Search

Abstract Due to the increasing importance of exposome in environmental epidemiology, feasibility and usefulness of an Environmental Data Management System (EDMS) using Open Data was evaluated. The EDMS includes data from 10 European cities (Celje (Slovenia), Łódź (Poland), Manchester (UK), Palermo (Italy), Paris (France), Porto (Portugal), Regensburg (Germany), Reus (Spain), Rijeka (Croatia), Thessaloniki (Greece)) about external non-specific and specific exposome factors at the city or country level (2017–2020). Findings showed that the highest values of life expectancy were in Reus females (86 years) and Palermo males (81 years). UK had the highest obesity rate (28%), Croatia the highest prescribed drug consumption (62%), Greece and Portugal the highest smoking rates (37%, 42%) and daily alcohol consumption (21%), respectively. The most polluted cities were Thessaloniki for PM10 (38 µg/m3), Łódź for PM2.5 (25 µg/m3), Porto for NO2 (62 µg/m3) and Rijeka for O3 (92 µg/m3). Thessaloniki had the highest grey space (98%) and Łódź the highest cumulative amount of pollen (39,041 p/m3). The highest daily noise levels ≥ 55 dB was in Reus (81% to traffic) and Regensburg (21% to railway). In drinking water, arsenic had the highest value in Thessaloniki (6.4 µg/L), boron in Celje (24 mg/L) and lead in Paris (46.7 µg/L). Portugal and Greece showed the highest pesticide residues in food (7%). In conclusion, utilizing open-access databases enables the translation of research findings into actionable strategies for public health interventions.

Abstract We explored the impact of coronavirus virus 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic on patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) and their family. With European patient advocacy groups (PAGs), we developed an online survey in 10 languages to question health status, behavior, personal protection, and health services before and after lockdown. Approximately 538 European PAG members received electronic invitations. Survey ran from April 14, to May 17, 2020, with 219 answers; median age 9 year 10 months. Protection against infection was highly used prior to COVID‐19, but 88% added facemask‐use according to pandemic recommendations. Only one patient was tested positive for COVID‐19. Most had stable epilepsy during lockdown, and few families (4%) needed emergency care during lockdown. However, behavior disorder worsened in over one‐third of patients, regardless of epilepsy changes. Half of appointments scheduled prior to lockdown were postponed; 12 patients (11%) had appointments fulfilled; and 39 (36%) had remote consultations. Responders welcomed remote consultations. Half of responders were unsatisfied with psychological remote support as only few (21 families) received this support. None of the five of patient in clinical trials stopped investigational treatment. Prior adoption of protective measures against general infection might have contributed to avoiding COVID‐19 infections. Protocols for the favored remote contact ought to now be prepared.

Abstract Background Mowat–Wilson syndrome (MWS; OMIM #235730) is a genetic condition caused by heterozygous mutations or deletions of the ZEB2 gene. It is characterized by moderate-severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, Hirschsprung disease and multiple organ malformations of which congenital heart defects and urogenital anomalies are the most frequent ones. To date, a clear description of the physical development of MWS patients does not exist. The aim of this study is to provide up-to-date growth charts specific for infants and children with MWS. Charts for males and females aged from 0 to 16 years were generated using a total of 2865 measurements from 99 MWS patients of different ancestries. All data were collected through extensive collaborations with the Italian MWS association (AIMW) and the MWS Foundation. The GAMLSS package for the R statistical computing software was used to model the growth charts. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and head circumference were compared to those from standard international growth charts for healthy children. Results In newborns, weight and length were distributed as in the general population, while head circumference was slightly smaller, with an average below the 30th centile. Up to the age of 7 years, weight and height distribution was shifted to slightly lower values than in the general population; after that, the difference increased further, with 50% of the affected children below the 5th centile of the general population. BMI distribution was similar to that of non-affected children until the age of 7 years, at which point values in MWS children increased with a less steep slope, particularly in males. Microcephaly was sometimes present at birth, but in most cases it developed gradually during infancy; many children had a small head circumference, between the 3rd and the 10th centile, rather than being truly microcephalic (at least 2 SD below the mean). Most patients were of slender build. Conclusions These charts contribute to the understanding of the natural history of MWS and should assist pediatricians and other caregivers in providing optimal care to MWS individuals who show problems related to physical growth. This is the first study on growth in patients with MWS.

