Showing papers by "University of Rijeka published in 1993"

Emotional Reactions of Children to War Stress in Croatia

Abstract: Objective The main purpose of the research was to assess the emotional reaction of children exposed to different levels of war stress in Croatia. Method Four hundred eighty children completed the Croatian version of the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Mood Scale. Their parents and teachers also completed the analogue Mood Scale. Results Both groups, refugees and local children, showed more depressive symptoms on the CDI in comparison with the children of the same age assessed before the war in Croatia. Displaced children manifested more negative emotions (especially sadness and fear) than did their local peers, based on self-report as well as parents' and teachers' reports. Poor correlations were found between the children's self-report and their parents' and teachers' report on the Mood Scale. Conclusions The war stress had a negative impact on the emotional functioning of all children, especially the refugees. The findings of parents' and teachers' knowledge about their children's mood, more obvious in the group of displaced children, deserve special attention because of the increased risk for the children. It is recommended that we consider working with the parents, not just children, in promoting children's mental health during times of stress.

Participation of endogenous tumour necrosis factor α in host resistance to cytomegalovirus infection

Abstract: Interferon gamma (IFNT) represents an essential cytokine involved in murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) clearance from the salivary gland and the control of horizontal transmission. Because IFN 7 cannot be responsible for all cytokine effects during recovery from MCMV infection we have now tested the potential participation of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFct) in the antiviral defence. Neutralization of endogenous TNF~ abolished the antiviral activity of CD4 T cells in immunocompetent as well as in CD8 subset-deficient mice. These data suggest that the antiviral effect of the CD4 subset requires the presence of at least two cytokines, namely IFN7 and TNF~. Depletion of endogenous TNF~ in adoptive cell transfer recipients diminished the antiviral function of CD8 T lymphocytes suggesting that TNFct also participates in CD8 T cell effector functions. Furthermore, endogenous cytokines were found to be required for survival after infection with lethal doses of MCMV, whereas immunotherapy with recombinant TNF~ and IFN~ could not limit virus replication in vivo. The results suggest that, similar to IFNy, TNFct is an integral part of the protective mechanisms involved in cytomegalovirus clearance.

Nutritional Factors and Multiple Sclerosis in Gorski Kotar, Croatia

Abstract: An analysis was made of the possible influence of nutritional factors on the etiology of multiple sclerosis in Gorski Kotar (Croatia), a high-risk zone for this disease A total of 46 MS patients and 92 controls, native-born residents of the area studied, participated in a case-control study The questionnaire comprised 51 questions concerning dietary habits An odds ratio (OR) estimate was obtained for all the factors which were more frequently found in the patients than in the controls Large differences were found in the daily consumption of different quantities of full fat unskimmed milk (OR 217; χ2 4234; LL 712), potatoes with lard and fresh or smoked meat (OR 207; χ2 1552; LL 272), and new potatoes (OR 207; χ2 1552; LL 272) The consumption of unpasteurized milk, animal fat, smoked meat and potatoes are nutritional risk factors which could have an influence on the severity of primary demyelinization in a high-risk area for multiple sclerosis

Expression of beta-1 integrins on tumor cells of invasive ductal breast carcinoma.

Abstract: Summary The integrins are transmembrane alfabeta heterodimers mediating cell-cell as well as cell-extracellular matrix interactions. The present study was designed to analyse the expression of beta-1 integrins on cryostat sections of invasive ductal carcinomas not otherwise specified by avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase technique, and to compare it with the morphometric prognostic index (MPI). The results show that the expression of beta-1 integrins is heterogeneous in the tumors. This heterogeneity was observed in quantitative and qualitative staining pattern. There was an absent expression of beta-1 integrins in 22 out of 55 tumors while 33 showed staining, weak on 23 cases and strong on 10 infiltrative ductal carcinomas. Statistical analysis pointed to some correlation of beta-1 integrins with some morphometric parameters. Low or absent expression of beta-1 integrins correlated significantly with tumors exceeding 2 cm (p 0.6, concordance in prognostic value was shown between MPI and beta-1 expression (p

Effects of nicardipine, felodipine and nifedipine on passive avoidance behavior of intact and hypoxia-exposed rats

Abstract: The effects of various doses (0.03, 0.1, 0.3 or 1 mg/kg) of the calcium channel blockers nicardipine, felodipine and nifedipine on the learning ability in intact rats and on hypoxia-induced retention deficits were examined. All animals were trained in a passive avoidance procedure. The drugs tested had been injected 30 minutes before the learning trial started. Some animals were exposed to a hypoxic condition immediately after the learning trial response had been acquired. A passive avoidance retention test was performed 24 hours later. It was found that hypoxia strongly impaired the retention of the passive avoidance response. Nicardipine, felodipine and nifedipine did not influence the passive avoidance behavior in the intact animals, but significantly improved the retention deficits in the animals exposed to hypoxia. The effects of the substances tested were dose-dependent. These findings support the hypothesis that perturbations in calcium homeostasis can contribute to the memory deficits associated with hypoxic conditions.

Lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis in immature rats: Short- and long-term biochemical and behavioral changes

Abstract: Short- and long-term effects of unilateral lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) on cortical choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and passive avoidance conditioned responses were examined in immature rats. The lesions were made by stereotaxic injection of quisqualic acid on postnatal days 14 (P14), 17 (P17), and 21 (P21). A marked loss of ChAT activity was found 7 days after surgery in all age groups of lesioned rats. Unoperated P14 rats were unable to perform the passive avoidance conditioned responses. Acquisition began on P17. Lesions made on P17 and P21 strongly impaired the acquisition and retention of the task, evaluated 7 days postoperation. No biochemical but a partial behavioral recovery was observed 3 months after surgery in rats lesioned on P14. On the contrary, despite a persistent decrease in cortical ChAT activity, rats lesioned on P21 were able to acquire and retain the passive avoidance conditioned response. These results indicate that destruction of NBM cholinergic neurons shortly after birth is not compensated for by the developmental plasticity of the residual neurons but results in permanent cholinergic hypofunction. They also demonstrate that cholinergic NBM neurons play an important role in the acquisition and retention of a passive avoidance task; nevertheless, a behavioral recovery may take place 3 months after the lesion, even in the presence of a persistent cholinergic hypofunction.

Optimal design of spiral casing tongue and wicket gate angle by decomposition method

Abstract: A method of optimal design of Francis turbine tongue and wicket gate angle for given spiral casing is proposed. The potential flow in the doubly connected domain is decomposed into basic and circulation flows. The intensity of circulation is then calculated by the least-squares method minimizing the error function equal to the sum of squares of differences between given and calculated circumferential velocities in the outflow boundary nodes. It is shown that the error function has a sharp minimum, which qualifies the proposed method as well defined. For given numerical example, the variations in the outflow velocity angles are much smaller for optimal than for already used non-optimal design. A finite element method is used, with originally developed pre- and post-processor and frontal solver suited for personal computers.

IgG, IgM and IgA umbilical blood concentrations in normal singleton vaginal deliveries with stinking amniotic fluid or intrapartal maternal febrility > or = 38 degrees C or duration of delivery > 12 hours.

Abstract: Total of 321 preterm/term newborns delivered in normal singleton vaginal deliveries was studied. Babies were divided into two groups. The first one includes 62 newborns with single, isolated clinical sign: stinking amniotic fluid or intrapartal maternal febrility > or = 38 degrees C or duration of delivery > 12 hours. The second one (control group) contained 259 newborns with no such a sign. In both groups the umbilical cord blood IgG, IgM and IgA concentration (g/L) were quantified by a radial immunodiffusion method. The obtained values were classified into the groups according to 500-grams-birth-weight-ranges. The differences of the mean IgG, IgM and IgA concentrations between the each 500-grams-birth-weight-range subgroup separately in both control and experimental group so as between the same subgroup of the control and experimental group were tested by the means of the Student's t-test. Obtained results did not express the significant differences in the mean IgG, IgM and IgA umbilical cord blood concentrations between the experimental and control group of the newborns.

Enacted and nonenacted encoding of social actions

Abstract: Previous research has demonstrated that recall of enacted verbal commands is superior to recall of the same commands without enactment. The experiment reported explored whether the same effect would hold true in a social context as opposed to the non-social context used in previous research. The results demonstrated that this is indeed the case. Enacted verbal commands are better recalled than commands that are encoded verbally and better than commands that are encoded by means of observing them being performed. It was also demonstrated that items rated as having positive emotional value were better recalled than items rated as negative or neutral. This was true for enacted as well as for nonenacted commands. It is concluded that there is no basic difference between memory of commands enacted in the social context and memory of commands enacted in a non-social context. We discuss the data in relation to current theory of memory of actions.

Antimicrobial activity and immunological side effects of different antibiotics.

Abstract: Antibiotics, in addition to killing or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, may also affect the immune response in many ways. Such effects may be clinically relevant especially when an impairment of immunological functions is seen. This study was designed to analyse the influence of various groups of antibiotics on the host defence system by using different tests in vitro on human or animal cells and in vivo on an animal model. At the same time we analysed the antimicrobial effectiveness of the same antibiotics on over 2800 bacterial strains isolated from our clinical material. Preliminary findings show that a correlation exists between the effect of antibiotics on the immune response, especially the humoral response, and the appearance of resistance in bacteria to these antibiotics.

Immuno-Endocrine Networks in Pregnancy

Abstract: Immunological aspects of the fetal-maternal relationship have attracted interest of reproductive biologists, endocrinologists and immunologists for many years. However, the central question of how the fetus is protected from a potentially harmful maternal immune response has not been adequately answered.