Croatian medical journal
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Croatian medical journal · Jun 2009
Developmental validation of short tandem repeat reagent kit for forensic DNA profiling of canine biological material.
To develop a reagent kit that enables multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 18 short tandem repeats (STR) and the canine sex-determining Zinc Finger marker. ⋯ The kit, which produces robust, reliable, and reproducible results, will be made available for the forensic research community after modifications based on this study's evaluation to comply with the quality standards expected for forensic casework.
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Croatian medical journal · Jun 2009
ReviewValidity of low copy number typing and applications to forensic science.
Low copy number (LCN) typing, particularly for current short tandem repeat (STR) typing, refers to the analysis of any sample that contains less than 200 pg of template DNA. Generally, LCN typing simply can be defined as the analysis of any DNA sample where the results are below the stochastic threshold for reliable interpretation. There are a number of methodologies to increase sensitivity of detection to enable LCN typing. ⋯ While LCN typing is appropriate for identification of missing persons and human remains and for developing investigative leads, caution should be taken with its use in other endeavors until developments are made that overcome the vagaries of LCN typing. A more in-depth evaluation by the greater scientific community is warranted. The issues to consider include: training and education, evidence handling and collection procedures, the application or purpose for which the LCN result will be used, the reliability of current LCN methods, replicate analyses, interpretation and uncertainty, report writing, validation requirements, and alternate methodologies for better performance.
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Croatian medical journal · Apr 2009
Physical activity of Croatian population: cross-sectional study using International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
To determine the physical activity level of the Croatian population in different domains of everyday life. ⋯ Studies on physical activity in transition countries should include the domains of work and domestic and garden, since if only leisure-time domain is examined, the total physical activity level could be underestimated. As the lowest physical activity was reported by adolescents and young adults, strategies for increasing physical activity in this age group should be developed.
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Croatian medical journal · Apr 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialEducating adolescents about healthy sleep: experimental study of effectiveness of educational leaflet.
To evaluate how exposure to educational leaflet about healthy sleep affects knowledge about sleep in adolescents. ⋯ Educational leaflets can be an effective first step in educating younger high school students about healthy sleep, with the method being more effective in female adolescents.
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Croatian medical journal · Apr 2009
Comparative StudyCombination of quantitative capnometry, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and clinical assessment in differentiating acute heart failure from pulmonary disease as cause of acute dyspnea in pre-hospital emergency setting: study of diagnostic accuracy.
To determine the diagnostic accuracy of the combination of quantitative capnometry (QC), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and clinical assessment in differentiating heart failure (HF)-related acute dyspnea from pulmonary-related acute dyspnea in a pre-hospital setting. ⋯ In differentiating between cardiac and respiratory causes of acute dyspnea in pre-hospital emergency setting, NT-proBNP in combination with capnometry and clinical assessment was superior to NT-proBNP alone or NT-proBNP in combination with clinical assessment.