Background: Mitochondrial disorders are heterogeneous clinical syndromes caused by defective activity in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, resulting in a faulty oxidative phosphorylation system. These inherited disorders are individually rare, and furthermore they are phenotypic variables. The genetically characterized mitochondrial disorders are rarely associated with epileptic encephalopathies. Case presentation: We present the clinical phenotype, biochemical analysis, and electrographic and neuro-radiological features of a 5-month-old girl with epileptic encephalopathy, microcephaly, severe psychomotor delay, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and abnormal MRI scan. Using whole-genome sequencing technique, compound heterozygous mutations of the VARS2 gene were revealed, with one previously unreported frameshift mutation. Conclusion: Our report extends the phenotypic spectrum of VARS2-related disorders with an initial presentation of epileptic encephalopathy and early death due to malignant arrhythmia.

Rano suzbijanje, prekidanje epileptičkih napadaja središnji je stup u strategiji njihova liječenja. Većina epileptičkih napadaja događa se izvan medicinske ustanove, najčešće u kućnom okruženju. Stoga smo izradili i predložili ovaj algoritam zbrinjavanja motoričkih/konvulzivnih epileptičkih napadaja u izvanbolničkom okruženju, prvenstveno s ciljem pružanja uniformne informacije i edukacije roditelja/skrbnika te za olakšavanje snalaženja liječnicima primarne zdravstvene zaštite i timovima hitne medicinske pomoći. Za potrebe pisanja ovog rada analizirali smo i sintetizirali postojeće smjernice u cilju preporuke jednostavnog, razumljivog i racionalnog terapijskog algoritma koji savjetujemo i primjenjujemo kao službeni algoritam preporuka naše ustanove. U njegovoj izradi usmjerili smo se na svjetske i nacionalne preporučene algoritme kao i dostupne studije koje su, koliko je to moguće, temeljene na dokazima. Prema našim saznanjima ovo je prvi pisani nacionalni algoritam takve vrste te do sada nisu postajale pisane smjernice/upute za liječenje epileptičkih napadaja, produljenih epileptičkih napadaja i epileptičkog statusa u izvanbolničkom okruženju uzimajući u obzir dostupnost, racionalnost i primjenjivost pojedinih lijekova u izvanbolničkim uvjetima, uvažavajući kliničku praksu u Republici Hrvatskoj. Sukladno navedenom, primjena benzodiazepina (BZD), vremenski jasno definirana, smatra se prvom linijom liječenja epileptičkog napadaja. Izvanbolnička primjena BZD-a, prvenstveno midazolama za orkomukuznu primjenu ili diazepama za rektalnu primjenu, povezana je s kraćim trajanjem generaliziranih konvulzivnih napadaja, smanjenjem vjerojatnosti ponavljajućih napadaja i smanjenjem broja posjeta hitnoj pomoći. Ukoliko napadaj potraje >3 minuta, svakako je potrebno žurno primijeniti jedan od BZD-a, pod pretpostavkom da ga se posjeduje (midazolam oromukozno – prednost! ili diazepam rektalno), te isto ponoviti u slučaju daljnjeg trajanja napadaja duljeg od pet minuta te pozvati/alarmirati sustav hitne medicinske pomoći. Uz provođenje mjera održavanja vitalnih funkcija potrebno je inzistirati na intravaskularnom pristupu za ponovljenu primjenu BZD-a, no doza BZD-a može se ponoviti intramuskularno. U rijetkim slučajevima može se primijeniti fenobarbiton intramuskularno, kao i levetiracetam intravenozno, a u slučaju izostanka njihova učinka započeti s primjenom midazolama u trajnoj infuziji. Dostupnost primjerenih oblika BZD-a, sukladno smjernicama, u izvanbolničkom okruženju kao i njihova pravilna uporaba – pravodobna primjena i odgovarajuće doziranje početkom napadaja – dva su ključna koraka prema poboljšanju cjelokupne zdravstvene skrbi u djece s visokim rizikom za pojavu epileptičkih napadaja i djece s epilepsijom. Navedeno ujedno predstavlja i pravovremeno suzbijanje produljenih epileptičkih napadaja i prevenciju epileptičkog statusa.

