AIM To investigate the risk for falls in elderly patients treated in the Primary Health Care Centre Gradiška, Bosnia and Herzegovina. METHODS This study included 500 patients aged 65 and older. They were chosen randomly by 10 family physicians. Data collection took place every Wednesday and Friday, between January 2022 and July 2022. The patients' gait and balance assessment were performed using the Tinetti Gait and Balance Tool to assess the risk of falls. A supplementary questionnaire was created to record data about the patients' age, sex, chronic diseases, and drugs they take. RESULTS Among the included patients there were 266 females (53.2%) and 234 (46.8%) males, with the mean age of 75.25 years. The Tinetti test showed that the risk of falls was high for patients older than 75 years, 111 patients (69.8%), and 48 patients (30.2%) aged 65 to 74 (p=0.000). The risk of falling was higher for female, 93 (35%), than male patients, 66 (28.2%) (p=0.018). Considering chronic diseases, a high risk of falls was found in 32 (2.1%) patients with heart failure (p=0.029) and 19 (11.9%) patients with osteoporosis (p=0.000). Patients who used antihypertensive drugs had the highest risk for falls, 124 (78.0%) (p=0.757). CONCLUSION About two-thirds of the examinees over the age of 75 had a high risk of falls, which indicates that family doctors should be more involved in fall prevention of elderly patients and constantly educate older patients and their families about it.

Simple Summary Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are more susceptible to infections, which are also the most common cause of death in these patients. Previous studies in patients with CLL described elevated levels of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), which also correlated with decreased T cell responses to microbial antigens. As the activation of the STAT5 transcription factor induces the expression of FOXP3 and human CD4+FOXP3+ T cells that also contain nonsuppressive T cells, we analyzed STAT5 phosphorylation (pSTAT5) and suppressive subpopulations, including activated Tregs (aTregs). We found a significantly increased frequency of aTregs in patients with advanced stages, which significantly correlated with the total tumor mass score. aTreg expansion in vitro was associated with significantly higher aTreg pSTAT5 responses to SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific stimulation in vitro. Finally, a subgroup of patients characterised by an increased aTreg percentage among CD4+FOXP3+ T cells experienced a more severe disease course with serious grade ≥3 infections during follow-up. Abstract Introduction: Advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is accompanied by increased circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs) and increased susceptibility to severe infections, which were also shown to entail a striking induction of FOXP3 expression in Tregs. As homeostasis of the most suppressive CD45RA−FOXP3high activated Treg (aTreg) subset differs, it is critical to analyse homeostatic signalling in Treg subsets. Materials and Methods: In this study, by using conventional and imaging flow cytometry, we monitored STAT5 signalling/phosphorylation (pSTAT5) and investigated Treg subsets in relation to the Binet stage, the total tumor mass score (TTM) and the disease course during a follow-up of 37 patients with CLL. Results: The aTreg percentage was significantly increased among CD4+ T cells from patients with advanced disease and significantly correlated with the TTM. A subgroup of patients with higher aTreg percentages among CD4+FOXP3+ T cells at the start of therapy was characterised by more frequent episodes of severe infections during follow-up. Conclusions: The results suggesting that an aTreg fraction could represent a possible marker of a severe disease course with infectious complications. Augmented homeostatic STAT5 signalling could support aTreg expansion, as higher pSTAT5 levels were significantly correlated with an increased aTreg frequency among CD4+FOXP3+ T cells during the follow-up of patients on therapy, as well as following SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific stimulation in vitro.

