Tangencijalna migracija stanica telencefalona čovjeka i majmuna u ranom fetalnom razdoblju [Tangential migration of cells in human and monkey telencephalon during early fetal period]

In this study postmortem human and monkey fetal brain tissue processed by classical neurohistological and immunohistochemical methods was analyzed. Comparing changes in molecular characteristics and distribution of tangentially migrating cells in the human and monkey telencephalon during the first half of gestation, places of their origin and tangential migration pathways were proposed. Data confirmed that the ganglionic eminence is the most important source of GABAergic neurons that migrate tangentially to the pallium, and that significant production of GABA-ergic neurons occurs in the dorsal proliferative zones during the middle fetal period. These cells predominantly express GAD65, but there is also a migratory population that predominantly expresses GAD67 and enters the pallium through the basal telencephalon. During the early fetal period, these cells originate from preoptic area and hypothalamic proliferative zones, and from so far undescribed proliferative zones of rostro-dorsal and ventro-caudal part of the medial telencephalic wall. During the middle fetal period, the proliferative zone around the temporal horn of lateral ventricle enlarges, and gives GABAergic neurons for limbic structures and GABA-ergic neurons that migrate through the marginal zone. Data also suggested that during early fetal period, two major subpopulations of cortical GABA-ergic neurons have different place of origin and different migratory routes. GAD67 positive cells migrate through the marginal zone and the layer under the cortical plate and express somatostatin, while GAD65 positive cells migrate inside lateral migratory stream through the subventricular zone and express calretinin.This suggests that in primate significant production of calretinin neurons occurs earlier than in rodents. Populations of non-GABA-ergic cells also migrate tangentially. Calretinin positive cells from anterior part of diencephalon and ventro-medial part of ganglionic eminence migrate tangentially to the pallium and form primordial cortical plate at the end of embryonic and beginning of early fetal period. During early fetal period, calbindin positive Cajal-Retzius like cells originate from the choroid plexus and coupling proliferative zone and migrate tangentially through marginal zone, especially intensive in the fornix and retrosplenium during the middle fetal period. In addition, calbindin expressing pyramidal cells that form the precursor of hippocampal plate also migrate tangentially

Functional neuroanatomy of nociception and pain

Pain is a complex sensory state based on the integration of a variety of nociceptive inputs processed centrally through many parallel and overlapping neural systems. The traditional anatomical concept implies that nociceptive information is dominantly used to generate and regulate perception of pain through one major sensory pathway. It becomes recognized that experiencing the affective component of the pain is at least as important as perception. Also, nociceptive information is strongly influencing brain centers for regulating homeostasis. So, understanding neuroanatomical organization of central processing of nociceptive information is of great clinical importance. There is an attempt to simplify this complex set of interacting networks to a core set of brain regions or a generalizable pain signature. Herewith we wish to give a short overview of recent advances by presenting principles about neuroanatomical organization for processing various aspects of nociceptive inputs

PRESCRIBING PATTERNS IN ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE: AN IMPORTANT ROLE OF ANTIPSYCHOTICS

Background: Many adolescents affected by psychiatric disorders require pharmacological treatment. Knowing which medication is being used is of utmost importance. Our main objective was to gain insight into prescribing patterns at the Department of child and adolescent psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka. In addition, we looked for potential differences between adolescents regarding their pharmacotherapy status. Subjects and methods: The data from medical charts of 227 adolescents (55% females), age 12-18 years (16.4±1.18) were analysed. All of them were treated as outpatients during one year period (2014/15). Medical charts were obtained from the computerized archive system of Clinical Hospital Centre. Prescribed drug patterns were taken into account if patients have been taking medication for at least one month. Results: Most of the patients, 162 (71.4%), were treated with psychiatric medication. In the pharmacologically treated group, adolescents were older (t=-4.678; p<0.001), predominately male (χ2=5.175, p=0.023) and hospitalized (χ2=20.612, p<0.0001). Accordingly, male (OR=2.09, P<0.05) and hospitalized (OR=15.32, P<0.001) adolescents were more disposed to be medicated. Psychotic disorder was the most commonly diagnosed disorder (51 patients). There were 454 different prescribing patterns, mostly prescribed antipsychotics, 36.6% of all prescriptions; followed by 31.5% anxiolytics’ and 23.7% antidepressants’ prescriptions. However, number of patients receiving antipsychotics, anxiolytics and antidepressants was quite similar (103: 110: 99). The highest number of patients was treated with sertraline (58), followed by those treated with risperidone (48). Majority of the patients (104/227) were treated with polytherapy. Conclusion: Prescribing psychiatric pharmacotherapy for adolescents is a common clinical practice. Adolescents that were prescribed pharmacotherapy were significantly older; hospitalized and male adolescents were more prone to be medicated. Antipsychotics were most frequently prescribed drugs. The prescribing patterns are generally consistent with international trends and guidelines; however caution regarding high proportion of polytherapy is necessary

