Search

The situation with the virus Covide-19 worldwide, in addition to the many questions of how to best protect ourselves, drew the attention of people and professional community, to the significance and the importance that a healthy nutrition has in preserving and building up immunity, and thus also in the prevention and protect the organism from various negative agents. Due to increased consumer concern for their own health and the environment the organic food market is one of the fastest growing markets in the food industry. The main goal of the current research is to examine determinant factors influencing organic foods purchase in our region. The sample consisted of 571 subjects from Serbia and the region. The data were processed by the SPSS program, and the obtained results show that in our country, as well as anywhere in the world, the price is the most common barrier in the situation of buying organic food. Gender of our subjects was not a significant factor in making the decision and realization of the purchase, while their marital status and age had an influence in making the mentioned decision. In general, our research showed that younger respondents, who are not married, are the most common buyers of organic food.

Background: The importance of homocysteine (Hcy) is increasingly recognized in last few decades as an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombosis, but there is lack of data referring to influence of Hcy on plasma oxidative stress parameters as well as the role of gasotransmitters in these effects. Therefore, this study aim was to assess the role of gasotransmitter inhibitors in Hcy-induced effects on plasma oxidative stress in rats. Material and Methods: Study involved 96 male Wistar albino rats divided into 8 groups: 1) Control group - saline (1ml 0.9 % NaCl i.p.); 2) DL-Hcy (8 mmol/kg i.p. DL homocysteine (DL-Hcy); 3) L-NAME (10 mg/kg i.p. Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), inhibitor of NO production); 4) ZnPPR IX (30 mol/kg i.p. protoporphyrin IX zinc (ZnPPR IX), inhibitor of CO production); 5) DL-PAG (50 mg//kg i.p. DL-propargylglycine (DL-PAG), inhibitor of H2S production); 6) DL-Hcy+L-NAME (8 mmol/kg i.p. DL-Hcy + 10 mg/kg i.p. L-NAME); 7) DL-Hcy+ZnPPR IX (8 mmol/kg i.p. DL-Hcy + 30 mol/kg i.p. Zn PPR IX), and 8) DL-Hcy+DL-PAG (8 mmol/kg i.p. DL-Hcy + 50 mg//kg i.p. DL-PAG). In all experimental groups, tested substances were administered in a single dose, intraperitoneally, 60 minutes before animals' euthanasia. In the collected blood samples malondialdehyde concentration, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity were measured. Results: Applied substances induced rapid and strong increase of plasma antioxidant enzymatic activity probably as a compensatory response to its pro-oxidant influence. Conclusion: The effects of Hcy on the activity of plasma antioxidant enzymes are in part mediated via interaction with gasotransmitters.

Development operation in underground mining require high performance drilling and blasting. In order to determine best performing cut in Lece mine series of experiments were conducted. It was noticed that sequencing of initiation has crucial impact on cut performance. Line cut had experienced filling of empty holes with blasted material that was indistinguishable from the main rock. Finally, best results were obtained by delayed initiation of charges in circular pattern. Such cut construction provided complete hole recovery instead of previous poor results.

Background/Aim: Hyperhomocysteinaemia is linked to higher level of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in brain, but there is insufficient information on influence of homocysteine (Hcy) and gasotransmitters on cardiac AChE. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of certain gasotransmitter inhibitors in Hcy-induced changes on rat cardiac AChE activity. Methods: Research was performed on 72 male Wistar albino rats distributed into 6 groups: 1) Control group - saline (1 ml 0.9 % NaCl ip); 2) DL-Hcy (8 mmol/kg ip DL homocysteine (DL-Hcy); 3) L-NAME (10 mg/kg ip Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), inhibitor of NO production); 4) DL-PAG (50 mg/kg ip DL-propargylglycine (DL-PAG), inhibitor of H2S production); 5) DL-Hcy+L-NAME (8 mmol/ kg ip DL-Hcy + 10 mg/kg ip L-NAME); and 6) DL-Hcy+DL-PAG (8 mmol/kg ip DL-Hcy + 50 mg/kg ip DL-PAG). All tested substances were administered in a single dose, intraperitoneally, 60 minutes before animals' sacrifice. AChE activity was measured in the rats' cardiac tissue homogenate. Results: Administration of Hcy and L-NAME induced significant decrease in AChE activity compared with control condition. Administration of DL-PAG, DL-Hcy+LNAME and DL-Hcy+DL-PAG did not change AChE activity compared with the control group. Conclusion: The effects of acute Hcy administration on the cardiac AChE activity are partially mediated via interaction with tested gasotransmitters.

