Nordic Hamstring Strength of Highly Trained Youth Football Players and Its Relation to Sprint Performance.

Markovic, G, Sarabon, N, Boban, F, Zoric, I, Jelcic, M, Sos, K, and Scappaticci, M. Nordic hamstring strength of highly trained youth football players and its relation to sprint performance. J Strength Cond Res 34(3): 800-807, 2020-We aimed to characterize Nordic hamstring (NH) strength and bilateral NH strength asymmetry in highly trained youth footballers and to investigate the relationship between NH strength and sprint performance. Twenty-two adult and 133 highly trained youth footballers in the age groups U12-U18 participated in this study. Eccentric hamstring strength was assessed using the NH device. Youth footballers (n = 119) also performed 20-m sprint test. Age-related changes in absolute and relative NH strength, and bilateral NH strength asymmetry were analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance. The linear relationship between relative NH strength and sprint performance was established using a Pearson correlation analysis. Significant age-related increases (F = 3.6-18.9; all p < 0.01) in NH strength were reported for all units except N·kg (F = 1.9; p = 0.08). The largest differences in absolute NH strength were seen between U15 and U16 groups. Bilateral NH strength asymmetry varied from 8 to 16% (F = 1.8; p = 0.09) across all age groups. A large correlation between NH strength and sprint performance was observed (r = -0.52; p < 0.01). Our results indicate that NH strength increases nonlinearly with players' age, with the highest values observed in U16 group. Furthermore, bilateral NH strength asymmetry varied nonsignificantly between 8 and 16%. Finally, 27% of variance of sprint performance of youth footballers could be explained by relative NH strength. The reported NH strength data could be used as normative standards during testing and training of youth football players. Present results also suggest that coaches should pay close attention to eccentric hamstring function in youth footballers.

High prevalence of antibodies to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus in a murine typhus endemic region in Croatia.

A retrospective serological survey was carried out by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and complement fixation (CF) test in a sample of 425 healthy residents (240 females and 185 males) to investigate whether Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) circulates in the rural area of the northern Croatian island of Vir, which is known to be endemic for murine typhus. The overall prevalence of LCMV antibodies detected by IFA was found to be 36% (155 out of 425) and 13% (54 out of 425) by CF. No significant difference in the LCMV seroprevalence was observed with respect to age and gender by any of the methods used. The results show that inhabitants in the area studied are clearly being exposed to LCMV and the infection of the population occurs in the first 10 years of life. Equal prevalence of IgG and especially of short-lived CF antibodies in the elderly in comparison to other age groups and children can be explained by reinfections and boosting of antibodies through permanent contact with the virus. To the best of our knowledge this study reports the first evidence of endemic LCMV in Croatia and one of the highest LCMV human prevalence reported worldwide to date. The epidemiological association between LCMV and other zoonoses which can be expected in this community as well as the etiology of summer influenza-like illness along the coastal area of Croatia has to be explored further.

Epidemiological characteristics of rickettsial diseases in Croatia.

OBJECTIVE: To show the presence and prevalence of rickettsial diseases and the geographic distribution in Croatia. METHODS: The pattern of these diseases was monitored during the 1992-2003 period. RESULTS: The rickettsial diseases that occur sporadically in the littoral of Croatia (Adriatic islands and the coastal area) include Mediterranean spotted fever, murine typhus, Brill-Zinsser disease, and a clinical entity known as rickettsioses. Mediterranean spotted fever and murine typhus are considered to be endemic exclusively in Dalmatia. CONCLUSION: The term rickettsioses has been used because of inadequate laboratory differentiation of causative agents; therefore, the species of rickettsiae responsible for this clinical entity remains unknown. Highly efficient, military, infectious disease research should be continued, to shed more light on this important issue.

Migration of phthalates from plastic products to model solutions.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the level and rate of migration of phthalates, compounds used as plastic softeners, from various plastic products into model solutions and to assess the possible adverse effects of the phthalate amounts released on human health, thus to contribute to harmonization of the opinions on the maximal allowed human exposure to these compounds through environmental factors. Nine specimens of plastic toys, 16 specimens of plastic food containers and 10 specimens of other plastic consumer goods were analyzed. The specimens of plastic products were submitted to 10-day action of model solutions. Three model solutions were used: distilled water, 10% ethyl alcohol, and 3% acetic acid. Identification and quantification of the phthalates released were performed by the method of gas chromatography on days 1, 5 and 10 of exposure, at a detection limit of 0.005 microgram/kg. On day 10, the highest level of released phthalates (54.5 mg/kg) was measured in distilled water, followed by 44.4 mg/kg in 3% acetic acid and 32.3 mg/kg in 10% ethyl alcohol. According to plastic product categories, the highest pooled level of phthalates released to all three solutions was recorded for plastic toys (66.2 mg/kg), followed by food containers (37.6 mg/kg) and other consumer goods (27.4 mg/kg). According to plastic product categories, toys showed the most rapid phthalate release, with 65.4% (43.3 of 66.2 mg/kg) of the pooled level of phthalates released to all three solutions recorded on day 1. As indicated by the study results, the levels of phthalates released would not present a hazard for human health, not even over a prolonged period of time. However, data on the highest and fastest pooled phthalate release from plastic toys, and this especially to distilled water simulating salivary action, point to the need of continuous evaluation and amendments of the legislation on phthalates in consumer goods.

Toxic metals in freshwater fish from the Zagreb area as indicators of environmental pollution.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the levels of heavy metals and metalloids in freshwater fish from the Zagreb area. A total of 216 freshwater fish samples from 5 sites were examined: Sava river upstream from Zagreb, Sava river at Zagreb, Sava river downstream from Zagreb, Jarun Lake, and 5 "ecologic" fishponds from the Zagreb surroundings. The metals lead, cadmium, mercury and the metalloid arsenic were determined by the method of atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean pooled levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic in all fish samples were 112.3 +/- 95 micrograms/kg, 8.5 +/- 11 micrograms/kg and 23.5 +/- 36 micrograms/kg, and did not exceed the allowed levels of 1,000 mg/kg, 100 micrograms/kg and 200 micrograms/kg, respectively. In 4 fish samples, the levels of mercury exceeded the allowed limit of 500 micrograms/kg (509, 596, 605 and 788 micrograms/kg), however, the pooled mean level of mercury was 127.8 +/- 90 micrograms/kg. There was no major difference in the levels of heavy metals between the two fish families observed, although the levels of lead, cadmium and mercury were higher in the family Ictaluridae (144 vs. 107 micrograms/kg, 10.4 vs. 8.2 micrograms/kg, and 153 vs. 124 micrograms/kg, respectively), whereas the level of arsenic was higher in the family Cyprinidae (23.8 vs. 21.8 micrograms/kg). Although the Sava river at Zagreb is the main recipient of sewage and wastewater in the Republic of Croatia, the levels of heavy metals were within the allowed limits in all groups of freshwater fish samples, with the exception of 4 samples that contained moderately elevated levels of mercury. Study results suggest that only mercury could be considered a good indicator of environmental pollution, because higher levels of mercury were measured in the fish from the Sava river than in the fish from the Jarun Lake and fishponds from the Zagreb surroundings, considering both pooleded and fish family specified data.

Presence of N-nitrosamines in canned liver patty.

The presence of N-nitrosamines was determined in samples of industrially manufactured liver patty stored at different temperatures for a variable period of time. Sample preparation included steam distillation and extraction of redistilled samples with dichlormethane. The extracts were analyzed by a gas chromatography--mass spectrometry system (GC-MS-SIM). Study results expressed as total N-nitrosamines, including methylethyl-, diethyl- and dibutyl-N-nitrosamines, ranged from 0.0008 to 2.997 mg/kg, which significantly exceeded the recommended value of 0.002 mg/kg. The increase in the formation of N-nitrosamines was directly dependent on the length and temperature of product storage.

ESWL treatment of urinary stones in children--the overview of 14 years of experience.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment has been used at Department of Urology, University Hospital "Osijek", Croatia, since July 1988. Until December 2001 seven thousand and eight hundred patients underwent ESWL for urinary stones, 68 of them were children (0.87%). Sixty-eight children aged 4 to 15 years (average 10.14 years) underwent ESWL. They were treated for the total of 91 stones: 35 (38.46%) caliceal, 23 (25.27%) in pyelon, 7 (7.69%) in pyeloureteric segment and 14 (15.38%) ureteral. Staghorn calculi were found in 6 (6.59%) patients and multiple stones (four or more stones in the same kidney) in 6 (6.59%). There was total of 95 ESWL sessions performed in 68 patients (1.39 session per patient). Fifty-six patients (82.35%) without residual stones found at the control plain film and sonography of urinary tract were considered "stone free". Addition of 5 patients with clinically insignificant residual fragments (less than 4 mm) increases overall success rate to 89.70%. ESWL is a simple, safe and effective procedure in the management of urolithiasis in childhood. Clinical experience of our institution confirms ESWL as the first line treatment for kidney stones in the pediatric age patients.

Epidemiologic and ecologic characteristics of some diseases transmitted by arthropods on the littoral of the Republic of Croatia.

OBJECTIVE: To show epidemiologic and ecologic characteristics of some diseases transmitted by arthropods on the littoral of the Republic of Croatia. METHODS: The pattern of infectious diseases that are transmitted exclusively by vectors was monitored during the period 1985 to 1999. Data on the incidence of the diseases in the Republic of Croatia as a whole and available data on the presence of the vectors for the diseases on the littoral are presented for comparison. RESULTS: Mediterranean spotted fever, murine typhus, Lyme disease, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, and pappataci fever occur sporadically on the Croatian littoral. Tick-borne meningoencephalitis is endemic in the northwestern part of Croatia but is not present on the littoral. Twelve cases of malaria are imported into Croatia per year on average. CONCLUSION: Diseases transmitted by arthropods are not a major public health problem in Croatia. The medically relevant entomofauna of Croatia has not yet been adequately investigated.