Aim To investigate interleukin 6 (IL-6) values depending on duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) and evaluate possible correlation with diabetic polyneuropathy. Methods The research study included 90 patients with DM divided into three groups (30 patients each) according to the duration of DM: group A - patients who had DM for less than 10 years, group B - duration of DM was 10 to 20 years, and group C - patients with DM over 20 years. Control group (K) included 30 healthy participants. Results IL-6 was significantly higher in the healthy control group, 180.318 pg/mL±94.18, than in group A, 47.23pg/ml±34.8, group B, 43.31pg/ml±33.17, and group C, 70.39 pg/ml±59.26 (p=0.0001). All groups had significantly different values of IL-6 between each other (p=0.0001). Level of IL-6 was in correlation with diabetic polyneuropathy in the group A (the youngest participants) (p=0.0001). In other groups there was no significant correlation between IL-6 and diabetic polyneuropathy. Conclusion The level of IL-6 was in correlation with neuropathy among younger patients. A higher level of IL-6 in the control group than in diabetic groups is a sign of stronger inflammatory response among younger and healthy people than in patients with DM.

Using our theory which is based on the strong-field approximation we analyze high-order above-threshold ionization and high-order harmonic generation processes for the case of the homonuclear diatomic molecules exposed to an orthogonally polarized two-color (OTC) laser field. The OTC field represents a superposition of two linearly polarized fields with mutually orthogonal polarizations and different frequencies. We analyze the photoelectron energy spectra and the harmonic ellipticity as a function of the ratio of the intensities of the OTC laser-field components and the relative phase. Some combinations of the values of these parameters lead to the high-energy electrons, while the harmonic ellipticity depends strongly on the ratio of the intensities of the laser-field components. It is possible to find the value of this ratio for which the ellipticity of the emitted harmonics is large. The signes of ellipticity are opposite for the molecular orientations which are connected through the reflection with respect to the axis along the first OTC field component. This symmetry is explained using the expression which relates the T-matrix element and the harmonic ellipticity.

Aim To evaluate the pattern of indications and a spectrum of colonic pathology, and to determine appropriateness of indications for colonoscopy in order to improve patient selection for colonoscopy. Methods This retrospective study includes 294 patients who were referred to the Gastroenterology Department from a primary care physician in order to approach endoscopic examination. Study data included patients' anamnestic data (comorbidities, positive family history, performed radiological examinations) an indication for the procedure, and colonoscopy findings. Results Haematochezia was confirmed in 186 (63.26%), positive radiologic finding in183 (62.24%) and anaemia in 157 (53.40%) patients. Adenoma and colorectal carcinoma were detected in 40 (13.6%) and 53 (18%) patients, respectively. A significant association between haematochezia and colorectal neoplasm was confirmed (p=0.019), haematochezia and inflammatory bowel disease (p=0.027), and between radiological finding and colorectal neoplasm (p=0.018). There was no significant association between anaemia and any of the colonoscopic findings. According to EPAGE II criteria indications were appropriate in 187 (63.6%), uncertain in 67 (22.8%) and inappropriate in 40 (13.6%) patients. Conclusion This study confirmed a slightly larger number of uncertain and inappropriate indications for colonoscopy compared to other studies that examined indications for colonoscopy, which can be attributed to a high number of patients with functional bowel disorders.

Background: Cardiac myxoma is the most common benign tumor of the heart. It presents with a variety of clinical signs and symptomatology making diagnosis frequently quite a challenge. Objective: The aim of this article is to present a case report of giant right atrial myxoma with symptoms of right heart failure in adult patient. Case report: We present a case of large right atrial myxoma which is an uncommon location for this type of heart neoplasms, discovered incidentally in a female patient 77-year-old who came to our polyclinic for cardiological exam with hypertension last 11 years and obesity. Results and Discussion: Various clinical signs and symptoms produced by cardiac myxomas have been reported in the literature. Depending on location and morphology, cardiac tumors can produce four types of clinical manifestations: systemic-constitutional, embolic, cardiac, and secondary metastatic manifestation. Echocardiography as non-invasive imaging method and Transesophageal echocardiography has superior role for precise evaluation of cardiac tumors. Transesophageal echocardiography has superior role for accurate diagnostic evaluation of cardiac mass. Surgical excision of cardiac myxoma carries a low-operative risk and gives excellent short- and long-term results. Conclusion: Myxoma is the most prevalent primary heart tumor. It is rare to find a myxoma in the right atrium, occurring only in 15-20% of myxoma cases. Clinical manifestations of myxomas consist in a triad: constitutional symptoms, embolization and intracardiac obstruction. Transesophageal echocardiography has superior role for precise evaluation of cardiac tumors. Currently, there is no effective medical treatment, and surgical excision of the tumor is necessary.

