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Aim To investigate the influence of specific intrapopula - tion genetic structures on interpopulation relationships. Special focus was the influence of island population isola - tion on the substructuring of the Croatian population, and the influence of regional population groups on the sub - structuring of Southeast European populations. Methods Autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci were analyzed by using four forensic parameters: matching probability (PM), power of discrimination (PD), power of exclusion (PE), and polymorphic information content (PIC) on a sample of 2877 unrelated participants of both sexes. A sample set comprising 590 participants was analyzed for the first time, and 2287 participants were included from previous studies. The analysis was performed with Power - Stats v. 1.2. Results The analysis of forensic parameters for all nine loci in the Croatian subpopulations showed the largest devia - tions in the populations of the islands of Korčula and Hvar. The smallest deviations were found in the mainland popu - lation. As for Southeast European populations, the largest deviations were found in the population of North Mace - donia, followed by Romania, Albanians from Kosovo, and Montenegro, while the smallest deviations were found in the population of Hungary. Conclusion The comparison of forensic parameters be - tween different subpopulations of Croatia and Southeast Europe indicates that the isolation of individual Croatian subpopulations and rare alleles in their gene pool affect the values of forensic parameters. Specific features of (sub) populations should be taken into account for appropriate sampling of the total population when creating a DNA da - tabase of STR markers.

Acromegaly is a rare disfiguring disease caused by hypersecretion of the growth hormone from the pituitary adenomas. Body proportions, including bones of the hand, have been widely used to estimate anthropometric measures, such as stature. The main aim of this study was to compare stature, hand length, and stature/hand length ratio in healthy and patients with acromegaly and evaluate the accuracy of using hand length for the estimation of stature in patients with acromegaly. A total of 44 patients with acromegaly were analyzed in comparison to the control group of 8944 phenotypically healthy individuals. Measurement data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests, linear categorical regression (in healthy populations, and ordinal regression (in patients with acromegaly). The results show that the criterion stature could be predicted with hand length in both male and female individuals with acromegaly, while the amount of variance explained is something higher in males. Both in males and females, the stature/hand length ratio is higher in healthy individuals compared to acromegalic ones. This information might be of use to endocrinologists, rheumatologists, forensic scientist as well as in research where anthropometric characterization is performed. Namely, stature estimation could be assessed inaccurately if acromegalic patients are included in the sample.

Goal: Mitochondrial haplogroup (hg) X was estimated to originate in the Near East cca 30 ka years ago. Its approximate prevalence in the general European population is 2%, with most sublineages belonging to the X2 clade. The X2 clade is far less common in Croatian insular populations according to our previous findings - 6 out of 13 detected X samples belong to a new, local variant based on specific mutations in both the control and coding region of the mitochondrial genome. The aim of this study was to fully explore mentioned 6 mitochondrial haplotypes found in islands of Rab and Cres. Materials and methods: Complete sequencing of one Rab and one Cres mitochondrial genome was performed using both Sanger sequencing and massively parallel sequencing with the Illumina® Human mtDNA Genome assay on MiSeq FGx™ instrument. Results: Sequenced samples indicate a novel lineage within the global mitochondrial X hg phylogeny according to both PhyloTree and Mitomap. The lineage is connected with the hg X3 by a common polymorphism G3531A in the coding region of the mitochondrial genome, but it lacks all other X3 defining mutations. Mutations specific for this lineage are T195C, C338T, A7518G, G7853A, A10113G, C10673T, C10920T, A11380G, A13614G, C13950T, A15903G, G15927A, T16136C and A16289G. Analysis of non-phylogenetic variants exposed a rare, A7518G mutation in the tRNA gene, which is predicted as possibly pathogenic by MitoTIP. Findings of different heteroplasmic mutation patterns between samples indicate a more distant kinship within the same mitochondrial lineage. Conclusion: Our finding indicates a recent local microdifferentiation process within hg X. Described lineage could possibly be marked as a new, island-specific X twig formed within the Croatian population. The extension of present research, including genealogical and clinical data, is needed to confirm further enrichment of existing mtDNA phylogeny and to establish possible functional manifestations of locally specific variants.

INTRODUCTION: Nutrition during infancy is a major contributor to growth rate. WHO recommendations to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, exclusively breastfeed within the first six months and continue breastfeeding up to two years of age are rarely followed. Maternal socioeconomic status (SES) may also play a major role in growth patterns and mediate the association between breastfeeding and infant’s growth. The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of breastfeeding and infants’ growth in weight in Dalmatia, Croatia and investigate their association with maternal SES. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from Croatian Island’s Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) was used. Participants were 83 infant-mother pairs from Dalmatia, Croatia. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Statistics 25.0. and WHO Anthro software 3.2.2. Differences between groups were tested using Fisher’s exact test and Student’s t-test. The significance and strength of individual associations between WG (0-6 months) and WAZ at 6 months with independent variables were tested conducting simple linear regression (breastfeeding duration) and Spearman’s correlation (EBF, average monthly household income, maternal education, employment and number of household members). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in gender distribution with regards to location, breastfeeding duration, EBF duration and delivery mode. However, a significant difference (p

Goal was to determine the influence of island population isolation on the sub structuring of the Croatian population, and the influence of regional population groups on the sub structuring of Southeast Europe with regards to basic population genetic statistical parameters calculated using STR locus analysis. Bio-statistical analyzes were performed for a total sample of 2877 unrelated participants of both sexes from the area of Southeastern Europe was analyzed. Nine autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, D7S82) were analyzed using standard F-statistics and population structure analysis (program STRUCTURE). The total coefficient of genetic differentiation of Croatian subpopulations calculated by the FST method is higher at the level of the Croatian population (0.005) than at the level of Southeast Europe (0.002). In the population of Croatia, the subpopulation of the island of Vis shows the most pronounced separation, and in the population of Southeast Europe the population of Albanians from Kosovo, then the populations of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary. The established higher structure of Croatian subpopulations in relation to the populations of Southeast Europe suggests the existence of a certain degree of genetic isolation, most likely due to the influence of endogamy within rural island populations. The total genetic differentiation coefficient of Croatian subpopulations calculated by the FST method is higher at the level of the Croatian population (0.005) than at the level of Southeast Europe (0.002). The established higher structure of Croatian subpopulations in relation to Southeast Europe suggest the existence of a certain degree of genetic isolation, most likely due to the influence of endogamy within rural island populations.

“unCoVer-Unravelling data for rapid evidence-based response to COVID-19” is a Horizon 2020-funded network of 29 partners from 18 countries. Formed with the aim to collect and use real-world data (RWD) resulting from response and provision of care to COVID-19 patients by health systems across Europe and elsewhere, unCoVer exploits the full potential of this information to rapidly address clinical and epidemiological research questions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. These heterogeneous datasets comprise from information on over 22 000 hospitalized patients, as well as registry data on over 1 900 000 COVID-19 cases across Europe, with continuous updates. So far, the datasets have been described, harmonized and integrated into a multi-user data repository operated through OpalDataSHIELD, an interoperable open-source server application. Federated data analyses, without sharing or disclosing any individual-level data, is being performed to resolve various research questions emerging from dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia, is one of the partners on the unCoVer project, together with our related third-party – Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia, providing clinical data on COVID-19 patients. Special emphasis will be given to our specific experience and lessons learned from participating in this project (data acquisition, ethical and GDPR issues, data analyses, influence of restrictions related to COVID-19 pandemic).

