BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are associated with poor outcomes. Knowledge about the underlying pathophysiology is scarce, and it is hypothesized that they are related to either the ICH itself, adverse effects of treatment, or the activity of the underlying small vessel disease (SVD) causing the ICH. We investigated their association with time point of MRI acquisition and underlying SVD type and burden. METHODS In this Swiss multicenter ICH cohort, we enrolled patients who underwent MRI within 15 days after SVD-associated ICH. The primary outcome was presence of DWI lesions. Time point of MRI was investigated as a continuous (days) and dichotomized (hyperacute = MRI on admission vs subacute = MRI during follow-up) variable. We measured cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and SVD severity using MRI burden scores and defined the type of SVD using CADMUS classification and Boston 2.0 criteria. At 3 months, we assessed functional outcome using the modified Rankin Scale score, recurrent ICH, and ischemic stroke. RESULTS We included 644 patients (median age 73 years, interquartile range [IQR] 64-79, median SVD burden 1 IQR 1-2; median CAA burden 2 IQR 1-3; 208 patients/32.3% with Boston 2.0 CAA, 431 patients/66.9% with mixed CAA-DPA phenotype according to CADMUS). Among enrolled patients, 16.0% underwent hyperacute MRI and 84.0% underwent subacute MRI (median on day 2 IQR 1-5), and 166 patients (25.8%) had DWI lesions (18.4% with hyperacute MRI vs 27.2% with subacute MRI). We observed no association of presence of DWI lesions with hyperacute MRI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.36-1.00, p = 0.073) but with time to MRI in days (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.00-1.13, p = 0.007). Higher SVD (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.12-1.59, p = 0.001) and CAA (aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.15-1.44, p < 0.001) burdens were associated with presence of DWI lesions. There was no association between type of SVD (CADMUS) or CAA (Boston criteria) and DWI lesions. There was no association between DWI lesions and functional outcome, recurrent ICH or ischemic stroke at 3 months. DISCUSSION DWI lesions in patients with ICH are already common at baseline. Their prevalence is higher with a longer time since symptom onset and with higher SVD burden. Overall, these findings suggest a relation with the underlying condition resulting in ICH. The significant number of DWI lesions visible on admission MRI might diminish their use as surrogate outcome in future trials in ICH.

Traditional medicinal plants are valued for their therapeutic potential, yet the full spectrum of their bioactive compounds often remains underexplored. Recent advances in multiomics technologies, including metabolomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics, combined with in vitro culture systems and elicitor-based strategies, have revolutionized our ability to characterize and enhance the production of valuable secondary metabolites. This review synthesizes current findings on the integration of these approaches to help us understand phytochemical pathways optimising bioactive compound yields. We explore how metabolomic profiling links chemical diversity with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, how proteomic insights reveal regulatory mechanisms activated during elicitation, and how in vitro systems enable controlled manipulation of metabolic outputs. Both biotic and abiotic elicitors, such as methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid, are discussed as key triggers of phytochemical defense pathways. Further, we examine the potential of multiomics-informed metabolic engineering and synthetic biology to scale production and discover novel compounds. By aligning traditional ethnobotanical knowledge with modern biotechnology, this integrative framework offers a powerful avenue to unlock the pharmacological potential of medicinal plants for sustainable and innovative therapeutic development.

Introduction. Chronic kidney insufficiency presents a progressive decline in renal function. Long-term hemodialysis treatments lead to biochemical parameter imbalances like an altered level of homocysteine (Hcy). Hcy can contribute to oxidative stress and endothelial damage, which promotes the accumulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and the development of atherosclerosis. It can also affect lipoprotein metabolism and trigger inflammatory processes that alter the lipid profile, especially increasing triglycerides and lowering high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Methods. This cross-sectional, clinical and descriptive-analytical study included 83 patients, 40 patients on hemodialysis, and 43 subjects in healthy control group. Results. The hemodialysis group had significantly higher Hcy values compared to the control group of seemingly healthy subjects (p<0.05). The control group had significantly higher values of total cholesterol, LDL and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) compared to the hemodialysis patients (p<0.05). There was non significant correlation between Hcy and lipid parameters in the hemodialysis group, neither in the control group. Conclusion. Patients undergoing hemodialysis had significantly higher total homocysteine levels compared to the control group. However, total homocysteine did not demonstrate an association with lipid status parameters in either the hemodialysis patients or the healthy subjects. Keywords: homocysteine, hemodialysis, cholesterol, triglycerides, metabolism.

Bedding begonias ( Begonia cucullata Hort.) are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal. Boasting beautiful leaves and lively, colourful flowers, these plants can significantly enhance any garden space. They also have the capacity to produce a large biomass, suggesting their suitability for phytoextraction purposes. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of bedding begonia in removing Cr, Pb, and Cd from artificially polluted substrates, with concentrations varying from 100 mg/kg to 500 mg/kg for Cr and Pb, and from 20 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg for Cd. The phytoextraction potential was estimated using bioaccumulation (BAF) and translocation (TF) factors analysis. The current study demonstrated that bedding begonia can successfully grow in substrates enriched with Cr, Pb, and Cd. BAF values < 1 for both Cr and Pb were detected regardless of contamination levels, indicating that this species has limited capacity to restore soils contaminated with these metals. On the other hand, BAF and TF values for Cd were greater than 1 at all contamination levels, implying their potential to remove Cd from polluted soils.