Dental academic institutions are affected by COVID-19. We assessed the perceived COVID-19 preparedness of these institutions and the characteristics of institutions with greater perceived preparedness. An international cross-sectional survey of dental academics was conducted from March to August 2020 to assess academics’ and institutional attributes, perceived preparedness, and availability of infection prevention and control (IPC) equipment. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified perceived preparedness components. Multilevel linear regression analysis assessed the association between perceived preparedness and fixed effect factors (academics’ and institutions’ attributes) with countries as random effect variable. Of the 1820 dental academics from 28 countries, 78.4% worked in public institutions and 75.2% reported temporary closure. PCA showed five components: clinic apparel, measures before and after patient care, institutional policies, and availability of IPC equipment. Significantly less perceived preparedness was reported in lower-middle income (LMICs) (B = −1.31, p = 0.006) and upper-middle income (UMICs) (B = −0.98, p = 0.02) countries than in high-income countries (HICs), in teaching only (B = −0.55, p < 0.0001) and in research only (B = −1.22, p = 0.003) than teaching and research institutions and in institutions receiving ≤100 patients daily than those receiving >100 patients (B = −0.38, p < 0.0001). More perceived preparedness was reported by academics with administrative roles (B = 0.59, p < 0.0001). Academics from low-income countries (LICs) and LMICs reported less availability of clinic apparel, IPC equipment, measures before patient care, and institutional policies but more measures during patient care. There was greater perceived preparedness in HICs and institutions with greater involvement in teaching, research, and patient care.

Background Cancer patients are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, partially owing to their compromised immune systems and curbed or cut cancer healthcare services caused by the pandemic. As a result, cancer caregivers may have to shoulder triple crises: the COVID-19 pandemic, pronounced healthcare needs from the patient, and elevated need for care from within. While technology-based health interventions have the potential to address unique challenges cancer caregivers face amid COVID-19, limited insights are available. Thus, to bridge this gap, we aim to identify technology-based interventions designed for cancer caregivers and report the characteristics and effects of these interventions concerning cancer caregivers' distinctive challenges amid COVID-19. Methods A systematic search of the literature will be conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus from the database inception to the end of March 2021. Articles that center on technology-based interventions for cancer caregivers will be included in the review. The search strategy will be developed in consultation with an academic librarian who is experienced in systematic review studies. Titles, abstracts, and full-text articles will be screened against eligibility criteria developed a priori. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses procedures will be followed for the reporting process. Conclusions COVID-19 has upended cancer care as we know it. Findings of this study can shed light on evidence-based and practical solutions cancer caregivers can utilize to mitigate the unique challenges they face amid COVID-19. Furthermore, results of this study will also offer valuable insights for researchers who aim to develop interventions for cancer caregivers in the context of COVID-19. In addition, we also expect to be able to identify areas for improvement that need to be addressed in order for health experts to more adequately help cancer caregivers weather the storm of global health crises like COVID-19 and beyond. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020196301

In the present study, we try to establish whether specific disciplines in women’s artisticgymnastics are equal and should the applicable Code of Points (COP) be revised in terms ofpoint standardization on apparatus. Our sample included all-around senior female gymnastswho participated in the qualification (C-I) competitions from 2009 to 2019. The aim of ourresearch was to determine the impact of individual apparatus D and E score in women'sartistic gymnastic in relation to the final result of all-around event. The age among seniorsrise from 2009 to 2019 for 1.88 years. In our analysis, we have found that the results achievedon each apparatus were significantly different. The average final scores on vault weresignificantly higher than on all other apparatus. Significant predictors of all-around successseem to be uneven bars D and E scores and balance beam E score. It was interesting toobserve that the vault, balance beam and floor D scores were not significant predictors.Coaches can use the results from this research in their planning of preparation tactics forgymnasts in all-around, team and apparatus competitions.

This research aimed to determine the differences between the junior (U20) water polo players of national teams of Montenegro, and Australia regarding their anthropometric characteristics and body composition. The first sub-sample of the subjects consisted of 18 water polo players of the Montenegrin national team, who occupied the sixth position on the FINA World Men’s Junior Water Polo Championship in Kuwait 2019. The second sub-sample consisted of 13 water polo players of the Australian national team, who occupied the eleventh position on the championship. The players were tested at the final preparations just before the World Championship. Anthropometric characteristics were evaluated using a battery of eight tests: body height, body weight, triceps skinfold, biceps skinfold, skinfold of the back, abdominal skinfold, upper-leg skinfold, lower leg skinfold; body composition was evaluated using a battery of three tests: body mass index, fat percentage, and muscle mass. The results of the t-test revealed that the water polo players of the two national teams do not have statistically significant differences in the variables. The results obtained in this research showed average team values for the estimated variables of water polo players of the two national teams (U20) who participated in the World Championship. That can serve as possible model parameters for all teams who want to participate in the U20 water polo World Championship. Differences in classification among water polo players may be related to the motor abilities, as well as technical and tactical parameters, as their anthropometric parameters were found to be similar.

