Search

As healthcare workers run a high and constant occupational risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through exposure to biological material, vaccination is mandatory as well as the monitoring of antibody levels one to two months after complete immunisation. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to determine HBV vaccine coverage of 200 primary and secondary healthcare workers (100 each) from Šabac, Serbia and their blood anti-HBs titre. We also wanted to identify factors that could predict the titre. Anti-HBV vaccination covered all participants, of whom 89.5 % were fully vaccinated, and 85 % had a protective antibody titre. We found a statistically significant association between antibody titre and the number of received vaccine doses, chronic jaundice, autoimmune disease, and cancer in our participants. The fact that 15 % did not achieve the protective antibody titre confirms the necessity of its control after immunisation, which is not routinely carried out in most countries, Serbia included. It is, therefore, necessary to develop a detailed strategy for monitoring vaccination and serological status of healthcare workers in order to improve their safety at work. An important role should also be given to continuous education of healthcare workers from the beginning of schooling to the end of their professional career.

The pharmacokinetics of meropenem are significantly altered in critically ill patients. A population pharmacokinetic study was designed to estimate typical values of meropenem clearance in critically ill patients and evaluate potential factors of influence.

Biocompatible titanium alloys possess a balanced set of improved mechanical properties and good biocompatibility, making them crucial materials in biomedical engineering. There is an increasing demand for these new alloys with superior properties. Furthermore, there is a need to understand the relationship between parameters and properties, and machine learning is being applied to make the whole process cheaper and more efficient. The aim of this study is to develop accurate machine learning models for predicting mechanical properties: modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and yield strength, specifically using the Extra Trees Regressor model. Compared to the previous results, an improvement of the elastic modulus prediction model was observed after the inclusion of data on heat treatment parameters and Poisson’s ratio, as seen in the reduced MAE from 7.402 to 7.160 GPa. Models were built to predict the values of tensile strength and yield strength, where iron and tin were shown as most important features respectively, while the correlation coefficients for the test set were 0.893 and 0.868.

Smjernice međunarodnih stručnih društava ukazuju da je povišena koncentracija lipoproteina(a) [Lp(a)] u krvi dugoročni neovisni čimbenik rizika za razvitak aterosklerotske kardiovaskularne bolesti (ASKVB), kao i za kalcifikacijsku stenozu aortnih zalistaka. Cilj je ovog članka koji je rezultat konsenzusa nacionalnih stručnjaka iz tog područja predstaviti najnovije spoznaje o dijagnostici i sadašnjim mogućnostima liječenja bolesnika s povišenom koncentracijom Lp(a) u krvi koje su u ovom trenutku skromne, ali i naznačiti buduće mogućnosti liječenja koje su na pomolu. Zaključak koji se može postaviti na temelju dosadašnjih spoznaja upućuje da postoji neposredna korist za bolesnike u mjerenju koncentracije Lp(a), čak i ako potpuno učinkovito farmakološko liječenje još nije dostupno. Mjerenje Lp(a) olakšava bržu i pouzdaniju identifikaciju bolesnika s visokim kardiovaskularnim rizikom i bolje upravljanje tim rizikom, odnosno upućuje na potrebu intenzivnijeg smanjivanja i liječenja ostalih čimbenika rizika za ASKVB ako je Lp(a) značajnije povećan. Izražavanje koncentracije Lp(a) preporučuje se u nmol/L izmjerene metodama kalibriranim kalibratorima čija je koncentracija izražena u nmol/L.

