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Home gardens play an important role in the overall agricultural system. In addition to providing helpful information that can support and encourage local communities to develop their home gardens sustainably as a form of in situ management and conservation of plant biodiversity, the study seeks to understand the significant role and benefits of home gardens for the well-being of rural communities. In order to preserve these natural resources, a variety of data was obtained via field observations on the issues related to the use of plants and the variety of agricultural species found in the farms and home gardens of two villages in the central Albania. A total of 47 plant species, belonging to 29 families, were identified from field observations in the home gardens of the 82 farmers interviewed. Important plant species, such as Sideritis raiseri Boiss and Heldr, categorized as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List; Origanum vulgareae L. and Juglans regia L., categorized as endangered; Salvia officinalis L. and Prunus persica L. as vulnerable; and Crataegus heldreichii as low-risk, were also recorded in the home gardens under study. The outcome implies that there is a considerable degree of variability or variation in the plant species that the farmers have grown in their home gardens. These findings indicate that home gardens are suitable places for the conservation of these plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over two decades, extensive research and heated debate have addressed tensions between carceral and abolitionist responses to gendered violence within feminism. Disagreements arise from the existing multiplicity of feminist approaches and divergent socio-economic and political contexts in which such violence occurs. At the same time, different conceptions of the state and community also impact on feminist organizing around these issues in particular contexts. This article analyses the tensions between so-called carceral feminism and abolitionist feminism in the context of Albania and Kosovo, two countries not only heavily impacted by domestic and sexualized violence and feminicide but also with a significantly rising feminist mobilization. Using the photo-elicitation method, we interviewed feminist activists and academics regarding the ways they interpret gendered violence, the strategies and interventions they deem most relevant in addressing it, and the contradictions and tensions that exist in their discourses and practices. Our aim is to offer a contextualized critique of carceral feminism, while illustrating the reasons and lack of alternatives that have impeded a transformative imagination towards abolitionist feminism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ahmet Zog was the "King of the Albanians" from September 1928 until April 1939, when the country was invaded by fascist Italy. During his reign Albania experienced an unprecedented period of relative stability and progress. Zog's government took the first small steps towards the creation of a modern European country. King Zog developed a strong economic dependence on Mussolini's Italy, but he did not implement fascist ideas and policies. Albania welcomed and assisted persecuted Jews since 1933, when Hitler came to power as chancellor of Germany. Zog's attitude towards Jewish immigration was strongly influenced by Herman Bernstein, United States Ambassador to Albania during the years 1930–1933. Prior to Italian occupation, Albania was considered a safe transit point for Jewish refugees seeking to reach prosperous and stable destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives. Physiotherapy programs in individuals experiencing chronic lower back pain (CLBP) aim to improve function, disabilities from worsening. As per clinical practice guidelines, many methods are applied, such as the McKenzie method, therapeutic exercises, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), traction, thermotherapy etc. The effectiveness of these methods is supported by a wide range of evidence and studies, making them some of the most diverse and well-established approaches. These physiotherapeutic treatments are combined every day. Therefore, the aim of this research is to provide a comparative investigation on two different physiotherapy programs containing a combination of these treatment modalities in individuals with CLBP. Materials and methods. This research involved 60 patients who were separated into two groups. Group I received the McKenzie treatment method, passive modalities, lumbar traction, and a walking program. Group II received therapeutic exercises, passive modalities, lumbar traction, and a walking program. Both groups underwent treatment for six weeks. Subjects were tested using research instruments at the beginning, at the end of three weeks, and at the end of six weeks of treatment. The evaluation instruments used were the visual analog scale, Finger-to-Floor test, the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire, and the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Results. Pain intensity, functional disability, lumbar flexibility, and self-confidence showed greater improvement after six weeks of treatment in both programs (p <0.0001), without any significant statistical difference among the groups (p >0.05). Conclusions. The data obtained from both groups support the effectiveness of both treatment programs and suggest that they can be considered as options for viable programs treatment for patients with CLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first Albanian Righteous Among the Nations was recognized only in 1987, 24 years after the programmme's birth - one of the longest periods before the first recognition by Yad Vashem's database. Rescue took many forms and rescuers came from different social classes, professions and religions. The vast majority of the rescued were refugees arriving in 1940-43, when the country was under fascist occupation. The information about Albanian rescuers during the Holocaust is still incomplete, mostly due to the country's decades-long extreme isolation after World War II. Albania experienced the most severe dictatorship and repression in Europe. After the official recognition of the state of Israel in 1949, the Albanian government froze bilateral relations until the 1990s. During the communist period, several scholars from "enemy countries" requested information regarding the Jewish community and other important issues, but the authorities did never respond. In addition, the exchange of information between the rescuers and the rescued was impossible. Albania was the only Eastern Bloc state that did never establish diplomatic ties with Israel and other so-called revisionist countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Starvation in early life can cause poor bone health and metabolic aberrations in bone minerals, leading to abnormal bone development. Holocaust survivors have been exposed to starvation and malnutrition before and during World War II. This paper aims to provide the current state of knowledge on the osteoporosis risk in Holocaust survivors and their descendants. Methods: The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched. Papers that reported original data on the risk of osteoporosis in Holocaust survivors and in their offspring were included in the study. Results: Ten studies were included in this review. The