Pregnancy and birth cohorts in Europe: An overview

A birth cohort study is a form of study that uses expectant mothers and their subsequent newborns as research participants. Data is collected in order to identify health consequences and overall health outcomes of environment and lifestyle on pregnancy and childbirth. The main aim of this paper is to review and summarize all cohort studies that have been carried out or are still being conducted in Europe in last 80 years, as well as general information such as aim of the study, number of participants and duration of follow-up. Gathering information was made easier by websites such as Birthcohorts, CHICOS and LifeCycle, where many of the cohorts and their sources are listed. The remaining data was found by searching Google Scholar, PubMed and similar webpages, using keywords ‘birth and pregnancy cohorts’, ‘infants’, ‘pregnancies’, ‘allergies’ and ‘childhood obesity’. Overall, 137 cohorts in 27 countries were found. Cohort studies are an efficient method for assessing cause and effect. The focus is on the general health and well-being of mothers and children and as such provides a good approach to establishing a link between risk factors and outcomes. In epidemiological research, especially those concerning some of the biggest problems of the 21st century, such as obesity, type II diabetes and coronary heart disease, cohort studies make a valuable contribution. In last 80 years the number of studies has been increasing and with it the number of new insights. Collaboration between different birth cohorts is crucial for further harmonization of collected data and their use in the public health systems worldwide

COMPARISON OF STRESS AND HARDINESS AMONG NURSES AND POLICE OFFICERS

U ovome radu usporedili smo stres i mentalnu čvrstoću kod policijskih službenika i medicinskog osoblja. Stres na radnome mjestu ili profesionalni stres je specifična vrsta stresa, koja je kod ova dva zanimanja izrazito prisutna, dok mentalna čvrstoća, kao stabilna karakteristika ličnosti, predstavlja određeni zaštitni faktor u odnosu na stres. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrđivanje razlika u doživljenom stresu i u aspektima mentalne čvrstoće kod pozitivno selekcioniranih policijskih službenika i medicinskih sestara/medicinskih tehničara koji studiraju uz rad. Usporedno istraživanje provedeno je na namjernim uzorcima 75 medicinskih sestara u Dubrovniku te 63 kriminalista u Zagrebu. Primijenjeni su upitnici Stress test te Kratka skala čvrstoće. Analiza glavnih komponenti pokazala je postojanje dvije komponente stresa: iscrpljenost/manjak kontrole te teškoće prehrane/sna. Medicinske sestre doživljavaju veći stres u obje komponente, ali imaju i veću mentalnu čvrstoću u aspektu predanosti. Rodne razlike u obje komponente stresa ukazuju na veći stres kod žena koje pokazuju i istaknutiju predanost. Viša razina stresa kod medicinskih sestara i kod žena može se protumačiti prosječno većom stresnošću medicinskih zanimanja i stresnom dvojnom ulogom suvremenih žena, bez obzira na zanimanje.In this paper we have compared the levels of stress vs. mental hardiness among police officers and health workers. Stress in the workplace (occupational stress) is a specific type of stress, which is very common in these two professions, while hardiness, as a stable personality trait, represents a specific protective factor in relation to stress. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in the experience of stress and in the aspects of hardiness among the sample of positively selected police officers and nurses/medical technicians who work and study simultaneously. A comparative study was conducted on intentional samples of 75 nurses in Dubrovnik and on 63 police officers in Zagreb. The questionnaires Stress Test and Short Hardiness Scale were administered to participants. Principal component analysis revealed the presence of two components of stress: fatigue/lack of control and nutrition/sleep difficulties. Nurses experienced more stress in both components, but they also had greater mental strength in the aspect of commitment. Gender differences in both stress components suggested a greater level of stress in women, who also exhibited a more pronounced degree of commitment. Higher level of stress in nurses and women can be attributed to higher average stress in the medical profession and to the dual role of modern women, irrespective of their profession

