Extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes and microvesicles, have been identified as mediators of a newly-discovered intercellular communication system. They are essential signaling mediators in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Depending on their origin, they fulfill different functions. EVs of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have been found to promote comparable therapeutic activities as MSCs themselves. In a variety of in vivo models, it has been observed that they suppress pro-inflammatory processes and reduce oxidative stress and fibrosis. By switching pro-inflammatory into tolerogenic immune responses, MSC-EVs very likely promote tissue regeneration by creating a pro-regenerative environment allowing endogenous stem and progenitor cells to successfully repair affected tissues. Accordingly, MSC-EVs provide a novel, very promising therapeutic agent, which has already been successfully applied to humans. However, the MSC-EV production process has not been standardized, yet. Indeed, a collection of different protocols has been used for the MSC-EV production, characterization and application. By focusing on kidney, heart, liver and brain injuries, we have reviewed the major outcomes of published MSC-EV in vivo studies.

Williams et al. (Nat. Genet. 48:238-224, 2016) recently reported neutral tumor evolution in one third of 904 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Here, we assess the reproducibility and validity of their method and the extent of positive selection in subclonal mutations across cancer types. Our results do not support observable neutral tumor evolution and uncover strong positive selection within subclonal mutations across cancers.

In Europe, Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michx. (Haloragaceae) has had the status of invasive species in freshwater ecosystems since 2012. During phytosociological research in the Neretva River Delta in July 2016, we noted a high coverage of species Myriophyllum heterophyllum within vegetation of rooted leaf-floating macrophytes of the Nymphaeion albae Oberd. 1957 alliance (the order potamogetonetalia Koch 1926). In this paper, alongside the finding of the new locality with M. heterophyllum in Croatia, its phytosociology is reported.

The results of the first study of the dragonfly fauna in northwest Bosnia are presented. Field surveys were conducted in summer 2012 and 2013, resulting in the identification of 36 species. Out of these, 34 are new for the region. The present paper gives a detailed overview of the results and a comparison of the dragonfly fauna composition of the region studied with the neighboring areas within Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia is made. The most abundant species were: Calopteryx virgo (Linnaeus, 1758), Sympetrum sanguineum (Müller, 1764), Onychogomphus forcipatus (Linnaeus,1758), Somatochlora meridionalis Nielsen, 1935, Calopteryx splendens (Harris, 1782) and Platycnemis pennipes (Pallas, 1771). Noteworthy are the records of Chalcolestes viridis (Vander Linden, 1825) and Coenagrion scitulum (Rambur, 1842), two species that are rare in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and also Coenagrion ornatum (Selys, 1850) and Cordulegaster heros Theischinger, 1979, species of European conservation concern. Distribution and the status of these species and the conservation of dragonfly species in the country are briefly discussed. The data collected represent an important contribution to the knowledge of the dragonfly fauna of the Una River basin and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Records of the biting midge Forcipomyia paludis (Macfie, 1936) from Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina are reported herewith as the first finds of F. paludis in both countries, together with new records from Croatia and Sweden. This biting midge is a temporary ectoparasite of dragonfly imagines and the only ceratopogonid species known in Europe to feed specifically on this insect group. Forcipomyia paludis is already known in 18 European countries. Prior to this report, F. paludis was known to infest 67 dragonfly species in Europe. Thirteen dragonfly imagines from 11 sites in Slovenia, 27 imagines from 13 sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina and six imagines from two sites in Croatia having F. paludis on their wings were recorded. Additional data for 50 imagines from 15 sites in Sweden are also presented. In Slovenia, the species is known to occur in the Gorenjska, Goriška Brda, Vipava River Valley, Coastal-Karst region, Central Slovenia, Kočevska region and Bela krajina, while in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is known only from south Herzegovina (Ljubuški, Čapljina, Mostar and Stolac areas). In Croatia, the species is present in several parts of the country, while in Sweden it occurs only in the southern and middle parts of the country (Skåne, Öland, Gotland, Göteborg and Gävle). Six new dragonfly host species and the northernmost occurrence of F. paludis are also reported.