Population In Lithuania Research Articles

Trauma exposure and factors associated with ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD in the Lithuanian general population.

Background:After the inclusion of a novel diagnosis of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), there is a growing need for research focused on not only studying the underlying risk factors of this disorder but also differentiating the risk factors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and CPTSD to understand better the factors leading to CPTSD onset and symptom maintenance.Aims:This study aimed to explore the prevalence of traumatic experiences, trauma-related disorders and risk factors associated with ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in a population-based Lithuanian sample using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ).Methods:The study sample included 885 participants (age M[SD] = 37.96 [14.67], 63.4% female). The Life Events Checklist was used to measure trauma exposure, PTSD and CPTSD symptoms were measured by the Lithuanian ITQ version. The Disclosure of Trauma Questionnaire (DTQ) was used to measure the urge or reluctance to talk about trauma.Results:The prevalence of at least one traumatic experience in the study sample was 81.4%. The prevalence of PTSD and CPTSD among the general population in Lithuania was 5.8% and 1.8%, respectively. Accumulative lifetime trauma exposure, sexual assault and assault with a weapon were significant predictors for both PTSD and CPTSD. Participants from the CPTSD group reported greater reluctance to disclose trauma and stronger emotional reactions than no diagnosis and PTSD groups. Results also indicate that the Lithuanian ITQ version is a valid measure for screening PTSD and CPTSD in the general population.Conclusion:Previous history of trauma and interpersonal trauma were associated with posttraumatic stress disorders but did not differentiate between PTSD and CPTSD in our study. However, social trauma-related factors, such as trauma disclosure, were associated with stronger CPTSD symptoms.

OPPORTUNITIES OF JOB SEARCH THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND ITS DEVELOPMENT IN LITHUANIA

3.81 billion or 49.03 percent of people around the world in 2020 have been using social media platforms. On average, everyone has 8.6 accounts on social media platforms. In today’s world, social media platforms control a large part of life, one of which is job search. Job searches through social media platforms are already completing the elimination of older traditional job search methods, and the social network LinkedIn, which has become an interactive resume, is slowly outpacing resumes and cover letters in terms of the ability to share recommendations and various expertise. Employers are increasingly posting open job positions on social media platforms, making job postings simple and easily accessible to all users of social media platforms. The main goal of the presented paper is to introduce the recommendations for developing the process of job search through social media platforms using quantitative analysis. This article highlights the concept and peculiarities of social media platforms, advantaged and disadvantages of job search through SMP. The factors influencing job search through social media platforms were presented and analyzed according to the survey, steps for the further development were presented as well. Recommendation to improve the process of job search were provided after theoretical, methodological and empirical part. The results of the research will help to define the main advantages and disadvantages of job search through SMP from general population of Lithuania, also main concerns regarding its usage were determined. It is faster and easier to find the job through SMP, although do not like that it is necessary to keep an eye on their profile page in the social media, so privacy concern was defined as the biggest disadvantage. The article used the following methods: scientific literature review, quantative analysis (survey).

Management of glioblastoma: a perspective from Lithuania.

Lithuania is one the three Baltic states surrounded by Latvia, Belarus, Poland and Russia. Since 1940 Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union but declared its independence in 1991, and since 2004 is a member of the European Union (EU) (1). The population of Lithuania is 2,789,533, however this is a significant decline from 3,704,134 in 1991 (2). Lithuania belongs to a group of countries with a very high human development index (3). It is a high-income country with mean GDP per capita of $34,596 that is estimated to continue to grow (4). The major sociodemographic challenges of present-day Lithuania include fast-declining population, regional disparities and aging population that may subsequentially incur increasing strains on healthcare system resources (5).

Geographical Structuring of Quercus robur (L.) Chloroplast DNA Haplotypes in Lithuania: Recolonization, Adaptation, or Overexploitation Effects?

