Unveiling the Balkans' advances: biotechnology of woody plants in the early 21 century.

The Balkan Peninsula is a European biodiversity hotspot, home to 6,500 native vascular plant species, many of which are endemic. The region has diverse range of climates and complex topography, creating conditions that suit many woody ornamental, fruit, and forest species. Nevertheless, climate change, habitat destruction, invasive species, plant diseases, and agricultural practices threaten natural ecosystems and cultivated species.

Safety and efficacy of fondaparinux use in hemodialysis patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: a systematic review.

Background: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a severe primary hypercoagulable disorder, particularly concerning in hemodialysis (HD) patients frequently exposed to heparin. Fondaparinux has emerged as a potential alternative anticoagulant, though supporting evidence is limited. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of fondaparinux in HD patients with HIT.

Isolated Anterior Segment Relapse in a Child With B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Rare Case Report.

Ocular relapse in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is rare and typically associated with central nervous system or bone marrow involvement. Anterior segment infiltration as the sole manifestation of relapse is exceptionally uncommon and may mimic noninfectious uveitis, leading to diagnostic delay. We report the case of a 4-year-old boy with a history of B-cell precursor ALL, diagnosed at age 2 and treated according to the ALL IC BFM 2009 protocol.

Recent Developments Towards Sustainable Solutions in Electrospun Active Packaging Systems for Various Foods.

Microbial spoilage and oxidation are significant causes of food deterioration, contributing to food waste of up to 30%. To mitigate these losses, active food packaging is an effective solution. Considering the excellent properties of nanofibers produced by electrospinning, integrating active food packaging functionality with nanofiber technology offers an ideal approach enhancing preservation.

Reperfusion Therapy for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction in Low to Middle-Income Countries. A Clinical Consensus Statement of the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC), the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis, and the Stent - Save a Life! Initiative.

Suboptimal care for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in low- and middle-income countries is a significant problem. Registries from Latin America, Africa, and Asia show that less than 65% of patients receive reperfusion therapy, and widespread treatment delays and a lack of access to optimal therapies lead to preventable deaths and complications. While current guidelines provide a blueprint for care, their implementation in low-resource settings requires specific guidance that considers geographical, logistical, and economic realities.

Equipment Failure during Urological Surgery: Implications and Lessons to be Learned.

The literature on the exact incidence of equipment failure during urological surgery is rather heterogeneous. Although failure rates are unacceptably high in other surgical disciplines, more compelling evidence is needed in urology. The present study provides case examples to illustrate several instances of urological instrument malfunction encountered in daily surgical practice, from the field of endourology to the newer robotic systems.

Nanocomposite enhanced molecularly imprinted polymer for electrochemical detection of naringenin in plant-based samples.

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-based electrochemical sensor has been developed for the selective detection of naringenin (NAR) in various real-world samples, including plant extracts, wine, and herbal supplements. To enhance the active surface area and porosity of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE), a 2D/0D nanocomposite composed of graphene oxide (GO) and cobalt ferrite (CFO) nanoparticles, CFO_GO, was incorporated into the sensor design. 4-aminobenzoic acid (4-ABA) was selected as the functional monomer to prepare the MIPs.

Shear-stress-induced swirling flow in biological systems.

Swirling motion is an essential phenomenon that significantly influences numerous biological processes, such as the mixing of molecular components within living cells, nutrient transport, the structural changes of the cytoskeletons of contractile cells and the rearrangement of multicellular systems caused by collective cell migration. The dynamical relationship between subcellular and supracellular rearrangements enhances cell migration and contributes to tissue homeostasis. However, the basic mechanisms that drive swirling motion in biological contexts remain a matter of ongoing inquiry.

Fermented Food Consumption Across European Regions: Protocol for the Development and Validation of the Web-Based Fermented Foods Frequency Questionnaire (3FQ).

Background: Fermented foods vary significantly by food substrate and regional consumption patterns. Although they are consumed worldwide, their intake and potential health benefits remain understudied. Europe, in particular, lacks specific consumption recommendations for most fermented foods.

Experiences of disrespect and abuse during childbirth in the World Health Organization European region: A mixed-method study among 22 countries.

Objective: Despite advancements in maternity quality care worldwide, mistreatment of women during childbirth persists. Currently, there is a gap of knowledge on the occurrence of disrespect and abuse during childbirth in the World Health Organization (WHO) European region.

