This study investigates the genetic diversity and relatedness among a small local population in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In a genetic research study, a sample of 38 individuals was collected from the village of Vukotići, consisting of 21 male and 17 female subjects. The total genomic DNA was extracted using a mod-ified Miller protocol. The QUANTIFILER DNA identification kit was used to quantify the total human DNA in the sample. The sibship relationship was assessed by computing the likelihood ratio for each of the 15 STR loci in both relatives and non-relatives. Results showed a higher homogeneity of the small local population compared to the mixed population within the larger population. Variability in peak height ob-served in the genetic analysis was attributed to differences in DNA concentration in the extracted samples. Probability of relatedness among participants in the Vukotići village was found to be low. Central tendency and variability measures revealed valuable insights into sample distribution and variation. The study con-cludes that CSI=1 and CSI=3 can be used as reliable tools to determine sibship in small local populations without a "gray zone".

The 16s-rRNA consists of hypervariable regions (V1 – V9) that demonstrate considerable sequence diver-sity among different bacteria. Species-specific sequences within a given hypervariable region constitute useful targets for diagnostic assays and other scientific investigations. Usually, the size of the gene region is 1500 bp, which is large enough to be analyzed using bioinformatic tools and applied for detection. The need to advance the knowledge of the 16s-rRNA gene segments in bacterial strains would allow better understanding and better diagnostic possibilities when dealing with them. This could also be the basis for investigation of pathogenic microorganisms.

Understanding consumers’ behavior and their handling of high-risk foods at home is essential for reducing the number of foodborne illnesses. This study shows the results of a cross-national analysis of consumers’ perception from nine countries, and the identification of customers’ clusters and its characteristics in order to understand customers’ behavior, and to build safe chilled ready-to-eat (RTE) foods prevention strategies. The cluster analysis resulted in two clusters: (1) “Precautious consumers” characterized by the orientation towards pre-packed RTE foods, with consumers mainly coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. Their attitudes and self-reported practices may be categorized as less risky in terms of food-borne illnesses connected with the consumption of RTE foods; (2) “Unconcerned consumers” preferred cutting and slicing RTE foods freshly at the point of purchase, usually sold at the delicatessen department in a supermarket or at open markets. Those consumers mostly came from Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia and their attitudes and self-reported practices were riskier. These results allow a better understating of what characterizes consumers of RTE foods in different countries.

Advances in developed and developing countries are more attributable to growth in industrial activities that directly impact increasing energy demand. Energy availability has been inconsistent globally, necessitating energy storage (ES) for use as per requirement. Various energy storage technologies (ESTs) are available in mechanical, electrochemical, electrical, chemical, and thermal forms to fulfil the energy demand of a user as and when required. The factors responsible for making a commercially viable energy storage product are further being researched for an eco-friendly and optimal solution to store energy for a longer duration. Researchers are employing different strategies to evaluate the energy efficiency of storage technologies. This paper uses the VIKOR technique to analyze ESTs while assigning objective weights with the entropy weights method based on identified energy performance indicators and ranking them according to their commercialization viability. The method helps a consumer choose better ESTs as per their requirement while manufacturers compete with each other to enhance the commercial value of their energy storage products. Sensitivity analysis has been performed to understand the uncertainties, pros, and cons with the limitations and scope of using the decision model and thus taking an informed decision. The analysis of different energy storage technologies has indicated Hydrogen Fuel Cells (HFC) to be impressive and promising for the future.

