The present study investigated the influence of SCUBA dives with compressed air at depths of 10 and 20 m on ECG-derived HRV parameters in apparently healthy individuals. We hypothesized that cardiac sympathetic activity (measured by HRV parameters) adapts proportionally to diving depth, and that both time- and frequency-domain parameters are sensitive enough to track changes in cardiac ANS function during diving activities and subsequently during the recovery period. Eleven healthy middle-aged recreational divers (nine men and two women, age 43 ± 8, all nonsmokers) volunteered to participate in the present study. The participants (all open-circuit divers) were equipped with dry suits and ECG Holter devices and were later randomly assigned to dive pairs and depths (10 m vs. 20 m), and each participant served as his or her own control. No interaction effects (diving depth x time epoch) were found for the most commonly used HRV markers. More precisely, in response to two different diving protocols, a significant post hoc effect of time was observed for HR and SDNN, as these parameters transiently decreased during the dives and returned to baseline after ascent (p < 0.001). The ULF, VLF (p < 0.003), TP, and LF parameters decreased significantly during the dives, while HF significantly increased (p < 0.003). SCUBA diving apparently challenges the cardiac ANS, even in healthy individuals. The observed changes reveal possible underwater methods of influencing the parasympathetic activity of the heart depending on the depth of the dive. These results identify autonomic nervous system markers to track the cardiovascular risk related to diving and point to the possibility of tracking cardiovascular system benefits during underwater activities in selected patients.

Possible early detection of people at increased risk for severe COVID-19 clinical course is extremely important so that appropriate therapy can be initiated promptly to prevent numerous deaths. Our study included 45 patients treated for COVID-19 at Dubrava University Hospital, with clinical course analysed from medical records and stool samples collected for determination of the gut microbiota diversity using 16S rRNA analysis. Sequencing was successful for 41 samples belonging to four clinical course groups (WHO guidelines): 12 samples—critical, 12—severe, 9—moderate and 8—mild group. Microbial composition was assessed between groups using two approaches—ANCOM (QIIME2) and Kruskal–Wallis (MicrobiomeAnalyst). On the genus level, two taxa were found to be differentially abundant: archaeal Halococcus and Coprococcus (for both W = 37)—the two were most abundant in the critical group (10% and 0.94% of entire abundance, respectively). Coprococcus catus was the only species identified by both methods to be differentially abundant between groups and was most abundant in the critical group. Alpha diversity indicated greater evenness of features in the critical group. Beta diversity showed clustering of samples from the critical group. A relationship between gut microbiota composition and the clinical course of COVID-19 disease was indicated, pointing towards specific distinct features of the critical group. In a broader sense, our findings might be useful in combating potential future similar pandemics and emerging virus outbreaks.

This manuscript quantified spleen volume changes and examined the relationship between those changes and oxygen uptake kinetics during supine cycling. Ten volunteers (age = 22 ± 3), completed 3 step transitions from 20 W to their power output at 90% gas exchange threshold. Ultrasonic measurements of the spleen were performed each minute. The largest spleen volume reduction was 105 mL (p = 0.001). No associations existed between i) spleen volumes at rest; and ii) spleen volume changes (%) and tau pulmonary oxygen uptake (τV̇O_2p). Larger resting spleen volume and greater emptying do not correlate with a faster τV̇O_2p. Novelty: Greater splenic contractions do not augment τV̇O_2p, irrespective of spleen emptying and subsequent erythrocyte release.

Medicinski otpad je otpad koji nastaje u zdravstvenim ustanovama i može biti različitih vrsta, a prema svojstvima može biti opasni medicinski otpad i neopasni medicinski otpad. Zbog potencijalno opasnih svojstava nužno je gospodarenje medicinskim otpadom provoditi sukladno odredbama Zakona o gospodarenju otpadom (1) i prema Pravilniku o gospodarenje medicinskim otpadom (2). U razdoblju od 2015. do 2019. godine količina medicinskog otpada rasla je godišnje u prosjeku za 8 %. U 2020. godini, nastalo je 7.014 tona medicinskog otpada od čega je 74 % opasnog i 26 % neopasnog medicinskog otpada. U odnosu na 2019. godinu, riječ je o porastu, za 28 % što se može pripisati povećanoj potrošnji medicinskih proizvoda uslijed COVID-19 pandemije. Količina opasnog medicinskog otpada povećala se za 18 %, a količina neopasnog medicinskog otpada za 67 %. Cilj ovoga rada bio je istražiti razlike u količini, sastavu i postupanju medicinskim otpadom u predpandemijskom i pandemijskom razdoblju za vrijeme COVID-19 u zdravstvenim ustanovama Splitsko-dalmatinske županije. Povećana upotreba dodatne zaštitne opreme za vrijeme rada zdravstvenih djelatnika u pandemiji COVID-19 uzrokovala je stvaranja trostruko više infektivnog otpada. U radu je istaknuta važnost pravilnog rukovanja, sakupljanja, obrade i odlaganja infektivnog medicinskog otpada kako bi se spriječilo izravno ili neizravno prenošenje zaraze te štetan utjecaj na zdravlje ljudi i/ili životinja.