Analysis of prevalence and characteristics of venomous snakebites in Croatia

Na prostoru Republike Hrvatske živi 15 vrsta zmija od kojih su tri otrovnice – poskok (Vipera ammodytes), riđovka (Vipera berus) i planinski žutokrug (Vipera ursinii macrops). U cilju što boljeg poznavanja opasnosti od ugriza zmija, učestalosti i posljedica, načinjena je ova retrospektivna studija analize otpusnih pisama iz glavnih bolnica Zagrebačke županije, Grada Zagreba i Brodsko-posavske županije. Prikupljeno je 61 otpusno pismo iz razdoblja od 1998. do 2008. godine. Učestalost ugriza za prostor Zagrebačke županije i Grada Zagreba iznosi 4,8 ugriza godišnje (0,441 ugriza na 100 000 stanovnika), a za Brodsko-posavsku županiju 1,3 ugriza godišnje (0,735 ugriza na 100 000 stanovnika). Procjenom težine ugriza pomoću simptoma zaključeno je da prevladavaju srednje teški slučajevi sa malim brojem teških slučajeva. U istraživanom razdoblju nije zabilježen nijedan smrtni slučaj.There are 15 snake species living in the area of Republic of Croatia, three of them being venomous – horned viper (Vipera ammodytes), common European viper (Vipera berus) and meadow viper (Vipera ursinii macrops). The aim of this retrospective study of hospital release letters was gaining better knowledge of danger of snakebites, their prevalence and consequences. Release letter were obtained from central hospitals in Zagreb county, City of Zagreb county and Brodsko-posavska county. Altogether, there was 61 release letters for the period from 1998 to 2008. Snakebite prevalence for Zagreb and City of Zagreb counties is 4,8 envenomings yearly (0,441 envenomings on 100 000 people), and 1,3 envenomings yearly (0,735 envenomings on 100 000 people) for Brodsko-posavska county. After reviewing the severity of envenomings using noted symptoms it was concluded that most cases are moderate with very few severe cases. There were no fatalities in the reviewed period

Analysis of prevalence and characteristics of venomous snakebites in Croatia

Na prostoru Republike Hrvatske živi 15 vrsta zmija od kojih su tri otrovnice – poskok (Vipera ammodytes), riđovka (Vipera berus) i planinski žutokrug (Vipera ursinii macrops). U cilju što boljeg poznavanja opasnosti od ugriza zmija, učestalosti i posljedica, načinjena je ova retrospektivna studija analize otpusnih pisama iz glavnih bolnica Zagrebačke županije, Grada Zagreba i Brodsko-posavske županije. Prikupljeno je 61 otpusno pismo iz razdoblja od 1998. do 2008. godine. Učestalost ugriza za prostor Zagrebačke županije i Grada Zagreba iznosi 4,8 ugriza godišnje (0,441 ugriza na 100 000 stanovnika), a za Brodsko-posavsku županiju 1,3 ugriza godišnje (0,735 ugriza na 100 000 stanovnika). Procjenom težine ugriza pomoću simptoma zaključeno je da prevladavaju srednje teški slučajevi sa malim brojem teških slučajeva. U istraživanom razdoblju nije zabilježen nijedan smrtni slučaj.There are 15 snake species living in the area of Republic of Croatia, three of them being venomous – horned viper (Vipera ammodytes), common European viper (Vipera berus) and meadow viper (Vipera ursinii macrops). The aim of this retrospective study of hospital release letters was gaining better knowledge of danger of snakebites, their prevalence and consequences. Release letter were obtained from central hospitals in Zagreb county, City of Zagreb county and Brodsko-posavska county. Altogether, there was 61 release letters for the period from 1998 to 2008. Snakebite prevalence for Zagreb and City of Zagreb counties is 4,8 envenomings yearly (0,441 envenomings on 100 000 people), and 1,3 envenomings yearly (0,735 envenomings on 100 000 people) for Brodsko-posavska county. After reviewing the severity of envenomings using noted symptoms it was concluded that most cases are moderate with very few severe cases. There were no fatalities in the reviewed period

