<p>U ovom radu istražujemo primjenu Iharine zeta funkcije na kompletne grafove i na grafove nastale pro&scaron;irenom unijom dva kompletna grafa. Iharina zeta funkcija služi kao alat za analizu cikličnih struktura &nbsp;grafova, &nbsp;pružajući &nbsp;uvid &nbsp;u &nbsp;cikluse &nbsp;različitih &nbsp;dužina &nbsp;unutar &nbsp;grafova. &nbsp;Cilj &nbsp;je &nbsp;izračunati Iharine zeta funkcije za kompletne grafove i grafove dobivene kombinacijom dva takva grafa, te ispitati &nbsp;kako &nbsp;se &nbsp;strukturalne &nbsp;informacije &nbsp;iz pojedinačnih &nbsp;grafova &nbsp;odražavaju &nbsp;u &nbsp;zeta &nbsp;funkciji složenijeg grafa. Na&scaron;a analiza pokazuje da broj ciklusa dužine 3, 4 i 5 u složenijim grafovima raste prema pravilima koja zavise o dužini ciklusa i broju čvorova grafa, čime se potvrđuje mogućnost predviđanja rasta broja ciklusa na osnovu ovih koeficijenata.&nbsp;</p>

Contrast staining after endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke typically occurs in infarcted tissue and is considered an indicator of irreversible brain damage. Contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue was shown to occur in this retrospective review of 194 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment for anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke and is likely due to a reversible, milder degree of BBB disruption. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Contrast staining is a common finding after endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke. It typically occurs in infarcted tissue and is considered an indicator of irreversible brain damage. Contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue has not been systematically investigated. We sought to assess the incidence, risk factors, and clinical significance of contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue after endovascular treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent endovascular treatment for anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke. Contrast staining, defined as new hyperdensity on CT after endovascular treatment, was categorized as either contrast staining in infarcted tissue if the stained region demonstrated restricted diffusion on follow-up MR imaging or contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue if the stained region demonstrated no restricted diffusion. Baseline differences between patients with and without contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue were compared. Logistic regression was used to identify independent associations for contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue after endovascular treatment. RESULTS: Among 194 patients who underwent endovascular treatment for large-vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke and met the inclusion criteria, contrast staining in infarcted tissue was noted in 52/194 (26.8%) patients; contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue, in 26 (13.4%) patients. Both contrast staining in infarcted tissue and contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue were noted in 5.6% (11/194). Patients with contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue were found to have a higher likelihood of having an ASPECTS of 8–10, to be associated with contrast staining in infarcted tissue, and to achieve successful reperfusion compared with those without contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue. In contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue regions, the average attenuation was 40 HU, significantly lower than the contrast staining in infarcted tissue regions (53 HU). None of the patients with contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue had clinical worsening during their hospital stay. The median discharge mRS was significantly lower in patients with contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue than in those without (3 versus 4; P = .018). No independent predictors of contrast staining in noninfarcted tissue were found. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast staining can be seen outside the infarcted tissue after endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke, likely attributable to the reversible disruption of the BBB in ischemic but not infarcted tissue. While generally benign, understanding its characteristics is important because it may mimic pathologic conditions such as infarcted tissue and cerebral edema.

Introduction: Meningiomas are the most common benign tumor of the central nervous system, accounting for 53.3% and 37.6% of all central nervous system tumors (1). The World Health Organization (WHO) Grade I meningiomas account for 80.5% of all meningiomas and are considered benign meningiomas; the WHO Grade II meningiomas account for 17.7% of all meningiomas and exhibit more aggressive behavior. Methods: In the period 2015-2022, a retrospective single-center study at the clinic of neurosurgery at the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo was conducted, which included patients with a pathohistological finding of WHO Grade I or II meningioma. Depending on the pathohistological grade of the tumor, patients were divided into two groups: Grade I and Grade II patients. Patients were examined clinically and radiologically. Clinical data collected included in the study: Gender, age, number of symptoms before surgery, whether patients were symptomatic or asymptomatic, pre-operative Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group,and Karnopsky performance scale. Pre-operative contrast magnetic resonance imaging of the head measured tumor volume, temporal muscle thickness (TMT), sagittal midline shift, and surrounding cerebral edema. Results: A total of 80 patients were enrolled in the study, 68 with WHO Grade I and 12 with WHO Grade II meningiomas. We found that patients with Grade I meningioma were younger and that the mean thickness of the temporal muscle was statistically thicker than in patients with Grade II. Increasing TMT was significantly and positively associated with Grade I tumors and negatively associated with Grade II tumors (p = 0.032). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that TMT can serve as a radiologic pre-operative indicator of meningioma grade and provide valuable guidance to neurosurgeons in surgical planning. Further studies are needed to validate these results.

