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Introduction: Aging is a natural, irreversible physiological process that depends on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Many physiological, biological, psychological, and other factors play a major role. According to the World Health Organization, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in the world and represent a major global public health problem. Falls are most commonly caused by intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. A comprehensive assessment of fall risk is critical to the development of effective fall prevention programs. The screening protocol is brief, easy to use, and multifactorial and allows the identification of risk factors for falls. The aim of this study is to investigate the importance of the presence of risk factors in the home environment and the impact on increasing the risk of falls in people in the third age. Methods: The study was conducted in the municipality of Podgorica. 109 elderly people from urban and rural areas were included in the study using the snowball method. The instruments used in our study are a standardized checklist for assessing risk factors in the home environment, inside and outside the home (HASSAT), and a self-assessment scale of one’s own concern about a possible falls efficacy scale international. The survey was conducted from the end of October to the end of November 2023. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in social and physical activities of daily living in the area of concern about falling. When analyzing the overall result of the fear of falling scale in relation to gender, a significant statistical difference is found. The analysis of the individual rooms in relation to the age of the respondents shows that there is a significant statistical difference. Conclusion: The results obtained show that the high risk of falling is present in all rooms of the home environment for people in their 3rd year of life and that fear of falling increases with age.

This study explores the anatomical relationship between iliac blood vessels and the lower lumbar spine during supine and prone patient positions. The average height of participants was 174.02 cm ± 9.01, while the average weight was 80.38 kg ± 13.48. Body mass index (BMI) analyses showed differences (p = 0.002), with 34.7% classified as normal weight, 53.1% as overweight, and 12.2% as moderately obese. The study examined the distances between iliac arteries and veins in relation to intervertebral anterior and posterior disc contours. Patient positioning significantly affected these measurements at both L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels. The findings highlight the critical influence of body position on anatomical relationships in the context of lower lumbar spine surgery. The study underscores the importance of preoperative awareness of vascular anatomy to prevent iatrogenic lesions during spine surgery, contributing valuable insights for optimizing surgical approaches and minimizing complications in spine surgery, particularly microdiscectomy.

Introduction: Non-unions are fractures that do not heal properly, resulting in a false joint formation at the fracture site. This condition leads to major health issues and imposes a burden on national healthcare systems. The etiology of non-unions is still not fully understood; therefore, we aimed to identify potential systemic factors that may contribute to their formation. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional concomitant proteomic and metabolomic pilot study of blood plasma in patients with non-unions (N = 11) and compared them with patients with bone fracture in the normal active healing phase (N = 12). Results: We found five significantly upregulated proteins in the non-union group: immunoglobulin heavy variable 3–74, immunoglobulin lambda variable 2–18, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4, zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, and serum amyloid A-1 protein; and we found one downregulated protein: cystatin-C. The metabolomic study found differences in alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism pathways between two groups. Conclusions: The combined results of proteomic and metabolomic analyses suggest that the dysregulation of lipid metabolism may contribute to non-union formation.

Humans undertake land management and care of landscapes to maintain safe, healthy, productive and predictable environments. Often, this is achieved through creating spatial and temporal heterogeneity in a way that leverages the natural world; both amplifying natural trends and, in some cases, driving shifts counter to natural processes. However, a persistent paradigm governing the understanding of proxy evidence of past human activity on the environment is that human agency is only recognized in proxy data when trends oppose what are expected to occur naturally. Framing research in such a way ignores the fact that people have, continue to, and will always leverage the environment in ways that both compliment and diverge from “natural” trends. Doing so masks, or erases, people from the histories of their territories and continues to perpetuate myths such as “wild” and “wilderness”, particularly in places that have in fact been shaped and maintained by people for long periods of time. Here, we synthesize geographical, dendrochronological, palaeoecological, archaeological and palaeoclimatic data to demonstrate how Palawa people (Tasmanian Aboriginal people) in Lutruwita (now known as Tasmania, southeast Australia) leveraged climatic change to convert unproductive forest vegetation to open forest and grassland to support higher occupation levels. The fine-scale heterogeneity we have identified reflects the diversity of ways in which, and the spatial scale that, the Palawa engage with their land. We caution against adopting coarse spatial scale (i.e., continental, regional, etc.) methodologies to reconstruct the influence of past societies over landscape evolution as they assume homogeneity of human cultures and of human influence on landscapes. We also reinforce calls for those researching past landscape change to abandon tropes of human agency acting only in opposition to the natural world. Such approaches are couched within a narrow cultural understanding of human-environment interactions and result in the erasure of Indigenous and local peoples' role in maintaining healthy, biodiverse and safe landscapes.