High resolution spectroscopy of x-rays emission on ion microprobe

Na temelju dosadašnjeg iskustva u mjerenjima Kβ spektara 3d prijelaznih metala i njihovih spojeva na već postojećem visokorazlučivom spektrometru rendgenskoga zračenja Laboratorija za interakciju ionskih snopova konstruiran je umanjeni valno disperzivni sustav za rad s fokusiranim ionskim snopovima. Jedna od značajnijih prednosti novog spektrometra je njegova jednostavnost jer su meta i detektor na fiksnim položajima dok se promjena kuta difrakcije postiže linearnim pomakom ravnog kristala duţ osi paralalelne ionskom snopu. Kombinacija ionskog mikrosnopa te CCD detektora dobre prostorne rezolucije omogućila je smanjene dimenzija u odnosu na prijašnje valno disperzivne sustave, čime se je povećala efikasnost sustava, a uz zadržavanje energijskog razlučivanja pogodnog za mjerenja fine strukture rendgenskoga zračenja na mikrometarskim uzorcima. U radu su opisane sve faze izrade spektrometra koje su uključivale optimizaciju geometrije sustava pomoću XTRACE programa te dizajn vakuumske komore u kojoj su smješteni nosač za mete, ravni kristal i detektor. Napravljena je procedura za obradu signala koja dvodimenzionalne slike snimljenog zračenja preoblikuje u visokorazlučive spektre. Novim spektrometrom se proučavao utjecaj kemijskih efekata na karakteristično rendgensko Kα i Kβ zračenje silicija, sumpora i njihovih spojeva pobudom protonima. Utjecaj višestruke ionizacije na finu strukturu karakterističnoga rendgenskoga zračenja je proučavan pobudom ionima ugljika. Ispitane su i mogućnosti spektrometra u razlikovanju spojeva sulfata od sulfida bazirane na kemijskim efektima u Kβ spektrima sumpora te mogućnosti razdvajanja K i M linija rendgenskoga zračenja koje nije moguće razlučiti energijsko disperzivnim detektorima.Downsized high resolution wavelength dispersive x-ray spectrometer was constructed for work with focused beams on ion microprobe. The experience gained in using the present large spectrometer designed for broad beams to measure Kβ spectra of 3d transition metals' and their compounds in the Laboratory for ion beam interactions was taken in account. Important advantage of the new spectrometer is in its simplicity: both target and the detector are mounted on fixed positions while the change of diffraction angle is achieved by linear displacement of the flat diffraction crystal along the axis parallel to the ion beam direction. Downsizing was achieved by combining ion microbeam and CCD detector of good spatial resolution, which together with reasonably good energy resolution enables measurement of the fine structure in x-ray spectra on microscopic samples. All steps of the spectrometer’s development are described and they include geometry optimisation with XTRACE simulations and design of the vacuum chamber which encloses sample holder, crystal and detector. Algorithms for transferring two-dimensional images of the radiation collected with the position sensitive detector to x-ray energy spectra is developed. Spectrometer was used to test influence of chemical effects on characteristic Kα and Kβ x-ray emission of silicon, sulphur and their compounds induced by protons. Multiple ionization and its consequences on characteristic x-ray emission of sulphur were measured with carbon ions. Spectrometer's capabilities to distinguish sulphate and sulphide compounds based on chemical effects in sulphur Kβ spectra induced with protons are demonstrated. Also possibilities to resolve K and M lines that overlap in energy dispersive spectra are shown

Akutna otrovanja u bolesnika liječenih u Kliničkoj bolnici "Merkur" u Zagrebu tijekom deset mjeseci 1999. godine

This paper describes 170 cases of acute poisoning in 60 men and 110 women admitted to emergency room from January through November 1999. Ninety-eight percent of acute poisonings were selfinflicted, and 90% occurred at home. Drugs were used in 134 (79%) suicide attempts. Eighty-one acute poisonings were caused by benzodiazepines (48%) and 19 by antidepressants (11%). Alcohol intoxication, alone or combined with the intake of psychoactive drug (28 cases, 16%) predominated in men. Cocaine was the most common narcotic drug, taken by 31 patients (16%). Other acute poisonings involved ecstasy (4 cases), CO (6 cases), and HCl inhalation (2 cases). Previous suicide attempts due to depression were found in 68 patients (40%). Fifty patients (29%) were comatose on admission, 24 were transferred to intensive care, and 3 died. Data such as these can be very useful for handling self-inflicted acute poisonings and for planning long-term health care activities.Analizirano je 170 slučajeva akutnih otrovanja u 60 pacijenata i 110 pacijentica (srednja dob 31 godina) koji su obrađivani u Hitnoj internoj poliklinici Kliničke bolnice "Merkur" u razdoblju od 1. siječnja do 1. studenoga 1999. U 168 (98%) pacijenata otrovanje je bilo namjerno izazvano. Devedeset posto otrovanja dogodilo se kod kuće. U 134 (79%) pacijenata samoubojstvo je pokušano lijekovima. Uzrok akutnog otrovanja u 81 (48%) bili su benzodiazepini, a u 19 (11%) slučajeva antidepresivi. Pretežiti uzrok otrovanja u muškaraca bio je alkohol (u 18 slučajeva, 11%) ili kombinacija alkohola i psihoaktivnog preparata (u 10 slučajeva, 6%). Narkotici su bili uzročnici akutnog otrovanja u 31 (18%) pacijenata i među njima bio je najzastupljeniji kokain. Ostali uzročnici akutnog otrovanja bile su sintetske droge kao ecstasy (3 slučaja, 2%) te udisanje ugljičnog monoksida (6 slučaja, 4%) i klorovodične kiseline (2 slučaja, 1%). U 68 (40%) pacijenata pokušaj suicida bio je posljedica depresije. Prethodnih suicidalnih namjera bilo je u 24 (14%) pacijenata. Na prijemu u Hitnu internu polikliniku bilo je ukupno 50 (29%) komatoznih pacijenata, a uzrok otrovanja kokain u 31 (18%), benzodiazepin u 11 (6%) i alkohol u 8 (5%) slučajeva. Od tih pacijenata na daljnjem tretmanu u Jedinici intenzivne njege zadržana su 24 pacijenta. Smrtni ishod zabilježen je u troje pacijenata visoke dobi (više od 70 godina) koji su se otrovali antidepresivima, a uzrok smrti bile su ventrikularna aritmija i respiratorna depresija. Rezultati ovog istraživanja daju korisne podatke kako za pružanje neposredne medicinske skrbi tako i pri planiranju zdravstvene zaštite u namjerno izazvanim akutnim otrovanjima

Monitoring ion track formation using in situ RBS/c and ERDA

The aim of this work is to investigate feasibility of the ion beam analysis techniques for monitoring swift heavy ion track formation. First, use of the in situ Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy in channeling mode to observe damage build-up in quartz SiO2 after MeV heavy ion irradiation is demonstrated. Second, new results of the in situ grazing incidence time-of-flight elastic recoil detection analysis used for monitoring the surface elemental composition during ion tracks formation in various materials are presented. Ion tracks were found on SrTiO3, quartz SiO2, a-SiO2 and muscovite mica surfaces by atomic force microscopy, but in contrast to our previous studies on GaN and TiO2, surface stoichiometry remained unchanged