Filaggrin gene (FLG) null mutations are considered associated with atopic dermatitis. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of FLG null mutations R501X, 2282del4, R2447X and S3247X in the Croatian population and their role in the occurrence of allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Study enrolled 440 freshmen with defined allergic diseases by means of both present symptoms in International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire (relevant respiratory and/or skin symptoms) and markers of allergic sensitization (positive skin prick and/or patch test). FLG null mutations were successfully genotyped in 423 students of which 11 (2.6%) were carriers of FLG null mutation: 1/423 (0.2%) was heterozygous for R501X and 10/423 (2.4%) were heterozygous for 2282del4. No carriers of R2447X and S3247X mutations were identified. In wild-type FLG carriers (412 subjects), atopic dermatitis was present in 45 (11%), allergic rhinitis in 70 (17%) and allergic asthma in 29 (7%) students. Twenty-five of 393 (7%) patch-tested wild-type FLG carriers had ACD. Among 11 FLG null mutation carriers, four had one or more allergic diseases, and five had reported skin symptoms without defined allergic sensitization (positive skin prick test and/or patch test). FLG null mutations were not confirmed as a predictor of analysed allergic diseases, but were confirmed as an independent predictor of skin symptoms (OR 17.19, 95% CI 3.41-86.6, P < 0.001). Our results in general indicate a low frequency of FLG null mutations in the studied Croatian population supporting a theory of a latitude-dependent distribution of FGL null mutations in Europe, with a decreasing north-south gradient of R501X and 2282del4 mutation frequency. The relation between FLG null mutations and skin disorders was confirmed.

The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of hospital and environmental Acinetobacter baumannii isolate biofilms on ceramics and glass to common disinfectants benzalkonium chloride and chlorhexidine. For this purpose we developed a new method for biofilm cultivation and quantification on ceramics. The biofilm bacteria were more resistant to disinfectants than the planktonic populations, as more than 50 % of the biofilm population and none of the planktonic population survived 5-minute exposure. Furthermore, biofilm populations on ceramic tiles were significantly more resistant than those on glass coverslips, even though the amount of biofilm was practically the same on ceramics and glass. The reason for reduced susceptibility of A. baumannii biofilms on ceramics may be related to surface/disinfection interactions. Our findings suggest that biofilms on ceramic surfaces can be an important source of A. baumannii infection in hospital environments.

Background: Polymorphisms of cytokine genes are an interesting focus for association studies involving atopic diseases due to their role in immune cell communications during inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate associations of TNFα -308G>A, TNFα -238G>A, IL-1α -889C>T and IL-10 -1082G>A polymorphisms with atopic diseases with adjustment for confounding lifestyle and environmental factors. Methods: This study was performed on 356 Croatian students. The diagnosis of atopic asthma, atopic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis was based on symptoms reported by the modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and a positive skin prick test (SPT) to at least one common inhalatory allergen. Genetic polymorphisms were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-based technique. The influence of personal (gender, body mass index, parental history of atopic disease), lifestyle (cigarette smoking, pet ownership) and environmental (urban/rural residency, residency in continental/Mediterranean region) factors reported in the questionnaire was investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Compared to the control subjects, univariate analysis showed a significant negative association of the TNFα -308G>A polymorphism with atopic asthma, atopic dermatitis, asthma and skin symptoms and positive SPT. These observations were confirmed in a multivariate model only for atopic dermatitis and skin symptoms (atopic dermatitis: OR = 0.27; 95% CI 0.07-1.00; p = 0.050; skin symptoms: OR = 0.29; 95% CI 0.10-0.83; p = 0.021). Conclusions: The results indicate a protective role of TNFα -308G>A genetic polymorphisms regarding atopic dermatitis and skin symptoms even after controlling for personal, lifestyle and environmental factors. Further studies are needed to elucidate the molecular patterns of this association in atopic dermatitis and other chronic inflammatory skin disorders.

Wood processing is usually performed in environments with large amounts of endotoxin-rich bioaerosols that are associated with a variety of health effects. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the relation between endotoxin levels in settled and airborne dust in wood-processing industry. Ten pairs of airborne and settled dust samples were collected in a sawmill and parquet manufacture of two wood-processing plants in Croatia. Endotoxin was assayed with a chromogenic end-point LAL (Limulus amebocyte lysate) method. The results showed that endotoxin levels in airborne respirable dust were above the proposed occupational exposure limit of 125 EU m -3 and could be considered hazardous for the respiratory system. In settled dust they ranged between 229.7 EU mg -1 and 604.3 EU mg -1 and in airborne dust between 166.8 EU mg -1 and 671.6 EU m -3 , but there was no signifi cant correlation between them (Spearman's rho=0.358, P=0.310). This study points to sawmill settled dust as endotoxin reservoir and suggests that it may add to already high exposure to airborne endotoxins associated with wood processing. Investigations of the relation between settled and airborne endotoxin levels should be continued to better understand the sources and sites of endotoxin contamination in wood-processing industry.