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Background: Lumbar pain is a condition of discomfort in the lower back caused by numerous factors, lasting for short or longer periods of time. Healthcare professionals, regardless of the type of care they are engaged in, are at risk of lumbar pain. This is the first study that deals with the problem of lumbar syndrome in health workers in Montenegro. Methods: This cross-sectional study included full-time health workers employed in the Clinical Center of Montenegro who were involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients during 2020 and 2021. The survey consisted of general questions for collecting socio-demographic and COVID-19 engagement data; the Modified Nordic questionnaire was used for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms, and the EQ-5D—questionnaire was used to measure the quality of life associated with health. Results: The one-year prevalence of lumbar pain was 68.1%. Factors associated with lumbar pain were as follows: a higher degree of physical inactivity (each subject with a higher degree of physical inactivity had a 24% higher chance of occurrence of lumbar pain); a higher degree of load and over-engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic (each subject with a higher degree of workload had a nearly 50% higher chance of occurrence of lumbar pain); duration of engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic (subjects engaged up to a month were 4 times more likely to develop lumbar pain, and subjects engaged for 1–3 months were 3.5 times more likely to develop lumbar pain compared to those who were not engaged in COVID-19 treatment). This study also confirms that lumbar syndrome affects the quality of life of health workers. Conclusions: Lumbar syndrome is highly prevalent among healthcare professionals in the Clinical Center of Montenegro, especially in the population of nurses, where evidence-based preventive measures are needed.

Synthesis of Eu 3+ - and Er 3+ /Yb 3+ -doped GdVO 4 nanoparticles in reverse micelles and their multifunctional luminescence properties are presented. Using cyclohexane, Triton X-100 and n -pentanol as the oil, surfactant and co-surfactant, respectively, crystalline nanoparticles with ~4 nm diameter are prepared at low temperatures. The particle size assessed using transmission electron microscopy is similar to the crystallite size obtained from X-ray diffraction measurements, suggesting that each particle comprises a single crystallite. Eu 3+ -doped GdVO 4 nanoparticles emit red light through downconversion upon UV excitation. Er 3+ /Yb 3+ -doped GdVO 4 nanoparticles exhibit several functions; apart from the downconversion of UV radiation into visible green light, they act as upconvertors, transforming near-infrared excitation (980 nm) into visible green light. The ratio of green emissions from 2 H 11/2 → 2 I 15/2 and 4 S 3/2 → 4 I 15/2 transitions is temperature dependent and can be used for nanoscale temperature sensing with near-infrared excitation. The relative sensor sensitivity is 1.11%K −1 , which is among the highest sensitivities recorded for upconversion-luminescence-based thermometers.

