Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals in Kostrena Coastal Area

The aim of this study was to determine pollution by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and heavy metals in seawater and sediment in Kostrena coastal area, as well as their toxicity using bioluminescence based tests. Total PAH concentration in seawater ranged 1.7-155.3 ng/L. The share of carcinogenetic PAH was relatively high, ranging 22–48.3%. Nickel concentrations in seawater were beyond detection limits (<0.1 mg/L), vanadium concentrations ranged 0.66–1.96 mg/L, chrome concentrations were beyond detection limits, and copper concentrations were also beyond detection limits or extremely low (up to 0.32 mg/L). EC50 values in seawater ranged 23.80–90.90 ng/L. Correlation between total PAH concentration and toxicity of seawater showed strong connection between them (r=0.9579). Total PAH concentration in marine sediment ranged 58.02–1116 mg/kg dry weight (d.w.). The share of carcinogenetic PAH was extremely high ranging 10–53%. Nickel concentrations in marine sediment ranged 8–24 mg/kg d.w., vanadium concentrations ranged 24–42 mg/kg d.w., chrome concentrations ranged 11–19 mg/kg d.w., and copper concentrations ranged 7–25 mg/kg d.w. EC50 values in marine sediment ranged 818–4596 mg/kg d.w. Correlation between total PAH concentration and toxicity of marine sediment showed weak connection between them (r=0.2590). Previous studies of seawater samples from areas of the Adriatic sea under the direct influence of oil industry did not include concentrations of heavy metals, which makes our study the first to present such comprehensive results. Our results point out the need for further evaluations and following of marine environment pollution and its consequences on living organisms and marine ecosystem in whole

Epidemiological Study of Sun Exposure and Visual Field Damage in Children in Primorsko-Goranska County – the Risk Factors of Earlier Development of Macular Degeneration

The aim of this study was to examine the possible harmful effects of solar exposure on visual field damage in children living in Primorko-Goranska Country. Our previous work has shown noxious influence on visual field in children with anamnesis long term exposure to sunlight. This is an extended study, including children in Novi Vinodolski and Gorski kotar. We measured possible defect in isopteric visual field and macular-meridian thresholds. In the area of island of Rab these changes were the biggest, subsequently is Novi Vinodolski and at least Gorski kotar with the smallest range of eye complicates according to exposure to sunlight. These damages correlate with the areas of great solar emission. Damages in periphery isopters of visual field have shown the characteristics of periphery defect invagination, while increased macular thresholds in complete visual field was from 5 to 15 Asb. We can conclude that there is direct connection between increased sunlight and long-term exposure to sunlight on one side, and on the other side, damages of retinal perception. Increased sun exposure may represent very important factors in early occurrence and develop of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). It is recommended the children protection in summer months, as well as taking derivates of vitamin A and antioxidants. Nowadays, AMD is one of the most important causes of damaged visual field, pretend to be national problem if we don’t use the adequate prevention. World Health Organization has to begin with prevention of AMD, including these risk factors

Mucormycosis of the Nasal Ala in a Leukemic (M7 AML) Child. Is Surgery of the Nasal Defect Indicated?

Anterior tamponade with Surgicel (oxidized cellulose) was performed on a 5-year-old girl with megakaryoblastic leukemia (M7 AML) and epistaxis. Several days later necrosis of the nasal ala occurred. Debridement was performed and mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus was found in the material. Having cured mucormycosis, a defect of the complete nasal ala remained. The question of a surgical resolution of the disfiguring nasal defect arises

Metal Pollution Index and Related Health Risks of Consumers of Lipsticks Available on the Market in the Republic of Croatia