majority of studies were case-control ones (n=7) versus two self-reported and one longitudinal study. Despite the limited cohort numbers and the small number of studies in the literature, the data showed a potential increased risk of osteoporosis in Holocaust survivors and especially in their descendants. Conclusions: The review of these studies showed a higher prevalence of osteoporosis among Holocaust survivors and their offspring. Knowledge of the trans-generational inheritance of osteoporosis in the descendants of Holocaust survivors should increase the awareness of primary care health workers on osteoporosis screening and early diagnosis and implementation of preventive measures, including adequate vitamin D and calcium supplementation, and pharmacological treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• One-pot method for synthesizing polymer nanocomposites (PNC's) • Well coated, highly magnetic particles with narrow size distribution. • Other polymers that can withstand reaction temperatures could be used. • No ligand exchange, anchor groups don't need to displace oleic acid. Producing substantial quantities of high purity, narrow size distribution, magnetic polymer nanocomposites (PNC's) has been a challenge for the nanoparticle synthesis community. In this study, we introduce a novel one-pot solvothermal synthesis technique to produce a type of PNC known as a ferrofluid. By employing a polymer (polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)) modified with anchoring ligands as the surfactant, we eliminate the need for a post-synthesis ligand exchange, resulting in high yield and purity of the final product. This approach offers greater flexibility in polymer selection and simplifies the synthetic process. Electron microscopy, magnetic characterization, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis were employed to investigate particle size, crystallinity, magnetic behavior, and surface environment. Our findings suggest that this new synthetic technique could significantly advance the development of magnetic nanoparticle-based theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-temperature anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is one of the most promising technologies to produce green hydrogen. To date, membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) based on platinum group metal (PGM) electrocatalysts shows higher performance than PGM-free ones. Here, a single and easy synthesis for non-noble metal electrocatalysts (PGM-free) for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) was developed. Both electrocatalysts consist of FeNi 3 /FeNiO x nanoparticles obtained through chemical reduction using hydrazine. The electrocatalyst exhibits an overpotential of 210 mV and 234 mV for HER and OER respectively, at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH electrolyte, allowing a comparison between mass activity and geometric activity compared to PGM catalysts. In addition to a preliminary electrochemical characterization of the FeNi 3 /FeNiO x , the electrocatalyst were integrated into a pilot-scale AEMWE at both anode and cathode, which reaches (without iR-correction) 1.72 V and 1.94 V at a current density of 0.4 A cm−2 and 1 A cm−2 respectively at 60 °C. This PGM-free MEA outperforms the one based on Pt/C at cathode and RuO 2 at anode with a voltage gap of 284 mV at 1 A cm−2. The aforementioned MEA was tested for 150 h with a discontinuous power profile, in order to get an idea of the possible degradation trends for a future industrial application, the reversible and irreversible voltage losses were calculated resulting in a degradation rate of 886 µV/h. This work demonstrates a simple and scalable synthesis of earth-abundant electrocatalytic materials for high-efficiency AEM water electrolysis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article above deals with a short part of the history of medieval Shkodra, which is the passage of this town with surroundings under Venetian rule, realized by George II Strazimir Balsha, and then the efforts made by George himself or his son Balsha III and his mother Helena Balsha, for the restoration of these lands under their rule. These efforts are divided into two culminating points that are: 1. The uprisings against the Venetians and the Balsha III War during the years 1404-1405, which in some studies is also known as Balsha III's 1st War for Shkodra and; 2. The events of 1418, during which Balsha III and his mother try again to take Shkodra to the Venetians. These events are also encountered with the designation as the Second War of Balsha III for the acquisition of Shkodra. We will handle in this article only the first period dealing with "the uprisings against the Venetians and the Balsha III War during the years 1404-1405 to take Shkodra and its surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a short introduction to studies on relations between Albanians and the Republic of Ragusa during the Ottoman period. It deals with papers published by various authors who have a special importance for the history of relations between the Republic of Ragusa and Albanians during the XVI-XVIII centuries. The article presents some preliminary results regarding the search. Here are presented some important authors for this study topic. Most of these scholars are Slavs, mainly Croats. Among them we can mention Josip Luetić, Vuk Vinovar, Bogomil Hrabak, Vinko Ivančević, etc. The article aims to give the main approaches the authors in question make to this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neck of femur fractures are common injuries in the elderly population and carry significant morbidity and mortality. The introduction of a Best Practice Tariff (BPT) in 2010 laid out the criteria for optimising hip fracture care. These outcomes are audited annually by the National Hip Fracture Database. Meeting all six key targets attracts a financial uplift for each patient; one of these criteria is for an operation within 36 hours of admission.Local Problem: A large district general, seeing on average 551 hip fracture patients a year. In 2017, the trust was ranked 152/160 in England for meeting the 36-hour target to surgery, although theatre capacity was sufficient. The average time to theatre was 43.68 hours, significantly above the national average. BPT was only achieved in 45.7% of cases.Method: In January 2018 an anaesthetic 'hot week' was introduced with the same anaesthetist responsible for the hip fracture lists to allow for continuity of care and timely identification of potential delays to surgery. Further responsibilities include attending trauma meeting, liaising with the orthopaedic and the orthogeriatric teams, and advising on medical optimisation of patients for theatre.Results: Comparing data for 2017 (pre-intervention) with 2018 (post-implementation), the following results in key measures were noted: Surgery within 36 hours increased from 54% to 87.5% of patients. Mean time to surgery fell from 43.68 hours to 25.11 hours. Attainment of BPT targets increased from 45.7% to 84%. Trust ranking went from 152nd to 20th for time to surgery and from 131st to 18th for meeting BPT. Rescheduled operations went from 126 to 31. As a result, mean length of stay reduced by 5.1 days. Mortality remained unchanged.Conclusion: Implementation of an anaesthetic 'hot week' may help trusts improve times to theatre where sufficient theatre capacity is already