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A new troglobitic diplopod, Hyleoglomeris faberi n. sp., is described from a cave in western Serbia. Taxonomic relationships among European members of the genus Hyleoglomeris Verhoeff, 1910 (and some related taxa) and a number of biogeographical data are briefly discussed. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173038]

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) which exerts its effects through two different receptors known as TNF-R1 and TNF-R2, is a major proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of different types of tumors. We have investigated whether polymorphisms in TNF-alpha (-308G>A), TNF receptor 1 (36A>G) and TNF receptor 2 (676T>G) genes modulate the susceptibility for oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) and basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) of the skin, two frequent types of head and neck cancers. Genotyping was done on 50 OSCC patients, 50 BCC patients and 60 healthy individuals, using PCR/RFLP. A significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies was found between patients and controls for the TNF-R2 polymorphism, in both OSCC and BCC. There was no statistically significant difference between patients and controls for TNF-alpha and TNF-R1 polymorphisms. Carriers of G allele had an approximately 2.5- and 5-fold higher risk for OSCC and BCC, respectively, in the Serbian population.

OBJECTIVE: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPDs) accelerate the progressive impairment of lung function and general health. Together with maintenance therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and natural propolis have demonstrated pharmacological properties that address crucial pathophysiological processes underlying COPD and may prevent AECOPDs. This study aims at responding to dose-dependent efficacy and safety concerns regarding a propolis-NAC combination for the reduction of COPD exacerbation rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a single-center, randomized, double-blind, phase IV trial with three treatment arms: Placebo and two active substance groups, one (AS-600) received 600 mg of NAC + 80 mg of propolis while the other (AS-1,200) received 1,200 mg of NAC + 160 mg of propolis. Following an AECOPD, frequent-exacerbation phenotype patients (n=46) were assigned a once-daily three-month therapy with the study drug and one year follow-up. The primary endpoint was the COPD exacerbation incidence rate during the follow-up period as a measure of dose-dependent efficacy of NAC-propolis combination compared to placebo. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the AECOPD incidence rate: 52.6% in patients that received placebo, 15.4% that received AS-600 and only 7.1% that received AS-1,200 (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.013). Compared to placebo, AECOPD frequency was significantly lower only in AS-1,200 (p=0.009). Compared to placebo, the relative risk for exacerbation was 0.29 in AS-600 and 0.13 in AS-1,200. No adverse events related to the treatment were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Oral combination of natural propolis with NAC confirmed formulation efficiency with a favorable safety profile. Our results need to be confirmed by larger clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the algorithm of diagnosis and treatment of patients developed acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in early postoperative period. The paper discusses the precipitating factors for PTE and defines the people with higher risk. Also, it presents data about surgical procedures and the risk that each of them carries separately. The diagnosis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism is set to modern diagnostic tools, as recommended by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism, from 2014.Using modern scor systems, were assessed early, hospital risk and risk for recurrent episodes.In the acute phase, through the above three examples, standard therapeutic approaches were used for unfractionated and low molecular weight heparins with overlapping with warfarin, as for the first time new, oral anticoagulant drugs (nonvitamin K anticoagulant drugs) and in the third case (a patient with thrombotic masses or free-floating right heart thrombus) fibrinolytic therapy with a satisfactory effect and without adverse effects. Also, we made additional, complementary diagnostic tests to detect the cause of embolism, accordingly with the data and findings from modern medical literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In superconducting films under an applied dc current, we analyze experimentally and theoretically the influence of engineered pinning on the vortex velocity at which the flux-flow dissipation undergoes an abrupt transition from low to high resistance. We argue, based on a nonuniform distribution of vortex velocity in the sample, that in strongly disordered systems the mean critical vortex velocity for flux-flow instability (i) has a nonmonotonic dependence on magnetic field and (ii) decreases as the pinning strength is increased. These findings challenge the generally accepted microscopic model of Larkin and Ovchinnikov (1979 J. Low. Temp. Phys. 34 409) and all subsequent refinements of this model which ignore the presence of pinning centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explore the influence of administering nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs after post-ortopedic surgery on risk of bleeding. Topics discussed include the methodology of the research on 480 patients who received diclofenac to reduce inflammation and oedema and its findings that includes greater blood loss among those who received the drug perioperative.

