Pharmacists have been recognized as the most accessible healthcare professionals, and research has been carried out on expanded pharmacy services they could provide. Additional pharmacy services are a cost-effective way to prevent medication errors, reduce the number of drug-related problems, and prevent chronic disease progression. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate pharmacy service users’ views of expanded pharmacy services in Croatia. This study included 745 participants. Patients who have a healthcare professional in their family more frequently knew of the existence of e-health records and the option to share it with their pharmacists (134, 56.3% vs. 229, 45.2%, p = 0.005), while persons that have chronic illness more frequently visit the same pharmacy (176, 77.9% vs. 178, 34.3%, p < 0.001). Participants are confident that pharmacists can provide screening services and education on inhaler usage; however, only around 60% agreed that pharmacists can independently lead therapy adjustment, medication substitution, or monitor therapy based on test results. Our findings should be supported with projects evaluating the cost-effectiveness of such services as they would be accepted by a greater number of pharmacy service users if covered by the national health insurer.

This paper evaluates the impact of a paradigm shift in the monetary system by introducing a model of full reserve banking, focusing on the outcome of separating the generation of money from interest, which can only be achieved by abolishing the system of creating money through debt creation in the banking system. The main thesis argues that the current system, in which private commercial banks create money by issuing loans, results in deposits that mix savings achieved through economic activity with newly created money, leading to economic inefficiency and potential instability because debt and interest are always greater than the economic value created. The 100% sovereign money system corrects this by ensuring that only the central bank has the authority to create money, simplifying the financial landscape and restoring money to its rightful status as a public good and stable unit of measure. The study uses a comparative analysis between the current banking system with fractional reserves and the proposed banking system with 100% sovereign money, which is entirely reserve money. Balance sheet modeling demonstrates the impact of segregating investment and deposit accounts on the books of banks and the central bank. The methodology includes a hypothetical presentation of the balance sheet under the new system, emphasizing the accounting separation of “deposit” and “investment” accounts to end the creation of money by private commercial banks. The balance sheet analysis indicates that adopting a 100% sovereign money system requires state intervention through state deposits into the banking system to achieve the desired level of credit activity.

Dapsone is a sulfone used in treating inflammatory skin conditions. Despite its widespread dermatological use, the pharmacological actions of dapsone remain poorly understood. Here, we examined how different aspects of neutrophil functions are affected by dapsone. Peripheral blood neutrophils from healthy donors were stimulated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP), or calcium ionophore (CaI) or primed with cytokines prior to stimulation, in the presence of different concentrations of dapsone (from 10 to 50 µg/mL), followed by analyses of their survival, phenotype, and functional properties. We found that dapsone at the concentration of 50 μg/mL induced a significant neutrophil apoptotic rate during 6 h and 18 h, while other concentrations were well tolerated compared to control non-treated cells. However, dapsone significantly decreased the induced oxidative burst of neutrophils at all non-cytotoxic concentrations. Additionally, dapsone showed a dose-dependent suppression of NETosis in activated neutrophils. The production of IL-8 by dapsone-treated neutrophils was decreased under both stimulated (fMLP) and primed (TNF-α/fMLP) conditions. Moreover, dapsone inhibited the expression of CD11b/CD18, CD66, and CD89 and reversed or significantly mitigated the downregulation of CD16, CD32, CD181, CD88, and CD62L on neutrophils after priming and fMLP stimulation. In conclusion, our results indicate the complexity of dapsone actions on neutrophil functions, extending previous knowledge on the suppression of oxidative burst and IL-8 production upon neutrophils’ activation. Suppressed NETosis and modulation of marker expression associated with different neutrophil functions under inflammatory conditions are new findings, not recognized previously.