Kardiovaskularne bolesti (KVB) su vodeći uzrok pobola i smrtnosti diljem svijeta pa tako i u Hrvatskoj. Budući da je u većine bolesnika prisutno više poremećaja i bolesti kojima su u podlozi u najvećem dijelu isti čimbenici rizika, te kako je nužno svakom bolesniku pristupati kao osobi sa svim poremećajima, danas se govori o novoj paradigmi – kardio-reno-metaboličkom (KRM) sindromu i kardio-reno-metaboličkom zdravlju, u što je neizostavno uključeno i zdravlje mozga. Povišen sistolički arterijski tlak, LDL-kolesterol, pušenje, debljina, šećerna bolest, oštećena bubrežna funkcija, tj. kronična bubrežna bolest, u podlozi kojih je nedovoljno tjelesne aktivnosti, nezdrava prehrana s prekomjernim unosom kuhinjske soli zajedno s onečišćenjem zraka vodeći su uzroci ukupnoga pobola i smrtnosti od KRM bolesti, a napose smrtnosti od KVB. Stručnjaci iz raznih područja ključnih za KRM zdravlje napisali su ovaj dokument s ciljem da bude sastavni dio nacionalnog plana za prevenciju kroničnih nezaraznih bolesti s fokusom na KVB koji treba postati obvezujući, a utemeljen na postojećim smjernicama stručnih društava. Naglašena je važnost pravovremenog probira i postavljanja dijagnoze, no težište je stavljeno i na nužnost organiziranja i provođenja mjera primordijalne i primarne prevencije. Istaknuta je važnost multidisciplinarnoga pristupa i trajnog obrazovanja opće populacije i bolesnika kako bi se promijenile loše životne navike i povećala ustrajnost uzimanja lijekova, ali isto tako podizanje zdravstvene pismenosti zdravstvenih radnika, napose liječnika kako bi se smanjila klinička inercija.

Somatic cells (SCs) in milk, which include epithelial cells from the gland and blood cells, are present in milk during the normal course of milking. Increase in SCs is found in mastitis-affected dairy cows and can be a useful indicator for estimating mammary health and milk quality worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was a pattern of somatic cell count (SCC) in mastitis-affected cows on three different farms. The study was conducted on three dairy farms of high milk-producing cattle breeds in Vojvodina during 2021. Samples were taken from 15 cows from each farm, all of the cows being diagnosed with clinical and subclinical mastitis. The SCC in milk samples was determined by the microscopic reference method according to the standard (SRPS EN ISO 13366-1:2010) of the Institute for Standardization of Serbia. The value of SCC was considered as high if >200.000 cells/mL, as this is the threshold indicating secretion disorder. In order to examine the differences between the observed three farms, one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied, while a post-hoc LSD test was used for determination of statistically significant differences between the SCC in cows on three different farms. The mean values of the SCC on Farms 1, 2 and 3 were 7,055,266.67, 2,619,893.33 and 552,000 cells/mL, respectively. Based on the results, a statistically significant difference (p

The objective of the present study was to characterize the chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) tannin product, Farmatan Plus® (Tanin Sevnica d.d., Sevnica, Slovenia), and to subsequently examine its effects on the blood metabolic parameters of fattening lambs, particularly in relation to their health status. Thirty lambs were randomly divided into three treatment groups: a control group without added tannin and two groups that received 9.46 g of the tannin product/kg of the diet dry matter (DM) and 18.87 g of the tannin product/kg of the diet DM. Metabolic parameters such as contents of total protein, globulin, urea, and liver enzymes (AST and GGT) were measured over a trial period of 60 days to evaluate the effects of tannin supplementation. This study represents the first in-depth characterization of Farmatan Plus®, demonstrating its richness in bioactive compounds such as vescalin and castalagin. The results showed no significant adverse effects on lamb health, with all parameters remaining within normal physiological ranges (p > 0.05). These results support the safe inclusion of chestnut tannins in the diet of lambs and underline their potential as a functional feed additive that can positively influence the health and growth performance of ruminants.

This study, conducted at two university-based infectious disease clinics, included 216 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The primary objective was to assess the positive and negative predictive values, sensitivity, and specificity of achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) at 4 weeks compared to 12 weeks post-therapy. The results demonstrated a maximum sensitivity of 100% for achieving SVR at 12 weeks after reaching SVR at 4 weeks for all analyzed genotypes, except for genotype 1b treated with EBR/GZR therapy, where the specificity was 75%. Additionally, younger age and less advanced liver fibrosis were identified as independent predictors of achieving a sustained virological response at both 4 and 12 weeks. The significant normalization of various biochemical parameters was observed after treatment, indicating an overall improvement in liver function. This study suggests that shortening the monitoring period to 4 weeks might be effective for younger patients without significant fibrosis, potentially reducing loss to follow-up, which is a critical issue in HCV treatment. These findings align with the “test and treat” approach. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and incorporate them into official guidelines, which could simplify and enhance the effectiveness of HCV treatment protocols, aiding global efforts to eliminate HCV as a public health issue by 2030.