Febrilne konvulzije najčešći su konvulzivni poremećaj u djetinjstvu, zbog čega bi liječnici trebali biti upoznati s pravilnom procjenom i liječenjem ovoga uobičajenog stanja. Definira se kao bilo koji napadaj popraćen vrućicom, bez infekcije središnjega živčanog sustava, koji se javlja kod djece između šest mjeseci i pet godina. U upotrebi je pet kriterija prema kojima se klasificiraju kao jednostavne ili složene febrilne konvulzije. Ova klasifikacija nudi drugačije smjernice za kliničku praksu, poglavito odluku o provođenju lumbalne punkcije kako bi se isključila intrakranijalna infekcija. Hrvatsko društvo za dječju neurologiju izradilo je 2012. godine prve smjernice za racionalnu dijagnostiku i terapiju febrilnih konvulzija koje su trebale biti izvedive u svim bolničkim ustanovama u Republici Hrvatskoj. Iako su smjernice bile od velike pomoći mnogim kliničarima, dobivanjem novih medicinskih dokaza i razumijevanjem kliničkih entiteta koju se prezentiraju febrilnim konvulzijama, a variraju od samolimitirajućeg poremećaja bez dugoročnih posljedica preko samoograničavajućih i medikamentima kontroliranih entiteta pa sve do teških epileptičkih encefalopatija, nove smjernice pridonose postavljanju dijagnoze u hitnoj ambulanti, uključuju preporuke o hospitalizaciji, primjeni elektroencefalografije, neuroslikovnih pretraga, profilaksi diazepamom i antipireticima. Iako nove smjernice sadrže nove kliničke preporuke, ostavljaju neka neriješena pitanja na koja buduća klinička istraživanja trebaju ponuditi odgovore.

Epilepsy is the only chronic neurological disease that can be fully controlled by drugs or introduced into permanent remission. Nonetheless, pharmacological treatment of epilepsy is often accompanied by a range of diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Due to a wide variety of available antiepileptics, the selection of the first antiepileptic, as well as the combination of polytherapy, is extremely large. The choice of the ideal antiepileptic is individual and depends on a variety of factors based on the pharmacological properties of the drug and the disctinctiveness of every patient (type of seizure, age,sex, profession, comorbidity, co medication, etc.) with specific regulatory limitations (availability,price, indications of regulatory bodies). The basics of rational pharmacotherapy include slow titration of antiepileptics in monotherapy to satisfactory effect, slow drug replacement in the event of failure of the first antiepileptic, combination of two antiepileptics of different mechanism of action or selection of synergistic combinations if dual therapy is necessary, avoiding three or multiple polyterapies whenever possible, and slow reduction of antiepileptic drug after achieving a long-lasting remission.Current ILAE guidelines for epilepsy treatment imply basic and comprehensive recommendations that are acceptable worldwide, including countries with the lowest economic standard. Therefore, these guidelines do not reflect the ideal treatment options, especially in developed countries, and are actually the basis for making national guidelines. The Croatian guidelines for pharmacological treatment of epilepsy are the product of the co-operation of all relevant professional societies and reference centers in the Republic of Croatia, headed by the Croatian League Against Epilepsy and the Croatian Neurological Society. These guidelines reflect the current socioeconomic specificities in our country,the latest knowledge of pharmacological profiles, and efficacy of certain antiepileptics as well as expert opinions.