The main goal of this paper is to show and analyze the differences in the parameters of the situational efficiency of home and guest matches of the Premier League of BiH clubs in the 2023/24 season. The paper is based on research into current trends of the analysis of situational efficiency parameters in football. The purpose of the paper is to bring the trends closer to all those who love football and statistics. It is to be believed that the paper will contribute to football theory and practice and that it will have its benefits. The paper used statistical indicators collected by notational analysis of 12 clubs in the 2023/24 season, as well as data from the COMET system and the "SofaScore" application. The analysis will contain certain variables with which the parameters of the situational efficiency of the clubs will be compared. These are: ball possession, total shots, shots on goal, shots off goal, corners, goalkeeper saves, yellow cards, red cards, number of spectators (home matches), number of substitutions, number of goals scored per match as a whole set of performance indicators for players and teams. The percentage of ball possession success ranged from 53.45% in home matches to 46.56% in away matches, the number of shots on goal averaged 4.75% in home matches and 3.41% in guest matches. Total shots on goal were 11.71% in home games and 8.45% in away games. The number of corners on average was 5.42% for the home team, while guest teams took 3.79% of corners per game. Goalkeepers had 2.32% of saves in home games, and 3.06% of saves in guest games. Regarding the variable yellow cards, on average teams received 2.07% of cards as home players, and 2.42% of yellow cards in guest games. Also, the variable red cards and the average of red cards is higher in guest games where teams received an average of 0.11%, and as home players 0.07%. Coaches made an average of 4.48% of substitutions per game as home players, and 4.44% of substitutions in guest games out of a possible 5%. The most important variable for which football is played is the number of goals scored, where teams as hosts scored 1.7% of goals per game and 1.1% of goals in guest games. A total of 33 matches were analyzed for each team. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in favor of home matches were determined for the parameters ball possession, total shots, number of shots on goal, number of shots off goal, corners and number of goals scored in the match. Teams in guest matches had statistically significantly higher (p<0.05) values in the variables goalkeeper defense and number of yellow cards. Knowledge of the analysis of situational efficiency parameters will enable football coaches to design football tactics more precisely.

In this paper, we analyze examples of research institutes that stand out in scientific excellence and social impact. We define key practices for evaluating research results, economic conditions, and the selection of specific research topics. Special focus is placed on small countries and the field of artificial intelligence. The aim is to identify components that enable institutes to achieve a high level of innovation, self-sustainability, and social benefits.

One of the complex decision-making problems, which requires consideration of several criteria, is the choice of a smartphone. This paper presents an approach that combines user review analysis with machine learning and multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods to identify and evaluate alternatives. Based on the processed reviews, the Random Forest algorithm was used to identify the criteria that most influence the selection of smartphones. The weights of the criteria were determined using the Defining Interrelationships Between Ranked criteria II (DIBR II) method, improved by the application of triangular fuzzy numbers for better processing of the subjective and imprecise nature of the data. For the final selection of the optimal alternative, the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method was applied in a fuzzy environment, which enables the combination of additive and multiplicative approaches in ranking. The methodological justification of the proposed approach was confirmed by a sensitivity analysis, through 15 scenarios of changes in the weight coefficients of the criteria, which showed that small oscillations in the weights do not significantly affect the final ranking, especially not in the first two positions. The validation was additionally supported by a comparative analysis with four other decision-making methods in a fuzzy environment, which confirmed the stability and consistency of the results. The proposed approach provides an empirically grounded and methodologically robust framework for solving decision-making problems under conditions of multi-criteria evaluation and uncertainty, and can be applied to a wide range of similar problems in different fields.

In recent decades, China has significantly increased its global economic presence, emerging as one of the leading powers in the international system, in alignment with its strategic plan through 2049. This presence includes a keen interest in Southeast Europe, with Serbia identified as a key strategic partner. China's approach to Serbia intersects with Russia's longstanding presence rooted in the historical and cultural ties with Serbia. This paper examines the strategic interests and goals of China and Russia in Serbia, exploring their respective methods and tools. It also delves into Serbia's foreign policy aspirations for sustainable security trying to balance the presence of superpowers within, and around its territory. The paper evaluates Serbia's try of strategic navigation of its geostrategic position between East and West, questioning if Serbia is actually naive or aware of its circumstances. The study elucidates on how China and Russia's strategic maneuvers in the region, often subconsciously, shape Serbia and its neighboring countries. Within this intricate landscape, the concept of “Strategic symmetry” emerges as a crucial element, highlighting the delicate balance of influence that both powers exert in Serbia while it strives to maintain its entry into the European Union.

