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ABSTRACT Biocontrol techniques that impair reproductive capacity of insect pests provide opportunities to control the dynamics of their populations while minimizing collateral damage to non‐target species and the environment. The Trojan Female Technique, or TFT, is a method of the trans‐generational fertility‐based population control through the release of females that carry mitochondrial DNA mutations that negatively affect male, but not female, reproductive output. TFT is based on the evolutionary hypothesis that, due to maternal inheritance of mitochondria, mutations which are beneficial or neutral in females but harmful in males can accumulate in the mitochondrial genome without selection acting against them. Although TFT has been theoretically substantiated, empirical work to date has focused only on Drosophila melanogaster populations, while the existence of male‐biased mutations and the TFT approach in economically important pest species remain unexplored. Here, we examined the sex‐specific effects of three distinct and naturally occurring mitochondrial haplotypes (MG1a, MG1d, and MG3b) on several reproductive and life history traits in the seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus. Our results revealed that males harboring the MG3b mitotype exhibited lower early fecundity and fertility, while there were no effects on females or longevity in either sex. Our experiments provide support for the existence of the mitochondrial variant that specifically impairs male reproductive output in pest insects. These results can be harnessed to further develop TFT as a novel form of biocontrol with broad applicability to economic pests and disease vector insects.

In the enclosure of the paper, we bring the testimony about the Serbs' suffering in Kosovo and Metohia, namely in certain villages in municipalities Vučitrn, Lipljan, Kosovo Polje and Priština. The document is stored in the archives of the Eparchy of Raška Prizren, which has been relocated from Prizren to the Gračanica Monastery since 1999.

Introduction: Haemophilia is one of the most common haemorrhagic diseases from the group of coagulopathies and results from a deficiency of factors responsible for the first phase of coagulation. Aim: This informative paperwork aims to highlight the principles of oral surgical treatment of patients with haemophilia. Material and methods: The available literature was analysed to indicate the basic characteristics of haemophilia (clinical manifestation, possibilities of treatment and prophylaxis of the disease) with special reference to specificity and principles of dental oral surgical treatment of patients with haemophilia. Conclusion: The treatment of patients with haemophilia is considered one of the riskiest in everyday dental practice. Despite this, dental interventions can be successfully and safely performed. However, the dentist must be acquainted with the nature of the disease, its symptoms and the severity of the clinical picture. Furthermore, the dentist needs to know what kind of therapy the patient receives for the treatment of haemophilia, whether the patient has been diagnosed with inhibitors to the coagulation factor, and whether the patient has concomitant diseases with special reference to possible infectious diseases. Along with that, the key to a successful and safe intervention lies in a well-planned preoperative, perioperative and postoperative treatment of patients with haemophilia.

Introduction: The periodontal diseases lead to the morphological and functional disintegration of the tooth-supporting apparatus, and a basic concept of surgical periodontal therapy is the elimination of periodontal pockets with the bone remodelling and creating the physiological architecture at a more apical level, thereby achieving better conditions for dental plaque control. The progenitor cell population in the periodontal ligament is served for the reconstruction of lost epithelial attachment. Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) is a procedure that allows for the repair of a periodontal defect by cells capable of creating new connective tissue attachment and alveolar bone, and the aim is a minimization of postoperative gingival recession. The objectives of GTR are the creation of a new epithelial attachment, an increase in the bone level, and the minimization of postoperative gingival recession. Aim: Presentation of modern approaches, materials, prognostic factors as well as complications of periodontal therapy that are focused on attachment regeneration and complete reconstruction of periodontal tissue. Conclusion: The difference in terms of outcomes of regenerative periodontal therapy relates to the degree of patient's cooperation with the therapist, the level of oral hygiene, the selection of an appropriate bone defect, as well as the methods of surgery. The high level of dental plaque control, elimination of pathogenic microflora and intensive antimicrobial periodontal therapy improve the outcome of periodontal regenerative therapy.

