Background/Objectives: Congenital heart disease (CHD), affecting approximately 1% of live births, has transitioned to a chronic condition due to advances in diagnostics and surgery, resulting in an increasing adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population. This study characterizes the clinical and demographic profiles of ACHD patients in Serbia, focusing on congenital anomalies, mortality rates, and key clinical factors to identify opportunities for improving care and outcomes. Methods: This observational single-center study was conducted at the Cardiovascular Institute “Dedinje” in Belgrade, Serbia, involving patients diagnosed or treated for CHD between 2006 and 2022. Results: A total of 1532 patients were included in the study, with common diagnoses including atrial septal defects (ASD) (47.65%) and ventricular septal defects (VSD) (13.19%). The mean patient age was 48.31 years, with a slight predominance of females (57.21%). The complexity of CHD was categorized as mild (54.6%), moderate (36.5%), and severe (6.3%). The mortality rate was 4.2%, with higher rates observed in conditions like Ebstein anomaly (17.78%) and congenital aortic stenosis (11.76%). Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of ACHD management in Serbia, highlighting the high prevalence of ASD and VSD among patients, the challenges associated with moderate and severe CHD, and the notable mortality rates for certain conditions. The findings underscore the importance of improving early detection, individualized treatment plans, and multidisciplinary care to enhance patient outcomes in this growing population.

Accurate health assessment of wild, semi-captive, or domesticated animals is essential for their well-being. Despite this necessity, limited studies have been conducted on deer species, and there is a paucity of information on the hemato-biochemical parameters of different deer species globally. Present study aimed to fill this gap by determining the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of fallow deer (Dama dama) maintained in semi-captivity within zoo environments for the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Present research involved six healthy male fallow deer, aged 2 to 5 years. The deer were immobilized using xylazine hydrochloride and ketamine hydrochloride, and blood samples were collected from the external jugular vein. The hematological parameters measured included RBC, PCV, HGB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, RETIC, WBC, WBC differential, PLT, MPV, PDW, and PCT. Biochemical parameters included glucose, urea, creatinine, albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol, and enzymes (AST, ALT, ALKP, and GGT) activities. The results showed the higher glucose and urea concentrations and the same values for creatinine, triglycerides, and enzyme activities when compared to some previous reports. These findings highlighted the importance of considering handling methods and environmental conditions when interpreting biochemical parameters, contributing to improved health assessments and management practices for deer in captivity. Keywords: Biochemical and hematological parameters, Captive wildlife, Domesticated animals, Fallow deer.

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This chapter presents Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), the proposal that, below a certain acceleration scale $a_0$, dynamics departs from the Newtonian expectation. In that context, the determining factor for the emergence of apparent missing matter in galactic systems is predicted to be the acceleration, and not the mass or size of the system. MOND enables, for example, the prediction of rotation curves from only the baryonic distribution of galaxies. The simple rule is that the acceleration observed in the low-acceleration regime is the square root of the Newtonian expectation times $a_0$. Immediately, the flatness of rotation curves follows, as well as the proportionality of the fourth power of the asymptotic circular speed to only the baryonic mass of the galaxy. While the asymptotic circular speed is predicted not to depend on the baryonic surface density of galaxies of fixed baryonic mass, the inner shape of rotation curves is predicted to strongly depend on it. More generally, MOND implies an algebraic relation between the acceleration expected from Newtonian gravity and the total observed acceleration, at any radius in a galaxy. This is known, observationally, as the Radial Acceleration Relation. For galaxy clusters, it is commonly accepted that MOND fails, needing a stronger gravitational force (or more baryonic mass than observed) to account for the thermodynamic state of galaxy clusters, their lensing and kinematics. MOND, however, is not a complete theory, but a phenomenological non-relativistic paradigm in the limit of low accelerations, in need of embedding in a more fundamental theory. While various non-relativistic field theories of MOND exist, the search for a relativistic theory that recovers general relativity for high accelerations and MOND for low accelerations in the quasi-static limit, as well as a cosmology compatible with observations, is still on-going.