We studied the maternally inherited chloroplast DNA polymorphism at three microsatellite loci of 157 Quercus robur trees from 38 native populations in Lithuania. We found high diversity of eight haplotypes from the Balkan lineage A (frequency 0.75) and the “German” subbranch of the Balkan lineage A (freq. 0.12), western and eastern Italian lineages C (freq. 0.05 and 0.06, respectively), and Iberian lineage B (freq. 0.03). The haplotypes were geographically well structured (among population differentiation index PhiPT = 0.30, the p-value < 0.001) that is unexpected for such a small territory as Lithuania. We raised a hypothesis on historical overexploitation of oaks by eliminating certain haplotypes in Lithuania, following a drastic felling of oak forests over the last few centuries.

Education-to-Skill Mapping Using Hierarchical Classification and Transformer Neural Network

Skills gained from vocational or higher education form an essential component of country’s economy, determining the structure of the national labor force. Therefore, knowledge on how people’s education converts to jobs enables data-driven choices concerning human resources within an ever-changing job market. Moreover, the relationship between education and occupation is also relevant in times of global crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare system overload and skill shortage on one hand, and job losses related to lock-downs on the other, have exposed a necessity to identify target groups with relevant education backgrounds in order to facilitate their occupational transitions. However, the relationship between education and employment is complex and difficult to model. This study aims to propose the methodology that would allow us to model education-to-skill mapping. Multiple challenges arising from administrative datasets, namely imbalanced data, complex labeling, hierarchical structure and textual data, were addressed using six neural network-based algorithms of incremental complexity. The final proposed mathematical model incorporates the textual data from descriptions of education programs that are transformed into embeddings, utilizing transformer neural networks. The output of the final model is constructed as the hierarchical classification task. The effectiveness of the proposed model is demonstrated using experiments on national level data, which covers whole population of Lithuania. Finally, we provide the recommendations for the usage of proposed model. This model can be used for practical applications and scenario forecasting. Some possible applications for such model usage are demonstrated and described in this article. The code for this research has been made available on GitHub.

Evaluation of genetic diversity of subdivided genealogical groups in Lithuanian Trakehner horse population using immunogenetic tools

The objective of this study was to evaluate the inter-breed genetic diversity of Lithuanian Trakehner horses. The current population in Lithuania numbers 1 039 Trakehner horses. The study included the immunogenetic data analysis of 316 blood samples. Pedigree was traced back to 7–11 generations. The horses were assigned to genealogical clusters originating from East Prussian Trakehner Stud, Thoroughbred and Arab sires. The first two clusters were subdivided into nine-horse groups according to the most important ancestors. The evaluation of genetic diversity was based on six blood groups and five protein polymorphism systems. The differences between genealogical groups were confirmed by principal component analysis and applied cluster analysis. According to the allelic frequency, the Trakehner population changed very slightly through a 30-year period, and only one rare (0.013) allele Tf<sup>RR</sup> (frequent in other Trakehner populations), has been newly found. The analysis of genetic polymorphism systems based on a very low rate of alleles Q<sup>abc</sup> (0.093) and D<sup>dkl</sup> (0.046), which are typical of other populations, indicated the exclusivity of the Trakehner population in Lithuania. The average expected heterozygosity by blood protein polymorphism and blood groups were 0.409 and 0.441, respectively. The genetic clustering diverged by observed heterozygosity of blood groups and by pedigree data in Pilger through Egoist, Bay Ronald through Dark Ronald and Dampfross through Hyperion subgroups. The determined distinctiveness of subdivided Trakehner horse groups suggests reconsidering the breeding strategies and conservation programme of Trakehner horses. Breeding and selection of subdivided sire lines could be among the appropriate solutions for the maintenance and extension of the genealogical structure.

