Osijek Health Center during the 1991-1992 war in Croatia

To assess the effectiveness of health services in the city of Osijek during the 1991-1992 war in Croatia, we followed the changes in the utilization of health services, morbidity and mortality, and completion of a vaccination plan during the 2 years of the war. We used a retrospective analysis of data from the Osijek Health Center and the Osijek County Institute of Public Health. The organization of health care during the war followed the concept of integrated health care and the instructions of the Ministry of Health. Visits to primary health care physicians decreased considerably, with a concomitant increase in disease and mortality. The plan for mandatory vaccination was not completed because of the evacuation of preschool and school children. The war changed the mode of health care use, the disease and mortality structure, and the implementation of mandatory vaccination. However, timely education and preparation of the health services to the war situation resulted in an adequate provision of health care to the population.     

MicroRNA-532-5p Regulates Pericyte Function by Targeting the Transcription Regulator BACH1 and Angiopoietin-1

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β-catenin and PPAR-γ levels in bone marrow of myeloproliferative neoplasm: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

In accordance with increased proliferation in myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), the goal is to evaluate the immunoexpression of: β-catenin, PPAR-γ and Ki67 protein, to compare them with bone marrow ultrastructural characteristics in patients with MPN. Immunoexpression and electron microscopy of bone marrow was analyzed in 30 Ph-negative MPN patients, including per 10 patients with polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The quantity of β-catenin immunoreactive cells was significantly higher in PV then in ET (p < 0.01) or PMF group of patients (p < 0.01) and also in ET versus PMF group of patients (p < 0.01). Erythroid lineage showed absent β-catenin staining without immunoreactivity in nucleus. In contrast, immunoreactivity for PPAR-γ was localized mostly in megakaryocytes and the highest number of PPAR-γ immunopositive cells was detected in PMF group of patients. In addition, the proliferative Ki67 index was significantly increased in the PMF and PV patients compared to patients with ET. Also, the megakaryocytes showed abnormal maturation in PMF group of patients as determined by ultrastructural analysis. These results indicated that PV dominantly expressed β-catenin and proliferation marker Ki67 in bone marrow, while PMF is linked preferentially to PPAR-γ immunopositive megakaryocytes characterized by abnormal maturation.     

Evaluation of Primary Stability of Self‐Tapping and Non‐Self‐Tapping Dental Implants. A 12‐Week Clinical Study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between surgical techniques and implant macro‐design (self‐tapping/non‐self‐tapping) for the optimization of implant stability in the low‐density bone present in the posterior maxilla using resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Materials and Methods: A total of 102 implants were studied. Fifty‐six self‐tapping BlueSkyBredent® (Bredent GmbH&Co.Kg®, Senden, Germany) and 56 non‐self‐tapping Standard Plus Straumann® (Institut Straumann AG®, Waldenburg, Switzerland) were placed in the posterior segment of the maxilla. Implants of both types were placed in sites prepared with either lateral bone‐condensing or with bone‐drilling techniques. Implant stability measurements were performed using RFA immediately after implant placement and weekly during a 12‐week follow‐up period. Results: Both types of implants placed after bone condensing achieved significantly higher stability immediately after surgery, as well as during the entire 12‐week observation period compared with those placed following bone drilling. After bone condensation, there were no significant differences in primary stability or in implant stability after the first week between both implant types. From 2 to 12 postoperative weeks, significantly higher stability was shown by self‐tapping implants. After bone drilling, self‐tapping implants achieved significantly higher stability than non‐self‐tapping implants during the entire follow‐up period. Conclusions: The outcomes of the present study indicate that bone drilling is not an effective technique for improving implant stability and, following this technique, the use of self‐tapping implants is highly recommended. Implant stability optimization in the soft bone can be achieved by lateral bone‐condensing technique, regardless of implant macro‐design.     

Sleep-dependent changes in the coupling between heart period and arterial pressure in newborn lambs

This study assessed whether sleep-dependent changes in the relationship between heart period (HP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) occur in newborn life. Electrodes for electrocorticographic, electromyographic, and electrooculographic monitoring and an arterial catheter for blood pressure recordings were implanted in 11 newborn lambs. HP and MAP beat-to-beat values were computed from 120-s blood pressure recordings during quiet wakefulness, active sleep, and quiet sleep. For each recording, the time shift at which the maximum of the HP versus MAP cross-correlation function was attained was identified. For each lamb and wake-sleep state, an average correlation coefficient was then computed corresponding to the median value of such time shifts. The maximum of the cross-correlation function was attained with HP lagging behind MAP. The corresponding mean correlation coefficient was significantly higher in quiet sleep (0.51 +/- 0.05) than either in quiet wakefulness (0.31 +/- 0.05) or in active sleep (0.29 +/- 0.03). Sleep-related differences in the correlation between HP and MAP were maintained after HP and MAP data were low-pass filtered at 0.3 Hz to remove their fast ventilatory oscillations. In conclusion, data indicate that the relationship between spontaneous fluctuations in HP and those in MAP is sleep-state dependent in newborn lambs. A positive HP versus MAP correlation with HP lagging behind MAP is consistent with baroreflex control of HP. Heart rhythm thus may be more tightly controlled by the baroreceptor reflex and less dependent on central autonomic commands in quiet sleep than either in quiet wakefulness or in active sleep.