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The aim of this study was to establish a link between genetic diversity and the geographic origin of Pectobacterium strains belonging to three species- P. carotovorum , P. versatile , and P. odoriferum -isolated from cabbage in Serbia by comparing their sequences with those of strains sourced from different hosts and countries in Europe, Asia, and North America. Phylogeographic relatedness was reconstructed using the Templeton, Crandall, and Sing's (TCS) haplotype network based on concatenated sequences of the housekeeping genes dnaX , icdA , mdh , and proA , while pairwise genetic distances were computed by applying the p-distance model. The obtained TCS haplotype networks indicated the existence of high intra-species genetic diversity among strains of all three species, as reflected in the 0.2-2.3%, 0.2-2.5%, and 0.1-1.7% genetic distance ranges obtained for P. carotovorum , P. versatile , and P. odoriferum , respectively. Five new haplotypes (denoted as HPc1-HPc5) were detected among cabbage strains of P. carotovorum , while one new haplotype was identified for both P. versatile (HPv1) and P. odoriferum (HPo1). None of the TCS haplotype networks provided evidence of significant correlation between geographic origin and the determined haplotypes, i.e., the infection origin. However, as haplotype network results are affected by the availability of sequencing data in public databases for the used genes and the number of analyzed strains, these findings may also be influenced by small sample size.

The aim of this work was to identify and characterize the pectolytic bacteria responsible for the emergence of bacterial soft rot on two summer cabbage hybrids (Cheers F1 and Hippo F1) grown in the Futog locality (Bačka, Vojvodina), known for the five-century-long tradition of cabbage cultivation in Serbia. Symptoms manifesting as soft lesions on outer head leaves were observed during August 2021, while the inner tissues were macerated, featuring cream to black discoloration. As the affected tissue decomposed, it exuded a specific odor. Disease incidence ranged from 15% to 25%. A total of 67 isolates producing pits on crystal violet pectate (CVP) medium were characterized for their phenotypic and genotypic features. The pathogenicity was confirmed on cabbage heads. Findings yielded by the repetitive element palindromic-polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) technique confirmed interspecies diversity between cabbage isolates, as well as intraspecies genetic diversity within the P. carotovorum group of isolates. Based on multilocus sequence typing (MLST) using genes dnaX , mdh , icdA , and proA , five representative isolates were identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum (Cheers F1 and Hippo F1), while two were identified as Pectobacterium versatile (Hippo F1) and Pectobacterium odoriferum (Hippo F1), respectively, indicating the presence of diverse Pectobacterium species even in combined infection in the same field. Among the obtained isolates, P. carotovorum was the most prevalent species (62.69%), while P. versatile and P. odoriferum were less represented (contributing by 19.40% and 17.91%, respectively). Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) performed with concatenated sequences of four housekeeping genes ( proA , dnaX , icdA , and mdh ) and constructed a neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree enabled insight into the phylogenetic position of the Serbian cabbage Pectobacterium isolates. Bacterium P. odoriferum was found to be the most virulent species for cabbage, followed by P. versatile , while all three species had comparable virulence with respect to potato. The results obtained in this work provide a better understanding of the spreading routes and abundance of different Pectobacterium spp. in Serbia.

In this study, we report genetic characterization of Orobanche cumana, the causal agent of sunflower wilting in Serbia. The genetic diversity of this parasitic plant in Serbia was not studied before. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and partial rbcL gene sequences analysis were used to characterize the O. cumana populations at the molecular level. While phylogenetic analyses of RAPD-PCR amplicons were performed using unweighted pair-group Method analyses, rbcL gene sequences were analyzed using neigbor joining method and minimum spanning tree. Molecular analyses of RAPD-PCR analysis revealed high genetic diversity of O. cumana populations which indicated high adaptive potential of this parasitic weed in Serbia. Further analyses of rbcL gene using minimum spanning tree revealed clear differences among diverse sections of Orobanche genus. Although this molecular marker lacked the resolution to display intrapopulation diversity it could be a useful tool for understanding the evolution of this parasitic plant. Our results suggested that O. cumana has great genetic potential which can lead to differentiation of more virulent races which is important for determining crop breeding strategies for their control.