A case of floppy eyelid syndrome associated with keratotorus is presented. The patient was thoroughly examined and followed up for several years. During that time he developed an acute corneal hydrops. The importance of this association for the better understanding of the syndrome is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Different vanillin-based aldehydes were used to synthesize novel tetrahydropyrimidines (THPMs) via conventional Biginelli reaction. The THPMs were tested against human normal cells (MRC-5) and cancer cell lines (HeLa, K562, and MDA-MB-231). With IC 50 values of 10.65, 10.70, and 12.76 µM, compounds 4g, 4h, and 4i exerted the strongest cytotoxic effects against K562 cells. The best activity was achieved for 4g on MDA-MB-231 cells (IC 50  = 9.20 ± 0.14 µM). The effects of compounds 4g, 4h, and 4i on the cell-cycle phase distribution of K562 cells were analyzed. Principal component analysis was carried out for the chemometrics analysis to comprehend the relationship between the anticancer activity of the THPMs, pharmacokinetic properties, and partition coefficients, as well as the relationship between the chromatographic behavior and retention parameters. The highest retention rates are found for molecules 4g, 4h, and 4i, which have the longest carbon chains, indicating that the length of the alkyl chain positively affects the molecule's anticancer activity but only if the number of carbon atoms is not higher than seven. Additionally, molecular docking analysis was performed to determine the preferred binding modes of the investigated ligands (4g, 4h, and 4i) with a DNA dodecamer and bovine serum albumin., (© 2024 Deutsche Pharmazeutische Gesellschaft.)

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a promising natural polymer prized for its biocompatibility, microporosity, transparency, conformability, elasticity, and ability to maintain a moist wound environment while absorbing exudates. These attributes make BC an attractive material in biomedical applications, particularly in skin tissue repair. However, its lack of inherent antimicrobial activity limits its effectiveness. In this study, BC was enhanced by incorporating cerium (IV)-oxide (CeO 2 ) nanoparticles, resulting in a series of bacterial cellulose-CeO 2 (BC-CeO 2 ) composite materials. Characterization via FESEM, XRD, and FTIR confirmed the successful synthesis of the composites. Notably, BC-CeO 2 -1 exhibited no cytotoxic or genotoxic effects on peripheral blood lymphocytes, and it additionally protected cells from genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in H 2 O 2 -treated cultures. Redox parameters in blood plasma samples displayed concentration and time-dependent trends in PAB and LPP assays. The incorporation of CeO 2 nanoparticles also bolstered antimicrobial activity, expanding the potential biomedical applications of these composites., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Chronic non-malignant pain represents a growing global public health priority. Chronic pain is multifactorial, with numerous biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to this pain syndrome. It affects not only the patients, impairing their quality of life, but also their family and social environment. Chronic pain is a diagnosis and requires effective and sustainable treatment strategies., Objective: Our aim was to critically review the available evidence on the importance of different approaches in treating patients with chronic non-malignant pain, emphasizing the effectiveness of integrating psychological and social factors within a multidisciplinary framework., Methods: This was a non-systematic narrative review of the basic and recent literature analyzing approaches to the treatment of chronic non-malignant pain. The inclusion criteria for the papers were chronic non-malignant pain, treatment approach, review, and original research papers published in English in the last five years (PubMed search), and the basic literature was selected from the references of new papers according to the knowledge and experience of the authors., Results: This literature review included 120 papers, of which 83 were basic, and 37 were new, published in the last 5 years (2018-2023). The results show that both the basic and newly published literature advocate for a biopsychosocial approach to treating chronic pain., Conclusions: New findings, compared to the earlier literature, indicate a new classification of chronic pain into primary and secondary. Chronic pain should be approached with a biopsychosocial model within a multidisciplinary treatment framework. This model addresses the complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors, offering a holistic strategy for effective pain management.

