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Analysis of Reporting Trends of Serious Adverse Events Associated With Anti‐Obesity Drugs
No full textABSTRACT
Concern over the side effects of anti‐obesity medications, particularly if severe, has grown as their use has increased. Thus, the objective was to use trends in the reporting of suspected adverse events associated with anti‐obesity medications that have been approved for sale in the European Union to attempt to uncover discrepancies in the safety of these medications. The study was designed as secondary research, based on data about the number of adverse drug reactions (both serious and non‐serious) reported to the EudraVigilance database. Trends of the annual reporting rates for the six anti‐obesity drugs were analyzed by the Joinpoint Trend Analysis Software that divides the trendline into an optimum number of segments connected by “joinpoints” and tests the significance of the trend within each segment. The trends of serious adverse drug events showed clear differences among the anti‐obesity drugs: while all drugs had significant increasing trends during a few initial years after their appearance on the market, only the annual number of reports for semaglutide continued to grow ever since (annual change + 67.1%,
= 0.000). On the contrary, a continuous increase in the reporting rate of non‐serious adverse drug events was observed only for liraglutide (annual change + 33.8%,
= 0.000) while for the other anti‐obesity drugs, including semaglutide, the trends after the initial period were either negative or did not increase significantly. In conclusion, among the anti‐obesity drugs currently approved, only semaglutide shows a continuously increasing trend in the annual reporting of serious adverse events, suggesting a need for further investigation of safety signals
Sexual dysfunction, anxiety, depression and reduced quality of life in women with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis– a cross-sectional analysis
No full textAxial spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which causes a major deterioration of both physical and mental health. This research aimed to assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD), decreased quality of life (QoL), and depressive and anxiety symptoms in women with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). A cross-sectional study was performed, involving 60 sexually active women with nr-axSpA and an age-matched group of 60 healthy women. Data were gathered through patient records and three standardized tools: the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Sexual dysfunction was found to be more prevalent in the nr-axSpA group (65% vs. 40%, p < 0.01). The mean FSFI result was substantially lower in patients than in healthy controls (19.71 +/- 11.32 vs. 24.75 +/- 8.36, p < 0.01) with significant differences of the scores in desire, arousal, lubrication and pain caused during intercourse. Women with nr-axSpA also experienced higher levels of anxiety (HADS-A: 8.52 +/- 3.62 vs. 5.88 +/- 3.83, p < 0.01) and depression (HADS-D: 6.27 +/- 3.38 vs. 3.28 +/- 2.77, p < 0.01). They also had lower physical (171.0 +/- 72.9 vs. 301.5 +/- 81.2, p < 0.01) and mental (204.9 +/- 83.9 vs. 277.1 +/- 74.5, p < 0.01) QoL scores. Women diagnosed with nr-axSpA are more prone to sexual dysfunction, increased anxiety and depression, and have a significantly worsened quality of life. The obtained results accentuate the necessity of addressing the patients' physical as well as their emotional issues through a comprehensive approach
Blood Biomarkers in Ischemic Stroke Diagnostics and Treatment—Future Perspectives
No full textStroke is a leading cause of disability and the second most common cause of death worldwide, with its incidence increasing due to an aging population. Early diagnosis is crucial for timely medical intervention. Biomarkers serve as objective indicators to predict outcomes, monitor treatment responses, and assess prognosis. This review examines the evolving landscape of stroke biomarkers, highlighting their potential clinical applications and the challenges hindering their widespread use. Blood biomarkers are readily accessible and provide insight into the pathophysiological processes underlying stroke. This review focuses on neuronal and glial biomarkers, as well as those associated with inflammation, thrombosis, excitotoxicity, and neuroprotection. Also, it focuses on genetic biomarkers. The timing of biomarker measurement is particularly critical in the early stages of stroke, when rapid decision-making is essential, and it requires systematic investigation. Although numerous molecules have been proposed as stroke biomarkers in recent years, none have yet been integrated into routine clinical practice. Stroke biomarkers hold great promise for enhancing diagnosis, risk stratification, and personalized treatment strategies. However, well-designed studies and rigorous validation are necessary to bridge the gap between research findings and clinical implementation. Integrating biomarkers with existing diagnostic tools could revolutionize stroke management and improve patient outcomes. Continued research into blood biomarkers and their clinical utility remains imperative for advancing stroke care
