The influence of digitisation and timing errors on the estimation of tidal components at Split (Adriatic Sea)

International audienceThe paper comprises the calculations of amplitudes and phases of tidal harmonic constituents, performed on hourly sea level data recorded at the Split tide gauge in the period 1957-2001. Interannual changes in all constituents have been detected, stronger in phases than in amplitudes. For example, the estimated change in M2 amplitude and phase is 22% (1.31 cm) and 24.9° between the 1962?1978 and 1957?1961 periods, respectively. Some of the differences are generated artificially throughout the measurements (clock errors, positioning and stretching of a chart) and within the digitising procedure, rather than by natural processes and changes (e.g. changes in mean sea level). This is the reason why the M2 and K1 amplitudes were recomputed with 3?4 mm larger values using newer software, thereby decreasing their standard deviation by 60?70% in the 1986?1995 period. Artificial errors may be reduced by the upgrading of digitising software; however, most of the errors still remain in the series. These errors may have repercussions when trying to explain some unusual findings: the energy of de-tided sea level series at the M2 tidal period (12.4 h) has been assumed previously to be a result of nonlinear coupling, but it may be caused, at least partly, by timing errors in the time series

Forced and free response of the Adriatic Sea level

The aim of this paper is to improve the knowledge of the variations of the sea level in the Adriatic Sea in the domains of forced and free oscillations. For this purpose, one-year long-time series of data collected at nine tide gauge stations placed on the eastern shoreline have been collected and processed by spectral analysis. The harmonic constituents have been calculated too. Semidiurnal and diurnal tides have got larger variations of amplitude on the islands than on the coast. The response of the sea level in the domain of synoptic and planetary formations is quite synchronous in the whole Adriatic for periods longer than 3.5 days, with a gap around 9.5 days. These formations excite the sea level first in the North Adriatic, and then, secondly in the Middle and South Adriatic. The seiches occurred at already known periods of 22-23, 10.8 and 7.5-8 hours, and at a new one of about 4 hours. 4 hour seiche occurs in the region inside the Middle Adriatic islands, and it is predominantly influenced by the Sirocco wind forcing

Cobalamin Deficiency Manifested with Seizures, Mood Oscillations, Psychotic Features and Reversible Dementia in the Absence of Typical Neurologic and Hematologic Signs and Symptoms: A Case Report

Cobalamin deficiency is associated with a wide spectrum of hematologic, neurologic, gastroenterologic and psychiatric disorders or symptoms. We report a case of a 50-year-old man with complex partial seizures with secondary generalization, mood oscillations and psychotic symptoms alternating with confusion and reversible dementia secondary to cobalamin deficiency in the absence of typical neurologic and/or hematologic symptoms and signs. Exclusion of epilepsy, acute, atrophic or expansive lesion of central nervous system and usual etiology associated with reversible dementia (infectious diseases, an endocrine etiology and deficiency of vitamins other than cobalamin); finding of cobalamin deficiency only and complete neuropsychiatric recovery after substitution, confirmed etiology. Typical and atypical psychiatric manifestations due to cobalamin deficiency that precede neurologic and/or hematologic signs and symptoms can recover completely after adequate replacement therapy

The biennial cycle of respiratory syncytial virus outbreaks in Croatia

The paper analyses the epidemic pattern of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreaks in children in Croatia. Over a period of 11 consecutive winter seasons (1994–2005) 3,435 inpatients from Zagreb County aged from infancy to 10 years who were hospitalised with acute respiratory tract infections were tested for RSV-infection. RSV was identified in nasopharyngeal secretions of patients by virus isolation in cell culture and by detection of viral antigen with monoclonal antibodies