The fair value within the business improvement in the enterprises of the Republic of Serbia is continuing demanding work that is carried out in the framework of financial reporting management companies, sectors of economy, but the national authorities may require a completely evaluation of companies, based on the decisions of state bodies and individual requirements. An important place in this context have the internal audit, external audit, as these can be a driver of the fair value of the initial phase by the management council. External audit is able to thinking management delivered only after the end of the business year, when it receives the financial statements of the previous year of business, and then can make recommendations, because through their impact on future business management, provided that it is adopted, it will be is maintained in the next period of operation. Therefore regardless of the drivers and the initiator of the fair value now exist ways to increase the security of the overall business, and in this paper highlighted the fair value as an element of financial reporting. It is expected to increase the number of effective fair value in the Republic of Serbia, because companies can realize numerous benefits.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of DL-homocysteine (DL-Hcy) and DL-homocysteine thiolactone (DL-Hcy TLHC) on selected serum biochemical parameters, markers of oxidative stress and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD)) in the plasma, as well as on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the cardiac tissue homogenate in the rat. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups as follows: control group (1 mL 0.9% NaCl, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection), DL-Hcy group (8 mmol/kg body mass (b.m.), i.p.) or DL-Hcy TLHC group (8 mmol/kg b.m., i.p.). One hour after administration, the rats were euthanized, whole blood was collected for biochemical analysis, and the heart was excised. Following the i.p. administration of DL-Hcy and DL-Hcy TLHC, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were mostly significantly increased, while plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased. Administration of DL-Hcy and DL-Hcy TLHC significantly inhibited AChE activity in rat cardiac tissue. Our findings suggest that DL-Hcy and DL-Hcy TLHC exerted prooxidant effects; however, the decrease in MDA points to an inverse response to the increase in antioxidant enzyme activities. While both substances inhibited AChE activity in rat cardiac tissue, DL-Hcy TLHC induced stronger effects than DL-Hcy. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 175043]

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease has its pathoanatomical origin. The loss of synapses and neurons is dominant in this disease and it leads to changes, primarily at the acetylcholine neurotransmitter system. Polyoxometalates (POM) are highly potent and selective inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for the disintegration of acetylcholine, and therefore they find their usage in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, since it would increase and extend the effect of the missing acetylcholine. The aim: Presenting the results of in vitro influence of POM on the activity of AChE. Material and methods: In our study we have tested the effects of five Heteropolyoxovolframs: K6 [PV3W9O40] x 3H2O , K6H2 [TiW11CoO40] x 13H2O, (NH4) 14 [NaP5W30O110] x 31H2O, K7 [SiV3W9O40] x 10H2O and K7 [Ti2PW10O40] x 10H2O on the activity of acetylcholinesterase. AChE activity was measured by modified Ellman method. Results: The tested compounds make the inhibition of AChE activity in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition parameters obtained in this study demonstrate that the compounds 2, 3 and 5 are very potent inhibitors of the enzyme activity. On the other hand, compounds 1 and 4 demonstrate about a hundred, or a thousand times, less potent inhibitory effect on the activity of AchE, compering to the most potent inhibitor (compound 3), whose IC50 value is 4,79×10-7 mol/L. The results obtained in this study are consistent with previously demonstrated inhibitory effect of polyoxovolframs on cholinesterase activity. Conclusion: According to the obtained results we can conclude that the tested Polyoxometalates at physiological pH values inhibit the activity of AChE, and that the inhibition is dose-dependent. Inhibitory range of tested POM in this study verify significantly, possibly as a result of differences in charge, size and shape of these POM.

