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Acromegaly is a rare disfiguring disease caused by hypersecretion of the growth hormone from the pituitary adenomas. Body proportions, including bones of the hand, have been widely used to estimate anthropometric measures, such as stature. The main aim of this study was to compare stature, hand length, and stature/hand length ratio in healthy and patients with acromegaly and evaluate the accuracy of using hand length for the estimation of stature in patients with acromegaly. A total of 44 patients with acromegaly were analyzed in comparison to the control group of 8944 phenotypically healthy individuals. Measurement data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests, linear categorical regression (in healthy populations, and ordinal regression (in patients with acromegaly). The results show that the criterion stature could be predicted with hand length in both male and female individuals with acromegaly, while the amount of variance explained is something higher in males. Both in males and females, the stature/hand length ratio is higher in healthy individuals compared to acromegalic ones. This information might be of use to endocrinologists, rheumatologists, forensic scientist as well as in research where anthropometric characterization is performed. Namely, stature estimation could be assessed inaccurately if acromegalic patients are included in the sample.

In 2015, the first birth cohort study in Croatia, named “Croatian Islands Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS)” was initiated. Our aim was to prospectively follow a sample of 500 pregnant women and their children in two sub-populations – island population (Croatian Dalmatian islands - Hvar and Brač) and mainland population (City of Split with its surroundings). Data on social factors (age, marital status, education, employment, income, religious views, number of children), psychosocial factors (quality of life, health beliefs and attitudes, postnatal depression), lifestyle (smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary habits, physical activity), as well as medical data (maternal obstetric data and medical history, potential pre-, peri- and post-natal complications, information on child’s growth and development, feeding habits, allergies, vaccination, other medical issues etc.) and biological samples (blood samples from the mother and cord blood samples from the newborns) were collected. So far, the results are showing the influence of environmental and biological variables (e.g., maternal age, smoking, parity, lipid profile and fasting blood glucose level) as risk factors for the devepoment of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and adverse pregnancy outcomes in this Croatian birth cohort. Pre-pregnancy BMI has been observed as an indicator of maternal health disorders during pregnancy (deviated biochemical parameters, high blood pressure), as well as an indicator of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The main advantage of the CRIBS birth cohort is the quality of the collected data (including biological samples of mother-child dyads), thus enabling future research of biological and environmental risk factors for the development of MetS and associated complex disorders.

Goal: Mitochondrial haplogroup (hg) X was estimated to originate in the Near East cca 30 ka years ago. Its approximate prevalence in the general European population is 2%, with most sublineages belonging to the X2 clade. The X2 clade is far less common in Croatian insular populations according to our previous findings - 6 out of 13 detected X samples belong to a new, local variant based on specific mutations in both the control and coding region of the mitochondrial genome. The aim of this study was to fully explore mentioned 6 mitochondrial haplotypes found in islands of Rab and Cres. Materials and methods: Complete sequencing of one Rab and one Cres mitochondrial genome was performed using both Sanger sequencing and massively parallel sequencing with the Illumina® Human mtDNA Genome assay on MiSeq FGx™ instrument. Results: Sequenced samples indicate a novel lineage within the global mitochondrial X hg phylogeny according to both PhyloTree and Mitomap. The lineage is connected with the hg X3 by a common polymorphism G3531A in the coding region of the mitochondrial genome, but it lacks all other X3 defining mutations. Mutations specific for this lineage are T195C, C338T, A7518G, G7853A, A10113G, C10673T, C10920T, A11380G, A13614G, C13950T, A15903G, G15927A, T16136C and A16289G. Analysis of non-phylogenetic variants exposed a rare, A7518G mutation in the tRNA gene, which is predicted as possibly pathogenic by MitoTIP. Findings of different heteroplasmic mutation patterns between samples indicate a more distant kinship within the same mitochondrial lineage. Conclusion: Our finding indicates a recent local microdifferentiation process within hg X. Described lineage could possibly be marked as a new, island-specific X twig formed within the Croatian population. The extension of present research, including genealogical and clinical data, is needed to confirm further enrichment of existing mtDNA phylogeny and to establish possible functional manifestations of locally specific variants.

Joint events in Zagreb, Croatia: 4th Interanational Symposium of Adriatic Club for Mucosal Immunology and 2nd Regional Focus in Translational Gastroenterology ; which are going to be held June 30 – July 02, 2022. Organizer of these events are Croatian Society for Mucosal Immunology – Croatian Medical Association (CSMI – CMA) and Croatian Society of Gastroenterology (CSG). The event has been planned as joint Symposia, in order to gather colleagues and friends from the region, and offering the opportunity for all of us to share clinical and scientific results. The organizers have invited internationally renowned faculty and local faculty, in order to address the issue of immunobiology of mucosa and to reveal the impact of big data analysis and artificial intellgence in research, education and clinical practice in gastroenterology.