ETHICAL APPROACH TO PREVENTION OF SCHIZOPHRENIA - CONCEPTS AND CHALLENGES

Patients with schizophrenia, nowadays chronic, frequently disabling mental disorder, get initial treatment after detection of a psychotic episode, seemingly late, potentially preventable stage of illness. As our knowledge about the nature of schizophrenia and other diseases of the spectrum is growing, so are the early interventions becoming more possible, and it is important to conceptualize the clinical, legal and moral issues emerging with new preventive treatments. Every intervention, especially in pre-clinical population, demands a careful risk-benefit assessment and having basic bioethical principles - primacy of patient\u27s welfare, beneficience/non-maleficience, autonomy and justice - in mind. We believe that pharmacological treatments, considering today\u27s drugs safety and effectiveness profiles, should stay reserved for cases with higly probable negative outcomes to patient\u27s wellbeing, and that all other low-risk interventions, like psychosocial treatments, should be considered for reducing the conversion to disorder, if possible, or relieving the distress in vulnerable persons, when such vulnerability gets detected. How to recognize persons at risk before the start of the disorder, without missing the majority of cases or burdening healthy persons with stigma, is another challenge and not only mental health professionals should be included in finding the solutions. The broadest public, and especially the experts that will build the safety-net for the at-risk individuals, should get best possible appropriate education about the schizophrenia in order to stigmatize less and help more

IgG Avidity: an Important Serologic Marker for the Diagnosis of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infection

A total of 52 serum samples from patients with symptoms suggestive of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection and positive IgM and/or IgG antibodies were tested for IgG avidity. Acute/recent TBEV infection was confirmed by low/borderline avidity index (AI) in 94.8% IgM positive/IgG positive samples, while in 5.2% high AI was found indicating persisting IgM antibodies. Majority of IgM negative/IgG positive samples (78.6%) showed high AI consistent with past TBEV infection. However, in 21.3% patients without measurable IgM antibodies current/recent infection was confirmed by AI. IgG avidity represents an additional serologic marker that improves diagnosis of TBEV, especially in cases of atypical antibody response

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

Early diagnosis of leptospirosis

A 25-years old man from Zagreb, Croatia, was admitted to the University Hospital for Infectious Diseases four days after the onset of symptoms such as fever, intense pain in the calves and anuria. The patient owned a rabbit and, before the onset of the disease, repaired some rubber pipes damaged by rodents. At admission, he had a severe clinical picture with fever, hypotension, jaundice, immobility, and pain in leg muscles. Treatment with ceftriaxone was initiated in combination with volume restitution. Renal failure soon ensued. Consequently continuous venovenous hemodiaphiltration therapy was performed. Due to acute respiratory distress syndrome, the patient was mechanically ventilated. The patient’s condition gradually improved and he recovered fully from multi-organ failure. Diagnosis was confirmed by a microscopic agglutination test (MAT) covering 15 leptospira serovars and real-time polymerase-chain reaction (PCR). The first serum sample taken on day 6 tested negative for leptospira, while PCR showed positive results for leptospiral DNA. The second serum sample taken on day 13 tested positive for serovar Canicola serogroup Canicola, serovar Patoc, serovar Grippotyphosa serogroup Grippotyphosa and serovar Tarassovi serogroup Tarassovi (titre 4000, 4000, 1000 and 2000, respectively), while PCR was negative. This report highlights the benefits of combining MAT and PCR methods in early diagnosis of leptospirosis

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children in Children’s Hospital Zagreb during the initial and second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia

The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and titres of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children treated at the Children’s Hospital Zagreb in the first and the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistical significance of difference at two time points was done to determine how restrictive epidemiological measures and exposure of children to COVID-19 infection affect this prevalence in different age groups. At the first time point (13th to 29th May 2020), 240 samples and in second time point (24th October to 23rd November 2020), 308 serum samples were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). Confirmation of results and titre determination was done using virus micro-neutralization test. Subjects were divided according to gender, age and epidemiological history. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies differs significantly in two time points (P = 0.010). In first time point 2.9% of seropositive children were determined and in second time point 8.4%. Statistically significant difference (P = 0.007) of seroprevalence between two time points was found only in a group of children aged 11-19 years. At the first time point, all seropositive children were asymptomatic with titre < 8. At the second time point, 69.2% seropositive children were asymptomatic with titre ≥ 8. The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was significantly lower at the first time point than at the second time point. Values of virus micro-neutralization test showed that low titre in asymptomatic children was not protective at the first time point but in second time point all seropositive children had protective titre of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies