Personality Traits of Croatian University Students with Internet Addiction.

Specific personality traits may predispose individuals to various forms of addictive behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the association between personality traits of university students and Internet addiction (IA). A sample of 1051 university students was recruited from the largest university in Eastern Croatia. A structured anonymous questionnaire that included questions regarding students' sociodemographic information and Internet usage patterns, the Young Internet Addiction Test and Big Five Inventory served as a research tool. The study revealed that 1.0% of the studied sample expressed severe IA while 24.6% of study participants expressed some signs of addiction. The IA was detected in 576 (80.0%) students who used the Internet mainly for social networking, in 30 (78.9%) students who mainly used it for online gaming, and in 153 (52.2%) students who mainly used it for university assignments (p < 0.001). Higher neuroticism, higher extraversion, and higher openness to new experiences were connected with IA in general (p < 0.001). Higher neuroticism, higher extraversion, and higher openness to new experiences were significantly associated with addictive behavior during social networking (p < 0.001). Higher extraversion and higher openness to new experiences were significantly associated with addictive behavior during Internet usage for university assignments (p = 0.025), while there were no significant associations between specific personality traits and addictive behavior during online gaming (p = 0.059). Personality traits must be taken into account while developing programs and implementing interventions for preventing IA in the university student population.

The role of HLA in Balkan endemic nephropathy.

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), a progressive chronic tubulointerstitial disease, occurs in the endemic focus of Croatia in a population of about 10,000 inhabitants. One of its most peculiar characteristics is a strong association with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Despite a high number of studies, currently there are insufficient data about the association of BEN and HLA genes. The aim of this study was to investigate the polymorphism of HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 alleles and haplotypes among BEN patients and to determine whether an association between HLA and BEN exists. In this study, we investigated HLA-A, -B, and -DRB1 alleles and haplotypes in a population of patients with BEN (N = 111) and matched healthy controls (N = 190). All individuals were tested by PCR-SSO and PCR-SSP methods to assess the possible contribution of HLA alleles and haplotypes to the development of/protection from BEN. Our results showed a positive association between the presence of HLA-B*35:02 and DRB1*04:02 alleles and BEN (P = 0.0179 and P = 0.0151, respectively) in contrast to the protective effect of HLA-A*01:01, B*27:05 and B*57:01 alleles (P = 0.0111, P = 0.0330 and P = 0.0318, respectively). Moreover, when BEN patients' HLA haplotypes were compared to controls, two haplotypes were associated with BEN susceptibility among Croatians (HLA-A*02:01~B*08:01~DRB1*03:01 and HLA-A*02:01~B*27:02~DRB1*16:01, P = 0.0064 and P = 0.0023, respectively), while haplotypes HLA-A*02:01~B*27:05~DRB1*01:01 and HLA-A*02:01~B*38:01~DRB1*13:01 each showed a possible protective effect (P = 0.0495). Our results point toward genetic susceptibility to BEN and observed differences in both susceptible/protective HLA profiles indicate the necessity of further studies in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of this disease.

Different Patterns of Mental Health Outcomes among Road Traffic Crash Survivors: A Prospective Cohort Study.

This study aimed to investigate factors associated with the symptoms of mental disorders following a road traffic crash (RTC). A prospective cohort of 200 people was followed for 6 months after experiencing an RTC. The cohort was comprised of uninjured survivors and injured victims with all levels of road traffic injury (RTI) severity. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between the symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety one and six months after the RTC, along with sociodemographic factors, health status before and after the RTC, factors related to the RTI and factors related to the RTC. The results showed associations of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms with sociodemographic factors, factors related to the health status before and after the RTC and factors related to the RTC. Factors related to the RTI showed associations only with depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Identifying factors associated with mental disorders following an RTC is essential for establishing screening of vulnerable individuals at risk of poor mental health outcomes after an RTC. All RTC survivors, regardless of their RTI status, should be screened for factors associated with mental disorders in order to successfully prevent them.

Quality of Life in Road Traffic Accident Survivors.

