PREVALENCE OF FOOT DEFORMITIES IN YOUNG SCHOOLCHILDREN IN SLAVONIA.

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of foot deformity in urban children, as well as possible generational and gender differences using graphic and angular methods. The sample of study subjects included 426 1st to 4th grade schoolchildren (7 to 10 years of age). Out of the total number of schoolchildren, 181 children (88 boys and 93 girls) were measured in 2005, and 244 children (122 boys and 123 girls) in 2011. The results indicated that the largest number of children had no noticeable foot deformity, flat foot in particular. Likewise, there were no gender differences in the occurrence of flat foot and no statistically significant differences in the incidence between the children measured in 2005 and 2011. Due to the problems that foot deformities could cause, it is necessary to continue monitoring foot arches of young schoolchildren in order to intervene on time and prevent the occurrence of deformities by appropriate therapeutic procedures.

Impact of habitat heterogeneity on zooplankton assembly in a temperate river-floodplain system.

Dissimilar life features of Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda enable these organisms to respond differently to changes in the hydrological regime which influence alterations in environmental characteristics. We investigated the effect of habitat heterogeneity (e.g. eupotamal, parapotamal, palaeopotamal) on individual zooplankton group assemblages and biodiversity indices (α, ß and γ diversity) during hydro regime change in floodplain waterbodies. Dissolved oxygen and organic nitrogen concentrations changed significantly among hydrological states while water depth was affected by both site and hydro regime replacement. Each studied site supported different zooplankton assemblage that highly depended on species-specific responses to hydro regime change. Also, individual zooplankton groups exhibited different correlations with specific environmental parameters regarding site change. Throughout the study, rotifers' local (α) and among-community (ß) diversities were susceptible to the site and inundation change while the microcrustacean biodiversity pattern diverged. Copepods highly discriminated different habitat types and hydrological phases at the regional scale (γ diversity), while we found a complete lack of biodiversity dependence on both site and hydrology for Cladocera. Our results show that heterogeneous environments support the development of different zooplankton assemblages that express the within-group dissimilarities. They also point to the importance of identifying processes in hydrologically variable ecosystems that influence biodiversity patterns at an individual zooplankton group level. Our results suggest the use of appropriate zooplankton groups as biological markers in natural habitats and stress the importance of proper management in preserving biodiversity in floodplain areas.

Does body mass index and position of impacted lower third molar affect the postoperative pain intensity?

The main objective of this study was to determine to which extent body mass index and position of impacted lower third molar was affecting the pain intensity in the first seven postoperative days. The study was conducted following the extraction of the lower third molar in 108 patients. Depending on the type of information given to each particular patient, the patients were divided in two groups: the test group where patients were given detailed standard written and verbal instructions and the control group which received only standard written instructions about treatment after surgery. Using canonical discriminant analysis we investigated the influence of body mass index and the position of impacted lower third molar on postoperative pain intensity in two groups of patients. Results of this study showed that the body mass index or the tooth position did not have influence on intensity of postoperative pain. The body mass index and the position of impacted lower third molar do not affect the postoperative pain intensity.