This research is aimed at the importance of the value of a healthy lifestyle, especially among the younger population (students), and as an indicator of the level of health, the optimal level of sugar in the blood and the normality of the Body Mass Index represent an established prerequisite for longer-term life and cell health. The researchers used the Mann- Whitney U test for differences between a total of 73 female students of the University of Tuzla (N-35 Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, N-38 Law). The research showed that the students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports who have a significantly higher number of physical activities in their daily activities have lower body mass index values and that showed a statistically significant difference between the students of these two faculties at the significance level of 99% (p<0.01 ) , also in the blood sugar level between these two groups of students, a statistically significant difference was shown at the level of 99% (p<0.01), and in this area of research, the female students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports have lower values (MEAN = 4.989 mmol/l) from students of the Faculty of Law (5.545 mmol/l). It is important to note that in both groups in both researched areas the results are in the normal criterion ranges, and based on the values of arithmetic averages, it can be seen that female students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports have lower values of blood glucose and body mass index, which would could lead to a connection with the specifics of the study programs, for example the scope of daily movement activities. Keywords: BMI, insulin, health

Abstract Introduction. Sports are frequently investigated in relation to alcohol consumption habits in adolescence, but few studies have reported various competitive- and recreational-sport factors as correlates of harmful alcohol consumption in youth. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify possible associations that may exist between sports factors and harmful drinking in adolescents, emphasizing the specific influence of participation in competitive and recreational sports. Material and Methods. The participants were 650 adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina (16-17 years of age, 313 females) who were tested for sociodemographic factors, competitive-sport factors, recreational-sport factors, physical activity levels (PALs), and outcome-alcohol drinking (obtained by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – AUDIT). For the purpose of statistical analyses, the obtained AUDIT score was dichotomized (non-harmful vs. harmful drinking). Results. Harmful drinking was more common in males than in females (χ2 = 47.01, p < 0.001), and those adolescents who reported better competitive success in sports (χ2 = 41.81, p < 0.001). The PAL was greater in those males who did not report harmful drinking (t-test = 2.45, p < 0.05), with no significant difference in females or in the total sample. Logistic regressions were performed with sex as a confounding factor and revealed that competitive success in sports was significantly correlated with harmful drinking (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02-1.66, p < 0.05). Conclusions. This study highlighted the specific association between competitive sports success and harmful drinking in adolescents, indicating the need for a more detailed analysis of the background of the established association. Further analyses on the potential association between PAL and substance misuse in youth are warranted.

Pesticides used in agriculture can contaminate foods like fruits and vegetables, posing health risks to consumers and highlighting the need for effective residue monitoring. This study explores aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) comprising phosphonium or ammonium ionic liquids (ILs) combined with ammonium sulfate as an alternative pre-treatment method for extracting and concentrating the pesticides clomazone, pyraclostrobin, and deltamethrin from strawberry samples. Liquid–liquid equilibrium measurements for each ATPS were conducted, followed by extraction experiments to determine the most efficient systems for pesticide extraction. Results showed that all three pesticides migrated effectively to the IL-rich phase across the tested ATPSs. For the most promising system, tetrabutylphosphonium salicylate ([TBP][Sal]) with ammonium sulfate, extraction efficiencies for each pesticide exceeded 98% under optimized conditions for parameters such as pH, temperature, and ATPS composition. Application of this ATPS to strawberries resulted in significant pesticide preconcentration, reaching mg/L levels suitable for detection by liquid chromatography. The method’s sustainability was supported by green chemistry metrics, with AGREEprep and AGREE scores of 0.68 and 0.55, respectively, underscoring its alignment with eco-friendly practices.