Background The ADAMTS7 locus was genome-wide significantly associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Lack of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protease ADAMTS-7 was shown to reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation. Objective To identify molecular mechanisms and downstream targets of ADAMTS-7 mediating risk of atherosclerosis. Methods Targets of ADAMTS-7 were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry of atherosclerotic plaques from Apoe-/- and Apoe-/-Adamts7-/- mice. ECM proteins were identified using solubility profiling. Putative targets were validated using immunofluorescence, in vitro degradation assays, co-immunoprecipitation, and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based protein-protein interaction assays. ADAMTS7 expression was measured in fibrous caps of human carotid artery plaques. Results In humans, ADAMTS7 expression was higher in caps of unstable as compared to stable carotid plaques. Compared to Apoe-/- mice, atherosclerotic aortas of Apoe-/- mice lacking Adamts-7 (Apoe-/-Adamts7-/-) contained higher protein levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases 1 (Timp-1). In co-immunoprecipitation experiments, the catalytic domain of ADAMTS-7 bound to TIMP-1, which was degraded in the presence of ADAMTS-7 in vitro. ADAMTS-7 reduced the inhibitory capacity of TIMP-1 at its canonical target matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP-9) As a downstream mechanism, we investigated collagen content in plaques of Apoe-/- and Apoe-/-Adamts7-/- mice after Western diet. Picrosirius red staining of the aortic root revealed less collagen as a readout of higher MMP-9 activity in Apoe-/- as compared to Apoe-/- Adamts7-/- mice. In order to facilitate high-throughput screening for ADAMTS-7 inhibitors with the aim to decrease TIMP-1 degradation, we designed a FRET-based assay targeting the ADAMTS-7 catalytic site. Conclusion ADAMTS-7, which is induced in unstable atherosclerotic plaques, decreases TIMP-1 stability reducing its inhibitory effect on MMP-9, which is known to promote collagen degradation and is likewise genome-wide significantly associated with CAD. Disrupting the interaction of ADAMTS-7 and TIMP-1 might be a strategy to increase collagen content and plaque stability for reduction of atherosclerosis-related events.

Abstract Aims Long-term, placebo-controlled cholesterol-lowering trials have demonstrated legacy effects (clinical benefits that persist or emerge after trial end). It is unknown whether legacy effects follow a short period of very low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels achieved with statin plus proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor. Methods and results In 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome, the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo, each added to high-intensity or maximum-tolerated statin therapy. Patients with two consecutive LDL-C levels <0.39 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) on alirocumab had blinded placebo substitution for the remainder of the trial with continued statin treatment. In post hoc analyses, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in these patients were compared to MACE in propensity score–matched patients from the placebo group with similar baseline characteristics and study medication adherence. In the alirocumab group, 730 patients had blinded placebo substitution at a median of 8.3 months from randomization, after a median of 6.0 months with LDL-C <0.39 mmol/L. They were matched to 1460 placebo patients. Both groups had lower baseline LDL-C and lipoprotein(a) and better study medication adherence than those of the overall cohort. Over a median follow-up of 2.8 years, MACE occurred in 47 (6.4%) alirocumab patients with limited-duration, very low achieved LDL-C vs. 122 (8.4%) matched placebo patients (treatment hazard ratio 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.51, 0.997; P = 0.047). Conclusion A short period of LDL-C levels <0.39 mmol/L achieved with statin and alirocumab, followed by statin monotherapy, was associated with a lower risk of MACE than statin monotherapy throughout the observation period. Clinical benefit persisted for several years. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01663402

Air pollution is a major problem for the environment and human health. As a component of the environment (the Earth’s sphere), air, that is, the atmosphere, represents the basis of life on Earth. The composition of the air is mostly unchanged, except in the case of air pollution, which represents one of the significant environmental problems of modern times. In the past, pollution was caused by natural sources, while today the source of pollution is mostly of an anthropogenic character. Air pollution with basic and specific pollutants is present, especially in the areas of larger and industrial cities. The sources of pollutants in the air are numerous, and pollutants are found in all places where people live. In addition to air pollution of ambient air, it is also necessary to point out air pollution in closed spaces, especially work environments. Areas of increased pollution, with high concentrations of pollution, can have a negative impact on the population and lead to unwanted health problems. In recent decades, the high level of air pollution has been particularly pronounced, both at the global level and in the Republic of Srpska. Air pollution requires the involvement of society as a whole in solving this problem. The proposed revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directive will set interim European Union (EU) air quality standards for 2030, more closely aligned with World Health Organization guidelines, while putting the EU on a path to achieve zero air pollution by 2050 at the latest in synergy with climate and climate neutrality. The aforementioned Directive has significant improvements, but it will not completely solve the problem of air pollution or reduce to a greater extent the consequences of air pollution on the health of citizens. Air pollution cannot be solved quickly. The implementation of the new revised directive will be a challenge for the EU, and when all provisions of the directive are transposed into the national legislation of the Republic of Srpska, the application of all provisions will be very demanding and complex, with a number of problems in its application.