This report focuses on fabrication, characterization, and fundamental optical properties of Eu3+- and Sm3+-doped GdVO4 luminescent thin films. Films were uniformly grown on three different substrates: single crystal sapphire (0001), thermally grown silicon oxide (Si/SiO2 ~ 500 nm) on silicon and fused quartz using pulsed laser deposition technique. Thin films’ structure, morphology, and photoluminescent properties were investigated by X-ray diffraction, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Thin films’ structure characterized by X-ray diffraction showed that for all substrates highly crystalline, zircon-type pure phase films were formed. Films’ thickness and internal morphology were determined by cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy showing completely dense, pore-free film with an average thickness of ~ 390 nm. Atomic force microscopy revealed that the average crystallite size of both Eu3+- and Sm3+-doped GdVO4 thin films deposited on fused quartz is higher as compared to the single crystal sapphire (0001) and thermally grown silicon oxide (Si/SiO2 ~ 500 nm) and that the surface roughness increases with the increase in the grain size. Energy band gap values, estimated from diffuse reflectance spectra were 3.57 and 3.53 eV for Eu3+- and Sm3+-doped GdVO4 thin films, respectively. Photoluminescent properties were investigated in detail in both steady state and lifetime domain. The emission spectra show clear orange–red emission in the Sm3+-doped GdVO4 thin films and red emission in Eu3+-doped ones.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals worldwide. This study investigated the association between mental health factors, burnout syndrome, quality of life, and insomnia symptoms in healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and October 2021 among 299 healthcare professionals at the Clinical Center of Montenegro. Participants completed standardized questionnaires, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21), and EQ-5D health-related quality of life questionnaire. Results: Insomnia was reported in 65.0% of female and 35.0% of male participants, with a mean age of 38.57 ± 11.57 years. Insomnia symptoms were more common among those reporting alcohol consumption (p = 0.007), smoking (p = 0.006), and sedative use (p = 0.038). A higher workload (p = 0.017), previous COVID-19 infection (p = 0.001), and quarantine (p = 0.008) were linked to insomnia. Healthcare professionals with insomnia reported lower quality of life across all EQ-5D dimensions (p < 0.001) and higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.001). Burnout was significantly associated with emotional exhaustion (p < 0.001), while depersonalization and personal achievement showed no significant differences. Conclusions: This study highlights a significant relationship between burnout, mental health issues, and insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing these factors through targeted interventions and workplace policies is essential for improving healthcare professionals’ well-being and ensuring the healthcare system’s sustainability.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a very aggressive tumor. The prognostic value of PD-L1 and BAP1 expression has been investigated in many studies. A retrospective study was conducted that analyzed PD-L1 and BAP1 expression as prognostic biomarkers in patients with MPM. The study included 53 patients with MPM. PD-L1 expression ≥ 1% was found in 39.6%, and BAP1 loss was found in 81.1% of patients. The median overall survival (mOS) was 11 months. Subtype of MPM (p = 0.045), early tumor stage (p = 0.049), therapy (p = 0.002), and good PS (0–1) (p = 0.012) were associated with better survival. Expression of PD-L1 and BAP1 did not show statistical significance regarding OS, but OS was numerically shorter in patients with PD-L1 ≥ 10% (5 vs. 12 months) and longer in patients with BAP1 loss (12 vs. 4 months). In patients with PD-L1 ≥ 1% and BAP1 loss, the median progression-free survival (mPFS) was numerically longer (10 vs. 7 months) but in patients with PD-L1 ≥ 1% and BAP1 positivity, PFS was statistically significantly shorter (1 vs. 7 months, p = 0.048). Our results did not show that PD-L1 and BAP1 are prognostic biomarkers for MPM, but positive PD-L1 expression and BAP1 loss were associated with worse survival in patients with MPM.

This study was aimed to determine reference values (RVs) for the manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) in the whole blood (B) and serum (S) samples of the Serbian population. Blood specimens were collected from healthy persons ( n = 295; women/men ratio = 149/146; mean age: 42 ± 2 years). The RVs were calculated as lower limit (LL) and upper limit (UL) of the 95% confidence interval (CI) and were expressed as percentiles (P) in the range from P2.5 to P97.5. The influences of sex, age, and smoking habits on element profiles were considered. It was found that the contents of B-Cu and S-Cu were higher in women, while the contents of B-Zn and S-Zn were higher in men. Both trace elements were significantly increased in a group of persons above 40 when compared to a younger persons (≤ 40 years). According to smoking habits, increased content was found only for S-Mn in the nonsmoker’s group ( p < 0.05). Comparing our results to the results reported in other population groups worldwide, the Serbian population had significantly reduced content of Se in both types of samples. This finding could highlight the deficiency of Se in the investigated Serbian population and could contribute to the better understanding of the molecular basis for the increased incidence of thyroid and other diseases in which selenium plays a key role.