This study aimed to compare implant stabilities between the immediate and early loaded, immediately placed bone-level tapered dental implants in the maxilla and to evaluate marginal bone loss (MBL), oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and patient satisfaction at a 2-year follow-up. A pilot, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 24 maxillary failing dentition patients. The bone-level tapered implants of 12 patients were immediately loaded with temporary restorations, while the other 12 patients did not receive any kind of temporization. Implant-supported screw-retained complete porcelain-fused-to-metal prostheses were delivered to all patients in the seventh postoperative week. The insertion torque values of implants assigned to the immediate and early loading groups were 33.0 ± 4.87 and 29.26 ± 8.31 Ncm, respectively. The dynamics of implant stability changes from implant placement up to a 2-year follow-up were similar for both groups (Penguin®, p = 0.268; Ostell®, p = 0.552), while the MBL was at submillimeter level. The cumulative implant survival rate was 91.80% for immediately loaded implants and 97.22% for early loaded implants, without significant difference (p = 0.162). The total score on the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire significantly decreased over time in both groups, indicating improvement in OHRQoL (p < 0.001), and the high level of patient satisfaction remained after 2 years of function regardless of a loading protocol. Both loading protocols, immediate and early, of six immediately placed bone-level tapered dental implants are an adequate treatment choice for fixed rehabilitation of the maxillary failing dentition., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Tuberculous pleuritis (TP) is one of the most common extra-pulmonary tuberculosis form. Because of tuberculous pleurisy is hard to diagnose due to slow course of disease and lack of specificity in symptoms and diagnostic methods. In that reason, we need multidisciplinary approach and efficient biomarkers. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining, cultures and pathophysiological biopsy finding from the majority of patients are positive only in less than 10%. Löwenstein culture results need time about 6-8 weeks what delays diagnosis. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity (more than 90%) and considered as gold standard of biomarkers in the diagnosis of TP. It is very hard to distinguish malignant from TP with lymphocyte predomination, but in patient with malignant pleural effusion the level of ADA is decreased, opposite from TP. ADA in pleural punctate is a fast, simple, efficient and economical way for clarification the etiology of the pleural effusion as tuberculous pleurisy. Also, many studies have proved the role of ADA in the response to treatment for tuberculosis at follow up period., Competing Interests: All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in this work.Conflict of Interest: The authors stated that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article., (2023 Jelena Janković, Branislav Ilić, Nataša Đurđević, Aleksandar Jandrić, published by CEON/CEES.)

Background: High levels of environmental noise may lead to psychological symptoms. The present study has hypothesized that personal listening device (PLD) use and a negative attitude to noise are significantly related to anxiety and/or depression., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 431 six-grade students (35% male) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. All students completed the questionnaires related to socio-demographic data, noise/music exposure habits, behaviors related to PLD use, tinnitus, headaches, consumption of alcohol, coffee, energy drinks and cigarettes, YANS (Youth Attitude to Noise Scale), CES-D (The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression), and GAD-7 (Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment - 7 item scale) questionnaires., Results: There were 396 (91.9%) of investigated students who used PLD, with more frequent use among girls compared to boys (95.0% and 86.8%, respectively; p = 0.002). We found no significant relationship between the frequency of PLD use and depression and anxiety. However, continuous daily PLD use longer than 1 hour was significantly and positively related to depression (p = 0.006). Students with depression had a lower total YANS score compared to those without depression, indicating a more negative attitude toward noise (p = 0.042). Students with no difficulties to concentrate in noise and with a positive attitude to daily noises had about 37% lower chance to suffer from depression and anxiety, respectively., Conclusions: PLD use is common among medical students and may be associated with their mental health. Longer than 1 hour of continuous daily use of PLD may be positively related to depression. We also found a significant relationship between difficulties concentrating in noisy environments and depression, and between negative attitudes to daily noises and anxiety.

