A combined therapy of Meropenem-ZnO-nanoparticles efficiently eliminates carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) biofilms, with reduced nephrotoxicity (in vitro).

In response to the World Health Organization's (WHO) research agenda of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human health, this study appraised the antibacterial and antibiofilm synergistic activity of meropenem and ZnO-NPs combination against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of meropenem in combination was found to be approximately 1/12 of its MIC alone. The results of microtiter dilution assay showed that the combination was more efficient in reducing the biofilm biomass than meropenem alone or ZnO-NPs alone.

Can triad forestry reconcile Europe's biodiversity and forestry strategies? A critical evaluation of forest zoning.

Balancing increasing demand for wood products while also maintaining forest biodiversity is a paramount challenge. Europe's Biodiversity and Forest Strategies for 2030 attempt to address this challenge. Together, they call for strict protection of 10% of land area, including all primary and old growth forests, increasing use of ecological forestry, and less reliance on monocultural plantations.

Factors associated with the Initial Vascular Access Choice and Median Utilization Time in Hemodialysis Patients.

The aim of the study was to elucidate predictors associated with the initial choice of vascular access (VA) type. The secondary aim was to determine the initial VA's median utilization time and the factors governing it. This prospective cohort study included 387 hemodialysis (HD) patients admitted to the Clinic for Hemodialysis, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, in consecutive order between January 2006 and December 2016.

Management of Severe Pyogenic Spinal Infections: The 2SICK Study by the EANS Spine Section.

Background Context: Spondylodiscitis management presents significant clinical challenges, particularly in critically ill patients, where the risks and benefits of surgical intervention must be carefully balanced. The optimal timing of surgery in this context remains a subject of debate.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of early surgery versus delayed surgery or conservative management in critically ill patients with de novo pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Exploring the Plant Growth-Promotion Properties of Rhizospheric and Endophytic Bacteria Associated with L. in Serpentine Soil.

Serpentine soils are characterized as a unique environment with low nutrient availability and high heavy metal concentrations, often hostile to many plant species. Even though these unfavorable conditions hinder the growth of various plants, particular vegetation with different adaptive mechanisms thrives undisturbed. One of the main contributors to serpentine adaptation represents serpentine bacteria with plant growth-promoting properties that assemble delicate interactions with serpentine plants.

Identification of deleterious non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the mRNA decay activator ZFP36L2.

More than 4,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) variants have been identified in the human gene, however only a few have been studied in the context of protein function. The tandem zinc finger domain of ZFP36L2, an RNA binding protein, is the functional domain that binds to its target mRNAs. This protein/RNA interaction triggers mRNA degradation, controlling gene expression.

The Efficacy of Various Orthodontic Appliances in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Objective: The goal of this review was to determine the effectiveness of different types of monobloc and bibloc mandibular advancement device (MAD) devices in the treatment of all forms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), by reviewing the available literature.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, ResearchGate, NCBI and Google Scholar databases. The search included articles in English, published in the inclusive time period from 2000 to 2024.

Application of Convolutional Neural Networks for Determining Gender and Age in Forensic Dentistry.

Background Determining human identity has always been important in forensic investigations. Forensic dentistry has developed significantly having a key role in determining gender and age. One of the methods that is important in forensic dentistry is the analysis of orthopantomograms, which are X-rays of the complete upper and lower jaw, including the surrounding anatomical structures.

Intrinsic Factors Behind the Long-COVID: V. Immunometabolic Disorders.

The complex link between COVID-19 and immunometabolic diseases demonstrates the important interaction between metabolic dysfunction and immunological response during viral infections. Severe COVID-19, defined by a hyperinflammatory state, is greatly impacted by underlying chronic illnesses aggravating the cytokine storm caused by increased levels of Pro-inflammatory cytokines. Metabolic reprogramming, including increased glycolysis and altered mitochondrial function, promotes viral replication and stimulates inflammatory cytokine production, contributing to illness severity.

Complex patterns of WNV evolution: a focus on the Western Balkans and Central Europe.

Introduction: West Nile Virus, an emerging zoonotic pathogen, has been circulating in Serbia for over a decade, with its first detection in mosquitoes in 2010. Since then, the virus has led to increasing cases in both animals and humans, peaking in 2018 with 415 human cases and 36 fatalities. This study aimed to explore the phylogenetic relationships between previously sequenced West Nile virus strains from Serbia and those sequenced in this study, while also identifying possible virulence factors.