COMPARISON OF STRESS AND HARDINESS AMONG NURSES AND POLICE OFFICERS

U ovome radu usporedili smo stres i mentalnu čvrstoću kod policijskih službenika i medicinskog osoblja. Stres na radnome mjestu ili profesionalni stres je specifična vrsta stresa, koja je kod ova dva zanimanja izrazito prisutna, dok mentalna čvrstoća, kao stabilna karakteristika ličnosti, predstavlja određeni zaštitni faktor u odnosu na stres. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrđivanje razlika u doživljenom stresu i u aspektima mentalne čvrstoće kod pozitivno selekcioniranih policijskih službenika i medicinskih sestara/medicinskih tehničara koji studiraju uz rad. Usporedno istraživanje provedeno je na namjernim uzorcima 75 medicinskih sestara u Dubrovniku te 63 kriminalista u Zagrebu. Primijenjeni su upitnici Stress test te Kratka skala čvrstoće. Analiza glavnih komponenti pokazala je postojanje dvije komponente stresa: iscrpljenost/manjak kontrole te teškoće prehrane/sna. Medicinske sestre doživljavaju veći stres u obje komponente, ali imaju i veću mentalnu čvrstoću u aspektu predanosti. Rodne razlike u obje komponente stresa ukazuju na veći stres kod žena koje pokazuju i istaknutiju predanost. Viša razina stresa kod medicinskih sestara i kod žena može se protumačiti prosječno većom stresnošću medicinskih zanimanja i stresnom dvojnom ulogom suvremenih žena, bez obzira na zanimanje.In this paper we have compared the levels of stress vs. mental hardiness among police officers and health workers. Stress in the workplace (occupational stress) is a specific type of stress, which is very common in these two professions, while hardiness, as a stable personality trait, represents a specific protective factor in relation to stress. The aim of the study was to determine the differences in the experience of stress and in the aspects of hardiness among the sample of positively selected police officers and nurses/medical technicians who work and study simultaneously. A comparative study was conducted on intentional samples of 75 nurses in Dubrovnik and on 63 police officers in Zagreb. The questionnaires Stress Test and Short Hardiness Scale were administered to participants. Principal component analysis revealed the presence of two components of stress: fatigue/lack of control and nutrition/sleep difficulties. Nurses experienced more stress in both components, but they also had greater mental strength in the aspect of commitment. Gender differences in both stress components suggested a greater level of stress in women, who also exhibited a more pronounced degree of commitment. Higher level of stress in nurses and women can be attributed to higher average stress in the medical profession and to the dual role of modern women, irrespective of their profession

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MATERNAL ANTHROPOMETRY AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN PREGNANCY – RESULTS FROM THE CROATIAN ISLANDS’ BIRTH COHORT STUDY (CRIBS)

Elevated blood pressure (BP) in pregnancy, especially gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, can lead to serious pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. A large body of literature already reported the effect of baseline body mass index (BMI) on changes in blood pressure during pregnancy. The aim of this study was therefore to define trajectory of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in 308 pregnant participants from the CRIBS study (146 from the mainland and 162 from the islands of Brač and Hvar) and to analyze the association of blood pressure with maternal BMI prior to pregnancy and maternal anthropometry during pregnancy. Pregnant women included in the CRIBS study had no history of chronic diseases. The BP of CRIBS participants was measured at least once in each trimester, and maternal pre-pregnancy weight was self-reported. All analyses were performed using SPSS 10.0. Results showed that pre-pregnancy BMI was the strongest predictor of pregnancy blood pressure. This association was evident for pre-pregnancy BMI independently (p<0.001), and it also persisted after adjusting for maternal age, education, income, parity, smoking and physical activity (p<0.05). The association between maternal anthropometry during pregnancy and blood pressure was not as strong and was therefore less informative. The study reinforces the role of BMI on SBP and DBP and highlights its importance during prenatal care monitoring. Significant association also emerged between blood pressure in pregnancy and place of residence (mainland vs. island). Women on Dalmatian islands have lower educational level, higher pre-pregnancy BMI and different levels of blood pressure than women from the mainland (namely, higher SBP and lower DBP). Such comparisons between mainland and island populations are valuable, because they can, in the long term, lead to better maternal health care on the islands

Forensic Efficiency Parameters for the 15 STR Loci in the Population of the Island of Cres (Croatia)

Forensic parameters based on 15 AmpFlSTR Identifiler short tandem repeat (STR) loci (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, VWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA) were evaluated in the sample of 122 unrelated, autochthonous, adult individuals from the Island of Cres (Croatia). PCR amplification was performed with the AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit and the amplified products were separated and detected using the ABI 3130 DNA genetic analyzer. The agreement with Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) was confirmed for all loci (p>0.05). The combined power of discrimination (PD) and the combined power of exclusion (PE) for the 15 tested STR loci were 0.99999999999999997988728679 and 0.999997397, respectively. According to the presented data, D18S51 proved to be the most informative marker followed by markers D2S1338 and D21S11. Interpopulation comparisons in allele frequencies with other East Adriatic Islands revealed significant differences for all analyzed population pairs ranging from 4 loci (Cres vs. Hvar) to 1 locus (Cres vs. Krk). Furthermore, allele frequencies comparisons of Cres and Croatian mainland revealed the lack of statistically significant differences at all studied loci. The results of the current study indicate that the examined fifteen STR loci are useful genetic markers for individual identification and paternity testing in Croatian population from the Island of Cres