Axon morphology of rapid Golgistained pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia

Aim To analyze axon morphology on rapid Golgi impregnated pyramidal neurons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia. Methods Postmortem brain tissue from five subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia and five control subjects without neuropathological findings was processed with the rapid Golgi method. Layer III and layer V pyramidal neurons from Brodmann area 9 were chosen in each brain for reconstruction with Neurolucida software. The axons and cell bodies of 136 neurons from subjects with schizophrenia and of 165 neurons from control subjects were traced. The data obtained by quantitative analysis were compared between the schizophrenia and control group with the t test. Results Axon impregnation length was consistently greater in the schizophrenia group. The axon main trunk length was significantly greater in the schizophrenia than in the control group (93.7±36.6 μm vs 49.8±9.9 μm, P=0.032). Furthermore, in the schizophrenia group more axons had visibly stained collaterals (14.7% vs 5.5%). Conclusion Axon rapid Golgi impregnation stops at the beginning of the myelin sheath. The increased axonal staining in the schizophrenia group could, therefore, be explained by reduced axon myelination. Such a decrease in axon myelination is in line with both the disconnection hypothesis and the two-hit model of schizophrenia as a neurodevelopmental disease. Our results support that the cortical circuitry disorganization in schizophrenia might be caused by functional alterations of two major classes of principal neurons due to altered oligodendrocyte development

Axon morphology of rapid Golgistained pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia

Aim To analyze axon morphology on rapid Golgi impregnated pyramidal neurons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia. Methods Postmortem brain tissue from five subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia and five control subjects without neuropathological findings was processed with the rapid Golgi method. Layer III and layer V pyramidal neurons from Brodmann area 9 were chosen in each brain for reconstruction with Neurolucida software. The axons and cell bodies of 136 neurons from subjects with schizophrenia and of 165 neurons from control subjects were traced. The data obtained by quantitative analysis were compared between the schizophrenia and control group with the t test. Results Axon impregnation length was consistently greater in the schizophrenia group. The axon main trunk length was significantly greater in the schizophrenia than in the control group (93.7±36.6 μm vs 49.8±9.9 μm, P=0.032). Furthermore, in the schizophrenia group more axons had visibly stained collaterals (14.7% vs 5.5%). Conclusion Axon rapid Golgi impregnation stops at the beginning of the myelin sheath. The increased axonal staining in the schizophrenia group could, therefore, be explained by reduced axon myelination. Such a decrease in axon myelination is in line with both the disconnection hypothesis and the two-hit model of schizophrenia as a neurodevelopmental disease. Our results support that the cortical circuitry disorganization in schizophrenia might be caused by functional alterations of two major classes of principal neurons due to altered oligodendrocyte development

Anatomija orofacijalne inervacije

The whole human body receives rich sensory innervation with only one exception and that is the brain tissue. The orofacial region is hence no exception. The head region consequently receives a rich network of sensory nerves making it special because the two types of sensory fibres, visceral and somatic overlap, especially in the pharynx. Also, different pain syndromes that affect this region are rather specific in comparison to their presentation in other body regions. With this review article we wanted to show the detailed anatomy of the peripheral sensory pathways, because of its importance in everyday body functions (eating, drinking, speech) as well as the importance it has in pathological conditions (pain syndromes), in diagnostics and regional analgesia and anaesthesia.Osjetna živčana vlakna prožimaju gotovo sva tkiva osim mozga ne izuzimajući tako ni orofacijalnu regiju. Područje glave je izrazito dobro osjetno inervirano, no ova je regija također posebna jer kao posljedica razvojnih događaja dolazi do preklapanja visceralne i somatske inervacije osobito u području ždrijela. Također, bolni sindromi koji zahvaćaju orofacijalnu regiju pokazuju neke specifičnosti koje ne nalazimo u drugim dijelovima tijela. Ovim preglednim člankom htjeli smo prikazati detaljnu anatomiju perifernih osjetnih putova zbog njihove važnost u svakodnevnim funkcijama za koje je odgovorno ovo područje (jedenje, pijenje, govorenje), ali isto tako i važnosti koju ima u patološkim slučajevima (bolni sindromi) te u dijagnostici i regionalnoj analgeziji i anesteziji

