Background/Objectives: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among youth is rising, and the increase is closely linked to unhealthy lifestyle patterns. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS among University of Rijeka students and investigate its associations with dietary habits, physical activity, gender, and faculty type (health and non-health faculties). Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted from September 2024 to March 2025 involved 217 randomly selected students from 16 faculties. The validated questionnaires Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), as well as a general data questionnaire, were used alongside anthropometric (height, weight, waist circumference) and biochemical measurements (fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol). MetS was diagnosed using a combination of International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria and Polish Experts Consensus (2022) criteria. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Spearman’s correlation, and multivariate logistic regression. Results: MetS was identified in 5.5% of students. Significant risk factors included obesity (body mass index, BMI, p < 0.05), low physical activity (IPAQ-SF, p < 0.05), elevated blood pressure (p < 0.01), high triglyceride levels (p < 0.05), and increased waist-to-height ratio (WHtR, p < 0.01). Female students reported lower physical activity than males (p < 0.05), while students from non-health faculties had lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MEDAS, p < 0.05) and reduced physical activity (p < 0.05). Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet correlated with lower BMI and triglyceride levels (p < 0.05), whereas lower adherence was associated with reduced physical activity (Spearman’s r = −0.35, p < 0.01). Logistic regression with WHR as the dependent variable showed waist circumference (WC) as the strongest predictor (OR = 45.925, 95% CI: 5.238–402.666, p = 0.001), followed by triglycerides (OR = 3.395, 95% CI: 1.322–8.718, p = 0.011). BMI was inversely associated with WHR (OR = 0.068, 95% CI: 0.006–0.780, p = 0.031). HDL cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose were not significant predictors (p > 0.05), indicating limited predictive power in this model. Conclusions: The 5.5% MetS prevalence underscores the need for targeted interventions promoting Mediterranean diet adherence and physical activity, particularly among non-health faculty students and females. Longitudinal studies are warranted to assess intervention efficacy.

Post-traumatic torsion of wondering spleen is extremely rare cause of acute abdominal pain in children with only few cases reported. We report a case of a 9-year-old boy with wandering spleen torsion after bike crash and subacute clinical presentation. After a bicycle crash and a period of persistent fever family physician performed an ultrasound of abdomen which showed a round focal lesion of 10 x 12 cm in size, a spleen-like echogenicity in the middle-lower abdominal position and in the small pelvis, which raised suspicion of ectopic (wandering) spleen. The abdominal MSCT confirmed the diagnosis of wandering spleen, Numerous immunologic, hematological, radiological, infectious, endocrinological, chromosomal and cytological tests and markers confirmed a diagnosis of the splenic malformation. A surgeon arranged to perform splenopexy after checking the vaccination status. Laparotomy was initiated. The splenic artery and vein, which was in a triple twist, was released and due to the resulting path, the spleen itself was larger than the CT finding. The spleen was placed under the left ribs and splenopexy was performed. At the fifteen-day and two-month follow ups, the patient felt good, was painless, afebrile and the spleen gradually decreased. Wondering spleen should be considered as a possible cause of acute abdominal pain when the spleen is not seen in its usual position. The treatment of choice is surgery, with the goal of preservation of the organ whenever possible.

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death among women, with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) representing an important manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis. The ankle–brachial index (ABI) is a simple, non-invasive measure used for PAD screening and cardiovascular risk assessment. This study aimed to compare ABI values between women of reproductive and postmenopausal age and to explore associations with lifestyle and clinical characteristics in primary care settings. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 437 women recruited from family medicine offices in two Croatian counties between November and December 2024. Participants completed validated questionnaires on dietary habits (MEDAS) and physical activity (IPAQ/PASE), and underwent anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. ABI was assessed using an automated MESI device following a standardized protocol. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of abnormal ABI (<1.00), adjusting for age, BMI, hypertension, smoking, and county. Results: Most participants had normal ABI values (right 95.7%; left 95.0%). Mild to moderate PAD (ABI 0.90–0.99) was observed in approximately 3% and severe PAD (ABI < 0.90) in ≤1.1% of cases. Postmenopausal women were more likely to present with lower ABI values (p = 0.046), though this association was attenuated after adjusting for age. Lifestyle factors, including diet and physical activity, showed no significant association with ABI in the adjusted models. Conclusions: Age emerged as the primary determinant of reduced ABI, while hypertension and smoking showed positive but non-significant associations. The findings underscore the importance of early vascular screening and lifestyle-based prevention in women, particularly in the postmenopausal period. Larger longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify causal pathways and the role of hormonal and behavioral factors in peripheral arterial disease development.