Introduction: Cancer is causing death in countries with more or less economic development, and it is expected that the burden will grow worldwide, especially in countries with less developed populations, where about 82% of the global population lives. The aim of this study was to present and estimate trends in incidence, mortality rate and MIR of malignant neoplasm of otherand ill-defined sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer in Central Serbia from 1999 to 2020. Material and methods: The registry-based study was conducted using the data from the publically accessible Yearbooks of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia: Incidence and Mortality in Central Serbia, from 1999 to 2020. Joinpoint regression was used to determine the trend and annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence and mortality rate with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total number of 558 cases (436men and 122women) of other and ill-defined lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer sites registered in Central Serbia from 1999 to 2020. The crude rate (CR) and age-standardized rate (ASR-W) of incidence in males increased (p

Introduction: Caries risk assessment is the essential step in the modern clinical approach to caries management. It is a basic prerequisite for the development of preventive measures and strategies for the primary prevention of caries. Its reliability is conditioned by the knowledge of relevant caries risk factors - indicators and predictors of caries. Aim: After reviewing the available literature, the paperwork aimed to analyse the importance of salivary levels of cationic antimicrobial peptides as indicators and predictors of caries in children, i.e., their possible role in caries risk assessment in children. Material and methods: The analysis included original articles in English which studied the association of salivary levels of cationic antimicrobial peptides with caries in children. Three databases were selected: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, and the search was performed using the following keywords: saliva cationic peptides /antimicrobial peptides /AMP/ defensins/ cathelicidin/histatin/statherin/adrenomedullin/azurocidin AND dental caries AND children/children age. Conclusion: Cationic antimicrobial peptides could be important caries risk indicators in children. Unfortunately, there is currently no reliable evidence of their caries predictive value. Well-designed cross-sectional and long-term longitudinal studies are still required to clarify the significance of salivary cationic antimicrobial peptides as reliable caries risk indicators and caries predictors in children. At the same time, this would define their significance as caries risk biomarkers and their potential application in caries risk assessment in children.

Introduction: Under the concept of regenerative periodontal therapy, there are two approaches: the first is the passive regeneration conceptthat includes bone substituents and guided periodontal regeneration by using of biomembranes and the second concept of active regeneration that impliesthe use of growth factors. The aim of the passive regeneration, by using of bone matrix (bone substituens) has been stabilization and bone defects management, preventing epithelial tissue growth, as well as saving space for the new tissue regeneration. This concept implies the use of autogenous transplantats, xenografts, allografts, as well as alloplastic materials. The carriers for active tissue regeneration, growth factors -GF are biological mediators that regulate cellular processes and that is crucial for the tissue regeneration. Aim:Presentation ofmodern approaches to periodontal therapy thatare focused on the attachment regeneration and complete reconstruction of periodontal tissue. Conclusion: In the future, periodontal regenerative therapy with periodontalligament progenitor cells should encourage repopulation of the areas that have been affected by periodontal disease.