INTRODUCTION: Nutrition during infancy is a major contributor to growth rate. WHO recommendations to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, exclusively breastfeed within the first six months and continue breastfeeding up to two years of age are rarely followed. Maternal socioeconomic status (SES) may also play a major role in growth patterns and mediate the association between breastfeeding and infant’s growth. The aim of this study was to identify the patterns of breastfeeding and infants’ growth in weight in Dalmatia, Croatia and investigate their association with maternal SES. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from Croatian Island’s Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) was used. Participants were 83 infant-mother pairs from Dalmatia, Croatia. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Statistics 25.0. and WHO Anthro software 3.2.2. Differences between groups were tested using Fisher’s exact test and Student’s t-test. The significance and strength of individual associations between WG (0-6 months) and WAZ at 6 months with independent variables were tested conducting simple linear regression (breastfeeding duration) and Spearman’s correlation (EBF, average monthly household income, maternal education, employment and number of household members). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in gender distribution with regards to location, breastfeeding duration, EBF duration and delivery mode. However, a significant difference (p

Goal was to determine the influence of island population isolation on the sub structuring of the Croatian population, and the influence of regional population groups on the sub structuring of Southeast Europe with regards to basic population genetic statistical parameters calculated using STR locus analysis. Bio-statistical analyzes were performed for a total sample of 2877 unrelated participants of both sexes from the area of Southeastern Europe was analyzed. Nine autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, D7S82) were analyzed using standard F-statistics and population structure analysis (program STRUCTURE). The total coefficient of genetic differentiation of Croatian subpopulations calculated by the FST method is higher at the level of the Croatian population (0.005) than at the level of Southeast Europe (0.002). In the population of Croatia, the subpopulation of the island of Vis shows the most pronounced separation, and in the population of Southeast Europe the population of Albanians from Kosovo, then the populations of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary. The established higher structure of Croatian subpopulations in relation to the populations of Southeast Europe suggests the existence of a certain degree of genetic isolation, most likely due to the influence of endogamy within rural island populations. The total genetic differentiation coefficient of Croatian subpopulations calculated by the FST method is higher at the level of the Croatian population (0.005) than at the level of Southeast Europe (0.002). The established higher structure of Croatian subpopulations in relation to Southeast Europe suggest the existence of a certain degree of genetic isolation, most likely due to the influence of endogamy within rural island populations.

Sudjelovanje na 90. danima dijabetologa predavanjem Antropološka istraživanja djece i trudnica-CRIBS

“unCoVer-Unravelling data for rapid evidence-based response to COVID-19” is a Horizon 2020-funded network of 29 partners from 18 countries. Formed with the aim to collect and use real-world data (RWD) resulting from response and provision of care to COVID-19 patients by health systems across Europe and elsewhere, unCoVer exploits the full potential of this information to rapidly address clinical and epidemiological research questions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. These heterogeneous datasets comprise from information on over 22 000 hospitalized patients, as well as registry data on over 1 900 000 COVID-19 cases across Europe, with continuous updates. So far, the datasets have been described, harmonized and integrated into a multi-user data repository operated through OpalDataSHIELD, an interoperable open-source server application. Federated data analyses, without sharing or disclosing any individual-level data, is being performed to resolve various research questions emerging from dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia, is one of the partners on the unCoVer project, together with our related third-party – Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia, providing clinical data on COVID-19 patients. Special emphasis will be given to our specific experience and lessons learned from participating in this project (data acquisition, ethical and GDPR issues, data analyses, influence of restrictions related to COVID-19 pandemic).

Coordinating management aspect with science and research. Reaching for finances through science projects on national and international level.

The goal was to perform a meta-analysis of synthesized data and investigate the influence of specific intrapopulation genetic structures on interpopulation relationships. Special focus was the influence of island population isolation on the substructuring of the Croatian population, and the influence of regional population groups on the substructuring of Southeast Europe. A long-term goal is to develop a model of appropriate sampling of the total population when creating a database of genetic STR markers that would properly reflect all the characteristics of included subpopulations. Autosomal STR loci were analyzed using four forensic parameters (match probability, power of discrimination, power of exclusion and the degree of polymorphism) on a sample of 2877 unrelated participants of both sexes. The analysis was performed using the statistical package PowerStats v1.2. The comparison of forensic parameters between different subpopulations of Croatia and Southeast Europe indicates that the isolation of individual Croatian subpopulations and certain rare alleles in their gene pool affect the values of forensic parameters. Specific features of (sub)populations should be taken into account for appropriate sampling of the total population when creating a DNA database of STR markers.

