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Vitamin E, present in both plant and animal-based foods, is a lipophilic compound with multifaceted biochemical functions. Its deficiency can lead to severe health consequences, while excessive intake may result in hypervitaminosis. Among tocopherols, Alpha-tocopherol stands out for its pharmacokinetic properties and potent antioxidant effects. It exerts significant influence on the immune, nervous, and cardiovascular systems, as well as on skin health. Notably, it plays a crucial role in preventing carcinogenesis. While Alpha-tocopherol garners attention, other tocopherol group members should not be overlooked, as advancements in science uncover their diverse biological impacts. In recent years, tocotrienols have emerged with distinct biochemical properties that profoundly affect human health.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) belongs to the family of herpesviruses, subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae, and genus Lymphocryptovirus. Despite this classification, there are two serotypes of the Epstein-Barr virus, namely type A and type B. Both types play significant roles in the development of viremia. Additionally, EBV infection can lead to lymphadenopathy, upper respiratory tract obstruction, spleen rupture, thrombocytopenia, and recently, there has been increased emphasis on the connection between this virus and certain malignant neoplasms. Diagnosing this virus can be challenging if clinicians rely solely on serological confirmation. In some cases, it is necessary to perform more specific methods, in addition to considering the clinical picture and history, to prove the presence of the virus in blood, nasopharyngeal swabs, and other tissue samples. The aim of this paper is to present the severity and consequences caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and to emphasize the importance of preventive measures in preventing the virus from coming into contact with susceptible individuals. Prevention plays a crucial role in reducing contact with the virus. Since the infection spreads via droplets, wearing masks in healthcare facilities and regular hand washing are hygiene priorities to prevent infection and further transmission.

Introduction/Objective. Clostridioides difficile is one of the most common infectious agents and an important cause of infections among hospitalized patients, often resulting in severe and potentially fatal outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine demographical characteristics (age and sex distribution) and outcomes among hospitalized patients with Clostridioides difficile infection, and to analyze differences in toxin A, toxin B or toxin A/B prevalence among hospitalized patients with Clostridioides difficile infection. Methods. Retrospective descriptive analysis of 200 patients hospitalized at the Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Serbia, from 2015 to 2018 was performed. The data were obtained using a standardized “Active surveillance of Clostridioides difficile” questionnaire. A non-parametric χ2 test and binominal logistic regression was used to validate all hypotheses: focusing on higher infection rates and mortality in the elderly compared to younger populations, and the predominance of diagnostic methods isolating both toxins A and B. Results. There are statistically significant differences in the distribution of infection cases among age groups, particularly with a higher prevalence in individuals aged 66 and older, (p < 0.001). There is a statistically significant difference in the frequency of respondents in relation to the detection of toxins. Percentage of representation of toxins is 61.5%. Conclusion. The results show that the most common diagnostic method is the detection of toxins A and B, rather than isolating either toxin independently. However, the study suggests that certain diagnostic methods should be supplemented by other newer diagnostic methods.

Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccination, uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination remains low worldwide. We aimed to analyze the coverage of HPV immunization during the first year of the immunization program and the sociodemographic characteristics across different administrative units in Serbia and Montenegro. Coverage of HPV vaccination in Serbia for females aged 9–14 and 15–19 years was 5.5% and 5.9%, respectively. The coverage rate of immunization against HPV in Montenegro for girls aged 9–14 years was 22.1%. Within Serbia, only one administrative region (Moravica) had HPV immunization coverage in girls 9–19 years old above 10%, 11 districts had coverage from 5 to 10%, while 13 districts had coverage below 5%. As per Montenegro, two administrative units, Cetinje and Berane, reported the highest coverage, with 39% and 36.4% of vaccinated eligible girls, respectively. When we explored the coverage of HPV immunization among girls aged 9–19 years across different regions in Serbia, we observed that the level of coverage did not correlate with the number of pediatricians or with the population density. In Montenegro, we observed a similar situation. On the other hand, we noticed a statistically significant moderate negative correlation (r = −0.446; p = 0.026) between HPV immunization coverage and the percentage of illiterate women in the administrative units. Comparing the coverage between the two countries we found that the higher coverage in Montenegro corresponded with a smaller number of female populations aged 9–14 years, with higher average net monthly income, with smaller population density and smaller number of pediatricians, among divorced persons, and among those without formal education or incompletely primary education. Taking into account the experiences in Montenegro, increasing immunization coverage in Serbia could be achieved through a more vigorous educational campaign targeting schools, the general population, and healthcare workers as well as by additionally incentivizing those engaged in these activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]