Background/Aim. Radiology is a crucial part of dentists’ everyday practice. It plays a vital role in diagnosis, treatment planning and the follow-up care of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of dentists in Serbia concerning the use of radiology in pediatric dentistry. Methods. In total, 252 dentists from across Serbia participated in the study. A questionnaire was created in order to examine dentists’ knowledge about the use of radiology in pediatric dentistry. The questionnaire consisted of 39 questions. All questions were analyzed in SPSS 24 statistical software. Results. According to the results, 42.1% of dentists worked in private practice, 17.8% at University clinics and 40.1% in National Health Services. Out of total 252 respondents, only 82 (32.5%) had an x-ray unit. A total of 199 (79%) dentists replied they would diagnose early caries lesions only by inspection, but 30 (11.9%) dentists said they would make a diagnosis by doing both the inspection and taking a radiograph. The results show that 187 (74.2%) respondents said that they did not make an OPG for every patient. When asked about the disposal of radiological waste, 84.3% of dentists did not answer the question. Conclusion. Attempts should be made in order to upgrade and update Serbian dentists overall knowledge about the use of radiology in pediatric dentistry.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to present the therapeutic procedure and the outcome of replantation of the avulsed permanent central maxillary incisor, found at the site of high contamination, after an extraoral period of 15 hours and dry transport. Case report: By clinical examination it was determined that the root reached the full length, with parallel edges, which corresponded to the age of the girl-8.5 years. After carefully removing the necrotic periodontal ligament from the root of the tooth, extraoral endodontic treatment was performed. The pulp was removed, the multi-sessional intracanal medicament fillings were avoided and the definitive obturation of the root canal was performed. The tooth was returned to the alveolar socket and immobilized with a wire-composite splint. After replantation, the condition of the tooth was monitored. Replacement resorption and dentoalveolar ankylosis occurred after nine months, and then cervical inflammatory resorption led to tooth loss after three and a half years. Conclusion: The achieved result can be considered as a success because during this time the replanted tooth met the developmental, functional and aesthetic requirements, which is especially important in the period of intensive growth and development of the child.

Introduction: Permanent tooth avulsions (traumatic extraction; total luxation) are one ofthe most severe permanent tooth injuries and can occur as single injuries or associated with other dental injuries or injuries to the face and jaws region. They are defined as the luxation of teeth from the alveoli with complete rupture of periodontal fibres, or with one part attached to the rootcementum and the other to the alveolar bone, thus compromising the dental pulp, root cementum,and alveolar bone. The high prevalence and numerous negative consequences on the stomatognathic systems they have suggest permanent tooth avulsions should be regarded as an important public health problem. The aim: is to point out the therapeutic possibilities of permanent tooth avulsion that can ensure their longer survival in the oral cavity. Conclusion: The treatment strategy for avulsed permanent teeth is always based on limiting root canal infection and periradicular inflammation, shifting the balance from unfavourable (replacement resorption) to favourable (periodontal) healing. The success of therapy and periodontal healing depend on the duration and conditions of extraoral tooth preservation, the degree of damage to the periodontal ligament, and the condition of the pulp.

Introduction: The oral health of children with special needs is most often impaired, with a high prevalence of caries and its complications. Due to the impossibility of establishing an adequate child-dentist contact and a large number of carious teeth, dental treatment under general anesthesia is often indicated in this population of children. Aim: To perform a comprehensive analysis of the dental treatment of children with special needs under general anesthesia at the Clinic of Dental Medicine in Niš over a period of ten years. Material and methods: A retrospective study analyzed the dental documentation of children with special needs in whom dental treatment was performed under general anesthesia at the Clinic of Dental Medicine in Niš in the period from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019. Results: 286 children with special needs (14.7%) out of a total number of 1943 admitted at the Department for Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry of the Clinic of Dental Medicne in Niš during the analyzed period, originally from Nišava, Jablanica, Pčinja, Toplica, Rasina, and other administrative districts of Serbia, were treated under general anesthesia. In the second half of the ten-year follow-up period, almost twice as many children were treated regarding the first five years. The records show that 1754 teeth were restored, 28 endodontically treated, and 1417 extracted. Conclusion: A high percentage of children with special needs treated under general anesthesia and a constant increase in the number of such children in Southeastern Serbia suggest the need for close cooperation between dentists of health care centers in Southeastern Serbia and dentists at the Clinic of Dental Medicine in Niš, a tertiary dental health care center towards which patients of this part of Serbia gravitate.