Considering the urgency of finding a cure for vicious diseases such as tumors, we have synthesized and characterized a small series of new copper(ii) complexes with biologically important ligands such as acylpyruvate. In addition to this, we used another four copper(ii) complexes, with ligands of the same type to examine the antitumor potential. The antitumor potential of the copper(ii) complexes was examined on three tumor cell lines and one normal human cell line using the MTT assay. All seven tested complexes showed very good cytotoxic effects. Two copper complexes that showed the best antitumor potential were selected for further testing that showed the best potential for potential application in the future. The mechanism of activity of these complexes was examined in detail using tests such as cell cycle, ROS level, oxidative DNA damage, and proteins related to hypoxia analysis. In addition, we examined the binding abilities of these complexes with biomolecules (Guo, Ino, 5'-GMP, BSA, and DNA). The results showed that the tested compounds bind strongly to DNA molecules through intercalation. Also, it has been shown that the tested compounds adequately bind to the BSA molecule, which indicates an even greater potential for some future application of these compounds in clinical practice., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The aim was to: (1) compare changes among primary and secondary implant stability between immediate and early loaded implants in edentulous maxilla, (2) evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and (3) determine patient satisfaction with 6 implant supported fixed full-arch dentures. A prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 24 edentulous maxilla patients. The BLT SLActive implants in 12 patients were immediately loaded with temporary restorations while 12 patients did not receive temporary restorations. Definitive (final) dentures were delivered to all patients after 6 weeks. Stability of the implants were assessed by insertion torque (IT) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Oral Health Impact Profile-19 (OHIP-19) questionnaire was used to evaluate OHRQoL and a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for patient satisfaction. The IT value of implants assigned for immediate and early loading group was 27.17 ± 9.55 Ncm and 25.01 ± 11.06 Ncm, respectively. Changes in implant stability from baseline to week 6 were similar in both groups when measured by Penguin (P = .881) and Ostell (P = .828). Patients in the immediate loading group reported significantly lower OHIP physical pain scores (P = .016) and OHIP psychological disability score (P = .046), and the patients reported significantly higher VAS function score (P = .009) and VAS esthetics score (P = .009). Implant loading protocols do not have a significant effect on the change in implant stability 6 weeks after implantation; however, immediate loading significantly improves OHRQoL as well as satisfaction of patients with maxillary edentulism treated by fixed full-arch dentures. Future trials will determine the role of immediate loading protocol in clinical scenarios with various amounts of available jaw bone using different numbers of implants to retain a fixed prosthetic restoration in the edentulous maxilla.

Background: Chronic pain is a global public health issue with increasing prevalence. Chronic pain causes sleep disorder, reactive anxiety, and depression, impairs the quality of life; it burdens the individual and society as a whole. The aim of this study was to examine non-medical factors related to the outcome of the treatment of chronic non-malignant pain., Methods: A cross-sectional study with two groups of patients was conducted using a questionnaire with biological, psychological, and social characteristics of patients. Since this study was cross-sectional, it was not possible to determine whether some factors were the cause or the consequence of unsuccessful treatment outcome, which is at the same time one of the disadvantages of cross-sectional studies., Results: The poor outcome of the treatment of chronic non-malignant pain in a multivariate binary logistic regression model was statistically significantly associated with the lower quality of life (OR = 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91-0.99; p = 0.009), and higher depression level OR = 1.08 (95% CI: 1.02-1.14; p = 0.009). The outcome of the treatment was not directly related to social support measured by the multivariate binary logistic regression model (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.95-1.15, p = 0.395), but solitary life (without partner) was (OR = 2.16 (95% CI: 1.03-4.53; p = 0.043)., Conclusion: The typical patient with a poor pain management outcome is retired, presents depressive behavior; their pain disturbs general activity and sleeping. Moreover, they have a physically disturbed quality of life and require self-treatment due to the inaccessibility of doctors and therapies. The principle of treatment of patients with chronic, non-malignant pain should take into account a biopsychosocial approach with individually adjusted procedures.