COVID-19 media fatigue: predictors of decreasing interest and avoidance of COVID-19–related news

ObjectivesCOVID-19–related news is important for adherence to public health measures. We examined predictors of interest and avoidance of COVID-19 news in Lithuania. Study designThis is an online survey. MethodsAn online survey was conducted between October and December 2020 targeting the general population in Lithuania. Participants rated their interest and avoidance of news about the COVID-19 pandemic, with possible answers ranging from ‘completely agree’ to ‘completely disagree’. The participants were also evaluated for symptoms of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), post-traumatic stress (Impact of Event Scale-Revised) and COVID-19 fear (COVID-19 Fears Questionnaire). ResultsIn total, 1036 participants (83% women) completed the survey. The results indicated that 37% of participants were losing interest in COVID-19 news, 32% had started avoiding COVID-19 news and 26% had stopped following news about COVID-19. In the multivariate regression analyses, younger age, greater post-traumatic stress symptoms, less fear of COVID-19 and less frequent use of healthcare professionals for COVID-19 information were independent predictors of decreasing/diminished interest and avoidance of COVID-19 news (all P-values <0.005). More frequent use of friends/relatives for COVID-19 information was associated with increasing avoidance and diminished interest in news about COVID-19, while more frequent use of internet news portals for COVID-19 information predicted decreasing/diminished interest in news about COVID-19, independently from other factors considered in this study. ConclusionsDecreasing/diminished interest and avoidance of news about COVID-19 are common and are associated with younger age, greater post-traumatic stress symptoms, less fear of COVID-19 and less frequent use of healthcare professionals for COVID-19 information.

Age-Specific Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness against Different Influenza Subtypes in the Hospitalized Population in Lithuania during the 2015-2019 Influenza Seasons.

Background: Continuous monitoring of seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness (SIVE) is needed due to the changing nature of influenza viruses and it supports the decision on the annual update of vaccine composition. Age-specific SIVE was evaluated against different influenza subtypes in the hospitalized population in Lithuania during four influenza seasons. Methods: A test-negative case-control study design was used. SIVE and its 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated as (1 – odds ratio (OR)) × 100%. Results: Adjusted SIVE in 18–64-year-old individuals against influenza A, A(H1N1)pdm09 and B/Yamagata were 78.0% (95% CI: 1.7; 95.1%), 88.6% (95% CI: −47.4; 99.1%), and 76.8% (95% CI: −109.9; 97.4%), respectively. Adjusted SIVE in individuals aged 65 years and older against influenza A, influenza B, and B/Yamagata were 22.6% (95% CI: −36.5; 56.1%), 75.3% (95% CI: 12.2; 93.1%) and 73.1% (95% CI: 3.2; 92.5%), respectively. Unadjusted SIVE against influenza A(H3N2) among 18–64-year-old patients was 44.8% (95% CI: −171.0; 88.8%) and among those aged 65 years and older was 5.0% (95% CI: −74.5; 48.3%). Conclusions: Point estimates suggest high SIVE against influenza A in 18–64-year-old participants, and against influenza B and B/Yamagata in those 65 years old and older.

Genetic signature of the natural gene pool of Tilia cordata Mill. in Lithuania: Compound evolutionary and anthropogenic effects.

Tilia cordata Mill. is a valuable tree species enriching the ecological values of the coniferous‐dominated boreal forests in Europe. Following the historical decline, spreading of Tilia sp. is challenged by the elevated inbreeding and habitat fragmentation. We studied the geographical distribution of genetic diversity of Tilia cordata populations in Lithuania. We used 14 genomic microsatellite markers to genotype 543 individuals from 23 wild‐growing populations. We found that Tilia cordata retained high levels of genetic diversity (population F IS = 0–0.15, H o = 0.53–0.69, H e = 0.56–0.75). AMOVA, Bayesian clustering, and Monmonier's barrier detection indicate weak but significant differentiation among the populations (F ST = 0.037***) into geographically interpretable clusters of (a) western Lithuania with high genetic heterogeneity but low genetic diversity, bottleneck effects, (b) relatively higher genetic diversity of Tilia cordata on rich and most soils of midland lowland, and (c) the most differentiated populations on poor soils of the coolest northeastern highland possessing the highest rare allele frequency but elevated inbreeding and bottleneck effects. Weak genetic differentiation among the Tilia cordata populations in Lithuania implies common ancestry, absence of strong adaptive gradients, and effective genetic exchange possible mediated via the riparian networks. A hypothesis on riparian networks as gene flow mediators in Tilia cordata was raised based on results of this study.