<p>Zeolite 13X is one of the best adsorbents among zeolites and one of the most commercially available zeolites.&nbsp; This paper investigates the influence of several process parameters on the properties of 13X zeolite, including crystallization temperature, crystallization duration and Si/Al molar ratio in the starting reaction mixture. The quality of the obtained powders was examined in detail through a series of analytical and instrumental methods, presented in the paper. Water and CO₂ adsorption capacities were determined as key quality parameters of 13X zeolite, and additional characterization was performed by determining material granulometry, specific surface area (BET analysis), crystallinity (X-ray diffraction method) as well and SEM analysis. The obtained results indicate a clear dependence between the examined process parameters of the system and the characteristics of the synthesized materials, thus enabling the selection of optimal conditions for the synthesis of 13X zeolite.</p>

Abstract Multiple studies have shown the importance of adequate nutrition for animals and humans and its effect on overall health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different nutritional regimes on the intestinal health of rats by evaluating different morphological and morphometric characteristics of small intestines, with the emphasis on the villus height:crypt depth ratio (V:C). For the experimental study, 24 clinically healthy adult Wistar rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group (group A) was fed with conventional food, the second group (group B) with bakery products, and the third group (group C) with meat products. Samples of the duodenum and jejunum were collected for detailed morphological and morphometric analysis. A significant increase in the duodenal villi height was reported in group B (661.59 µm) and C (602.83 µm) compared to the control group (475.34 µm). The crypt depth values in the jejunum were significantly higher in group B (191.41µm) and C (246.23 µm) compared with the control (145.14 µm). The jejunal V:C ratio was significantly lower in groups B and C. The study showed significant morphological changes in the intestinal parameters in rats fed predominantly with meat and bakery products. These findings could be applicable in both veterinary and human medicine, underlining the significance of consumed food on gut health.

For efficient production planning, it is necessary to know the power consumption of a particular woodworking operation in advance. In the past, many power measurement tests have been carried out based on a large number of different combinations of technological parameters. However, in this paper, the effects of technological parameters and wood properties on the power magnitude of peripheral milling are analysed using experimental design methods, where the effects of the different factors can be tested with a much smaller number of combinations. Therefore, a central composite experimental design was used to plan the experiments. Three different tree species with different densities were milled with three different numbers of cutting knives and three depths of cut at constant feeding speed and rotational velocity. For each milling combination, the power was measured continuously and then the average power was calculated. Based on the measurements, a suitable model was determined that allowed the magnitude of the cutting power to be determined for each combination of technological parameters and wood species tested. The model proved to be suitable, as the deviations between the measured and modelled power values are minimal.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer globally and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It remains especially lethal among patients with cirrhosis and chronic liver diseases like hepatitis B and C, alcohol abuse and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted across five oncology centers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of gaining a better insight into the current state of healthcare for patients with HCC in this region. The study reveals several regional disparities in the etiology, treatment, and outcomes of HCC, but it also indicates that the diagnostic approach varies significantly from one city to another. One of the highlights of the study is the late-stage diagnosis of most patients, due to the limited healthcare access, diagnostic delays and, especially, lack of screening programs. Implementation of targeted screening methods, regular monitoring of high-risk patients and enhanced use of biomarkers could lead to a significant improvement in the diagnostic accuracy. The limited use of innovative treatments recommended by the global guidelines was also identified as an issue, which directly leads to limited surgical and other treatment options. This study signals the need for a standardized patient pathway in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, implementation of national registry and targeted HCC database, which could reduce mortality, improve overall care and patient outcomes. Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma, healthcare, standardized patient pathway.

