ObjectiveTo analyze the prevalence of diagnosed and suspected autoinflammatory diseases in Eastern and Central European (ECE) countries, with a particular interest on the diagnostic facilities in these countries.MethodsTwo different strategies were used to collect data on patients with periodic fever syndromes from ECE countries- the Eurofever survey and collection of data with the structured questionnaire.ResultsData from 35 centers in 14 ECE countries were collected. All together there were 11 patients reported with genetically confirmed familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), 14 with mevalonate-kinase deficiency (MKD), 11 with tumor necrosis factor receptor associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) and 4 with chronic infantile neurological cutaneous and articular syndrome (CINCA). Significantly higher numbers were reported for suspected cases which were not genetically tested. All together there were 49 suspected FMF patients reported, 24 MKD, 16 TRAPS, 7 CINCA and 2 suspected Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) patients.ConclusionsThe number of genetically confirmed patients with periodic fever syndromes in ECE countries is very low. In order to identify more patients in the future, it is important to organize educational programs for increasing the knowledge on these diseases and to establish a network for genetic testing of periodic fever syndromes in ECE countries.

Inhibition of antigen-dependent B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is considered a promising therapeutic approach in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but experimental in vivo evidence to support this view is still lacking. We have now investigated whether inhibition of BCR signaling with the selective Syk inhibitor fostamatinib disodium (R788) will affect the growth of the leukemias that develop in the Eμ-TCL1 transgenic mouse model of CLL. Similarly to human CLL, these leukemias express stereotyped BCRs that react with autoantigens exposed on the surface of senescent or apoptotic cells, suggesting that they are antigen driven. We show that R788 effectively inhibits BCR signaling in vivo, resulting in reduced proliferation and survival of the malignant B cells and significantly prolonged survival of the treated animals. The growth-inhibitory effect of R788 occurs despite the relatively modest cytotoxic effect in vitro and is independent of basal Syk activity, suggesting that R788 functions primarily by inhibiting antigen-dependent BCR signals. Importantly, the effect of R788 was found to be selective for the malignant clones, as no disturbance in the production of normal B lymphocytes was observed. Collectively, these data provide further rationale for clinical trials with R788 in CLL and establish the BCR-signaling pathway as an important therapeutic target in this disease.

<p>Usage of unallowed stimulative drugs for recovery implies consuming or giving to others substances which artificially improve physical and psychical condition of an athlete and thus improve his/her success in sport. The goal of the study is to examine attitudes of football players of various length of sports experience, towards unallowed stimulative substances for recovery. The sample of examinees consists of 120 football players divided into two groups, on basis of the sports experience length (first group: 4-8 years of sport experience, second group: 9-14 years). The sample of variables consists of a system of 10 items (claims) assessed on a 5-grade scale. The importance of the differences between the groups was determined by a multivariate and univariate analysis of variance, discriminative analysis, Roy&iacute;s test, Pearson's coefficient of contingency and the coefficient of multiple correlation. It is evident that football players of different length of sport experience differ among themselves in their attitudes towards unallowed drugs for recovery, however, those differences are not big.</p>

UDK 502.3:551.583(497.6) Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2000 and Kyoto protocol in 2008. Although a Non-Annex I Party (developing country) to UNFCCC, but with its goals to EU accession, efforts have been made to set up appropriate guidelines, institutional and legal framework to meet the Convention commitments. Nevertheless, the political arena of BiH within the climate change context is still affected by the complexity of its administrative setup, lack of state level legislation, absence of coordination and inter- sectoral cooperation as well as inadequate enforcement mechanisms. Based on the social movement theory and the concept of advocacy coalition framework, the research results collected through a detailed analysis of media reports and questionnaire-based survey findings (based on the guidance of the COMPON project) explain the setbacks and describe the possibilities of social mobilization, formation of coalitions in the framing of climate change aspects as well as their influence within the wider milieu of the national policy discourse. The lack of information sharing and limited awareness among stakeholders has resulted in low social mobilization exercised around the issue, hence creating a perfect setting for a delay on progress in terms of clear climate change policies, adaptation and mitigation programs along with strategies for capacity building in the domain. Evermore, it keeps the domestic political institutions clinging to status quo, while current extent of activation of the society and networks to tackle the problem and have an effect on national policy processes remains fragile.