in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals mainly with Skanderbeg's relations to Johannes Hunyadi, one of the most important figures of the anti-Ottoman war in Europe. Later he became also one of the most important heroes for the Hungarian Identity. In addition to these relations have been briefly treated those with Hunyadi's son, Matthias Corvinus, who became later king of Hungary. Concerning these relations, I have given some central information. These data are extracted from many historical works and from documents that are given in this work in both forms, in translated versions and the original language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trade between the Republic of Ragusa and the Medieval Albanian lands was quite extensive and active and included most of the Albanian markets. Almost in every town with importance in trade, there was a community of Ragusan merchants. Their consuls represented those communities. Besides the consuls and merchants who were present in the cities and markets of Albania, the Ragusans had seized the customs of various products, which they rented and paid to the local rulers for the duties related to them. The Trade with Ragusa was of great importance because in Albania came wares from Western European areas and other countries. Reciprocally, Albanian products arrived not only in Ragusa. Albanian Merchants exported further their wares through Europe. In addition, trade relations with Ragusa affected the culture and mastery of the country, too, which benefited from techniques exchanged through trade. That was seen in the elaborating of gold and silver, tailoring, and other crafts. In conclusion, we can say that trade relations with Ragusa were of great importance to Albania. These relations were a key in the economic exchanges the Albanians had with other foreign countries during the Middle Ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the focus of the research are the relations of Kastrioti family with the Republic of Ragusa. Mainly, we were focused on Scanderbeg's period, because during this time there is a greater intensity of relations, and from the other part they are better recorded, nonetheless the relations of Kastrioti family with Ragusa begin since the time of Gjon Kastrioti. On other earlier relations, we do not have any data. This research is divided in some parts, also more detailed are the diplomatic and economic-trade questions. This research is mainly based on archival documents, but except them, are also taken into consideration different studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism sector plays a crucial role in economic growth of developing countries. Tourism increases business and employment opportunities and contributes to the development of local infrastructure. The preservation of cultural heritage and the promotion of peace between nations are other benefits of this sector. The main objective of this study is the investigation of the main demand and supply factors of international tourist arrivals to Albania, given the important role of the tourism sector on the national economy. A gravity-type equation is estimated through three different estimation techniques, controlling for basic and experimental independent variables. The basic assumption of the gravity model states that bilateral flows depend on some factors related to the origin and destination countries and other factors that approximate the bilateral distance. The analysis is based on an annual dataset of international tourist arrivals to Albania from 22 origin countries over the period 2001-2018. Empirical results show a satisfactory explanatory power of the considered equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article makes an overview of the Albanian masters and craftsmen who exercised their activity in Ragusa especially during the 14th and 15th centuries. They mastered different professions and were: architects, sculptors, stone carvers, blacksmiths, smiths, gun makers, sailors, rowers, carpenters, goldsmiths, shoemakers, tanners, belt makers, tailors, barbers, liquor sellers, bar owners and school teachers. Thus, the specter of professions dealt with in this article is quite wide. The information and data in this study were obtained from various researches and a large number of published archival documents. Moreover, this is one of the few studies which focuses thoroughly on the Albanian craftsmen of Ragusa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the presence of the Albanian Catholic clergy in the Republic of Ragusa during the Middle Ages. The clerics included in this study have been classified according to their origin and listed on a chronological basis. While the cities where they served have been listed according their geographical position from north to south. As for the timeframe, my research was focused in the period from the 13th to the 15th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to iron overload and multiorgan failure.The aim of this systematic review was to provide up-to-date evidence of all the current data on the costs and cost effectiveness of screening and treatment for HH.We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED), Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry (CEA Registry), Health Technology Assessment Database (HTAD), Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), and Econlit until April 2023 with no date restrictions. Articles that reported cost-utility, cost-description, cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, or cost-benefit analyses for any kind of management (drugs, screening, etc.) were included in the study. Patients with HH, their siblings, or individuals suspected of having HH were included in the study. All screening and treatment strategies were included. Two authors assessed the quality of evidence related to screening (either phenotype or genotype screening) and treatment (phlebotomy and electrophoresis). Narrative synthesis was used to analyse the similarities and differences between the respective studies.Thirty-nine papers were included in this study. The majority of the studies reported both the cost of phenotype screening, including transferrin saturation (TS), serum ferritin, and liver biopsy, and the cost of genotype screening (HFE screening, C282Y mutation). Few studies reported the cost for phlebotomy and erythrocytapheresis treatment. Data revealed that either phenotype or genotype screening were cost effective compared with no screening. Treatment studies concluded that erythrocytapheresis might be a cost-effective therapy compared with phlebotomy.Economic studies on either the screening, or treatment strategy for HH patients should be performed in more countries. We suggest that cost-effectiveness studies on the role of deferasirox in HH should be carried out as an alternative therapy to phlebotomy.Objectives: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to iron overload and multiorgan failure.The aim of this systematic review was to provide up-to-date evidence of all the current data on the costs and cost effectiveness of screening and treatment for HH.We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED), Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry (CEA Registry), Health Technology Assessment Database (HTAD), Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), and Econlit until April 2023 with no date restrictions. Articles that reported