Photoelectron Spectra and Conformational Behaviour of 3-Isopropenylcyclopropene Derivatives

The electronic and molecular structure of a series of 1,2-dialkyl (1-3) and 1,2-diphenyl-3-isopropenylcyclopropene (4) have been investigated by means of He(I) photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio MO calculations. The changes in the lowest energy ionization along the series are interpreted in terms of conformotionally dependent conjugative interaction between the isopropenyl group and cyclopropenyl ring

CROATIAN GUIDELINES FOR IN VITRO DIAGNOSIS OF IGE MEDIATED HYPERSENSITIVITY

In vitro dijagnostika alergijskih bolesti temelji se na određivanju koncentracije ukupnih i speciičnih IgE antitijela u serumu, koncentraciji IgG antitijela, plazmatske triptaze, eozinoilnog kationskog proteina te testu aktivacije bazoilnih leukocita. Upotreba in vitro dijagnostičkih testova mora biti temeljena na korelaciji anamneze, kliničke slike te in vivo provokativnih testova. Kliničko značenje povišene serumske koncentracije ukupnih IgE antitijela u dijagnostici alergijskih bolesti jest ograničena, budući da se ona susreće i u drugim nealergijskim bolestima. Povišene koncentracije speciičnih IgE protutijela, zajedno s pozitivnom anamnezom, indikativne su za klinički značajnu alergijsku bolest. Preporučena laboratorijska metoda za određivanje koncentracije IgE protutijela u serumu jest luoroenzimimunokemijska metoda. Povišene serumske koncentracije IgG protutijela nemaju dokazanu ulogu u dijagnostici alergije na hranu, a mogu poslužiti u procjeni uspješnosti speciične imunoterapije na alergene kukaca te procjeni rizika razvoja anailaksije uzrokovane ovom skupinom alergena. Povišena koncentracija serumske triptaze (podtip ), indikator je degranulacije mastocita uzrokovane speciičnim alergenom. Porast koncentracije eozinoilnog kationskog proteina (EKP) nastupa tijekom kasne faze alergijske reakcije te se može koristiti u praćenju alergijskih i drugih upalnih stanja u kojima eozinoili imaju glavnu ulogu. Test aktivacije bazoilnih (BAT) leukocita temelji se na određivanju staničnih razlikovnih obilježja, CD 63 i CD203c metodom protočne citometrije. BAT je koristan u dijagnostici alergija na alergene kukaca, nutritivnih te medikamentnih alergija. Alergološka dijagnostika temeljena na ekstraktima alergena može se koristiti u monosenzibiliziranih bolesnika s jasnom kliničkom slikom te u bolesnika kojima se planira prepisati samo simptomatska terapija. U suvremenoj su kliničkoj praksi razvijenih zemalja mnogo češći polisenzibilizirani bolesnici s kompleksnom simptomatologijom te sumnjom na križnu reaktivnost. Kod ovih se bolesnika preporuča koristiti molekularnu alergološku dijagnostiku.In vitro diagnostic procedure in allergology includes determination of serum levels of total and allergen speciic IgE antibodies, allergen speciic IgG antibodies, plasma tryptase, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and basophil activation test (BAT). In vitro tests should be used according to clinical history, physical examination, and in vivo methods for allergy testing. Clinical relevance of elevated total IgE in allergy diagnosis is modest, since it can be caused by other conditions. Elevated serum levels of allergen speciic IgE antibodies, together with positive medical history, are indicative of clinically relevant allergy. A recommendedlaboratory method for total and speciic IgE concentration measurement is the sandwich-type luoroimmunoassay ImmunoCAP, considered as an ideal immunoassay. Serum levels of allergen speciic IgG antibodies have no proved clinical relevance in food allergy diagnosis. They can be useful to monitor venom immunotherapy success, as well as to estimate the risk of venom induced anaphylaxis. Elevated plasma tryptase (subtype ) level is an indication of mast cell activation caused by speciic allergen. It should be obtained within 4 hours after an anaphylactic episode. Elevated level of ECP can be detected in patient blood during late phase of allergic reaction. It can be used to monitor patients with chronic allergenic and inlammatory conditions in which eosinophils play a central role. BAT includes measurement of CD 63 (cluster of differentiation) and CD 203 antigens of the molecular surface by low cytometry. It is useful in the diagnosis of venom, food and drug allergy, estimation of severity of allergic disease and natural tolerance to allergens. In vitro tests based on allergen extracts can be used for in vitro diagnosis in monosensitized patients with clear medical history and symptomatic treatment. Molecular allergy diagnosis should be performed in special clinical indications such as diagnosis of cross reactivity, prescription of speciic immunotherapy (especially in polysensitized patients with complex symptoms), diagnosis of idiopathic or cofactor induced anaphylaxis, latex allergy, and assessment of the risk of allergic reaction to speciic allergen

