Correlation of Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index, Ten-Year Risk Assessment and Other Atherosclerosis Risk Factors

The aim of the study was to assess correlation of atherosclerosis severity as determined by two different methods of screening for atherosclerosis: (A) measurement of the cardio-ankle vascular index-CAVI by use of the VaseraVS-1500 vascular screening device, and (B) Framingham scale scoring. 52 subjects (28 male and 24 female) were enrolled in the study. Classification of study subjects into four quartiles based on theoretically calculated 10-year risk according to Framingham scale (medians:1%, 3%, 4% and 15%) confirmed the risk increase to be associated with a statistically significant increase in CAVI, age and total cholesterol, and a statistically significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol (p<0.001 all). Spearman correlation coefficients showed a statistically significant correlation of 10-year risk with CAVI (p=0.0242; r=0.4494). Study results suggested that simultaneous determination of CAVI and 10-year risk might prove justified. They are not contradictory, the more so, these two parameters showed a significant positive correlation. This test panel yields comprehensible, implying all the possible consequences and highly motivating information that may stimulate the person for lifestyle modification

Tehnološke karakteristike suvremene obiteljske farme koza

Za podizanje obiteljske farme koza gospodarstvu treba dostatno pašnjaka i oranica za proizvodnju krme za zimsku hranidbu, zatim odgovarajuće staje i dostatan broj članova obitelji, potrebnih za normalan dnevni proces rada na farmi. Na kraju vrlo je važno napomenuti da farma koza treba imati organiziran otkup mlijeka

Kozarska proizvodnja pod uzgojno-selekcijskom kontrolom na obiteljskim farmama u Hrvatskoj

Držanje koza na prostorima Hrvatske uvijek je bilo u prošlosti vezano uz siromaštvo i bijedu. Materijalna dobit ili hrana od koza bila je za takva gospodarstva nešto s čime se moglo samo preživjeti. Zato se u narodu za kozu često govorilo da je "sirotinjska krava". U pasminskom sastavu bila je to domaća balkanska koza niskih proizvodnih svojstava, dobra zdravlja i malih prohtjeva za krmom. Koze su se uglavnom uzgajale na kršu Like i Korduna, Istre, Primorja, Dalmacije i otoka. U ostalim dijelovima Hrvatske držanje koza je bilo slabije zastupljeno, napose u ravničarskim krajevima

Učestalost i održavanje Leptospiraserovara Australis i Bratislava u domaćih i divljih životinja u Hrvatskoj

