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Biomedical subjects

A Marusic

Publications and source records attributed to A Marusic.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Genome-wide scan for genes involved in bipolar affective disorder in 70 European families ascertained through a bipolar type I early-onset proband: supportive evidence for linkage at 3p14.

Preliminary studies suggested that age at onset (AAO) may help to define homogeneous bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) subtypes. This candidate symptom approach might be useful to identify vulnerability genes. Thus, the probability of detecting major disease-causing genes might be increased by focusing on families with early-onset BPAD type I probands. This study was conducted as part of the European Collaborative Study of Early Onset BPAD (France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, England, Slovenia). We performed a genome-wide search with 384 microsatellite markers using non-parametric linkage analysis in 87 sib-pairs ascertained through an early-onset BPAD type I proband (AAO of 21 years or below). Non-parametric multipoint analysis suggested eight regions of linkage with P-values<0.01 (2p21, 2q14.3, 3p14, 5q33, 7q36, 10q23, 16q23 and 20p12). The 3p14 region showed the most significant linkage (genome-wide P-value estimated over 10 000 simulated replicates of 0.015 [0.01-0.02]). After genome-wide search analysis, we performed additional linkage analyses with increased marker density using markers in four regions suggestive for linkage and having an information contents lower than 75% (3p14, 10q23, 16q23 and 20p12). For these regions, the information content improved by about 10%. In chromosome 3, the non-parametric linkage score increased from 3.51 to 3.83. This study is the first to use early-onset bipolar type I probands in an attempt to increase sample homogeneity. These preliminary findings require confirmation in independent panels of families.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The completed suicide as interplay of genes and environment.

The review will tackle the interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors behind the completed suicide. First, individual differences in suicidal behaviour in relation to heritability are presented followed by a brief discussion of genetic methods currently used to investigate candidate genes for the completed suicide. Further along the polygenetic, multi-factorial model of genetic proneness to suicidal behaviour is presented as interplay of genes and environment. Finally, the future implications in this quickly blossoming field of research are discussed.

Environment↗
PubMed2004

[Registration of clinical trials: a statement from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors].

Altruistic motives and trust are central to scientific investigations involving people. These prompt volunteers to participate in clinical trials. However, publication bias and other causes of the failure to report trial results may lead to an overly positive view of medical interventions in the published evidence available. Registration of randomised controlled trials right from the start is therefore warranted. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors has issued a statement to the effect that the 11 journals represented in the Committee will not consider publication of the results of trials that have not been registered in a publicly accessible register such as www.clinicaltrials.gov. Patients who voluntarily participate in clinical trials need to know that their contribution to better human healthcare is available for decision making in clinical practice.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗
PubMed2001

Extracranial branches of the middle meningeal artery.

We present a case of unusual extracranial branches of the middle meningeal artery. The middle meningeal artery originated from the medial side of the maxillary artery and entered the skull through the foramen spinosum. The posterior superior alveolar artery originated from the middle meningeal artery, gave rise to the pterygoid branch, and entered the maxilla. In addition, the bifurcation of the common carotid artery was at the level of the second cervical vertebra. The embryogenesis of such rare branching pattern of the middle meningeal artery is not clear, but the anatomical consequences may have clinical implications.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

High bifurcation of common carotid artery, anomalous origin of ascending pharyngeal artery and anomalous branching pattern of external carotid artery.

We present a rare case of combined high bifurcation of the common carotid artery, anomalous origin of the ascending pharyngeal artery and unusual branching pattern of the external carotid artery. The right common carotid artery bifurcated at the level between the second and the third cervical vertebrae, giving rise to the ascending pharyngeal artery just below the bifurcation. The right external carotid artery branched directly at its origin into the superior thyroid, lingual and occipital arteries and the distal part of the external carotid artery. The latter gave rise to the right facial artery and finally bifurcated into the maxillary and superficial temporal arteries. The right posterior auricular artery arose from the right occipital artery. The finding was unilateral and other vascular anomalies were not observed. The embryogenesis of such a combination of anomalies is not clear, but the anatomic consequences may have important clinical implications.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

What can psychiatric genetics offer suicidology?