The Hidden Legacy of Dimethoate: Clay Binding Effects on Decreasing Long-Term Retention and Reducing Environmental Stability in Croatian Soils
No full textUnderstanding the dynamics of sorption and desorption is essential for assessing the persistence and mobility of pesticides. These processes continue to influence ecological outcomes even after pesticide use has ended, as demonstrated by our study on dimethoate behavior in distinct soil samples from Croatia, including coastal, lowland, and mountainous regions. This study focuses on the sorption/desorption behavior of dimethoate in soil, explores the relationship between its molecular structure and the properties of soil organic and inorganic matter, and evaluates the mechanisms of the sorption/desorption process. The behavior of dimethoate was analyzed using a batch method, and the results were modeled using nonlinear equilibrium models: Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin models. Soils with a higher organic matter content, especially total organic carbon (TOC), showed a better sorption capacity compared to soils with a lower TOC. This is probably due to the less flexible structures in the glassy phase, which, unlike the rubbery phase in high TOC soils, do not allow dynamic and flexible binding of dimethoate within the organic matter. The differences between the H/C and O/C ratios indicate that in high TOC soils, flexible aliphatic compounds, typical of a rubbery phase, retain dimethoate more effectively, whereas a higher content of oxygen-containing functional groups in low TOC soils provides strong association. The lettered soils showed stronger retention of dimethoate through interactions with clay minerals and metal cations such as Mg2+, suggesting that clay plays a significantly more important role in enhancing dimethoate sorption than organic matter. These results highlight the importance of organic matter, clay, and metal ions in the retention of dimethoate in soil, indicating the need for remediation methods for those pesticides that, although banned, have had a long history of use
Characterization and differentiation of beech and chestnut honeydew honeys: A comparative study
No full textThis study compares beech (Fagus sylvatica) and chestnut (Castanea sativa) honeydew honeys through analyses of
physicochemical properties, pollen composition, phenolic and volatile compounds, and bioactivity. Beech honey
exhibited higher antioxidant activity (up to 1.81 mmol TE/kg) compared to chestnut honey (0.79 mmol TE/kg),
though both had similar total phenolic and flavonoid content. A total of 37 phenolic compounds, including
propolis-derived flavonoids, were detected, with taxifolin and phenylamides as potential markers of botanical
origin. Volatile profiles distinguished the types, with beech honey rich in 2-furanmethanol and nonanal, while
chestnut honey had unique benzaldehyde and furfural notes. Both honeys demonstrated strong antimicrobial
activity, with inhibition zones up to 20 mm and effective MICs (0.025–0.2 g/mL). Although not currently
classified by botanical origin in EU regulations, the study highlights distinctive polyphenol and volatile profiles,
as well as bioactive properties, between beech and chestnut honeydew honeys
Kliničke karakteristike i utjecaj antikoagulantnih lijekova na intrakranijalna krvarenja
No full textCilj: Istražiti klinička, radiološka i laboratorijska obilježja, te razlike u njima kod bolesnika s
intrakranijalnim krvarenjima koji su prethodno uzimali antikoagulantne i antitrombocitne lijekove, u
odnosu na one koji nisu. Ispitanici i metode: Prikupili smo podatke bolesnika s intrakranijalnim
krvarenjima (IKK) hospitaliziranih u OB Pula, u razdoblju od 01. siječnja 2020. do 01. siječnja 2023.
godine. Proveli smo analizu podataka koji su uključivali dob, spol, komorbiditete, vrstu IKK, simptome
kod prijma, Glagow Coma Score pri prijmu i otpustu, laboratorijske nalaze, metode i ishod liječenja.