Background: Imperfect smile and face profile is one of the main reasons why patients turn to orthodontists. Aim was to investigate if there is a difference in perception of smile and profile esthetics between the examined groups. Subjects and method: In conducted research, smiles of 21 persons (8 male and 13 female), 18 to 30 years old were evaluated by 15 orthodontists, 15 students of dentistry and 15 laypeople. They were to rate esthetics of every smile from 1 to 9 and choose just one main reason that impairs aesthetics. Orthodontists and laypeople should also evaluate male and female normal, bimaxillary prognathic and bimaxillary retrognathic profiles from 1 to 3. The most beautiful profile should be marked with number 3. Results: Although there was no statistically significant difference in the evaluation of smile esthetics among groups, laypeople gave the lowest evaluation. Apart from irregular position of certain teeth, all investigated groups emphasized different factors that impair smile esthetics. Orthodontists and laypeople marked bimaxillary prognathic male and female profile as less beautiful than the others. Conclusion: Because of the differences in perception of the smile aesthetics between orthodontists and laypeople, it is necessary to create a new diagnostic plan of treatment protocols that includes studies investigating laypeople perception of smile and facial esthetics.

Introduction: Primary caries prevention from the earliest childhood has multiple significance. Its efficacy is largely conditioned by the knowledge of the caries risk profile of the subpopulation at risk, as an important prerequisite for developing effective strategies and measures for disease prevention and control. Aim: To assess the caries risk profile of preschool children in the City of Niš using a reduced computer Cariogram ® model. Material and methods: To realize the set objectives, a cross-sectional study was conducted, which included preschool children, aged 36-48 months, with permanent residence in the City of Niš since birth. The collection of data was done by interviewing mothers, and by the clinical examination of subjects. The caries risk profile of the subjects was performed using a reduced Cariogram ® model. Results: The study included 276 subjects of preschool age, mean age 41.28 ± 4.40 months. The highest percentage of subjects has a moderate caries risk, with an average of 50% chance of avoiding a new carious lesion in the future. In the assessed caries risk profile of children, the most vulnerable sectors are "susceptibility" (18%) and "bacteria" (14%), related to the use of fluoride by children of this age and their oral hygiene. The highest percentage of subjects belongs to the moderate caries risk group. Conclusion: According to the conducted study, insufficient exposure of teeth to fluoride and inadequate oral hygiene may be considered significant caries risk factors in preschool children, which should be considered when choosing measures and strategies for disease prevention and control. Also, it is necessary to reconsider the time of diagnostic examinations to reduce the prevalence of caries and its negative consequences at this age to a minimum.

Introduction: Cancer treatment, in terms of chemotherapy and radiotherapy has evolved significantly from its beginning. Both therapies, especially used in combination, had the potential to cause side effects, that potentially decrease in quality of life and lead to increased mortality rate in patients with cancer. The aim of the study: The effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy were described. The oral complications which consequently occurred could be classified into following categories: mucositis, oral dryness, fungal, viral and bacterial infections, disgeusia, disfagio, profuse bleeding, osteonecrosis and muscle trismus. Conclusion: Because of the wide range of preventive and curative measures, it is necessary to create a special team for caring of patients before, during and after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In such case, dentist, oral medicine specialists should be an active member of oncology team.

Introduction: After marsupialisation of large jaw cysts, there comes to the formation of bone defects which do not guarantee the stability of the blood clot and therefore are filled with iodine gauze. Any replacement of iodine gauze, toilet of the wound, causes minor or major bleeding, which slows wound epithelialisation and organization. Therefore, making the partial acrylic denture obturator is recommended to be done a few weeks after the surgery. Case report: This work presents two patients who had partial acrylic denture obturator made on the tenth day after the surgery. This allowed significantly easier toilet of the wounds, faster epithelialization and organization, and thus faster bone healing. Conclusion: Restored function of chewing, swallowing and speech, as well as the aesthetic appearance suggest that early use of acrylic obturator prosthesis is very significant.

In this paper, based on the archive material of the Raška-Prizren Diocese, testimonies on the suffering of priesthood in Kosovo and Metohija during WWII from 1941 to 1945 are presented. During WWII one third of the priesthood of Raška-Prizren Diocese was killed. The Raška-Prizren bishop Serafim Jovanović tried in vain to get the protection from the synod of the Albanian Orthodox Church. Besides persecution and killings of the priesthood by the Albanians, there also were killings by the members of National Liberation Movements due to the belonging or spread of propaganda of the chetnik's movement.