Analysis of seroprevalence in target wildlife during the oral rabies vaccination programme in Lithuania

BackgroundRabies vaccination of wildlife carnivores is a powerful tool to prevent, control and eliminate rabies. The presence of neutralizing rabies antibodies in blood is considered a reliable indicator of adequate vaccination. The main purpose of the present study was to analyze the seroprevalence of specific antibodies in target populations of Lithuanian red fox (RF) and raccoon dog (RD) during the oral rabies vaccination (ORV) campaigns during the 2010–2019 period.ResultsOver the ten-year period, 7,261 RF and 2,146 RD sera samples were collected post-mortem in field conditions and tested using a commercial standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit in Lithuania. In the ORV spring and autumn vaccination periods, 31.8% (20.3–43.4 95% CI – 95% confidence interval) and 31.7% (21.2–42.1 95% CI) of RF, and 34.1% (22.5–45.7 95% CI) and 34.7% (22.7–46.7 95% CI) of RD sera samples, respectively, were identified as ELISA-positive (seroconversion ≥ 0.5 EU/mL—Equivalent Units per Millilitre). The seroprevalence analysis in adult/ juvenile animal subpopulations indicated that 34.9% (27.2–42.5 95% CI) and 29.2% (20.3–37.9 95% CI) of RF, and 35.6% (25.2–46.0 95% CI) and 30.6% (20.2–40.9 95% CI) of RD sera samples, respectively, were identified as ELISA-positive (seroconversion ≥ 0.5 EU/mL). Statistically strong determinate correlations (r) between the serological results (pos.%) in RF adult/juvenile animal subpopulations (r = 0.937) and between RF and RD positive seroconvert (pos.%) sera samples during the spring vaccinations (r = 0.864) were demonstrated. In different ORV periods, 14–29% of RF and 7–25% of RD sera samples were identified as ELISA-negative (seroconversion < 0.5 EU/mL), but with low (0.125 < 0.49 EU/mL) antibody (Abs) titres.ConclusionsThe 2010–2019 ORV programme has been an effective tool in both RF and RD populations in Lithuania. The rabies-free status of Lithuania was self-declared in 2015 with only three rabies cases identified in buffer zones since then. The percentage of ELISA-positive serum samples (seroconversion ≥ 0.5 EU/mL) during the different periods of vaccination was similar in RF and RD populations—32% and 34% respectively. The identified seroconversion average of 21.5% in RF and 16% in RD sera samples were officially identified as ELISA-negative (seronversion < 0.5 EU/mL), but with low 0.125 < 0.49 EU/mL Abs titres. That low, but positive seroconversion participated in the formation of populations overall immune status and can influence the interpretation of oral vaccination efficacy.

Anthelmintic resistance of horse strongyle nematodes to ivermectin and pyrantel in Lithuania