The goal was to perform a meta-analysis of synthesized data and investigate the influence of specific intrapopulation genetic structures on interpopulation relationships. Special focus was the influence of island population isolation on the substructuring of the Croatian population, and the influence of regional population groups on the substructuring of Southeast Europe. A long-term goal is to develop a model of appropriate sampling of the total population when creating a database of genetic STR markers that would properly reflect all the characteristics of included subpopulations. Autosomal STR loci were analyzed using four forensic parameters (match probability, power of discrimination, power of exclusion and the degree of polymorphism) on a sample of 2877 unrelated participants of both sexes. The analysis was performed using the statistical package PowerStats v1.2. The comparison of forensic parameters between different subpopulations of Croatia and Southeast Europe indicates that the isolation of individual Croatian subpopulations and certain rare alleles in their gene pool affect the values of forensic parameters. Specific features of (sub)populations should be taken into account for appropriate sampling of the total population when creating a DNA database of STR markers.

Aim To use the method of meta-analysis to assess the influence of island population isolation on the sub-structuring of the Croatian population, as well as the influence of regional population groups on the sub-structuring of the Southeastern European population with regard to basic population genetic statistical parameters calculated by using STR locus analysis. Methods Bio-statistical analyses were performed for 2877 unrelated participants of both sexes from Southeastern Europe. Nine autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, and D7S82) were analyzed by using standard F-statistics and population structure analysis (Structure software). Results Genetic differentiation of Croatian subpopulations assessed with the FST method was higher at the level of the Croatian population (0.005) than at the level of Southeastern Europe (0.002). The island of Vis showed the most pronounced separation in the Croatian population, and Albanians from Kosovo in the population of Southeast Europe, followed by Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Hungary. Conclusion The higher structure of Croatian subpopulations in relation to Southeastern Europe suggest a certain degree of genetic isolation, most likely due to the influence of endogamy within rural island populations.

A birth cohort study is a form of study that uses expectant mothers and their subsequent newborns as research participants. Data is collected in order to identify health consequences and overall health outcomes of environment and lifestyle on pregnancy and childbirth. The main aim of this paper is to review and summarize all cohort studies that have been carried out or are still being conducted in Europe in last 80 years, as well as general information such as aim of the study, number of participants and duration of follow-up. Gathering information was made easier by websites such as Birthcohorts, CHICOS and LifeCycle, where many of the cohorts and their sources are listed. The remaining data was found by searching Google Scholar, PubMed and similar webpages, using keywords ‘birth and pregnancy cohorts’, ‘infants’, ‘pregnancies’, ‘allergies’ and ‘childhood obesity’. Overall, 137 cohorts in 27 countries were found. Cohort studies are an efficient method for assessing cause and effect. The focus is on the general health and well-being of mothers and children and as such provides a good approach to establishing a link between risk factors and outcomes. In epidemiological research, especially those concerning some of the biggest problems of the 21st century, such as obesity, type II diabetes and coronary heart disease, cohort studies make a valuable contribution. In last 80 years the number of studies has been increasing and with it the number of new insights. Collaboration between different birth cohorts is crucial for further harmonization of collected data and their use in the public health systems worldwide.

Unatoč opsežnoj literaturi koja istražuje kvalitetu života i njene prediktore, psihološke varijable poput percepcije stresnih životnih događaja, simptoma depresije, lokusa kontrole i nade gotovo da nisu istraživane među trudnicama, pri čemu nema istraživanja u kojima su na istom uzorku obuhvaćeni prediktori kvalitete života mladih majki u razdoblju izolacije tijekom COVID -19 epidemije. I trudnoća i COVID-19 zatvaranje specifične su okolnosti u životu mladih žena koja mogu predstavljati rizik za njihovo metalno zdravlje, a tijekom 2020. i 2021. godine utvrđeno je kako su upravo žene s malom djecom s rizikom za razvoj smetnji i problema mentalnog zdravlja tijekom COVID-19 epidemije, što je bio dodatni poticaj za provođenje ovog istraživanja. Cilj je bio ispitati razliku u kvaliteti života na istom uzorku žena koje su bile trudnice u 18. do 28. tjednu prenatalnog razdoblja i mladih majki tijekom COVID-19 zatvaranja 2020. godine te istražiti odrednice i usporediti strukturu prediktora kvalitete života u trudnoći i tijekom COVID-19 zatvaranja. Navedenim dvjema točkama mjerenja obuhvaćene su 133 zdrave trudnice u dobi od 18 godina ili više, s jadranskih otoka Brača i Hvara, kao i susjednog kopnenog grada Splita i okolne Splitsko- dalmatinske županije. Primijenjene su skraćena verzija skala procjene kvalitete života, upitnika Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije (WHOQOL-bref), multidimenzionalna ljestvica zdravstvenog lokusa kontrole, Edinburška skala postnatalne depresije te procjene stresa i nade. Mlade majke procijenile su većom kvalitetu života tijekom COVID-19 u odnosu na kvalitetu života u trudnoći na sve četiri domene. Utvrđeni su različiti obrasci značajnih prediktora za četiri domene kvalitete života u dvije točke mjerenja te različita struktura prediktora u trudnoći i tijekom COVID-19 zatvaranja, pri čemu je odabranim prediktorima u trudnoći objašnjena znatno veća količina varijance kvalitete života u odnosu na razdoblje tijekom COVID-19.

Pojam “stres” se danas često susreće, a označava iscrpljenost uzrokovanu duševnim ili tjelesnim preopterećenjem organizma [1]. Utvrđeno je da tijekom stresnih razdoblja dolazi do disregulacije osi hipotalamus- hipofiza-nadbubrežna žlijezda (HPA) što dovodi do povećanih razina kortizola takozvanog “hormona stresa” koji sudjeluje u mnogim metaboličkim i imunomodulacijskim procesima [2]. Posljednjih desetljeća glazba se proučava kao nefarmakološka i neinvanzivna metoda snižavanja stresa poznata po svom smirujućem učinku [3]. Glavni cilj ovog istraživanja je detekcija i povezanost razine kortizola u trudnica s provođenjem slobodnog vremena u stvaranju i slušanju glazbe. Pretpostavka je da bi ispitanice s većom učestalošću glazbenih aktivnosti trebale imati bolje vrijednosti biokemijskih parametara i održavati normalan indeks tjelesne mase (BMI). Istraživanje će se provoditi na podacima prikupljenim tijekom provedbe projekta “Kohortna studija rođenih na istočnojadranskim otocima (CRIBS)” kako bi se razjasnili čimbenici povezani u kontekstu metaboličkog sindroma koji zahvaća sve veći dio populacije. Analizirani su uzorci seruma prikupljeni od zdravih trudnica u Splitsko- dalmatinskoj županiji (Hrvatska). Primijenjen je analitički protokol za određivanje kortizola u humanom serumu tekućinskom kromatografijom visoke učinkovitosti (HPLC). Preliminarnim rezultatima utvrđena je statitički značajna umjerena negativna povezanost kortizola i provođenja slobodnog vremena (stvaranjem i slušanjem glazbe) tijekom trudnoće (p