Introduction: Since its beginning, the COVID-19 pandemic impacts numerous aspects of our everyday lives, including diet. Despite the aforementioned, little is known about the impact of the pandemic on the motives that determine our food choices, especially in regard to COVID-19 infection and vaccination status. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the differences in the food choice motives before and during the COVID-19 pandemic depending on COVID-19 infection and vaccination status in a sample of Croatian adults. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted from 16 June 2021 until 30 June 2021 using an anonymous online questionnaire designed in Google Forms®. Changes in health and non-health food choice motives before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated using a validated 36-items (9 factors) Western Balkan Countries version of the Steptoe et al.’s Food Choice Questionnaire. Results: The final sample consisted of 890 women and 339 men from Croatia, aged ≥ 18 years. At the time of the data collection, 228 women (25.6%) and 114 men (33.6%) reported having been infected with SARS-CoV-2, while 445 women (50.0%) and 187 men (55.2%) were vaccinated. One-way analysis of variance revealed that mood, convenience and familiarity were significantly more important to men who have reported being infected with SARS- CoV-2, when compared to those not being infected, both before (p = 0.014, p = 0.008, p = 0.009, respectively) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.021, p = 0.003, p = 0.013, respectively). Of the nine factors, only price was significantly more important to unvaccinated men, when compared to vaccinated ones, also both before (p = 0.001) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.003). No statistically significant differences in food choice motives were found in women depending neither on infection or vaccination status. Conclusion and Implication: According to the results of the present study, statistically significant differences in the importance of certain food choice motives were observed in regard to COVID-19 infection and vaccination status. Knowledge related to non-intentional change of these motives could have practical implications in dealing with future similar pandemics. Keywords: COVID-19, food choice motives, Food Choice Questionnaire, Croatia Acknowledgments: This cross-sectional study formed part of an international project entitled “The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the determinants of food choice in the adult population of Croatia and Belgium (CFC CRO-BE)” conducted by the Centre for Applied Bioanthropology of the Institute for Anthropological Research, Zagreb, Croatia in cooperation with the Psychiatric Hospital Ugljan, Ugljan, Croatia and the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.

Adequate dietary habits are believed to have a substantial positive influence on both the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection. The aim of the present study will be to examine the differences in food choice determinants before and during COVID-19 pandemic in the adult population of Croatia and Belgium. It is planned for the research to involve ≥ 1, 000 participants of both genders aged 18 years and older from Croatia, and the same target of participants from Belgium. A self-administered online questionnaire, distributed via e-mail and social media networks, will be used to assess all the necessary data from the study participants. The questionnaire consists of three parts (15 questions about participants’ general characteristics, 36 questions about food choice determinants before COVID-19 pandemic, and 36 questions about food choice determinants during COVID-19 pandemic). All participants will have to provide an informed consent before completing the questionnaire. The results are expected to show significant changes in food choice determinants during COVID-19 pandemic, when compared to the period before the pandemic, indicating the amelioration in the overall dietary habits of both the Croatian and Belgian adults during these challenging times.

Unatoč opsežnoj literaturi koja istražuje kvalitetu života i njene prediktore, psihološke varijable poput percepcije stresnih životnih događaja, simptoma depresije, lokusa kontrole i nade gotovo da nisu istraživane među trudnicama, pri čemu nema istraživanja u kojima su na istom uzorku obuhvaćeni prediktori kvalitete života mladih majki u razdoblju izolacije tijekom COVID -19 epidemije. I trudnoća i COVID-19 zatvaranje specifične su okolnosti u životu mladih žena koja mogu predstavljati rizik za njihovo metalno zdravlje, a tijekom 2020. i 2021. godine utvrđeno je kako su upravo žene s malom djecom s rizikom za razvoj smetnji i problema mentalnog zdravlja tijekom COVID-19 epidemije, što je bio dodatni poticaj za provođenje ovog istraživanja. Cilj je bio ispitati razliku u kvaliteti života na istom uzorku žena koje su bile trudnice u 18. do 28. tjednu prenatalnog razdoblja i mladih majki tijekom COVID-19 zatvaranja 2020. godine te istražiti odrednice i usporediti strukturu prediktora kvalitete života u trudnoći i tijekom COVID-19 zatvaranja. Navedenim dvjema točkama mjerenja obuhvaćene su 133 zdrave trudnice u dobi od 18 godina ili više, s jadranskih otoka Brača i Hvara, kao i susjednog kopnenog grada Splita i okolne Splitsko- dalmatinske županije. Primijenjene su skraćena verzija skala procjene kvalitete života, upitnika Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije (WHOQOL-bref), multidimenzionalna ljestvica zdravstvenog lokusa kontrole, Edinburška skala postnatalne depresije te procjene stresa i nade. Mlade majke procijenile su većom kvalitetu života tijekom COVID-19 u odnosu na kvalitetu života u trudnoći na sve četiri domene. Utvrđeni su različiti obrasci značajnih prediktora za četiri domene kvalitete života u dvije točke mjerenja te različita struktura prediktora u trudnoći i tijekom COVID-19 zatvaranja, pri čemu je odabranim prediktorima u trudnoći objašnjena znatno veća količina varijance kvalitete života u odnosu na razdoblje tijekom COVID-19.