Covariation of multiple morphological traits and modularity have been widely studied in the field of evolutionary developmental biology. Subunits of a morphological structure can evolve separately from each other in a modular fashion. The aims of our study therefore were: i) to test the hypothesis of modularity in the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium separately during late postembryogenesis in the julidan millipede Megaphyllum unilineatum (C. L. Koch, 1838) using geometric morphometrics; and ii) to investigate the influence of allometry on overall morphological integration in the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium in the mentioned species. Individuals from different ontogenetic stadia (stadium VI - stadium XI) were included in the analyses. Significant influence of fluctuating asymmetry on the dorsal part of the head capsule shape was detected by Procrustes ANOVA. Regressions were significant for the symmetric component of both analysed morphological traits, while non-significant regression was detected for the asymmetric component of the head capsule's dorsal part. Hypotheses of modularity for the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium are rejected because our results indicate that a small proportion of alternate partitions has higher covariation between subsets of structure than between the hypothesized modules. Contrary to our expectations, results of the present study show that allometry does not increase the level of morphological integration in the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium in M. unilineatum. Based on the obtained results, we conclude that the dorsal part of the head capsule and the gnathochilarium are not composed of independent modules and that in the case of the capsule's dorsal part, developmental processes affect morphological integration in different ways at different levels of shape variation., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: There is growing evidence that resilience is a key factor for prevention of mental disorder. Low resilience levels were found in individuals at clinical high risk to psychosis and schizophrenia. Higher level of resilience was associated with better functioning, less severe negative, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Low level of self stigma is associated with recovery from schizophrenia. Aim of this paper was to determine whether resilience and self-stigma are significant predictors of mental health recovery in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and depression treated in a rehabilitation-oriented program., Subjects and Methods: 51 patients diagnosed with psychoses and 53 patients with depression treated in day hospital participated in this study. Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMI), The Boston University Empowerment Scale (BUES), Perceived Devaluation and Discrimination (PDD) Scale, Mental Health Recovery Measure (MHRM) and Resilience questionnaire were used., Results: Self-stigma positively correlates with PDD (r=0.44; p=0.000), and negatively with BUES (r=-0.78; p=0.000), resilience (r=-0.51; p=0.000) and with recovery (r=-0.59; p=0.000) in two groups. In addition, a higher PDD score indicates poorer levels of empowerment (r=-0.42; p=0.000), resilience (r=-0.35; p=0.000) and recovery (r=-0.44; p=0.000). Mental health empowerment, resilience and recovery all correlate significantly and positively with each other. Cross-group comparison results show the best results for patients with schizophrenia. Sociodemographic factors do not affect resilience, self-stigma nor recovery., Conclusion: Self-stigma and resilience are connected with moderate correlation. Research supports the need for interventions that prevent self-stigma and increase resilience in the treatment of schizophrenia patients.

Introduction: Antioxidants such as lycopene (LCP) and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) represent ideal molecules for the treatment of different reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated disorders. Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent, causing an increase in ROS and DNA damage, with numerous side effects, which include lung toxicity. In the presents study, we evaluated and mutually compared the potential of LCP and CAPE in preventing cisplatin-induced rat lung damage., Methods: The study was done using pathohistological analysis and a panel of biochemical parameters that reflect lung oxidative tissue damage, inflammation, and apoptosis., Results: The obtained results suggest that cisplatin (10 mg/kg) causes significant disturbances in the lung tissue morphology, followed by an increase in lipid peroxidization and protein modification. Also, a pronounced inflammatory response and cell apoptosis cascade activation was noted. Both LCP and CAPE were able to mitigate the changes, to a different extent, in oxidative damage and apoptosis progression induced by cisplatin. However, they both had limited effect on inflammation since they only prevented an increase in myeloperoxidase activity but had not been able to prevent the NO generation., Conclusion: It is hard to be exact in saying whether LCP or CAPE is better in preventing cis-platin-induced lung damage since they obviously possess different mechanisms of action., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Hematophagous arthropods are important vectors for zoonotic pathogens. To date, a huge number of viruses have been identified in these arthropods, with a considerable proportion of them being human pathogens. However, the viromes of hematophagous arthropods are still largely unresearched. In this study, a number of arthropods were collected from Belgrade, Serbia including mosquitoes, ticks and bedbugs. The viromes of these arthropods were identified and characterized using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. In total, 21 viruses belonging to 11 families were characterized, with 11 of them representing novel species. These results may contribute to our knowledge of RNA viruses in arthropods and the discovery of novel human pathogens.