SUMMARY The aim of this research was to examine the rheological parameters of carotid arteries and the frequency of abnormal values in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). The sample consisted of 90 subjects and was divided into two equal groups. The first group consisted of patients with MetS but without DM, while the second group had both MetS and DM. We used the values of the peak systolic velocity (PSV) as a reference for pathology. The results showed pathological values of PSV in the right internal carotid artery (ICA) in twelve patients in the MetS + DM group. The study found that the incidence of pathological rheological parameters was higher in subjects with MetS + DM as compared to those with only MetS. Subjects with MetS + DM had higher values of maximum acceleration during systole in various carotid arteries. A subject with MetS + DM also showed total flow obstruction in the left and internal carotid artery (ICA) and a severe narrowing of the right ICA, indicating the presence of carotid artery disease. The study also found that nearly two-thirds of subjects with MetS + DM had pathological values of PSV in the right ICA and slightly fewer in the left ICA. Research on French populations has shown similar results. Eleven patients had pathological values in the left ICA. The frequency of the carotid rheological parameters’ abnormalities was significantly higher in the MetS with DM patient group. The frequency of abnormalities in the rheological parameters of carotid circulation was significantly higher in patients with MetS and DM (as compared to non-diabetic patients). In our study, pathological changes were generally more susceptible to ICA. This indicates the importance of screening the rheological parameters of subjects with MetS for the prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.

SUMMARY Our study aimed to analyze the correlation of cancer-related parameters with tumor regression grade (TRG) and disease-free survival (DFS) by gender in 192 rectal cancer patients operated on after neoadjuvant long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT). Preoperative diagnostics revealed no significant gender differences in any clinical parameters other than obesity (p=0.031). We found that slightly overweight men had a lower incidence of distant metastases (p=0.042). The post-LCCRT pathologic finding showed that women had more positive lymph nodes (ypN, p=0.002) while no other pathologic parameter differed significantly between the genders. Overall, a poor response to therapy correlated with a shorter time to disease progression (p=0.002). Women achieved ypN0 in 50% of cases, but only 27% had a good TRG compared to 40.5% of men (p=0.073). Women had a worse DFS than men, even when complete response to therapy was achieved (p=0.003), and greater depth of residual tumor invasion (ypT, p=0.035) and higher ypN (p=0.002) correlated with shorter DFS. Positive resection margins (p<0.001), higher ypN stage (p=0.003), and poor TRG (p=0.025) correlated with shorter DFS in men. We conclude that women have a poorer response to LCCRT with the possibility that therapeutic approach to the neoadjuvant treatment of rectal cancer may be gender-specific.

Languages do not operate in isolation; rather, they evolve in continuous contact with other languages. This contact and resultant lexical borrowing can lead to minor or substantial changes in the vocabulary of the recipient language. This quantitative study aims to analyze how bor-rowing from the English language affects the formation of new verbs in the Bosnian language (verbal Anglicisms) and which suffixes in the Bosnian language (between -ova-, -a-, -ira-) are most often used to form new verbs. Additionally, the aim is to explore the frequency of use and the level of knowledge of the meaning of verbal Anglicisms. The study was conducted on 345 participants, i.e. both male and female high school students from Bosnia Herzegovina. The results indicate that verbal Anglicisms with the suffix -a- are the most often used group of verbal Anglicisms and that this preference is a result of the nature and origin of those Angli-cisms (mostly IT-related) and is not related to the linguistic nature of the Bosnian language. Furthermore, it was shown that knowledge of the original form of verbal Anglicisms affects the level of their use, and that level of use of these Anglicisms is influenced by the EL GPA and medium of instruction of the respondents, while gender, grade level, and experience of travel-ing to English-speaking countries are not significant factors in the extent of usage of these An-glicisms. Further investigation is proposed to broaden the scope of the present research in different settings and among various study groups. Keywords: Anglicisms; borrowing; language; high school students; verb.

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of propidium iodide as a reliable marker for detecting dead or dying cells in frozen liver tissue sections. By comparing propidium iodide staining with the widely used Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, both methods showed consistent results in disease models such as alcohol-induced fibrosis and Western diet-induced fatty liver. Additionally, propidium iodide was successfully co-stained with other fluorescent markers, like phalloidin (for actin filaments) and antibodies targeting collagen, enabling detailed spatial analysis of dying cells within tissue. This multiplex approach allows for a deeper understanding of tissue organization and cell death localization, particularly in complex conditions like liver fibrosis. Moreover, our results suggest that propidium iodide staining can be applied beyond current models, offering a more accessible and cost-effective alternative to traditional methods, like TUNEL. Furthermore, its integration with other markers enables simultaneous analysis of immune responses and tissue damage, making it a powerful tool for future studies on liver disease and other inflammatory conditions. This technique has the potential to advance research into disease mechanisms and improve the evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies targeting tissue regeneration and inflammation control.