Cilj: Budući da tragovi metala nisu deklarativno navedeni na kozmetičkim proizvodima, posebice ruževima za usne, nameće se potreba za utvrđivanjem njihove prisutnosti i analizom toksikoloških učinaka. Ovim istraživanjem analizirala se prisutnost i raspodjela metala Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb te Cu i Zn u ruževima za usne. Materijali i metode: Analizirano je 100 uzoraka ruževa za usne različitih proizvođača ovisno o zemlji proizvodnje (Europska unija - EU, Kina, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo – UK i nepoznato podrijetlo). Udjeli metala određeni su analitičkom tehnikom ICP-MS. Rezultati: Rezultati skupnih podataka ukazuju na dominaciju Pb u opterećenosti metalima (indeks IOM) uzoraka ruževa za usne, kod uzoraka proizvođača EU-a dominira utjecaj Pb i Zn, dok kod proizvođača s područja Kine najjači utjecaj na IOM ima Cr. Predloženi linearni prediktivni model ukazuje na to da u skupnim uzorcima i onima s različitih područja dominaciju ostvaruje Cd, iako i Pb ima znatnu ulogu kao opterećujući metal. Ni je prisutan kao toksikant u svim uzorcima osim onih s područja Kine, dok Cr znatnu ulogu ima jedino kod proizvođača iz EU-a. Uspoređujući sa zakonskom regulativom, udjeli analiziranih metala niži su od utvrđenih maksimalno dopuštenih koncentracija (MDK) za pojedine metale, osim uzoraka proizvođača s područja Kine gdje je detektiran viši udio Ni od propisanih vrijednosti MDK. Zaključci: Rezultati studije pokazuju da, bez obzira na sadržaj toksičnih metala u kozmetičkim proizvodima, treba obratiti pažnju na dugoročan period njihove primjene te slab indeks eliminacije iz organizma. Poradi sigurnosti primjene kozmetičkih proizvoda nameće se potreba za kontinuiranim praćenjem opterećenosti teškim metalima, kao i redovitom kontrolom generiranih zdravstvenih rizika pri uporabi takvih proizvoda.Aim: Trace metals are not declaratively stated on cosmetic products, especially lipsticks, there is a need to determine their presence and analyze toxicological effects. This research analyzed the presence and distribution of the metals Cr, Cd, Ni, Pb and Cu and Zn in lipsticks. Materials and methods: 100 samples of lipsticks from different manufacturers were analyzed depending on the country of manufacture (European Union - EU, China, United Kingdom - UK and unknown origin). Metal content was determined using the ICP-MS analytical technique. Results: The results of the collective data indicate the dominance of Pb in the metal pollution index of lipstick samples. In samples from EU producers the influence of Pb and Zn is dominant, while in Chinese producers the strongest influence on IOM is Cr. The proposed linear predictive model indicates that Cd dominates in collective and samples from different areas, although Pb also plays a significant role as a burdening metal, Ni is present as a toxicant in all samples except from China, while Cr plays a significant role only in producers from the EU. By comparison with the legal regulations, the proportions of the analyzed metals are lower than the determined maximum allowed concentrations for certain metals, except for the sample of producers from China, where a higher proportion of Ni than the prescribed maximum allowed concentration values, was detected. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that, regardless of the content of toxic metals in cosmetic products, attention should be paid to the long-term period of their application and the low index of elimination from the body. Due to the safety of the application of cosmetic products, there is a need for continuous monitoring of heavy metal content as well as regular control of health risks generated when using such products

Epidemiological Study of Visual Functions – Refractive Errors, Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma in Children in the Karst Area of Opatija

Authors of earlier studies examined the epidemiological characteristics of certain eye diseases: age-related macular degeneration (AMD), refractive errors and glaucoma in the area of Primorsko-goranska County (the island of Rab, Novi Vinodolski and Delnice). It was found that the occurrence of AMD is most common on the island of Rab, followed by Novi Vinodolski and it is least common in Gorski Kotar. This fact is associated with the intensity of solar radiation in the UV-A and UV-B fi elds. The highest percentage of the occurrence of glaucoma was also identifi ed on the island of Rab. In comparison to this study, it was found that in the karst area of Opatija (Mune, Brgud, Žejane, Brešca, Zvoneće, Pasjak, Šapjane and Zaluki) there is a very high incidence of glaucoma (27% suspected and 7% diagnosed glaucoma) within the indigenous population. Glaucoma does not appear among children whose parents migrated to the karst area of Opatija. Refractive errors are far less common among children of indigenous population than among the children whose parents migrated to this area. The occurrence of AMD was not found in any child that was born and lives in this area, regardless of whether their parents are indigenous or not. This statement is very important because it confi rms author’s earlier statement which claims that at low exposure to solar UV-A and UV-B there is no occurrence of AMD