Introduction: Cisplatin is one of the most frequently used chemotherapeutics, which is known to cause both tumor and normal lung tissue damage through the generation of free radicals and cells apoptosis/necrosis. Melatonin is a neurohormone that regulates numerous physiological processes in the body both through receptor pathways and by maintaining tissue redox homeostasis., Material and Methods: The extent of rat lung damage induced by cisplatin and the effects of melatonin on this process was determined based on the pathohistological changes and biochemical disturbances in tissue lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl modification and in the activity of xanthine oxidase (XO), caspase-3 and DNases., Results: Histopathological analysis of rat lung tissue obtained from animals that received cisplatin found them to be edematous, with significant deterioration of alveolar epithelium. These morphological changes are accompanied by a significant increase in all studied oxidative stress-related parameters, as well as with the activity of apoptosis-related enzymes. A five-day treatment with melatonin completely prevented a cisplatin-induced increase in oxidative stress-related parameters and in the activity of XO, caspase-3 and alkaline DNase. Also, the histopathological changes observed during microscopic analysis were much less pronounced than in the group that received cisplatin only., Conclusions: These results can potentially be connected with the ability of melatonin to inhibit the activity of XO, caspase-3 and alkaline DNase and/or its ability to scavenge free radicals, thus preventing lung damage induced by cisplatin., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Termedia & Banach.)

Petasites hybridus (Common butterbur) is extensively used in traditional medicine, and is currently gaining interest and popularity as a food supplement and for its medicinal properties. It contains a large number of active compounds of potential therapeutic activity, but also toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Science-based information is needed to support the developing modern use of this plant, and to direct continued safe practice in traditional medicine. The present study focused on the essential oils from leaves and rhizomes of the understudied P. hybridus ssp. ochroleucus from the Balkans, and evaluated its phytochemistry and potential therapeutic activities (antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase and anti-inflammatory), as well its toxicology potential (acute toxicity in insects and mice). We studied the essential oils, which are not commonly used in traditional practices, but have a potential for safe use since the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are non-volatiles, are usually not present in the distilled essential oils. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids were indeed not detected in the essential oils; ingestion of the essential oils did not induce toxicity signs in mice, and topical application did not elicit skin irritation in humans. The essential oils had no antimicrobial properties against 20 pathogenic bacterial strains, but demonstrated good local anti-inflammatory activity in a Carrageenan-induced paw edema test. An insect toxicity test demonstrated that the leaf essential oil is an efficient insect repellent, and the demonstrated anti-cholinesterase activity suggests a potential for the treatment of neurological conditions. Isopetasin, a sesquiterpene found in plants of the genus Petasites , known to have anti-inflammatory effects, was present only in the rhizomes essential oil (3.9%), and sesquiterpene lactones concentrations were high, likely contributing to the antioxidant activity., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Until now, morphological trait variation has been investigated in several millipede species using geometric morphometrics. The present study is the first attempt to explore sexual shape and size dimorphism (SShD and SSD) of morphological structures in Polydesmida. We here analyse antennal, head, and leg SShD and SSD in Brachydesmus troglobius Daday, 1889. Our results show that SSD exists in all of the analysed structures, while SShD is present only in the legs. In comparison with females, males possess longer and wider legs, as well as longer antennae and a shorter head. Contrary to previous findings in some Julida, in B. troglobius SSD of the antennae and legs varies more than SShD in these morphological structures., (Vukica Vujić, Luka Lučić, Sofija Pavković-Lučić, Bojan Ilić, Zvezdana Jovanović, Slobodan Makarov, Boris Dudić.)

