Abstract Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn’s disease (CD), is associated with increased microbial-specific IgG and IgA antibodies, whereas alterations of anti-food antibodies are still disputed. The knowledge about IgG subclass antibodies in IBD is limited. In this study we analysed IgG subclass antibodies specific for nutritional and commensal antigens in IBD patients and controls. Methods: Serum IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 specific for wheat and milk extracts, purified ovalbumin, Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis lysates and mannan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were analysed by ELISA in patients with CD (n = 56), ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 29), acute gastroenteritis/colitis (n = 12) as well as non-inflammatory controls (n = 62). Results: Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) of all IgG subclasses and anti-B. fragilis IgG1 levels were increased in CD patients compared to UC patients and controls. The discriminant validity of ASCA IgG2 and IgG4 was comparable with that of ASCA pan-IgG and IgA, whereas it was inferior for ASCA IgG1/IgG3 and anti-B. fragilis IgG1. Complicated CD defined by the presence of perianal, stricturing or penetrating disease phenotypes was associated with increased ASCA IgG1/IgG3/IgG4, anti-B. fragilis IgG1 and anti-E. coli IgG1 levels. Anti-food IgG subclass levels were not different between IBD patients and controls and did not correlate with food intolerance. In contrast to anti-microbial Abs, food-specific IgG responses were predominately of the IgG4 isotype and all food-specific IgG subclass levels correlated negatively with age. Conclusion: Our study supports the notion that the adaptive immune recognition of food and commensal antigens are differentially regulated.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a new theoretical insight regarding top managers' personal values in developing countries based on the Schwartz Values Theory (Schwartz, 1992, 1996, 2006; Schwartz and Bilsky, 1990) and to explore the influence of top managers' personal values on sustainability performances of successful businesses. The research describes personal values differences between top managers and their commitment to pro-social and pro-environmental responsibility who were approached through the validated and reliable questionnaire on identifying top managers' personal values (PVQ40) and questionnaire on sustainability indicators observed through the „triple bottom line“ concept which includes three measuring elements: financial, social and environmental performances (Fauzi, Svensson and Rahman, 2010). Given that top managers are very often the owners in SMEs, their values are largely reflected in the organizational values, which means that in small pro-environmentaly oriented firms, the personal values of owners-managers seem to play a much stronger part in motivating pro-environmental behaviors than in other SMEs (Lawrence at al., 2006). With regard to business sustainability, it is still insufficiently known, developed and understood in Southeast Europe and in developing countries. Therefore, this research may be used to encourage companies and local governments to include a sustainability issues in their business activities as a pre-condition for business success and competitiveness. The managers in SMEs can use this research as a guideline on introduction of contemporary principles of sustainability into their companies and to improve and direct their personal values towards sustainability.

The aim of the study was to investigate parasitic contamination of soil and vegetation on different locations in the Sarajevo Canton and to propose the rehabilitation measures. Among 55 locations sampled in the Canton Sarajevo in 2015, 33 (66.0%) were positive. In total, 220 soil samples and 80 plant samples were tested, and 59 (26.82%) and 12 (15.00%) were positive, respectively. Five different parasite-developing stages were determined. The highest level of contamination was detected in the parks (77.77%) and playgrounds (75.00%). Among 33 positive locations (60.00% of examined locations), taeniid eggs were detected in four (12.12%), Toxocara canis eggs in 32 (96.97%), Trichuris spp. eggs in nine (27.27%) and ancylostomatid eggs in six locations (18.18%), while nematode larvae were identified in 14 locations (42.42%). Out of 71 soil and plants positive samples, taeniid eggs were identified in four (5.63%) and Toxocara canis eggs in 50 samples (70.42%). Trichuris spp. eggs were found in nine (12.67%), ancylostomatid eggs in six (8.45%) and nematode larvae in 17 samples (23.94%). Concerning the public health aspect, it is crucial to reduce parasitic contamination by implementing adequate preventive measures in line with the legislation. Involvement of all concerned particularly pet owners (parents and children), veterinarians, physicians, and environmentalists, should be strongly encouraged with major emphasis on permanent education.