Introduction: Social support is not a one-way relationship but is based on the connections people have with other people, groups, and the wider community. This study aimed to assess the perception of social support by people in the third age and to investigate the correlation of social support with the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted with 147 elderly people who actively use the services of the Center for Health Promotion and Improvement “Generacija” in Sarajevo. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) was used to assess social perceptions. Results: The results show a weak negative relationship between age and the total scale (r = −0.199, p = 0.05), with older people having lower scores on the total scale. A significant relationship was found between the subscale other factors and age (r = −0.202, p = 0.05). The evaluation of the performance of daily activities correlates weakly with the evaluation of the friend’s subscale (r = 0.186, p = 0.05). The friend’s subscale correlates significantly with the quality of social life (r = 0.227, p = 0.05). The subjective assessment of the quality of social life after arriving at the center showed a correlation with the overall scale score (r = 0.182, p = 0.05) and especially with the friend subscale (r = 0.219, p = 0.05), with the increase in social life and the subscales examined in both cases. Conclusion: Users of the “Generacija” center rate social support on the MSPSS with high scores, with users receiving the most support from family. The sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents have an impact on the perception of social support by the users of the Center for Health Promotion and Improvement “Generacija,” more specifically; they were statistically significantly influenced by age, the way of performing daily activities, the quality of social life and the quality of social life after arrival at the Center.

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are the most common work-related disorders and describe a wide range of degenerative and inflammatory states that affect blood vessels, peripheral nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Healthcare as a special sector has almost the highest prevalence of WRMSDs in the world, far ahead of construction, mining, and manufacturing. Studies conducted in the EU and the USA indicate that health-care professionals most often have a problem with the lower back between 50% and 57% of cases, resulting in an average loss of more than 7 working days during 1 year. Methods: This study included 177 health professionals of both genders who are actively involved in the provision of health-care services. The study was conducted in the Public Health Center of Sarajevo Canton, which provides primary and specialist consultative healthcare services. The study was designed as a prospective, longitudinal, interventional, and descriptive-analytical that included all respondents who met the inclusion criteria. The instruments used in the study are the standardized Dutch Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire, modified according to our study, the standardized work ability index, and the ergonomic intervention program (EIP). Results: The highest frequency of work-related MKDs in health-care professionals before and after implementation of the EIP was in the neck area (83.1% before, 64.9% after), in the upper back region (71.8% before, 56.5 % after) and in the lower back region (68.4% before, 55.9% after). The average score of the working ability index before the introduction of the EIP was 35.44 ± 8.59, while after the implementation of the EIP it increased statistically significantly and amounted to 38.40 ± 7.30. Conclusion: The EIP influenced the reduction of the MKDs frequency caused by work, and increased the working capacity of health-care professionals.

Introduction: The complaints that occur in the area of the lumbar spine are summarized under the term lumbar pain syndrome. These include lumbar discopathy, lumbago, lumboischialgia, sciatica, and other complaints associated with the lumbar region of the spine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate sociodemographic characteristics, assess the degree of disability patients experience due to lumbar pain syndrome, evaluate how many patients catastrophize their pain, and assess the effectiveness of the dry needling technique along with other physical therapy modalities in people with lumbar pain syndrome. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective study conducted from March 2022 to June 2022. 35 subjects of both sexes, aged 25-83, agreed to participate in the study. The subjects who enrolled were pre-dominantly suffering from chronic lumbar pain syndrome, and there were also a smaller number of subjects with acute lumbar pain syndrome. Results: The majority of respondents suffer from lumbar pain syndrome, which falls into the chronic category in 29 or 82.9% of cases. The mean score after the application of therapy on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scale was 22.0 ± 16.23% and was statistically significantly lower. The average score after the application of the therapy on the visual analog scale (VAS) was 3.06 ± 2.31 and is statistically significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared to the period before the therapy. Conclusion: Dry needling in combination with standard physical procedures led to statistically significant improvements. The mean score on the pain catastrophe scale, VAS, and ODI was significantly lower than in the pre-therapy period.

