Physical activity, body mass, and dietary habits are known to be important determinants of overall health status, but there is an evident lack of studies that examine these issues specifically in preschool children. The aim of this study was to identify associations that may exist between adhering to the Mediterranean diet (MD), levels of physical activity (PA), and body composition indices in apparently healthy preschool children from southern Croatia. Participants were 5- to 6-year-old preschoolers from the Mediterranean part of the country (the Split-Dalmatia County; n = 260, 126 females). Adherence to the MD was observed by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), PA level was evaluated by the Preschool-age Children’s Physical Activity Questionnaire (Pre-PAQ), and responses were collected from the parents. The participants’ waist circumferences (in cm), waist-to-hip ratios, and body mass index (in kg/m2, and in a z-score calculated relative to the normative value for age and sex) were used as indicators of body composition. All children were of the same age and tested over a one-month period of the same year as a part of the regular examination undertaken before attending elementary school. With only 6% of the children having a low KIDMED score, adherence to the MD was high. MD adherence was higher in girls (Chi-square = 15.31, p < 0.01) and children who live on the coast of the Adriatic Sea (Chi-square = 18.51, p < 0.01). A mixed effects logistic regression (with kindergarten as random factor) identified sedentary activity to be negatively associated with MD adherence (OR per point: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44–0.91). High adherence to the MD in the studied sample may be attributed to regulated feeding in kindergarten. Considering that most Croatian elementary schools do not provide food to their students, MD adherence should be investigated later in life and also in other parts of the country where the MD is culturally less prevalent.

Cytochromes P450 are major metabolic enzymes involved in the biotransformation of xenobiotics. The majority of xenobiotics are metabolized in the liver, in which the highest levels of cytochromes P450 are expressed. Flavonoids are natural compounds to which humans are exposed through everyday diet. In the previous study, selected flavonoid aglycones showed inhibition of CYP3A4 enzyme. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine if these flavonoids inhibit metabolic activity of CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C8, and CYP2D6 enzymes. For this purpose, the O-deethylation reaction of phenacetin was used for monitoring CYP1A2 enzyme activity, coumarin 7-hydroxylation for CYP2A6 enzyme activity, 6-α-hydroxylation of paclitaxel for CYP2C8 enzyme activity, and dextromethorphan O-demethylation for CYP2D6 enzyme activity. The generated metabolites were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection. Hesperetin, pinocembrin, chrysin, isorhamnetin, and morin inhibited CYP1A2 activity; apigenin, tangeretin, galangin, and isorhamnetin inhibited CYP2A6 activity; and chrysin, chrysin-dimethylether, and galangin inhibited CYP2C8. None of the analyzed flavonoids showed inhibition of CYP2D6. The flavonoids in this study were mainly reversible inhibitors of CYP1A2 and CYP2A6, while the inhibition of CYP2C8 was of mixed type (reversible and irreversible). The most prominent reversible inhibitor of CYP1A2 was chrysin, and this was confirmed by the docking study.

Background Recognition of total elbow arthroplasties (TEAs) on plain radiographs is difficult due to a multitude of different types and models. Especially if surgery reports and documentation are not available, lost or when the primary surgery was performed in another hospital the prosthesis type may be undeterminable. Therefore we investigated in this platform study if a flowchart aids in recognition of thirteen different total elbow arthroplasty models on plain radiographs. Methods An online questionnaire on the Shoulder and Elbow Platform was developed. Plain radiographs of thirteen TEA models were shown with and without the help of an especially developed flowchart describing distinguishing features. Results Ten orthopedic surgeons specialized in upper extremity surgery completed the study. Recognition rates of the thirteen total elbow arthroplasty models ranged between 20 and 100 percent without the flowchart. Using the flowchart recognition varied between 40 and 90 percent. The recognition rates with the flowchart were not significantly higher. Inter-observer reliability did not increase on a significant level. Conclusion Correct recognition of total elbow arthroplasty models with plain radiographs remains imperfect with our developed flowchart. The flowchart increased correct recognition rates and inter-observer reliability.

The objective of this study was to evaluate impact of light and available oxygen on the chemical composition of three selected essential oils. Aliquots of immortelle (Helichrysum italicum), silver fir (Abies alba) and prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) essential oils were exposed to UV-A irradiation in the presence of atmospheric oxygen as well as in the presence of inert gas. The compositions of fresh and irradiated samples were studied by GC/MS. Each oil showed an individual response to the applied conditions. In immortelle oil, dominant process was phototransformation of g-curcumene to italicene, isoitalicene and ?-curcumene. Since g-curcumene is one of the major components of immortelle essential oil, exposure of this oil to light can cause significant changes in primary composition and thus quality. In silver fir and prickly juniper oil irradiation caused only slight changes among sesquiterpenes that are present as minor components. Both oils were found to be photostabile and insensitive to the presence of atmospheric oxygen.