Pojam “stres” se danas često susreće, a označava iscrpljenost uzrokovanu duševnim ili tjelesnim preopterećenjem organizma [1]. Utvrđeno je da tijekom stresnih razdoblja dolazi do disregulacije osi hipotalamus- hipofiza-nadbubrežna žlijezda (HPA) što dovodi do povećanih razina kortizola takozvanog “hormona stresa” koji sudjeluje u mnogim metaboličkim i imunomodulacijskim procesima [2]. Posljednjih desetljeća glazba se proučava kao nefarmakološka i neinvanzivna metoda snižavanja stresa poznata po svom smirujućem učinku [3]. Glavni cilj ovog istraživanja je detekcija i povezanost razine kortizola u trudnica s provođenjem slobodnog vremena u stvaranju i slušanju glazbe. Pretpostavka je da bi ispitanice s većom učestalošću glazbenih aktivnosti trebale imati bolje vrijednosti biokemijskih parametara i održavati normalan indeks tjelesne mase (BMI). Istraživanje će se provoditi na podacima prikupljenim tijekom provedbe projekta “Kohortna studija rođenih na istočnojadranskim otocima (CRIBS)” kako bi se razjasnili čimbenici povezani u kontekstu metaboličkog sindroma koji zahvaća sve veći dio populacije. Analizirani su uzorci seruma prikupljeni od zdravih trudnica u Splitsko- dalmatinskoj županiji (Hrvatska). Primijenjen je analitički protokol za određivanje kortizola u humanom serumu tekućinskom kromatografijom visoke učinkovitosti (HPLC). Preliminarnim rezultatima utvrđena je statitički značajna umjerena negativna povezanost kortizola i provođenja slobodnog vremena (stvaranjem i slušanjem glazbe) tijekom trudnoće (p

Introduction: As during pregnancy a change in body composition and an accretion of water occurs differently in women, body weight gain might not be the best and only measure reflecting changes in fat storage. One useful additional tool for estimating body composition and the amount of body fat, besides weight and BMI, are anthropometric measurements, e.g. body circumferences and skinfold thickness measures. Methods and sample: Anthropometric measurements from 332 pregnant women included in the Croatian Islands’ Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) were taken in each trimester, during three visits to the gynaecology practices and they included measurements of pregnant woman’s height and weight (self-reported and additionally validated by a measurement at the first visit), middle upper arm and abdomen circumference, and skinfold thicknesses of upper-arm triceps and biceps. All anthropometric measurements were carried out following the standard International Biological Program protocol (1981). The sample was then further divided into three pre-pregnancy BMI and weight gain categories and differences between two groups were tested using One-way ANOVA. Results: All findings of upper arm and abdominal circumferences were significantly (p

The CRoatian Islands Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) is the first birth cohort study ever conducted in Croatia and Southeastern Europe, designed to prospectively follow a sample of 500 pregnant women and their children up to two years of age. The aim is to assess the prevalence of risk factors for the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and other NCDs in Croatia. This study presents data of 296 mother-child dyads from CRIBS. Maternal age ranged from 19 to 41 years, with the mean age of 29.7 years. On average, women in our study gained 15.3 kg of weight during pregnancy. Their mean pre-pregnancy BMI was 22.8 kg/m2 (15.7 kg/m2 - 45.2 kg/m2). According to their pre-pregnancy BMI, 6.4% of our participants were underweight, 74.4% were normal weight and 19.2% were overweight or obese. Although the majority of our pregnant women was in the normal pre-pregnancy BMI category (74.4%), there were more women aged > 35 in the overweight and obese category. According to our results, the risk of being overweight or obese also increased with the number of pregnancies, which indicates possible accumulation of weight between pregnancies. Additionally, a trend of higher rate of Caesarean section was observed in the overweight/obese category. In conclusion, pregnancy should be planned before 35 years of age, if possible, and women should be encouraged to enter a new pregnancy only when the desired pre-pregnancy body weight is accomplished. This will then also prevent possible adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as Caesarean section.