Morphological characterization of the posterior ethmoidal and additional ethmoidal canal in adult Croatian population

The anterior and posterior ethmoidal foramina that open into canals entering the cranial cavity are situated on the medial orbital wall. Since there may be a variable number of accessory ethmoidal foramina and their anatomy appears to be dependent on studied population, we are presenting a study of frequency and morphological characteristics of posterior and additional ethmoidal canals in adult Croatian population. In this study 439 skulls from the Zagreb skull collection were examined in order to confirm the existence of the posterior ethmoidal canal that opens in the anterior cranial fossa and the additional ethmoidal canal that opens in ethmoidal cells. Length and width of both canals were analyzed on computerized tomography scans using Analyze 8.1. software. The posterior ethmoidal canal was found in 86% of skulls. In 10% of skulls the posterior and the additional ethmoidal canals were found.  In 4% of skulls we found only the additional ethmoidal canal. On skulls that had the additional ethmoidal canal the posterior ethmoidal canal was shorter and narrower. Variations in communications between orbital cavity and anterior cranial fossa, as well as ethmoidal and sphenoid sinuses could be related to increased need for vascular and nerve supply. Moreover, knowing anatomical variations of the posterior ethmoidal canal is crucial for development of safe surgical and therapeutic guidelines both in orbital and cranial regions. Based on observed communications, we suggest the revision of commonly used nomenclature for the anterior and posterior, as well as additional ethmoidal canals.

Women Pluractive out of the Farm

Autori pokazuju da je feminizacija poljoprivrede rezultat potražnje za muškom radnom snagom u vrijeme intenzivnog industrijskog razvoja socijalističke Jugoslavije. Tako, na 1373 seljačka gospodarstva istražena u SR Sloveniji bilo je 63,7% zaposlenih poljoprivrednika i 27,8% zaposlenih poljoprivrednika. Među motivima za zapošljavanjem izvan gospodarstva pretežu oni koji se odnose na socijalnu sigurnost među kojima su dostatan i redoviti dohodak najčešće bili spomenuti. Rjeđe je kao razlog spominjana mala šansa za veći dohodak od bavljenja poljoprivredom u budućnosti, dok se motivi objektivne prirode kao što su mali posjed i nepovoljni prirodni uvjeti za privređivanje na gospodarstvu pojavljuju kao manje važni. I kao najmanje važan motiv za zapošljavanje izvan gospodarstva su vrijednosti vezane uz rad na gospodarstvu, odosno izvan njega među kojima su spomenuti radno vrijeme i fizički naporan rad. Pokazalo se da nema značajnih razlika između žena i muškaraca u individualnim motivima za zapošljavanje izvan gospodarstva kad bi bili povoljniji uvjeti za rad i dohodak u poljoprivredi, tako da vjerojatno broj zaposlenih žena izvan gospodarstva neće porasti u budućnosti. S druge strane, za očekivati je da će zaposlene žene u Sloveniji i nadalje ostajati na gospodarstvu i da će u slučaju ekonomske nužde i/ilii nekih drugih osobnih potreba pokušati naći rješenja unutar vlastitog gospodarstva.The authors argue that the feminization of agriculture is mostly due to the demand of male labour in the course of intensive industrial development of socialist Yugoslavia. Thus, on the 1373 farm households examined in Socialist Republic of Slovenia, there have been employed 63.7 per cent of farmers and only 27.8 per cent of farm women. Among the motives for the employment off the farm prevail those of social security, among which reliable and regular income was the most frequently mentioned. The lack of good chances in the future for a better income from agriculture were mentioned the least frequently, while motives of objective nature, such as small holding and unfavorable natural condition for farming, appear to be less important. The least important motives for holding a job are values related to the farm and non-farm work, among which defined working hours and physically harder work on farms were mentioned. There have been found no essential differences among men and women related to the importance of individual motives for the imployment off of the farm. However, there is almost always the higher number of farmers than farm women who named explicitly economic motives. As almost three quarters of farmers and farm women employed are ready to give up their job for the sake of farming under more favourable conditions, it is likely that in the future the number of farm women employed off the farm will not encrease. On the contrary, it is to be expenced that Slovenian farm women will remain on the farm, and in the case of economic necessity or some personal motives will search for solutions within the frame of their farm households