What Associates Charles Bonnet Syndrome with Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a condition related to patients with visual loss due to age related macular degeneration or glaucoma that are having complex visual hallucinations. The CBS was first described by Swiss physician Charles Bonnet in 1760. Affected patients, who are otherwise mentally healthy people with significant visual loss, have vivid, complex recurrent visual hallucinations (VHs). One characteristic of these hallucinations is that they usually are »Lilliputian hallucinations« as patients experience micropsia (hallucinations in which the characters or objects are distorted and much smaller than normal). The prevalence of Charles Bonnet Syndrome has been reported to be between 10% and 40%; a recent Australian study has found the prevalence to be 17.5%. The high incidence of non-reported CBS is thought to be as a result of patient’s fear to report the symptoms as they could be labeled as mentally insane since those type of visual hallucinations could be found in variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders such as drug or alcohol abuse (delirium tremens), Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS), psychosis, schizophrenia, dementia, narcolepsy, epilepsy, Parkinson disease, brain tumors, migraine, as well as, in long term sleep deprivation. VHs can also be presented as the initial sign of the Epstein-Barr virus infection in infectious mononucleosis. Patients who suffer from CBS usually possess insight into the unreality of their visual experiences, which are commonly pleasant but may sometimes cause distress. The hallucinations consist of well-defined, organized, and clear images over which the subject has little control. It is believed that they represent release phenomena due to deafferentiation of the visual association areas of the cerebral cortex, leading to a form of phantom vision. Cognitive defects, social isolation, and sensory deprivation have also been implicated in the etiology of this condition. This study was conducted on 350 patients diagnosed with Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and shows incidence of CBS in 13% of patients with AMD. Furthermore, we have found higher incidence of CBS in patients with massive loss of vision in peripheral visual field which is not age related

A baseline study of the metallothioneins content in digestive gland of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus from Northern Adriatic Sea: Body size, season, gender and metal specific variability

Metallothioneins content was investigated in digestive gland of two wild-caught Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus populations from the Northern Adriatic Sea, in relation to body size, season and gender. Concomitant accumulation of cadmium, mercury, arsenic, lead, chromium and manganese, reactive oxygen species concentration and energy reserves in digestive gland were also assessed. While differences between genders were not recorded, metallothioneins content seasonal trends were affected by body size. Most of parameters displayed inconsistent trends across sampling sites. Significant correlation between metallothioneins content and cadmium, arsenic and mercury concentrations was recorded only for larger lobsters. A negative correlation of reactive oxygen species concentration and metallothioneins content was observed for small, but not large lobsters. Energy reserves, in particular lipids, could considerably influence biochemical and chemical parameters variations. The present results constitute the essential baseline for future studies aimed at evaluating the N. norvegicus health in relation to metal contamination of coastal sediments

Tuberculosis in Primorsko-goranska County from 2010 to 2012 – an epidemiological view

Cilj: Cilj rada bio je prikazati kretanje incidencije tuberkuloze u Primorsko-goranskoj županiji u trogodišnjem razdoblju, s epidemiološkim osvrtom na obradu rezultata. Metode: Podaci korišteni u ovom radu prikupljeni su tijekom 2010., 2011. i 2012. godine iz zdravstvenih ustanova primarne, sekundarne i tercijarne razine zdravstvene zaštite u Primorsko-goranskoj županiji. Podaci su prikupljani i obrađivani koristeći informatičku aplikaciju AZAPOS, izrađenu za potrebe praćenja osoba oboljelih od tuberkuloze i njihovih ukućana te drugih kontakata, posredstvom podataka koji u epidemiološku službu Primorsko-goranske županije pristižu iz svih razina zdravstvene zaštite. Rezultati: U Primorsko-goranskoj županiji najniža stopa incidencije tuberkuloze (13,4/100.000 stanovnika) zabilježena je 2010. godine, kada su registrirana 43 pacijenta. Sljedećih godina broj pacijenata obuhvaćenih analizom rastao je, te je 2011. godine bilo 54 novooboljelih (17,3/100.000 stanovnika), a 2012. godine zabilježena je incidencija od 18,3 na 100.000 stanovnika, odnosno, evidentirano je 57 novooboljelih s tuberkulozom. Od tuberkuloze su češće obolijevali muškarci, a više od polovice pacijenata pri- padalo je dobnim skupinama iznad 50 godina života. Zaključak: Podaci o pojavnosti tuberkuloze tijekom posljednjih godina na području Primorsko-goranske županije nedvojbeno ukazuju na potrebu unaprjeđenja multisektorskog pristupa u radu epidemiološke službe, ali i potrebu za kontinuiranim i usklađenim aktivnostima na svim razinama zdravstvene zaštite, radi pravovremenog prijavljivanja, evidencije te liječenja i prevencije pobola u skladu s mjera- ma koje su propisane Naputkom za suzbijanje i sprječavanje tuberkuloze.Aim: To show the incidence of tuberculosis in the Primorsko-goranska County during a three-year period with a focus on the epidemiological view. Methods: Data used in this paper were collected during 2010, 2011 and 2012 from primary, secondary and tertiary health care levels in the Primorsko-goranska County. Data were collected and analyzed using AZAPOS application, designed for the purpose of monitoring tuberculosis patients, their household members and other contacts through data coming from all levels of health care towards the epidemiology service of Primorsko-goranska County. Results: In the Primorsko- goranska County the lowest incidence rate (13,4/100.000 inhabitants) was recorded in 2010 with 43 new patients. In the following years covered by the analysis, the number of patients grew. In 2011 there were 54 new cases (17.3/100.000 inhabitants), and in 2012 there were 57 new cases of tuberculosis with the observed incidence of 18,3 per 100.000 inhabitants. Tuberculosis was more frequent among men, and more than half of patients belonged to the age groups above 50 years of age. Conclusion: Data on the incidence of tuberculosis in recent years in the region of Primorsko-goranska County undoubtedly points towards the need of improving the multi-sectoral approach in the work of epidemiology service and the need for continued and concerted actions at all health care levels, targeted at timely reporting, detection, treatment and morbidity prevention in accordance with national official guidelines