Therapeutic Potential of N-acetylcysteine and Glycine in Reducing Pulmonary Injury in Diabetic Rats.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is associated with systemic complications, including the development of pulmonary injury, characterized mainly by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue. This process is driven by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, both caused and exacerbated by hyperglycemia. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glycine, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, offer potential therapeutic benefits in mitigating diabetes-induced lung injury.

Assessing Executive Functions: Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Yellow-Red Test in Bosnian Elementary School Students.

Executive functions (EF) have been significantly correlated with many important participant characteristics, including education, behavior, and overall health. Assessing EF in children is particularly important, as doing so can help clinicians develop programs for EF remediation. However, there is a limited understanding of comprehensive performance-based EF assessment tools for children.

Glucocorticoids influence on rat hematological parameters and catalase activity.

In this study, the impact of glucocorticoid, betamethasone dipropionate on enzyme activity and its effects on hematological parameters was investigated. The immobilized catalase, crucial for cell oxidative stress response via hydrogen peroxide reduction, exhibited a robust electrocatalytic response, maintaining its biological activity. The inhibition kinetics of catalase, as determined by electrocatalytic methods and expressed using Lineweaver-Burke diagrams, revealed an uncompetitive type of inhibition with altered Imax and Km in the presence of a range of betamethasone dipropionate concentrations.

Elucidating the uptake and trafficking of nanostructured lipid carriers as delivery systems for miRNA.

Cationic nanostructured lipid carriers (cNLCs) represent promising non-viral carriers for nucleic acids, such as miRNAs, forming stable self-assembled miRNA complexes due to electrostatic interactions. Prepared by high-pressure homogenization, cNLC formulations, both with and without Nile Red dye demonstrated stable particle sizes in the range of 100-120 nm and positive surface charges (>30 mV), which are necessary for effective cellular uptake. The miRNA complexes formed at mass ratios of 1:2.

The Effects of Intensity, Exposure Time, and Distance of Polymerization Light on Vickers Microhardness and Temperature Rise of Conventional Resin-Based Composite.

(1) Background: This study investigates the effects of curing light intensity, exposure time, and distance on the Vickers microhardness (VMH), hardness bottom-to-top ratio (HR), and temperature rise (TR) of conventional dental resin-based composite (RBC). (2) Materials and Methods: Specimens of one conventional RBC (Tetric EvoCeram, Ivoclar Vivadent) were cured with 12 different curing protocols (CPs), created with three different light intensities (Quartz Tungsten Halogen 300 mW/cm, LED 650 mW/cm, LED 1100 mW/cm), two exposure times (20 and 40 s), and two distances of curing tip (0 and 8 mm). The VMH of top (VMH-T) and bottom (VMH-B) surfaces was measured.

The Trend of Changes in Adiponectin, Resistin, and Adiponectin-Resistin Index Values in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with the Development of Metabolic Syndrome.

: This study aimed to investigate the novel adiponectin-resistin (AR) index as a predictor of the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MetS is common in T2DM and increases cardiovascular risk. Adiponectin and resistin, adipokines with opposing effects on insulin sensitivity and inflammation, make the AR index a potential marker for metabolic risk.

Comparative Diagnostic Value of 18F-FDG-PET-CT and Intraoperative Examination in Cervical Cancer Staging.

: The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of 18F-FDG-PET-CT in preoperative staging of cervical cancer, focusing on determining surgical operability and exploring the correlation between its quantitative parameters and clinicopathological characteristics. : This retrospective study included 62 cervical cancer patients treated at the Department of Gynecology, Clinic for Operative Oncology at the Institute of Oncology Vojvodina between January 2016 and January 2020, where preoperative clinical examinations and 18F-FDG-PET-CT were performed to assess the extent of cancer, followed by intraoperative and pathohistological examinations of surgically removed specimens to provide a comprehensive evaluation. : The mean tumor size measured by 18F-FDG-PET-CT was slightly greater than that obtained through clinical examination (26.

Alternative Splicing: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Hematological Malignancies.

Leukemia represents the most prevalent malignancy in children, constituting 30% of childhood cancer cases, with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) being particularly heterogeneous. This paper explores the role of alternative splicing in leukemia, highlighting its significance in cancer development and progression. Aberrant splicing is often driven by mutations in splicing-factor genes, which can lead to the production of variant proteins that contribute to oncogenesis.