University of Zagreb

About: University of Zagreb is a education organization based out in Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & European union. The organization has 21769 authors who have published 50267 publications receiving 783239 citations. The organization is also known as: Zagreb University & Sveučilište u Zagrebu.

The phenotypic spectrum of organic acidurias and urea cycle disorders. Part 2: the evolving clinical phenotype

Abstract: Background The disease course and long-term outcome of patients with organic acidurias (OAD) and urea cycle disorders (UCD) are incompletely understood.

High-Throughput IgG Fc N-Glycosylation Profiling by Mass Spectrometry of Glycopeptides

Abstract: Age and sex dependence of subclass specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc N-glycosylation was evaluated for 1709 individuals from two isolated human populations. IgGs were obtained from plasma by affinity purification using 96-well protein G monolithic plates and digested with trypsin. Fc N-glycopeptides were purified and analyzed by negative-mode MALDI-TOF-MS with 4-chloro-α-cyanocinnamic acid (Cl-CCA) matrix. Age-associated glycosylation changes were more pronounced in younger individuals ( 57 years) and in females than in males. Galactosylation and sialylation decreased with increasing age and showed significant sex dependence. Interestingly, the most prominent drop in the levels of galactosylated and sialylated glycoforms in females was observed around the age of 45 to 60 years when females usually enter menopause. The incidence of bisecting N-acetylglucosamine increased in younger individuals and reached a plateau at older age. Furthermore, we compared the results to the total IgG N-glycosylation of the same populations recently analyzed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC). Significant differences were observed in the levels of galactosylation, bisecting N-acetylglucosamine and particularly sialylation, which were shown to be higher in HILIC analysis. Age and sex association of glycosylation features was, to a large extent, comparable between MALDI-TOF-MS and HILIC IgG glycosylation profiling.

Side effects of treatment with benzodiazepines

Abstract: SUMMARY Background: The use of benzodiazepine anxiolytics and hypnotics continues to excite controversy. Views differ from expert to expert and from country to country as to the extent of the problem, or even whether long-term benzodiazepine use actually constitutes a problem. Although as a class benzodiazepines act rapidly and are well tolerated, their use presents clinical issues such as dependence, rebound anxiety, memory impairment, and discontinuation syndrome. The aim of this article is to review literature regarding different side effects associated with treatment with benzodiazepines – effects on cognition, treatment with benzodiazepines during pregnancy, dependence on benzodiazepines and risk of falling. Content analysis of literature: Literature research included structured searches of Medline and other publications on the subject of treatment with benzodiazepines, particularly effects on cognition, risk of falls, benzodiazepine dependence and treatment with benzodiazepines during pregnancy. Conclusion: Results of investigations have revealed different side effects associated with treatment with benzodiazepines. Previous investigations showed that treatment with benzodiazepines may induce anterograde amnesia. Also, previous studies confirmed occurrence of physical dependence in high percentage of patients in long term treatment with benzodiazepines at therapeutic dosages. Some investigation suggested higher risk of oral cleft, the floppy infant syndrome, or marked neonatal withdrawal symptoms when using benzodiazepines during pregnany. Investigations have shown increased risk of falling in elderly persons taking benzodiazepines.

Near-field thermal radiation transfer controlled by plasmons in graphene

Abstract: It is shown that thermally excited plasmon-polariton modes can strongly mediate, enhance, and tune the near-field radiation transfer between two closely separated graphene sheets. The dependence of near-field heat exchange on doping and electron relaxation time is analyzed in the near infrared within the framework of fluctuational electrodynamics. The dominant contribution to heat transfer can be controlled to arise from either interband or intraband processes. We predict maximum transfer at low doping and for plasmons in two graphene sheets in resonance, with orders-of-magnitude enhancement (e.g., ${10}^{2}$ to ${10}^{3}$ for separations between 0.1 $\ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}$ and 10 nm) over the Stefan-Boltzmann law, known as the far-field limit. Strong, tunable, near-field transfer offers the promise of an externally controllable thermal switch as well as a novel hybrid graphene-graphene thermoelectric/thermophotovoltaic energy conversion platform.

Fetal hand movements and facial expression in normal pregnancy studied by four-dimensional sonography

Abstract: Aim To evaluate the developmental pattern of fetal hand movements and facial activity and expression during the second and third trimester of pregnancy by four-dimensional ultrasound (4D-US). Subjects and methods A total of 25 fetuses in uncomplicated pregnancies were analyzed; 15 fetuses at 13 to 16 weeks and 10 fetuses at 30 to 33 weeks of gestation were studied with abdominal 4D-US. After standard assessment in two dimensional (2D) real-time B mode, a 4D mode was switched on. Further examination lasted a maximum of 15 minutes. Results Isolated hand movement and subtypes of hand movements were easily recognized by 4D-US. The sub-types of hand to head movement are: hand to head, hand to mouth, hand near mouth, hand to face, hand near face, hand to eye and hand to ear. All subtypes of hand to head movement can be seen from 13 weeks of gestation, with fluctuating incidence. Facial activities and different forms of expression are easily recognized by 4D-US. Among these, two types can be easily differentiated: smiling and scowling. Conclusions 4D-US is superior over real-time two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US) for qualitative, but inferior for quantitative analysis of hand movements. Thus 4D-US makes it possible to determine exactly the direction of the fetal hand, but the exact number of each type of hand movements can still not be determined. 4D-US is superior over two- and three-dimensional sonography in the evaluation of complex facial activity and expression. Among facial activities observed by 4D-US, simultaneous eyelid and mouthing movements dominate between 30 and 33 weeks of gestation. Pure mouth movements such as mouth opening, tongue expulsion, yawning and pouting are present, but at a significantly lower incidence. Facial expressions such as smiling and scowling can be precisely observed using 4D-US.