Introduction: Homocysteine is process-product of methionine demethylation. It has proatherogenic, prothrombotic, prooxidative, proapoptotic, osteoporotic, neurotoxic, neuroinflamatory, and neurodegenerative effects. Hyperhomocysteinemia correlates with C667T MTHFR mutation, decrease of folic acid and vitamin B, as well as prolonged use of certain medications. Materials and Methods: We measured levels of homocysteine in thirty patients (15::15) with “de novo” Parkinson’s disease, with average age 64.17 ± 13.19 (28-82) years (Department of Neurology, University Clinical Center Tuzla). Normal level of homocysteine for women was 3.36-20.44 micromole/l and 5.9-16 micromole/l for men. We followed the effects of medicament approach (folic acid) every six months for next five years. Results: 20% of patients with “de novo” Parkinson’s disease exhibited hyperhomocysteinemia. An average level of homocysteine was 13.85 ± 5.82 micromole/l. Differences due to age and homocysteine levels, regardless of sex, were not concluded. For the next five years intake of folic acid (periodically, 1-2 months, 5 mg per day, orally) was effective to normalized levels of homocysteine in all. Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinemia is present in every fifth patient with “de novo” Parkinson’s disease. Folic acid is medication of choice in treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia coexisting with Parkinson’s disease.

Higher education in Europe and in the Balkan’s countries is undergoing major reforms. The Bologna Process was a major reform created with the claimed goal of providing responses to issues such as the public responsibility for higher education and research, higher education governance, the social dimension of higher education and research, and the values and roles of higher education and research in modern, globalized, and increasingly complex societies with the most demanding qualification needs. Changes in the curricula, modernization of facilities and their alignment with the programs of other European universities, employment of a larger number of assistants, especially in the clinical courses at our universities are necessary. Also, it is necessary to continue to conduct further detailed analysis and evaluation of teaching content and outcomes in the future. In this review authors expressed their views and experience of using Bologna model of education in the Balkan’s countries with emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia.

Introduction: The hospital blood bank (HBB) need to timely provide adequate amounts of blood and blood products for surgeries. For various surgical programs are performed assessments of the average number of blood doses needed for surgery. By using two types of requisitions BT/AB (blood type/antibody) and BT/AB/MT (blood type/antibody/match test) for pretransfusion immunohaematological testing in General Hospital “Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakas” is achieved more rational consumption of blood and blood derivatives and financial savings through reduced number of matching tests (MT). Goal: To determine the total amount of pre-operative requisitions (BT/AB and BT/AB/MT) for blood and blood products at surgical departments of the General Hospital “Prim. Dr. Abdulah Nakas” in the period from June 1, 2014 – December 31, 2014 and analyze the consumption/return of blood in reserve in relation to the surgical disciplines, the total number of savings in MT. Conduct assessments MSBOS (Maximum Surgical Blood Ordering Schedule). Results: The total amount of preoperative requisitions for blood and blood products in surgical wards was 927 requests from which 623 demands or 67.2% is tested by BT/MT, while 304 or 32.8% was tested by BT/AB/MT. Transfused in total was 617 units of blood and blood products, 275 units were not transfused. Probability of transfusions for surgery was 51.3, the highest in the case of surgical intensive care 70.4 and the lowest for the department of general surgery 37.2%. Assessment of indicators of efficient resource management indicates they are the best at the delivery ward 0.89, while a total for surgical wards is 0.69. In total for surgery on the average were required 2.1 units of blood. By using two types of requisitions for pretransfusion immunohaematological testing (BT/AB and CG/AB/MT) is achieved more rational use of MT. In 623 requests for BT/AB only 61 MT were performed. Average of blood units issued in accordance with these requirements is 0.08 and the savings in the number of MT amounts to 562.

