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From Perception to Action: Air Pollution Awareness and Behavioral Adjustments in Pregnant Women in Serbia
No full textIn regions with sustained air pollution, the adoption of protective health behaviors is critical, particularly among pregnant women—a population marked by physiological vulnerability and heightened receptivity to preventive guidance. Understanding and supporting patient-driven behavioral change requires attention to individual perception and awareness, which are shaped by socio-economic and spatial factors, as well as access to credible information. Objectives: This study investigates how pregnant women in Serbia perceive air quality, identifies determinants that influence these perceptions, and evaluates the extent and nature of behavioral adaptations undertaken to mitigate exposure-related risks. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 279 pregnant women using a structured, researcher-administered questionnaire. Collected data included demographic and psychosocial variables, air quality perceptions, self-reported health effects, and behavioral responses. Residential proximity to land-use attributes was assessed using GIS-based spatial analysis. Results: Most participants perceived air quality as poor (68.8%), primarily informed by unofficial sources such as mobile applications and social media. Living close to continuous urban fabric (OR = 0.180, 95% CI: 0.059–0.558, p = 0.003) and water (OR = 0.306, 95% CI: 0.127–0.738, p = 0.008) was associated with poorer perceptions, while proximity to forests (OR = 2.938, 95% CI: 1.323–6.525, p = 0.008) correlated with more favorable assessments. Despite prevalent concern, around half of respondents (50.2%) reported no behavioral modifications. Importantly, none had received guidance from healthcare professionals on the topic. Conclusions: These findings highlight critical gaps in environmental health literacy and provider engagement. Integrating tailored communication and behavioral support in existing prenatal counseling could advance health-related quality of life in this vulnerable population
Tumor Microenvironment, Inflammation, and Inflammatory Prognostic Indices in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas: A Narrative Review
No full textDiffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, characterized by significant variability in clinical outcomes. Emerging evidence highlights the pivotal role of inflammation in the pathogenesis and prognosis of DLBCL. This narrative review explores the interplay between the tumor microenvironment, inflammatory processes, and prognostic indices used in DLBCL, focusing on biomarkers, immune responses, and systemic inflammation. These indices show promise as predictive and prognostic tools comparable to molecular markers, such as gene expression profiling, which are currently considered gold standards in prognosis but are often costly and technically demanding. By synthesizing findings from the current literature, this article highlights the potential of inflammatory indices as accessible and cost-effective prognostic alternatives to molecular markers in DLBCL, while also underscoring the need for further research to validate their clinical utility
Computational Image Analysis of Developmental Dynamics and Morphological Characteristics of Tachyzoites
No full textNeural network topologies supporting individual variations in vividness of visual imagery
No full textVividness of visual imagery varies considerably across individuals, yet its neural underpinnings remain unclear. As emphasized in recent debates, a key controversy is whether early sensory architecture explains imagery or whether it is explained by interactions of high-level visual and fronto-parietal areas. This study examined how individual differences in imagery vividness, measured via the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ-2), relate to intrinsic brain network organization using graph theory applied to structural and functional connectomes from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI; n=525) and resting-state fMRI (n=556). Connectivity was assessed in an imagery-specific network and three canonical resting-state networks: occipital, salience, and default mode. In functional connectivity analyses, vividness correlated positively with local efficiency in the left fusiform gyrus, a high-level visual region implicated in integrative imagery processes. In structural connectivity analyses, higher vividness was associated with greater local efficiency and clustering in the occipital network, suggesting that vivid imagery depends on well-segregated low-level visual networks. Additionally, greater global efficiency in the right insular cortex—a key salience network hub—was linked to vividness, indicating that efficient salience-driven control may stabilize internal imagery. Multivariate analysis found that no single factor explained imagery better than a combined model, with the fusiform imagery node (FIN) as the strongest single predictor, while other structural factors contributed to the best overall model. These findings reconcile competing accounts of imagery by demonstrating that vivid imagery emerges from the interplay between sensory-based structural networks, salience-based regulatory hubs, and higher-order visual integration
Isolation, genotyping and phenotyping Toxoplasma gondii in Europe – A critical perspective
No full textToxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite of worldwide distribution which can be transmitted from host to host, by consumption of raw or undercooked meat and vertically, or via the environment to the host. The genus Toxoplasma of the phylum Apicomplexa is represented by just the one species, T. gondii, which encompasses a multitude of genotypes of different virulence phenotypes. Understanding and importantly, the aim to predict the manifestations and outcome of infection in the human host, fueled the effort to isolate and genetically characterize the parasite over several decades. Early genotyping was heavily focused on humans and food animals. Over time and with the implementation of the One Health approach, the entire chain of transmission, which encompasses wildlife and the environment, has been included. Since the 1990s there has been a tremendous increase in knowledge of the parasite's genetic diversity–both at a low and high level of resolution–worldwide. The data has provided a new epidemiological perspective on T. gondii and fostered the development of molecular detection tools with source attribution capabilities, as well as strategies for environmental surveillance and transmission prevention. The genotyping effort in Europe delivered much of the data available today and sophisticated high resolution genotyping methods based on microsatellite (MS) analysis and rapid whole genome sequencing (WGS) were developed. After over two decades of genotyping T. gondii in Europe, we here present an overview of what has been learned and where do we go from here
Prognostic Impact of Vaccination, Comorbidity, and Inflammatory Biomarkers on Clinical Outcome in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19
