicular ultrasound (TU), genotype, hormonal measurement in 51, and spermiogram in five patients were performed.

Molecular genetic analysis in 93 patients and 193 family members with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in Croatia.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia owing to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is caused by mutation in the CYP21A2 gene. The frequency and spectrum of CYP21A2 mutations and genotype-phenotype correlations among different populations are variable. Aim of this study was to define mutation frequency and spectrum of CYP21A2 gene mutations in patients with classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) and their family members in Croatia and study genotype-phenotype correlation.

Genetic associations at 53 loci highlight cell types and biological pathways relevant for kidney function.

Reduced glomerular filtration rate defines chronic kidney disease and is associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), combining data across 133,413 individuals with replication in up to 42,166 individuals. We identify 24 new and confirm 29 previously identified loci.

No evidence for genome-wide interactions on plasma fibrinogen by smoking, alcohol consumption and body mass index: results from meta-analyses of 80,607 subjects.

Plasma fibrinogen is an acute phase protein playing an important role in the blood coagulation cascade having strong associations with smoking, alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a variety of gene regions associated with elevated plasma fibrinogen concentrations. However, little is yet known about how associations between environmental factors and fibrinogen might be modified by genetic variation.

Genome-wide meta-analysis of myopia and hyperopia provides evidence for replication of 11 loci.

Refractive error (RE) is a complex, multifactorial disorder characterized by a mismatch between the optical power of the eye and its axial length that causes object images to be focused off the retina. The two major subtypes of RE are myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness), which represent opposite ends of the distribution of the quantitative measure of spherical refraction. We performed a fixed effects meta-analysis of genome-wide association results of myopia and hyperopia from 9 studies of European-derived populations: AREDS, KORA, FES, OGP-Talana, MESA, RSI, RSII, RSIII and ERF.

Association of vitamin D status with arterial blood pressure and hypertension risk: a mendelian randomisation study.

Background: Low plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration is associated with high arterial blood pressure and hypertension risk, but whether this association is causal is unknown. We used a mendelian randomisation approach to test whether 25(OH)D concentration is causally associated with blood pressure and hypertension risk.

Methods: In this mendelian randomisation study, we generated an allele score (25[OH]D synthesis score) based on variants of genes that affect 25(OH)D synthesis or substrate availability (CYP2R1 and DHCR7), which we used as a proxy for 25(OH)D concentration.

Dorsal root ganglion - a potential new therapeutic target for neuropathic pain.

A regional approach can protect our patients from often unacceptable adverse effects produced by systematically applied drugs. Regional therapeutic approaches, as well as interventions at the level of the peripheral nervous system and particularly the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), represent an alternative to the systemic application of therapeutic agents. This article provides an overview of DRG anatomical peculiarities, explains why the DRG is an important therapeutic target, and how animal models of targeted drug delivery can help us in the translation of basic research into clinical practice.

Regional differences in epidermal thickness and behavioral response following partial denervation of the rat paw.

In order to investigate the relation between changes in epidermal thickness and pain-related behavior in different rat hind paw areas we performed partial denervation using two experimental models of neuropathic pain injury: spinal nerve ligation (SNL) and chronic constriction injury (CCI). Denervation produced significant epidermal thinning in both models. The most pronounced thinning was observed in the lateral paw region of the SNL group.

Gender and academic medicine: a good pipeline of women graduates is not advancing.

Background: Women are underrepresented in the higher levels of appointment in academic medicine, despite the so-called feminization of medicine.

Purpose: A 27-year (1979-2006) retrospective study was conducted regarding the success and advancement of women and men at the University of Split School of Medicine in Croatia.

Methods: Data were collected from the school's archive, including number of women and men among applicants, enrollees, graduates, teachers, department chairs and the school management: high school grade averages and admission tests scores by applicant gender and gender-based graduation grade averages.

The extent of laminectomy affects pain-related behavior in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

One of the unresolved questions in neuropathic pain research is whether we can prevent or reverse mechanical hyperalgesia by rhizotomy or ganglionectomy. However, one of the obstacles in answering that question is lack of a standardized surgical procedure used in experimental ganglionectomy. We tested the hypothesis that laminectomy performed during ganglionectomy induces lumbar column deformity.

Epidemiology and etiology of childhood pneumonia.

Childhood pneumonia is the leading single cause of mortality in children aged less than 5 years. The incidence in this age group is estimated to be 0.29 episodes per child-year in developing and 0.

Demographics and motives of medical school applicants in Croatia.

Background: According to data regarding number of physicians per 100,000 inhabitants, Croatia is below the European average. Under those circumstances, more attention needs to be devoted to Croatian medical schools and their applicants.

Aims: This study sought to investigate admission trends of applicants to Croatian medical schools, analyse their demographics and motives for medical school enrollment.

Croatia founded a national body for ethics in science.

The Committee for Ethics in Science and Higher Education (CESHE) was created in Croatia as a national body appointed by the Parliament. Thus Croatia became one of a handful of countries with national means of responding to allegations of scientific misconduct. The Committee's duties, with the help of the Ethics Code, include promotion of ethical norms and values in science and higher education.

The pollution load by nitrogen and phosphorus in the Jadro River.

The objective of the investigations of the Jadro River, located in Croatia, was to estimate the nitrogen and phosphorus loads in the Jadro River spring and its streamflow by calculating the load in kg/day or tons/year and to compare this with the load for the maximum allowed concentrations (MAC) for drinking water (Official Bulletin, No 46/94) expressed in kg/day or tons/year. Daily pollution loads at the Jadro River spring for total N ranged from 0 to 304 kg, for NH3-N from 0 to 38 kg, for NO3-N from 0-1321 kg and for PO4-P from 0-92 kg in the period from September 1993 to September 2003. When compared with MAC loads the results prove that the Jadro River spring is not polluted by nitrogen compounds and phosphorus.

Effect of peripheral axotomy on pain-related behavior and dorsal root ganglion neurons excitability in NPY transgenic rats.

In order to clarify the physiologic role of NPY in sensory processing, we obtained intracellular recordings of DRG neurons from wild type (WT) and NPY overexpressing transgenic rats (NPY-TG) before and after injury. We investigated medium and large diameter DRG neurons since upregulation of NPY peptide following the nerve injury occurs primarily in those cells. Neurons were classified as Aalpha/beta and Adelta using conduction velocity and action potential duration.

Information subsystem of total hardness (Ca + Mg) as a database for studying its influence on human health.

Dalmatia (Southern Croatia) belongs to the Dinaric karst region. The permeability of karst soil allows a great quantity of dissolved organic and toxic matter rendering it hygienically unsafe. The hinterland of the Dinaric karst region is relatively scarcely populated since the largest agglomeration of population and industry is in the coastal zones.