Background: Infection with the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a widespread transmittable disease with a diagnosed prevalence of 2.0%. Fortunately, it is now curable in most patients. Sales of medicines to treat HCV infection grew 2.7% per year between 2004 and 2011, enhanced by the launch of the protease inhibitors (PIs) boceprevir (BCV) and telaprevir (TVR) in addition to ribavirin and pegylated interferon (pegIFN). Costs will continue to rise with new treatments including sofosbuvir, which now include interferon free regimens. Objective: Assess the uptake of BCV and TVR across Europe from a health authority perspective to offer future guidance on dealing with new high cost medicines. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study of medicines to treat HCV (pegIFN, ribavirin, BCV and TVR) among European countries from 2008 to 2013. Utilization measured in defined daily doses (DDDs)/1000 patients/quarter (DIQs) and expenditure in Euros/DDD. Health authority activities to influence treatments categorized using the 4E methodology (Education, Engineering, Economics and Enforcement). Results: Similar uptake of BCV and TVR among European countries and regions, ranging from 0.5 DIQ in Denmark, Netherlands and Slovenia to 1.5 DIQ in Tayside and Catalonia in 2013. However, different utilization of the new PIs vs. ribavirin indicates differences in dual vs. triple therapy, which is down to factors including physician preference and genotypes. Reimbursed prices for BCV and TVR were comparable across countries. Conclusion: There was reasonable consistency in the utilization of BCV and TVR among European countries in comparison with other high priced medicines. This may reflect the social demand to limit the transmission of HCV. However, the situation is changing with new curative medicines for HCV genotype 1 (GT1) with potentially an appreciable budget impact. These concerns have resulted in different prices across countries, with their impact on budgets and patient outcomes monitored in the future to provide additional guidance.

A PCR-free, optics-free device is used for the detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) 16S rRNA at 10 fM, which corresponds to ~100–1000 colony forming units/mL (CFU/mL) depending on cellular rRNA levels. The development of a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective nucleic acid detection platform is sought for the detection of pathogenic microbes in food, water and body fluids. Since 16S rRNA sequences are species specific and are present at high copy number in viable cells, these nucleic acids offer an attractive target for microbial pathogen detection schemes. Here, target 16S rRNA of E. coli at 10 fM concentration was detected against a total RNA background using a conceptually simple approach based on electromechanical signal transduction, whereby a step change reduction in ionic current through a pore indicates blockage by an electrophoretically mobilized bead-peptide nucleic acid probe conjugate hybridized to target nucleic acid. We investigated the concentration detection limit for bacterial species-specific 16S rRNA at 1 pM to 1 fM and found a limit of detection of 10 fM for our device, which is consistent with our previous finding with single-stranded DNA of similar length. In addition, no false positive responses were obtained with control RNA and no false negatives with target 16S rRNA present down to the limit of detection (LOD) of 10 fM. Thus, this detection scheme shows promise for integration into portable, low-cost systems for rapid detection of pathogenic microbes in food, water and body fluids.

Dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis L., Lamiaceae) is a well-known aromatic and medicinal Mediterranean plant that is native in coastal regions of the western Balkan and southern Apennine Peninsulas and is commonly cultivated worldwide. It is widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Knowledge of its genetic diversity and spatiotemporal patterns is important for plant breeding programmes and conservation. We used eight microsatellite markers to investigate evolutionary history of indigenous populations as well as genetic diversity and structure within and among indigenous and cultivated/naturalised populations distributed across the Balkan Peninsula. The results showed a clear separation between the indigenous and cultivated/naturalised groups, with the cultivated material originating from one restricted geographical area. Most of the genetic diversity in both groups was attributable to differences among individuals within populations, although spatial genetic analysis of indigenous populations indicated the existence of isolation by distance. Geographical structuring of indigenous populations was found using clustering analysis, with three sub-clusters of indigenous populations. The highest level of gene diversity and the greatest number of private alleles were found in the central part of the eastern Adriatic coast, while decreases in gene diversity and number of private alleles were evident towards the northwestern Adriatic coast and southern and eastern regions of the Balkan Peninsula. The results of Ecological Niche Modelling during Last Glacial Maximum and Approximate Bayesian Computation suggested two plausible evolutionary trajectories: 1) the species survived in the glacial refugium in southern Adriatic coastal region with subsequent colonization events towards northern, eastern and southern Balkan Peninsula; 2) species survived in several refugia exhibiting concurrent divergence into three genetic groups. The insight into genetic diversity and structure also provide the baseline data for conservation of S. officinalis genetic resources valuable for future breeding programmes.