The experience of pregnancy challenges a belief in control over one's health ; internal beliefs, the extent to which one's health is influenced by oneself, chance or fate and other people’s influence (powerful others). Belief that their health is related to their own behavior could increase their Quality of Life (QoL). This study gives insights from the Croatian Islands’ Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) conducted on Adriatic island populations of Hvar and Brač and neighboring mainland area of the Split-Dalmatian County. The aims of the study were to investigate determinants of the QoL of pregnant women with focus on health locus of control as potential predictor of QoL domains. The sample consisted of 286 healthy pregnant women, age 18 or older, 18 to 28 weeks of gestation, enrolled into study from February 2016 to June 2018. Comprehensive study of maternal health assessed WHOQoL-bref (Physical QoL, Psychological QoL, Social relationships and Environmental health domain), Adult Hope Scale, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scales (MHLC), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the perceived stress appraisals and demographic questionnaire. Enrolment into the study and all scheduled visits were carried out at doctor's office where the pregnancy was routinely monitored and in the maternity unit in the University Hospital Center Split, Croatia. Inclusion criteria were 18 weeks or more of single pregnancy, not assisted with reproductive technology. Woman had significantly higher internal then external locus of control (p= .000) and then chance (p= .000). They believed that they are in control of their health, also that powerful other people (medical doctors) were responsible for their health in a more significant way then that their health is in control of chance or luck (p= .000). MHLC scale scores explained significant amount of the total variance on QoL in all four domains (3.5% to 4.7%). Together with other predictors, greatest variance was explained in Psychological health domain (42%) and the smallest in Physical health (25%). Differences in MHLC between women living at island and neighboring mainland were also found. Health outcomes left to chance lower Environmental health QoL (health accessibility and quality, opportunities for acquiring new information, etc.), especially in less connected areas as islands. With greater perception of all QoL domains but Physical, women believed more that powerful others are in control of their health outcomes, which could indicate that reliance on doctors and medical staff has an extraordinary importance in their lives. Understanding how health beliefs of women influence their QoL could have beneficial effects in establishing the best possible care standards and outcomes for women and newborns.

There is well known scientific acceptance of a relationship between psychological stress and eating behaviours. This study gives insights from the Croatian health study of school children and adolescence with focus on eating habits and perceived stress. The aims of the study were to investigate eating habits, psychical activity and some aspects of health appraisals of adolescents as potential predictors of perceived stress. The sample consisted of 482 healthy adolescents (243 girls ; 16 to 19), who participated in project in 2013/2014. Adolescents’ appraisals of food frequency consumption, physical activity habits, frequency of health difficulties within last six months, individual’s overall perception of their health (WHOQOL-bref) and perceived stress scale (PSS-10) were used. Subjective perception of stress of adolescents is slightly higher than average for this age for boys and even higher for girls. The selected set of predictors explained 35% variance of girl's perceived stress and 23.5% variance of boy's perceived stress. Eating habits explained significant amount of perceived stress (8.9% girls, 4.4% boys) but structure of predictors differs for girls and boys. As stress is higher, frequency of daily meals is smaller in boys and frequency of healthy meals within last seven days smaller in girls. Frequency of unhealthy meals within last seven days was not predictor of perceived stress. The greatest variance was explained by health related appraisals for both, boys and girls. Since selected set of predictors explained small amount of variance of boy’s perceived stress, additional variables and predictors of stress need to be regarded further. These findings support hypothesis that eating habits could contribute to stress of adolescents. Consequently, awareness related to changing eating habits under the stress could be of lifelong interest and should be taught during school years. Identifying predictors of stress in adolescents could promote development of prevention and treatment plans for supporting adaptive lifestyle of adolescents, especially those under the stress.

anthropometry, dietary habits, glucose levels, high blood pressure, adolescents, Croatia

Perceived quality of life (QoL) in adolescents can be useful in identifying their subgroups at risk of engaging in health-compromising behaviors. Establishing healthy nutritional behaviors and physical activity is important during adolescence, since habits established in this period often persist into adulthood. This study gives insights from the Croatian Health Study of School Children and Adolescence, with focus on QoL of adolescents. The aims of the study were to investigate eating habits, psychical activity and some aspects of self- assessed health of adolescents as potential predictors of their QoL. The sample consisted of 482 high-school students 16-19 years old (243 girls), who participated in project in 2013/2014. Adolescents’ assessment of food frequency consumption, extra-curricular physical activities, frequency of health difficulties within last six month and QoL (WHOQOL-bref) were used. Boys reported higher levels of QoL than girls in Physical health and Psychological domains. The greatest variance was explained in Physical health for boys (31.5%) and girls (43.2%) and smaller amounts in Psychological domain (18.5% boys, 32% girls), Social relationship (17.1% boys, 19.1% girls) and in Environmental health (16.4% boys, 21.4% girls). Structure of predictors differed for girls and boys in all four domains. The greatest variance was explained by self- perceived health in both boys and girls. More frequent emotional health difficulties within last six months were associated with smaller QoL in all domains, except in boys in Environmental domain. Greater adolescent’s overall perception of their health was associated with higher QoL in all domains, except in Social relationship domain in both boys and girls. More frequent physical health difficulties within last six months were associated with smaller Physical QoL in both boys and girls. Frequency of healthy meals within last seven days predicted Physical QoL in girls ; contrary, more frequent unhealthy meals were associated with better Social relationship in boys. Higher frequency of leisure time physical activities was associated with better results in Social and Environmental domain in girls and more frequent physical activities within last seven days were associated with better Psychological and Social relationship QoL in boys. The selected set of predictors significantly predicted adolescents’ QoL, especially Physical and Psychological domain. These findings support hypothesis that eating habits, physical activity and some aspects of self-assessed health could contribute to QoL of adolescents. Additional variables and predictors of QoL domains need to be examined further. Identifying predictors of QoL could promote prevention and treatment plans for supporting adaptive lifestyle of adolescents.