Introduction: as a process of determining the likelihood of developing a new carious lesion in a given person within a specific period of time and/or the likelihood of changes occurring in severity and/or activity within existing lesions. In the last decades, the emphasis has been put on personalized preventive approach that provides individual estimation of caries risk. The aim: The aim of this study was to emphasize the significance and possibilities of caries risk assessment in children. Conclusion: Further research in this field should be aimed at distinguishing unique caries risk factor or the combination of factors that would show high caries predictive importance, and to allow very early identification of an individual/population group at risk before a clinical manifestation of the disease.

A recently developed spark emission spectroscopy technique has been used to measure the effects of fuel injection timing, spark timing and intake swirl level on the individual-cycle fuel concentration at the spark gap in a wall-guided spark ignited direct injection (SIDI) engine. The fuel-concentration measurements were made simultaneously with measurements of individual-cycle spark discharge energy and cylinder pressure. Endoscopic imaging of the fuel spray and high-speed imaging of combustion (both broadband and spectrally resolved) augment these quantitative data. For optimum engine operation, the fuel-air equivalence ratio at the spark gap just after spark breakdown is rich on average (<φ>≈ 1.4-1.5) and varies widely from cycle to cycle (~25 per cent). The evolution with crank angle of the mean equivalence ratio and its cycle-to-cycle fluctuations are correlated with the cylinder pressure, heat release and imaging data to provide insights into fuel transport and mixture preparation that are important to understanding and optimizing ignition and combustion in SIDI engines. For example, causes of misfires and partial burns have been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lip cancer is the most frequent oral cancer. The aim of this study was to present and estimate trends in the incidence and mortality of lip cancer in Central Serbia during a 16-year period, from 1999 to 2014. Material and methods: This registry-based study was carried out based on the data extracted from publicly available Yearbooks of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia - Incidence and Mortality in Central Serbia, from 1999 to 2014. The trend and the annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence and mortality rate with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated by performing join point regression analyses. Results: A total number of 1,922 cases (1,402 in men and 520 in women) of lip cancer were registered in Central Serbia from 1999 to 2014. The crude rate (CR) and age-standardized rate (ASR-W) of the incidence in males decreased (p=0.001, p

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are pervasive disorders beginning in early childhood. The prevalence of these disorders has been on the rise over the last few decades. A disorder of this kind does not have any direct impact on the oral health, but the behavior of the affected children can markedly deteriorate it. Due to a poor compliance to oral hygiene and maintenance of oral health, dental film accumulates in the oral cavity, leading to both caries and its complications, and gingival-periodontal diseases. A high percentage of children with ASD are not sufficiently compliant during dental interventions, being hyperactive, tense, and often highly agitated. Any dental intervention in such children is therefore very complicated or it cannot be performed at all, consequentially broadening the spectrum of indications for dental extractions. In order to preserve the oral health in children with ASD, an individualized approach to each patient is thus necessary. Conclusion: The journey to a healthy oral cavity and teeth in children with ASD is full of twists and turns, but the desired goals can be realized, although requiring considerable patience and perseverance from both the parents and pediatric dentists.

Introduction: Molar incisor hypomineralization indicates the appearance of enamel hypomineralization of systemic origin which occurs in 1-4 first permanent molars, which is often accompanied by changes on permanent incisors. Variations in clinical manifestation, together with commonly present asymmetry, are the reason for large variations in the needs for therapeutic treatment of these structural enamel defects. Case study: Two patients with diagnosed molar incisor hypomineralization are shown. The first patient, a six-year-old girl, with diagnosed mild clinical form, visited the dentist immediately after the eruption of the first permanent molars. Early diagnosis and timely application of preventive-profilactic measures, together with mild clinical form, are the reason for prevention of dental caries and further spreading of posteruptive enamel breakdown on affected first molars. Unlike the first one, the second patient, a 7,5-year-old girl had the diagnosis of moderate molar incisor hypomineralization. She developed dental caries on tooth 46 as well as complication in dental caries on tooth 36 which was extracted soon after the eruption. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and the severity of clinical appearance are the most important factors which determine therapeutic outcome of the treatment of molar incisor hypomineralization.