The experience of pregnancy challenges a belief in control over one's health ; internal beliefs, the extent to which one's health is influenced by oneself, chance or fate and other people’s influence (powerful others). Belief that their health is related to their own behavior could increase their Quality of Life (QoL). This study gives insights from the Croatian Islands’ Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) conducted on Adriatic island populations of Hvar and Brač and neighboring mainland area of the Split-Dalmatian County. The aims of the study were to investigate determinants of the QoL of pregnant women with focus on health locus of control as potential predictor of QoL domains. The sample consisted of 286 healthy pregnant women, age 18 or older, 18 to 28 weeks of gestation, enrolled into study from February 2016 to June 2018. Comprehensive study of maternal health assessed WHOQoL-bref (Physical QoL, Psychological QoL, Social relationships and Environmental health domain), Adult Hope Scale, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales (MHLC), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the perceived stress appraisals and demographic questionnaire. Enrolment into the study and all scheduled visits were carried out at doctor's office where the pregnancy was routinely monitored and in the maternity unit in the University Hospital Center Split, Croatia. Inclusion criteria were 18 weeks or more of single pregnancy, not assisted with reproductive technology. Woman had significantly higher internal then external locus of control (p= .000) and then chance (p= .000). They believed that they are in control of their health, also that powerful other people (medical doctors) were responsible for their health in a more significant way then that their health is in control of chance or luck (p= .000). MHLC scale scores explained significant amount of the total variance on QoL in all four domains (3.5% to 4.7%). Together with other predictors, greatest variance was explained in Psychological health domain (42%) and the smallest in Physical health (25%). Differences in MHLC between women living at island and neighboring mainland were also found. Health outcomes left to chance lower Environmental health QoL (health accessibility and quality, opportunities for acquiring new information, etc.), especially in less connected areas as islands. With greater perception of all QoL domains but Physical, women believed more that powerful others are in control of their health outcomes, which could indicate that reliance on doctors and medical staff has an extraordinary importance in their lives. Understanding how health beliefs of women influence their QoL could have beneficial effects in establishing the best possible care standards and outcomes for women and newborns.

There is well known scientific acceptance of a relationship between psychological stress and eating behaviours. This study gives insights from the Croatian health study of school children and adolescence with focus on eating habits and perceived stress. The aims of the study were to investigate eating habits, psychical activity and some aspects of health appraisals of adolescents as potential predictors of perceived stress. The sample consisted of 482 healthy adolescents (243 girls ; 16 to 19), who participated in project in 2013/2014. Adolescents’ appraisals of food frequency consumption, physical activity habits, frequency of health difficulties within last six months, individual’s overall perception of their health (WHOQOL-bref) and perceived stress scale (PSS-10) were used. Subjective perception of stress of adolescents is slightly higher than average for this age for boys and even higher for girls. The selected set of predictors explained 35% variance of girl's perceived stress and 23.5% variance of boy's perceived stress. Eating habits explained significant amount of perceived stress (8.9% girls, 4.4% boys) but structure of predictors differs for girls and boys. As stress is higher, frequency of daily meals is smaller in boys and frequency of healthy meals within last seven days smaller in girls. Frequency of unhealthy meals within last seven days was not predictor of perceived stress. The greatest variance was explained by health related appraisals for both, boys and girls. Since selected set of predictors explained small amount of variance of boy’s perceived stress, additional variables and predictors of stress need to be regarded further. These findings support hypothesis that eating habits could contribute to stress of adolescents. Consequently, awareness related to changing eating habits under the stress could be of lifelong interest and should be taught during school years. Identifying predictors of stress in adolescents could promote development of prevention and treatment plans for supporting adaptive lifestyle of adolescents, especially those under the stress.

Perceived quality of life (QoL) in adolescents can be useful in identifying their subgroups at risk of engaging in health-compromising behaviors. Establishing healthy nutritional behaviors and physical activity is important during adolescence, since habits established in this period often persist into adulthood. This study gives insights from the Croatian Health Study of School Children and Adolescence, with focus on QoL of adolescents. The aims of the study were to investigate eating habits, psychical activity and some aspects of self- assessed health of adolescents as potential predictors of their QoL. The sample consisted of 482 high-school students 16-19 years old (243 girls), who participated in project in 2013/2014. Adolescents’ assessment of food frequency consumption, extra-curricular physical activities, frequency of health difficulties within last six month and QoL (WHOQOL-bref) were used. Boys reported higher levels of QoL than girls in Physical health and Psychological domains. The greatest variance was explained in Physical health for boys (31.5%) and girls (43.2%) and smaller amounts in Psychological domain (18.5% boys, 32% girls), Social relationship (17.1% boys, 19.1% girls) and in Environmental health (16.4% boys, 21.4% girls). Structure of predictors differed for girls and boys in all four domains. The greatest variance was explained by self- perceived health in both boys and girls. More frequent emotional health difficulties within last six months were associated with smaller QoL in all domains, except in boys in Environmental domain. Greater adolescent’s overall perception of their health was associated with higher QoL in all domains, except in Social relationship domain in both boys and girls. More frequent physical health difficulties within last six months were associated with smaller Physical QoL in both boys and girls. Frequency of healthy meals within last seven days predicted Physical QoL in girls ; contrary, more frequent unhealthy meals were associated with better Social relationship in boys. Higher frequency of leisure time physical activities was associated with better results in Social and Environmental domain in girls and more frequent physical activities within last seven days were associated with better Psychological and Social relationship QoL in boys. The selected set of predictors significantly predicted adolescents’ QoL, especially Physical and Psychological domain. These findings support hypothesis that eating habits, physical activity and some aspects of self-assessed health could contribute to QoL of adolescents. Additional variables and predictors of QoL domains need to be examined further. Identifying predictors of QoL could promote prevention and treatment plans for supporting adaptive lifestyle of adolescents.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose level in pregnancy on the anthropometry of newborns. The sample consisted of 171 healthy pregnant women and their newborns from the Croatian Islands' Birth Cohort Study. Peripheral blood of pregnant women was taken in the second trimester and fasting glucose values >5.1 mmol/l were considered elevated. Anthropometric variables (body weight, height and waist circumference) were measured according to the International Biological Program. Pre- pregnancy BMI and fasting glucose levels during pregnancy were significantly positively correlated (p

The main goal of this study was to test the association of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and fasting glucose level in pregnancy on birth size of newborns. The sample consisted of 177 healthy pregnant woman and their newborns from the islands (Hvar and Brač) and the mainland (Split- Dalmatian County) who are participants in the Croatian Islands Birth cohort Study (CRIBS). Anthropometric variables (body weight, height and waist circumference) were measured according to the International Biological Program. Peripheral blood of pregnant women was taken between 22nd and 26th week of gestation, and fasting glucose values >5.1 mmol/L were considered elevated. Statistical analyses were done by SPSS10.0 for Windows. There was a significant positive correlation between pre-pregnancy BMI and fasting glucose levels during pregnancy as well as between pre- pregnancy BMI and birth weight, length, and head circumference of the newborns. Hyperglycemic women gave birth to significantly heavier newborn girls then normoglycemic women (p

The aim of this study was to compare the data on height of Hvar islanders collected from two transversal studies (1978/1979 and during the 1994). The first field research covered a total of 935 inhabitants of the island (484 males and 451 females) aged between 20 and 72 years, from five villages of the western part (Dol, Vrbanj, Svirče, Vrisnik, Pitve) and four villages of the eastern part of the island of Hvar (Poljica, Zastražišće, Gdinj, Bogomolje). The second field research was carried out in 1994 that enrolled total of 189 participants (82 males and 107 females) from the villages Dol, Vrbanj, Svirče, Zastražišće, Gdinj and Bogomolje. Comparison of data on Hvar adults since these two periods demonstrated a secular increase in average height for females and males in all investigated villages except in the village of Gdinj. Negative secular trend in village of Gdinj was observed for both female and male inhabitants. Possible explanation for this trend could be the specific migratory patterns and traditional practice of endogamy.