Although mid-life crisis is a normal developmental phase in the life of every person, data from the literature suggest that from the perspective of social-humanistic sciences interested in external manifestations and internal changes, this topic is generally poorly studied in our country and the world. After a long time, this paper, presents a continuation of the first systematic study of the external manifestation, which are, at the same time, the possible ways of overcoming the midlife crisis, that are developed from Marmor's theory, for people who live and work in Serbia. It is studied the representation of creative and successful confrontation with crisis, decompensation, mechanism of denial with escape and mechanism of denial with overcompensation, as ways of expressing and overcoming the midlife crisis. Also, there are examined the differences in these manifestations between those who live and work in different parts of Serbia. It was used the Midlife Crisis Scale (Pavlović, 2015) on a sample of 600 subjects. Data were analyzed by using the SPSS program. The Kruskal Wallis test was used for determining the significance of differences between multiple groups of subjects. The results show the representation of tested ways of expressing and overcoming the midlife crisis and the existence of differences in the values obtained from the subjects who live and work in different parts of Serbia. Generally, subjects from Western Serbia have the most optimal response to a midlife crisis. They have creative and successful way to face and overcome the crisis, while subjects from southern Serbia largely manifest decompensation and both of the denial mechanisms, which indicates that they are the least able to accept changes as normal and constitutive parts of life and to find new forms of satisfaction and fulfillment despite them.

Background: In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), in vivo apoptotic resistance of malignant B lymphocytes results, in part, from the intrinsic defects of their apoptotic machinery. These include genetic alterations and aberrant expression of many apoptosis regulators, among which the Bcl2 family members play a central role. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of pro-apoptotic Bax gene expression and Bcl2/Bax ratio with the clinical features of CLL patients as well as with molecular prognostic markers, namely the mutational status of rearranged immunoglobulin heavy variable (IGHV) genes and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene expression. Methods: We analyzed the expression of Bax mRNA and Bcl2/Bax mRNA ratio in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 58 unselected CLL patients and 10 healthy controls by the quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results: We detected significant Bax gene overexpression in CLL samples compared to non-leukemic samples (p=0.003), as well as an elevated Bcl2/Bax ratio (p=

Organophosphorus insecticides have been the most applied group of insecticides for the last two decades. Their main toxic effects are related to irreversible inactivation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Actually, they covalently bind to serine OH group in the enzyme active site forming phosphorylated enzyme that cannot hydrolyze acetylcholine. Organophosphorus insecticides in the environment undergo the natural degradation pathway including mainly homogeneous and heterogeneous hydrolysis (especially at high pH) generating non-inhibiting products. Additionally, thio organophosphates are easily oxidized by naturally present oxidants and UV light, forming more toxic and stable oxons. Thus, oxidative degradation procedures, generally referred as advanced oxidation processes (AOP), have been applied for their efficient removal from contaminated waters. The most applied bioassays to monitor the organophosphate toxicity i.e. the detoxification degree during AOP are Vibrio fischeri and AChE bioassays. Vibrio fischeri toxicity test exploits bioluminescence as the measure of luciferase activity of this marine bacterium, whereas AChE bioassay is based on AChE activity inhibition. Both bioanalytical techniques are rapid (several minutes), simple, sensitive and reproducible. Vibrio fischeri test seems to be a versatile indicator of toxic compounds generated in AOP for organophosphorus insecticides degradation. However, detection of neurotoxic AChE inhibitors, which can be formed in AOP of some organophosphates, requires AChE bioassays. Therefore, AChE toxicity test is more appropriate for monitoring the degradation processes of thio organophosphates, because more toxic oxo organophosphates might be formed and overlooked by Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition. In addition, during organophosphates removal by AOP, compounds with strong genotoxic potential may be formed, which cannot be detected by standard toxicity tests. For this reason, determination of incidence of micronuclei and cell proliferation index in cultivated human lymphocytes and fibroblasts is suitable for evaluation of organophosphorus insecticides and their break down products inducing cytogenetic damage.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are hematological malignancies characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and impaired apoptosis. The FasR/FasL system is involved in the control of apoptosis in different cell types. Here we have investigated the role of FasR/FasL in the pathogenesis of MPNs. We compared FasR/FasL expression between MPN patients (24) and healthy individuals using the real-time PCR assay. We found an increase of FasR expression in MPN patients. No difference was detected in FasL expression. Mutation V617F in the JAK2 gene, a hallmark of MPN, was detected in 13/24 patients. We found that neither FasR nor FasL expression were related to the presence of JAK2 V617F mutation.