With the advent of the Internet and the accelerated development of information and communication technologies (Cloud Computing, Big Data, etc.), marketing has changed forever. However, it will soon be going soon it will be going through another revolution, largely due to the potential of Blockchain technology. In order for the exchange (transaction) to be carried out to the satisfaction of both entities, there must be trust between them. Unless the entities trust each other, they usually find a solution by hiring a third entity, called an intermediary. At its core, Blockchain enables transactions between two parties without the need for third party verification. If a transaction means any business transaction of transferring ownership of goods or money (securities) from one entity to another, then Blockchain is an alternative way of exchanging and recording transactions by which it is carried out to the satisfaction of both entities, without intermediaries and without the need to trust each other. One of the more significant aspects of applying Blockchain technology is that it gives consumers back control of their personal information, eliminating the possibility for companies to take data from customers without offering them compensation. The aim of this paper is to highlight the potential of Blockchain technology, which puts customers in an even more favorable position, but also enables merchants to access non-intermediary customers such as Google, Facebook, etc. Another aspect of the application of Blockchain technology will be discussed in the paper, which concerns the possibility that customers have all relevant and true (i.e, non-changeable information due to the security provided by Blockchain technology) information about the origin of the products they purchase.

Key Points Question What is the current red blood cell (RBC) transfusion practice for preterm infants born before 32 weeks’ gestation in Europe? Findings This cohort study included 1143 infants from 64 neonatal intensive care units across 22 European countries. By day 28 of life, 36.5% of infants had received an RBC transfusion, and most transfusions based on hemoglobin threshold were given above restrictive thresholds tested in recent trials. Meaning These findings suggest that there is a need to address the gap between evidence and practice and to understand factors influencing ongoing variable practices of RBC transfusions among preterm infants.

Novija istraživanja bosanskohercegovačkih populacija glogova i njihova taksonomska numeracija rezultirala je spoznajom o prisutnosti jedne nove vrste gloga u flori Bosne i Hercegovine. Vrsta Crataegus microphylla K. Koch svrstava se u grupu jednokoštičavih glogova. U najzapadnijim dijelovima njenog areala, unutar izolovanih populacija, dolazi naša novoopisana endemična podvrsta (subsp. malýana K. I. Chr. & Janjić). U radu su prezentovane osnovne morfološko-taksonomske i horološko-ekološke karakteristike neophodne za uspješno prepoznavanje ove vrste kao i njene novoopisane podvrste.

Razvoj agrošumarstva je u većini zemalja usporen zbog ograničene definicije ovog pojma koji se treba shvatiti kao sistem različitih praksi. Široko korištenje agrošumarstva može odigrati značajnu ulogu u prelasku na održive okolinske prakse u dugoročnom periodu. U Evropskoj uniji agrošumarstvo se prepoznaje kao važan poljoprivredni sistem, s tim da je još ostao nedovoljno razvijen zbog neriješenog statusa podsticaja. Ipak, kako Evropska federacija agrošumarstva (engl. European Agroforestry Federation – EURAF) ističe, u EU se nalazi oko 20 miliona hektara agrošumarskih zemljišta, a gotovo 90% čine šumsko-pašnjački sistemi. Istraživanja iz 2017. godine pokazuju kako ih je tada u EU bilo oko 15,4 miliona hektara i trend razvoja agrošumarstva, prema podacima iz 2020. godine, nastavio se. Sistem agrošumarstva projiciran je i istražen na području sliva rijeke Vrbas, i to u njegovom gornjem (Bugojno) i donjem (Srbac) slivnom području, a u okviru projekta UNDP. U ovom radu akcenat se daje na ulogu agrošumarstva u zaštiti od poplava, ali i općenito njegov značaj u procesu adaptacije na klimatske promjene. U gornjem i srednjem slivu preporučuje se silvopastoralni uzgoj, a na proširenim dolinama alejni uzgoj i zaštita od erozije na izohipsama. U donjem slivnom području vrlo su važni zaštitni priobalni pojasevi sa stanovišta erozije obale i buferne sposobnosti vegetacije u smislu prečišćavanja voda, na koje se nastavlja alejni uzgoj, zatim rekreaciona zona, tehnička šuma ili kombinacija šumsko-poljoprivrednih kultura (diversifikacija). Ove pristupe treba razvijati isključivo na lokalnom nivou sa farmerima.