Rezultati: Rezultati našeg istraživanja pokazuju kako su u retrogradnom, trogodišnjem praćenju bolesnika
sa spontanim intrakranijalnim krvarenjima hospitalizirani odrasli bolesnici i jedno dijete. Jedna trećina
bolesnika je prethodno uzimala anitkoagulantne i antitrombocitne lijekove. Odnos između broja muškaraca
i žena u skupinama nije se značajno razlikovao. Prosječna dob iznosi 70 godina, dok su bolesnici koji nisu
uzimali antikoagulantne i antitrobocitne lijekove bili mlađi. Jedna polovina uzorka imala je barem jedan
komorbiditet, a tri četvrtine bolesnika (77,2%) bolovalo je od arterijske hipertenzije koja je najvažniji
čimbenik rizika za nastanak IKK. Obje skupine bolesnika razvile su umjeren poremećaj svijesti, a
intracerebralno krvarenje je bilo najčešći tip IKK. Samo jedna petina bolesnika podvrgnuta je kirurškom
tretmanu. Čimbenici koji su bili povezani s antikoagulantnom terapijom su arterijska hipertenzija, atrijska
fibrilacija, aneurizmatski SAH i subduralni hematom. Prosječan broj dana hospitalizacije iznosio je 13,72
dana, a smrtnost tijekom hospitalizacije 41,4%. Zaključak: Utvrđeno je da ne postoje klinički značajne
razlike između bolesnika. Također, utvrđeno je kako su bolesnici koji su prethodno koristili antikoagulantne
i antitrombocitne lijekove imali veću incidenciju subduralnih hematoma i izoliranog intraventrikularnog
krvarenja u odnosu na kontrolnu skupinu bez terapije. Smrtnost kod bolesnika na antikoagulatnoj terapiji
iznosila je 48,9%, dok je smrtnost kod nekoaguliranih bolesnika iznosila 37,1%, čime se naglašava važnost
ranog prepoznavanja bolesnika na antikoagulantnoj terapiji
Trendovi održivosti u razvoju i označavanju vina
No full textCilj je ovoga rada bio analizirati trendove održivosti u razvoju i označavanju vina. Metodološki se istraživanju pristupilo kroz pregled znanstvene literature podrazumijevajući da istraživanja prate fenomene iz stvarnoga života, odnosno istražuju trendove održivosti koji su relevantni vinarima i potrošačima. Prednost je ovog metodološkog pristupa stjecanje uvida u globalno relevantne trendove koji se ne bi mogli spoznati empirijskim istraživanjem na jednome ili nekoliko tržišta. Identificirani su slijedeći trendovi održivosti: organska vina, održiva vina, lokalna vina, vina iz specifične regije, prirodna vina i vina bez ili s nižom razinom alkohola. Navedeni trendovi pobudili su interes istraživača prije petnaestak godina, a danas postoji najveći interes za istraživanje organskih i održivih vina. Rezultati također pokazuju da se svi identificirani trendovi održivosti dominantno istražuju u Europi, i to uglavnom u Italiji. Konačno, doprinos radova koji izučavaju ove trendove uglavnom je vezan uz tri istraživačka područja: percepcija i ponašanje potrošača, turizam te upravljanje u vinarstvu. Znanstveni doprinos ovog istraživanja, odnosno identifikacija i analiza trendova održivosti kod vina, pridonosi povečanju učinkovitosti budućih nastojanja vinara i istraživača
E-CITIZENS - ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN NATURAL PERSONS AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR
No full textElektronička komunikacija fizičkih osoba s javnim sektorom predstavlja standard u modernom društvu a koje društvo sve više koristi internet za obavljanje administrativnih poslova. Kroz različite oblike elektroničke komunikacije, poput internetskih stranica, e-pošte, aplikacija za mobilne uređaje i društvenih mreža, građani mogu brzo i učinkovito komunicirati s javnom upravom. Ovaj rad evaluira elektroničku komunikaciju javne uprave s građanima kroz sustav e-Građani, gdje građani mogu obaviti različite administrativne poslove poput prijave prebivališta, prijave rođenja djeteta, plaćanja poreza, predaje zahtjeva za izdavanje građevinske dozvole, pregledati status svog predmeta koji se vodi pred sudovima, itd. ovisno o građanskim potrebama. Prednosti elektroničke komunikacije uključuju uštedu vremena i novca, veću dostupnost usluga te veću transparentnost i efikasnost u administrativnim postupcima. Unatoč prednostima, postoje prepreke poput sigurnosnih problema u elektroničkoj komunikaciji i otpora starije populacije prema novim tehnologijama. Ipak, korištenje informacijsko-komunikacijske tehnologije u Hrvatskoj ima za cilj unaprijediti kvalitetu života građana, povećati učinkovitost javne uprave te potaknuti gospodarski razvoj kroz digitalizaciju javne