cost-utility, cost-description, cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, or cost-benefit analyses for any kind of management (drugs, screening, etc.) were included in the study. Patients with HH, their siblings, or individuals suspected of having HH were included in the study. All screening and treatment strategies were included. Two authors assessed the quality of evidence related to screening (either phenotype or genotype screening) and treatment (phlebotomy and electrophoresis). Narrative synthesis was used to analyse the similarities and differences between the respective studies.Thirty-nine papers were included in this study. The majority of the studies reported both the cost of phenotype screening, including transferrin saturation (TS), serum ferritin, and liver biopsy, and the cost of genotype screening (HFE screening, C282Y mutation). Few studies reported the cost for phlebotomy and erythrocytapheresis treatment. Data revealed that either phenotype or genotype screening were cost effective compared with no screening. Treatment studies concluded that erythrocytapheresis might be a cost-effective therapy compared with phlebotomy.Economic studies on either the screening, or treatment strategy for HH patients should be performed in more countries. We suggest that cost-effectiveness studies on the role of deferasirox in HH should be carried out as an alternative therapy to phlebotomy.Methods: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to iron overload and multiorgan failure.The aim of this systematic review was to provide up-to-date evidence of all the current data on the costs and cost effectiveness of screening and treatment for HH.We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED), Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry (CEA Registry), Health Technology Assessment Database (HTAD), Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), and Econlit until April 2023 with no date restrictions. Articles that reported cost-utility, cost-description, cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, or cost-benefit analyses for any kind of management (drugs, screening, etc.) were included in the study. Patients with HH, their siblings, or individuals suspected of having HH were included in the study. All screening and treatment strategies were included. Two authors assessed the quality of evidence related to screening (either phenotype or genotype screening) and treatment (phlebotomy and electrophoresis). Narrative synthesis was used to analyse the similarities and differences between the respective studies.Thirty-nine papers were included in this study. The majority of the studies reported both the cost of phenotype screening, including transferrin saturation (TS), serum ferritin, and liver biopsy, and the cost of genotype screening (HFE screening, C282Y mutation). Few studies reported the cost for phlebotomy and erythrocytapheresis treatment. Data revealed that either phenotype or genotype screening were cost effective compared with no screening. Treatment studies concluded that erythrocytapheresis might be a cost-effective therapy compared with phlebotomy.Economic studies on either the screening, or treatment strategy for HH patients should be performed in more countries. We suggest that cost-effectiveness studies on the role of deferasirox in HH should be carried out as an alternative therapy to phlebotomy.Results: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to iron overload and multiorgan failure.The aim of this systematic review was to provide up-to-date evidence of all the current data on the costs and cost effectiveness of screening and treatment for HH.We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED), Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry (CEA Registry), Health Technology Assessment Database (HTAD), Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), and Econlit until April 2023 with no date restrictions. Articles that reported cost-utility, cost-description, cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, or cost-benefit analyses for any kind of management (drugs, screening, etc.) were included in the study. Patients with HH, their siblings, or individuals suspected of having HH were included in the study. All screening and treatment strategies were included. Two authors assessed the quality of evidence related to screening (either phenotype or genotype screening) and treatment (phlebotomy and electrophoresis). Narrative synthesis was used to analyse the similarities and differences between the respective studies.Thirty-nine papers were included in this study. The majority of the studies reported both the cost of phenotype screening, including transferrin saturation (TS), serum ferritin, and liver biopsy, and the cost of genotype screening (HFE screening, C282Y mutation). Few studies reported the cost for phlebotomy and erythrocytapheresis treatment. Data revealed that either phenotype or genotype screening were cost effective compared with no screening. Treatment studies concluded that erythrocytapheresis might be a cost-effective therapy compared with phlebotomy.Economic studies on either the screening, or treatment strategy for HH patients should be performed in more countries. We suggest that cost-effectiveness studies on the role of deferasirox in HH should be carried out as an alternative therapy to phlebotomy.Conclusions: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to iron overload and multiorgan failure.The aim of this systematic review was to provide up-to-date evidence of all the current data on the costs and cost effectiveness of screening and treatment for HH.We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED), Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry (CEA Registry), Health Technology Assessment Database (HTAD), Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), and Econlit until April 2023 with no date restrictions. Articles that reported cost-utility, cost-description, cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, or cost-benefit analyses for any kind of management (drugs, screening, etc.) were included in the study. Patients with HH, their siblings, or individuals suspected of having HH were included in the study. All screening and treatment strategies were included. Two authors assessed the quality of evidence related to screening (either phenotype or genotype screening) and treatment (phlebotomy and electrophoresis). Narrative synthesis was used to analyse the similarities and differences between the respective studies.Thirty-nine papers were included in this study. The majority of the studies reported both the cost of phenotype screening, including transferrin saturation (TS), serum ferritin, and liver biopsy, and the cost of genotype screening (HFE screening, C282Y mutation). Few studies reported the cost for phlebotomy and erythrocytapheresis treatment. Data revealed that either phenotype or genotype screening were cost effective compared with no screening. Treatment studies concluded that erythrocytapheresis might be a cost-effective therapy compared with phlebotomy.Economic studies on either the screening, or treatment strategy for HH patients should be performed in more countries. We suggest that cost-effectiveness studies on the role of deferasirox in HH should be carried out as an alternative therapy to phlebotomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper are given the first results of the trail about the Ragusa noble families of