Biomedical subjects

M Malinar

Publications and source records attributed to M Malinar.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Variation in survival in coastal and continental regions of Croatia--results of a longitudinal study.

After 25 years of follow-up, regional variations in survival were analysed on a sample of 3343 participants (1780 female, 1563 male) from three urban and three rural municipalities in Croatia. Age of participants was in the range 35-54 years at the beginning of the study (1969). Cox regression for general mortality singled out one continental rural municipality (Virovitica) with the lowest survival in both genders. The relationship between the risk of death and age at the beginning of the study was approximately linear throughout its range for men, and after the age of 45 for women. Men showed a trend of better survival in the coastal region, which was consistent with findings of a similar concurrent study of rural Croatian population.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

The use of visual evoked potentials to follow-up prisoners of war after release from detention camps.

Visual evoked potentials were examined in released prisoners of war (POWs) in order to evaluate the extent of neurological impairment after imprisonment in Serbian detention camps. On two occasions visual evoked potentials were determined in a group of 11 released prisoners of war (POWs): 157 days and 379 days after release from detention camp. During the first examination no significant differences were found in VEP parameters between the right and left eye. However, during the second examination significant differences were found in the latencies of waves P100 and N145, statistically significantly prolonged latencies of the P100 wave and significantly greater amplitudes of waves P50 and N75. The results can be regarded as progression of the VEP changes in the released POWs. It is hypothesized that these changes are a result of a demyelination process, caused by the altered immunological status of the POWs during posttraumatic stress syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Brain stem evoked potentials and visual evoked potentials in relation to the length of occupational exposure to low levels of toluene.

In 49 printing-press workers occupationally exposed to toluene for approximately 21.6 years, the values of BEAP and VEP parameters were examined in relation to the length of exposure. With the exception of P2 wave, there was a significant increase in the latencies of all the BEAP waves examined as well as in the interpeak latency (IPL) P3-P4, whereas IPL P4-P5 decreased significantly with the length of exposure. The amplitude of all the VEP examined decreased significantly with the length of exposure. Toluene exposure was evaluated by measuring the concentration of toluene in peripheral blood and of hippuric acid in urine on Wednesday morning prior to the workshift, and of hippuric acid in urine after the workshift on the same day. According to the average concentration of hippuric acid in urine after the workshift, the levels of toluene exposure were estimated to range from 40-60 ppm. Evoked potentials were determined on Mondays 10-12 hours after a nonworking weekend.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Cognitive evoked potentials VEP P300 persons occupationally exposed to low concentrations of toluene.

Cognitive evoked potentials VEP P300 were examined in 49 workers at printing press occupationally exposed to low concentrations of toluene for averagely 20 years, and in 59 control subjects. The exposure level of toluene was evaluated in randomly selected subgroups comprising 36 exposed and 27 control subjects. The concentrations of toluene were measured in peripheral blood on Wednesday morning before entering the work area, while the hippuric acid in urine was measured before and after entering the work area. The results show that the absolute number of exposed subjects displaying lower amplitude of cognitive wave VEP P300R and prolonged latency of the accompanying spontaneous wave VEP P300F was significantly greater than that of the controls.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in individuals exposed to long-term low concentrations of toluene.

Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) were examined in 49 workers employed in a printing press, who were occupationally exposed to low concentrations of toluene for an average of 20.3 years, and in 59 subjects in a control group. In the group of exposed workers, a significant decrease was found in all wave amplitudes examined, a significant prolongation of P1 wave latency, and an increased interval of interpeak latencies (P3-P5), indicating that the extramedullary and high medullary part of the auditory pathway are biologically most frequently affected by chronic exposure to low concentrations of toluene. The level of exposure to toluene in both groups was evaluated by defining the concentration of toluene in peripheral blood and the concentration of hippuric acid and ortho-cresol in urine.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Visual evoked potentials in relation to factors of imprisonment in detention camps.

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) of the pattern shift reversal type were determined in a representative group of 57 prisoners of war (POWs) released in 1992 from detention camps in former Yugoslavia. The parameters were correlated with the conditions in four camps (1-4). All subjects were male, with a mean age of 34.75 years (SD +/- 8.92), average length of imprisonment 192.7 days (SD +/- 77.6), mean loss of body mass during imprisonment 19.32% (SD +/- 9.54), and the average number of reported blows to the head and neck was 25.7 (SD +/- 20.3). VEPs were determined on average 290.5 days after the last craniocerebral trauma caused by blows to the head and neck (SD +/- 152.0) i.e., on average 218.5 days after release from the camp (SD +/- 164.3). Although all the 57 POWs reported being maltreated to a certain extent, 14 reported being subjected to particularly brutal forms of torture, 5 had been held in solitary confinement and 25 had lost consciousness at least once. Solitary confinement and loss of consciousness had the most significant effect on VEPs, and the altered VEP parameters correlated significantly with the craniocerebral trauma experienced, loss of body mass and the length of time since the last craniocerebral trauma until examination, and from release until examination. However, the length of imprisonment and treatment in the camps did not have a significant effect on VEP parameters. The study confirmed that under such conditions the age of the subject is a risk factor. The results of this study also confirmed that prisoners in one camp had been subjected to the worst maltreatment.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Visual evoked potentials in two groups of prisoners of war after release from Serbian detention camps.

