The Development of the Croatian Competency Framework for Pharmacists

OBJECTIVE: To adjust and validate the Global Competency Framework (GbCF) to be relevant for Croatian community and hospital pharmacists. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted in three steps: translation, consensus development, and validation by an expert panel and public consultation. Panel members were representatives from community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, regulatory and professional bodies, academia, and industry. RESULTS: The adapted framework consists of 96 behavioral statements organized in four clusters: Pharmaceutical Public Health, Pharmaceutical Care, Organization and Management, and Personal and Professional Competencies. When mapped against the 100 statements listed in the GbCF, 27 matched, 39 were revised, 30 were introduced, and 24 were excluded from the original framework. CONCLUSIONS: The adaptation and validation proved that GbCF is adaptable to local needs, the Croatian Competency Framework that emerged from it being an example. Key amendments were made within Organization and Management and Pharmaceutical Care clusters, demonstrating that these issues can be country specific

Cluster architecture of old, neglected Croatian grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.)

Grape cluster architecture is an important trait affecting fruit composition and yield. Damage caused by gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) is directly related to cluster density and some other environmental factors. The aim of this study was to quantify characteristics of fully mature clusters of eleven old Croatian grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.) which so far have not been phenotypically described in detail, and to examine Botrytis cinerea disease severity on their grapes under field conditions. Eight variables that describe the appearance of clusters were quantified in three consecutive years including cluster weight, length, width, volume, compactness, rachis weight, number of berries and single berry weight. Two-factor analysis of variance provided estimates of varietal and annual differences. Significant differences among eleven old Croatian varieties for all cluster traits were determined. Results suggest diverse cluster morphology within the old Croatian varieties revealing three variety groups by PCA analysis and their varying degrees of sensitivity to Botrytis. These phenotypic data on cluster structure represent a basis for future research, such as QTL analysis or assessment of productivity of these varieties

The association between salt taste perception, mediterranean diet and metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a widespread disorder and an important public health challenge. The purpose of this study was to identify the association between salt taste perception, Mediterranean diet and MetS. This cross-sectional study included 2798 subjects from the general population of Dalmatia, Croatia. MetS was determined using the Joint Interim Statement definition, and Mediterranean diet compliance was estimated using Mediterranean Diet Serving Score. Salt taste perception was assessed by threshold and suprathreshold testing (intensity and hedonic perception). Logistic regression was used in the analysis, adjusting for important confounding factors. As many as 44% of subjects had MetS, with elevated waist circumference as the most common component (77%). Higher salt taste sensitivity (lower threshold) was associated with several positive outcomes: lower odds of MetS (OR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.52-0.92), lower odds for elevated waist circumference (0.47; 0.27-0.82), elevated fasting glucose or diabetes (0.65; 0.45-0.94), and reduced HDL cholesterol (0.59; 0.42-0.84), compared to the higher threshold group. Subjects with lower salt taste threshold were more likely to consume more fruit, and less likely to adhere to olive oil and white meat guidelines, but without a difference in the overall Mediterranean diet compliance. Salt taste intensity perception was not associated with any of the investigated outcomes, while salty solution liking was associated with MetS (OR = 1.85, CI 95% 1.02-3.35). This study identified an association between salt taste perception and MetS and gave a new insight into taste perception, nutrition, and possible health outcomes

Ampelographic and genetic characterization of Croatian grapevine varieties

Before the Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae) crisis in Croatia more than 400 grape varieties were under cultivation. Today their number is drastically decreased. Recently, many efforts in the preservation of grapevine biodiversity were undertaken: detailed inventory of varieties in different wine-growing regions, establishing of national and regional collections and their systematic ampelographic and genetic characterisation. This paper shows results of multiannual ampelographic and genetic research concerning Croatian grapevines considered as autochthonous varieties. After identification, many synonyms and homonyms were detected and unique genotypes were selected. Basic data of them are shown: description (according to OIV descriptors) and genetic profiles (9 SSR loci), growing area and status of vulnerability. Also, genetic relationship based on the shared allele distance is computed from SSR data. Results show certain level of similarity among varieties, and classify Croatia as important gene-pool in Europe. Some additional accessions which were detected and introduced into collections recently are still being investigated and characterized so that the here presented list of Croatian native grapevine cultivars is not final

Differentiation between Croatian dessert wine Prošek and dry wines based on phenolic composition

The phenolic composition of the Croatian dessert wine Prošek and dry wines Plavac mali and Pošip produced from the same autochthonous cultivars was investigated to determine which phenolic compounds best discriminate between these wine types. The wines were analyzed by the targeted metabolomic method using UPLC/QqQ-MS/MS. Forty-five (45) phenolic compounds were identified and classified into five groups based on chemical structure: benzoic acid derivatives, cinnamic acid derivatives, flavan-3-ols, stilbenes and flavonols. ANOVA indicated that the grape-drying process heavily influences the complex phenolic composition of Prošek dessert wine, which differs significantly from dry wines produced from the same cultivars. The data was grouped by principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis to derive a classification function that distinguished dry and dessert wines with 98% accuracy. Principal component analysis separated the samples and showed that 23 phenolic compounds depending to phenolic acids, phenolic aldehydes, flavan-3-ols and flavonols were the compounds that best differentiated the Prošek from the dry wines

True-to-type confirmation of 20 unknown grapevine accessions at a grape germplasm collection in Split, Croatia

Twenty unknown accessions maintained in the field collection of the Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation (IAC), Split, Croatia, were identified. Morphological validation was done using standard OIV descriptors encompassing shoot, leaf and cluster characteristics. A standard set of nine simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were amplified and genetic diversity indices were calculated. The allelic data of the 20 unknown genotypes were compared with reference SSR profiles from the European database Vitis International Variety Catalogue (VIVC; http://www.vivc.de/) and grape germplasm collection of the UK. Three accessions proved to be mislabelled and were identified as known European grapevine cultivars (‘Blaufraenkisch’, ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Merlot’), two unknown accessions showed identical genotypes matching ‘Chasselas blanc’ and ‘Chasselas rose’, while 12 unknown genotypes confirmed their declared status. Finally, three unknown genotypes of interspecific crosses (‘Ljana’, ‘Original’, ‘Nero’) were not found in VIVC database or in published literature, revealing SSR profiles that are novel to the best of our knowledge. This study presents necessary information to establish cultivar status (true to type) of 20 unknown accessions from the IAC Split grape collection