Albanian origin and the presence of Albanians in Ragusa during the Middle Age. The papers presents historical data and for some of them are given the emblems. The data are mainly extracted from the published volumes and from the papers of different authors that have written about the Ragusa history and about Middle Age studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Spinal fusion is used for treatment of spinal deformities, degeneration, infection, malignancy, and trauma. Reduction of motion enables osseous fusion and permanent stabilization of segments, compromised by loosening of the pedicle screws (PS). Deep implant infection, biomechanical, and chemical mechanisms are suspected reasons for loosening of PS. Study objective was to investigate the frequency and impact of deep implant infection on PS loosening.Methods: Intraoperative infection screening from wound and explanted material sonication was performed during revision surgeries following dorsal stabilization. Case history events and factors, which might promote implant infections, were included in this retrospective survey.Results: 110 cases of spinal metal explantation were included. In 29.1% of revision cases, infection screening identified a germ, most commonly Staphylococcus (53.1%) and Propionibacterium (40.6%) genus. Patients screened positive had a significant higher number of previous spinal operations and radiologic loosening of screws. Patients revised for adjacent segment failure had a significantly lower rate of positive infection screening than patients revised for directly implant associated reasons. Removal of implants that revealed positive screening effected significant pain relief.Conclusions: Chronic implant infection seems to play a role in PS loosening and ongoing pain, causing revision surgery after spinal fusion. Screw loosening and multiple prior spinal operations should be suspicious for implant infection after spinal fusion when it comes to revision surgery. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through this article is intended to provide some information about the economy of Shkodra in the Middle Ages, especially in the period of the 15th century. The article presents a general overview of some important branches of the economy in this city. There is much information on money, different types of coins used in the city over the years; data on production and trade and most important crafts and laws governing these crafts, according to medieval statutes of Shkodra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Health institutions in Albania have recently reported an increase in antibiotic misuse and microbial resistance. Until now, there have been no comprehensive studies that analyzed the overall use of antibiotics in Albania. The aim of this study was to analyze the overall antibiotic use in Albania between 2011 and 2012, using standardized methodology of measurement, based on World Health Organization guidelines. Methodology: Data from 2011 and 2012 on antibiotic use from ambulatory and hospital sector were examined. Antibiotics were divided based on anatomic therapeutic chemical classification. Defined daily dose (DDD) for each drug was assigned, and DDD per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DID) was used as a measurement unit. In cases of antibiotic combinations for which DDD were not available, unit doses were assigned. Results: In 2011-2012, total antibiotic use decreased from 24.25 to 20.66 DID. Penicillin's were the most used antibiotic class, with 10.62 DID (2011) and 10.51 DID (2012). Tetracycline use decreased from 5.45 DID (2011) to 0.98 DID (2012). Macrolides increased from 1.36 to 1.88 DID, quinolones from 1.72 to 2.51 DID. The overall antibiotic use was significantly higher than the reimbursed antibiotic use - 3.17 DID (2011) and 2.79 DID (2012) - based on the official data for the same period. Conclusions: This study enables policymakers to further analyze the quality of antibiotic prescriptions and draw comparisons to other countries. The analyzed data suggest there are different factors influencing out-of-pocket use of antibiotics and wrongly prescribed antibiotics. Further studies are necessary to evaluate these factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the history of the city of Lissus (today Lezha) from the origins to the end of Antiquity. So at the center of this study is the period of Antiquity, during which the city had its ups and downs. The article has seven sections, which consist of a specific period of principal events of this city. The introductory chapter gives an overview of the primary sources and studies for this city. Apart from the text, the article has some views and maps that have their relevance in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The inappropriate use of antimicrobials is a problem worldwide. To target future interventions, a thorough understanding of the reasons behind this current behaviour is needed. Within the EU, the culture of antimicrobial use has been intensely studied, but this is not the case in non-EU southeastern European countries, despite the frequent use of (broad-spectrum) antibiotics (ABs) in this region. The aim of this study was to explore AB knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of health care professionals (HCPs) and patients in one southeastern European country, Albania. Methods: In total, 16 semi-structured interviews were carried out with four groups of interviewees: physicians, community pharmacists, and patients with and without AB prescriptions. Interviews were used to investigate participants' recent practices with four specific antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections, along with their typical behaviours, knowledge and attitudes towards the use of antimicrobials. A directed content analysis was applied. Results: The patients showed little awareness of the differences between viruses and bacteria; however, they often self-diagnosed, which led them to request ABs from pharmacies without a prescription. Pharmacists felt pressured to give in to patients' demands. All of the participants (including HCP) showed suboptimal beliefs about illness severity as they all believed that 'flu complications', i.e. flu/cold symptoms that persisted after 2-3 days, should be treated with ABs. Physicians usually had no rapid tests to guide them in their practice; however, they were not concerned about this fact. HCPs acknowledged AMR, but only a few of them seemed to consider its risk in their daily practice. Conclusions: Patients had high levels of trust in and desire for ABs, and HCPs did not often negotiate with patients' demands. Suggested initiatives to improve the prudent use of ABs in Albania include higher reimbursement for prescribed antibiotics (to reduce illegal sales), academic detailing as well as implementing public awareness campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The inappropriate use of antimicrobials is a problem worldwide. To target future interventions, a thorough understanding of the reasons behind this current behaviour is needed. Within the EU, the culture of antimicrobial use has been intensely studied, but this is not the case in non-EU southeastern European countries, despite the frequent use of (broad-spectrum) antibiotics (ABs) in this region. The aim of this study was to explore AB knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of health care professionals (HCPs) and patients in one