Klebsiella pneumoniae, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, demonstrates an increasing trend of resistance to carbapenems and is a common cause of both hospital- and community-acquired infections. The current study provides insights into the genetic characterization of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates circulating during 2022 in a Sarajevo tertiary hospital. Among the 87 CRKP strains analyzed, real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) results showed that 85 (97.7%) tested positive for the carbapenem resistance gene. The oxacillinase-48 (OXA-48) gene was detected in 83 (95.4%) isolates, while the K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and the New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM) genes were detected in one isolate each. No Verona integron-encoded-metallo-beta-lactamase (VIM) or imipenemase-metallo-beta-lactamase 1 (IMP-1) genes were found in any of the tested isolates. The multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of sequence types (STs) revealed that ST101, an emerging high-risk clone exhibiting extensive drug resistance, was the most prevalent, whereas ST307 was detected in only one isolate. Phylogenetic analysis of the ten CRKP isolates indicated the presence of three clusters that could constitute an outbreak. A comparison of the results of the utilized phenotypic test (the combined-disk test [CDT]) and rtPCR showed high concordance, suggesting that the phenotypic assay may be useful for the early detection of resistance mechanisms as part of routine susceptibility testing. With the increased affordability of next-generation sequencing (NGS), its application in hospital settings has proven highly beneficial, aiding in the implementation of infection control and prevention measures. Given the significant resistance demonstrated by the CRKP isolates to most tested antibiotics, it is imperative to establish effective methods to restrict the spread of these isolates, as well as to carefully monitor the use of carbapenems in clinical practice.

Chlorogenic acid, an ester of caffeic acid with quinic acid, also known as 5- O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), is a ubiquitous plant constituent that is an important intermediate in lignin biosynthesis. In some cases, it occurs at surprisingly high levels in the leaves and fruits of certain higher plants, such as coffee beans. Due to its catechol moiety and an extended side chain conjugation, it easily forms a resonance-stabilised phenoxy radical, accounting for its powerful antioxidant potential. The objective of this work was to determine if the esterification and methylation of 5- CQA would enhance its antioxidant activity. Two 5-CQA derivatives were prepared for this study. Chlorogenic acid was esterified with methanol over Amberlite IR120-H to obtain methyl chlorogenate, while methyl 3',4´-dimethyl chlorogenate was prepared from 5-CQA by treatment with diazomethane. Spectroscopic methods confirmed the structure of these derivatives. Their antioxidant properties were tested to establish a relationship between structure and antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity results were generated for 5-CQA and its ester analogues using eight different methods. Depending on the method applied, results were expressed as IC50/MCE50 values or as equivalents of the applied standard (ascorbic acid and Trolox). In most of these tests, 5-CQA showed the highest antioxidant activity compared to its derivatives. Nevertheless, due to their hydrophobic characteristics, their ester analogues remain promising antioxidant candidates in emulsifying systems.

Background and Purpose Posterior cerebral artery occlusion (PCAo) can cause long-term disability, yet randomized controlled trials to guide optimal reperfusion strategy are lacking. We compared the outcomes of PCAo patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) with or without intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) to patients treated with IVT alone. Methods From the multicenter retrospective Posterior cerebraL ArTery Occlusion (PLATO) registry, we included patients with isolated PCAo treated with reperfusion therapy within 24 hours of onset between January 2015 and August 2022. The primary outcome was the distribution of the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months. Other outcomes comprised 3-month excellent (mRS 0–1) and independent outcome (mRS 0–2), early neurological improvement (ENI), mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). The treatments were compared using inverse probability weighted regression adjustment. Results Among 724 patients, 400 received EVT+/-IVT and 324 IVT alone (median age 74 years, 57.7% men). The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission was 7, and the occluded segment was P1 (43.9%), P2 (48.3%), P3–P4 (6.1%), bilateral (1.0%), or fetal posterior cerebral artery (0.7%). Compared to IVT alone, EVT+/-IVT was not associated with improved functional outcome (adjusted common odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79–1.43). EVT increased the odds for ENI (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.49, 95% CI 1.05–2.12), sICH (aOR 2.87, 95% CI 1.23–6.72), and mortality (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.07–2.95). Conclusion Despite higher odds for early improvement, EVT+/-IVT did not affect functional outcome compared to IVT alone after PCAo. This may be driven by the increased risk of sICH and mortality after EVT.