Visual evoked potentials (VEP) were determined in two groups of released prisoners of war (POWs) from Serbian detention camps during the war in Croatia 1991/92. The first group comprised 22 POWs (group I), examined 10 to 60 days after release, and the second group comprised 24 POWs (group II), examined 6 to 9 months after release. The third group comprised 36 control subjects. Statistically significant increases in the amplitude of waves P50, N75, P100, N145, and significant prolongation of the latencies of wave N145 were found in group I. In group II, significant increases were found in the latencies of waves P50, N75, P100 and N145, and increased amplitude of wave P50. The greater significance of wave latencies compared to amplitudes, and greater significance of changes in early VEP waves than later VEP waves, can be considered evidence of future progression of these changes in the released POWs. This was confirmed by the significant increases in VEP parameters in groups I and II, which exceed +/- 2SD of the relevant control group, and significantly greater number of the same parameters in group II in relation to group I. There was no significance (i.e. asymmetry) among the three groups when the parameters of the determined visual evoked potentials were compared for the left and right eye.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Visual evoked potentials in individuals exposed to long-term low concentrations of toluene.

An investigation of visual evoked potentials was carried out in two groups of subjects; 49 workers employed in a printing-prss where toluene has been used exclusively as an organic solvent for the last 30 years, and 59 workers not occupationally exposed to any known neurotoxic substances. The average length of work service in the printing-press was 21.4 years. The level of exposure was assessed by determination of the concentration of toluene in peripheral blood, the concentration of hippuric acid and ortho-cresol in urine in subgroups of subjects chosen at random from both groups. N75, P100 and N145 waves of the pattern reversal visual evoked potentials were analyzed. In the group of exposed subjects, significantly greater amplitudes were found in all waves, with significantly longer latency of the P100 wave.

Alcohol Drinking↗

PubMed1993

Loss of body mass in ex-prisoners of war.

Body mass was examined in the defenders of Vukovar (n = 71) from eastern Slavonia, Republic of Croatia, immediately on release from enemy concentration camps. The sample consisted of a group of 33 male smokers who had been imprisoned for (mean +/- SD) 127.4 +/- 18.4 days (age 31.6 +/- 7.2 years) and 38 male smokers, imprisoned for 271.6 +/- 14.4 days (age 30.8 +/- 6.5 years). According to subjective estimations the prisoners of war had lost 18.4 +/- 6.1% and 21.6 +/- 10.2% respectively, in relation to body mass before the war. For comparison data were used on a healthy population of male smokers from eastern Slavonia (Vinkovci, Republic of Croatia (n = 75) aged 32.4 +/- 5.2 years taken from a study carried out in 1976. Data were analysed on body mass, body mass index, triceps, subscapular skinfolds and percentage of body fat. All parameters were statistically significantly lower in males imprisoned for 271.6 +/- 14.4 days in relation to the comparative group (P < 0.0001-0.05). A negative deviation from body mass nomogram was registered in prisoners of war in relation to the comparative group (5-16%). Basic biochemical parameters were examined in the prisoners of war. In the group imprisoned for 127.4 +/- 18.4 days statistically significant differences and pathological values of mean corpuscular volume and haematocrit were verified in relation to the group of prisoners with longer duration of imprisonment (P < 0.001). Although the prisoners of war had lost weight during imprisonment in the camps due to the frugal diet no clinical signs of malnutrition were found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1989

[Reevaluation of work disability in chronic bronchitis and functional criteria at rest].

As part of an investigation to reassess disability which was performed in 579 subjects with an internist's diagnosis, disability was reassessed in 68 males with chronic bronchitis as the main diagnosis. Disability reassessment was carried out by an informal team of physicians consisting of pulmologists and members of a second degree disability board. The aim of the study was to define the differences between disability reevaluation and residual working capacity. In. chronic bronchitics, a complete functional pulmonary test was carried out including measurement of the degree of obstruction, several specific parameters, non-specific bronchial reactivity and an analysis of arterial blood gases. Disability was reassessed in accordance with the following parameters: accurate evaluation, inaccurate evaluation, residual working capacity, uncompleted treatment. The one-way Kruskal-Wallis rank analysis of non-parametric data attributed the following predictors as specific: age, PC20, FEV1, the condition of hyperreactive airways and the degree of airway obstruction. The relevance of functional criteria ar rest, particularly of FEV1, for assessing the loss of working capacity in persons with chronic obstructive bronchitis is emphasized.

Bronchitis↗

PubMed1987