southeastern European country, Albania. Methods: In total, 16 semi-structured interviews were carried out with four groups of interviewees: physicians, community pharmacists, and patients with and without AB prescriptions. Interviews were used to investigate participants' recent practices with four specific antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections, along with their typical behaviours, knowledge and attitudes towards the use of antimicrobials. A directed content analysis was applied. Results: The patients showed little awareness of the differences between viruses and bacteria; however, they often self-diagnosed, which led them to request ABs from pharmacies without a prescription. Pharmacists felt pressured to give in to patients' demands. All of the participants (including HCP) showed suboptimal beliefs about illness severity as they all believed that 'flu complications', i.e. flu/cold symptoms that persisted after 2-3 days, should be treated with ABs. Physicians usually had no rapid tests to guide them in their practice; however, they were not concerned about this fact. HCPs acknowledged AMR, but only a few of them seemed to consider its risk in their daily practice. Conclusions: Patients had high levels of trust in and desire for ABs, and HCPs did not often negotiate with patients' demands. Suggested initiatives to improve the prudent use of ABs in Albania include higher reimbursement for prescribed antibiotics (to reduce illegal sales), academic detailing as well as implementing public awareness campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: Gastric adenocarcinoma is among most frequent among cancers in Albania. Early detection and staging is helped by imaging methods, including CT and MRI. This study provides evidence on the CT and MRI accuracy in detecting and pre-operative staging of gastric adenocarcinoma in 62 patients in a diagnostic clinic in Albania. The correct staging of the gastric adenocarcinoma helps decide on the next treatment options. Material and methods: Sixty-two patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, confirmed with biopsy, underwent both CT and MRI examination at a clinic in Tirana during same week. Images were reviewed to determine the TNM classifications and staging using the current AJCC guidelines. Data on age, sex, cancer location and differentiation were also collected and analyzed. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value was estimated for both CT and MRI. Results and conclusions: CT has a higher accuracy than MRI (83% vs. 67%) for T1. Accuracy for T2 was the same (74%). Starting with T3 and upwards, MRI has a slightly more accurate ability to detect and stage the gastric adenocarcinoma (T3: 81 vs. 75; T4: 83 vs. 64). Both the CT and MRI abilities to accurately detect the N classification were the same. Regarding the M classification, the MRI has a slightly more accurate ability to detect metastases (M: 83 vs. 64). Clinicians might benefit from using CT whenever suspect gastric adenocarcinoma patients present first. Decision on surgery requires a MRI to rule out metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we will try to give a general overview on the history of Dukagjinis which consisted of some families seemingly belonging to the same tribe and were part of the Albanian nobles in the Middle Ages. Dukagjinis show up many a time in documents and they were an important factor in the occurrences taking place in Albania in the Middle Ages, especially during Skanderbeg's period. Besides the expansion of their prevalence in North Albanian regions and their distribution into some European countries after the Ottoman occupation they result to be present even among noble Albanian families with the highest duration until they died out in the 17th century. In this paper besides the historical data about them in Albanian territories you will also find information on their presence in Italy, Istria and Ottoman Empire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: To provide evidence of the synergy of combining findings from mammography (MM) and ultrasonography (US) in detecting malignancy in women with high-density breasts. Material and methods: A total of 245 women were screened for breast cancer using both mammography and ultrasonography at the American Hospital in Tirana during 2013-2014. The data was used to identify possible benefits in detecting malignancy, by combining the findings of MM and US and confirming them with those of the biopsy. Data on age, breast density, BI-RADS classification, and biopsy confirmations were collected and analysed. Results: Out of the 245 women, 36 biopsies were taken (17 for women classified BI-RADS 4 and 5; 19 for women with BI-RADS 3 that had grown in size from the previous examination). The accuracy in detecting malignancy for low-density-breast women was 90% for MM, 70% for US, and 90% for combined. For high-density breasts, the accuracy was 65% for MM, 79% for US, and 82% for combined findings. Multivariate analysis indicates that high-density-breast women who have a malignant finding in at least one of the examinations (MM or US) are 24 times more likely (p = 0.039) to have a positive finding in biopsy for malignancy. The odds increased 32 times for lesions over 2 cm (p = 0.056). Conclusions: Our study results indicate additional benefits of combining findings from MM and US for high-density-breast women. Further study is warranted in a larger population and for different kinds of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the article is to give data on the history of Balec, a town lying a few kilometers to the Northwest of Scutari and existing from the Early Middle Ages to the beginning of the Late Middle Ages and its heyday should have been in the 14th century. We come across some data on this town by Ippen, Farlat, Jirecek, Šufflay, Schmitt etc. The first medieval source where the name of this town shows up is the Dioclea Presbyter's writing about 1200. By this article based on the abovementioned authors or documentary sources we attempt to surpass what has been written so far on this town and to bring into light as much as possible the quite dark and enigmatic history of this medieval domicile about which we find almost no data at all in the whole Albanian historiography so far. The article is divided into two parts which deal with two different aspects of it: the secular world (data on the town, population and its economy), that is the first part and the religious world, that is the second part of the article, where the history of the diocese, of the Bishopric and of the clergy of medieval Balec is treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article gives e concise overview about the ecclesiastical monuments of medieval Shkodra. Before the Ottoman conquest, the City of Shkodra (Skodra/Scutari) had many churches and chapels and the researchers qualified it as an important center of Albanian Catholic clergy in the Middle Age. The churches of Shkodra were thick-walled and so far we know this city had a large number of churches and monasteries. Besides the aforementioned churches, I have found traces of other anonymous churches, about which we don't know today what was their name. Among them there are others, which cannot be localized, where they were in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the usefulness of preoperative resistance index to select patients who will benefit most from renal stenting. Sixty-two