Our aim was to determine the incidence of prediabetes and risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This prospective, observational study included 148 women with PCOS, without Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and CVD present at baseline. In the fasting blood samples, we measured lipids, glucose, and insulin levels during oral glucose tolerance test, levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), steroids, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and parathyroid hormone. The follow-up period was 3 years. At baseline, prevalent prediabetes was present in 18 (12%) of PCOS cases and it progressed to T2DM in 5 (3%) of the cases. Incident prediabetes during the follow-up was noted in 47 (32%) women or 4.7 per 1000 persons/year. Prediabetes was associated with elevated body mass index (BMI) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.089, confidence interval [CI]: 1.010; 1.174, p = 0.026), high baseline levels of CRP (OR = 3.286, CI: 1.299; 8.312, p = 0.012), homeostatic model assessment - insulin resistance (IR) (OR = 2.628, CI: 1.535; 4.498, p < 0.001), and high lipid accumulation product (LAP) (OR = 1.009, CI: 1.003; 1.016, p = 0.005). Furthermore, prediabetes was associated with low 25-OHD (OR = 0.795, CI: 0.724; 0.880, p ≤ 0.05). In addition, cardiovascular risk in PCOS women with prediabetes was high (hazard ratio = 1.092, CI: 1.036; 1.128, p < 0.001). We showed association of prediabetes with high BMI, IR, markers of inflammation, LAP, and low serum 25-OHD concentration. IR appears to be more relevant than the other predictors of prediabetes risk in this study. PCOS women are considered as a high-risk population for prediabetes.

We investigated concentrations and roles of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and its binding protein (IGF1BP-3), growth hormone (GH), insulin, and markers of insulin resistance and inflammation in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to assess any possible association between serum GH/IGF-1 axis following AMI and short-term survival rates. A follow up study was performed in 2010. Study group consisted of 75 patients with Killip I and II class AMI. There were 30 control subjects. Blood samples were obtained within 24 hours of admission and analyzed for the aforementioned hormones. Patients were followed-up during 6 months for new cardiac events. Median GH was higher in AMI (0.96; range 0.6-2.4) than in controls (0.26; p<0.001). IGF-1 was significantly lower in AMI (123 vs. 132; p<0.05), and so was the IGF-1/GH ratio (p<0.001) and IGF1BP-3. Insulin was higher in study group, but without statistical significance. However, we found significant between-group differences in other markers of insulin resistance (HbA1c, glycemia, HOMA-IR) and inflammation. Simple linear correlation showed positive correlation between GH and C-reactive protein. All patients with new cardiac events had IGF-1 below median and lower left ventricular ejection fraction. In conclusion, IGF-1 may affect outcome of AMI. GH resistance might be a result of inflammatory/immune response and therefore it could be a useful prognostic marker.

Elderly people, especially those institutionalized in long-term care facilities, are at risk of various oral diseases. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of hyposalivation and colonization/oral fungal infection of oral cavity with yeasts, as well as dental status in institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly. The study included 280 institutionalized and 61 non-institutionalized elderly people. Salivary flow rate, oral colonization with yeasts/oral infection and dental status were assessed and compared between the groups. The institutionalized elderly had a significantly lower salivary flow rate (p=0.035). Oral colonization with yeasts was more frequently found in institutionalized elderly (p<0.001) as compared with non-institutionalized elderly. A negative correlation was found between decreased salivary flow rate and oral yeast colonization and oral fungal infection in both the institutionalized (rs=-0.58; p<0.05) and non-institutionalized (rs=-0.52; p<0.05) groups. A significant difference in DMFT index was observed between the two groups (p<0.001). A negative correlation between decreased salivary flow rate and dental status was found in both the institutionalized (rs=-0.22; p<0.05) and non-institutionalized (rs=-0.56; p<0.05) groups. The results revealed a significantly higher level of hyposalivation and oral yeast colonization and poorer dental status in the institutionalized group as compared with the non-institutionalized group of elderly people.

We use B. Randol’s method to improve the error term in the prime geodesic theorem for a noncompact Riemann surface having at least one cusp. The case considered is a general one, corresponding to a Fuchsian group of the first kind and a multiplier system with a weight on it.

Fiber tractography based on non-invasive diffusion imaging is at the heart of connectivity studies of the human brain. To date, the approach has not been systematically validated in ground truth studies. Based on a simulated human brain dataset with ground truth white matter tracts, we organized an open international tractography challenge, which resulted in 96 distinct submissions from 20 research groups. While most state-of-the-art algorithms reconstructed 90% of ground truth bundles to at least some extent, on average they produced four times more invalid than valid bundles. About half of the invalid bundles occurred systematically in the majority of submissions. Our results demonstrate fundamental ambiguities inherent to tract reconstruction methods based on diffusion orientation information, with critical consequences for the approach of diffusion tractography in particular and human connectivity studies in general.

: Turopolje pig (TP) is a native Croatian breed, created during the early middle ages in Turopolje region in Central Croatia. It is a medium-sized, primitive, fatty-type breed. Due to their modest rearing requirements, its resistance and good adaptation to local marsh meadows and oak forests, the TP breed has been an important food source for the local population for centuries. However, the rapid penetration of imported lean pigs in the second half of the 20th century, as well as the ban of forest grazing, significantly reduced the interest in this breed. The result was a drastic decrease in the population size. Currently, despite the state support, TP breed is still endangered, with a population of only 132 sows and 30 boars kept in 16 farms. Hence, a new strategy is needed for renewing the TP breed, based on purebred animals, which should be preserved as a resource for local livestock production and sustainable development. Unfortunately, few recent data on the morphological and reproductive traits of TP are available. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine these traits on TP breeding sows (n=40) reared in a traditional outdoor system on a farm with the largest single herd of TP. The mean (±st. dev.) age (months) and body weight (kg) of sows were 67.5±26.0 and 96.6±18.4, respectively. Height at withers and rumps, chest girth, body, head, ear and tail lengths were 65.2±2.8, 68.4±2.9, 111.2±10.4, 126.0±5.2, 27.0±0.90, 22.5±8.3 and 29.9±2.01 cm, respectively. The average number of piglets born alive was 4.47±1.96, of which 3.08±2.17 were weaned. The age at first farrowing was 22.1±7.9 months. Data were collected within H2020 project TREASURE *.

Lukavac, as many other Bosnian and Herzegovinian industrial cities, especially in the winter period, has deteriorated air quality and the greatest polluters are industry, individual heating and transportation. Considering that Lukavac is situated in the valley in which numerous industrial facilities are installed, in the periods of unfavorable weather conditions the town and its surroundings are naturally predisposed for additional air pollution. In this paper we analyze the possibility to form bioparks, which would have positive impacts on the ecological and economic conditions in Lukavac and similar environments. To establish the bioparks, the degraded and abandoned land surfaces, caused by soil erosion or the surface exploitation of mineral resources, could be used. These are located at numerous locations and cover large areas, both in Lukavac and in other industrial areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This paper presents the basic biological characteristics of paulownia and possibilities of planting this tree in areas that are now unused, in the space which is characterized by extreme pollution of atmospheric complex. The selected method is bioremediation, and in this case it is the planting of biological material or woody plant species Paulownija elongata. In this way the degraded surfaces would get the function of biological parks, that is, they would become "oxygen producer" surfaces, and absorbers of CO2 which is emitted from industrial plants. This species has rapid growth and development of biomass, so the bioparks could be used to serve as the surfaces for alternative fuel with minimal amounts of sulfur, and also as eco - educational parks.