This paper focuses on analyzing geopolitical changes at the beginning of the 21st century and their effect on the strategic context of contemporary asymmetric threats. Therefore, the distinction between unipolarity and multipolarity as the concepts that are taken into consideration when assessing the modern security environment is emphasized and concrete asymmetric forms of security threats such as religious and national extremism, terrorism, organized crime, migration, etc. are presented. Bearing in mind that the mentioned challenges, risks and threats to security are manifested at the global, regional and national level, the paper reviews strategic responses and concrete measures undertaken by the United Nations, the European Union, national armed forces and civil society. Based on this, the conclusion is drawn that implementation of the concept of integral security at the national level, as well as security cooperation at the international level - contributes to gaining a comprehensive approach to this contemporary problem with the best outcomes.

The paper discusses the matter of the methodological base for development of a national action plan to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security in the Republic of Serbia (2016-2020). The reason for the consideration of this matter is the fact that the Government of the Republic of Serbia, after the successful application of the previous five-year National Action Plan (2010-2015), decided on 25 December 2015 to form a working group to develop a new national action plan. Professional and scientific challenges with which the working group was faced are the backbone of this paper referring to a valid selection and use of methods, techniques and instruments of action research in order to accomplish the tasks set by the Government. Therefore, this paper provides a concise insight in the methodology of this plan development in its first phase, which is crucial for the further process of designing this action document in the Republic of Serbia.

This paper looks into little-known former history of separatist tendencies of the population of the Crimea and eastern Ukraine, but also gives a scientific explanation of what the so-called Eastern Question has meant in the diplomatic history and the history of international relations, as it is still reflected in the present geopolitical situation of a large number of Eastern European and Balkan countries. It refers to the maxim that the history is 'a teacher of life' and leads to a conclusion that it could certainly be argued that the history of diplomacy is a 'teacher' of contemporary international political relations. In other words, based on historical facts, one comes to a conclusion that today almost nothing happens unless in the past it had its origins in a complex diplomatic game of the most powerful European dynasties, as well as the royal and military elites, international organizations and high religious circles of the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Islamic provenance, from the late 16th to the late 20th century. These were the times of a dangerous 'diplomatic game' played for geopolitical supremacy in the Mediterranean, through the resolution of the status of the Crimea, and also the status of 'the cradle of Christianity' in Kiev, Eastern Europe. The aforementioned conflicting interests culminated in the divisions and diplomatic and military conflicts that 'renamed' then Malorussia in Ukraine, and in the 21st century led to a bloody civil, political and religious divisions and the armed conflict in Ukraine.

The paper discusses the problem of further strategic development of the Republic of Serbia on the basis of hierarchically ordered system of strategic documents. This paper is a result of years of study of strategy as a science under development, theory, skills, and documents, with special emphasis on the results of the comparative analysis of national and foreign strategic documents. Looking at the experiences of about a dozen countries in the world and comparing them with the current practice in the Republic of Serbia, this paper emphasizes the importance of logical consistency, mutual interdependence and hierarchical arrangement of the system of the nation's strategic development. Proceeding from an analysis of the current situation in the Republic of Serbia, it points to the inconsistency of the fact that the strategy of sustainable development is being nationally prepared, adopted and implemented, without including the sustainable development in the field of security. In addition, the paper deliberately encourages further discussion of strategists, security experts, officials of the Ministry of Defense, members of the Serbian Armed Forces, and public officials about the necessity that, after the adoption of the national strategy, the national development strategy, the national security strategy and the defense strategy, the development of military strategy should be also addressed in the Republic of Serbia to complete the hierarchical series of the strategic documents.

