The principal role of biochemical laboratories is responsibility for reliable, reproducible, accurate, timely, and accurately interpreted analysis results that help in making clinical decisions, while ensuring the desired clinical outcomes. To achieve this goal, the laboratory should introduce and maintain quality control in all phases of work. The importance of applying the Six SIGMA quality model has been analyzed in a large number of scientific studies. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of using six SIGMA metrics in biochemical laboratories and the current application of six SIGMA metrics in all laboratory work procedures. It has been shown that the six SIGMA model can be very useful in improving all phases of laboratory work, as well as that a detailed assessment of all procedures of the phases of work and improvement of the laboratory's quality control system is crucial for the laboratory to have the highest level of six SIGMA. Clinical laboratories should use SIGMA metrics to monitor their performance, as it makes it easier to identify gaps in their performance, thereby improving their efficiency and patient safety. Medical laboratory quality managers should provide a systematic methodology for analyzing and correcting quality assurance systems to achieve Six SIGMA quality-level standards.

S ciljem zaštite tradicionalne „Visočke pečene janjetine“ oznakom geografskog porijekla pro-vedena su istraživanja na nacionalnom nivou. Po prvi put je detaljno praćen cjelokupni tehnološki po-stupak proizvodnje, od faze iskrvarenja životinje, primarne obrade trupa i konfekcioniranja mesa, do termičke obrade. Osnovni motiv istraživanja bio je ustanoviti autentičnost ovog specifičnog načina ter-mičke obrade janjećeg mesa i njegovu vezu sa ispitivanim područjem (Visoko). Uz navedeno, jedan od ciljeva je bio laboratorijskim ispitivanjima kvantificirati osnovne kvalitativne parametre. Ustanovlje-ni indikatori kvalitete „Visočke pečene janjetine“ poslužit će kao referentni pokazatelji u predstojećim aktivnostima, prilikom utvrđivanja proizvođačke specifikacije. U radu su utvrđivani senzorni, kemijski i mikrobiološki parametri kvalitete „Visočke pečene janjetine“. Senzorna ocjena pokazala je da je kva-liteta Visočke pečene janjetine ekstra visoka, pri čemu je boja najbolje ocijenjeno svojstvo. Srednje vri-jednosti kemijskih parametara iznosile su kako slijedi: 54,18 % vode, masti 19,44 %, proteina 25,28 %, pepela 1,10 %, NaCl 0,20 %. Prosječna pH vrijednost iznosila je 6,47, a aw 0,958.

The research includes a comparative analysis of the structure and floristic composition of different types of lawns along Belgrade roads (grass areas of roundabouts, dividing strips, areas near roads and grass areas of first order roads), their floristic composition, as well as determining changes over a period of 17 years. The analyses are based on the results of floristic research from 2002, as well as the results of field research conducted during 2019. A total of 114 plant species were recorded on the studied lawns along Belgrade roads, among which the highest proportion belongs to the category of weed species. The taxonomic analysis has shown a reduction in the recorded number of families and genera over the study period of 17 years Both studies indicate the absolute dominance of plants from the group of hemicryptophytes. The results of the research are used to provide guidelines and recommendations for improving the condition and structure of lawns along Belgrade roads. Also, they provide the basis for the future selection of adequate types of grass for the establishment of new lawns, as well as the repair of the existing ones, i.e. for the sustainable management of green spaces along city roads.

Background: A significant number of patients who underwent surgical myocardial revascularization (CABG) have various comorbidities, including left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). Objective: The aim of this paper is to show that patients with preoperative LVDD are at an increased risk of postoperative adverse events and have a worse prognosis compared to patients without LVDD. Methods: The study included 116 patients who underwent myocardial revascularization (CABG) performed at Medical Institute Bayer in Tuzla over a period of 1 year. None of the patients had previously undergone CABG or valvular surgery, or undergone stent implantation (PCI). The presence of LV diastolic dysfunction was detected by echocardiography, and the patients were divided into two groups: with and without LVDD, and further classified into three degrees of LVDD. Results: Of the total number of subjects who underwent surgical revascularization of the myocardium without echocardiographically detected LVDD, 24.1% were patients, and 75.9% were patients with LVDD. In the group with LVDD, the range of days spent in the intensive care unit (ICU) is significantly higher compared to patients without LVDD. Also, patients with LVDD had a significantly higher number of hours of inotropic support, a significantly higher number of cases of tachycardia, predominantly atrial fibrillation (POAF). In this group of patients, a greater number of other adverse events were observed, such as myocardial infarction, cardiac or renal failure, TIA or CVI. Of the total number of patients in the study, 107 patients survived surgical myocardial revascularization and had a satisfactory recovery while 9 (7.8%) survived, all from the group with LVDD. Conclusion: Patients with preoperative diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, especially with III degree of dysfunction, are exposed to a higher postoperative risk of adverse events such as: atrial fibrillation, prolonged stay in the intensive care unit, the need for longer-term support with inotropes, and the fatal outcome was recorded exclusively in patients with LV diastolic dysfunction.

A malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST) is a highly aggressive sarcoma. This disease develops in a number of people with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), which is a common genetic disease. The paper presents a patient with typical manifestations of a malignant tumour of the peripheral nerve sheath, in the form of a large tumour of primary localisation in the distal part of the left thigh and left popliteal fossa and with significant dissemination into the lung parenchyma, which was accompanied by respiratory risk. The first operation of the tumour was done four years earlier, after which the patient did not come for regular check-ups. Nine cycles of chemotherapy were performed by Doxorubicin / Ifosfamide / Mesna protocol with clinical improvement and stabilisation, but without a significant impact on the dynamics of the disease and the overall survival was 14 months. It is of utmost importance to early recognise clinical presentation of the malignant form of this tumour and active supervision of a patient with a benign form by experts. In this way, it is possible to apply the optimal treatment modality in a timely manner.

Background/Aim: Therapy of diabetes mellitus type 2 includes drugs that act as inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) enzyme. Several DPP-4 inhibitors are marketed today and although they have favourable safety profile and tolerability, they show moderate activity in controlling glycaemia. The 3D quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) methodology was employed in order to find pharmacophore responsible for good DPP-4 inhibitory activity and designed new compounds with enhanced activity. Methods: For 3D-QSAR model development, 48 compounds structurally related to sitagliptin were collected from ChEMBL database. Structures of all compounds were optimised in order to find the best 3D conformations prior to QSAR modelling. To establish correlation between structure and biological activity Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression method integrated in Pentacle software was used. Results: Parameters of internal and external validation (R2 = 0.80, Q2 = 0.64 and R2 pred = 0.610) confirmed reliability of developed QSAR model. Analysis of obtained structural descriptors enabled identification of key structural characteristics that influenced DPP-4 inhibitory activity. Based on that information, new compounds were designed, of which 35 compounds had a better predicted activity, compared to sitagliptin. Conclusion: This QSAR model can be used for DPP-4 inhibitory activity prediction of structurally related compounds and resulting pharmacophore contains information useful for optimisation and design of new DPP-4 inhibitors. Finally, authors propose designed compounds for further synthesis, in vitro and in vivo testing, as new potential DPP-4 inhibitors.

Considering the expectations of customers on service and information availability 24x7, complete operations suspension in case of adverse events is not an option. Modern businesses have become dependent on their information systems (IS) whose incidents and failures can highly affect business operations. Ensuring continuity in IS is related to the reliable delivery information. In order to lower the negative impact of IS incidents, organizations should get prepared for them. Business continuity management (BCM) is a holistic management approach whose aim is to identify, prevent or mitigate operational risks. BCM consists of business continuity planning (BCP), contingency planning (CP) and disaster recovery planning (DRP). BCP defines the strategies that organizations should implement in order to ensure their survival when a crisis event occurs. The aim of this paper is to identify the relevant elements of continuity in IS.

During 2019, 28 grave constructions were excavated at cemetery Metaljica (Hadzici municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

People consumed salt exclusively through food millions of years ago, which amounted to less than 0.5 g/day. Recent researches indicate that the average daily consumption of salt is more than 10 g/day. The general conclusion of studies investigating the relationship between dietary salt intake and blood pressure led to recommendations on reducing salt intake and limiting total intake to 5 g of salt per day by the World Health Organization and the European Safety Agency of Food. Increased salt intake causes suppression of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system by reducing sodium renal excretion. Also, an increase in salt intake leads to an increase in the concentration of sodium in the blood, which causes high secretion of vasopressin and causes high blood pressure. Namely, bread is a basic food and is high in salt, but the salt parameter is not mandatory in accordance with the regulations. Today, almost every EU country has different strategies that include recommending salt reduction through food reformulation to reduce the salt content of food, including bread and bakery products. Achieving and maintaining the reduction of the population's salt intake will soon give a great benefit in terms of the prevention of cardiovascular events as the first cause of death globally, then great savings for the health system and an individual.