The aim of this study was to determine the antidotal potential of the chlorinated oxime K870 compared to obidoxime, as a monotherapy and in combination with atropine, in paraoxon (POX)-poisoned rats. The treatment doses of oximes were chosen as 20% of their LD50 values. The protective ratio (PR) of oxime K870 with atropine was significantly higher than that of obidoxime with atropine (68.8 and 125.0, respectively). In the biochemical part of the experiment POX subcutaneously (s.c.) (0.75% LD50) was administered and followed by oxime K870 or obidoxime i.m. 1 min later. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was determined spectrophotometrically in cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, diaphragm, and erythrocytes. Carboxylesterase activity was determined in plasma and liver. Both oximes successfully reactivated AChE in brain (cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem), diaphragm and erythrocytes, but the oxime K870 performed better than obidoxime. Both oximes reactivated carboxylesterase, obidoxime better in plasma and oxime K870 better in liver. In conclusion, the oxime K870, when co-administered with atropine, is a more effective antidote than the obidoxime-atropine combination in POX-poisoned rats.

Background: Blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) is the second most common cause of death following blunt trauma, and it can affect people of all ages. The aim of this study was to evaluate age-related differences in outcomes among patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for BTAI. Methods: All patients treated with TEVAR for BTAI at a tertiary care center in Europe between 2005 and 2023 were included in this study. All clinical and imaging data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results: A total of 70 patients with a median age of 43 years were included, and 89% were male. Older patients had significantly higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification scores (p < 0.001) compared to younger patients. All age groups (<18, 18–40, 41–65, and >65) exhibited low to borderline low initial hemoglobin levels with a further decline over time (p = 0.063, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.018, respectively). Age groups were comparable regarding injury mechanism, Injury Severity Score (ISS), concomitant injuries and postoperative complications. The age-independent ISS showed a moderate to strong correlation to the length of intensive care unit stay (r = 0.594, p < 0.001). Total in-hospital mortality was 6% and none was from aortic-related complications. There was a generally high rate of loss of follow-up (59%). Conclusions: Although older patients presented worse ASA scores in comparison to younger patients, no significant differences regarding postoperative morbidity/mortality were noted. These findings imply that patient age and preinjury physical status might not substantially influence outcomes when treating BTAI with TEVAR.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness and safety of lysozyme-based spray in the treatment of oral mucositis in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. Methods: A prospective, open-label study was conducted on patients with ulcerative inflammation of the oral cavity and pharynx mucous membranes clinically assessed for oral mucositis according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Toxicity Scale. Patients were randomly divided into a lysozyme group (using a spray containing lysozyme + cetylpyridinium + lidocaine) and a control group (using a compounded preparation containing gentamicin + dexamethasone + lidocaine). The efficacy and safety of therapy were evaluated on the baseline and three follow-up visits (7, 14, and 21 days after the baseline visit). Results: The total number of participants was 56, of which 26 were in lysozyme and 30 in the control group. The efficacy parameters were similar between the groups and there was no deterioration of symptoms during the follow-up period of 21 days. A significantly lower pain intensity when eating solid food was observed after 21 days in lysozyme compared to the control group. No adverse reactions were observed. Conclusions: This study showed the efficacy and safety of lysozyme-based spray for treating radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis. The availability of new treatment options based on lysozyme, a natural enzybiotic present in the saliva of healthy subjects, could bring added value to the treatment of oral mucositis and the prevention of its complications. However, a larger randomized, blinded study is needed to confirm our results [the study was registered at the Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices of Bosnia and Herzegovina (https://klinicka.almbih.gov.ba/pages/klinicka-registar-javni) under the protocol number LCS-OM-01].

Arterial stiffness is strongly associated with vascular aging and pathology and can be assessed in many ways. Existing devices for measuring central arterial stiffness, such as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), are limited by high costs and the need for specialized expertise, limiting widespread clinical adoption. This study introduces a semi- and non-occlusive PWV measurement system using phonocardiography (PCG) and plethysmography (PPG) and a single femoral pressure cuff, aiming to address these limitations. We conducted a study comparing a semi-occlusive (carotid-femoral PWV) and a non-occlusive (carotid-toe PWV) PCG-based PWV measurements across a cohort of 63 volunteers, as compared to literature reference PWV values. Results demonstrated strong correlations between our PCG-based PWV measures (PWVcarotid−femoral: 8.42 ± 3.99 m/s vs. PWVcarotid−toe: 10.62 ± 3.86 m/s) with age as a significant predictor (PWVcarotid−femoral: r2 = 0.45; PWVcarotid−toe: r2 = 0.28, p < 0.05). Ultrasound measured distensibility assessments confirmed the reliability of our PCG approach in reflecting central arterial stiffness dynamics, particularly at the aortic level. Test–retest reliability analyses yielded high intraclass correlation coefficients (0.75 ≤ ICC ≤ 90), indicating robust repeatability of our method. This study highlights the feasibility and accuracy of our low-cost, semi and non-occlusive PWV measurement systems to enhance accessibility in arterial stiffness assessments, potentially easing cardiovascular risk stratification.