Introduction. Comprehensive epidemiological data regarding factors associated with traumatic dental injuries are scarce. Objective. The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency and analyze the factors associated with traumatic dental injuries in Serbian children. Methods. Research included children and adolescents with traumatic dental injury aged 0-19 year during the period from 2003 to 2010, in four University Dental Centres in Serbia: Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad and Kragujevac. Patient history, demographic, clinical and radiographic data were obtained from dental trauma forms. Results. Total of 2,194 patients (748 girls, 1,446 boys) (χ2=222.1; p

Bacground/Aim. Glass ionomer cements (GIC) belong to the group of polycarboxyl cements, and one of the principal characteristics of these materials is their anticariogenic potential of fluorine release into saliva and enamel-dentin substance. The aim of this study was to examine the content of released fluorine from GIC restorations (Fuji IX, GC, Japan) of young permanent teeth in the medium of artificial saliva and similar releases in the same medium by the restorations of these teeth treated with a low concentration fluoride solution. Methods. We examined 12 premolars exctracted from orthodontic reasons. The GIC restored teeth were divided into the group treated daily with low concentration fluoride solution (334 ppm) and the control, not treated group. The samples of artificial saliva were analyzed for fluorine ion content using an ion selective electrode. Results. Our comparative analysis of the mean values using the Student’s t-test demonstrated a statistically significant difference in fluorine ion concentration in artificial saliva of fluoridated and non-fluoridated teeth with GIC fillings after 14 and 21 days (p < 0.05), while the difference detected after 7 days was with no statistical significance. Conclusion. The results of this in vitro study indicated that low-concentration fluoride solutions could serve to refluoridate GIC fillings and contribute to an increased fluorine content in saliva. The process of refluoridation of GIC fillings should be advised 2-3 weeks after the restoration, since the release of fluorine from GIC fillings diminishes in time.

Introduction. The data on the health-condition of the first permanent molars among children in our region is scarce. Therefore, the need for more thorough analysis of the state of health of these teeth in the children from our region imposes itself, along with the need to determine the most critical period in which a significant increase in caries prevalence of these teeth takes place. Aim. The aim of the research was to perform a comparative analysis of the prevalence, average rate and structure of decay, missed and filled first permanent molars in the children of the younger school age in relation to those of the older school age. Material and methods. The research included 1.119 examinees, aged from 7 to 14 years. Examinees were divided into two groups according to their age: examinees of the younger school age and older school age. Dental check-up of the students was performed by means of a dental probe and mirror and the health condition of the examined teeth was registered by means of Klein-Palmer's DMF system. Results. The research determined high values of the examined parameters of the first permanent molars caries prevalence which increases with the age of the examinees. In the examinees of the age of 8, 9, and 10, statistically more significant values of the examined teeth caries prevalence parameters were registered, in relation to the examinees of seven years of age. In the examinees of the older school age, statistically significantly higher values were registered only for TCI and ACI and only in the examinees aged 14 in relation to the examinees aged 11. With the age, the percent of decay is decreases, while the percent of filled and extracted first permanent molars increases. Conclusion. Results show that the period between 7 and 10 years of age is the most critical and the most important period for the implementation of preventive-prophylactic measures aimed to preserve the health of the first permanent molars.

In most animals the average longevity of females is greater than that of males. Among the many explanations of the evolution of sex-specific mortality rates, we tested the hypothesis that sexual selection plays an important role in shaping the longevity and ageing of both sexes. The present study was performed using laboratory populations of Acanthoscelides obtectus, which were obtained either at an early (E) or late (L) age, where the inadvertently created conditions provided opportunities for the evolution of a monogamous and polygamous mating system, respectively. As predicted, under intense sexual selection (L populations) substantial sex differences in longevity were detected both in mated and virgin experimental beetles. On the other hand, monogamy, i.e. relaxation of sexual selection, in E populations resulted in elimination of the differences in longevity between mated females and males, and even led to postponed senescence of virgin males beyond the level exhibited by virgin females.