Safety of drinking water in Gorski Kotar – five-year period 2011 – 2015

Cilj: Osiguranje zdravstveno ispravne vode osnovna je potreba svakog čovjeka. S obzirom na dugogodišnje mikrobiološko onečišćenje u vodoopskrbnoj mreži Gorskog kotara, analizirano je petogodišnje razdoblje. Cilj ovog rada bio je pratiti utjecaj promjena zakonske regulative i sanitarno-tehničkih uvjeta – ugradnje većeg broja automatskih klorinatora na broj ispitanih uzoraka iz vodoopskrbnog sustava, kao i na rezultate ispitivanja parametara zdravstvene ispravnosti vode za ljudsku potrošnju. U radu je uspoređen profil onečišćenja vode za ljudsku potrošnju u Gorskom kotaru i ostalim dijelovima županije. Metode: Statistički su obrađeni i interpretirani rezultati županijskog monitoringa zdravstvene ispravnosti vode za ljudsku potrošnju na području Gorskog kotara u razdoblju od 2011. do 2015. (broj ispitanih uzoraka N = 7.047). Rezultati: Stupanjem na snagu Pravilnika o parametrima sukladnosti i metodama analize vode za ljudsku potrošnju (NN 125/13, 141/13 i 128/15) broj uzoraka na temelju kojih se prati stanje vode u razvodnoj mreži Gorskog kotara je šesterostruko smanjen, ali je broj ispitanih pokazatelja povećan. Ugradnja automatskih klorinatora (2012. g. i 2013. g.) rezultirala je dvostrukim smanjenjem broja nesukladnih uzoraka. Zaključci: Primjena Pravilnika (NN 125/13, 141/13 i 128/15) rezultirala je značajnim smanjenjem broja analiziranih uzoraka u pojedinim vodoopskrbnim sustavima, što je procjenu njihovog stanja uvelike otežalo. Ugradnjom automatskih klorinatora broj nesukladnih uzoraka u Gorskom kotaru upola je smanjen. Glavni razlog zdravstvene neispravnosti vode za ljudsku potrošnju u vodovodima Gorskog kotara je fekalno onečišćenje vode, dok u ostalim dijelovima županije najčešće od zadanih kriterija odstupaju mutnoća vode, povećani broj kolonija (UBB) i nusprodukti klorinacije.Aim: Ensuring the safety of potable water is a necessity of every human being. Taking into account long-term microbiological contamination of water supply network of Gorski Kotar, the results of 5-year County monitoring program of potable water safety in that region have been analysed. The aim of this study was to monitor the impact of amendment of legal standards as well as sanitary and technical requirements – the insertion of higher number of chlorinators on the number of examined samples deriving from the water supply system as well as the influence on the results of testing of the health parameters of water intended for human consumption. This study compared the contamination profile of water for human consumption in Gorski Kotar and other regions of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. Methods: This study presents the elaborated and interpreted results of the County monitoring program of potable water safety in the region of Gorski Kotar during the 5-year period (2011–2015; the number examined samples N = 7,047). Results: Application of the Regulations on the parameters of assessment and methods for the analysis of water for human consumption (Official Gazette 125/2013, 141/2013/, 128/2015) provides six times lesser number of samples for the monitoring of water supply system network in Gorski Kotar, but the number of analysed parameters was increased. Installation of automatic chlorinators (2012 and 2013) resulted with twice smaller number of non-compliant samples of drinking water. Conclusions: Application of the the Regulations (Official Gazette 125/2013, 141/2013, 128/2015) resulted with the significant reduction of samples for certain water supply systems making the objective assessment of their condition much harder. The installation of automatic chlorinators reduced the number of non-compliant water samples in Gorski Kotar by half. The main reason for non-complying samples of water for human consumption in the water supply systems of Gorski Kotar is faecal contamination, while for the other parts of the County major deviation from stipulated criteria are turbidity, increased number of colonies (Heterotrophic Plate Count – HPC) and chlorination by-products