patients underwent renal stenting. All had chronic renal insufficiency with serum creatinine values ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 mg/dL and blood urea nitrogen between 80 and 107 mg/dL. All treated renal artery stenosis were >70%. Reduction in blood pressure in the early stages was observed in 39 (62.9%) patients; 31 (79.4%) patients returned to preoperative values within 12 months. A progressive reduction in creatinine values and blood urea nitrogen was reached in 43 (69.4%) patients, 12 (19.4%) patients remained unchanged, and the remaining 7 (11.2%) patients worsened. The best improvement in renal function was obtained in patients with a resistance index of ≤0.75 A preoperative resistance index up to 0.75 could be used as an indicator to predict which candidates will have improved renal function after stenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Albanian noble family named Bruti originated from Durazzo has a long history. It begins with their origin in Durazzo in the 13th Century and ends in the 19th Century in the western-Slovenian City of Capodistria. In this article I am trying to bring an overview of their rich history, focusing especially in the ties, which this family had with other noble Albanian families during the Middle Age. As second I want to give information's about several personalities belonging to this family. As an example I can mention here the Bishop of Capodistria (Koper) Agostino Bruti, who played an important role in the early modern History of Church in Capodistria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article I have tried to bring e view of the life and the organization of the canonicals of the Cathedral in the medieval city of Drivasto (Northen Albania). The clerical society of Drivasto was organized in two main groups, who were the canonicals of the Cathedral of St. Mary and the canonicals of the St. Georg's Church. The canonicals of the St Mary's Cathedral had their own statutes, which is like a constitution for such institution. In these statutes we see the different rules, that organized the life, function and the work between the members of these clerical society. There are here specific articles on choosing the rector, the canonices, and so on. In the end, there is e list with names of the canonicals of Drivasto, which gives as much information's about their social descendence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic chemicals can contribute to local and regional losses of freshwater biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, their overall relevance regarding larger spatial scales remains unknown. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first risk assessment of organic chemicals on the continental scale comprising 4,000 European monitoring sites. Organic chemicals were likely to exert acute lethal and chronic long-term effects on sensitive fish, invertebrate, or algae species in 14% and 42% of the sites, respectively. Of the 223 chemicals monitored, pesticides, tributyltin, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and brominated flame retardants were the major contributors to the chemical risk. Their presence was related to agricultural and urban areas in the upstream catchment. The risk of potential acute lethal and chronic long-term effects increased with the number of ecotoxicologically relevant chemicals analyzed at each site. As most monitoring programs considered in this study only included a subset of these chemicals, our assessment likely underestimates the actual risk. Increasing chemical risk was associated with deterioration in the quality status of fish and invertebrate communities. Our results clearly indicate that chemical pollution is a large-scale environmental problem and requires far-reaching, holistic mitigation measures to preserve and restore ecosystem health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I am trying to give a general overview about the Christianity in the Illyrian territories from the beginning until the time, after the Edict of Milano (313). With Illyrian territories, I mean here the lands where Albanian people live today. In the Center of this article is the martyrdom of the first Christians. I shall bring many details from their lives and their contribution to spread the Christian religion and the legend about their sacrifice. After the Edict of Milano, the situation of Christians changed totally; Konstantin the Great gave the Christians the religious freedom, so it began e new period, which opened to the Christianity to become e religion of state in the Roman and later in the Byzantine Empire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Before the Ottoman conquest, the Diocese of Drishti (Drivasto) had many churches and chapels and the researchers qualified it as a nursery of Albanian Catholic clergy in the Middle Age. The churches of Drishti were thick-walled and so far we know this city had these cathedrals and churches: St. George's Cathedral, Cathedral of St. Mary with chapter, the church of St. Francis, St. Salvador's church, the church of St. Cross, the church of Sancta Maria Veteris, St. Stephen's Church, the Church of St. Veneranda, and the church of St. Nicholas. The incomes of these churches were, among others, testaments left by clerics and others who donate different amounts to them for the salvation of their own souls. Besides the aforementioned churches, I have also identified ruins of four other churches, which may have been even any of those mentioned above, but it cannot be confirmed yet, because the churches mentioned by name cannot be localized, where they were in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The copigmentation of oenin with three copigments is studied spectrophotometrically. [•] The colour intensity of solutions is increased by the copigmentation reactions. [•] The thermodynamic parameters found for the copigmentation reactions are favourable. [•] Results shown give better insights on the use of natural compounds as food dyes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we have investigated the two main working mechanisms (H atom and single-electron transfer) of five new potential antioxidant analogues of cis-resveratrol. The O–H bond dissociation energy (BDE) and ionization potential (IP) key parameters were computed in methanol. Results obtained indicate that all the examined compounds are more efficient antioxidants than the molecule from which they derive, mainly due to their higher degree of conjugation and the capability to delocalize the π-electrons which contribute to the stabilization of the radical species. The enhancement of these stabilizing effects is in part a result of the introduction of a single bond between the C2′ and C6 carbon atoms of cis-resveratrol that generates a new central aromatic ring. However, the number of hydroxyl groups and in particular the presence of the catechol moiety remains the most significant features in determining the order of radical scavenging potentiality. Spectroscopic UV–Vis characterization is also reported and discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