Oxidative stress often affects the structure and metabolism of lipids, which in the case of polyunsaturated free fatty acids (PUFAs) leads to a self-catalysed chain reaction of lipid peroxidation (LPO). The LPO of PUFAs leads to the formation of various aldehydes, such as malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), 4-hydroxyhexenal, and 4-oxo-2-nonenal. Among the reactive aldehydes, 4-HNE is the major bioactive product of LPO, which has a high affinity for binding to proteins. This review briefly discusses the available information on the applicability of assessment options for 4-HNE and its protein adducts determined by immunosorbent assay (the 4-HNE-ELISA) in patients with various diseases known to be associated with oxidative stress, LPO, and 4-HNE. Despite the differences in the protocols applied and the antibodies used, all studies confirmed the usefulness of the 4-HNE-ELISA for research purposes. Since different protocols and the antibodies used could give different values when applied to the same samples, the 4-HNE-ELISA should be combined with other complementary analytical methods to allow comparisons between the values obtained in patients and in healthy individuals. Despite large variations, the studies reviewed in this paper have mostly shown significantly increased levels of 4-HNE-protein adducts in the samples obtained from patients when compared to healthy individuals. As with any other biomarker studied in patients, it is preferred to perform not only a single-time analysis but measurements at multiple time points to monitor the dynamics of the occurrence of oxidative stress and the systemic response to the disease causing it. This is especially important for acute diseases, as individual levels of 4-HNE-protein adducts in blood can fluctuate more than threefold within a few days depending on the state of health, as was shown for the COVID-19 patients.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common in men and women of all ages in all sociodemographic strata of society. Pain and functional limitations caused by MSDs severely limit independence and quality of life and interfere with an individual’s ability to participate in family and social life and work. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the Kinesio Tape (KT) technique on pain intensity in patients with MSDs of the upper and/or lower extremities before, during, and after therapeutic treatment. Methods: The study involved 123 patients of both sexes and all ages diagnosed with MSDs of the upper and/or lower extremities. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, a control group and an experimental group. The control group received the standard therapy protocol for MSDs, while the experimental group received the standard therapy protocol for MSDs plus the KT technique on the treated segment. The brief pain inventory was used to assess pain intensity. Both groups of participants were tested with the research instruments at baseline, during and after therapeutic treatment. Results: The ability to walk due to pain was significantly less impaired in the control group than in participants in the experimental group, in whom pain significantly impeded walking (p < 0.001). Normal walking was significantly more impaired in the experimental group than in the control group (p = 0.001). Pain significantly impaired relationships with others in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Subjects in the experimental group showed a significant decrease in pain in all areas after therapeutic treatment with KT compared to subjects in the control group.