Cilj istraživanja je utvrditi promjene u načinu provođenja slobodnog vremena trudnica prije i tijekom trudnoće te utvrditi neke psihosocijalne odrednice zadovoljstva životom trudnica na otocima i susjednom kopnu. Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno 326 žena u razdoblju od 18 do 28 mjeseca trudnoće. Osim sociodemografskih varijabli obrazovanja, subjektivne procjene materijalnog stanja obitelji i broja članova kućanstva sudionica primijenjeni su instrumenti koji mjere zadovoljstvo životom, učestalost korištenja slobodnog vremena, uznemirenost stresnim događajima, dimenzije zdravstvenog lokusa kontrole, depresivne simptome te izraženost nade. Smanjena je čestina korištenja svih oblika slobodnog vremena trudnica u trudnoći pri čemu je utvrđena je statistički značajna promjena u korištenju aktivnijih oblika slobodnog vremena trudnica (tjelovježba, rekreacija na otvorenom, vrtlarstvo, putovanja, umjetnost i obrt, hobiji, vjerske i duhovne aktivnosti kartanje, piće, slušanje glazbe, računarstvo i igranje igrica) dok nema razlike u čestini čitanja knjiga, gledanja TV i filmova, u vremenu provedenom s obitelji i prijateljima te pripremi hrane i kuhanju prije i poslije trudnoće. Odabranim prediktorskim varijablama objašnjeno je 38, 2% varijance zadovoljstva životom trudnica, pri čemu su sa zadovoljstvom životom izravno ili neizravno povezani subjektivna procjena materijalnog stanja obitelji, promjena u načinu korištena slobodnog vremena trudnica, moćni drugi kao dimenzija lokusa kontrole, depresivni simptomi i nada. Što je bolja subjektivna procjena materijalnog stanja u obitelji, izraženija nada i vjerovanje trudnica da moćni drugi imaju kontrolu nad njihovim zdravljem te manji broj depresivnih simptoma trudnica, izraženije je njihovo zadovoljstvo životom. Također, što je veća razlika u korištenju slobodnog vremena prije i za vrijeme trudnoće veće je zadovoljstvo životom trudnica. Navedeno ukazuje na veće zadovoljstvo životom trudnica koje u većoj mjeri vode brigu o vlastitom slobodnom vremenu i aktivno se prilagođavaju trudničkom statusu. Osim smjernica za buduća istraživanja u izlaganju će se diskutirati praktične implikacije dobivenih rezultata.

Health benefits of physical activity during pregnancy include reduced risk of excessive gestational weight gain and conditions such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and preterm birth. The ongoing CRoatian Islands Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) is the first cohort study in the South-Eastern Europe with an aim to assess the prevalence of risk factors (biological, environmental and behavioral) for the Metabolic Syndrome in populations from Dalmatian islands of Hvar and Brač and coastal Split city with its surroundings. At the time of writing, Over 350 pregnant women and 220 of their newborns have been involved in the study. Here we present the preliminary results of testing the association of mothers` self- estimated physical activity during pregnancy with newborns` anthropometric characteristics (birth weight, length and head circumference) using the data from questionnaires and obstetric records of 116 mother – newborn pairs. The difference in weight-at-birth was detected between newborn girls whose mothers were from Low vs. Intensive physical activity categories, as well as from Moderate vs. Intensive physical activity categories. In addition to that, the significant difference in weight-at-birth and height/length-at-birth was detected between newborn boys whose mothers were from Moderate vs. Intensive physical activity categories (p

During the last decade it has become increasingly evident that genetic variants can explain only a portion of individual's susceptibility to non-communicable complex diseases. The spotlight of research therefore shifted to mechanisms of epigenetic modifications as central players in gene- environment interplay. The transgenerational propagation of both genetic variants and epigenetic programming can contribute to an increased risk of complex diseases. In this work we are presenting data of 150 mother-child dyads collected within the longitudinal CRIBS study focusing on the main constituents of the metabolic syndrome (cardiovascular diseases and obesity), but also other diseases that emerge in family history. We show incidence of diseases in mother’s families, biochemical parameters of mothers related to diseases and a plan of risk prediction and possible interventions based on environ-mental exposure and hereditary factors in mothers and their offspring.

Homocysteine is an amino acid involved in several key metabolic processes. In the general population hyperhomocysteinaemia is an indicator of vascular disease, while in normal pregnancy homocysteine blood levels falls. The objective of this study was to examine associations of homocisteine in pregnant women with possible predisposing factors (older age, smoking status, physical inactivity, hypertension), pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, small/normal/large for gestational age) and newborns` anthropometry (measures z- standardized according to WHO). Fasting homocisteine concentration, taken between 22nd and 26th week of gestation, were determined in 116 women, participants in the CRoatian Islands` Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS). Homocisteine below than referent range (3.4- 20.4 µmol/L) was determined in 19 women (16.4%) while its concentration in others was within the referent range. None of the investigated predisposing factors was significantly associated with predicting homocisteine level, nor were pregnancy outcomes. Newborns of mothers with homocisteine

Introduction: Physical activity during pregnancy brings benefits like increased cardiorespiratory fitness, reduced risk of excessive gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth, etc. The ongoing CRoatian Islands Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) is the first cohort study in the South- Eastern Europe. The aim of the project is to assess the prevalence of risk factors (biological, environmental and behavioral) for the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in populations from Dalmatian islands Hvar and Brač and coastal Split city with surroundings, the Mediterranean area with very high prevalence of the MetS. Material and methods: So far, over 350 pregnant women and 220 of their newborns have been involved. Here we present the preliminary results of testing the association of mothers` selfestimated physical activity during pregnancy with newborns` anthropometric characteristics (birth weight, length and head circumference) using data from questionnaires and obstetric records of 116 mother – newborn pairs. Results: The difference in weight-at- birth was detected between newborn girls whose mothers were from Low vs. Intensive physical activity categories, as well as from Moderate vs. Intensive physical activity categories. In addition to that, the significant difference in weight-at- birth andheight/length-at-birth was detected between newborn boys whose mothers were from Moderate vs. Intensive physical activity categories (p

The intrauterine environment affects fetal growth and development. Healthy women with no history of chronic diseases, who concieved naturally and had singleton pregnancies have been participating in the CRoatian Islands` Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS), an ongoing project in the Eastern Adriatic, Croatia, aiming to assess the prevalence of risk factors for the Metabolic Syndrom. Fasting blood lipids (tot- Chol, Trig, HDL-Chol and LDL-Chol), glucose and homocysteine levels were determined in 94 pregnant women (taken between 22th and 26th week of gestation). We investigated their association with possible predisposing factors (age, gestational age, level of education, obesity and smoking status), newborns` anthropometric measures (weight, lenght and head circumference) and with adverse pregnancy outcomes (pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, small/large for gestational age). Among the blood lipids, the largest divergence was found in triglyceride levels (mean 4.2±1.1, range 0.9-11), with elevated values (>1.7 mmol/L) present in >75% of the examinees. Smokers, in comparison to non-smokers, had significantly lower HDL-Chol levels and women older than 30 years had significantly higher tot-Chol than younger ones. Women with higher mean glucose levels (but within the normal range) gave birth to children with significantly higher weight- at-birth z-standardized according to WHO, and women with low homocysteine levels (

