Objectives: Different inflammatory processes and sepsis can significantly affect the number of platelets and platelet indices. Therefore, in this study, total platelet count (PLT), thrombocrit (Pct), platelet distribution width (PDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) were analyzed in patients with Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial sepsis and in sterile blood cultures. Materials and methods: Inclusion criteria were an increased number of inflammatory parameters (elevated values of leukocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and positive blood culture. Exclusion criteria were patients who did not have elevated values of inflammatory parameters and did not have a positive blood culture. Samples were collected from patients who had sepsis confirmed by blood cultures at the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics at University Clinical Hospital Mostar in the period from 2019 to 2022. Three groups were analyzed, patients who had sterile blood cultures, patients with blood cultures with isolated Gram-positive bacteria, and patients with blood cultures with isolated Gram-negative bacteria. Specific infectious agents were identified for each group of patients. In addition to the above, PLT, Pct, MPV, PDW, P-LCR, PCT, CRP, the total number of leukocytes, and the number of neutrophil leukocytes were analyzed in each group. Results: The values of PCT, CRP, and the number of neutrophile leukocytes were significantly higher in patients with Gram-negative sepsis as compared to Gram-positive sepsis and to control group. Patients with sepsis have decreased PLT and Ptc and increased values of MPV, PDW, and P-LCR. In sepsis caused by the Gram-negative bacteria, i.e., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii, the values of the same parameters were more changed compared to sepsis caused by Gram-positive bacteria, i.e., Streptococcus pneumoniae, Enterococcus spp., and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). When comparing Gram-negative negative bacteria, PLT was lowest in sepsis caused by Escherichia coli, the PDW value was highest in sepsis caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, and MPV and P-LCR were the highest in sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Conclusion: Our study showed that platelet indices are significantly changed in patients with sepsis. Patients with sepsis have decreased values of PLT and Pct and increased values of MPV, PDW, and P-LCR, indicating an increase in thrombocyte production. Moreover, the results were more prominent in sepsis caused by Gram-negative bacteria compared to sepsis caused by Gram-positive bacteria.

Neutropenic enterocolitis (NE) is a potentially life-threatening condition, primarily affecting neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies. The clinical manifestations of NE in patients receiving antineoplastic drugs range from fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain to intestinal perforation and shock. We report the case of a 12-year-old boy with acute myelogenous leukemia, undergoing chemotherapy, who presented with an atypical case of NE. Due to numerous jejunal perforations and severe rectal bleeding, he experienced abdominal distension without any accompanying tenderness and the unexpected rapid onset of shock. Surgery was performed, and his postoperative course was uneventful. However, seven days later, Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced sepsis made his condition rapidly worse due to severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Despite intensive supportive therapy, the patient unfortunately passed away. NE remains a life-threatening complication in pediatric immunosuppressed leukemic patients. A high index of suspicion, prompt diagnosis, aggressive treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and correction of fluid-electrolyte imbalances are crucial in reducing morbidity and mortality.

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Soccer coaches, although not prominently featured in the foreground, are essential to the outcomes of the sport. They are key figures between athletes and organizational goals. Choosing, retaining, and developing the greatest athletes is the cornerstone to a successful coaching career. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire that was determine the characteristic soccer coaching styles. A experimental study involved the participation of 207 soccer coaches (B, A and PRO UEFA coaching license). The questionnaire comprises 14 themes and consists of 65 items designed to evaluate soccer coaching styles, developed from the updated Leadership Scale for Sport. The validation of the developed instrument in this empirical study was conducted using two procedures: (1) factor analysis (PCA with oblique rotation) and (2) an internal consistency assessment (Scale Reliability Analysis – Cronbach's Alpha). Nineteen significant factors were extracted, and they are as follows: Player contribution to the game system; Cooperation/ Opinions; Implementation of coach's requirements; Teaching; Motivation; Conflict resolution; Informations; Sanction; Expressing an opinion; Error correction at own discretion; Highlighting the good and bad sides of players; Instructions; Team goal setting; Highlighting positivism/ negativism; The coach's personal expectations; Team solutions; Strategy creation; Social support; The influence of the team on coaching decision-making. By analyzing the data, it was determined that “B” football coaches are characterized by the coaching style "positive feedback", “A” soccer coaches by the "training and instructor" and "positive feedback" styles, while “PRO” coaches are characterized by the "positive feedback" style and a slightly lower frequency by the "training and instructor" style. Using only one coaching/leadership style is certainly a limiting factor, as different situations require different coaching approaches.

The aim of the present study was to determine the metabolic profile of Holstein-Friesian cows in the postpartum period, as well as the effect of season on metabolic profile. The postpartum period is essential in the reproductive life of high yielding dairy cows because of its impact on future gravidity. This study included 60 cows up to 15 days after parturition, aged 2-8 years (the largest number of cows was between 3 and 5 years old) with no apparent clinical problems. Cows were sampled in summer season (n=30) and winter season (n=30). Parameters of metabolic profile were determined as follows: glucose, albumin, total protein, cholesterol, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Statistical differences were considered significant at the p<0.05. Present research showed that all investigated parameters were within a reference range for cattle. Impact of season sampling was determined for glucose, albumin, total protein, cholesterol and phosphorus, while bilirubin, calcium, magnesium, urea as well as activities of ALT, AST and LDH were unaffected by the season of sampling. In conclusion, metabolic status is affected by the season and examination during the postpartum period can provide valuable information of cows' health status, in order to diagnose and moreover prevent postpartum diseases.

The purpose of academic writing is to convey scholarly knowledge and data to the intended audience in a concise and comprehensible way. Sometimes an academic text needs to be translated into a foreign language by a translator. In this case, the translator is expected to translate the source text into the target text in plain and understandable language. This study illustrates how the author can help the translator during the process of preparing the source text and discusses the strategies that could be used to achieve this. What makes whether an academic translation is of lower or higher quality is not only the level of knowledge and skills that the translator possesses but also the quality of the source text, which directly affects that of the output. In addition, academic writing has its own rules, and, albeit partially, this may differ from one language to another. In this sense, translators encounter some problems while translating academic texts. The purpose of this study is to illustrate such problems and to discuss the strategies that could be used to eliminate them. Common problems that affect the quality of translation are as follows: forming wordy sentences, using ambiguous expressions, organizing the text in a way that is not suitable for the discourse structure of English, using conjunctions imprecisely, using passive verbs unnecessarily, expressing thoughts indirectly instead of using direct language, using words with the same meaning sequentially and spelling mistakes, among others. This study discusses what the writer and the translator can do to improve an academic text in general. Although experienced translators may take effective actions, a good translation may not be possible out of a poorly written source text. High-quality academic translation requires a collaboration between the author and the translator. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness about this issue.