Introduction: Non-unions are fractures that do not heal properly, resulting in a false joint formation at the fracture site. This condition leads to major health issues and imposes a burden on national healthcare systems. The etiology of non-unions is still not fully understood; therefore, we aimed to identify potential systemic factors that may contribute to their formation. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional concomitant proteomic and metabolomic pilot study of blood plasma in patients with non-unions (N = 11) and compared them with patients with bone fracture in the normal active healing phase (N = 12). Results: We found five significantly upregulated proteins in the non-union group: immunoglobulin heavy variable 3–74, immunoglobulin lambda variable 2–18, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4, zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, and serum amyloid A-1 protein; and we found one downregulated protein: cystatin-C. The metabolomic study found differences in alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism pathways between two groups. Conclusions: The combined results of proteomic and metabolomic analyses suggest that the dysregulation of lipid metabolism may contribute to non-union formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This scoping review examines the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in glioblastoma (GBM), a predominant and aggressive brain tumor. Categorizing gene targets into distinct groups, this review explores their roles in cell cycle regulation, microenvironmental dynamics, interphase processes, and therapy resistance reduction. The complexity of CRISPR-Cas9 applications in GBM research is highlighted, providing unique insights into apoptosis, cell proliferation, and immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. The studies challenge conventional perspectives on specific genes, emphasizing the potential therapeutic implications of manipulating key molecular players in cell cycle dynamics. Exploring CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy in GBMs yields significant insights into the regulation of cellular processes, spanning cell interphase, renewal, and migration. Researchers, by precisely targeting specific genes, uncover the molecular orchestration governing cell proliferation, growth, and differentiation during critical phases of the cell cycle. The findings underscore the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in unraveling the complex dynamics of the GBM microenvironment, offering promising avenues for targeted therapies to curb GBM growth. This review also outlines studies addressing therapy resistance in GBM, employing CRISPR/Cas9 to target genes associated with chemotherapy resistance, showcasing its transformative potential in effective GBM treatments.

This systematic review assesses current molecular targeted therapies for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a challenging condition with limited treatment options. Using PRISMA methodology, 166 eligible studies, involving 2526 patients (61.49% male, 38.51% female, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.59/1), were analyzed. In laboratory studies, 52.52% primarily used human glioblastoma cell cultures (HCC), and 43.17% employed animal samples (mainly mice). Clinical participants ranged from 18 to 100 years, with 60.2% using combined therapies and 39.8% monotherapies. Mechanistic categories included Protein Kinase Phosphorylation (41.6%), Cell Cycle-Related Mechanisms (18.1%), Microenvironmental Targets (19.9%), Immunological Targets (4.2%), and Other Mechanisms (16.3%). Key molecular targets included Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) (10.8%), Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) (7.2%), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) (6.6%), and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MEK) (5.4%). This review provides a comprehensive assessment of molecular therapies for GBM, highlighting their varied efficacy in clinical and laboratory settings, ultimately impacting overall and progression-free survival in GBM management.

Introduction: Aging is a natural physiological process based on disturbances of homeostatic mechanisms and loss of adaptability that significantly affects life activities over time. The activities of daily living (ADL) in old age represent the relationship between the subjective characteristics of each individual, supplemented by previous life experiences, and objective socioeconomic factors that create a desirable living framework for people in the third age. The objectives of this research are to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of third-age people, to study the daily activities of third-age people, and to compare the daily life activities of third-age people living in a rural setting with those of third-age people living in an urban setting. Methods: The research was conducted in the area of urban and rural environment of Travnik municipality. One hundred elderly people (50 from urban and 50 from rural areas) were included in the research using the snowball method. The instrument used in our research is a standardized questionnaire on instrumental ADL (IADL) according to Lawton-Brody. The study was conducted during the period from the end of March to the end of May 2022. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in ADL in all eight domains. The mean IADL score in the total sample (n = 100) was 6.36 ± 1.78 and ranged from 1 to 8. The largest number of respondents had the highest IADL score of 8 in 41% of cases, while only one respondent had an IADL score of 1. Conclusion: The obtained results prove that the score of ADL is lower in people of third-age living in rural areas.

BackgroundSkeletal muscle is the main site for insulin-dependent glucose disposal. The hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (HIEC) is the gold standard for the assessment of insulin sensitivity (IS). We have previously shown that insulin sensitivity, measured by HIEC, varied widely among a group of 60 young healthy men with normoglycemia. The aim of this study was to correlate the proteomic profile of skeletal muscles to insulin sensitivity.MethodsMuscle biopsies from 16 subjects having the highest (M ≥ 13; n = 8, HIS) and lowest (M ¾ 6, n = 8, LIS) IS were obtained at baseline and during insulin infusion after stabilization of the blood glucose level and glucose infusion rate at the end of the HIEC. The samples were processed using a quantitative proteomic analysis approach.ResultsAt baseline, 924 proteins were identified in the HIS and LIS groups. Among the 924 proteins detected in both groups, three were suppressed and three were increased significantly in the LIS subjects compared with the HIS subjects. Following insulin infusion, 835 proteins were detected in both groups. Among the 835 proteins, two showed differential responsiveness to insulin; ATP5F1 protein was decreased, and MYLK2 was higher in the LIS group compared with that in the HIS group. Our data suggest that alteration in mitochondrial proteins and an increased number of proteins involved in fast-twitch fiber correlate to insulin sensitivity in healthy young Arab men.ConclusionsThese results suggest a change in a small number of differentially expressed proteins. A possible reason for this small change could be our study cohorts representing a homogeneous and healthy population. Additionally, we show differences in protein levels from skeletal muscle in low and high insulin sensitivity groups. Therefore, these differences may represent early events for the development of insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and type 2 diabetes.