Udio starijeg stanovništva u ukupnoj populaciji značajno se povećava. Demografski podaci Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije (SZO) predviđaju povećanje udjela starijeg stanovništva u sljedećih 30 godina na 24 % od ukupne populacije. Starenje stanovništva rezultat je niza međusobno povezanih čimbenika, poput napretka medicine, tehnologije te gospodarskog i društvenog razvoja. Sukladno navedenom, pitanje osiguravanja kvalitete života starijih osoba od iznimnog je društvenog i socijalnog značaja. U radu ćemo razraditi određene čimbenike koji imaju utjecaj na kvalitetu života osoba starije životne dobi. Poštovanje etičkih normi u radu sa starijima trebalo bi biti jedan od temeljnih čimbenika percepcije pojma kvalitete života. Potrebne su značajne društvene mjere kako bi se poboljšali standardi koji će omogućiti održavanje neovisnosti i autonomije, pozitivno samopoimanje zdravlja, duhovnost, stambenu i financijsku sigurnost koje pridonose kvaliteti života starijih.

Background/Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a progressive degenerative joint disease characterised by low-grade inflammation and is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk and arterial stiffness. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a quantitative measure of arterial stiffness and an important tool for detecting subclinical arterial calcification and CV risk. This study aimed to determine whether PWV can distinguish radiographically mild KOA (Kellgren–Lawrence grades 1-2) from severe KAO (Kellgren–Lawrence grades 3-4) in terms of CV risk factors. Methods: A total of 223 postmenopausal women with KOA participated in this cross-sectional study. Assessments included anthropometry, laboratory analyses, blood pressure and PWV measurements, a 6 min walk test, pain evaluation using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and completion of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: PWV was significantly higher in the severe KOA group (10.53 m/s vs. 8.78 m/s, p < 0.001). A cut-off value of 8.4 m/s effectively distinguished between severe and mild forms of KOA (AUC = 0.798, p = 0.001). OA grade, pain, age, waist circumference, WHR, SCORE 2/SCORE 2OP, systolic blood pressure, serum glucose, HbA1c, uric acid, creatinine, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were increased in the group with PWV > 8.4 m/s, compared to the group with PWV ≤ 8.4 m/s. Conversely, eGFR, the 6 min walk test and physical activity of patients were reduced in the group with PWV > 8.4 m/s. A patient with a PWV > 8.4 m/s has a 1.77 times higher chance of developing a more severe form of the disease than a patient with a lower PWV. Conclusions: Patients with a higher PWV are more likely to develop a more severe form of KOA, which is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

Herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) is an acute or subacute illness associated with focal or global cerebral dysfunction. It is caused by herpes simplex viruses belonging to either type 1(HSV-1) or type 2(HSV-2). Most of HSVE is caused by HSV-1. The most common manifestations include encephalopathy, fever, seizures, headaches, and focal neurological deficits. 49-year-old patient who has diabetes mellitus type 1, first presented with a fever, followed by a generalized epileptic seizure. In the Emergency Room a lumbar puncture was performed, and HSV-1 was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid. MR of the brain concluded that the changes correspond to the changes within HSV-1 encephalitis with a smaller area of ​​hemorrhage. The patient was prescribed with acyclovir 3×10 mg/kg i.v. for three weeks. After antiviral therapy and glycemic control, the patient was discharged with antiepileptic, antihypertensive, antiulcer and antidiabetic drugs and indication to do a control EEG and infectologist exam with laboratory findings. HSVE has high morbidity and mortality, and the treatment of choice is acyclovir therapy.