Objectives The aim of this umbrella review was to investigate the frequency of physical activity-related injuries (PARI) among adolescents. Our secondary objective was to describe the available reviews of injuries in three settings: organized sports, leisure time physical activity (PA), and school physical education (PE). Methods We conducted an overview of reviews consistent with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines on the frequency of physical activity related injuries in adolescents. Results We identified 19 systematic reviews with at least moderate quality to include in the review. We were not able to pool data from reviews and conduct meta-analysis due to heterogeneity of injury definitions, exposure times, and sample demographics. All reviews included studies of injuries sustained in organized sports, and injury incidence was higher during matches than training. No systematic reviews were found focusing on leisure time or school-based PA injuries. Conclusion High-quality research is essential to understand the frequency of various types of physical activity related injuries among adolescents in organized sports, PE, and leisure time activities to develop more effective prevention strategies.

Adequate management of organizational changes is a crucial determinant of business success for banks today. Transformational leadership aligns with the conditions of dynamic changes in banks by creating an appropriate business climate of trust, thus impacting the achievement of the organization’s goals and results. Today, banks strive to be leaders in change, continuously providing innovative business solutions, which require proper management. Given the strategic decisions of banks to pursue new ideas and new ways of conducting business, which alter culture, climate, and value systems, it is crucial to apply the appropriate leadership style to effectively achieve desired results and business objectives. The problem in achieving these tasks is the occurrence of employee resistance to change, hence the significant role of the leader as the bearer of change. This paper presents the results of empirical research conducted in the banking sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, aimed at determining the impact of transformational leadership on employee resistance to change in banks. The research included 90 respondents from 15 banks (65% of the total number of banks). Each bank included 6 respondents, with managers as the first stratum and employees as the second stratum. The authors believe that the application of transformational leadership in the banking sector can lead to a reduction in resistance to change, as well as expand scientific knowledge in the field of leadership in banking and create concrete recommendations for bank managers to apply in practice to improve business operations. Demonstrating transformational leadership as the dominant style of leading changes in the banking sector and determining its impact on employee resistance is the fundamental goal of this paper. It provides bank managers with valid information on the adequacy of applying appropriate leadership styles, thus offering a reliable basis for decision-making related to the process of implementing changes and ultimately achieving better business results.

Optimal process conditions for carbonate precipitation of selected heavy metal ions were tested in laboratory conditions using Na2CO3. To the prepared synthetic monocomponent and binary multicomponent solutions of heavy metals with initial concentrations of 500 mg/L, Na2CO3 was added in certain doses at selected mixing speeds (0, 100, 300 and 800 rpm) and mixing time (0, 15, and 30 minutes). The results show the removal efficiency at optimal mixing speeds for monocomponent metal solutions were: Cu(II) 96.394% (300 rpm), Ni(II) 94.594% (0 rpm and 800 rpm), Pb(II) 75.968% (0 rpm ), Zn (II) 99.311% (0 rpm). In binary multicomponent mixtures Cu(II)-Ni(II) and Pb(II)-Zn(II) the removal efficiency results at optimal mixing speeds were: Cu(II) 96.394% (100 rpm), Ni(II) 95.528% (800 rpm), Pb(II) 99.536% (300 rpm), Zn(II) 98.945% (100 rpm). Also, the results of the efficiency of heavy metal removal due to the influence of the contact time of the precipitant and heavy metal ions in monocomponent solutions show the following values: Cu(II) 99.940% (0 min), Ni(II) 94.612 % (0 min), Pb(II) 77.925 % (15 min), Zn(II) 99.324% (30 min), while in binary multicomponent mixtures Cu(II)-Ni(II) and Pb(II)-Zn(II) they were for Cu(II) 96.247% (30 min), Ni(II) 95.521% (0 min), Pb(II) 99.350% (30 min) and Zn(II) 98.944% (0 min). Examination of the influence of the mixing speed of monocomponent solutions showed that the efficiency of removing heavy metal ions was in most cases the best without mixing. Effect of metal-precipitant contact time on the efficiency of heavy metal ion removal showed that in half of the examined metals, the optimal values ​​were chosen as the best (0 and 30 min). It can be concluded that this method based on chemical precipitation using Na2CO3 with optimal parameters such as contact time and mixing speed, can be used in the treatment of industrial wastewater.