Conditioning before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AlloHSCT) increases the tissue injury signal IL-33 in fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC). Released IL-33 directly stimulates donor CD4 T cells to prime IL-12-independent Type 1 T helper cell (Th1) differentiation and expansion. Tissue stroma upregulates IL-33, but a role for IL-33 in sustaining the pathogenic donor Th1 responses causing GVHD is unclear. We compared B6 mice with inducible ST2 deletion (R26-CreERT2xSt2fl/fl) to wildtype (WT) R26-CreERT2 as T cell donors in a lethal GVHD model (B6 to BALB/c). Donor ST2 deletion at days 10-14 post AlloHSCT increased CD4 T cells Foxp3 expression with reciprocal decreases in Tbet expression in both the lymphoid organs and target tissues. Sustained IL-33 signaling also maintained donor T cell TCF1 expression. Ablating ST2 after GVHD development improved clinical scores and promoted recipient weight gain. How bioactive IL-33 is released from nuclear sequestration remains undefined. RNAseq analysis suggested that IL-33 stimulates T cell granzyme B (GzmB) expression and B6 GzmB deficient (Gzmb-/-) donor T cells displayed reduced activation and expansion similar to ST2 deficient CD4 T cells. In contrast to GzmBWT, anti-IL-33 antibodies had no impact on GzmBKO T cell responses. Thus, cross-talk between donor T cells and IL-33+ stroma orchestrates the T cell identities that are critical to sustain the pathogenic CD4 T cell responses causing GVHD.

Due to their advantages—longer internal force delay compared to bulk materials, resistance to harsh conditions, damping of a wide frequency spectrum, insensitivity to ambient temperature, high reliability and low cost—granular materials are seen as an opportunity for the development of high-performance, lightweight vibration-damping elements (particle dampers). The performance of particle dampers is affected by numerous parameters, such as the base material, the size of the granules, the flowability, the initial prestress, etc. In this work, a series of experiments were performed on specimens with different combinations of influencing parameters. Energy-based design parameters were used to describe the overall vibration-damping performance. The results provided information for a deeper understanding of the dissipation mechanisms and their mutual correlation, as well as the influence of different parameters (base material, granule size and flowability) on the overall damping performance. A comparison of the performance of particle dampers with carbon steel and polyoxymethylene granules and conventional rubber dampers is given. The results show that the damping performance of particle dampers can be up to 4 times higher compared to conventional bulk material-based rubber dampers, even though rubber as a material has better vibration-damping properties than the two granular materials in particle dampers. However, when additional design features such as mass and stiffness are introduced, the results show that the overall performance of particle dampers with polyoxymethylene granules can be up to 3 times higher compared to particle dampers with carbon steel granules and conventional bulk material-based rubber dampers.

Diagnosing intracardiac masses poses a complex, multimodal challenge. We present the case of a 72-year-old woman with a history of rheumatic fever leading to mitral stenosis and a previous mitral valve commissurotomy who reported fatigue, weakness, and palpitations over the past three months. Echocardiography revealed a tumor (53 × 40 mm) in the enlarged left atrium, attached by a wide base to the left atrium wall, exhibiting variable densities. Computerized tomography identified a heterodense mass (53 × 46 × 37 mm) with similar attachments. Angiography showed two branches from the circumflex artery intricately associated with the mass. Despite unsuccessful embolization of the mass’ blood supply, surgical intervention including mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valve annuloplasty, and tumor removal was pursued. Pathohistological analysis confirmed the mass as a thrombus. During the postoperative follow-up, the patient presented with no complaints. Follow-up echocardiography indicated the normal function of the mechanical mitral valve prosthesis and the absence of intracardiac masses. While it remains unknown whether this neovascularization is specific to patients with severe mitral valve disease, this case highlights the diagnostic challenges of differentiating between thrombi and tumors in the context of mitral valve disease. It illustrates the critical role of multimodal imaging in elucidating the anatomical and functional relationships within the heart, thereby guiding accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.