Šest desetljeća međunarodnih neuropsihijatrijskih kongresa u Puli - od neuropsihijatrije do graničnih područja neurologije i psihijatrije: mozak i um

In 2010, the International Neuropsychiatric Pula Symposia, from 2005 Congresses (INPS/INPC), founded in 1961 by Zagreb and Graz University Neuropsychiatry Departments, celebrated their 50th anniversary of successful development. The co-author of the paper, Boško Barac, witnessed their growth from 1966, collaborating in their organization from 1974 with the first Secretary General Gerald Grinschgl; elected for his successor after his unexpected death in 1985, he was leading the Kuratorium (Scientific Board) as Secretary General for 23 years, collaborating in this period with his Austrian partner and friend Helmut Lechner. In 2007, Barac handed over this responsible function to the co-author Vida Demarin. Starting when neuropsychiatry was a unique discipline, the INPC followed the processes of emancipation of neurology and psychiatry and their evolution to independent disciplines with new subspecialties. These respectable conferences greatly surpassed the significance of the two disciplines, neurology and psychiatry, granting collaboration of borderland medical and non-medical disciplines, connecting experts from the region, European countries and the world. Inaugurated in ‘cold-war’ times, in their first phase they enabled to make professional and human contacts between scientists from the two divided ‘blocs’ thanks to the ‘non-aligned’ position of the then Yugoslavia, fostering the ideas of mutual understanding and collaboration. On the other hand, the scientific development of the meetings took in the center of their study fields connecting the two disciplines, giving a quite unique quality to these meetings. For many years, the meetings cherished specific neurologic and psychiatric topics, at the same time planning increasing important topics of the ‘borderland areas’ in their programs. For the important achievements, they earned the title of the Pula School of Science and Humanism, promoting interdisciplinary scientific collaboration important for humanistic goals of medicine. Medicine, as science and practice, although founded on biological grounds, is primarily a human activity serving to individual man and the whole human race. Modern neurology and psychiatry are no longer restricted to diagnosing and curing brain and nerves or psychiatric disorders, and are nowadays important as a science of human mind and discipline caring about the human brain, the complex organ of each individual man, collective human consciousness and our mental life. Such atmosphere contributed to the fall of the totalitarian, narrow-minded political, ideological or nationalistic thinking, aiming to tolerance and humane democratic developments in the united Europe and the preparation for peaceful living of various nations, races, religions and viewpoints in the 21st century.Međunarodni neuropsihijatrijski Pulski simpoziji, od 2005. godine Kongresi (INPS/INPC), osnovani 1961. godine od strane neuropsihijatrijskih klinika u Zagrebu i Grazu, 2010. godine proslavili su svoju pedesetu godišnjicu uspješnog postojanja. Boško Barac, koautor ovoga rada, svjedočio je njihovom rastu od 1966., sudjelujući u organizaciji od 1974. s prvim glavnim tajnikom Geraldom Grinschglom te je izabran za njegovog nasljednika nakon njegove iznenadne smrti. Tijekom 23 godine je vodio Kuratorium u suradnji sa svojim austrijskim partnerom i prijateljem Helmutom Lechnerom. Godine 2007. Barac je predao svoju odgovornu funkciju koautorici Vidi Demarin. Počevši od kada je neuropsihijatrija bila jedinstvena disciplina, INPC je pratio process emancipacije neurologije i psihijatrije i njihov razvoj u neovisne discipline s novim subspecijalizacijama. Ove ugledne konferencije uvelike nadmašuju važnost samih disciplina, neurologije i psihijatrije, omogućujući suradnju graničnih medicinskih i nemedicinskih disciplina, spajajući stručnjake iz regije, Europe i svijeta. Inauguriran za vrijeme “hladnog rata”, u svojoj prvoj fazi omogućavao je profesionalni i ljudski kontakt među znanstvenicima dvaju “blokova” zahvaljujući “nesvrstanom” položaju Jugoslavije, udomljujući ideje međusobnog razumijevanja i suradnje. Znanstveni razvoj ovih sastanaka je s druge strane povezivao dvije discipline dajući im jedinstvenu kvalitetu. Dugi niz godina njegovane su specifične neurološke i psihijatrijske teme, uz istodobno planiranje posvećivanja programa “graničnim područjima”. Zbog svojih postignuća dobila je zasluženi naslov Pulska škola znanosti i humanizma, promovirajući interdisciplinarnu suradnju važnu za humanističke ciljeve u medicini. Medicina, kao znanost i praksa, iako temeljena na biološkoj osnovi, primarno je humana aktivnost koja služi pojedincu i cijelom ljudskom rodu. Moderna neurologija i psihijatrija više nisu ograničene na dijagnosticiranje i liječenje mozga i živaca ili psihijatrijskih poremećaja, već su danas važne kao znanosti ljudskog uma i kao discipline koje se brinu o ljudskom mozgu, složenom organu svakog pojedinca, zajedničke ljudske svijesti i našem mentalnom životu. Takva je atmosfera doprinijela padu totalitarnog, uskoumnog političkog, ideološkog ili nacionalističkog razmišljanja, u cilju tolerancije i humanog demokratskog razvoja u Europi i pripreme za miran suživot različitih nacija, rasa i religija u 21. stoljeću