There is good evidence from recent studies that depression is familial, and that a substantial proportion of the variation in liability is explained by genes. Suicidal behavior, including completed suicide, also seems to cluster in families. First-degree relatives of individuals who have committed suicide (included dizygotic twins) have more than twice the risk of the general population. For identical co-twins of suicides, the relative risk increases to about 11. Applying a simple structural equation model to the published data suggests a heritability for completed suicide of about 43% (95% confidence intervals 25-60). It is not known at present whether the genes predisposing to suicide are identical with those predisposing to affective disorder, but since only about half of those committing suicide have a diagnosis of depression, it seems probable that the overlap is incomplete. The mode of inheritance of suicidal behavior is almost certain to be complex, involving many genes. There have already been some initial studies of allelic association with polymorphisms in candidate genes such as those involved in serotonergic transmission. Further progress is likely to come from candidate gene and linkage disequilibrium studies that are capable of detecting multiple genes of small effect.

Aggression↗
PubMed2001

Injury proneness and personality.

The aim of this research was to investigate some personality factors among groups of 43 physically injured inpatients and 43 non-injured hospital-based controls. The participants completed the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and the Coping Styles Questionnaire (CSQ). Logistic regression was used to compare the two groups on six psychological risk factors. The univariate regression models suggested three possible risk factors: extraversion, sensitization, and avoidance coping style. The multivariate regression model supported only extraversion and sensitization of emotion. Next, patients in the experimental group were questioned about whether they had considered preventive measures before the accident and whether they felt responsible for their injuries. Correlation analysis showed that introverted subjects felt more responsible for the sustained injuries than their extraverted counterparts. Sensitizers and subjects who scored high on psychoticism, neuroticism, and emotional coping had not considered preventive measures as often as others. Finally, the principal component analysis of risk factors was used to extract two correlates of injury-prone behaviour: extraversion and sensitized avoidance. It was concluded that psychological factors play an important role in predicting injury that is significant enough to require inpatient treatment. Two potential mechanisms of psychological impact have been suggested, notably distraction in extraverted subjects and overestimation in sensitizing avoiders.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed2001

Suicide in Croatia and in Croatian immigrant groups in Australia and Slovenia.

AIM: To compare suicide rates in Australia, Slovenia, and Croatia with suicide rates in Croatian immigrant groups in Australia and Slovenia in a 10-year period. METHOD: We analyzed records for completed suicides of the residents of Australia in a decade between 1988 and 1997 and Croatia and Slovenia in a decade between 1985 and 1994. The Croatian Catholic Centers in Australia had 31 completed suicides reported in their Parish Registries in the decade between 1985 and 1994. In Slovenia, 141 completed suicides of Croats were reported in the same decade by the Institute of Public Health of Republic of Slovenia. RESULTS: The suicide rate and method of suicide in the Croatian immigrant group in Slovenia (26.01/100,000/year; 60% of hanging) converged towards those of the host country (31.43/100,000/year; 76% of hanging), perhaps as a function of the years since migration from Croatia (22.53/100,000/year; 42% of hanging). Somewhat higher male-female ratio in this immigration group (3.55) could be explained by their lower social status. Surprisingly low suicide rate was calculated for the immigration group in Australia (3.10/100,000/year). CONCLUSION: Croat immigrants to Australia have the lowest suicide rate, but the highest male-female suicide ratio, which could be a consequence of underreporting of suicides by Croatian Catholic Centers in Australia. Different suicide data sources can be a source of significant bias in cross-cultural comparison of suicide behavior.

Australia↗
PubMed2000

Croatia: legal regulation of doctors.

Accompanying changes in the way health services in Croatia are organised has been a significant change in the way the medical profession is regulated. In 1995 the Croatian Medical Chamber was established, with legal powers. The responsibilities of physicians to their patients are spelled out in considerable detail. Most of these responsibilities are matched by provisions in Croatia's criminal law. Croatia has about 10,000 doctors and dentists and since 1998 19 cases have been resolved by the Medical Chamber and its commissions. Public health providers offer protection in medical negligence cases but this could change as more market-oriented health-care provision is introduced. In 1997 and 1998 only 60 malpractice claims under the criminal law were brought and most of those were dismissed.

Croatia↗