INTRODUCTION: The loss of quality of life is the major consequence following a non-fatal road traffic accident (RTA). Previous research regarding quality of life did not include uninjured RTA survivors. The research aim was thus to evaluate the quality of life of the RTA survivors regardless of whether or not they sustained injures, and to identify factors associated with decreased quality of life after the RTA. METHODS: A cohort of 200 RTA survivors with and without injuries was followed after experiencing an RTA. The quality of life and mental health outcomes were assessed 1 month following RTA. A vast range of sociodemographic, pre-RTA health-related, RTA related, RTA injury-related, compensation-related factors and mental health outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: Decreased quality of life following an RTA showed an association with the low socioeconomic status of the RTA victims, poor pre-RTA health, injury-related factors, compensation-related factors and psychological disorders after the RTA. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying predictors of decreased quality of life following an RTA will enable planning interventions targeting the most important factors that influence recovery of RTA victims. Assessing and recording of self-reported quality of life should be a part of the routine protocol in RTA survivors' health-care.

Predictors of Mental Health Outcomes in Road Traffic Accident Survivors.

Mental health outcomes of road traffic accidents (RTAs) are always investigated in assessments of those involved. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological consequences and associated factors in all RTA survivors, irrelevant of their injury status. A cohort of 155 people was assessed one month after experiencing a RTA using self-reported measures for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Associations between mental health outcomes and sociodemographic factors, pre-RTA health status, injury-related factors, and RTA details were analyzed. RTA survivors reported substantial rates of PTSD (32.3%) and depression (17.4%) symptoms, and low rates of anxiety (5.8%). Symptoms of depression were associated with below-average self-perceived economic status, irreligiousness, medication use, psychiatric medication use, and injury-related factors. PTSD symptoms were associated with female gender, below-average self-perceived economic status, previous psychiatric illness, medication use, psychiatric medication use, not being at fault in the relevant RTA, claiming compensation, and injury-related factors. Anxiety symptoms were associated with previous chronic or psychiatric illness, previous permanent pain, psychiatric medication use, and self-perceived threat to life, but not with sustaining injury. Along with the evaluation and treatment of RTA injuries, health care providers should evaluate the pre-RTA health status of all RTA victims. Psychological support to those at risk may prevent psychological disorders after RTAs.

Carotid bifurcation position and branching angle in patients with atherosclerotic carotid disease.

Carotid artery bifurcation (CB) is the preferred site for development of atherosclerosis (AS) in extracranial cerebral arteries; internal carotid artery stenosis is the most common cause of ischemic stroke. The frequent atherosclerotic disease of CB may best be explained by the hemodynamic influence of complex blood flow that results from the unique geometry of the bifurcation. Few papers analyze all possible geometric structural characteristics of this bifurcation. While performing many carotid endarterectomies, we noticed that a certain correlation between CB height in the neck and its angle existed, that a larger angle is accompanied with increased frequency of elongation and kinking and that CB shape influences distribution of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this paper is to quantify and evaluate these clinical observations. Radiogrametric analysis of 154 bi-plane orthogonal aortic arch arteriograms of patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic carotid artery disease was performed and a total of 289 CBs were analyzed. The CB height in relation to cervical spine segments was measured and real angles of each bifurcation were calculated. A positive linear correlation between CB height and angle exists: the CB angle increases /decreases 3.34 degrees for each third of the cervical vertebral body height or intervertebral space height. The CB is positioned a little higher on the left side. The proximal border of the atherosclerotic process is found at the level of intersection of the axes of the common carotid artery branches in 92.6% of examined CBs. In lower CBs (with smaller angles) the proximal border was located in the last segment of the common carotid artery, while in high bifurcations (wider angles) the proximal border of the AS process is more distally in the blood flow, in the beginning of the internal carotid artery, and the process was more extensive. High CBs are more suitable for eversion endarterectomy while normal and low CBs are more suitable for open (classic) carotid endarterectomy. The influence of the geometric risk factor demands further investigation.

Serum levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin in early postoperative period and three months after eversion carotid endarterectomy.

AIM: To determine the influence of eversion endarterectomy on circulating adhesion molecules (CAMs): E-selectin, intercellular circulating adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular circulating adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). METHODS: Forty patients underwent carotid endarterectomy. Venous blood samples have been gathered before operation, one hour and six hours after the operation and three months after the procedure. Levels of CAMs have been determined by sandwich ELISA test. RESULTS: Statistically significant decrease of the ICAM-1 levels one hour and six hours after the endarterectomy compared to levels before the operation have been found. There were no statistically significant changes in concentration of VCAM-1 and E-selectin. Three months after the operation levels of CAMs where similar to those before the operation. There was a statistically significant decrease of systolic arterial blood pressure levels within early postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that decrease of ICAM-1 could be a possible marker of endothelial de-activation after plaque removal. Endarterectomy has a positive influence on systolic arterial blood pressure in early postoperative period. Further investigations are necessary to better understand and prevent the development of atherosclerotic plaque.