Introduction. Skin findings in leukemias may be divided into specific lesions (leukemia cutis) and non-specific lesions (leukemids) which may be found in up to 80% of all patients with leukemias. The leukemids vary clinically and they are usually a manifestation of bone marrow or immunologic impairment, but also Sweet syndrome, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythroderma, maculopapular exanthema, prurigo-like papules, generalized pigmentation, follicular mucinosis, generalized pruritus may be found during the course of leukemia. Case report. We report a 70-year-old male with a 3-month history of erythema, papules and pustules on the face, ears and neck and over a month history of refractory anemia, anorexia, weight loss, malaise, and fever. Physical examination revealed symmetric erythematous, violaceous papules, papulo-nodules and plaques with slate scale and sparse, small pustules on the face, earlobes and neck. Histopathologic findings of involved skin showed diffuse mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate with perifollicular accentuation and focal granulomatous inflammation in the papillary and upper reticular dermis. Extensive checkup revealed the presence of acute myeloid leukemia French- American-British (FAB) classification subtype M2, with signs of three-lineage dysplasia. The patient was treated by L6 protocol which led to complete remission, both in bone marrow and skin, but after seven months he had relapse of leukemia with the fatal outcome. Conclusion. This case indicates the importance of skin eruptions in the context of hematological malignancies.

In this study we analyzed proliferative activity of myeloma cells and a possible correlation with selected clinical data, histological features and survival in 59 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (27 females and 32 males, mean age 62 years). Imunohistochemical method was applied using Ki-67 antibody on B5-fixed and paraffin-embedded bone marrow specimens to evaluate growth fraction of myeloma cells. Clinical staging was done according to the Durie-Salmon classification (4 patients had stage I disease, 16 patients stage II and 39 patients stage III). The number of Ki-67+ myeloma cells ranged from 1% to 36% (mean value 7%). In 39 of 59 patients (66.1%) number of Ki-67+ cells was less than 10% (cases with low proliferative index). Ki-67 expression significantly correlated with the clinical stage, ß2-microglobulin level, plasma cell morphology, volume of myeloma infiltration and the extent of osteolytic lesions. Patients with increased proliferative index (Ki-67+cells ≥10%) showed a significantly shorter survival compared to those with low proliferative index (14 months vs. 36 months, p = 0.023). However, this difference was not shown in multivariate analysis, particularly due to the high correlation between proliferative activity and plasma cell morphology and the volume of myeloma infiltration.

Thirty-six patients (pts.) with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) were treated between May 1990 and May 2003. There were 31 women and 5 men; the average age was 37 years. Twenty-five cases were idiopathic and 11 secondary (3 infection - related, 5 occurred during pregnancy and 3 were drug - associated). The mean lag period between the first symptoms and the diagnosis was 8.5 days (in 14 pts. £ 5; in 22 > 5). On diagnosis neurological symptoms were present in 31, bleeding in 33, fever in 21 and renal impairment in 27 patients. The mean hemoglobin was 67.5 g/L, the mean platelet count was 10´109/L, and the mean reticulocytosis was 17%. The mean serum LDH was 1457 IU. Treatment included plasma exchange (PE) in 24 pts. and only plasma infusions in 12 pts. There were 24 complete responders (20 on PE) and 12 deaths (4 on PE); PE significantly improved survival (p5 days), the secondary form of TTP and the absence of coma at presentation. The use of PE significantly improved survival. TTP is a severe disorder requiring early recognition and diagnosis in general medical care facilities, which should lead to the timely treatment with PE.

