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To investigate the effect of playing wind instruments on lung function and respiratory symptoms. Our data suggest that musicians playing wind instruments may be susceptible to chronic upper airway symptoms. Interestingly wind instrument playing may be, associated with greater than expected lung function parameters.

The prevalences of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and lung function changes were studied in a group of 806 workers working in a "clean environment." Acute symptoms during the work shift were reported by smokers but were essentially absent in nonsmokers. Chronic respiratory-symptom prevalences were similar to those reported in community-based populations, with smokers experiencing more chronic symptoms than nonsmokers. Baseline lung function measurements indicated no significant differences with values obtained from prediction equations based on community populations. There were significant across-shift increases in all ventilatory capacity tests (forced vital capacity, 1-second forced expiratory volume, and maximum expiratory flow rates at 50% and the last 25% of the vital capacity) varying from +1.9% to +9.8% of the preshift values. Workers older than 40 years of age and those employed for more than 10 years had similar across-shift changes compared with younger workers and those with longer durations of employment. Our data indicate that workers in clean work environments (with the exception of smokers) complain of few acute or chronic respiratory symptoms and have normal lung function. These workers experience increases in lung function across the work shift, probably reflecting normal diurnal variation. Smokers, although significantly more affected than nonsmokers, do not appear to have work-related findings, and smoking appears to be the most significant risk factor for the development of lung disease in unexposed workers. In this study, community-based control data was equivalent to worker control data in unexposed workers.

Reliable epidemiological data on cardiovascular risk factors in Croatia have been lacking. This new study identifies targets for interventions.

Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the nutrition pattern and lifestyle for people who died by CVD. Data: Population included cohort from continental and island regions of Croatia characterized by different nutrition, especially considering fat and/or oil. Three groups of respondents were analyzed: whole population - WP, population of people died by CVD ; at the beginning of the study they were not taking drugs - CVD-N, and population of people died by CVD ; at the beginning of the study they were taking drugs - CVD-Y. Results: Group CVD-N was characterized by higher proportion of people taking less than three meals per day (25.1%) comparing with WP (15%) and CVD-Y (10.9%) ; they prepare their food primarily with animal fat - even more than the whole population. Group CVD-Y was characterized by higher proportion of people preparing their food with oil, especially for preparing vegetables (63.5% comparing with 24.9% in whole population, and 16.4% in CVD-N group). Most important is the fact that CVD-N group was not different from general population, but it was very different comparing with CVD-Y, because CVD-N more than CVD-Y smoke, consumes animal fat, alcohol, and coffee. Blood pressure, cholesterol and post load glucose showed a little bit lower, but not significantly different values in CVD-N and CVD-Y. However the whole population show about 20 mm Hg lower blood pressure, and about 10 mg lower post load glucose comparing with both CVD-N and CVD-Y groups. CVD-Y was older in average than others, especially comparing with general population (64.9 vs. 50.1). They were also with higher BMI, 27% comparing with 25.5% in both general population and CVD-N. Age of death was also higher in average than in other groups (75 comparing with 73 in CVD-N and 72.2 in general population).