Category:Publications

Authors: Dražen Lušić, Sara Beza, Irena Brčić Karačonji AbstractCaffeine is a natural stimulant of plant origin found in many products such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and energy drinks. It is also often used as an active substance in over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers and preparations for the treatment of colds and allergies. While caffeine is generally …
Continue reading What is more common in fatal caffeine intoxication – suicide or unintentional overdose?

Authors: Mirta Milić, Luka Kazensky, Martina Matovinović AbstractThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) worldwide is rapid and significant on a global scale. A 2022 meta-analysis of data from 28 million individuals revealed a global prevalence of 45.1%, with notably higher rates in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and the Americas, particularly in high-income countries. MetS is associated …
Continue reading The Impact of the Metabolic Syndrome Severity on the Appearance of Primary and Permanent DNA Damage

Authors: Katarina Matković, Andreja Jurič, Ivana Jakovljević, Luka Kazensky, Mirta Milić, Vilena Kašuba, Silvije Davila, Gordana Pehnec, Irena Brčić Karačonji, Ante Cvitković, Pascal Wild, Irina Guseva Canu, Nancy B. Hopf, Goran Gajski, Marko Gerić AbstractAir pollution, a major global issue, comprises various solid and gaseous pollutants in urban environments, including particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic …
Continue reading Evaluating air pollution and BTEX exposure effects on DNA damage: A human biomonitoring study in Zagreb, Croatia

Authors: Dubravka Rašić, Antonio Zandona, Maja Katalinić, Martin Češi, Nevenka Kopjar AbstractThe increasing use of Cannabis sativa products for medicinal, dietary, and recreational purposes has raised concerns about mycotoxin contamination in cannabis and hemp. Mycotoxins persist in these products’ post-processing, posing health risks via multiple exposure routes. This study investigated cytotoxic and genotoxic interactions between cannabidiol (CBD) and …
Continue reading Assessing the Potential Synergistic/Antagonistic Effects of Citrinin and Cannabidiol on SH-SY5Y, HepG2, HEK293 Cell Lines, and Human Lymphocytes

Authors: Maja Lazarus, Agnieszka Sergiel, Tatjana Orct, Maja Ferenčaković, Blanka Tariba Lovaković, Suzana Žunec, Dubravka Rašić, Ena Oster, Slaven Reljić, Joanna Macur, Đuro Huber AbstractInduction of oxidative stress and the associated lipid peroxidation is a prevalent mechanism through which certain metal(loid)s exert nephrotoxic effects in mammals. Research on the toxic impacts of metal(loid)s in free-ranging large …
Continue reading Apex carnivores coping with metal(loid) pollution and oxidative stress: Biological and environmental drivers of variation in kidney of European brown bear

Authors: Goran Gajski, Marko Gerić, Ana Baričević, Mirta Smodlaka Tanković AbstractIn this review, we toxicologically assessed the naturally occurring toxin domoic acid. We used the One Health approach because the impact of domoic acid is potentiated by climate change and water pollution on one side, and reflected in animal health, food security, human diet, and human …
Continue reading Domoic Acid: A Review of Its Cytogenotoxicity Within the One Health Approach

Authors: Davorka Repac Antić, Bruno Kovač, Marko Kolenc, Irena Brčić Karačonji, Ivana Gobin, Mirna Petković Didović AbstractEnterococcus faecalis, responsible for a majority of human and nosocomial enterococcal infections, is intrinsically resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics (such as gentamicin, GEN), which must be used in a combined therapy to be effective. Nitroxoline (NTX) is an old antibiotic, …
Continue reading Combinatory Effect of Nitroxoline and Gentamicin in the Control of Uropathogenic Enterococci Infections

Authors: Vesna Benković*, Ines Tkalčec, Anica Knežević, Karlo Jurica, Fabijan Knežević, Irena Brčić Karačonji, Nevenka Kopjar AbstractThe antioxidant properties of the leaves of the Mediterranean strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) are mainly attributed to the main bioactive compound, the phenolic glycoside arbutin. In this study, the safety profile of strawberry tree aqueous leaf extract (STE) and …
Continue reading Effects of Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) Aqueous Leaf Extract and Arbutin on PK-15 and HepG2 Cells

Authors: Vesna Benković*, Dora Vuković, Iva Đelatić, Vanja Popović, Karlo Jurica, Fabijan Knežević, Irena Brčić Karačonji, Ana Lucić Vrdoljak, Nevenka Kopjar AbstractThere is growing evidence that arbutin and plant extracts rich in arbutin, such as extracts of the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.), exert a range of beneficial effects, including cyto- and genoprotective properties. This study …
Continue reading Effects of Strawberry Tree Water Leaf Extract and Arbutin on Biochemical Markers and DNA Integrity in Brain Cells of Lewis Rats