Objective: Arterial stiffness (cfPWV) is acknowledged biomarker of ageing. It was reported that ePWV correlated almost identical with the measured cfPWV and had significant predictive value for cardiovascular (CV) events in hypertensive patients. In a subgroup of population ageing process is faster (EVA), while slower in subjects with HVA). Our aim was to analyze characteristics of EVA and HVA in general Croatian population using ePWV. Design and method: In a stratified random sample of 1087 subjects from the general Croatian adult population which was enrolled in a nationwide survey (EH-UH 1) from 2000–2005 analyses on ePWV were done and subjects were followed-up for 17 years. ePWV was calculated using this formula: ePWV = 9.587–0.402 × age+4.560 × 10-3 × age2–2.621 × 10-5 × age2 × MBP+3.176 × 10-3 × age × MBP-1.832 × 10-2 × MBP. MBP = (DBP)+ 0.4 (SBP - DBP). HVA was defined as the lowest 10% and EVA as the highest 10% of the standardized PWV distribution, adjusted for age quintiles. Subjects with MI, stroke/TIA and DM were excluded. Mortality data were collected from National Public Health Institute records. Results: Subjects with EVA were older with higher systolic/diastolic BP, heart rate and ePWV, more obese, having more frequently dyslipidemia and hypertension, were less educated and less physically active (all p < 0.001). Contrary to women, EVA in men was not associated with age, obesity, level of education and dyslipidemia (p > 0.05). In the whole group, and in both gender, there were no differences between HVA and EVA in income, smoking, alcohol consumption, residency (urban vs.rural; continental vs. Mediterranean) (p > 0.05). More women than men had HVA till the menopause (X2 = 13.867;p = 0.001) but after that we failed to find difference between genders. There were significantly more CV/stroke deaths in EVA vs. HVA in the women (X2 = 8.743; p = 0.003) but not in men. Conclusions: High BP and heart rate, and physical inactivity were found to be associated EVA in both gender. Obesity, older age (menopause), dyslipidemia and lower level of education were characteristics of EVA in women but not in men. EVA in women but not in men was associated with more CV/stroke deaths.

U posljednjih se desetak godina u medijima često govori o povećanom broju dijagnosticiranihslučajeva autizma u djetinjstvu. U ovom sustavnom pregledu razmatramo razvoj razumijevanjapercepcije lica, jedne od specifičnijih značajki autizma, u svjetlu komorbiditeta s aleksitimijom iuznapredovalih statističkih metodologija istraživanja. Navodimo literaturu koja se bavi percepcijomlica u autizmu u različitim kognitivnim zadacima i upućuje na važnost često komorbidnealeksitimije, kao i literaturu koja koristi neuroslikovne metode istraživanja i potvrđuje važnostrazličitih uzoraka gledanja u autizmu pri analizi rezultata. U svrhu poboljšane obrazovne isocijalneintegracije osoba s autizmom i/ili aleksitimijom predlažemo teme za daljnje istraživanje

Objective: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was recommended by guidelines as a biomarker of arterial stiffness and an independent predictor of future cardiovascular (CV) events. However, due to practical and logistic reasons it was not become a routine in clinical work. Recently, it was shown that estimated PWV (ePWV) which is much more convenient for everyday work correlates excellent with cfPWV and had predictive role in hypertensive patients with various degrees of CV risk. Our aim was to determine the distribution of ePWV values in general Croatian population. Design and method: In a stratified random sample of 1087 subjects from the general Croatian adult population which was enrolled in a nationwide survey (EH-UH 1) from 2000–2005 analyses on ePWV were done and subjects were followed-up for 17 years. ePWV was calculated from age and mean BP (MBP): ePWV = 9.587 - 0.402 × age + 4.560 × 10-3 × age2 - 2.621 × 10-5 × age2 × MBP + 3.176 × 10-3 × age × MBP - 1.832 × 10-2 × MBP. MBP = diastolic BP (DBP) + 0.4(SBP - DBP). Results: Mean values of ePWV according to the age and BP categories are shown in Figure 1. Distribution of PWV according to the age category in the normal values European population (European Heart Journal 2010; 31: 2338) and ePWV in general Croatian population are presented in Table 1. Concordance between cfPWV and ePWV was found in younger subjects with less stiffed arteries. Discrepancies between cfPWV and ePWV increased with levels of cfPWV Conclusions: According to our knowledge this is the first study presenting the distribution of ePWV by age category in a population-based survey. Observed differences between cfPWV and ePWV in older subjects could be explained with differences between groups (normal population vs. general population) but also by the fact that our participants were not classified according to levels of BP what is in line with the results of other authors (J of Hypertension 2016, 34:1279)

U posljednjih se desetak godina u medijima često govori o povećanom broju dijagnosticiranih slučajeva autizma u djetinjstvu. U ovom sustavnom pregledu razmatramo razvoj razumijevanja percepcije lica, jedne od specifičnijih značajki autizma, u svjetlu komorbiditeta s aleksitimijom i uznapredovalih statističkih metodologija istraživanja. Navodimo literaturu koja se bavi percepcijom lica u autizmu u različitim kognitivnim zadacima i upućuje na važnost često komorbidne aleksitimije, kao i literaturu koja koristi neuroslikovne metode istraživanja i potvrđuje važnost različitih uzoraka gledanja u autizmu pri analizi rezultata. U svrhu poboljšane obrazovne i socijalne integracije osoba s autizmom i/ili aleksitimijom predlažemo teme za daljnje istraživanje.

Objective:Our aim was to association of ECG findings and mortality data in random sample of Croatian population, an original cohort from the EHUH study after 17 years of follow up.Design and method:EHUH study is nation-wide survey on prevalence, treatment and control of hypertension in Croatia. In 2001–2003 a random sample of 1267 subjects were enrolled. Mortality data were analyzed after average period of 17 years. Office blood pressure (BP) was measured in sitting position using mercury sphygmomanometer three times at two visits and once at home visit: total 9 measurements -average BP values were calculated. Mortality data were collected from National Public Health Institute records. ECG scans were taken 17 years ago in 162 subjects and scans were analyzed by 2 different examiners manually, regardless one of another. In this group there were 17 deaths. Heart rate, intrinsic heart rate, RR interval, QT, TPe and QRS times, QTc and TPe/QTc ratios were analyzed across the groups.Results:Statistically significant differences were observed in distributions of intrinsic heart rate (p < 0.001) and QTc (p < 0.05) between subjects who died and survivors. Higher values of intrinsic heart rate were linked with lower mortality (B = -0.361, (p < 0.001). A smaller, but statistically significant difference was observed for QRS time (B = -0.045, p < 0.05) suggesting longer QRS times are linked with lower mortality.Conclusions:Our results which are not in line with other reports could be explained with small group, small number of events and most probably it is the case of reverse epidemiology.