Objectives: To avoid hospital spread of Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) and to analyze out of hospital outcomes after amputation. Methods: Prospective analysis of data obtained from 60 diabetic patients in 2020 was performed at Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Personal protection equipment included double surgical mask, glasses, disposable surgical coats, and surgical masks for patients. Swabs were used to take samples from wounds. We randomly divided patients in 2 groups of 30 patients each. In pre-operative treatment, we used local anesthesia lidocaine hydrochloride 2% (Belupo, Koprivnica, Croatia) in group A and systemic analgesia intravenous tramadol chloride 100 mg intravenous (Krka, Novo Mesto, Slovenia) in group B. Wounds were surgically treated each day and heal spontaneously. Periodical control exams were performed. Results: Wound healing did not present any statistically significant differences between groups (group A: 69±21.97 and B: 61±22.13 days, t=−1.22; p=0.11). No statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between groups A and B in wound healing regarding to gender or cigarette use was noted. Conclusion: No significant differences in amputation treatment between the 2 comparative groups were noted. No confirmed COVID-19 infections in medical staff who performed surgical interventions or in treated patients were detected.

The study of atomic spectra is one of the key subjects in teaching physics. It represents a combination of topics such as wave physics, atomic physics, particle physics, etc. Because of its complexity, it takes a well-prepared student and a very creative and resourceful teacher for this subject to be adequately understood and comprehended. This article presents theoretical background with key points in physics that help teachers to better organize their preparation for students and different experimental sets for this specific experiment, such as Nikola Tesla’s transformer or some other high-voltage transformers. Another point of view for this experiment is a variety of subexperiment possibilities to choose from in the execution of this practical exercise. This article also brings some difficulties that both teachers and students experience while preparing or doing this experiment, such as lack of more profound quantum physics knowledge since the conventional approach in teaching this specific topic in high schools and universities focuses on an introductory course in the history of this topic-oriented towards early years of the 20th century.

There are several theoretical models proposing dark matter candidates as well as different experimental searches for dark matter, collider, and non-collider ones. One of the most intriguing dark matter candidates is missing information in the cosmos. This is based on the mass-energy-information equivalence principle presented by M Vopson [1]. This review presents the historical development of this principle from its roots in the 1960s when Landauer principle was firstly presented to the latest data on the estimated value of the mass of one bit of information as well as data on missing energy as potential dark matter. Another theoretical discussion presented here is the reformulation of the second law of thermodynamics as a possible step to great unification. In addition to this theoretical postulation with a mathematical presentation focusing on statistics, we present some of the proposed experiments in this field. Two major proposals are in the direction of using an ultra-accurate balance with measurement uncertainty low enough to be comparable with proposed theoretical limits, and originally developed sensitive interferometer similar to the one in LIGO experiment.

Dark matter as one of the cosmos’ ingredients or constituents has been searched for in various experiments. This review presents some of the searches for dark matter while focusing on the LHC mainly. In order to present various searches, it describes theoretical models followed by experimental verification. Since there are three types of searches, among which most significant are direct and indirect ones, we will give an overview and short comparison between the two, with an emphasis on the advantages and disadvantages of collider and non-collider searches. This review brings an argumentative approach for the collider’s point of view since searches for dark matter in colliders are veritably ambitious regarding direct and indirect Dark Matter detection methods. LHC starts its Run 3 in 2021, and here we present results from the ATLAS experiment from Run 2 and bring some theoretical expectations from LHC in Run 3.

The present review paper provides a systematic insight into the studies published so far when it comes to the research on the cost and performance optimisation in the parcel delivery phase. Globalisation, as well as the new trends, such as selling online, directly influences the demands for the delivery of goods. Demand for the delivery of goods proportionally affects the transport prices. A great majority of deliveries is carried out in densely populated urban areas. In terms of costs, the greatest part in the courier organisations costs is observed in the technological phase of parcel delivery, which is at the same time the least efficient. For that reason, significant improvement of performance and cost optimisation in the very delivery phase is a rather challenging field for the researchers. New algorithm-based technologies, innovations in the logistics and outsourcing of individual technological phases are ways by means of which one strives to enhance the delivery efficiency, to improve performance and quality, but also to optimise the costs in the last phase of delivery. The aim of the present paper is to offer a systematic review into the most recent research in the field of technology, innovations and outsourcing models with the aim of reducing the cost and enhancing the productivity and quality in parcel delivery.