The paper points out the leading role of the HR department in crisis situations, with special emphasis on the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the whole world in early 2020. Regardless of the intensity and form in which they occur, crises threaten the functioning and survival of organizations. The HR department is an important factor in the successful functioning of organizations and, in a period of crisis, this department takes a leading role in the process of crisis management and subsequent recovery. During COVID-19 pandemic, the HR department of every organization had to confront new challenges in order to protect the health of employees, while ensuring the normal functioning of organizations. In order to find out how this department dealt with crisis that occurred, empirical research with a specially designed questionnaire was conducted and filled in by 108 respondents from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia in 2020. The research results showed that HR department has taken a leading role in preserving the health and safety of employees, as well as in the process of adapting organizations to function in crisis conditions. According to results, the key activities carried out by the HR department in organizations are work from home (wherever the nature of the work allowed), flexible working hours, reorganization of the working space to achieve the required physical distance between employees, improved hygiene measures, etc. In addition, the research results showed that, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the HR departments took an active role in providing psychological assistance to employees to adapt to new conditions and ways of working.

Introduction: Lumbar pain syndrome (LPS) is defined as pain or discomfort localized between the edge of the twelfth rib and the lower gluteal region, with or without spread to the lower extremities, and, depending on the etiology and degree of symptomatology, can have negative consequences and be one of the main reasons for work disability and absenteeism worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of exercise therapy on the activities of daily living of a person with LPS. Methods: This prospective, longitudinal, and randomized controlled trial was conducted from June 2014 to June 2016. It included 200 subjects with symptoms of LPS, both sexes, aged 30 to 50 years, sedentary and standing occupations, randomized and equally divided into two groups: Examined (n = 100) and the control group (n = 100). In this study, the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire was used after clinical examination. Results: The percentage of disability according to the Oswestry disability index at the first examination was 31.78 ± 14.11% in the participants of the test group and 38.74 ± 17.48% in the participants of the control group (p = 0.002). After the second examination, the percentage of disability was 6.64 ± 3.15% in the test group and 23.92 ± 14.84% in the control group (p = 0.001). At the end of the examination, the percentage of disability was 2.36 ± 0.78% in the subjects of the test group and 13.82 ± 11.25% in the subjects of the control group (p = 0.001). A statistically significant difference was found in all three examinations, and the reduction in the percentage of disability was greater in the study group, p < 0.05. Conclusion: The research conducted showed that motion therapy procedures focused on achieving natural spinal mobility and improving trunk muscle strength are effective in reducing