Abstract This study offers the first report on variation sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (MT-CYTB) gene in populations from Bosnia (northeastern Bosnia). This study was designed on the analysis of the genetic diversity of two populations of different cultural-anthropological and genetic origin, Roma population and native/non-Roma population. The main aim of our study was to estimate the usefulness of the CYTB sequence in the analysis of genetic categorization of different populations and intergroup diversity, as well as to provide some additional information on haplogroup-associated polymorphisms within the CYTB region in defining haplogroup status. Estimation of the genetic diversity was done using intra and intergroup genetic indices. The population-specific polymorphisms have been found in both categories of the populations. The results of the analysis of genetic differentiation show significant pairwise Fst differences between the Romani and native populations. Also, registered significant genetic differentiation is illustrated on the level of genetic variation between subpopulations of the Roma and non-Roma origin. The important result in our study is the confirmation of the significance of the triad of polymorphisms T14783C-G15043A-G15301A, indicating the influence of Asian component of the maternal gene pool on the genetic structure of the studied population of the Roma. Our data show that the haplogroup polymorphisms exist in the CYTB region and can provide useful information on the haplogroups that were defined only by the control region of the mtDNA. The results of this study indicate the region of CYTB gene can be a benefit in providing some additional information in the analysis of genetic structure of human populations and can be additionally applied in population studies.

Introduction: Beneficial effect of local administration of lysozyme in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis was demonstrated, but there are no published studies focused on treatment of chemotherapy or radiotherapy induced oral mucositis with lysozyme. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare efficacy and safety of Lysobact Complete spray (lysozyme, cetylpyridinium, and lidocaine) and compounded medication for local use in the treatment of radio- and chemo-therapy induced oral mucositis. Patients and Methods: This observational, phase IV study was designed as prospective cohort investigation, and conducted at two sites, Clinical Hospital Zenica and University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina, from August to November, 2018. The patients with oral mucositis after radio- or chemo-therapy were treated by either registered lysozyme-based or compounded medication (standardized and bicarbonate-based) for 21 days. Results: Both lysozyme-based (Lysobact Complete Spray) spray (lysozyme, cetylpyridinium and lidocaine) and compounded medication for local use were effective in local treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis. However, lysozyme-based preparation was more effective, since signs of inflammation, number of oral ulcers and intensity of pain during eating and speaking withdrew to a greater extent than with highly variable compounded medication for local use. No adverse events were recorded in both treatment arms. Conclusions: Locally administered spray with fixed combination of lysozyme, cetylpyridinium and lidocaine (Lysobact Complete Spray) is very efficient and completely safe treatment of both radiotherapy and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis.

SUMMARY This study aimed to investigate whether infertility and its treatment affect couple sexuality. A systematic literature review was performed, focusing on female and male sexual dysfunctions due to infertility. The method was descriptive, using a meta-synthesis of scientific research published between 2012 and 2017 in the English language. The search for suitable studies was carried out with the research databases Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and ScienceDirect using the following keywords: infertility, sexual dysfunctions, couple. It can be concluded that infertility negatively affects the sexuality of an infertile couple, which is further proven by a high percentage of sexual dysfunctions (43%-90% among women and 48%-58% among men). Couples report less satisfaction with sexuality. Since lower satisfaction and dysfunctions are closely connected with infertility and its treatment, couples might benefit from sexual therapy and support during the process of infertility treatment. Further research should focus on the evaluation of different psychological interventions that would address sexuality in couples when diagnosed and treated for infertility.

This review considers the unique characteristics of Chinese cattle and intramuscular fat content (IMF) as factors influencing meat quality, including tenderness, flavor, and juiciness of meat. Due to its nutritional qualities, meat contributes to a healthy and balanced diet. The intramuscular fat content and eating quality of beef are influenced by many factors, which can generally be divided into on-farm and pre-slaughter factors (breed, sex of cattle, age at slaughter, housing system, diet, and pre-slaughter handling) and postmortem factors (post-slaughter processing, chilling temperature, and packaging). Meat quality traits can also be influenced by the individual genetic background of the animal. Worldwide, the function of genes and genetic polymorphisms that have potential effects on fattening of cattle and beef quality have been investigated. The use of DNA markers is recognized as a powerful and efficient approach to achieve genetic gain for desirable phenotypic characteristics, which is helpful for economic growth. The polymorphisms of the SIRT4, SIRT6, SIRT7, CRTC3, ABHD5, KLF6, H-FABP, and ELOVL6 genes for body and growth characteristics of cattle, and also for beef quality, are considered with the aim of highlighting the significance of beef intramuscular fat content, and that growth, body, and meat quality characteristics are polygenically regulated.

New technologies introduce more services which will call for significant advances and changes in Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks. Networks will have to go in the direction of network programmability, virtualization and cloud-based services. In this paper, we examined Software Defined Wide Area Network solution, its architecture and benefits of use. In order to analyze benefits of using SD-WAN two scenarios are compared: (i) Policy-based routing on WAN links in classical IP/MPLS network, and (ii) Using SDN controller to manage traffic on WAN links. Aim in both scenarios is to use the most optimal path for specific network.