Concentration of lipoprotein (a), Lp(a), an important part of the clinical biomarker profile for atherosclerosis, in blood plasma varies both between and among populations. The elevated Lp(a) level in pregnancy were recognized as a risk factor for thrombosis and/or pre-eclampsia, but the referent values for uneventful pregnancies are yet undefined. The objective of this study was to test the association of fasting Lp(a) levels, taken between 22nd and 26th week of gestation, with possible predisposing factors (older age, smoking status, physical inactivity, hypertension, gestational diabetes), pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, small/normal/large for gestational age) and newborns` anthropometric measures in 113 women (age range 19.8-41.7 yrs, mean 30.6±4.6 yrs) from the CRoatian Islands` Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS). In these women, with no history of chronic disease prior to pregnancy, Lp(a) leves varied largely, from 1.0 mg/dl to 127.3 mg/dl (median 13.1 mg/dl), but most of the women (88.5%) had Lp(a) 35 yrs), smoking statuts (both current and ex-smokers) and hypertension in predicting Lp(a)≥50 mg/dL (p=0.017, Cox & Snell R2=0.162, Nagelkerke R2=0.333). Nor logistic, neither linear regression models used for the estimation of adjusted associations between Lp(a) and birth weight, length and head circumference, all z- standardized according to WHO, showed significant associations. In the CRIBS sample, elevated Lp(a) levels were not found to be a predictive biomarker for the pregnancy outcome and neonatal size.

Physical activity during pregnancy is generally considered safe and beneficial for both the pregnant woman and her fetus. Focusing on modifiable risk factors such as eating habits and physical activity to achieve a healthy weight prior to conception could increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Numerous health benefits are associated with achieving optimal diet and physical activity behaviours during and after pregnancy. Understanding predictors of these behaviours is an important public health consideration. The overall aim was to investigate pregnant women’s physical activity and its associations with maternal lifestyle characteristics and pregnancy outcomes using the data from the CRIBS study (Croatian Islands’ Birth Cohort Study).

The ongoing CRoatian Islands Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) is a national project and the first birth cohort study in the South-Eastern Europe designed to follow a representative sample of about 500 pregnant women and their children up to two years of age. The aim of the project is to assess the prevalence of risk factors (biological, environmental and behavioral) for the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in populations from Croatian Dalmatian islands (Hvar and Brač) and mainland population (city of Split with surroundings), the Mediterranean area with very high prevalence of the MetS. So far, over 300 pregnant women and 150 of their newborns have been involved in the study. Here we present the preliminary results of testing the association of maternal diet in pregnancy with newborns` anthropometric parameters (birth weight, length and head circumference) using the data from questionnaires and obstetric records. Initially we included 131 mother – newborn pairs from the population of Split (N=71) and islands of Brač and Hvar (N=60) in this report but, since nine newborns were preterm, further analyses were performed for the remaining 122 children whose mothers filled out two questionnaires. An excessive food frequency questionnaire was filled out during the second trimester (around 32nd week of gestation) and the data on the socioeconomic status (SES) (educational level, marital status and income), lifestyle characteristics (smoking and self-estimated physical activity) and reproductive health background were collected in a different questionnaire during the first trimester of pregnancy. Information on birth weight, length, head circumference and infant sex were taken from obstetric records. Statistical analysis included the factor analysis of 20 food items with a factor loading coefficient >0.20 from validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and the associations between the food items and the estimated factor scores were measured using Pearson`s correlations. We also conducted a multivariate linear regression analysis for each factor including mothers` characteristics (age, SES status – income and level of education, lifestyle characteristics - years of smoking) to assess independent associations. The estimated factor scores, age, level of physical activity, smoking and socioeconomic status were further used as independent variables in the logistic regression with the weight-at-birth, height-at-birth and head circumference-at- birth, for the lowest and the highest 15% of newborns as dependent variables. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 11.0. P values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant for all the analyses. Pregnant women were between the ages of 19.6 and 41.7 (mean age 30.54±4.37 years) and they gave birth to 69 girls and 53 boys. In comparison to newborn girls, newborn boys from the CRIBS study had significantly higher length-at-birth (51.28±1.75 cm vs. 50.48±1.77 cm, p

The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) on Eastern Adriatic islands is higher than in neighboring mainland area. The CRoatian Islands` Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) is an ongoing 3-year-project with an aim to assess the prevalence of known risk factors for MetS. The CRIBS sample consists of pregnant women from Dalmatian islands Brač and Hvar and nearby coastal town Split and its surroundings, who had no history of chronic diseases (particularly MetS), who conceived naturally and had singleton pregnancies, and their newborns. We tested the association of possible predisposing factors for MetS (age, smoking, prepregnancy BMI, fasting blood biochemical parameters) and newborns` anthropometric measures. In this preliminary sample (n=131, age range 19.8-41.7 yrs, mean 30.6±4.6 yrs), 28.3% of women reported smoking in pregnancy and 22.2% reported being exposed to passive smoking. 17.9% of all the women were overweight and 4.7% were obese. In comparison to underweight women (

The aim of this preliminary study is to analyze genetic specificity of Kosovo Albanians comparing with neighboring populations using new genetic tool - MEDISCOPE gene chip, to investigate the feasibility of this approach. We collected 37 DNA samples (9 Croats, 17 Albanians from Croatia and 11 Albanians from Kosovo) from unrelated males born in Croatia and Kosovo. Additionally, samples were expanded with female individuals and mtDNA analysis included a total of 61 samples (15 Croats, 23 Albanians from Croatia and 23 Albanians from Kosovo). This pilot study suggests that the usage of the MEDISCOPE chip could be recognized as an efficient tool within recognition of the population genetic specificity even within extremely small sample size.

OBJECTIVES: The research objective of this study is to enlarge and deepen the Y chromosome research on the Croatian population and enable additional insights into the population diversity and historic events that shaped the current genetic landscape of Croatia and Southeastern Europe (SEE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A high-resolution phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis of 66 biallelic (SNPs) and 17 microsatellite (STRs) markers of the Y chromosome was performed using 720 Croatian samples. The obtained results were placed in a wider European context by comparison with ∼4450 samples from a number of other European populations. RESULTS: A high diversity of haplogroups was observed in the overall Croatian sample, and all typical European Y chromosome haplogroups with corresponding clinal patterns were observed. Three distinct genetic signals were identifiable in the Croatian paternal gene pool - I2a1b-M423, R1a1a1b1a*-M558, and E1b1b1a1b1a-V13 haplogroups. DISCUSSION: The analyses of the dominant and autochthonous I2a1b-M423 lineage (>30%) suggest that SEE had a significant role in the Upper Paleolithic, the R1a1a1b1a*-M558 lineage (19%) represents a signal from present day Slavic populations of Central Europe in the Croatian population, and the phylogeography of the E1b1b1a1b1a-V13 clade (around 9%) implies cultural diffusion of agriculture into Europe via the Balkan Peninsula.