Over a 10-year period, from 2002 to 2011, 20,157 sera samples and 984 kidneys of wild and domestic animals were collected and tested for leptospirosis at the Laboratory for Leptospirosis of the Veterinary Faculty, University of Zagreb. Out of 19,732 sera samples of horses, 3876 (19.64%) had agglutinating antibodies against one or more Leptospira serovars. The highest seroprevalence in horses was found for the following serovars: sv Bratislava, sv Pomona and sv Australis. In wild boars, out of 215 samples 75 (34.88%) were positive and the most prevalent serovars were sv Australis, sv Grippotyphosa and sv Tarassovi. Out of 170 pig sera we found 66 (38.82%) positive animals. The most prevalent serovars were sv Australis, sv Ballum and sv Saxkoebing. In red foxes, out of 59 sera samples 34 (57.60%) were positive for leptospirosis. We found the highest titre for sv Australis, sv Sejroe, sv Saxkoebing and sv Grippotyphosa. Out of 151 sera samples of dogs, 26 (17.22%) had antibodies for Leptospira serovars. The highest seroprevalence was for sv Pomona, sv Grippotyphosa, sv Australis and sv Icterohaemorrhagiae. Out of 262 kidney samples taken from the yellow-necked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) Leptospirae were isolated from 32 (12.21%) samples including 13 (40.63%) isolates of L. interrogans, serogorup Australis, sv Bratislava; five (15.62%) isolates of L. borgpeterseni, serogoup Sejroe, sv Saxkoebing; four (12.5%) isolates of L. interrogans, serogroup Australis, sv Muenchen-FR. From 122 kidney samples of the long-tailed field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) 22 (18.03%) were positive for Leptospira. The most frequently isolated Leptospira were: seven (31.82%) isolates of L. interrogans, serogroup Australis, sv Bratislava; six (27.27%) isolates of L. interrogans, serogroup Australis, undetermined serovar; three (13.64%) isolates of L. interrogans, serogroup Australis, sv Muenchen-FR. Out of 96 kidney samples of the black-striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) from 29 (30.21%) we isolated Leptospira. The most frequent serovars were: L. kirschneri, serogroup Pomona, sv Mozdok in eight (27.59%) samples, L. kirschneri, serogroup Bataviae, sv Bataviae in two (6.9%) samples while 19 (65.52%) isolates are still undetermined. Considering the results of our and previous investigations of leptospirosis in Croatia, we can conclude that Leptospira serovars from the serogroups Australis, sv Bratislava, sv Australis and sv Lora are maintained among wild life animal species. The results of this and our previous studies of leptospirosis in wild animal species in Croatia strongly support the conclusion that wild carnivores and omnivores, such as the red fox, wild boar and brown bear, could also be maintaining reservoir hosts for serovars from the serogroup Australis.U desetogodišnjem razdoblju, od 2002. do 2011. godine, 20157 uzoraka krvi i 984 bubrega divljih i domaćih životinja prikupljeno je i testirano na leptospirozu u Laboratoriju za leptospire Veterinarskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Od 19732 uzorka seruma konja 3876 (19,64%) imalo je aglutinirajuća protutijela protiv jednog ili više Leptospira serovara. Najveća seroprevalencija u konja bila je za sljedeće serovare: sv Bratislava, sv Pomona i sv Australis. U divljih svinja od 215 uzoraka, 75 (34,88%) je bilo pozitivno i najčešći serovari bili su sv Australis, sv Grippotyphosa i sv Tarassovi. Od 170 uzoraka seruma svinja pronašli smo 66 (38,82%) pozitivnih životinja. Najčešći serovari bili su sv Australis, sv Ballum i sv Saxkoebing. U crvenih lisica od 59 uzoraka seruma 34 (57,60%) je bilo pozitivno na leptospirozu. Najviši titar protutijela pronašli smo za sv Australis, sv Sejroe, sv Saxkoebing i sv Grippotyphosa. Od 151 uzorka seruma pasa 26 (17,22%) imalo je protutijela za Leptospira serovare. Najviša seroprevalencija bila je za sv Pomona, sv Grippotyphosa, sv Australis i sv Icterohaemorrhagiae. Od 262 uzorka bubrega uzetih od žutogrlog miša (Apodemus flavicollis) leptospire su izdvojene iz 32 (12,21%) uzorka uključujući 13 (40,63%) izolata L. interrogans, serološka skupina Australis, sv Bratislava; pet (15.62%) izolata L. borgpeterseni, serološka skupina Sejroe, sv Saxkoebing; četiri (12,5%) izolata L. interrogans, serološka skupina Australis, sv Muenchen-FR. Iz 122 bubrega šumskog miša (Apodemus sylvaticus) 22 (18,03%) bilo je pozitivno na leptospire. Najčešće izdvojene leptospire bile su: sedam (31,82%) izolata L. interrogans, serološka skupina Australis, sv Bratislava; šest (27,27%) izolata L. interrogans, serološka skupina Australis, nedeterminirani serovar, tri (13,64%) izolata L. interrogans, serološka skupina Australis, sv Muenchen-FR. Od 96 uzoraka bubrega poljskog miša (Apodemus agrarius) iz 29 (30,21%) su izolirane leptospire. Najučestaliji serovari bili su: L. kirschneri, serološka skupina Pomona, sv Mozdok u osam (27,59%) uzoraka, L. kirschneri, serološka skupina Bataviae, sv Bataviae u dva (6,9%) uzorka, dok je 19 (65,52%) izolata još uvijek nedeterminirano. Razmatrajući rezultate našeg i prethodnih istraživanja leptospiroze u Hrvatskoj možemo zaključiti da se Leptospira serovari iz serološke skupine Australis, sv Bratislava, sv Austraalis i sv Lora, održavaju između divljih životinjskih vrsta. Rezultati naših i prethodnih istraživanja leptospiroze u divljih životinja u Hrvatskoj čvrsto podupiru zaključak da divlji mesožderi i svežderi kao crvena lisica, divlja svinja i smeđi medvjed također mogu biti održavajući domaćini za serovare Leptospira iz serološke skupine Australis

Adrenal glands of the foetus in (high) risk pregnancies

Improvement of the methods used in prenatal diagnosis will contribute to a timely detection of a diseased fetus, and will be the first step in its recovery. Regulating the pathological condition of the mother will surely contribute to decrease the risk of delivering children with an increased risk of morbidity