uprave.Electronic communication between individuals and the public sector represents a standard in modern society, where the internet is increasingly used for administrative tasks. Through various forms of electronic communication, such as websites, email, mobile applications, and social media, citizens can communicate quickly and efficiently with public administration. This paper evaluates electronic communication between public administration and citizens through the e-Citizens system, where citizens can perform various administrative tasks, such as registering a residence, registering a child’s birth, paying taxes, submitting applications for building permits, reviewing the status of court cases, etc., depending on their needs. The advantages of electronic communication include saving time and money, increased accessibility of services, and greater transparency and efficiency in administrative procedures. Despite the advantages, there are challenges such as security issues in electronic communication and resistance among the older population to new technologies. Nevertheless, the use of information and communication technology in Croatia aims to improve the quality of life for citizens, increase public administration efficiency, and foster economic development through the digitalization of public administration
PROTECTION OF MINORITY SHAREHOLDERS IN JOINT STOCK CORPORATIONS
No full textSvi dioničari, bez obzira na veličinu njihovog udjela u temeljnom kapitali društva, imaju određeni skup prava i obveza koji proizlaze iz posjedovanja dionica. Svi dioničari pod jednakim uvjetima imaju jednak položaj u društvu. Prilikom ostvarivanja svojih prava, dioničari trebaju voditi računa o najboljem interesu društva i paziti da lojalno postupaju prema društvu i drugim dioničarima. Interesi dioničara koji raspolažu s manjim brojem dionica mogu biti ugroženi zbog ograničene moći odlučivanja te se stoga propisuje pravna zaštita manjinskih dioničara koji čine tzv. kvalificiranu manjinu koja je određena zakonom ili statutom društva. Manjinskim dioničarima, u postupku preuzimanja društva, može bez njihove volje prestati članstvo u društvu. Kako bi se zaštitili interesi manjinskih dioničara zakonske odredbe predviđaju određeni način postupanja i obveze većinskog dioničara prilikom preuzimanja društva.All shareholders, regardless of the size of their stake in the company's share capital, have a specific set of rights and obligations arising from share ownership. All shareholders have an equal position in the company under the same conditions. When exercising their rights, shareholders should act in the best interest of the company and ensure they act loyally towards the company and other shareholders. The interests of shareholders holding a smaller number of shares may be at risk due to their limited decision-making power. Therefore, legal protection is provided for minority shareholders, who constitute a so-called qualified minority, as determined by law or the company's statute. Minority shareholders may lose their shareholding in the company during the takeover process without their consent. To protect their interests, legal regulations prescribe specific procedures and obligations for the majority shareholder during the takeover
The influence of social factors on consumer decision-making: bridging economic theories and behavioral insights
No full textThis bachelor thesis, The Influence of Social Factors on Consumer Decision-Making: Bridging Economic Theories and Behavioral Insights, explores the role of social factors such as culture, peer influence, and social norms in shaping consumer behavior. By merging traditional economic models with behavioral insights, the thesis highlights the limitations of purely rational decision-making frameworks and emphasizes the importance of external social influences. The thesis begins with an introduction to key economic and behavioral theories and presents a mixed-methods approach to analyzing the impact of social factors. Through Apple case study the thesis critically examines how social context influences consumer choices and offers practical recommendations for marketers and policymakers to better engage with socially driven consumers. The conclusion reflects on the evolving nature of consumer behavior, suggesting directions for future research in the intersection of economics and behavioral science