Methods: Within the IMAgiNE EURO (Improving Maternal Newborn Care in the WHO European Region During COVID-19 Pandemic) study, women 18 years and older who gave birth in healthcare facilities in the WHO European region, were invited to complete an online validated questionnaire regarding quality of maternity care.

When artificial intelligence meets protein research.

The 2024 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry and Physics mark a watershed moment in the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and molecular biology. This article explores how AI, particularly deep learning and neural networks, has revolutionized protein science through breakthroughs in structure prediction and computational design. It highlights the contributions of 2024 Nobel laureates John Hopfield, Geoffrey Hinton, David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper, whose foundational work laid the groundwork for AI tools such as AlphaFold.

Dose-response relationship between physical activity and anxiety symptoms in medical students from Serbia.

Introduction: Despite growing evidence supporting the mental health benefits of physical activity (PA), the nature of its relationship with anxiety symptoms remains uncertain in student populations. This study aimed to investigate differences in mean scores on the Zung Anxiety Scale among groups of students with different levels of PA and to determine whether there is a dose-response relationship between PA and anxiety symptoms, taking into account various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and study year.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 1,266 fifth-year medical students at five Serbian universities during two academic years.

Post-viral alterations in periodontal health in individuals recovering from COVID-19.

This study explores post-viral immune modulation in periodontal health using COVID-19 convalescence as a model. We hypothesized that post-COVID-19 recovery induces epigenetic alterations, measurable through salivary methyl-transferase-like 3 (METTL3) expression and clinical-periodontal parameters. The present research comprises results from two studies: the clinical study, which included a total of 83 systemically healthy adults stratified into four groups according to periodontal status and COVID-19 history, and the laboratory study on human parotid gland samples ( = 10).

Advanced nitrogen-doped transition metal oxides decorated with Pt: synthesis and composition strategies for maximised electrochemical performance.

Developing efficient, low-cost catalysts for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER) is key to advancing metal-air batteries and regenerative fuel cells. In this study, nitrogen-doped binary metal (Mn and Ni) oxides (N-BMOs) and Pt-decorated N-BMOs were synthesised using three methods and tested as ORR and OER catalysts in alkaline media. Their physicochemical properties were characterised by XRD, N-sorption, TEM, and XPS, while their electrochemical performance was evaluated using voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy.

Distribution of K and Cs in food and food additives from western Serbia and associated radiological ingestion risk.

Soil may contain certain concentrations of the natural radionuclide K as well as the artificial radionuclide Cs, which can accumulate in the edible parts of plants. This can lead to an exceedance of the ingestion dose. In this study, measurements of K and Cs were conducted for 144 food samples (including fruit, tea, cereals, beans, salt, and sugar) using gamma spectrometry.

Radionuclides in drinking water from an industrial region in western Serbia and public health risk assessment.

Drinking water that contains elevated levels of radioactive substances can pose a potential risk for the development of cancer. Therefore, regular monitoring of radioactivity in water intended for human consumption is essential. In this context, a long-term investigation was carried out across 13 sites in the Mačva District (Western Serbia) during the 2010-2020 period.

Prognostic immunotherapy score (PIS) in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma treated with pembrolizumab: real-world data and validation from ARON-2 dataset.

Recent years have seen the development and advent of novel combinatorial strategies based on immunotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) - based treatment has established itself as a mainstay in the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC). Herein, we aimed to validate the prognostic value of a previously developed score, the Prognostic Immunotherapy Score (PIS), including female sex, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) and liver metastases, in patients treated with pembrolizumab for advanced UC from the ARON-2 dataset. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from Metastatic UC patients diagnosed at age ≥ 18 years.

Antifungal Activity of Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oil Against Candida Species Causing Otomycosis: Anti-Virulence Activity, Synergistic Potential, and Cell Wall Effect.

Otomycosis is a fungal infection of the external auditory canal, predominantly caused by Candida spp. The increasing resistance of these pathogens to conventional antifungal agents requires the exploration of alternative therapeutic approaches. This study was designed to assess the antifungal, anti-virulence, synergistic potential, and mechanism of action of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (EO) against Candida spp.

Exploring the beneficial effects of curcumin-based hydrogel beads in rats with rheumatoid arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant.

The aim of this study was to examine the potential antioxidant activity of curcumin in therapeutic and preventive condition and its potential role as adjuvant to conventional drug methotrexate in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study included 104 female Wistar albino rats, 6 weeks old, body weight of 200-250 g, which were divided into 8 groups (n=13 in each group): 1. CTRL: negative control, 2.