No full textBackground/Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has more severe symptoms and increased mortality among men than women. To address the prognostic impact of vaccination, comorbidities, and inflammatory biomarkers on classified clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, we compared common and sex differences. Methods: Besides laboratory and clinical parameters at hospital admission, we performed a common and sex-based comparative analysis for the clinical outcomes, RT-qPCR analyses, and measured severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)-specific IgM and IgG antibody levels of 702 COVID-19 patients in a single centre from June 2020 to April 2022. Results: Pro-inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), fibrinogen, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer, ferritin), and liver enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT) were significantly more increased in COVID-19 male patients and generally elevated with the severity of clinical outcome, regardless of the SARS-CoV-2 variant. Cycle threshold (Ct) values of RT-qPCR testing were in negative correlation with IL-6 in COVID-19 male patients, indicating that higher viral load largely increased IL-6 levels in parallel with the severity of clinical outcome and regardless of vaccination. IgG levels were higher in early post-COVID-19 male patients. Comorbidities were more frequent in COVID-19 female patients and generally more common in the severe clinical outcomes. Vaccination was negatively correlated with the severity of clinical outcome, liver enzymes, LDH, and inflammatory parameters in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, while the risk of pneumonia was reduced. Vaccination reduced the need for corticosteroid and anti-inflammatory therapies, but increased the need for antiviral drug treatment. Conclusions: In addition to confirming inflammatory biomarkers and the importance of anti-inflammatory therapy in vaccinated patients, this study showed that vaccination reduces, but does not prevent, mortality in patients with COVID-19
Energy flow differences in throwing arm joints between javelin and weighted balls in male javelin throwers
No full textIntroduction: To enhance release velocity during competition, javelin throwers incorporate implements of varying mass into their training regimens. Previous research has demonstrated that, although velocity contributes quadratically to the computation of kinetic energy, heavier implements generate substantially greater kinetic energy at the moment of release, despite markedly lower release velocities. The primary objective of the present investigation was to analyze energy transfer within the throwing arm to gain deeper insight into the biomechanical mechanisms underlying the use of implements with different masses.MethodsThe three-dimensional coordinates of 16 reflective markers were recorded for 6 athletes during throws using 6 different implement masses, using 12 infrared cameras. Based on this kinematic data, segmental energy transfer was estimated via inverse dynamics using a multi-body modeling approach. Subsequent comparisons were conducted using nonlinear temporal registration and statistical non-parametric mapping.ResultsThe results indicate that energy flow at the shoulder joint remains largely consistent across implements of varying mass. However, significant differences in energy transfer were observed at the more distal joints.DiscussionThe findings suggest that the increased kinetic energy observed with heavier implements arises from an internal redistribution of energy within the throwing arm, rather than from greater overall energy input. Consequently, improvements in release velocity associated with lighter or heavier implements are likely attributable to mechanisms other than modifications in energy flow dynamics
Origin and Genealogy of Rare mtDNA Haplotypes Detected in the Serbian Population
No full textBackground: The Balkan Peninsula has served as an important migration corridor between Asia Minor and Europe throughout humankind’s history and a refugium during the Last Glacial Maximum. Past migrations such as the Neolithic expansion, Bronze Age migrations, and the settlement of Slavic tribes in the Early Middle Ages, are well known for their impact on shaping the genetic pool of contemporary Balkan populations. They have contributed to the high genetic diversity of the region, especially in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages. Serbia, located in the heart of the Balkans, reflects this complex history in a broad spectrum of mtDNA subhaplogroups. Methods: To explore genetic diversity in Serbia and the wider Balkan region, we analyzed rare mtDNA subclades—R0a, N1a, N1b, I5, W, and X2—using publicly available data. Our dataset included already published sequences from 3499 HVS-I/HVS-II and 1426 complete mitogenomes belonging to West Eurasian and African populations, containing both contemporary and archaeological samples. We assessed the parameters of genetic diversity found in different subclades across the studied regions and constructed detailed phylogeographic trees and haplotype networks to determine phylogenetic relationships. Results: Our analyses revealed the observable geographic structure and identified novel mtDNA subclades, some of which may have originated in the Balkan Peninsula (e.g., R0a1a5, I5a1, W1c2, W3b2, and X2n). Conclusions: The geographic distribution of rare subclades often reveals patterns of past population movements, routes, and gene flows. By tracing the origin and diversity of these subclades, our study provided new insights into the impact of historical migrations on the maternal gene pool of Serbia and the wider Balkan region, contributing to our understanding of the complex genetic history of this important European crossroads
High-density theta oscillatory-modulated tDCS over the parietal cortex for targeted memory enhancement
No full textObjectives Associative memory (AM) declines due to healthy aging as well as in various neurological conditions. Standard transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) protocols show inconclusive facilitatory effects on AM, often lacking function specificity and stimulation focality. We tested the effectiveness of high-density electrode montage delivering anodal theta oscillatory-modulated transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-Theta-otDCS) over the left posterior parietal cortex (PPC), aiming to target AM in a spatially focused and function-specific manner.MethodsIn a sham-controlled cross-over experiment we explored the differential effects of HD-Theta-otDCS applied during either encoding or the retrieval phases of two AM tasks (Face-Word and Object-Location). The stimulation protocol consisted of an anode over the left PPC (P3) and four surrounding return electrodes (CP1, CP5, PO3, POz) with electrical current oscillating in theta rhythm (5 Hz, 1.5 ± 0.5 mA).ResultsHD-Theta-otDCS stimulation applied during both encoding and retrieval increased AM performance compared to sham control in the Face-Word task. We found no differences between the two active stimulation conditions.ConclusionsHD-Theta-otDCS showed to be a promising tool for enhancing AM, regardless of the stimulation timing. The results provide further support for our previous findings with bipolar otDCS and confirm that PPC stimulation can induce behaviorally relevant modulation in the memory-related cortico-subcortical networks.SignificanceThe presented approach is one step forward towards precision brain stimulation for memory neuromodulation. The novelty lies in the combination of increased focality and function-specific current waveform. Positive results set the ground for further research on HD-theta-otDCS effectiveness in clinical populations