Rickettsiales bacteria in arthropods play a significant role in both public health and arthropod ecology. However, the extensive genetic diversity of Rickettsiales endosymbionts of arthropods is still to be discovered. In 2016, 515 arthropods belonging to 9 species of four classes (Insecta, Chilopoda, Diplopoda and Arachnida) were collected in Serbia. The presence and genetic diversity of Rickettsiales bacteria were evaluated by characterizing the 16S rRNA (rrs), citrate synthase (gltA) and heat shock protein (groEL) genes. The presence of various Rickettsiales bacteria was identified in the majority of tested arthropod species. The results revealed co-circulation of five recognized Rickettsiales species including Rickettsia, Ehrlichia and Wolbachia, as well as four tentative novel species, including one tentative novel genus named Neowolbachia. These results suggest the remarkable genetic diversity of Rickettsiales bacteria in certain arthropod species in this region. Furthermore, the high prevalence of spotted fever group Rickettsia in Ixodes ricinus ticks highlights the potential public health risk of human Rickettsia infection.

Background: Croatia and Slovenia were the transit countries on the Balkan route for migrants and refugees from Middle East countries in 2015 and 2016. They had to optimize health care delivery in the special circumstances in refugee camps and transit centres. Little is known about health care provision in border camps where a large number of migrants stay for only couple of hours. Previous studies emphasize that language barriers and cultural differences play a central part in the relationship between health workers and migrants inside the transit zone. The aim of the study was to identify specific characteristics of health care provision experienced by primary healthcare providers in order to prepare solutions on how to organise health care in refugee settings., Methods: Twelve thematic interviews were conducted in the middle of the most intense migration movements to the North-West Europe between November and December 2015 with health workers from Croatia and Slovenia. Interview transcripts were read, coded, reviewed, and labelled. We used qualitative content analysis., Results: Four themes about the health service provision for refugees at Schengen border were identified. The circumstance when mutual understanding is poor and the consultation not successful, cultural differences represent a central barrier. Participants highlighted that the importance of respecting human dignity is crucial for the provision of basic medical care for migrants in transit., Conclusion: Successful overcoming language barriers, respecting cultural differences, humanity, susceptibility to social deprivation and traumatic experiences are the key factors important for organisation of health care in transit centers and camps. This article gives some useful tips for healthcare workers and policy makers who are participating in health services provision for migrants and other refugees. Health workers should be prepared to work in special working conditions with a lack of resources. Their work would require timely planning and reflection on the organization of more transit camps., Trial Registration: Ethical Committee of the Republic of Slovenia approved the study as a project number 112/02/16.

Millipedes use an array of chemical compounds to defend themselves from predator attack. These chemical substances can have additional roles, i.e. defence against various pathogens. We evaluated the efficacy of the defensive secretion of Apfelbeckia insculpta (L. Koch, 1867) against bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi. The tested secretion consisted of two compounds, p-cresol and phenol, and showed antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antifungal potential against all selected microorganisms. The most sensitive bacterium in our study was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while the tested defensive secretion manifested the lowest activity against Escherichia coli. The defensive secretion of A. insculpta also showed an ability, albeit mild, to suppress biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa. Among the tested yeasts, Candida albicans and C. krusei were the most susceptible and most resistant species, respectively. Finally, the concentration of extracts obtained from the tested defensive secretion needed to achieve an antifungal effect was lowest in the case of Cladosporium cladosporioides. Fusarium verticillioides and Penicillium rubens were the micromycetes most resistant to the tested secretion. Our results indicate that antibacterial activity of the defensive secretion of A. insculpta is similar to or slightly weaker than that of streptomycin, while comparison with antimycotics showed that the tested millipede secretion has stronger activity than fluconazole, but weaker activity than nystatin and ketoconazole. The present study corroborates previous findings indicating that the defensive secretions of millipedes can have different roles apart from antipredator protection and are effective against pathogenic microorganisms.