Effective antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is crucial for combating the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in veterinary medicine. Educational programs targeting veterinary students can play a significant role in shaping their knowledge and attitudes toward antimicrobial use and stewardship. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of educational programs on the knowledge and attitudes regarding AMS among veterinary students in Serbia. A structured educational program on AMS was implemented for veterinary students at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad. Pre- and post-symposium assessments were conducted to measure changes in students’ knowledge and attitudes. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and focus groups, to gather quantitative and qualitative data. The study resulted in significant short-term improvements in students’ knowledge of AMS principles and their attitudes toward responsible antimicrobial use. Participants demonstrated a better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance and the importance of adhering to stewardship guidelines. Qualitative feedback indicated increased awareness of the consequences of inappropriate antimicrobial use and a stronger commitment to applying stewardship practices in their future careers. The educational programs effectively enhanced immediate veterinary students’ knowledge and attitudes regarding AMS. These findings underscore the importance of integrating targeted educational programs into veterinary curricula to promote responsible antimicrobial use and combat resistance in veterinary practice.

Prvić Island (Kvarner area in the NE channel part of the Adriatic Sea) is a part of the Natura 2000 protected area network. A recent tombolo is located on the SW coast of Prvić Island, and much larger submerged tombolos are located on the shoal towards the south. Both phenomena are unique to the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea. The inland part of the tombolo was surveyed using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, and a 3D point cloud was created using Structure from Motion with Multi-View Stereo photogrammetry. The body of the talus breccia behind the tombolo has a triangular form. Large collapsed rocky blocks form the cape vertex. This cape is in a state of equilibrium in the present oceanographic conditions but might be eroded due to predicted rises in sea level. The submarine zone was explored using scuba-diving equipment and Remotely Operated Vehicles. A large triangle-shaped shoal consists of flysch. Parallel vertical sandstone layers that look like artificially built walls are more than a hundred metres long. The carbonate breccia is located at the end of the shallow zone. The conditions for the final formation of the submerged shoal were created during the sea level stagnation in the Holocene.

IntroductionReading is an important academic skill. Children who exhibit reading difficulties are more likely to experience various negative professional and personal consequences. To successfully identify children with reading problems as early as possible, one must first understand how reading skills can be mastered, as well as the course of reading development in children with typical reading skills from the beginning of their formal reading instruction. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the influence of decoding and language comprehension on reading comprehension ability. In addition, this study aimed to determine types of profiles among poor readers and estimate their frequency in the study sample.MethodsBased on the Simple View of Reading model, we developed decoding, language comprehension, and reading comprehension tasks. Participants included 100 typical readers (TR) and 95 poor readers (PR) in the second grade in Croatian schools. Phonemic awareness, phonological working memory, and rapid automatized naming tasks were used to test underlying abilities of decoding skills in both groups of participants.ResultsAs expected, PRs showed significantly lower performance on all variables than TRs. The correlations between decoding, language comprehension and reading comprehension are significant in the PR group. The linear regression analysis showed that language comprehension was a significant predictor of reading comprehension for TRs, while decoding and language comprehension were significant predictors of reading comprehension for PRs. The profiling of reading difficulties revealed five different profiles, the most common of which was a mixed reading difficulty, i.e., difficulties in both decoding and language comprehension.DiscussionIn line with theoretical expectations, success in reading comprehension in TRs at the end of the second grade depends mainly on language comprehension. To achieve this complex cognitive skill, PRs‘ language comprehension alone is not sufficient, so they still rely on their decoding skills. Among the poor readers, there was a high prevalence of children with decoding problems (i.e., three out of five profiles). Teachers should be able to identify and monitor decoding difficulties in children, since these difficulties are associated with noticeable manifestations, unlike those associated with comprehension difficulties.