Background: The trajectory of blood pressure (BP) in pregnancy is characterized by an early decrease and a late pregnancy increase. Aim: The aim of this study was to define trajectory of systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in 308 pregnant participants in the CRIBS study and to analyse the association of BP with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and newborns` anthropometry. Methods: Pregnant women included in the CRIBS study had no history of chronic diseases. The BP of CRIBS participants was measured at least once in each trimester. Maternal pre-pregnancy weight was self-reported. Z-scores were calculated for each newborn`s birth weight, length and head circumference using the WHOAnthro software. All deliveries were term births. The analyses were performed using SPSS 10.0 Results: Less than 2% of women had pregnancy- induced hypertension (SBP >140 mmHg and/or DBP >90 mmHg). BP changed through pregnancy: mean systolic BP of 113 mmHg in the 1st and in the 2nd trimester elevated to 116 mmHg in the 3rd trimester (p30 kg/m2) in all three trimesters were significantly higher than in pre-pregnancy underweight, normal weight or overweight women. Positive correlations were detected between maternal SBP in the 2nd trimester and z-scored birth weight, length and head circumference (R2=0.0205, R2=0.0240 and R2=0.0141, respectively) and between DBP in the 2nd trimester and z-scored weight and height (R2=0.0175 and R2=0.0251). No association between gestational age of newborns and maternal BP has been detected. Conclusion: Most of the CRIBS participants had BP within a normal range. The obesity pre-pregnancy was associated with higher BP in pregnancy and the BP in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy correlated with birth size.

The main goal of this study was to test the association of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and fasting glucose level in pregnancy on birth size of newborns. The sample consisted of 177 healthy pregnant woman and their newborns from the islands (Hvar and Brač) and the mainland (Split- Dalmatian County) who are participants in the Croatian Islands Birth cohort Study (CRIBS). Anthropometric variables (body weight, height and waist circumference) were measured according to the International Biological Program. Peripheral blood of pregnant women was taken between 22nd and 26th week of gestation, and fasting glucose values >5.1 mmol/L were considered elevated. Statistical analyses were done by SPSS10.0 for Windows. There was a significant positive correlation between pre-pregnancy BMI and fasting glucose levels during pregnancy as well as between pre- pregnancy BMI and birth weight, length, and head circumference of the newborns. Hyperglycemic women gave birth to significantly heavier newborn girls then normoglycemic women (p

The aim of this study was to compare the data on height of Hvar islanders collected from two transversal studies (1978/1979 and during the 1994). The first field research covered a total of 935 inhabitants of the island (484 males and 451 females) aged between 20 and 72 years, from five villages of the western part (Dol, Vrbanj, Svirče, Vrisnik, Pitve) and four villages of the eastern part of the island of Hvar (Poljica, Zastražišće, Gdinj, Bogomolje). The second field research was carried out in 1994 that enrolled total of 189 participants (82 males and 107 females) from the villages Dol, Vrbanj, Svirče, Zastražišće, Gdinj and Bogomolje. Comparison of data on Hvar adults since these two periods demonstrated a secular increase in average height for females and males in all investigated villages except in the village of Gdinj. Negative secular trend in village of Gdinj was observed for both female and male inhabitants. Possible explanation for this trend could be the specific migratory patterns and traditional practice of endogamy.

The exposome concept was initiated within the field of epidemiology in 2005 to encompass “the totality of human environmental exposures from conception onwards, complementing the genome”. In the context of birth cohort studies and as- early-as-possible complex disease’ pre-vention, our focus is on the influence of maternal exposome on the offspring early growth and development as well as health outcomes in adulthood. As an example on how birth cohort can be used as a pow-erfull tool in exposing the transgenerational propagation of maternal exposome effects, we are presenting data of 150 mother-child dyads collected within the longitudinal CRIBS study focusing on relationships between maternal (such as physical activity, nutritional and lifestyle habits) and child parameters (early growth and development). Also, additional strategies regarding toxicological burden and epigenetic modifications (e.g. glycosylation) will be proposed.