BackgroundWith intensive use of anthelmintic drugs in recent decades, anthelmintic resistance (AR) in horse nematodes is becoming a growing issue in many countries. However, there is little available information about the parasites, treatment practices or AR in the horse population in Lithuania. The aim of this study was to assess the current situation of AR on horse farms in Lithuania. The study was conducted in 25 stables on horses with a strongyle faecal egg count (FEC) of ≥ 200 eggs per gram. A faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) was performed on each farm after administration of ivermectin (IVM) or pyrantel (PYR).ResultsThe efficacy of IVM was comparatively high, with 98.8% of 250 horses having a zero egg count 14 days after treatment. Two conditions were used to interpret the FECRT results for PYR: firstly, resistance was determined when FECR was < 90% and the lower 95% confidence interval (LCL) was < 80%, and secondly when in addition the upper confidence level (UCL) was < 95%. Under the first condition, resistance against PYR was found in five stables (25% of all tested herds), while when considering the UCL as well, resistance was only detected in two stables (8%). The FEC showed a significant (P < 0.01) difference between the treatment and control groups. Only cyathostomin larvae were detected in larval cultures derived from strongyle-positive faecal samples collected 14 days after treatment of a test group with PYR.ConclusionsThis in vivo study showed that PYR resistance is prevalent on horse farms in Lithuania, while the efficacy of IVM still appears to be unaffected. However, further studies of ivermectin resistance are needed. These findings should guide the implementation of more sustainable management of strongyle infections in horses in Lithuania.

DNA-based tracking of historical introductions of forest trees: the case of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Lithuania

Is it possible to untangle the historical mosaic of human interference with the origin of forest plantations in Europe? This topic is relevant at the northern frontier of species expansion such as western Lithuania, where European beech was introduced by German foresters in the eighteenth century. Our aim was to identify the origin and assess the genetic diversity of the introduced European beech populations in Lithuania with the aid of DNA markers. We used 10 nuclear microsatellite loci to genotype 1260 European beech trees from the introduced populations in Lithuania and 18 natural reference populations from Germany, Sweden and Poland as the most likely sources of the introduction. We calculated common genetic diversity indexes and used several clustering approaches to investigate the genetic associations. There was a significant differentiation among the populations at all the loci (Dest = 0.07 to 0.24). The Bayesian clustering returned high likelihood for the Lithuanian European beech stands to originate from three distinct sources: (a) the Bavarian Alps, (b) north-eastern Poland, and (c) south-eastern Poland and the Carpathian Mountains. Despite the high allelic diversity, the Lithuanian European beech populations possessed a markedly lower observed heterozygosity than the natural populations. We assume that the seeds for the Lithuanian stands were collected over a geographically wide range (resulting in high allelic diversity), but at each spot, a few adjacent and likely related trees were sampled. A DNA-based tracking system could efficiently reveal historic transfers of forest reproduce material Europe and help to improve the adaptability of future forests.

Prevalence of high-risk drug use and coverage of opioid substitution treatment and needle and syringe programs in Lithuania in 2015–2016: A multi-method estimation study

Background and objectivesIn Lithuania, injecting heroin and other illicit opioids has dominated high-risk drug use since about 2000. More recently, patients have reported a high-risk use of amphetamines. Newly diagnosed HIV cases among people who inject drugs peaked in 2002 and 2009 and drug-related deaths have been on the increase. Yet research has reported a limited number of available harm-reduction programs. This study aimed to estimate the size of high-risk drug using populations in Lithuania and to apply these estimates in assessing the coverage of opioid substitution treatment (OST) and needle and syringe programs (NSP). MethodsWe used indirect prevalence estimation methods (HIV and Mortality Multiplier, Capture-Recapture, Truncated Poisson and the Multivariate Indicator Method) to obtain annual prevalence estimates of the population of high-risk opioid users (HROU) and of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Lithuania in 2015/2016. We computed the coverage of OST (the annual percentage of HROU in these programs) and NSP (the number of provided syringes per PWID per year), using the prevalence estimates and the data from drug services. ResultsThere were between 4854 and 12,444 HROU and between 8371 and 10,474 PWID in Lithuania in 2015/2016. In addition, we obtained a preliminary estimate of 4742–7000 high-risk amphetamine users. This constitutes around 2.5–6.5 HROU and 4.4–5.3 PWID per 1000 inhabitants aged 15–64. On average, 9.9–25.5% of HROUs were in OST and an average PWID in Lithuania obtained 19–29 syringes via NSPs during the study period. ConclusionsWhile the current prevalence of high-risk drug use in Lithuania is comparable to other European countries and for PWID, it is above the average; and the coverage of OST and NSP services in this population is markedly lower than in most countries of the European Union and warrants further investment.

