With the rising global burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and the rising costs of novel biological drugs, there is an increasing need for dietary approaches and functional foods that could modulate the course of IBD. The Mediterranean diet has proven to be efficacious in managing chronic inflammatory diseases, and recent studies have also shown its benefits in the setting of IBD. Since olive oil and its compounds have been shown to provide a considerable anti-inflammatory effect, in this review, we aim to discuss the latest evidence concerning the impact of olive oil and its bioactive compounds on IBD. Numerous preclinical studies have exhibited solid evidence on the mechanisms by which polyphenol-rich extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) or specific polyphenols like hydroxytyrosol (HT) provide their anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antitumour, and microbiota-modulation effects. Accordingly, several human studies that explored the effects of olive oil on patients with IBD further confirmed the evidence brought forward by preclinical studies. Nevertheless, there is a need for larger-scale, multicentric, randomized control trials that would finally elucidate olive oil’s level of efficacy in modulating the course of IBD.

The pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains elusive, despite numerous research studies. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the changes of plasma and IgG-specific N-glycosylation across the disease severity spectrum. We examined 2835 subjects from the 10.001 Dalmatians project, originating from the isolated Croatian islands of Vis and Korčula. All subjects were classified into four groups, namely (i) bilateral AMD, (ii) unilateral AMD, (iii) early-onset drusen, and (iv) controls. We analysed plasma and IgG N-glycans measured by HPLC and their association with retinal fundus photographs. There were 106 (3.7%) detected cases of AMD; 66 of them were bilateral. In addition, 45 (0.9%) subjects were recorded as having early-onset retinal drusen. We detected several interesting differences across the analysed groups, suggesting that N-glycans can be used as a biomarker for AMD. Multivariate analysis suggested a significant decrease in the immunomodulatory bi-antennary glycan structures in unilateral AMD (adjusted odds ratio 0.43 (95% confidence interval 0.22–0.79)). We also detected a substantial increase in the pro-inflammatory tetra-antennary plasma glycans in bilateral AMD (7.90 (2.94–20.95)). Notably, some of these associations were not identified in the aggregated analysis, where all three disease stages were collapsed into a single category, suggesting the need for better-refined phenotypes and the use of disease severity stages in the analysis of more complex diseases. Age-related macular degeneration progression is characterised by the complex interplay of various mechanisms, some of which can be detected by measuring plasma and IgG N-glycans. As opposed to a simple case-control study, more advanced and refined study designs are needed to understand the pathogenesis of complex diseases.

Seafaring is considered one of the most stressful professions. Stressors in seafaring lead to typical symptoms of stress, such as insomnia, loss of concentration, anxiety, lower tolerance of frustration, changes in eating habits, psychosomatic symptoms and diseases, and overall reduced productivity, with the possibility of burnout and chronic responsibility syndrome. It has been previously determined that seafarers belong to high-risk occupations in terms of developing metabolic syndrome, and according to their BMIs, almost 50% of all seafarers belong to the overweight and obesity categories. This is the first longitudinal study conducted with the aim of using the BIA method to determine the anthropometrical changes that occur during several weeks of continuous onboard service. This study included an observed group consisting of 63 professional seafarers with 8 to 12 weeks of continuous onboard service and a control group of 36 respondents from unrelated occupations. It was determined that Croatian seafarers fit into the current world trends regarding overweight and obesity among the seafaring population, with the following percentages in the BMI categories: underweight, 0%; normal weight, 42.86%; overweight, 39.68%; and obesity, 17.46%. It was established that the anthropometric statuses of the seafarers significantly changed during several weeks of continuous onboard service. Seafarers who served on board for 11 weeks lost 0.41 kg of muscle mass, whereas their total fat mass increased by 1.93 kg. Changes in anthropometric parameters could indicate deterioration of seafarers’ health statuses.

Samopoštovanje je procjena vlastitog samopouzdanja u tri dimenzije: fizički izgled, romantična atraktivnost te sposobnost formiranja i održavanja bliskih prijateljstava. To je način na koji ljudi percipiraju vlastitu vrijednost i misle da su vrijedni drugima. Društvene mreže su medij na kojem imamo priliku oblikovati sliku o sebi stvaranjem jedinstvenih profila kako bismo prikazali željenu sliku o sebi. Pojedinci komuniciraju i angažiraju se u živote drugih ljudi pomoću slika koje su stvorili o njima, otkrivanjem osobnih detalja i stvaranja uvida u živote drugih. Upotreba društvenih mreža ima negativne i pozitivne učinke. Osobnost i razina samopoštovanja su utjecajni čimbenici komunikacije pojedinca s drugim ljudima.

Background/Objectives: Declining fertility rates pose a major demographic and public health challenge across Europe, including Croatia. Although health literacy and psychological well-being may influence reproductive decision-making, their relationships with fertility attitudes remain insufficiently understood. This study examined the associations between health literacy, psychological distress, and fertility attitudes among postpartum women and investigated whether anxiety and depressive symptoms mediate the relationship between health literacy and fertility attitudes. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 1656 postpartum women from seven coastal counties in Croatia. Participants completed validated measures of health literacy (NVS-HR), anxiety (STAI), depressive symptoms (BDI-M), and breastfeeding attitudes (IIFAS). Correlation analyses, multivariable logistic regression, and mediation analyses were performed. Results: Higher health literacy was associated with more positive fertility attitudes (r = 0.18, p < 0.001), whereas anxiety and depressive symptoms were negatively associated with fertility attitudes (all p < 0.001). Health literacy was also negatively correlated with anxiety and depressive symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that higher health literacy (OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.12–1.35), older age (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.05–1.12), and more positive breastfeeding attitudes (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01–1.09) were independently associated with preferences corresponding to above-replacement fertility, whereas higher levels of depressive symptoms were independently associated with lower odds of this outcome (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.66–0.90; all p < 0.05). Mediation analysis demonstrated a significant direct association between health literacy and fertility attitudes (β = 0.020, p = 0.004), whereas no significant indirect effects through anxiety or depressive symptoms were observed. Conclusions: Health literacy was independently associated with fertility attitudes and with preferences corresponding to above-replacement fertility, while psychological distress did not mediate this relationship. These findings suggest that health literacy may serve as an important cognitive resource for reproductive decision-making and a potential target for future reproductive health promotion among postpartum women.

High-phenolic extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is a chemically dynamic bioactive matrix in which cultivar, ripening stage, processing, storage, and digestion shape the final profile of phenolic alcohols and secoiridoids. In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic intestinal inflammation is associated with barrier dysfunction, dysbiosis, systemic immune activation, endothelial injury, platelet hyperreactivity, and increased cardiovascular risk. This narrative review evaluates whether EVOO phenolics may intersect the gut–endothelium–platelet axis linking IBD to vascular and thromboinflammatory complications. The review focuses on hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, oleuropein- and ligstroside-derived secoiridoids, oleocanthal, and oleacein, with emphasis on their biosynthetic origin, processing-driven transformations, bioavailability, metabolism, and biological targets. Current evidence supports plausible effects on epithelial barrier integrity, TLR4/NF-κB signalling, Nrf2-mediated antioxidant defence, oxidised LDL formation, endothelial activation, and platelet-related pathways. Nevertheless, direct clinical evidence in IBD patients remains limited, and most cardiovascular-relevant findings are extrapolated from non-IBD human trials, animal studies, or in vitro models. Chemically characterised, biomarker-anchored intervention trials are needed before high-phenolic EVOO can be considered a validated strategy for modifying cardiovascular risk in IBD.