Cilj istraživanja je utvrditi promjene u načinu provođenja slobodnog vremena trudnica prije i tijekom trudnoće te utvrditi neke psihosocijalne odrednice zadovoljstva životom trudnica na otocima i susjednom kopnu. Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno 326 žena u razdoblju od 18 do 28 mjeseca trudnoće. Osim sociodemografskih varijabli obrazovanja, subjektivne procjene materijalnog stanja obitelji i broja članova kućanstva sudionica primijenjeni su instrumenti koji mjere zadovoljstvo životom, učestalost korištenja slobodnog vremena, uznemirenost stresnim događajima, dimenzije zdravstvenog lokusa kontrole, depresivne simptome te izraženost nade. Smanjena je čestina korištenja svih oblika slobodnog vremena trudnica u trudnoći pri čemu je utvrđena je statistički značajna promjena u korištenju aktivnijih oblika slobodnog vremena trudnica (tjelovježba, rekreacija na otvorenom, vrtlarstvo, putovanja, umjetnost i obrt, hobiji, vjerske i duhovne aktivnosti kartanje, piće, slušanje glazbe, računarstvo i igranje igrica) dok nema razlike u čestini čitanja knjiga, gledanja TV i filmova, u vremenu provedenom s obitelji i prijateljima te pripremi hrane i kuhanju prije i poslije trudnoće. Odabranim prediktorskim varijablama objašnjeno je 38, 2% varijance zadovoljstva životom trudnica, pri čemu su sa zadovoljstvom životom izravno ili neizravno povezani subjektivna procjena materijalnog stanja obitelji, promjena u načinu korištena slobodnog vremena trudnica, moćni drugi kao dimenzija lokusa kontrole, depresivni simptomi i nada. Što je bolja subjektivna procjena materijalnog stanja u obitelji, izraženija nada i vjerovanje trudnica da moćni drugi imaju kontrolu nad njihovim zdravljem te manji broj depresivnih simptoma trudnica, izraženije je njihovo zadovoljstvo životom. Također, što je veća razlika u korištenju slobodnog vremena prije i za vrijeme trudnoće veće je zadovoljstvo životom trudnica. Navedeno ukazuje na veće zadovoljstvo životom trudnica koje u većoj mjeri vode brigu o vlastitom slobodnom vremenu i aktivno se prilagođavaju trudničkom statusu. Osim smjernica za buduća istraživanja u izlaganju će se diskutirati praktične implikacije dobivenih rezultata.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose level in pregnancy on the anthropometry of newborns. The sample consisted of 171 healthy pregnant women and their newborns from the Croatian Islands' Birth Cohort Study. Peripheral blood of pregnant women was taken in the second trimester and fasting glucose values >5.1 mmol/l were considered elevated. Anthropometric variables (body weight, height and waist circumference) were measured according to the International Biological Program. Pre- pregnancy BMI and fasting glucose levels during pregnancy were significantly positively correlated (p

CILJ: Cjelogenomske asocijacijske studije (GWAS) dosada su identificirale stotine učestalih varijanti gena povezanih s kompleksnim tragovima, međutim te varijante mogu objasniti samo manji dio fenotipske raznolikosti. U posljednje vrijeme sve više pažnje usmjereno je na ulogu epigenetičke varijabilnosti u etiologiji kompleksnih bolesti. Otkrivanje temeljnih genetičkih i epigenetičkih čimbenika koji pridonose povećanom riziku razvoja kardiometaboličkih poremećaja može značajno pridonijeti razvoju novih strategija prevencije i terapije navedenih poremećaja. U ovom istraživanju proveli smo iscrpnu asocijacijsku studiju na razini cijelog epigenoma (EWAS) koristeći longitudinalne uzorke sakupljene u razmaku od 10 godina i integrirali ih s prethodno provedenom GWAS studijom metaboličkih tragova populacije istočnojadranskih otoka Hrvatske. Glavni cilj rada je utvrditi epigenetičke čimbenike koji stoje u podlozi nastanka kardiometaboličkih poremećaja u navedenoj populaciji. METODE: Postavili smo sljedeće hipoteze: (1) stabilne epigenetičke oznake definiraju razvojnu putanju kardiometaboličkih tragova ; (2) dinamične oznake koje se mijenjaju tijekom života ovisno o unutarnjim biološkim procesima i egzogenim stresorima pridonose razvoju kardiometaboličkih poremećaja kasnije u životu ; i (3) te epigenetičke oznake u interakciji sa genetičkom raznolikošću utječu na varijabilnost fenotipa. Za testiranje hipoteza iskoristili smo postojeću bazu od >1, 400 uzoraka koja sadrži fenotipske, okolišne, DNA i GWA podatke prikupljenu na otoku Hvaru 2007.-2008. godine te ponovo uzorkovali >700 osoba iz prethodne studije 10 godina kasnije (2017.). Također smo proveli EWAS koristeći novorazvijeni EPIC 850K BeadChip methylation array na uparenim uzorcima u dvije vremenske točke kako bi procijenili metilacijske uzorke i proveli integrativnu cjelogenomsku i cjeloepigenomsku analizu kako bi istražili njihov zajednički utjecaj na varijabilnost tragova pomoću pristupa sistemske biologije. REZULTATI: Nakon provođenja asocijacijske studije kardiometaboličkih tragova na razini cijelog epigenoma te integrativne cjelogenomske i cjeloepigenomske analize otkriven je relativno malen medijan beta-vrijednosti metilacijskih uzoraka tijekom10 godina. ZAKLJUČAK: Preliminarno istraživanje temeljeno na nasumično odabranih 112 parova (N=224) uzoraka pokazuju da je medijan beta-vrijednosti metilacijskih uzoraka tijekom 10 godina relativno malen što sugerira da su pronađene epigenetičke oznake stabilne značajke kardiometaboličkih tragova. Financirano od strane NIH, projekt broj R56HL128493.