The protracted maturation of associative layer IIIC pyramidal neurons in the human prefrontal cortex during childhood: a major role in cognitive development and selective alteration in autism

The human specific cognitive shift starts around the age of 2 years with the onset of self-awareness, and continues with extraordinary increase in cognitive capacities during early childhood. Diffuse changes in functional connectivity in children aged 2-6 years indicate an increase in the capacity of cortical network. Interestingly, structural network complexity does not increase during this time and, thus, it is likely to be induced by selective maturation of a specific neuronal subclass. Here, we provide an overview of a subclass of cortico-cortical neurons, the associative layer IIIC pyramids of the human prefrontal cortex. Their local axonal collaterals are in control of the prefrontal cortico-cortical output, while their long projections modulate inter-areal processing. In this way, layer IIIC pyramids are the major integrative element of cortical processing, and changes in their connectivity patterns will affect global cortical functioning. Layer IIIC neurons have a unique pattern of dendritic maturation. In contrast to other classes of principal neurons, they undergo an additional phase of extensive dendritic growth during early childhood, and show characteristic molecular changes. Taken together, circuits associated with layer IIIC neurons have the most protracted period of developmental plasticity. This unique feature is advanced but also provides a window of opportunity for pathological events to disrupt normal formation of cognitive circuits involving layer IIIC neurons. In this manuscript, we discuss how disrupted dendritic and axonal maturation of layer IIIC neurons may lead into global cortical disconnectivity, affecting development of complex communication and social abilities. We also propose a model that developmentally dictated incorporation of layer IIIC neurons into maturing cortico-cortical circuits between 2 to 6 years will reveal a previous (perinatal) lesion affecting other classes of principal neurons. This "disclosure" of pre-existing functionally silent lesions of other neuronal classes induced by development of layer IIIC associative neurons, or their direct alteration, could be found in different forms of autism spectrum disorders. Understanding the gene-environment interaction in shaping cognitive microcircuitries may be fundamental for developing rehabilitation and prevention strategies in autism spectrum and other cognitive disorders

Genetička, biokemijska, hranjiva i antimikrobna svojstva šipka (Punica granatum L.) uzgojenog u Istri

This study characterises the genetic variability of local pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) germplasm from the Slovenian and Croatian areas of Istria. The bioactive components and antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of ethanol and water extracts of different parts of pomegranate fruit were also determined, along with their preliminary nutritional characterisation. Twenty-six different genotypes identified with microsatellite analysis indicate the great diversity of pomegranate in Istria. The pomegranate fruit ethanol extracts represent rich sources of phenolic compounds (mean value of the mass fraction in exocarp and mesocarp expressed as gallic acid is 23 and 16 mg/g, respectively). The ethanol extracts of pomegranate exocarp and mesocarp showed the greatest antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Exophiala dermatitidis and Staphylococcus aureus, and the same water extracts against S. aureus and Escherichia coli. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first report of the characterisation of pomegranate genetic resources from Istria at different levels, including the molecular, chemical, antimicrobial and nutritional properties.U ovom je radu opisana genetička raznolikost germplazme šipka (Punica granatum L.) s područja slovenskog i hrvatskog dijela Istre. U etanolnim i vodenim ekstraktima različitih dijelova ploda šipka pronađeni su bioaktivni spojevi, te su ispitana njihova antioksidacijska i antimikrobna svojstva i preliminarno određena hranjiva svojstva ekstrakata. Dvadeset i šest različitih genotipova utvrđenih analizom mikrosatelita upućuju na veliku raznolikost šipka u Istri. Etanolni ekstrakti ploda šipka predstavljaju bogat izvor fenolnih spojeva (srednja vrijednost masenog udjela, izraženog kao galna kiselina, bila je 23 mg/g u egzokarpu i 16 mg/L u mezokarpu). Etanolni ekstrakti egzokarpa i mezokarpa šipka imali su snažan antimikrobni učinak na sljedeće vrste: Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Exophiala dermatitidis i Staphylococcus aureus, dok su vodeni ekstrakti egzokarpa i mezokarpa uspješno suzbijali rast bakterija S. aureus i Escherichia coli. Prema našim spoznajama, ovo je prva karakterizacija genetičkih izvora šipka iz Istre, koja obuhvaća molekularna, kemijska, antimikrobna i hranjiva svojstva plodova