Citizen Scientists Showed a Four-Fold Increase of Lynx Numbers in Lithuania

By the early 2000s, Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) were nearly extirpated in Lithuania. To determine their status, we used snow-track counts in 2006–2012 and volunteer monitoring in 1999–2005 and 2015–2018. Using simple questionnaires, we collected incidental observations from hunters, foresters, and other interested citizens to estimate lynx distribution, abundance and extent of breeding. Citizen scientists provided 206 reports of 278 individual lynx that suggested expanding lynx distributions in central, western, southwestern, and southern parts of Lithuania. A decrease in range fragmentation has also been observed since 2015. Nationwide, the lynx population quadrupled from 2010 to 162 individuals in 2018. The number of breeding individuals reported was just seven in both 2007 and 2008, limited to two forests in the very north and central part of the country. This increased to 46 in 2015–2018. Our results indicate that the lynx population in Lithuania has increased and its conservation status should be reconsidered.

The Belarusian-Lithuanian borderlands of the 10–13th centuries: from Krevа to Kernavė

Traditional notions on the Belarusian-Lithuanian borderlands and the earlier Lithuania of the 10-13th c. are quite sketchy. In the public consciousness of a population of the historical Lithuania (“Lithuania in the narrow sense”) is significantly inferior in terms of its civilization development of neighboring Rus' and Poland. But already in the 13th century new impulses of state formation began from Lithuania at a time when the entire of the East Slavic region of Europe was in a deep crisis. The article analyzes the results of the latest archaeological and historical research of the four centers of the Belarusian-Lithuanian borderlands and the historical Lithuania in the 10-13th c.: Kreva, Halsany, Kemaй (Kernave), Vilnia (Vilnius). The significant presence of Slavic settlers influenced the existence of urban settlements with a clear administrative and sacred function among the Baltic pagan population of Lithuania in the 12th-14th centuries. On the example of Kreva and Kernave we can see the emergence of regional centers of Lithuania, the first of which is already in the 14th century it will be the domain of Alhierd (Olgierd) and Jagiello, and the second in the late 13th - early 14th centuries it will be the main residence of the Duke Trojdzien and perhaps of Vicien. Halsany become generic possession of the Halsanski princes and early modern town as and Kreva will develop in accordance with the process of urbanization (16-18th cc.). Kreva, Kernave and Vilnius can be described as the sacred center of the Balts. These observations allow us to consider the emergence of a new state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as a result of the influence of the Slavic ethnos on the corresponding development of political and economic interests of Lithuanian elites, as well as ethno-cultural interaction.

IMPACT OF HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND OTHER SOCIOECONOMIC VARIABLES ON INTERNAL MIGRATION IN LITHUANIA

The way housing affordability/wages/unemployment influenced internal migration of the population in Lithuania within the period of 2005−2019 is being analyzed in the article. Correlation-regression analysis is used to determine the relationships between the analyzed social phenomena. First, the correlation between housing affordability/wages/unemployment (their changes) and internal migration indicators is calculated, and the impact of data delays is assessed. Later simple and multiple regression equations are constructed. The conditions under which and how strongly housing affordability/wages/unemployment can influence population migration decisions have been identified in the analysis. Higher affordability of housing/wages is positively related to the number of people who moved to a certain Lithuanian city from other places in Lithuania per year. On the contrary, negative dependence of the number of people who moved to a certain city from other places in Lithuania on the unemployment rate in the city where those people moved in have been recorded. Both, affordability of housing and the unemployment rate explain actually 73−88 percent of variable dispersion of the internal migration in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda.