MATERNAL GENETIC PROFILE OF SERBIAN AND MONTENEGRIN POPULATIONS FROM SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE

Significant mtDNA variation in Southeastern Europe (SEE) reflects the turbulent and complex demographic history of the region, influenced by gene flow from various parts of Eurasia and a long history of intermixing. In this study we present the maternal genetic profile of the Serbian and Montenegrin populations based on the high resolution analysis of 258 mtDNAs, 119 samples from Serbia and 139 samples from Montenegro. Besides the evidence of minor gene flow from distant central/northeastern Asia, the majority of haplogroups place these populations in the broader genetic landscape of Southeastern Europe, close to their neighbors

Anthropometric measurements of Hvar islanders and changes in secular trend of height – evidence from the village of Gdinj

The aim of this study was to compare the data on height of Hvar islanders collected from two transversal studies (1978/1979 and during the 1994). The first field research covered a total of 935 inhabitants of the island (484 males and 451 females) aged between 20 and 72 years, from five villages of the western part (Dol, Vrbanj, Svirče, Vrisnik, Pitve) and four villages of the eastern part of the island of Hvar (Poljica, Zastražišće, Gdinj, Bogomolje). The second field research was carried out in 1994 that enrolled total of 189 participants (82 males and 107 females) from the villages Dol, Vrbanj, Svirče, Zastražišće, Gdinj and Bogomolje. Comparison of data on Hvar adults since these two periods demonstrated a secular increase in average height for females and males in all investigated villages except in the village of Gdinj. Negative secular trend in village of Gdinj was observed for both female and male inhabitants. Possible explanation for this trend could be the specific migratory patterns and traditional practice of endogamy

Anthropometric measurements of Hvar islanders and changes in secular trend of height – evidence from the village of Gdinj

The aim of this study was to compare the data on height of Hvar islanders collected from two transversal studies (1978/1979 and during the 1994). The first field research covered a total of 935 inhabitants of the island (484 males and 451 females) aged between 20 and 72 years, from five villages of the western part (Dol, Vrbanj, Svirče, Vrisnik, Pitve) and four villages of the eastern part of the island of Hvar (Poljica, Zastražišće, Gdinj, Bogomolje). The second field research was carried out in 1994 that enrolled total of 189 participants (82 males and 107 females) from the villages Dol, Vrbanj, Svirče, Zastražišće, Gdinj and Bogomolje. Comparison of data on Hvar adults since these two periods demonstrated a secular increase in average height for females and males in all investigated villages except in the village of Gdinj. Negative secular trend in village of Gdinj was observed for both female and male inhabitants. Possible explanation for this trend could be the specific migratory patterns and traditional practice of endogamy

Fish and Shellfish Intake and Diabetes in a Costal Population of the Adriatic

Objective: To examine the association between fish and shellfish intake and diabetes in an island population. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Two independent population-based field surveys conducted in Hvar Island of the eastern Adriatic coast of Croatia in May 2007 and May 2008. Subjects: A total of 1,379 adults participated. Results: In multivariable logistic regression models, total fish intake was positively associated with diabetes prevalence in the total population (OR Q4 vs Q1 = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.01-2.66; p-trend = 0.09). Oily fish intake also exhibited a positive association with diabetes prevalence in the total population (OR Q4 vs Q1 = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.35-3.64; p-trend = 0.01) and in analyses stratified by body mass index, males and those with a high waist circumference. Conclusions: The study suggests an association between oily fish intake and diabetes in the population of the Hvar Island in Croatia. Longitudinal studies incorporating measures of persistent organic pollutants and local cooking practices are warranted to identify factors in fatty fish that may influence the development or persistence of diabetes

The Genetic Landscape of Serbian Populations through Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing and Non-Recombining Region of the Y Chromosome Microsatellites

The Balkan Peninsula is known to represent a complex cultural mosaic and it is a strategic area because it represents a gateway into Europe from the Near East. This research seeks to evaluate the variability of both uniparental markers (mtDNA and non-recombining region of the Y chromosome) to dissect the genetic makeup of Serbians. The whole sample pertains to 257 Serbians (87 from the central region and 170 from the southern area) who have been analyzed for both uniparental genetic markers. The results showed that the extant inhabitants of the Balkan Peninsula have a homogeneous genetic background, despite their linguistic and cultural differences. The obtained data were compared with those of neighboring populations to detect possible relationships among groups. On the whole, the genetic variability of the Balkan populations seems to be due to an admixture process of European and Asian lineages in different proportions whose contributions constitute the current maternal and paternal genetic landscape