Endogenous Testosterone Modulates Prefrontal–Amygdala Connectivity during Social Emotional Behavior

It is clear that the steroid hormone testosterone plays an important role in the regulation of social emotional behavior, but it remains unknown which neural circuits mediate these hormonal influences in humans. We investigated the modulatory effects of endogenous testosterone on the control of social emotional behavior by applying functional magnetic resonance imaging while healthy male participants performed a social approach–avoidance task. This task operationalized social emotional behavior by having participants approach and avoid emotional faces by pulling and pushing a joystick, respectively. Affect-congruent trials mapped the automatic tendency to approach happy faces and avoid angry faces. Affect-incongruent trials required participants to override those automatic action tendencies and select the opposite response (approach-angry, avoid-happy). The social emotional control required by affect-incongruent responses resulted in longer reaction times (RTs) and increased activity at the border of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and frontal pole (VLPFC/FP). We show that endogenous testosterone modulates these cerebral congruency effects through 2 mechanisms. First, participants with lower testosterone levels generate larger VLPFC/FP responses during affect-incongruent trials. Second, during the same trials, endogenous testosterone modulates the effective connectivity between the VLPFC/FP and the amygdala. These results indicate that endogenous testosterone influences local prefrontal activity and interregional connectivity supporting the control of social emotional behavior

Brain Abscess in a Child. Case Report

Brain abscesses in children are rare, but can lead to severe complications, especially if they are not recognized and treated promptly.We present the clinical case of a four-year-old girl who was admitted in the Second pediatric clinic at St. Marina University hospital in Varna because of attacks of severe frontal headache, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. The child was first hospitalized at the Infectious disease clinic for a bacterial intestinal infection, but during the hospital stay the attacks became more frequent. After the child was discharged, the parents noticed that the movements of the left limbs were severely impaired, with the left leg being swayed during walking. At the Second pediatric clinic, the child was conscious, afebrile, with normal general exam, but with pronounced syndrome of meningeal irritation and with left hemiparesis. Blood tests showed evidence of bacterial infection. Computed tomography was performed, where a large cystic formation (70/50 mm) was visualized in the right cerebral hemisphere, corresponding to an abscess with severe dislocation, requiring surgery to be performed urgently. The child had a smooth post-operative period, with no evidence of infection and no seizures. The focal neurological signs regressed over the following few days. A repeat CT scan of the head showed complete evacuation of the abscess and reduction of the edema. The girl was discharged on the fifteenth day, in good overall condition, with no headaches, and with fully restored motor activity. We discuss the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, the role of timely imaging and the treatment applied for the good prognosis of the patient

AGGRERESSION IN THE WORKING ENVIRNOMENT: A CROSS-SECTORAL SURVEY IN CROATIA

Background: Workplace aggression constitutes a serious problem in individual, organizational and social cause-effect relations. The aim is to determine the prevalence of such aggression on the pilot sample to test the appropriateness of the research design for the further conduct of a national survey on the specified topic. Subjects and methods: The sample included 113 employees in the city of Split, deployed within the public, profit and non-profit sectors. The research was conducted through an online survey. The questionnaire consisted of pre-coded questions on the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents and their perception of interrelations with colleagues and clients/customers of products and services, exposure to various forms of physical and verbal aggression and the frequency of somatic and psychical problems caused by the workplace conditions and interrelations in this context. Results: Although participants did not suffer direct physical assault from associates, and only two of them have experienced it from clients/customers, they emphasize the frequency of psychical workplace abuse through more subtle forms of physical and verbal aggression.The training of employees at all hierarchical levels is required for the better understanding of the roles of their associates and clients/customers. Its effects strengthen their mutual respect, tolerance and solidarity. In this way, the interrelations that many respondents do not see as good or excellent can be improved, hence improving the prevention of aggression. Conclusions: The study of aggression should include a broader social context. Aggression tends towards a quantitative and qualitative expansion in different environments. When individuals seek some benefit for themselves in a dubious way, while neglecting others, aggressive acts are foreseeable. Therefore, Croatian society has the foundation for aggressive behavior, as it is unable to make the consensual practice of a moral, political and economic recovery

The Issues of Consciousness and Conscience in the High Tech Maritime World

The rapid development of new technologies has led to significant changes in the work environment in general, as well as in seafaring, namely on board. Moreover, the daily life of the modern man is inextricably intertwined with technology. Its impact on personal and professional life leads to a series of changes that are reflected not only in the mode of business performance but also in the influence of private events during professional work. The significant and rapid progress of technology presents a challenge to our consciousness and conscience that has to be discussed over and over again, as both categories are exposed to the influence of personal experiences and environment. Originating from the interaction of one’s personality and his environment, our consciousness and conscience potentiate us to act in accordance with socially established rules and values. In addition, the lack of training after the official education, except by inertia with respect to the requirements of the work position, certainly increases the percentage of errors, ultimately leading to difficulties in performing vocation and even to disaster. The tragedy aboard Costa Concordia and other maritime accidents, involving passenger and cargo vessels with increasing harm to humans and the environment, point to the growing importance of the categories of human consciousness and conscience in performing the profession of seafarer’s profile

Iron overload as a consequence of red blood cell transfusions in patients with hematological diseases

Preopterećenje željezom česta je i ozbiljna komplikacija višestrukih transfuzija deplazmatiziranih eritrocita koja pridonosi oštećenju organa te utječe na preživljenje bolesnika s hematološkim bolestima. U ruti nskoj praksi koristi se više metoda za procjenu preopterećenja željezom. Liječenje kelatorima željeza preporučuje se kada serumski feriti n premaši 1.000 ug/L i/ili ako je bolesnik primio više od 20 jedinica deplazmati ziranih eritrocita. Učinkoviti kelatori željeza neprocjenjivo su važni u liječenju preopterećenja željezom bolesnika s hematološkim bolesti ma koji zahti jevaju višestruke transfuzije krvi te dokazano smanjuju njihov morbiditet i poboljšavaju kvalitetu života.Iron overload is a very common and serious complicati on of repeated red blood cell transfusions which contributes to organ dysfuncti on and influences survival in patients with hematological diseases. Several methods for measuring ti ssue iron content are used in every-day practice. Iron chelation therapy is recommanded when serum ferriti n levels reach 1000 ug/L and/or in pati ents who have previously received more then 20 units of red blood cell. Effective iron chelators are essenti al in the management of iron overload of hematological patients that require repeted blood transfusions with proved reducti on of morbidity and improvement of their quality of life

LIS students' reading habit analysis: analysis between Croatia, Slovenia and Austria

This paper aims to provide an introduction to students reading habits and to present a study that authors have conduct in three Universities in Croatia, Austria and Slovenia. The primary objective of this research is an attempt to explore the reading habits of LIS students and their attitudes towards reading of professional and other literature. In this paper can be find existing literature overview, results from authors research and conclusion about LIS students reading habits