The population size of Lithuania (within contemporary borders) between 1897 and 1914

ABSTRACT Historians and historical demographers strongly disagree about the size of the population of Lithuania within contemporary borders in 1914. According to Soviet era sources, it was 2,828,000, while contemporary publications provide a figure of 3,350,500. The main difficulty is incongruity between the limits of administrative units of the Russian empire and the eastern border of independent Lithuania and its many changes between 1918 and 1940. For the first time, we provide an annual time series of the population of Lithuania from 1897 to 1914. According to our estimate, the population increased from 2,668,914 on 28 January 1897 to 3,057,126 by 1 January 1914.

Prevalence of suicidal behaviour and violence among young people

Abstract Background Violence and suicidal behaviour among young people is an enormous public mental health issue in Europe and worldwide leading to poor mental health outcomes, increased use of healthcare services and loss of life. Specifically, vulnerable are young people especially in societies were prevalence of violence and suicide rates are considerably high. Public mental health of young people in Lithuania is of a great concern due high prevalence of various determinants resulting in poor public mental health outcomes and high suicide rates. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of violence and suicidal behaviour as well as use of health care services among 15-29 years of age young population in Lithuania. Methods A cross sectional survey involving 1007 respondents aged 15-29 years in Lithuania was conducted in 2016. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were applied. Results 39.7% (95% CI: 34.3-45.2) of young people in Lithuania referred to have suicidal behaviour during the last 12 months, 39.5% (95% CI: 34.1-44.9) of respondents had suicidal ideations, 13.4% (95% CI: 9.7-17.1) - made plans for suicide and 2.1% (95% CI: 0.6-3.7) attempted to commit suicide during the last 12 months. Prevalence of suicide risk was very similar in both gender groups. 27.5% of young people reported experience of psychological violence, 7.26% - physical violence and 4.3% - sexual harassment within the last year. Experienced violence increases risk of suicidal behaviour from 1.85 times in case of psychological violence to 3.79 time in case of physical violence. Young adults who had suicidal behaviour and experienced violence tend to call emergency medical services and were hospitalized more often. Conclusions Experienced physical, psychological and sexual violence is related to higher risk of suicidal behaviour. Suicide prevention strategies should consider violence prevention and vigilance of health care system to address suicidal behaviour.

The complexity of associations between type 2 diabetes mellitus and comorbidities in multimorbid population in Lithuania

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

Emerging invasion threat of the liana Celastrus orbiculatus (Celastraceae) in Europe

The woody vineCelastrus orbiculatus(Celastraceae), Oriental bittersweet, is an alien species that recently has been found to be spreading in Europe. Many aspects of its biology and ecology are still obscure. This study evaluates the distribution and habitats, as well as size and age of stands ofC. orbiculatusin Lithuania. We investigated whether meteorological factors affect radial stem increments and determined seedling recruitment in order to judge the plant’s potential for further spread in Europe. We studied the flower gender ofC. orbiculatusin four populations in Lithuania and found that all sampled individuals were monoecious, although with dominant either functionally female or male flowers. Dendrochronological methods enabled us to reveal the approximate time of the first establishment of populations ofC. orbiculatusin Lithuania. The youngest recorded individual with fruits was determined to be 10 years old. Analysis of radial increments revealed no reliable correlations with meteorological conditions. Therefore, we conclude that climatic conditions in the region are favourable for the growth, reproduction, and invasion of this species.C. orbiculatusproduces viable seeds, successfully reproduces and spreads within and around the established stands. The presence of seedlings and two- to four-year-old saplings in the population confirms constant generative recruitment. Available information on the distribution ofC. orbiculatusin Europe revealed its existence in 13 countries. In total, 58 occurrences of this species have been recorded in Europe so far. We consider that the lag period lasted until 2005 and that the exponential population growth phase has now set in. In Lithuania, the invaded area is quite small (0.51 ha); however, the total estimated invaded area in Europe could be about 250 ha. At the current stage of invasion and distribution in Europe, measures for control, management, and eradication ofC. orbiculatushave a chance of being effective and economically feasible.