Background/Aim. Recurrent instability of the shoulder joint is frequently difficult to differentiate from diseased or injured rotator cuff or tendon of the forearm flexor (m. biceps brachii). Shoulder joint arthroscopy has been only recently introduced into instable shoulder joint lesion examination. The aim of this study was to present and analyze an arthroscopic finding on instable shoulder joint in order to determine causes and mechanisms of instability, as well as principles of surgical treatment. Methods. Arthroscopy of the shoulder joint was performed in 158 patients with at least one documented shoulder joint dislocation. These patients were divided into two groups. The group I included the patients with one to three dislocations, while the group II those with more than three dislocations. Preoperative diagnosis was based on anamnestic data and clinical examination using specific tests, and on the diagnosis of shoulder joint using radiography or computed tomography. Results. Out of the total number of the patients 138 (87.34%) had injury of the anterior patellar brim, 119 (75.32%) had failure of the anterior capsule, 126 (79.75%) had compressive cartilage injury of the posterior part of the head of the upper arm bone (Hill-Sachs lesion), 102 (64.56%) had insufficiency of glenohumeral tendon, 11 (6.96) had complete cut of the rotator cuff, 23 (14.56%) had injury of the posterior patellar brim, 12 (7.59%) had injury of the upper anterior-posterior patellar brim (SLAP). Conclusion. According to the obtained results it could be concluded that there is no a unique injury that leads to shoulder joint instability. It is necessary to point out to the significance of anamnesis and clinical examination in making diagnosis. Arthroscopic diagnostics is indicated in clinically unreliable findings as an additional method for determining operative treatment.

Abstract Background During inhalational anthrax, internalization of Bacillus anthracis spores by host cells within the lung is believed to be a key step for initiating the transition from the localized to disseminated stages of infection. Despite compelling in vivo evidence that spores remain dormant within the bronchioalveolar spaces of the lungs, and germinate only after uptake into host cells, most in vitro studies of infection have been conducted under conditions that promote rapid germination of spores within the culture medium. Results Using an in vitro model of infection, we evaluated the influence of the germination state of B. anthracis spores, as controlled by defined culture conditions, on the outcome of infection. Spores prepared from B. anthracis Sterne 7702 germinated in a variety of common cell culture media supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) while, in the absence of FBS, germination was strictly dependent on medium composition. RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells internalized spores to the same extent in either germinating or non-germinating media. However, significantly more viable, intracellular B. anthracis were recovered from cells infected under non-germinating conditions compared to germinating conditions. At the same time, RAW264.7 cells demonstrated a significant loss in viability when infected under non-germinating conditions. Conclusions These results suggest that the outcome of host cell infection is sensitive to the germination state of spores at the time of uptake. Moreover, this study demonstrates the efficacy of studying B. anthracis spore infection of host cells within a defined, non-germinating, in vitro environment.

An often-overlooked aspect of life-history optimization is the allocation of resources to protect the germline and secure safe transmission of genetic information. While failure to do so renders significant fitness consequences in future generations, germline maintenance comes with substantial costs. Thus, germline allocation should trade off with other life-history decisions and be optimized in accordance with an organism's reproductive schedule. Here, we tested this hypothesis by studying germline maintenance in lines of seed beetle, selected for early (E) or late (L) reproduction for 350 and 240 generations, respectively. Female animals provide maintenance and screening of male gametes in their reproductive tract and oocytes. Here, we reveal the ability of young and aged E- and L-females to provide this form of germline maintenance by mating them to males with ejaculates with artificially elevated levels of protein and DNA damage. We find that germline maintenance in E-females peaks at young age and then declines, while the opposite is true for L-females, in accordance with the age of reproduction in the respective regime. These findings identify the central role of allocation to secure germline integrity in life-history evolution and highlight how females can play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of male germline decisions on mutation rate and offspring quality.