Cabbage, a widely used and popular vegetable, and oilseed rape, the second most valuable oilseed crop in the world, are two important species from the Brassicaceae family. Two geographically separated outbreaks of cabbage and oilseed rape root rot with estimated incidence of 15 and 20%, respectively, were recorded during 2017 in the Vojvodina region, Serbia. Twelve hyphal-tip isolates were obtained from symptomatic cabbage and oilseed rape plants and identified as Waitea circinata var. zeae based on morphological and molecular features. This indicates that W. circinata var. zeae has expanded its host range to the Brassicaceae family. Sequence analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit of the ribosomal DNA, RPB2, and β- tubulin genes revealed the highest similarity with multiple W. circinata var. zeae . Neighbor-joining analyses of ITS sequences resulted in a phylogenetic tree with one well-defined branch of W. circinata var. zeae, with two separate groups. All Serbian isolates and the majority of isolates originating from natural infection of dicotyledonous plants grouped together in group I. Following artificial inoculation, W. circinata var. zeae isolates caused mild to medium root necrosis of seedlings of 2 monocotyledonous and 12 dicotyledonous plant species, implying a wider host range than was known for W. circinata var. zeae. Additionally, this is the first occurrence of W. circinata var. zeae on dicotyledonous host plants in Europe. Because cabbage and oilseed rape are important crops grown worldwide, the occurrence of this new soilborne pathogen with a broad host range imposes the necessity for changes in routine disease control practices, particularly crop rotation.

Introduction: Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) in the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a rare but very serious complication, still associated with high mortality, despite significant improvements in pharmacological and surgical treatment. Therefore, hybrid approaches are introduced as new therapeutical options., Case Outline: We present an urgent hybrid approach, consisting of the initial percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the infarct-related artery, followed by immediate surgical closure of the ventricular septal rupture, for treatment of high risk, hemodynamically unstable female patient with AMI caused by one-vessel disease and complicated by VSR and cardiogenic shock. Since the operative risk was also very high (EUROSCORE II 37%), this therapeutic decision was based on the assumption that preoperative PCI could promptly establish blood flow and thereby lessen the risks, duration and complexity of urgent cardiosurgical intervention, performed on the same day. This approach proved to be successful and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the fifteenth postoperative day in stable condition., Conclusion: In selected cases, with high operative risk and unstable hemodynamic state due to AMI complicated by VSR, urgent hybrid approach consisting of the initial PCI followed by surgical closure of VSR may represent an acceptable treatment option and contribute to the treatment of this complex group of patients.

Possibility to chemically control weeds in spring rapeseed has been tested in two locations ( Novi Sad and Kragujevac) and following herbicides (a.i.) : trifluralin, clomazone, quizalofop-p-ethyl and clopyralid. We tested the effect of the herbicides on yield and hectoliter weight of seed and oil and protein contents in seed. In the trial in Kragujevac, a large number of weed species were present, with somewhat increased density and uneven distribution of weed plants. This was particularly evident with grassy weeds and with the species Rubus caesius in several plots. Rapeseed yield and quality were determined by measuring and analyzing the following parameters: grain yield (kg/plot (30 m2), hectoliter weight, oil content (%) and protein content (%) in seed.Basic statistical calculations of rapessed yield and quality were done by the t-test. The tested herbicides showed no adverse effect on the yield and hectoliter weight of seed in either location, with the exception of quizalofop-p-ethyl in Kragujevac, which affected the control variants. Oil content was negatively affected by the combination, trifluralin + clopyralid in the location of Novi Sad and by quizalofop-p-ethyl in the other location. Trifluralin and quizalofop-p-ethyl exhibited a negative effect on protein content in the location of Novi Sad, while there were no statistically significant negative effects in the other location.

Background/aim: Myomas of the uterus, the most common benign tumors, have been studied for decades from the aspects of different basic and clinical disciplines. Despite this fact, their pathogenesis is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine immunocytochemical characteristics of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue components of submucosal myomas of the uterus., Method: During the course of this study, 25 samples of submucosal myomas of the uterus were analyzed, all of them obtained during the surgery, after abdominal histerctomy by Aldridge. The samples were fixed in 4% formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections of 5 microm thickness were stained immunocytochemically using the DAKO LSAB+/HRP technique to identify alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), vimentin, desmin, CD34, CD45, CD68 and PCNA (DAKO specification)., Results: Our results suggest that submucosal myomas of the uterus are build-up of smooth muscle cells which are immunoreactive to alpha-SMA and desmin, but also to a certain number of smooth muscle cells which are immunoreactive to alpha-SMA and vimentin. Some of vimentin-immunoreactive cells also show an immunoreactivity of PCNA. In the build-up of connective stroma CD34-immunoreactive fibroblasts and neovascular formations are also present. By examining the distribution of CD45 antigen, at all the analyzed samples we observed a weak reaction., Conclusion: Submucosal myomas of the uterus are made-up of smooth muscle cells of the highly differentiated contractile phenotype (alpha-SMA- and desmin-immunoreactivity), as well as smooth muscle cell of the synthetic phenotype which proliferate (alpha-SMA-, vimentin- and PCNA-immunoreactivity). In submucosal myoma of the uterus there is a significant presence of connective tissue as a result of synthetic activity of fibroblasts, which clearly differ in their immunocytochemical characteristics from smooth muscle cells of the synthetic phenotype.