The CRoatian Islands` Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) is an ongoing project in Split-Dalmatia County (towns of Split and Solin, islands of Brač and Hvar), with an aim to assess the prevalence of variety of risk factors (biological, medical, epidemiological, environmental and psychosocial) for the Metabolic Syndrom (MetS) in the sample of up to 700 healthy pregnant women and their newborns. The project started in November 2015, and since February 2016 pregnant women have been enrolling in the study at several specialist gynecological practices. Here we present the preliminary results of the reproductive health characteristics (age at menarche, use of contraceptives before the pregnancy, age at primiparity) and the sociodemographic characteristics (place of residence, educational attainment, employment and financial status) of the first 50 pregnant women who decided to participate in the CRIBS study. The mean age at menarche of the CRIBS pregnant women was 12.92±1.19 yrs, and age at primiparity ranged from 19.15 yrs to 34.51 yrs (mean 25.51±4.07 yrs, p=ns between mainland and islands). Many enrolled women (82%) reported using no contraceptives before the pregnancy. In women who already had 2 or more children (n=7), the mean age difference between the offspring was 5.25±3.93 yrs (range 2.23-13.36 yrs). 94% of women reported being married or having a partner, who was in 87% of cases older than his wife/partner. 52% of pregnant women attained high level education, 70% were employed, 60% owned house/flat, and 90% perceived their financial status as average or better than average. This preliminary data show that pregnant women from the CRIBS study are on average younger at primiparity than the national mean is, use contraceptives very rarely, and, in spite of the significant percentage of unemployment, perceive that their financial status was good enough to raise a family.

The Kvarner Island are situated in the Northern Adriatic Sea and have been populated since prehistory. Different historical events have shaped the population structure of those Island. Here we present a possible evidence of strong impact of certain disease epidemics on the genetic diversity and structure of the contemporary Kvarner islanders. Although the analysis of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups of autochthonous inhabitants from different islands showed relatively high level of haplogroup and haplotype diversity in the maternal gene pool, certain lineages become very abundant and represent a large portion of total haplogroups diversity. Generally decreased genetic diversity and gene flow in the Kvarner area can be explained by founder effect due to geographic isolation, as well as by strong bottleneck effects in particular periods of islands’ history. The strongest founder effect is recorded for the islands of Rab and Cres where one single haplotype accounts for more than 20 % of the population. For instance, every fourth contemporary Rab Islander has one particular haplotype of U4d2 haplogroup, which is so far the most frequent finding of this haplogroup ever reported in any population. One possible explanation of such deviation from average European frequency could be due to several epidemics of plague in 15th and 16th century when a vast majority of population died, in some cases almost 90 % of some settlements were devastated. A high deviation from standard frequency of haplogroups in certain Krk island settlements could be also connected to the epidemics of cholera during the 19th century.

Objectives: The research objective of this study is to enlarge and deepen the Y chromosome research on the Croatian population and enable additional insights into the population diversity and historic events that shaped the current genetic landscape of Croatia and Southeastern Europe (SEE). Materials and Methods: A high-resolution phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis of 66 biallelic (SNPs) and 17/19 microsatellite (STRs) markers of the Y chromosome was performed using 720 Croatian samples. The obtained results were placed in a wider European context by comparison with ~4450 samples from a number of other European populations. Results: A high diversity of haplogroups was observed in the overall Croatian sample, and all typical European Y chromosome haplogroups with corresponding clinal patterns were observed. Three distinct genetic signals were identifiable in the Croatian paternal gene pool - I2a1b-M423, R1a1a1b1a*-M558 and E1b1b1a1b1a- V13 haplogroups. Discussion: The analyses of the dominant and autochthonous I2a1b-M423 lineage (>30%) suggest that SEE had a significant role in the Upper Paleolithic, the R1a1a1b1a*-M558 lineage (19%) represents a signal from present day Slavic populations of Central Europe in the Croatian population, and the phylogeography of the E1b1b1a1b1a-V13 clade (around 9%) implies cultural diffusion of agriculture into Europe via the Balkan Peninsula.

Croatian islands are examples of genetic isolates, with low level of heterozygosity and high level of inbreeding due to endogamy, but also due to ethnohistory, biological characteristics, migrational patterns, and ecological and sociocultural environments. Such small communities can reflect large demographic processes that happened in human prehistory and history and give us insight into the ancient migratory routes and the formation of Croatian and Southeast European gene pool. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of isolation of an insular population from the island of Lastovo in the Dubrovnik archipelago, based on the observed mitochondrial and Y chromosome haplogroup distribution. We analyzed 51 mtDNAs and 12 Y chromosomes to observe the differences and similarities in the maternal and paternal landscapes of the island. The observed haplogroups are considered to originate from Neolithic times, when the Island served as an important point on the sailing routes connecting the western and eastern coast of the Adriatic. Lastovo was in complete isolation for 500 years during the period of Dubrovnik Republic, when evolutionary forces and practice of consanguinity affected the demography of the island. Based on both mtDNA and Y chromosome markers, Lastovo showed elevated frequencies of certain subclades, most probably as a result of genetic drift, which makes the island a great outlier when compared to other Croatian populations.

Island of Hvar is situated in the central Eastern Adriatic, and its relatively small rural population has been reproductively isolated throughout history. Therefore, founder effects, genetic drift and inbreeding have had a significant role in the shaping of the current genetic diversity of Hvar Islanders. Island isolates are among the most suitable populations for theoretical analyses of microevolutionary processes and population differentiation. In this context, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) an Y chromosome studies are used to reveal demographic history, migrations, population origins and genetic structure of a population. We analyzed SNP markers of 161 mtDNAs and of 412 Y chromosomes from the island of Hvar, including STRs of 20 male islanders. Results showed a much higher number of mtDNA haplogroups (34) than Y chromosome ones (15). Haplotype diversity analysis showed low gene diversity among both mtDNAs and Y chromosomes on the island, while haplogroup distribution points to a significant population differentiation between the eastern and western part of the island. This substructure effect stems from different representation of subhaplogroups, as well as from differences between haplotypes within the same subhaplogroups and is based on specific demographic processes which occurred on Hvar during its history. When put in a wider context, haplogroups of both uniparental markers placed Hvar in the context of South- Eastern Europe, but the frequencies and the distribution of certain haplogroups significantly deviate from other SEE populations.

Metodom sekvenciranja utvrđena je genetičku predispozicija za intoleranciju laktoze u Hrvatskoj populaciji i rezultati su uspoređeni s rezultatima dobivenim imputacijom na „1000Genomes“ te s objavljenim podatcima za druge europske populacije: stanovnici države Utah podrijetlom iz sjeverne i zapadne Europe (CEU), europska “super populacija” (EUR ; kombinirane populacije iz Finske (FIN), Velike Britanije (GBR), Španjolske (IBS), Italije (TSI), CEU).

Croatian Eastern Adriatic islands represent well-characterized genetic isolates, concerning their ethnohistory, biological traits, disease prevalence, migration patterns and environmental and sociocultural characteristics. Such small communities can reflect large demographic processes that happened in human prehistory and history and give us insight into the ancient migratory paths and forming of the Croatian and Southeast European gene pool. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of isolation of insular populations based on the observed haplogroup distribution and frequencies of 720 samples from 12 Croatian subpopulations and to define the main processes that have shaped the present Y chromosome variation of Eastern Adriatic islands and Croatia in general. A high level of haplogroup and haplotype diversity has been detected in the overall sample ; the observed haplogroup frequency distributions correspond to an average European population, suggesting a dynamic gene flow in this region throughout history. The PCA plots show that the position of different Croatian subpopulations mostly corresponds to their actual geographic location. Also, it is noticeable that most of them are stretched along an axis, depending of the portion of I2a2-M423 and R1a-M458/M558 sublineages in their sample. Although the studied insular populations show an expected (mostly Paleolithic) paternal genetic structure corresponding to their geographic location, genetic structure of some islands exhibits interesting results due to the significant effect of evolutionary forces and specific historic episodes (like Lastovo, Cres and Dugi otok).