Purpose: The main objective of the article is to analyse the phenomenon of insurance crime as a dysfunction of the insurance market in the light of surveys conducted among experts. In addition, the article formulates additional auxiliary objectives: 1. To determine the directions of actions in counteracting insurance crime; 2. To analyse the attitudes of the surveyed respondents towards the phenomenon of insurance crime. Design/methodology/approach: A free-text interview (also known as an in-depth ethnographic interview) was used as the main research method used to realise the objectives set. In addition, a critical analysis of the source literature and a comparative analysis were carried out to realise the set objectives. Between February and March 2024, five individual expert interviews were conducted with employees of insurance companies involved in the prevention of insurance crime. Findings: In presenting the most important results, it should be pointed out that there is a conviction among experts that the most important instruments for crime prevention are cooperation between insurance companies and the involvement of insurance market institutions. Experts in the fight against insurance crime mainly pointed out the difficulties in data exchange related, among other things, to data protection regulations or budget constraints, as well as the need for insurance crime education at the level of the police and prosecutor's office. Research limitations/implications: In the course of the research, it was only possible to reach a few experts involved in the prevention of insurance crime. This was related to the difficulty in reaching people who would agree to be interviewed as experts. Therefore, it should be noted that the results obtained represent only the subjective views of those who were interviewed as experts. Originality/value: The prepared article fills a research gap on insurance crime prevention. While conducting a literature review, the authors did not find a publication on research among experts dealing with insurance crime prevention. The results obtained may become the basis for further research attempts among a wider range of experts dealing with the issue under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation (LPO) play a role in physiology and pathology. The most studied LPO product with pleiotropic capabilities is 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). It is considered as an important mediator of cellular signaling processes and a second messenger of reactive oxygen species. The effects of 4-HNE are mainly attributed to its adduction with proteins. Whereas the Michael adducts thus formed are preferred in an order of potency of cysteine > histidine > lysine over Schiff base formation, it is not known which proteins are the preferred targets for 4-HNE under what physiological or pathological conditions. In this review, we briefly discuss the methods used to identify 4-HNE–protein adducts, the progress of mass spectrometry in deciphering the specific protein targets, and their biological relevance, focusing on the role of 4-HNE protein adducts in the adaptive response through modulation of the NRF2/KEAP1 pathway and ferroptosis.

Recent studies have linked gut microorganism composition and chronic urticaria (CU); however, the underlying mechanisms responsible for this connection are unknown. Since the human immune system is in homeostasis with microbiota, and the composition of the microbiome regulates the development and function of the immune system, it is likely that an alteration of microbiota components (a dysbiosis) could influence the course of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), including disease severity, patient quality of life and treatment outcome. To date, several studies have identified changes in the gut microbiota composition of patients with CSU, though only a few have exhibited metabolic abnormalities associated with gut dysbiosis. The studies on CSU patients predominantly showed that the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria was decreased (Firmicutes and Bacteroides), while that of opportunistic bacteria was increased (Enterobacteria and Proteobacteria). In addition, serum metabolome analysis revealed that gut microbiota-associated alterations in unsaturated fatty acids and the butanoate metabolism pathway may play a role in CSU. These findings are potentially associated with inflammation mediated by the imbalance of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines, which might contribute to CSU pathogenesis. Further research in this field could improve clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches to patients with CSU. By applying new knowledge on gut microbial communities and metabolomics, future CSU therapies could modify the microbiota composition using agents such as probiotics or other similar agents, which, in combination with current standard therapies, could hopefully lead to a reduction in symptoms and an improved quality of life for CSU patients.

An oxidative degradation product of the polyunsaturated fatty acids, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), is of particular interest in cancer research due to its concentration-dependent pleiotropic activities affecting cellular antioxidants, metabolism, and growth control. Although an increase in oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation was already associated with prostate cancer progression a few decades ago, the knowledge of the involvement of 4-HNE in prostate cancer tumorigenesis is limited. This study investigated the appearance of 4-HNE-protein adducts in prostate cancer tissue by immunohistochemistry using a genuine 4-HNE monoclonal antibody. Plasma samples of the same patients and samples of the healthy controls were also analyzed for the presence of 4-HNE-protein adducts, followed by metabolic profiling using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS and GC-EI-Q-MS. Finally, the analysis of the metabolic pathways affected by 4-HNE was performed. The obtained results revealed the absence of 4-HNE-protein adducts in prostate carcinoma tissue but increased 4-HNE-protein levels in the plasma of these patients. Metabolomics revealed a positive association of different long-chain and medium-chain fatty acids with the presence of prostate cancer. Furthermore, while linoleic acid positively correlated with the levels of 4-HNE-protein adducts in the blood of healthy men, no correlation was obtained for cancer patients indicating altered lipid metabolism in this case. The metabolic pathway of unsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis emerged as significantly affected by 4-HNE. Overall, this is the first study linking 4-HNE adduction to plasma proteins with specific alterations in the plasma metabolome of prostate cancer patients. This study revealed that increased 4-HNE plasma protein adducts could modulate the unsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis pathway. It is yet to be determined if this is a direct result of 4-HNE or whether they are produced by the same underlying mechanisms. Further mechanistic studies are needed to grasp the biological significance of the observed changes in prostate cancer tumorigenesis.