This article examines the multifaceted implications of community service as a criminal sanction within the legal framework of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Grounded in an interdisciplinary approach, it integrates legal analysis, economic evaluation, and psychological perspectives to provide a comprehensive understanding of this alternative sanction. The legal analysis delves into the statutory provisions and judicial practices governing community service, assessing its alignment with international human rights standards and its effectiveness in promoting restorative justice. The economic evaluation leverages statistical data to measure the impact of community service on the national economy, including cost-benefit analyses and its potential to alleviate the financial burdens on the penal system. In exploring the psychological aspects, the article investigates the rehabilitative potential of community service. The article highlights the role of community service in fostering a sense of responsibility, improving self-esteem, and reducing recidivism rates. It also considers the challenges and limitations of implementing this sanction, including potential stigmatization and the necessity for adequate support systems. Through a thorough analysis of these dimensions, the article aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on criminal justice reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The applications of light emitting diodes (LED) as a red light therapy (RLT) source for the management of various conditions such as wound treatment, control of inflammation and pain have been growing continually. Despite its extensive medical application, the effects of RLT on living cells are still highly contested. This study is conducted to test the effects of RLT using combined LED source with 660 nm (red) and 850 nm (near infrared) light on cultured human lymphocytes in vitro. To analyze the effect of RLT on human peripheral blood lymphocyte’s proliferation, the mitotic index (cytostatic effect) is monitored under different irradiation exposure time parameters and conditions. This value indicates how a particular treatment affected cell division, either proliferatively, inhibitory, or had no effect at all. The interpretation of the results of the mitotic index is done in relation to the mitotic index of the untreated (unirradiated) control cells. Our data shows higher lymphocyte proliferation for all of the irradiated samples, and is particularly enhanced by multiple exposures to red light. The effectiveness of RLT on cell activity is of importance in determination of suitable treatment for diseases related to the immune system. To better understand the molecular and metabolic mechanisms involved in red LED-induced photobiomodulation, the study will be extended to investigate the RLT effect on cell protein synthesis.

SUMMARY The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of medical students in relation to COVID-19 according to different medical schools and duration of studies. A validated questionnaire was administered to 192 medical students at two universities in Croatia and one from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fisher-Freeman-Halton and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine differences among study groups. The association of variables was tested with a linear regression model. A negative correlation was found between adherence to measures and attitudes (ß=-0.36; p<0.001). Studying at the University of Zagreb was positively associated with students’ knowledge about COVID-19 (ß=0.24; p=0.033) but negatively with students’ attitudes (ß= 0.26; p=0.013). Compared to the last study year students, second-year students had lower knowledge (ß=-0.28; p=0.040) and statistically nonsignificant negative attitudes (ß=-0.24; p=0.055). Fifth-year students had more negative attitudes (ß=-0.24; p=0.008) compared to sixth-year students. The association between knowledge and attitudes was weak and statistically borderline nonsignificant (ß=0.14; p=0.056). The lack of association between knowledge and attitudes requires additional research to identify the potential factors that favor the formation of attitudes toward appropriate protection against COVID-19.

SUMMARY The aim of the present study was to assess mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) in Bosnian and Herzegovinian patients with heart failure (HF). This study included 80 patients with HF and 40 healthy controls. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) testing was used to evaluate cognitive function. Abdominal obesity was assessed by waist circumference, and hypertension was assessed by the auscultatory method. Data on other CMRF and comorbidities, such as diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, and atrial fibrillation (AF), were gathered with a specially designed questionnaire. Lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fibrinogen were assessed with standard laboratory methods. Student, Mann-Whitney, and Chi-square tests were used to determine significant differences between groups. Associations between categorical variables and correlation coefficients were assessed by the Chi-square and Spearman test, respectively. The prevalence of MCI in patients with HF was 77.5%. We found significant associations between MCI and diabetes, hypertension, AF, and smoking in patients with HF. We found no significant associations between MCI, abdominal obesity, and alcohol consumption. A significant positive correlation between MCI and total cholesterol was observed in patients with HF. Furthermore, a lower MoCA score was associated with higher values of CRP and fibrinogen in HF patients. The present study showed a high prevalence of MCI in Bosnian and Herzegovinian HF patients as well as its association with various CMRFs. These results suggest it is necessary to begin MCI screening in HF patients, especially since data from the literature point to improvement in cognitive performance with appropriate HF and concomitant CMRF treatment.