Mogućnosti alternativnih oblika akvakulture na području Srbije

Contrary to world trends in aquaculture, where the production of different aquatic plants and animals is increasing, aquaculture in Serbia is restricted mainly to fish production in cold and warmwater ponds and to a lesser extent in aquaria. Production of water invertebrates (zooplankton, bottom fauna organisms) as well as vertebrates (frogs, turtles) which do not have tradition with us, can be done in, for this purpose especially built installations, or, as additional type of aquaculture, in carp fish farms. Having in mind the fact that profit obtained by alternative types of aquaculture can be higher than those in fishculture, or its increasing gain from fishculture evaluation of possibilities of me other types of aquaculture are of interest in the Serbia region.Akvakultura je na prostorima Srbije svedena na gajenje kalifornijske pastrmke u hladnovnodnim i gajenje šarana, belog i sivog tolstolobika, belog amura, linjaka, smudja, štuke i soma u toplovodnim ribnjacima, kao i u manjoj meri na gajenje akvarijumskih ukrasnih riba, kornjača i beskičmenjaka. I pored velikih mogućnosti drugih oblika akvakulture, kao i činjenice da se takvim delatnostima ostvarujuje veći profit od onog u ribnjačarstvu, usled ustaljenih navika, nedostatka tradicije, kao i malog poznavanja drugih oblika akvakulture, gajenje ostalih vodenih organizama na prostorima Srbije gotovo da i ne postoji. Upravo zbog toga su u okviru rada sagledane mogućnosti alternativnih oblika akvakulture kod nas. Sa dosta uspeha se mogu gajiti zooplanktonski organizmi (Infuzoria, Rotatoria, Cladocera), organizmi faune dna (Oligochaeta, Mollusca), slatkovodni rakovi (rečni i branhiopode), vodozemci (žabe), gmizavci (kornjače), mladj autohtonih vrsta riba (potočna pastrmka, mladica i dr.) i ukrasne ribe (koi šarani). Pored navedenih primera brojni su i drugi. Svakako treba naglasiti i činjenicu da gajenje hidrobionata nije lak posao. Često uspešno gajenje u laboratorijskim uslovima nije dalo pouzdane rezultate na terenu. Za uspešno gajenje vodenih organizama neophodno je dosta znanja i rada, a tada i prihodi neće izostati

Hydrogeochemical investigation of the influence of natural radionuclides on the environment, NW Backa, Serbia

In the research phase of nuclear materials from the Backa area (NW of Serbia), hydrogeochemical prospecting was applied, which covers an area of about 500 km2. Samples were collected from surface water, from sources and wells, and bores. Combined hydrogeochemical methods included the examination of U, Ra, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mo, Li, Sr; anions HCO3-, SO42-, Cl-; cations Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, as well as the determination of SiO2, Eh, Ep and pH values. Additional testing determined the water content: NO3, F, Br, J, P. Value content of uranium (U) varied in the range of 0.1 - 125 ppb; Ra 0.026 - 0.33 Bq/l; Rn 1.45 - 32.63 Bq/l. At selected locations the uranium content in the A - horizon (15 - 20 cm) were determined. According to the geological and structural characteristics of the research area, results are shown on the maps in scale of 1:50000 and on appropriate diagrams and tables. The aim of this study was the application of geochemical prospecting method for the identification of geopathogenic zones of the influence of natural radionuclides in the rural settlements environment

The role of hysteroscopy in diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal bleeding

Background/Aim. Abnormal uterine bleeding is the most common problem which brings woman to the gynecologist during the postmenopausal period. The aim of this study was to define the significance of hysteroscopy as a diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of patients with postmenopausal bleeding, as well as to define it as a surgical procedure by which the cause of bleeding can be treated in most cases in the same sitting. Methods. The study involved 148 female patients referred to the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics in Niš for postmenopausal bleeding in the period of 12 months. Hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy were performed in all the patients. Biopsy materials were directed to histological examination, and the hysteroscopic and histological findings were compared afterwards. Polyps and submucous miomas were hysteroscopically removed in the same sitting and also directed to histological examination. Results. The success rate of the method was 95.1%, while complications occurred in 1.37% of the cases. The hysteroscopic findings were normal in almost 30% of the cases, and the most common pathological finding was endometrial polyp. The sensitivity of hysteroscopy in the detection of intrauterine pathology was 100%, the specificity 81%, the positive predictive value 92% and the negative predictive value 100%. In 69.7% of the patients the cause of bleeding was hysteroscopically removed. Hysteroscopy was performed in 58.1% of the patients in the same sitting, and in 11.6% of the patients after obtaining histological findings. Conclusion. Hysteroscopy is a safe, highly sensitive diagnostic procedure, thus being an ideal method for evaluation of patients with postmenopausal bleeding. The application of hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy leads to accurate diagnosis. An adequate diagnosis is crucial for the selection of relevant treatment of postmenopausal bleeding and avoidance of unnecessary major surgical procedures. Except for being a diagnostic method hysteroscopy, is also an outpatient minimally invasive surgical procedure for treating the cause of bleeding in the majority of cases in the same sitting