Seismic Refraction Method

Seismic methods are applied primarily in order to determine quasi-homogeneous zonesaccording to parameters of fragmentation, physical and chemical weathering anddeformability of rock masses and cohesionless soil. Applied seismic methods comprisesending impulses underground and registering the resulting refracted arrivals from subsurfaceinterfaces on a number of receivers positioned on or near the surface. Times elapsed fromsending to receiving seismic waves depend on depths of studied structures and propagationvelocities of seismic waves along paths of their propagation from the source to the refractor(or reflector) to the receiver.This paper presents two examples of preparation of seismic sections as a basis forgeotechnical design of foundations. Both examples are presentations of an optimum programof exploratory boring supplemented by results of deep seismic refraction studies.Results of geophysical investigations should be included in the data obtained bygeological mapping, which will in correlation with drilling results complete the picture ofgeological structure of terrain and facilitate categorization of materials and rocks for thepurpose of developing the engineering and hydrogeological profile as a base for designers inthe project execution stage

The Influence of Pregnancy on Development and Course of Chronic Relapsing Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Rats: Implications for Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, which mainly affects young women during a reproductive period of life. Since, its symptoms might be significantly affected by pregnancy, in this study we investigated the development and kinetics of disease in the model of chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CR-EAE), induced in genetically susceptible Dark Agouti (DA) strain of rats. They were sensitized with bovine brain white matter homogenate (BBH) in complete Freund’s adjuvant during the first, second or third week of pregnancy, and the disease scores were compared between treatment groups, and identically treated nongravid females. Additionally, the susceptibility to the induction of EAE was tested in offspring of mothers that during the pregnancy were sensitized with BBH. The data have shown that pregnancy does not block the induction of EAE, but that it significantly changes the course of diseases, depending on time of immunization. In rats sensitized during the first week of gestation the onset of the clinical signs was delayed, but after the delivery the intensity of disease significantly increased. Similar aggravation, with appearance of monophasic form of disease was observed in the group of rats sensitized during the third week of gestation. On the contrary, in rats sensitized during the second week of gestation the beneficial effects were observed, with later onset of attacks, and lower disease score. Furthermore, offspring of these rats after immunization with BBH developed a monophasic form of EAE of lower intensity, suggesting that some protective factors might be transferred across the placenta

The concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha in periapical lesions

Introduction. The balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic periapical lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of TNF-α in tissue homogenates of periapical lesions and analyze its levels in relation to the symptomatology and the size of lesions. Materials and Methods. 93 samples of chronic periapical lesions were obtained after extraction of teeth. Samples were classified according to the clinical presentation as symptomatic and asymptomatic, and according to the size as large and small. The concentration of TNF-α was analyzed using ELISA. Results. The results showed increased production of TNF-α in symptomatic lesions compared to asymptomatic. Higher concentration of TNF-α was demonstrated in large lesions compared to small. Large symptomatic lesions showed greater concentration of TNF-α compared to small symptomatic lesions, while bigger asymptomatic lesions demonstrated higher amount of the cytokines compared to small asymptomatic lesions. Conclusion. Higher concentration of TNF-α in large symptomatic lesions indicates that TNF-α is an important factor responsible for the progression of lesions