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

Proizvodnja i percepcija govora

Zbornik radova okupio je 57 domaćih i inozemnih autora/ica, koji/e kroz 33 rada, iz različitih istraživačkih kutova, obrađuju recentne teme o proizvodnji i percepciji govora, te o njihovoj međuovisnosti u govornom procesu. Knjiga je posvećena profesoru Damiru Horgi povodom njegova sedamdesetog rođendana. Uz svaki rad naveden je sažetak na hrvatskom i engleskom jeziku. Zbornik je objavljen u suizdavaštvu Odsjeka za fonetiku Filozofskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Odjela za fonetiku Hrvatskoga filološkog društva i FF-pressa.Zbornik radova okupio je 57 domaćih i inozemnih autora/ica, koji/e kroz 33 rada, iz različitih istraživačkih kutova, obrađuju recentne teme o proizvodnji i percepciji govora, te o njihovoj međuovisnosti u govornom procesu. Knjiga je posvećena profesoru Damiru Horgi povodom njegova sedamdesetog rođendana. Uz svaki rad naveden je sažetak na hrvatskom i engleskom jeziku. Zbornik je objavljen u suizdavaštvu Odsjeka za fonetiku Filozofskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Odjela za fonetiku Hrvatskoga filološkog društva i FF-pressa

Proizvodnja i percepcija govora

Zbornik radova okupio je 57 domaćih i inozemnih autora/ica, koji/e kroz 33 rada, iz različitih istraživačkih kutova, obrađuju recentne teme o proizvodnji i percepciji govora, te o njihovoj međuovisnosti u govornom procesu. Knjiga je posvećena profesoru Damiru Horgi povodom njegova sedamdesetog rođendana. Uz svaki rad naveden je sažetak na hrvatskom i engleskom jeziku. Zbornik je objavljen u suizdavaštvu Odsjeka za fonetiku Filozofskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Odjela za fonetiku Hrvatskoga filološkog društva i FF-pressa.Zbornik radova okupio je 57 domaćih i inozemnih autora/ica, koji/e kroz 33 rada, iz različitih istraživačkih kutova, obrađuju recentne teme o proizvodnji i percepciji govora, te o njihovoj međuovisnosti u govornom procesu. Knjiga je posvećena profesoru Damiru Horgi povodom njegova sedamdesetog rođendana. Uz svaki rad naveden je sažetak na hrvatskom i engleskom jeziku. Zbornik je objavljen u suizdavaštvu Odsjeka za fonetiku Filozofskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Odjela za fonetiku Hrvatskoga filološkog društva i FF-pressa

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Neutralizing Antibody Response after the First and Second COVID-19 Pandemic Wave in Croatia

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus with a pandemic spread. So far, a total of 349,910 SARS-CoV-2 cases and 7687 deaths were reported in Croatia. We analyzed the seroprevalence and neutralizing (NT) antibody response in the Croatian general population after the first (May–July 2020) and second (December 2020–February 2021) pandemic wave. Initial serological testing was performed using a commercial ELISA, with confirmation of reactive samples by a virus neutralization test (VNT). A significant difference in the overall seroprevalence rate was found after the first (ELISA 2.2%, VNT 0.2%) and second waves (ELISA 25.1%, VNT 18.7%). Seropositive individuals were detected in all age groups, with significant differences according to age. The lowest prevalence of NT antibodies was documented in the youngest (<10 years; 16.1%) and the oldest (60–69/70+ years; 16.0% and 12.8%, respectively) age groups. However, these age groups showed the highest median NT titers (32–64). In other groups, seropositivity varied from 19.3% to 21.5%. A significant weak positive correlation between binding antibody level as detected by ELISA and VNT titer (rho = 0.439, p < 0.001) was observed. SARS-CoV-2 NT antibody titers seem to be age-related, with the highest NT activity in children under 10 years and individuals above 50 years