After the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the European Union and its ratification by all member states, Albania has made serious efforts towards the harmonization and approximation of its legislation, to align it more with the standards of the member countries. Setting of new game rules makes Albanian society walk safer in a process of integration, where the EU principles are inserted even better in domestic laws. Core legislation, food safety and veterinary fields, are some prerequisites that Albania should meet in its way towards full membership in the EU. For a long time now, Albania has been establishing new food and feed standards and all its actions are in full compliance with EU regulations and directives. In addition to adequate policies to enforce better the current legislation in respect with an effective consumer protection, it is worth mentioning full reforming and streamlining of functioning institutions in the framework of food safety. The veterinary legislation is a main discipline of veterinary medicine regulating veterinary service relations with food business operators. It establishes legal criteria and standards for animal health and welfare protection, public health, food safety and other related areas. 'Acquis communautaire' refers to the EU's total body of legislation, i.e. everything from treaties to directives, the case-law of the Court of Justice, declarations and international agreements, etc. When a new member country is to be admitted to the EU, the point of departure is that it must satisfy the entire body of rules and regulations, i.e. the 'acquis communautaire' or the 'acquis' as it is also known, from the first day of membership. As a candidate country Albania should accept acquis communautaire before joining the European Union. Currently, Albania is undergoing the process of harmonization, approximation and transposition of acquis to the domestic legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives an overview of the most important families of the medieval town of Drisht, analyzing some of them. There were numerous noble families in Drisht of which we find evidence in different documents. However, similar to other aspects of Drisht's history, the research on the activity of these families in the political and economical life, inside the town or abroad can not be exhaustive as there are only a few and incomplete sources available. The story of these families after the Ottoman invasion of Drisht, some of which emigrate, will not be dealt with as this is not the focus of our research. In this paper will be taken in consideration two groups of families. The first is composed of the main families which are found often in different documents and have played an important part in the history of Drisht, such as, Engjelli, Shpani, etc. while the second is composed of families of a lesser importance, the nobility of which has been put in doubt. Some of the latter are, Skepudar, Svinji, Zogi, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroinvertebrate species traits, such as physiological sensitivity, have successfully been introduced in trait-based bioassessment approaches and are important predictors of species sensitivity in the field. The authors ranked macroinvertebrate species according to their physiological sensitivity to heavy metals using toxicity data from acute laboratory assays. Rankings for each of the heavy metals, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg, were standardized based on all available species data. Rankings for different heavy metals on the species level showed no significant difference between compounds and were reasonably well correlated pairwise (0.50 < r < 0.73). Thus, an aggregated heavy metal ranking was developed, which assigns a single physiological sensitivity value ( Smetal) to macroinvertebrate taxa. Considering the high variation, especially for higher taxonomic levels, that is, in the order level, it is recommended to use S values of the genus or species level for meaningful analyses. In terms of taxonomic ranking, crustaceans were overall the most sensitive taxonomic group, whereas insects were generally the most tolerant group. Species in the order of Cladocera were three orders of magnitude more sensitive than insects of the order of Trichoptera. By contrast, mollusks covered a wide range of sensitivities, with bivalves being on average one order of magnitude more sensitive than gastropods. The authors concluded that physiological sensitivity represents a promising trait for trait-based risk assessment that together with other demographic and recolonization traits may help to identify the effects of heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1754-1764. © 2012 SETAC [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicergoline (NIC), a poorly water-soluble semisynthetic ergot derivative, was crystallized from several organic solvents, obtaining two different polymorphic forms, the triclinic form I and the orthorhombic form II. NIC samples were then characterized by several techniques such as C cross-polarization magic angle spinning solid-state spectroscopy, room-temperature and high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and by analysis of weight loss, solvent content, powder density, morphology, and particle size. Solubility and intrinsic dissolution rates determined for the two polymorphic forms in water and hydrochloride solutions (HCl 0.1 N) were always higher for form II than for form I, which is actually the form used for the industrial preparation of NIC medicinal products. Preformulation studies might encourage industry for the evaluation of polymorph II, as it is more suitable for pharmaceutical applications. Results in drug delivery, as well as those obtained by the above-mentioned techniques, and the application of Burger-Ramberger's rules make it possible to conclude that there is a thermodynamic relation of monotropy between the two polymorphs. This last assumption may help formulators in predicting the relative stability of the two forms. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 100:2610-2622, 2011 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present work assessed the physical interactions between several aryl propionic acid derivatives and polyvinyl(pyrrolidone) K30 (PVP), stored together at 298±0.5K at different relative humidities (RH 55, 75 and 86%). Results were compared to those obtained at low RH (22%), published in a previous paper. The water uptake percentage of binary mixtures were intermediate between that of pure PVP and pure drugs. By X-ray powder diffraction, for all the drugs, it was possible to note a marked decrease in crystallinity degree, in particular at highest RH%. The loss in crystallinity degree may be considered an evidence of the physicochemical interaction between the polymer and the drug, supporting the formation of a solid dispersion. By high-resolution 1H solid-state NMR spectrometry, it was possible to observe an increase of drug–polymer interaction with aging, with the only exception of ibuprofen. Molecular docking proved the establishment of Van der Waals and electrostatic interactions for all the mixtures, and for mixtures with fenbufen and naproxen, also hydrogen bonds. The application of Gordon–Taylor rule to the thermal analysis revealed that the requirement of volume additivity of this rule was not fulfilled for any mixture, and a negative deviation from theoretical behaviour was always observed. The hydration of drug–PVP mixtures had important repercussion on drug solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR). In general, an increase in water solubility and consequently an increase in IDR were observed, with few exceptions, at highest RH%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]