Regular exercise has many health benefits, among which is a significant reduction of cardiovascular risk. Although many beneficial effects of exercise are well described, the exact mechanisms by which exercise confers cardiovascular benefits are yet to be fully understood. In the current study, we have used high resolution mass spectrometry to determine the proteomic responses of the heart to exercise training in mice. The impact of exercise-induced oxidative stress on modifications of cardiomyocyte proteins with lipid peroxidation biomarker 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) was examined as well. Fourteen male mice were randomized into the control (sedentary) group and the exercise group that was subjected to a swim exercise training program for 5 days a week for 5 months. Proteins were isolated from the left ventricular tissue, fractionated and digested for shotgun proteomics. Peptides were separated by nanoliquid chromatography and analyzed on an Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometer using high-energy collision–induced dissociation and electron transfer dissociation fragmentation. We identified distinct ventricular protein signatures established in response to exercise training. Comparative proteomics identified 23 proteins that were upregulated and 37 proteins that were downregulated with exercise, in addition to 65 proteins that were identified only in ventricular tissue samples of exercised mice. Most of the proteins specific to exercised mice are involved in respiratory electron transport and/or implicated in glutathione conjugation. Additionally, 10 proteins were found to be modified with 4-HNE. This study provides new data on the effects of exercise on the cardiac proteome and contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on the heart.

Introduction: Falls in the elderly population are one of the main geriatric syndromes and a clear indicator of the fragility of the elderly population. Falls are a leading cause of death and injury in the elderly, resulting in disability and immobility requiring ongoing medical care and high treatment costs. Difficulties in performing daily life activities increase with age due to decline in physical and cognitive functioning. Research objectives: To assess the ability to perform daily life activities, to analyze the risks of falling in elderly people. Methods: 100 people over the age of 65 participated in the research. The research instruments were a questionnaire for the assessment of daily life activities - Barthel Scale / Index (BI) and a questionnaire on screening assessments for the evaluation of falls. Results: The Barthel index shows that the majority of respondents perform daily life activities without problems. Intrinsic factors prove that the median score was 12 with an interquartile range of 7 to 15, which represents the risk of falls in people of the third age. Extrinsic risk factors for falls in people of the third age indicate a median of 4 with an interquartile range of 2 to 5, which represents the risk for falls in older people. The most influential risk factors for falling in our survey are difficulty walking upstairs, incorrect or insufficient use of orthopedic aids, feeling of instability when standing up for the first time, complaining of weakness or reduced sensation in one or the other leg, feeling of low self-confidence, instability when walking and fear from falling. Conclusion: Analyzing the risk factors for a fall, we obtained the result that there is an evident risk for a fall. Based on the estimated risk of falling, the most influential risk factors that affect the performance of daily life activities of elderly people were singled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Various exercise programs have a positive effect on reducing the risk of falls in elderly people. Consequences of falls include fractures and injuries, reduced quality of life, fear of falling, loss of selfconfidence, and self-limited activity leading to reduced physical function and social interactions. Activity limitation impairs physical capacity and increases the risk of further falls. Falls are the primary cause of injury of the elderly, which can result in serious consequences such as fractures, head injuries, and even death, placing a significant burden on the public health system. Annually, between 28 and 35% of individuals aged 65 and over experience a fall worldwide, with rates reaching 32% - 42% among those aged 70 and over. Therefore, preventing falls has become a key global goal for the older adult population. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of different exercise programs in preventing falls in people of the third age. Methods: The search included an overview of the relevant databases: Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, Research Gate. The systematic literature review included 12 different types of research. Results: Through a scientific review of the literature, the results of the significance and effectiveness of various programs of Otago exercises, Tai Chi, and Frenkle exercises in the prevention of falls in people of the third age are presented. The greatest effect is realized in the improvement of static and dynamic balance and the fear of falling. Conclusion: These studies show that different exercise programs have a huge and significant impact on reducing the risk of falls in older people. It is a long-term and continuous method of reducing the risk of falls in the elderly through exercise. Physical exercise is effective in improving components of balance, lower extremity strength, mobility, and reducing falls and fall-related injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity and chronic oxidative stress, often being associated with each other in a vicious circle, are important factors of chronic diseases. Although it was usually considered to accompany aging and wealth, global trends show the increase in obesity among children even in Third World countries. Being manifested by an imbalance between energy consumption and food intake, obesity is characterized by an excessive or abnormal fat accumulation, impaired redox homeostasis and metabolic changes often associated with the self-catalyzed lipid peroxidation generating 4-hydroxynonenal, pluripotent bioactive peroxidation product of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Conservative methods targeting obesity produced only modest and transient results in the treatment of morbid obesity. Therefore, in recent years, surgery, primarily bariatric, became an attractive treatment for morbid obesity. Since adipose tissue is well known as a stress organ with pronounced endocrine functions, surgery results in redox balance and metabolic improvement of the entire organism. The source of bioactive lipids and lipid-soluble antioxidants, and the complex pathophysiology of lipid peroxidation should thus be considered from the aspects of personalized and integrative biomedicine to treat obesity in an appropriate way.