The aim of the study was to determine the association between motor abilities and the performance of the Osoto Gari (OSOTOG) from the special physical education (SPE) program, as a narrower part of the Physical Education field. The sample consisted of 84 male first-year students from the Faculty of Security Sciences in Banja Luka. The variable sample consisted of sixteen tests for assessing motor skills, which served as independent variables, and the dependent variable, the Osoto Gari, represented the average grades of performing the throwing technique with a backward standing leg from the SFE program. This technique differs from the classic Osoto Gari by its training methodology and level of application in defense or attack situations. Based on the results of the regression analysis, it can be concluded that motor skills are significant for the effectiveness of the throwing technique with a backward standing leg, with 46.4% of the total variability of the dependent variable OSOTOG being determined by the independent variables assessing motor skills. The statistically significant individual contributions to explaining the criterion variable OSOTOG were made by the following variables: hand tapping, side steps, twisting, side lying, forward bend on a bench, and standing long jump, which suggests that these variables are predictive for performing the throwing technique with a backward standing leg from the SPE program. The obtained results could be used to develop certain motor skills to improve the quality of performing the throwing technique with a backward standing leg.

Urbanisation and land-use change are among the main pressures on soil health in periurban areas, but the multifunctionality of grassland soils is still not sufficiently recognised. In this study, the physical and chemical properties of soils under grassland, forest and croplands in the periurban area of Zagreb were investigated in a two-year period. Grasslands consistently exhibited multifunctional benefits, including high organic matter content (4.68% vs. 2.24% in cropland), improved bulk density (1.14 vs. 1.24 g cm−3) and an active carbon cycle indicated by increased CO2 emissions (up to 1403 kg ha−1 day−1 in 2021). Forest soils showed the highest aggregate stability (91.4%) and infiltration (0.0006 cm s−1), while croplands showed signs of structural degradation with the highest bulk density and lowest water retention (39.9%). Temporal variation showed that grassland was particularly responsive to favourable climatic conditions, with soil porosity and water content improving yearly. Principal component analysis showed that soil structure, biological activity and moisture regulation were linked, with grassland plots favourably positioned along the axes of resilience. The absence of tillage and the presence of permanent vegetation cover contributed to their high capacity for climate and water regulation and carbon sequestration. These results emphasise the importance of protecting and managing grasslands as an important component of urban green areas. Practices such as mulching, minimal disturbance and continuous cover can maximise the ecosystem services of grassland soils. In addition, the results highlight the potential risk of trace metal accumulation in cropland and grassland soils located near urban and farming infrastructure, underlining the need for regular monitoring in periurban environments. Integrating grassland functions into urban planning and policy is essential for improving the sustainability and resilience of periurban landscapes.

In this paper, an assessment of the impact of the electrification of the vehicle fleet in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the total electrical energy consumption is made, for different scenarios of increasing the number of electric vehicles. Based on a statistical analysis of the structure and number of vehicles in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 2010 to 2024, an estimate of the total number of passenger cars, as well as the number of electric vehicles for the period up to 2050, is made. It is estimated that in 2050 the number of electric passenger cars will be around 300,000. For one representative electric passenger car, averaged annual electrical energy consumption is calculated. Based on the calculation and for the estimated number of electric vehicles in use, the total annual consumption of electrical energy for the segment of passenger cars is defined, for different scenarios of increasing the number of electric vehicles. Following the estimated increase in the number of passenger electric cars, an exponential increase in electrical energy consumption is estimated, reaching the annual amount of 635 GWh in 2050, which is 10 times higher than the total electrical energy consumption of the transport sector in 2024. In this way, for the period up to 2050, the additional amount of electrical energy that the electrical power grid should provide, due to the electrification of the vehicle fleet, is estimated.

Rectal carcinoma (RC) represents approximately 30% of all colorectal carcinomas (CRC) and is considered a distinct clinical entity. Vascular invasion (VI) is recognized as an independent predictor of poor outcomes in RC. In this study, we applied bioinformatics methods to identify gene pathways most likely associated with VI in rectal carcinoma. As ADAMTS8 showed statistically significant negative relations with the VI in RC patients, we further analyzed its top co-dependent genes—DNAL4, EVI2B, PPP1R35, PTGR3, RPL21, SOX4, and ZNF3—for the experimentally proven molecular modulators. We identified a total of 23 compounds from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database based on previously reported data for all eight target genes. The search was expanded to include additional chemical agents by structure similarity using the PubChem database, which revealed 9661 additional compounds. These were subsequently used for molecular interaction analysis against target proteins co-expressed with, or associated with, ADAMTS8 in RC with VI. Ultimately, we identified four high-affinity compounds—cyanoginosin LR, doxorubicin, benzo[a]pyrene, and dibenzo(a,e)pyrene—that interacted with all target proteins. These compounds show potential for further assessment of their role in modulating processes related to vascular invasion, which is a strong negative predictor of RC outcomes.