The role of glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) infusion in the management of acute myocardial infarction is not well established. This prospective, randomized study comprised 120 patients who had ST-elevation myocardial infarction that was treated within 12 hours from symptom onset with a high dose of GIK (25% glucose, 50 IU of soluble insulin per liter, and 80 mmol of potassium chloride per liter at 1 ml/kg/hour over 24 hours) as adjunct to thrombolytic therapy (1.5 MU of streptokinase/30 to 60 minutes; GIK group) or thrombolytic therapy alone (control group). The primary end point of the study was the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 1 month, defined as a composite of cardiac death, reinfarction, serious arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation and/or tachycardia), and severe heart failure. The secondary end points were the rate of MACEs at 1 year and improvement in left ventricular systolic function. The incidence of MACEs at 1 month was significantly lower in the GIK group (10% vs 32.5%, relative risk 0.24, 95% confidence interval 0.09 to 0.63, p = 0.0043). Patients in the GIK group had significant decreases in ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation (1.3% vs 15.0%, p = 0.003) and severe heart failure (3% vs 12.5%, p = 0.031). The rate of MACEs at 1 year was also significantly lower in the GIK group (13% vs 40.0%, relative risk 0.22, 95% confidence interval 0.09 to 0.55, p = 0.0012). After 1 year, there was a significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction in the GIK group (from 48 +/- 8% to 51 +/- 10%, p <0.01), which was not observed in the control group. In conclusion, high-dose GIK, used as an adjunct to thrombolytic therapy, was safe and improved clinical outcome at 1 month. The beneficial effect of GIK infusion was maintained up to 1 year.

The paper contains mortality data about tongue cancer in Yugoslavia for the period from 1969 to 1988. Using descriptive epidemiologic method a demographic analysis was conducted on deceased from tongue cancer according to age and sex. The chronologic analysis includes the period of 20 years, while the topographic distribution of deceased includes six Yugoslav republics. Statistic models for studying standard mortality rates were used according the method of direct standardization as well as the specific mortality rates concerned with sex and age, equation of linear trend and proportion. The results of investigation show that the average standardized mortality rate concerning tongue cancer from 1969 to 1988 in Yugoslavia amounted to 0.62 in 100,000 inhabitants. These rates are considerably higher in males (1.17%ooo) than in females (0.17%ooo). The specific rates of mortality considering age continually grow with the increase of age. They are relatively low, up to the age of 44 (males), and up to 54 (females). The examination of epidemiologic situation concerning tongue cancer in our country on the basis of total mortality trend (y = 0.62 + 0.03x) indicates a slow growth, in males (y = 0.17 + 0.07x) as well as in females (y = 0.17 + 0.01x), which points to a need for research of possible risk factors and prompt realization of adequate preventive measures.

The study has been based on official records of the Yugoslav Federal Bureau for Statistics on the mortality rate of brain, larynx, tongue and pituitary gland tumors, which represent most frequently recorded head and neck neoplasma in Yugoslavia between 1974 and 1988. In that period the standardized mortality rates were as follows: brain neoplasms 3.11%, laryngeal neoplasm 2.86%, tongue neoplasms 0.72% and pituitary gland neoplasms 0.55%. In all investigated types of neoplasms the mortality rate tended to increase, indicating that the epidemiologic course of these diseases in Serbia is unfavorable. Risk of death regarding sex shows differences among specific localizations. Males are at higher risk when brain, laryngeal and tongue neoplasms are concerned, while the mortality rate among females is higher in pituitary gland neoplasm group. According to age of patients the mortality rate is low in patients up to 44 years; as the age increases the mortality rate increases rapidly too, whatever localization of head and neck neoplasms in concerned.