Introduction. Systemic mastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of hematological disorders characterized by accumulation of mast cells in different organs. Case report. A 41-year-old woman presented with a three-year history of fatigue, occasional diarrhea, mild fever, skin rash and splenomegaly. Laboratory results showed severe anemia and thrombocytopenia. Cytological and histological investigation of bone marrow showed a marked increase of mast cells infiltration with following immunophenotype: CD117+, CD68+, CD34-, MPO-, CD15-. She was treated with cladribine 0.15 mg/kg body weight from day 1 to day 5, a total of six cycles, and achieved a good partial response, transfusion independency and normalization of spleen size. Although the patient responded to the treatment, the relapse with splenomegaly and bicytopenia was observed after 10 months. Conclusion. Cladribine therapy was efficient in the patient' with systemic mastocytosis but the response was transient, so there is the need to search for new therapeutic options and more effective strategies in the treatment of patients with aggressive mast cell disorders.

Myelofibrosis is a clonal myeloproliferative disorder characterized by splenomegaly, abnormal deposition of reticulin and collagen in the bone marrow, extramedullary hematopoiesis, dacryocytosis and leukoerythroblastic blood smear. Development and sustainment of fibrosis are mediated by complex network of several cytokines. Osteosclerosis is the most frequently observed bone change in myelofibrosis. We present an atypical case of leukemic transformation in myelofibrosis associated with diffuse osteolytic lesions and extremely elevated lactate dehydrogenase in serum, which indicates high bone turnover during leukemic infiltration and bone destruction.

A 46-year-old man with a primary cutaneous large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas is reported. His mother died of gastric lymphoma and his sib brother is 20 years in a remission of T-cell lymphoma. He noticed the appearance of localized baldness and rash of the scalp 16 years before a hematological diagnosis was made. Diagnostic procedures performed in 2006 dem­onstrated progressive disease with crusted skin nodules (7x7.2cm) which exuded serous fluid. Histopathologcal and immuno­histochemical results suggested the diagnosis of a primary cutaneous large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient was treated with rituximab and chemotherapy (protocol R-CHOP) and achieved a complete remission. A rather protracted indolent phase of disease, the familial history of lymphoma, and an excellent response to immunochemotherapy contributed to an unusual presentation of this patient's disease.

An increasing number of consumers are buying organic foods, resulting in an enhancement of the value of this market, which recorded constant growth both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns for health, environmental protection, animal welfare, and support for the local economy contribute to greater purchases of organic foods, whereas high prices, lack of trust in certification, scarce supply, and unavailability of organic products represent obstacles to their purchase. This paper examined the prevalence of certain types of organic food in purchasing, as well as its relationship with the level of physical activity, gender, education, and age of the consumer. The sample consists of 600 respondents with different socio-demographic characteristics. The SPSS program was used for data processing. In addition to descriptive statistics, non-parametric techniques were also used due to the distribution of scores on the tested variables, which significantly deviates from the normal. The results obtained indicate that among the organic foods in the Republic of Serbia, fruits and vegetables are the most purchased, and that females, persons with higher education, and older people are the most typical buyers.

The general goals of diabetes treatment are to maintain optimal individualized glycemic targets and to prevent complications. Today, there are significant barriers to successful diabetes therapy, such as parenteral drug administration, decreased therapeutic efficacy after an initial improvement in glycemia, inaccessibility of new medicines in lower-income countries, and high drug prices. Accordingly, significant research attention has been devoted to the development of a cheap and comfortable antidiabetic agent, which demonstrates success in lowering blood glucose levels as well as fewer toxicity properties. In recent years, the effects of inorganic and organic vanadium compounds have been investigated in diabetes treatment. These studies have found the low bioavailability of orally administered inorganic vanadium salts; thus, effective doses to reduce blood glucose levels to normal may cause serious adverse events. In addition, the only study with an organo-vanadium compound (bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV)), which has reached Phase IIa clinical trial, was terminated after three months due to renal complications. Moreover, despite a growing interest in polyoxovanadates for treating diabetes in the last few years, the toxic potentials of these compounds are still unknown. However, the precise mechanism of their antidiabetic actions remains unclear. A broad spectrum of possible mechanisms and hypotheses, such as enhancement of insulin secretion and enhanced sensitivity to insulin, as well as suppression of hepatic glucose production and decrease of intestinal glucose absorption, have been presented. In conclusion, besides the promising results obtained in animal and human studies, no vanadium compound has successfully reduced blood glucose with acceptable safety and tolerability. More studies of vanadium benefit-risk could lead to a new era in vanadium biomedicine.