Biflavonoids are an important group of flavonoids found in Juniperus species, yet their distribution and accumulation patterns remain insufficiently explored. In this study, we applied a method for the simultaneous quantification of seven biflavonoids to analyze different plant parts of J. communis, J. communis subsp. nana, and J. oxycedrus. In order to determinate the influence of growing location, we also analyzed J. communis samples collected from different locations. Four biflavonoids—cupressuflavone, amentoflavone, bilobetin, and hinokiflavone—were detected. In both analyzed J. communis varieties, amentoflavone was the predominant biflavonoid in cones and needles, while in J. oxycedrus, cupressuflavone was the most abundant in cones, with amentoflavone dominating in needles. Overall, biflavonoid content was significantly higher in needles than in cones, with total biflavonoid levels in needles exceeding 5 mg/g dw, highlighting the tissue-specific nature of biflavonoid biosynthesis within Juniperus species. Additionally, our results suggest that in J. communis, biflavonoid accumulation is significantly influenced by growing location.

OBJECTIVES Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition with complex etiopathogenesis, treated with antiepileptics. In addition to their ability to regulate the activation threshold of neurons, antiepileptics have demonstrated a potential in shaping inflammation and the immune response. The main objective of our study was to analyze the effects of valproate, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine (commonly used antiepileptics) on viability, lymphocyte proliferation, and cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). METHODS PBMCs were treated with different concentrations of antiepileptics, with or without phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Cytotoxicity, assessed by viability and apoptosis/necrosis assay, was determined by flow cytometry using the Annexin V/Propidium iodide (PI) staining method. Proliferation was determined using the MTT assay, whereas cytokine levels were assessed by the ELISA assay. A selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) antagonist (SR-202) was used to evaluate the involvement of PPAR-γ. RESULTS Nontoxic concentrations of valproate and carbamazepine reduced the levels of three major proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6) and impaired Th1 and Treg responses, without affecting the Th2 response. Lamotrigine did not exhibit immunomodulatory properties in this model. The effect of valproate on the production of proinflammatory and Th1 cytokines was significantly reversed by inhibiting PPAR-γ. In contrast, the blockade did not modify the effects of carbamazepine. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrated that valproate and carbamazepine, although similarly modulating the immune response in vitro, utilize different signaling mechanisms, in contrast to lamotrigine, which did not exhibit immunomodulatory effects.

The synthesis of oxide nanopowders through ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) represents a sustainable method for producing high-purity, spherical particles tailored for advanced material applications. Recent developments in USP synthesis leverage the continuous transport of aerosols from an ultrasonic generator to a high-temperature furnace, with nanopowders collected efficiently using an electrostatic precipitator. This study explored the use of USP for titanium oxysulfate and aluminum nitrate solutions derived from the aluminum industry, focusing on resource recovery and waste reduction. Titanium oxysulfate was synthesized by leaching slag, generated during the reduction of red mud, with sulfuric acid under oxidizing, high-pressure conditions. After purification, the titanium oxysulfate solution was processed using USP in a hydrogen reduction atmosphere to yield spherical titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanopowders. The hydrogen atmosphere enabled precise control over the nanoparticles’ morphology and crystallinity, enhancing their suitability for use in applications such as photocatalysis, pigments, and advanced coatings. In parallel, both synthetic and laboratory solutions of aluminum nitrate [Al(NO3)3] were prepared. The laboratory solution was prepared by leaching aluminum hydroxide oxide (AlOOH) with hydrochloric acid to form aluminum chloride (AlCl3), followed by a conversion to aluminum nitrate through the addition of nitric acid. The resulting aluminum nitrate solution was subjected to USP, producing highly uniform, spherical alumina (Al2O3) nanopowders with a narrow size distribution. The resulting nanopowders, characterized by their controlled properties and potential applicability, represent an advancement in oxide powder synthesis and resource-efficient manufacturing techniques.

Dietary acrylamide exposure potentially poses health risks, including increased cancer risk and neurotoxic effects. There is no official data on acrylamide levels in food products on the Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) market, making it challenging to assess the associated health risks. As a non-EU country, B&H lacks national regulations aligned with Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158, which establishes benchmark levels and mitigation measures for acrylamide. This study used GC-MS to assess acrylamide content in fifteen food products from the B&H market, categorised as potato crisps/sticks, biscuits/wafers, and coffee. Acrylamide levels in some potato crisps and sticks, tea rings, and plain biscuits exceeded benchmark values, while levels in butter biscuits, biscuits with inclusions, filling or coating, wafers, and instant coffee, remained within acceptable limits. The highest acrylamide level was in potato sticks (1048.3 μg/kg), and the lowest in butter biscuits (23.8 μg/kg). Potato crisps/sticks had the highest average acrylamide levels (677.5 μg/kg), followed by tea rings and plain biscuits (444.5 μg/kg). Potato-based snacks accounted for the highest estimated dietary acrylamide intake. Most products exceeding benchmark levels originated from B&H, suggesting local producers might not fully apply mitigation strategies. These findings emphasise the need for regulatory reform, regular market monitoring, and targeted mitigation efforts.