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic diseases in children, and cannot be controlled with conventional antiepileptic drugs in 30% of cases. Therefore, in these cases, alternative approach such as corticosteroid therapy (CT) is used. The aim of this study was to analyze different types of CT used to treat drug-resistant childhood epilepsies, treated at Rijeka University Hospital Centre during a 5-year period (2016-2020). This retrospective study included 32 patients. The following parameters were analyzed: number of patients with a particular diagnosis, average age (in months) at the onset of epilepsy, average epilepsy duration (in months) prior to CT, average number of antiepileptic drugs used prior to CT, presence of changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), presence of comorbidities, and types of CT. The average age at the onset of epilepsy was 14 months and average epilepsy duration prior to CT was 16 months. On average, 5 antiepileptic drugs were used prior to CT. MRI changes were present in 53.13% and comorbidities in 81.25% of study patients. Prednisone therapy was used in 28.13%, combined therapy with prednisone and methylprednisolone in 65.63%, and methylprednisolone in 6.25% of patients. Study results revealed the use of CT for particular diagnosis to differ among the centers, as well as within the same center, so it is important to highlight the importance of reaching universal guidelines for CT therapy of childhood epilepsies.

We investigated the relationship between lipid binding glycoprotein apolipoprotein E (apoE; gene APOE) polymorphisms (ε4 allele carriers versus no carriers = ε4+/ε4−) and trace elements (TEs) (e.g., (methyl)mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, selenium, manganese, copper, and zinc) in mothers (N = 223) and their new-borns (N = 213) exposed to potentially toxic metal(loid)s from seafood consumption. The apoE isoform encoded by the ε4 allele is believed to have beneficial effects in early life but represents a risk factor for age-associated diseases. Under certain conditions ε4 carriers are more susceptible to oxidative stress and metal(loid) toxicity. DNA from Croatian pregnant women (N = 223, third trimester) and their new-borns (N = 176), was genotyped for APOE by TaqMan® SNP assay – rs429358 and rs7412. Seafood intake data and TE levels in maternal urine, milk, hair, peripheral venous blood, mixed cord blood, and new-borns’ urine were available from previous studies. We compared TEs between ε4+ and ε4− carriers using Mann-Whitney U tests and applied multiple linear regression models to analyse the TE’s dependence on the presence of allele ε4 (genotypes ε3/ε4, ε4/ε4) in combination with other explanatory variables. We identified 17% (n = 37) and 20% (n = 35) ε4 allele carriers in mothers and new-borns, respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that mothers with the ε4 allele had significantly higher mean levels of (methyl)mercury in peripheral venous blood, cord blood, and hair; arsenic in urine and cord blood; and selenium in peripheral venous blood and plasma. However, taking confounders into account, only the maternal plasma selenium remained statistically significant in the linear regression models (ε4 carriers vs non-carriers: 62.6 vs 54.9 ng/mL, p

Few studies provide a detailed description of dietary habits during pregnancy, despite the central role of nutrition for the health of the mother and offspring. This paper describes the dietary habits, energy and nutrient intake in pregnant women from four countries belonging to the Mediterranean PHIME cohort (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia) and evaluates their adherence to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. A total of 1436 women were included in the present analysis. Maternal diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The mean macro and micronutrient intakes were estimated and compared with the dietary reference values (DRVs). The percentage distribution of the 16 food groups in the total intake of each macronutrient was estimated. All women shared a similar diet during pregnancy; almost all the women in the four countries exceeded the DRV for sugars, and the total fat intake was above the DRV in most women in all the countries, as was the contribution of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to the total energy intake. In all four countries, we observed an increased risk of micronutrient deficiency for iron, folate and vitamin D. Shared guidelines, implemented at both the national and European level, are essential to improve the maternal nutritional status during pregnancy.