There is an increasing emphasis on a healthy lifestyle nowadays, so more and more people starting to buy organic food. The organic food market is getting richer with different types of organic food, so people are buying increasingly more organic products. This paper examines the relationship that exists between different types of organic foods and certain consumer characteristics. More specifically, it is examined how often people buy food of organic origin, as well as the potential differences in organic food purchasing habits among people who have a different level of education, income, and different place of residence. In the current research the sample consists of 600 respondents, of different education, income and place of residence. Data were processed using SPSS program version 26. In addition to descriptive statistics, non-parametric techniques such as the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to determine differences in scores between measured variables, due to the distribution of scores significantly deviating from normality. The results showed that in the Republic of Serbia, fruits and vegetables of organic origin are bought the most, while sweets of organic origin are bought the least. Organic food buyers with the highest income and level of education most often decide to buy fruits and vegetables, milk and milk products, and bread and cereals of organic origin. Milk and milk products of organic origin are the most common choice for buying organic food products among buyers from urban areas.

The main goal of this research is to determine the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the frequency of buying organic food. It also examines whether the online sale of organic food has increased, and which channels were used for its purchase. The sample in the current research consists of 400 respondents of different demographic characteristics who filled out the questionnaire on two occasions, in 2020 and 2022. Data was processed in the SPSS program, and in addition to descriptive statistics, non-parametric techniques, the Wilcoxon test of equivalent pairs and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to determine the differences in scores between several groups of respondents. The results showed that due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the frequency of buying organic food increased as its sale via the Internet. Consumers buy organic food most often in supermarkets and hypermarkets, while only few consumers buy it directly from organic food producers.

The major goal of current research is to determine the general frequency of buying organic food and the elementary demographic features of a typical consumer of organic food. Six hundred participants of different genders, ages, levels of education, material and marital statuses, incomes and living areas were comprised. A Google questionnaire was used, in the period from June to December 2021, and it was sent to 800 people, out of whom 600 people filled out the questionnaire completely. The metric characteristics of the applied questionnaire were, as in previous researches in which this instrument was used, at an appropriate level. SPSS version 26 was used for data processing and analysis. Nonparametric techniques have been used due to the irregular distribution of scores on the measured variables. Descriptive statistics was used to adequately present the sample, and the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test were employed to detect the existing differences between the groups of participants. It has been shown that the frequency of buying organic food in Serbia is still at a very low level. Classic customers of organic food are mostly older women with higher educational levels and incomes. They usually live in urban areas, while their marital status and the number of children have no effects on making their decision to purchase organic food and products.

The essential research goal is to determine the frequency of purchases organic food in general and the basic demographic characteristics of typical buyers of organic food. Sample consists of 571 respondents of different sex, age, and educational level, area of living, material and marital status. The research was conducted online using a Google. The SPSS program was used for data processing. The Man Witney U and the Kruskal - Wallis tests were applied in order to determine the statistical significance of the obtained differences in scores between groups of subjects. The obtained results showed that the frequency of purchasing organic food in Serbia is still low. Typical buyers of organic food are mostly women, older, have higher education and income. They usually live in urban areas, in big cities, while their marital status seems to have no influence on their decision to purchase an organic food and products.

The main goal of this research is to examine the relation between gender and differences in affective attachment, emotional intelligence and self-esteem among students population. The scales for self-assessment of emotional intelligence, affective attachment and self-esteem were used in the current research. The sample consisted of 231 respondents, students of tourism and hospitality management, 71 males and 160 females. Considering that our sample is not representative, because there is a large disproportion in the number of male and female respondents, and that distribution of scores on measured variables deviates from normal, we used nonparametric techniques: Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Walis oneway analysis of variance. The results show that female students have more pronounced emotional intelligence in the domain of perceiving and understanding emotions, as well as a better ability to regulate and manage emotions compared to male respondents, while the measured scores at scale of affective attachment and self-esteem did not show statistically significant differences between gender. On further, female managers in our research see the development of rural tourism as their business opportunity.