The presence of physical and cultural barriers to gene flow influences genetic differentiation between two localized subpopulations. Specifically, isolation of a population from its neighbors by geographical barriers such as the sea reduces genetic interactions between the populations and leads to higher RST values. Furthermore, the presence of certain cultural barriers to gene flow, and social practices such as endogamy, also result in increased levels of population differentiation. In this study the data obtained by the analysis of 9 autosomal STR loci in Croatian islands and Slovenian populations were integrated with the published data from other Croatian islands and wide SE European region. The sample was defined hierarchically and the influence of isolation of the Croatian islands subpopulations on substructuring of the population of Croatia, as well as the influence of the regional population groups on substructuring of South- Eastern Europe was detected. Due to the decreased influence of endogamy, lower genetic differentiation was detected at the higher level of grouping of SE European populations (RST = 0, 002) than at the level of sub- populations of Croatia (RST = 0, 005). Finally, the influence of substructuring of the aforementioned levels on the calculation of forensic statistical parameters was determined. It was found that the isolation of Croatian insular populations affects the value of forensic parameters. These findings indicate that adequate sampling of the entire subpopulation is needed to create representative DNA database of genetic STR markers that would reflect all characteristics of its subpopulations.

Rječnik sadrži bazu podataka hrvatskoga antropološkog nazivlja uz prijevodne istovrijednice na engleskom jeziku. Predstavljeni temeljni pojmovi dolaze iz nekog od četiri polja antropologije (utjecaj sjevernoameričke tradicije) ; sociokulturna antropologija, lingvistička antropologija, biološka (fizička) antropologija i arheološka antropologija.

Located in the Southeastern Europe, as a part of a wider Mediterranean region, contemporary Croatian territory has been for millenniums a crossroad of prehistoric and historic migrations, as well as a corridor and most probably a point of origin for a gene flow between distant regions. While Croatian mainland population genetically fits very well into the broader European context, its Eastern Adriatic islands population in many cases showed some deviations from the standard European background in frequency and composition of certain haplogroups, both in paternal and maternal genetic structure. Some of our islands (Cres, Rab, Mljet) can be considered as genetic outliers, not only on a local, but also on a European level. Distinct features of the Adriatic island isolates such as their reproductive and geographic isolation and high inbreeding level together with significant effect of evolutionary forces enabled for certain (pre)historic demographic events to be captured and mirrored in the genetic structure of their contemporary populations as a relic of past events. This lecture will give short overview of past and present genetic research in the Institute for Anthropological Research and our contribution in the MEDIGENE project.

This study aimed to clarify the effect that evolutionary forces and historical events have had on the population structure of Mljet, an Eastern Adriatic island, through the analyses of mtDNA and Y chromosome variability and comparison between the two markers. As previously reported, island of Mljet has the lowest mtDNA diversity among the Eastern Adriatic islands. We used 39 Y chromosome samples and previously published 68 mtDNA. For comparison, we also used 179 Y chromosome samples from the mainland city of Dubrovnik together with previously reported 181 mtDNAs. Results of both maternal and paternal haplogroup lineages on the island fit within the south-east European context. But, analysis of the mtDNA haplogroup variability showed very low diversity, which was not expected considering the relative closeness of the mainland city of Dubrovnik, as reported in previous research. After Y chromosome analysis, the variation of paternal lineages showed average diversity as usually expected, but it is not in concordance with the low mtDNA diversity. Both mtDNA and Y chromosome results could tell their own separate stories about the shaping of Mljet’s genetic landscape, but combined, they are both an outcome of numerous past demographic and migration processes. Considering very turbulent and unlucky historical events that occurred on the island, severe living environment, the practice of consanguinity and the presence of autochthonous diseases, the island of Mljet serves as an excellent example for studying the interplay of microevolutionary forces and demographic actions that shape the population structure of genetic isolates.

U ovome radu usporedili smo stres i mentalnu čvrstoću kod policijskih službenika i medicinskog osoblja. Stres na radnome mjestu ili profesionalni stres je specifična vrsta stresa, koja je kod ova dva zanimanja izrazito prisutna, dok mentalna čvrstoća, kao stabilna karakteristika ličnosti, predstavlja određeni zaštitni faktor u odnosu na stres. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrđivanje razlika u doživljenom stresu i u aspektima mentalne čvrstoće kod pozitivno selekcioniranih policijskih službenika i medicinskih sestara/medicinskih tehničara koji studiraju uz rad. Usporedno istraživanje provedeno je na namjernim uzorcima 75 medicinskih sestara u Dubrovniku te 63 kriminalista u Zagrebu. Primijenjeni su upitnici Stress test te Kratka skala čvrstoće. Analiza glavnih komponenti pokazala je postojanje dvije komponente stresa: iscrpljenost/manjak kontrole te teškoće prehrane/sna. Medicinske sestre doživljavaju veći stres u obje komponente, ali imaju i veću mentalnu čvrstoću u aspektu predanosti. Rodne razlike u obje komponente stresa ukazuju na veći stres kod žena koje pokazuju i istaknutiju predanost. Viša razina stresa kod medicinskih sestara i kod žena može se protumačiti prosječno većom stresnošću medicinskih zanimanja i stresnom dvojnom ulogom suvremenih žena, bez obzira na zanimanje.

Specific associations among perceived stress and hardiness can reflect the characteristics of workers in particular professions. The goals of this research were to analyze sets of correlations between the aspects of hardiness and experienced stress, separately for two subsamples of subjects in the research, and on the entire sample. Then, the goal was to determine the correlations among the aspects of stress and hardiness, with three variables: age, work experience and number of children. A correlative study was conducted in Croatia on two samples: 75 nursing and 63 criminology students, using Stress-test (ST) and Short Hardiness Scale (SHS). The results showed low and negative correlations among two aspects of hardiness and the dimensions of stress. Aspects of hardiness was not correlated with the dimension of diet and sleep difficulties. There are no statistical significant correlations between age, work experience and number of children with stress. The aspect of control becomes lower emphasized with age, mainly at nurses

High mtDNA variation in Southeastern Europe (SEE) is a reflection of the turbulent and complex demographic history of this area, influenced by gene flow from various parts of Eurasia and a long history of intermixing. Our results of 1035 samples (488 from Croatia, 239 from Bosnia and 130 from Herzegovina, reported earlier, and 97 Slovenians and 81 individuals from Žumberak, reported here for the first time) show that the SEE maternal genetic diversity fits within a broader European maternal genetic landscape. The study also shows that the population of Žumberak, located in the continental part of Croatia, developed some unique mtDNA haplotypes and elevated haplogroup frequencies due to distinctive demographic history and can be considered a moderate genetic isolate. We also report seven samples from the Bosnian population and one Herzegovinian sample designated as X2* individuals, that could not be asigned to any of its sublineages (X2a’o) according to the existing X2 phylogeny. In attempt to clarify the phylogeny of our X2 samples, their mitochondrial DNA has been completely sequenced. We suppose that these lineages are signs of local micro-differentiation processes that occured in a recent demographic past of this area and could possibly be marked as SEE-specific X2 sublineages.