Health benefits of physical activity during pregnancy include reduced risk of excessive gestational weight gain and conditions such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and preterm birth. The ongoing CRoatian Islands Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) is the first cohort study in the South-Eastern Europe with an aim to assess the prevalence of risk factors (biological, environmental and behavioral) for the Metabolic Syndrome in populations from Dalmatian islands of Hvar and Brač and coastal Split city with its surroundings. At the time of writing, Over 350 pregnant women and 220 of their newborns have been involved in the study. Here we present the preliminary results of testing the association of mothers` self- estimated physical activity during pregnancy with newborns` anthropometric characteristics (birth weight, length and head circumference) using the data from questionnaires and obstetric records of 116 mother – newborn pairs. The difference in weight-at-birth was detected between newborn girls whose mothers were from Low vs. Intensive physical activity categories, as well as from Moderate vs. Intensive physical activity categories. In addition to that, the significant difference in weight-at-birth and height/length-at-birth was detected between newborn boys whose mothers were from Moderate vs. Intensive physical activity categories (p

During the last decade it has become increasingly evident that genetic variants can explain only a portion of individual's susceptibility to non-communicable complex diseases. The spotlight of research therefore shifted to mechanisms of epigenetic modifications as central players in gene- environment interplay. The transgenerational propagation of both genetic variants and epigenetic programming can contribute to an increased risk of complex diseases. In this work we are presenting data of 150 mother-child dyads collected within the longitudinal CRIBS study focusing on the main constituents of the metabolic syndrome (cardiovascular diseases and obesity), but also other diseases that emerge in family history. We show incidence of diseases in mother’s families, biochemical parameters of mothers related to diseases and a plan of risk prediction and possible interventions based on environ-mental exposure and hereditary factors in mothers and their offspring.

The intrauterine environment affects fetal growth and development. Healthy women with no history of chronic diseases, who concieved naturally and had singleton pregnancies have been participating in the CRoatian Islands` Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS), an ongoing project in the Eastern Adriatic, Croatia, aiming to assess the prevalence of risk factors for the Metabolic Syndrom. Fasting blood lipids (tot- Chol, Trig, HDL-Chol and LDL-Chol), glucose and homocysteine levels were determined in 94 pregnant women (taken between 22th and 26th week of gestation). We investigated their association with possible predisposing factors (age, gestational age, level of education, obesity and smoking status), newborns` anthropometric measures (weight, lenght and head circumference) and with adverse pregnancy outcomes (pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, small/large for gestational age). Among the blood lipids, the largest divergence was found in triglyceride levels (mean 4.2±1.1, range 0.9-11), with elevated values (>1.7 mmol/L) present in >75% of the examinees. Smokers, in comparison to non-smokers, had significantly lower HDL-Chol levels and women older than 30 years had significantly higher tot-Chol than younger ones. Women with higher mean glucose levels (but within the normal range) gave birth to children with significantly higher weight- at-birth z-standardized according to WHO, and women with low homocysteine levels (

The three-year multi-disciplinary ongoing research CRoatian Islands Birth Cohort Study (CRIBS) has been conducted with a goal to assess the various risk factors (biological, ecological, behavioural) for the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This cohort study, the first in South-Eastern Europe, investigates the inhabitants of Dalmatian islands and mainland, a population with high prevalence of MetS and associated symptoms. The detailed information on socio-economic characteristics, family trees, lifestyle factors, environmental risk factors, nutrition and physical and mental health have been collected, and the blood has been collected for biochemical analyses and measurement of total serum IgE. In this report we will present all the challenges, demands and obstacles the project team faced during the first half of the project. In addition to that, we will show the preliminary data of the health status of several hundred pregnant women (both before and during the pregnancy) and their newborns. The main goal of the CRIBS study is to detect and recognize the risk factors for MetS in the investigated population, to propose an efficient model for early intervention and prevention of disease, but also to help to develop research strategies for future researches in this specific populations of interest.