Introduction: Since 1956 karyotype analysis becomes an essential part of routine medical diagnostics, and helped medical professionals investigate the origin of genetic abnormalities in many constitutional and cancer diseases. Karyotyping also provided more information in the monitoring of fertility problems. An inversion does not usually have a phenotypic effect, especially if it involves a heterochromatin area, such as 9qh. Chromosome 9 polymorphism, with breakpoints p11q13/p12q13, can be the cause of variant abnormal clinical conditions such as congenital abnormalities, hematological diseasesand also could have a connection with pregnancy loss and fertility failure. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 1784 cytogenetics examination results from peripheral blood samples in the period from January, 2012 to December, 2022. The patients, carriers inv(9) in their karyotype were highlighted for detailed analysis. Results: Among the 1784 patients, constitutional pericentric inversion inv(9)(p11q13) was found in 13 females (0,72%), while it was seen in 17 cases of males (0.95%). The total average amount of inv (9) in this study is 1.68%. The inv(9) population consists of 60% cases with infertility problems, 6,66% females who had spontaneous abortus and 33,33% were patientsreferred to our laboratory for other reasons. Conclusion: In this research, the prevalence of inv (9) in the population of patients of Northeast Bosnia and Herzegovina who had the reproductive failure is shown. We believe that these results will help in finding the key to the truth about the association of this chromosome polymorphism with some pathological conditions such as fertility problems.

Purpose. To select recommendations on the use of physical culture means for students of future teachers, it is necessary to identify their functional features and genetically determined properties of the nervous system. Purpose: to reveal the relationship between the performance of the nervous system, orthostatic test and professional specialization of students of pedagogical universities. Material and methods. Students from 9 different faculties of Ukraine's leading pedagogical institute took part in the study. The total number of subjects was 841 people. Soon the reactions were determined by the program "Psychodiagnostics". Orthostatic reactions were determined by the results of heart rate in the supine position and in the standing position. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using Duncan's method to determine the influence of teaching faculty on test performance. A correlation analysis of testing indicators and ranks of faculties was carried out using the Tau-b Kendall method. Results. Students of all experimental faculties were divided into 4 groups according to the number of errors in the choice reaction test based on the results of variance analysis (Duncan method). Faculties were divided into ranks from the first to the fourth. A significant negative correlation of the rank of the faculty according to the indicator of the strength and speed of nervous processes with the heart rate in the standing position (p<0.05) and the difference between the heart rate in the standing and lying positions (p<0.01) was revealed. Conclusions. Physical exercises should be applied according to the professional characteristics and personal inclinations of the students, who were divided into 4 groups according to the indicators of reaction speed and orthostatic test. For students of the faculties of primary education and preschool education (1st group), we recommend using mobile and sports games. For students of humanities and natural sciences faculties (2nd group), any physical exercises that require an average manifestation of all physical qualities are suitable: dances, gymnastics, sports games, martial arts. Students of the Faculty of Arts (3rd group) are suitable for physical exercises that require high concentration of attention for a long time, for example, cyclical exercises. We recommend that students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports (4th group) continue to improve in their chosen sport, while also studying other sports.

Recent studies have shown that people who are immunocompromised may inadvertently play a role in spurring the mutations of the virus that create new variants. This is because some immunocompromised individuals remain at risk of getting COVID-19 despite vaccination, experience more severe disease, are susceptible to being chronically infected and remain contagious for longer if they become infected and considering that immunocompromised individuals represent approximately 2% of the overall population, this aspect should be carefully considered. So far, some autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD) patients with COVID-19 have been treated with antiviral therapies or anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody products. However, there is no homogeneous approach to these treatment strategies. This issue was addressed within the European Reference Network (ERN) on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ReCONNET) in a discussion among experts and patient's representatives in the context of the rare and complex connective tissue diseases (rCTDs) covered by the Network. ERN ReCONNET is one of the 24 ERNs launched by the European Commission in 2017 with the aim of tackling low prevalence and rare diseases that require highly specialised treatment and promoting concentration of knowledge and resources through virtual networks involving healthcare providers (HCPs) across the European Union (EU). Considering the urgent need to provide guidance not only to the rCTDs community, but also to the whole ARDs community, a multidisciplinary Task Force, including expert clinicians and European Patient Advocacy Group (ePAG) Advocates, was created in the framework of ERN ReCONNET with the aim of developing overarching principles (OP) and points-to-consider (PtC) on a homogenous approach to treat immunocompromised patients with ARDs (with a particular focus on CTDs) affected by COVID-19 using antiviral therapies and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody products. The present work reports the final OP and PtC agreed by the Task Force.