Objective: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a healthy elderly Croatian population. Design: Cross-sectional study consisting of a health check including anthropometric measures and food questionnaires as well as analysis of biochemical parameters related to MetS. The diagnostic criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) were used for diagnosis of MetS. Setting: Four centres in continental (Virovitica and Zagreb) and Adriatic coast (Split and Omiš) regions of Croatia. Subjects: Free-living elderly persons aged 70-90 years (n 320). Results: Significantly lower MetS prevalence was found among participants from small urban centres compared with those from large urban centres (59?1 % v. 69?6 %; P 5 0?051). Participants without MetS consumed wine more frequently (P 5 0?05) than those with MetS. Compared with their peers with HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) ,1?03 mmol/l, more male participants with HDL-C $1?03 mmol/l consumed wine (P 5 0?04) or pelagic fish (P 5 0?03). The prevalence of participants with TAG $1?7 mmol/l was higher in wine non-consumers (P 5 0?05) than in wine consumers. Multivariate analysis with age and gender as covariates showed a significant inverse association of wine consumption with total cholesterol (P , 0?001), a positive association with HDL-C (P , 0?001) and a marginally inverse association with TAG (P 5 0?06). In the male population, alkaline phosphatase and g-glutamyl transferase activities were higher in participants with MetS (P , 0?05). Conclusions: High MetS prevalence was observed in an elderly Croatian population. Data showed that moderate consumption of wine and/or pelagic fish has a protective role against MetS in the population studied.

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Persons who consume various alcoholic beverages excessively and for a long time have significantly higher dispersions of the QTc and JTc, intervals and they have a significantly higher estimation of relative risk for the prolonged QTc interval and higher QTc dispersion than the control group, i.e., higher risk of arrhythmias.

Ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, and figure skating are disciplines that are begun early in childhood and pose high demands on the performers’ functional and energy capacities, which may influence the development of the body's physique and composition. This study investigated whether differences in the body's physique and composition were preexistent in young, premenarchal ballerinas and female athletes in aesthetic sport disciplines before training was started. Twenty-four anthropometric measurements were made of body physique and composition, and body mass index (BMI) and fat percentage were calculated. The groups of premenarchal dancers and athletes did not differ significantly in body height, body mass, or BMI. They also showed similarities in skeletal measurements, with the exception of ankle diameter. In measurements sensitive to specific training loads, significant differences were found, most notably in figure skaters, who had markedly greater arm circumferences than did ballerinas and rhythmic gymnasts. Ballerinas and rhythmic gymnasts did not have significant differences in soft tissues measurements, with the exception of the calf skinfold thickness, which was significantly greater in ballerinas. Skinfold thickness and body fat percentage were higher in skaters than in rhythmic gymnasts and ballerinas. Young ballerinas and rhythmic gymnasts were more slender with lower skinfold values and limb circumferences than skaters.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the rate of decline in the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in residents (1985-1994) and in refugees and displaced persons (1992-1994) during prewar and war periods (1985-1994) in the region of Zagreb, Croatia, and to examine a possible change in the trend of decline in the resident population. Data on the incidence of TB were obtained from the Epidemiology Department, Institute for Lung Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia. The sample comprised two groups of subjects: residents (800,000-1,000,000 inhabitants) and all refugees and displaced persons temporarily residing in the Zagreb region (78,000-95,000 persons). Data were analysed by stepwise logistic regression. The most significant predictors of the TB incidence rate were the square of the year and residence status. The rate of TB incidence in nonresidents was significantly higher than in residents. The decline in incidence in residents was significantly slower than in the nonresident group. The results did not indicate a potential change in the natural decline of the incidence of tuberculosis in the resident population during the study periods. The difference between the regression trends of the incidence of tuberculosis in residents and nonresidents was the result of various concomitant factors, including artefacts of the war.