Proven invasive pulmonary mucormycosis successfully treated with amphotericin B and surgery in patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Invasive mucormycosis (zygomycosis) is the third most frequent fungal infection in patients with hematologic malignancies. It often results in a fatal outcome mainly due to the difficulty of early diagnosis and its resistance to antimycotics. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old Caucasian man was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia. Following the induction chemotherapy he developed febrile neutropenia. Meropenem (3×1000mg/day) was introduced empirically. A chest computed tomography showed soft-tissue consolidation change in his right upper lobe. A bronchoscopy was performed and the histology indicated invasive pulmonary aspergillosis based on fungal hypha detection. Also, high risk patients are routinely screened for invasive fungal infections using commercially available serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests: galactomannan and mannan (Bio-Rad, France), as well as anti-Aspergillus immunoglobulin G and/or immunoglobulin M and anti-Candida immunoglobulin G and/or immunoglobulin M antibodies (Virion-Serion, Germany). Galactomannan showed low positivity and voriconazole therapy (2×400mg/first day; 2×300mg/following days) was implemented. The patient became afebrile and a partial remission of disease was established. After 2 months, the patient developed a fever and a chest multi-slice computed tomography showed soft-tissue mass compressing his upper right bronchus. Voriconazole (2×400mg/first day; 2×300mg/following days) was reintroduced and bronchoscopy was repeated. Histologic examination of the new specimen was done, as well as a revision of the earlier samples in the reference laboratory and the diagnosis was switched to invasive pulmonary mucormycosis. The treatment was changed to amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (1×400mg/day). The complete remission of acute myeloblastic leukemia was verified after 2 months. During his immunerestitution, a high positivity of the anti-Aspergillus immunoglobulin M antibodies was found in a single serum sample and pulmonary radiography was unchanged. A lobectomy of his right upper pulmonary lobe was done and the mycology culture of the lung tissue sample revealed Rhizopus oryzae. He remained in complete remission for more than 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Invasive mucormycosis was successfully treated with amphotericin B, surgery and secondary itraconazole prophylaxis. As a rare disease invasive mucormycosis is not well understood by the medical community and therefore an improvement of education about prevention, diagnosis and treatment of invasive mucormycosis is necessary

Markers of Inflammation, Metabolic Risk Factors, and Incident Heart Failure in American Indians: The Strong Heart Study

Inflammation may play a role in increased risk of heart failure (HF) that is associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome (MS), and diabetes. This study investigated associations between inflammatory markers, MS, and incident HF in a population with high prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and MS. The cohort consisted of 3098 American Indians, without prevalent cardiovascular disease who had C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen measured at the SHS Phase II exam. Independent associations between inflammatory markers, MS, and HF were analyzed by Cox hazard models. During mean follow-up of 11 years, 218 participants developed HF. After the adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors, fibrinogen, (HR 1.36, 95% C.I.:1.15–1.59) but not CRP, (HR 1.25, 95% C.I.:0.97–1.32) remained significant HF predictor. In individuals without diabetes, concomitant presence of MS and elevated CRP or fibrinogen increased HF risk (for MS and CRP: HR 2.02, 95% C.I.: 0.95–4.31; for CRP and fibrinogen: HR 1.75, 95% C.I.:0.83–3.72). In a population with high prevalence of obesity, MS, and diabetes, elevated CRP and fibrinogen predict increased HF risk. These associations are attenuated by the adjustments for conventional risk factors suggesting that inflammation acts in concert with metabolic and clinical risk factors in increasing HF risk

The effect of childhood multilingualism and bilectalism on implicature understanding

ABSTRACTThe present study compares the performance of multilingual children speaking Cypriot Greek, Standard Modern Greek, and English (and sometimes an additional language), bilectal children speakers of Cypriot Greek and Standard Modern Greek, and Standard Modern Greek-speaking monolingual children on a task that measures the comprehension of different types of implicature. Despite lower scores in language ability in the target language, multilingual and bilectal children performed at rates comparable to the monolinguals with implicature. Regression analyses indicated a positive correlation between implicature, language proficiency, and age (but not executive control), albeit language ability did not affect implicature within multilinguals. We suggest an interpretation according to which multilingual, bilectal, and monolingual children maintain a comparable level of implicature understanding, but they do so by relying on different resources. Finally, a principal component analysis on different implicature types revealed a single factor of implicature performance. This outcome has implications for pragmatic theory.Parts of this research have been funded by an ESF Experimental Pragmatics Network (EuroXPrag) collaborative grant and an ESRC Experimental Pragmatics Network in the UK (XPragUK; RES-810-21-0069) to both authors, and an Alexander Onassis Foundation scholarship for graduate studies and a postdoctoral fellowship from the Wiener-Anspach Foundation to the first author

Seroprevalence and entomological study on Chikungunya virus at the Croatian littoral

During 2011–2012, a total of 1008 serum samples from randomly selected inhabitants of seven Croatian counties located on the Adriatic Coast were tested for the presence of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) IgG antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence assay. Nine participants (0.9%) from four counties were found to be seropositive to CHIKV. Seroprevalence varied from 0.5% to 1.8% between counties. Additionally, a total of 3,699 mosquitoes were captured in 126 localities from August 16 to September 24, 2011. Three mosquito species were found: Ae. albopictus (3010/81.4%), Cx. pipiens (688/18.6%) and only one specimen of the Cs. longiareolata. Female mosquitoes (N = 1,748) were pooled. All pools tested negative for CHIKV RNA using a real-time RT-PCR