Proliferative activity of lymphoma cells was tested by immunocytochemical staining with Ki-67 monoclonal antibody in 63 aspirates of peripheral lymph nodes sampled from patients suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Referring to the dominant cell population in nodal aspirates, a rising trend of Ki-67 proliferative marker was noted from the small cells (X = 13.20) and small cells with notched nucleus (X = 43.52) and large cells (X = 79.47) with histopathologic equivalents corresponding to aggressive lymphoma. Statistical testing of the difference in the Ki-67 proliferative marker against demographic and clinical-laboratory characteristics of the studied patients revealed the levels of significance for the performance status, bone marrow infiltration, and albumin serum value. Correlation of cytomorphological and immunocytochemical results was tested against International Prognostic Index (IPI). Statistically significant correlation of Ki-67 with cytomorphology and REAL-immunocytochemical classification of lymphoma was confirmed, but not with the IPI index. In order to determine the prognostic importance of Ki-67 marker, the patients were classified into those with low Ki-67 (<20% of proliferating cells), mean proliferation index Ki-67 (range 20-59%), and high proliferative index Ki-67 (positive in over 60% of lymphoma cells). Testing Ki-67 with survival we have found that the low proliferative index was associated with the longest survival, median about 36 mo; for proliferative marker values ranging between 20 and 59%, the median survival was 30.4 mo; and survival of patients with the high proliferative index was only 12.9 mo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a retrospective study of 236 patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), 130 cases (55.1%) revealed myelofibrosis in bone marrow biopsies. It was observed that fibrosis mostly occurs focally or patchy, and collagen deposits were found very rarely (only four patients). The histopathology of bone marrow biopsies revealed several differences between fibrotic and non-fibrotic MDS: cellularity is significantly higher, dysmegakaryopoiesis is more pronounced, plasmocytes and mast cells are more often increased, and disturbance of marrow topography (particularly of the MK- and G-line) can be found more frequently in MDS with myelofibrosis. Reticulin fibrosis occurred in all subtypes of MDS; however, there was a higher incidence in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. The frequency of abnormal growth of GM-progenitors was significantly higher in the MDS cases with myelofibrosis, compared to the cases without fibrosis. Clinical data showed significantly higher WBC, more frequent presence of immature granulocytes, and higher percentage of myeloblasts in peripheral blood and bone marrow in MDS with myelofibrosis compared to cases without myelofibrosis. Life expectancy was reduced to 13 mo, compared with 35 mo in MDS without fibrosis (p=0.00055). Time to leukemic transformation was 32 mo in MDS with fibrosis, compared with >56 mo in MDS without fibrosis (p=0.015). Myelofibrosis therefore seems to herald a poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological and clinical significance of growth pattern of hematopoietic progenitors were investigated in 117 patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) at referral. Abnormal (i.e., "leukemic" or absent) growth of GM colonies (CFU-GM) and GM clusters was found in 47% of patients with "advanced" MDS (RAEB, RAEB-t, and CMML) and in 15% of "low-risk" (RA/RARS) patients. In vitro erythropoiesis was decreased in most of the patients, with significantly lower number of BFU-E in "advanced" MDS than in RA/RARS patients. Megakaryocyte progenitors (CFU-MK) were very low or absent in almost all the patients, regardless of the FAB type. Significant correlation was demonstrated between the number of BFU-E and hemoglobin concentration and between number of CFU-MK and platelet count. Growth capacity of GM progenitors appears to be in proportion to "myeloproliferative" capacity of the malignant clone. T-cell depletion had no influence on growth capacity of hematopoietic progenitors, nor did colony growth respond in a dose-dependent manner to different concentrations of LCM. Growth capacity of MDS hematopoietic progenitors was independent of Bournemouth score, of the presence and type of cytogenetic abnormality, and of the expression of CD95 and caspase-3 antigens on bone marrow cells. However, in patients with "abnormal" growth of GM progenitors, CD34 antigen expression was significantly higher than in patients with "normal" growth. "Abnormal" GM growth was found to be independently predictive regarding the survival and the risk for AML development. In contrast, the prognostic value of erythroid and megakaryocyte cultures was found to be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of Burkitt's-like lymphoma (BL) during pregnancy is rarely diagnosed and its outcome is poor. A case of BL localized in the uterus, ovaries and breast during the course of pregnancy is presented. The patient was treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy and was disease-free for 6 months after the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]