The paper deals with the issue of the position of credit institutions when pre-bankruptcy or bankruptcy proceedings are opened against the debtor of the credit institution, and thus the credit institution acquires the position of a separate creditor. The institute of the separate creditor was mainly analyzed according to the latest amendments to the Bankruptcy Act. It is also emphasized in which segments it’s position has changed and to what extent. Previously, the very concept of a credit institution and the peculiarities of their operations in the Republic of Croatia were explained, and finally, authors analyze the case when a compulsory liquidation procedure is opened against a credit institution.

with the introduction of the euro as the domestic currency, economies have faced inflationary pressures caused by price convergence towards higher levels. During the last period of significant negative shocks from the environment, by entering the euro area, the negative effects of the likelihood of inflation caused by the introduction of the euro may be absent.

Student analytics dashboards are identified as a tool to bridge the gap in interaction between students and teachers, as well as to help students more efficiently monitor their own progress. This research aims to explore the connections between progress tracking of students' work in the course, their learning experience, engagement, and final grades. In total, 77 students in a blended course covering economics and informatics were involved in the study. Progress through course materials was tracked using conditional activities, and students' progress was measured using self-assessment quizzes and badges. Results indicated a strong positive correlation between progress indicators and engagement, as well as between progress indicators and learning experience. A small correlation was found between progress indicators and final course grades.

Information on asplenic Lyme borreliosis (LB) patients with erythema migrans (EM) is lacking. We compared the course and outcome of 26 EM episodes in 24 post-trauma splenectomized patients (median age 51 years) diagnosed at a single clinical center in Slovenia during 1994–2023 with those of 52 age- and sex-matched patients with EM but with no history of splenectomy. All patients were followed for one year. A comparison of pre-treatment characteristics revealed that EM in splenectomized patients was of shorter duration before diagnosis (4 vs. 8 days, p = 0.034) with a smaller EM diameter (10.5 vs. 14 cm, p = 0.046), and more frequently fulfilled criteria for disseminated LB (3/26, 11.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.034). Treatment failure occurred in 5/26 (19.2%) EM episodes in splenectomized patients versus 0/52 in non-splenectomized patients (p = 0.003). The five treatment failure cases were retreated with antibiotic regimens used to treat EM and had complete resolution of all symptoms/signs. In conclusion, our study showed that splenectomized adult patients with EM differ somewhat in presentation and more often have treatment failure compared with non-splenectomized patients with EM.

Introduction: Integrated care of chronic patients improves quality of their management, but there is scarce evidence of its implementation in different healthcare settings. With this article, we wanted to determine the level of integrated care implementation in the management of T2D (diabetes) and HT (hypertension) in three different settings: Belgium, Slovenia, and Cambodia. Methods: This was an observational study with integrated approach. It was conducted in primary health care organisations in three countries. In each primary health care organisation, we aimed to include primary care workers that worked with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and hypertension (HT) patients. Data was collected with the Integrated Care Package (ICP) grid (consisting of six elements: identification, treatment, health education, self-management, caregiver collaboration, and care organisation). Results: ICP is almost completely implemented without major differences within Slovenia. There is a considerable variability across practice types in Belgium. Implementation is constrained by health system resources in Cambodia. Some elements, especially identification, are better implemented then others, across health systems. Conclusion: Countries can enhance integrated care for chronic diseases by implementing central policies, standardized protocols, and local adaptation, addressing resource constraints, promoting systematic screening and health education, and providing training for healthcare workers, tailored to community needs, to improve patient outcomes and healthcare delivery.

Lockdown measures to control disease transmission were implemented at the start of the COVID-19 era, worsening the already existing sedentary lifestyle. Reduced physical activity (PA) and unhealthy eating habits have a negative impact on mental health in chronically ill patients, including diabetes patients. Mental illness, on the other hand, encourages a sedentary lifestyle, exacerbating all components of metabolic syndrome. While well-controlled diabetic patients with an HbA1c of less than 7% had a less severe clinical presentation and COVID-19 mortality rates, the favorable effect of PA on immunomodulation and immunoregulation should not be neglected. Given recent data indicating that a sedentary lifestyle is the third independent risk factor for COVID-19 complications and death (after advanced age and organ transplant), including regular PA has never been more vital. Since PA has a major impact on both glycemic control and mental health, implementing structured home-based activity programs could improve glycemic control and psychological well-being, hence positively impacting COVID-19 outcomes.