Introduction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred method for diagnosing the causes of lumboischialgia, as it offers the highest sensitivity and specificity compared to other imaging techniques. In clinical practice, there is often a notable discrepancy between patients’ clinical symptoms and the radiological findings. While there are various clinical tests for lumboischialgia, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Visual Analogue Score (VAS) are the most commonly used and reliable. This article aims to explore the correlation between patients’ subjective pain experiences and their level of disability due to lumboischialgia and disc herniation as detected by MRI. Methods. In this prospective clinical study, a total of 100 patients of both genders, aged 18 to 65 years, were included. These patients were referred for magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine due to complaints of lumboischialgia. MRI of the lumbar spine was performed, and the extent of degenerative changes was evaluated. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding their subjective pain experience and functional status, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analogue Score (VAS) were calculated. Results. The statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between the severity of disc herniation (classification) and the intensity of spinal pain (p = 0.010), as well as with the disability index (p = 0.003). Conclusion. A statistically significant relationship was confirmed between the levels of pain and disability and the degree of intervertebral disc herniation observed on MRI images of the lumbar spine. Keywords: lumbal disk herniation, lumboischialgia, pain.

Medical professionals have a responsibility to inform the public about contemporary research on alcohol consumption. Earlier health recommendations focused primarily on the link between alcohol and cardiovascular diseases. Over time, these guidelines have expanded to consider the broader impact of alcohol on all-cause morbidity and mortality. Unlike the tobacco industry, which remains profitable but faces strict regulations on marketing and lobbying, the alcohol industry benefits from fewer regulations. This allows alcohol manufacturers to freely promote their products and influence both federal and state policies. Clear emphasis on the importance of ceasing alcohol consumption is crucial, particularly in primary and secondary prevention efforts. Keywords: cardiovascular diseases, alcoholics, prevention.

Introduction. Morning stiffness (MS) is the hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and it has important implications on daily life of the patients. There are conflicting reports of its association with disease activity. Methods. This observational study included 125 patients with seropositive RA from Health Care Center, Visoko. We obtained data on patient’s gender and age, duration of RA, pain in hands and feet, MS and its duration, hospital admission, blood pressure, laboratory values and treatment modalities. Results. MS lasted up to 30 minutes in 71 (56.8%) patients, 30 to 60 minutes in 40 (32%) patients, and more than 60 minutes in 14 (11.2%) patients. There was no difference in the duration of MS between genders. Patients with longer MS were younger and had a longer duration of illness. Patients with MS longer than 30 minutes had higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels. ESR in the second hour and CRP correlated with a duration of MS. Patients on methotrexate had a longer duration of MS. No significant differences in the duration of MS were observed for leflunomide, corticosteroids and supportive treatment modalities. Conclusion. Duration of MS correlates with RA disease activity and remains an important burden for patients. Usage of newer treatment options, such as biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), may be required. Keywords: biomarkers, disease activity, rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Calciphylaxis (calcific uremic arteriolopathy), is a condition primarily observed in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Aim: To increase clinical awareness of calciphylaxis and to consider it a differential diagnosis in the presence of atypical skin nodules or ulcers occurring in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially in patients on hemodialysis and non-hemodialysis patients with the background of diabetes mellitus and secondary hyperparathyroidism. Case Report: We present the case of a 77-year-old woman with CKD and diabetes mellitus as well as severely painful, firm, indurated plaques on the lower extremities. The plaques progressed to involve larger areas with associated local ulceration and necrosis. Laboratory testing revealed hyperparathyroidism and incisional skin biopsy confirmed calciphylaxis. Conclusion: Each single CKD patient with diabetes mellitus and signs of secondary hyperparathyroidism with extremely painful ischemic cutaneous lesions or painful subcutaneous nodules without skin changes, although at times, pain may precede the development of the lesions, is a candidate for skin biopsy. Calciphylaxis is a rare but serious kidney complication. Keywords: calciphylaxis, chronic kidney disease, prognosis, treatment.