Background: The objective of this prospective study was to evaluate whether soluble programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) and serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) are potential diagnostic, predictive or prognostic biomarkers in lung cancer., Methods: Lung cancer patients (n=115) with advanced metastatic disease, 101 with non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC (77 EGFR wild-type NSCLC patients on chemotherapy, 15 EGFR mutation positive adenocarcinoma patients, 9 patients with mPD-L1 Expression ≥50% NSCLC - responders to immunotherapy), and 14 patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were examined. ELISA method was used to determine sPD-L1 and SAA1 concentrations in patients' plasma., Results: Significantly higher blood concentrations of sPD-L1 and SAA1 were noted in lung cancer patients compared with a healthy control group. In PD-L1+ NSCLC patients, a significantly higher sPD-L1 level was noticed compared to any other lung cancer subgroup, as well as the highest average SAA1 value compared to other subgroups., Conclusions: It seems that sPD-1/PD-L1 might be a potential biomarker, prognostic and/ or predictive, particularly in patients treated with immunotherapy. Serum amyloid A1 has potential to act as a good predictor of patients' survival, as well as a biomarker of a more advanced disease, with possibly good capability to predict the course of disease measured at different time points., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Conflict of interest statement: The authors stated that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Background: Burnout is usually defined as a prolonged response to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors, characterrized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of social accomplishment. Coping mechanisms and job satisfaction are associated with the incidence of burnout symptoms in a work context., Subjects and Methods: The aim of this paper was to make a systematic analysis of the literature related to nurses' stress and the incidence of burnout syndrome in intensive care nurses, and also to determine the research into associations between coping mechanisms and job satisfaction on one side, and burnout on the other side. Appropriate databases (Scopus, PubMed) were searched with the aim of finding relevant studies and articles published in the last 15 years. The keywords were burnout, coping mechanisms, job satisfaction, nurses, and intensive care. Two independent reviewers carried out a selection of the studies., Results: The literature review found 786 studies about burnout and its association with different variables. Twenty-nine original research papers were discovered in this review process. Open questions still remain concerning burnout and the associations between the considered variables. We also found that studies using a qualitative approach, which could provide better insight into the investigation of burnout, was insufficient in this area., Conclusion: Burnout syndrome is serious problem for healthcare systems and affects almost all profiles of healthcare workers. Although burnout is an evidence-based public health problem, there is still no systematic approach to prevention. Prevention activities to reduce stress and the incidence of burnout should be provided for nurses, especially those in very demanding posts.

Members of the millipede order Julida rely on dominantly quinonic defensive secretions with several minor, non-quinonic components. The free radical-scavenging activities of ethanol, methanol, hexane, and dichloromethane extracts of defensive secretions emitted by Pachyiulus hungaricus (Karsch, 1881) and Megaphyllum unilineatum (C. L. Koch, 1838) were investigated using the ABTS, DPPH, and total reducing power (TRP) tests. The obtained extracts were also tested for inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase activity. Finally, the antifungal potential of both julid extracts was evaluated against seven Fusarium species. Secretions of both species showed activity against free radicals, acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, and all of the selected fungal species. The secretions of P. hungaricus exhibited a more potent antioxidative effect than did those of M. unilineatum, while there were no significant differences of antiacetylcholinesterase activity between the tested extracts. Only the hexane extract of M. unilineatum showed an effect on tyrosinase activity stronger than that of P. hungaricus. Fusarium sporotrichioides, F. graminearum, and F. verticillioides were the fungi most resistant to secretions of both julids. The Fusarium species most susceptible to the secretion of P. hungaricus was F. avenaceum, while the concentrations of M. unilienatum extracts needed to inhibit and completely suppress fungal growth were lowest in the case of their action on F. lateritium. Our data support previous findings that julid defensive secretions possess an antimicrobial potential and reveal their antioxidative and antineurodegenrative properties. Bearing in mind the chemical complexity of the tested defensive secretions, we presume that they can also exhibit other biological activities., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.