Introduction: Active aging is a process of optimizing of opportunities for health, participation, and safety to improve the quality of life as people age. Therapeutic exercises to strengthen muscles are especially important for the elderly, and the results of such exercises are positive in people with functional limitations. The aim of the study was to assess functional mobility of people in the 3rd age of life after programmed therapeutic exercises. Methods: The prospective study included two groups of 130 respondents over the age of 65 who came to the “Centre for Healthy Aging” in Novo Sarajevo in the period from September 1, 2014, until March 1, 2015. Using the time up and go test (TUG), the basic functional mobility was assessed and it represents the minimum time the respondent needs to get up from the armchair, walk a distance of three meters, turn around, and sit back in the armchair. We tested the respondents at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the study, which lasted for 6 months. Results: Analysis of the gender structure of the control and the test groups, using the Chi-square test, found a statistically significant difference, and in the test group, there were more female subjects than in the control group, χ2 = 50.620; p = 0.001. Analysis of the functional mobility of the respondents of the test groups using the TUG at the end of the study found that the respondents of the test group needed statistically significantly less time to perform the test (8.84 seconds) compared to the control group (9.59 seconds) and test Group B (9.41 seconds), F = 4.711; p = 0.041. Conclusion: Programmed therapeutic exercise leads to a significant improvement in functional mobility of persons in the 3rd age of life.

Introduction: Cervical pain syndrome (CPS), or pain in the neck, is defined as a set of symptoms that limit performing movements in the upper part of the back and last more than 1 day. When the mentioned symptoms last for more than 12 weeks, we talk about chronic CPS. It often represents the condition that results from disability. It is associated with poor posture, work in sitting position, stress, and long-lasting and repetitive movements. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of physical therapy on the degree of disability, pain intensity, and daily life and work activities of persons with chronic CPS. Methods: The research was conducted in the health spa center “Reumal” Fojnica from June 2020 until July 2020. It included 50 subjects of both genders, more than 18 years old, and of all occupations, treated with physiotherapy procedures (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, magnetotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound, and kinesitherapy in the form of McKenzie exercises). In addition, a pre- and post-treatment study analyzed the condition of the respondents at the first examination and the control examination after completion of treatment. Results: By analyzing the results, we established that of the total number of respondents, 74% were female, and the average age was 57.36 years. At the end of the study, the degree of disability caused by neck pain was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than the degree of disability before the therapy. Discomfort caused by symptoms of CPS that occurred and interference with work before the therapy was significantly lower (p < 0.05) after the treatment program. Therapeutic procedures have reduced the pain intensity and improved the activities of everyday life. Conclusion: The treatment with physical therapy procedures effectively reduces the degree of disability and pain intensity and improves people’s daily life and work activities with chronic CPS.