The Roma are a minority group that do not share a common homeland, speak different languages and consist of individuals of various religions. Population-genetic studies of Roma, as a transnational isolate, have mostly sought to compare their genetic affinities with proposed parental populations. The aim of this study is to assess the genetic structure of the Bayash Roma population from northwestern Croatia, and in the general Croatian population, to investigate the extent of admixture between them. Population differentiation and structure was analyzed on a set of genetic microsatellite data from two original studies (100 Bayash Roma from northwestern Croatia and 195 individuals from the general Croatian population). Results demonstrated that two population clusters best explain the genetic structure. Most of the individuals of the Bayash Roma population were assigned to a single genetic cluster and most of the individuals of the general Croatian population were assigned to another. Admixture analysis revealed that the percentage of non- Croatian individuals in general Croatian population is approximately twofold higher than percentage of non-Romani individuals in Romani population. Higher percentages of admixed and non-Croatian individuals found in the general Croatian population and lower percentages of admixed and non-Roma individuals found in the Bayash Roma population is in line with the presence of ethnomimicry in Roma.

Fine structural details of glycans attached to the conserved N-glycosylation site significantly affect function of individual IgG molecules, but also mediate inflammation at the systemic level. By analysing IgG glycosylation in 5117 individuals from four European populations we have revealed very complex patterns of changes of IgG glycosylation with age. Several IgG glycans (including FA2B, FA2G2, FA2BG2) changed considerably with age and the combination of these three glycans can explain up to 58% of variance in chronological age, significantly more than other markers of biological age like telomere lengths. The remaining variance in these glycans strongly correlated with physiological parameters associated with biological age. Thus IgG glycosylation appears to be closely linked with both chronological and biological age. Considering the important role of IgG glycans in inflammation, and since the observed changes with age promote inflammation, changes in IgG glycosylation also seem to represent a factor contributing to aging.

Adriatic islanders have a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) although they have traditionally practiced an active lifestyle and adhered to a Mediterranean diet. We performed a cross-sectional study to identify dietary patterns in a sample of 1442 adults from the island of Hvar, and determined whether MetS and its components: waist-circumference, serum triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, HDL-cholesterol, and blood pressure, were related to an altered pattern of the traditional Mediterranean diet. Dietary intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. MetS was defined using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Our study showed that dietary patterns in this population have diversified from the traditional diet. Principal component analysis identified three major patterns. The meat, alcohol, and fish pattern (MAFp), sweets, grains, and fats pattern (SGFp), and an olive-oil, vegetables, and fruits pattern (OVFp) explained 30.6% of total dietary variance. The MAFp associated significantly with MetS (p = 0.027) and high plasma glucose (p = 0.006).

Vjerovanje u pravedan svijet (u daljnjem tekstu VUPS) predstavlja našu želju da je svijet u načelu pravedno mjesto. Pravda je shvaćena na način reciprociteta: svatko dobije što zaslužuje. Dobrim ljudima se stoga ne događaju loše stvari, ali se lošim ljudima događaju loše. Dobra djela uvijek će biti nagrađena, a loša kažnjena. Vjerovanje u pravednost svijeta jedno je od fundamentalnih vjerovanja, koje pojedincu pruža osjećaj sigurnosti, mogućnosti kontrole i predviđanja događaja u svijetu u kojem živi. Ovo je jedna vrsta obrambenog mehanizma: nastoji se objasniti da se loše stvari događaju s nekom svrhom, u protivnom kad bi se događale slučajno (tj. kad bi svatko mogao postati žrtva), to bi donijelo previše tjeskobe u život. VUPS svakako doprinosi dobrobiti i zdravlju pojedinca. Gledajući kroz sestrinstvo, pacijentova potreba za vjerovanjem u pravedan svijet svakako bi se trebala očitovati kroz istinsku volju za zdravim i kvalitetnim životom. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi postoji li razlika vjerovanja u pravedan svijet između studenata sestrinstva Zagreba i Dubrovnika. Ispitanici su polaznici III godine studija Sestrinstva u Dubrovniku i II godine studija Sestrinstva u Zagrebu. U ovom istraživanju iskušana je upotrebljivost skraćene hrvatske verzije upitnika Ćubele i Jurkin iz 2010. Iz izvornog upitnika odabrali smo ukupno 6 tvrdnji (čestica), od kojih tri čestice upitnika opisuju imanentnu a tri ultimativnu pravdu. Utvrdili smo da ne postoje statistički značajne razlike VUPS u odnosu na mjesto studiranja studenata Zagreba i studenata Dubrovnika. Također, naša pretpostavka da su mlađe osobe sklonije imanentnoj pravdi pokazala se netočnom. Ne postoji razlika između osoba s više i manje godina radnog staža, kao ni razlika u odnosu na bračno stanje.

The Croatian Island of Rab is situated in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Evidence of human presence are seen from the Neolithic period and ever since this Island has been inhabitated by many ethnically different populations. After Illyrians and Romans, one of the most genetically and historically important periods was arrivals of Slavic tribes from 8th until 10th century. Here we present the evidence of high impact of the genetic drift on the genetic diversity and structure of the contemporary Rab Islanders. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups of 163 autochthonous inhabitants from 5 settlements revealed relatively high level of haplogroup and haplotype diversity in the overall sample due to dynamic gene flow throughout history. On the other hand, only four haplogroups (H6, HV, J1c and U4) encompass more than one half of total maternal gene pool of this Island. Even so, every fourth contemporary Islander has one particular haplotype of U4d2 haplogroup. This is so far the most frequent finding of this haplogroup ever reported in any population (24.5 %). One possible explanation of such high deviation from average European frequency could be due to several epidemics of plague in 15th and 16th century when a vast majority of population died, in some cases almost 90 % of some settlements were devastated. The results of this study gave insight into microevolutionary processes that shaped the current maternal gene pool of this northern Adriatic Island.

IgG Fc glycosylation modulates inflammation and through promotion or suppression of inflammation it may significantly contribute to the process of biological aging. By analysing IgG glycosylation in 5117 individuals from four European populations we have revealed very extensive and complex changes of IgG glycosylation with age. The index composed of only three IgG glycans (FA2B, FA2G2 and FA2BG2) that considerably change with age explained 58% of variance in chronological age. The remaining variance in these glycans strongly correlated with physiological parameters associated with biological age. Thus IgG glycosylation appears to be closely linked with both chronological and biological age. Considering the important role of IgG glycans in inflammation, and since the observed changes with age promote inflammation, changes in IgG glycosylation may actually represent a factor contributing to aging.

Slovenia is a European country situated at the crossroads of main European cultural and trade routes. It is geographically more linked to Central Europe, but history draws it closer together to its ex-Yugoslavian, Southeast European (SEE) neighbors. Slovenian maternal heritage has not been analyzed since 2003 and our aim was to analyze SNP markers of 97 Slovenian mtDNAs in high resolution to see where this population fits according to its maternal genetic variation. We compared the Slovenian sample with the neighboring SEE populations, as well as with other published European population datasets. Also, we compared the obtained mtDNA variation results with the available Slovenian Y chromosome data to see how these two uniparental marker systems correspond to each other. In the PC plot based on mtDNA haplogroups frequencies, Slovenian population has an outlying position mostly due to the increased prevalence of J (14.4%) and T (15.4%) clade and especially because of the abundance and diversity of J1c samples in Slovenia, represented with 8 haplotypes and in a percentage of >11%. Although in an outlying position, Slovenian mtDNA variation still shows a certain degree of affinity to SEE. On the contrary, Slovenia’s paternal genetic heritage yielded results that correspond to the population's geographic location and groups Slovenian population considerably closer to Central European countries, based on increased prevalence of Northern/Central European R1a-M198 and decreased frequency of Balkan-specific I2a2- M423. Such differences in maternal and paternal marker systems could indicate that Slovenian genetic variation was influenced by sex-biased demographic events.