There is no clear evidence whether pirfenidone has a benefit in patients with probable or possible UIP, i.e. when idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is diagnosed with a lower degree of diagnostic certainty. We report on outcomes of treatment with pirfenidone in IPF patients diagnosed with various degrees of certainty. We followed patients in the multi-national European MultiPartner IPF Registry (EMPIRE) first seen between 2015 and 2018. Patients were assessed with HRCT, histopathology and received a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) IPF diagnosis. Endpoints of interest were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and lung function decline. A total of 1626 patients were analysed, treated with either pirfenidone (N = 808) or receiving no antifibrotic treatment (N = 818). When patients treated with pirfenidone were compared to patients not receiving antifibrotic treatment, OS (one-, two- and three-year probability of survival 0.871 vs 0.798; 0.728 vs 0.632; 0.579 vs 0.556, P = 0.002), and PFS (one-, two- and three-year probability of survival 0.597 vs 0.536; 0.309 vs 0.281; 0.158 vs 0.148, P = 0.043) was higher, and FVC decline smaller (-0.073 l/yr vs -0.169 l/yr, P = 0.017). The benefit of pirfenidone on OS and PFS was also seen in patients with probable or possible IPF. This EMPIRE analysis confirms the favourable outcomes observed for pirfenidone treatment in patients with definitive IPF and indicates benefits also for patients with probable or possible IPF.

Nowadays, a larger number of aggressive and corrosive chemical reagents as well as toxic solvents are used to achieve structural modification and cleaning of the final products. These lead to the production of residual, waste chemicals, which are often reactive, cancerogenic, and toxic to the environment. This study shows a new approach to the modification of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) using gamma irradiation where the usage of reagents was avoided. We achieved the incorporation of S and N atoms in the GQD structure by selecting an aqueous solution of L-cysteine as an irradiation medium. GQDs were exposed to gamma-irradiation at doses of 25, 50 and 200 kGy. After irradiation, the optical, structural, and morphological properties, as well as the possibility of their use as an agent in bioimaging and photodynamic therapy, were studied. We measured an enhanced quantum yield of photoluminescence with the highest dose of 25 kGy (21.60%). Both S- and N-functional groups were detected in all gamma-irradiated GQDs: amino, amide, thiol, and thione. Spin trap electron paramagnetic resonance showed that GQDs irradiated with 25 kGy can generate singlet oxygen upon illumination. Bioimaging on HeLa cells showed the best visibility for cells treated with GQDs irradiated with 25 kGy, while cytotoxicity was not detected after treatment of HeLa cells with gamma-irradiated GQDs.

The structure of plate/shelf like disodium ditungstate (Na 2 W 2 O 7 ) synthesized by new method in the process of ultrasonic spray pyrolysis using acidified aqueous solutions of tungsten (VI) oxide clusters as a precursor was refined down to the R -factor of 8.9 %. X-ray diffraction analysis undoubtedly confirmed formation of orthorhombic Na 2 W 2 O 7 and refinement of the diffraction data showed that Na 2 W 2 O 7 powder belongs to the base-centred orthorhombic type of structure with 64 space group, Cmca . The structure of Na 2 W 2 O 7 can be described as infinite chains formed from tetrahedral (WO 4 ) and octahedral (WO 6 ) building units joined together. It was found that the basic units of the precursor complexes exist in the structure of Na 2 W 2 O 7 . Scanning electron microscopy confirmed formation of plate/shelf like Na 2 W 2 O 7 particles with an average thickness of about 1.2 μm.

Provision of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in health care facilities is a priority at the global, national, and local levels. To inform improvements planning, conditions of WASH, waste management, and environmental cleaning were assessed in 81 facilities in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, as part of a nationally representative survey in 2019. The survey included on-site checks, structured interviews, and drinking-water quality analysis. WHO/UNICEF indicators for WASH service levels and an advanced service level defined at the national level were applied. The results showed that all investigated facilities provided basic water services; 94% of facilities provided basic hygiene and waste management services; 58 and 2%, respectively, provided basic cleaning and sanitation services. Only 1% of investigated facilities met the basic level for all five WASH dimensions. Advanced service levels were only met for hygiene, waste management, and/or cleaning in 15–38% of facilities. In 33% of health care facilities, drinking-water quality was not in compliance with the national standards. The results revealed that there is a need for increased awareness and efforts to ensure basic provisions for sanitation, environmental cleaning, and drinking-water safety.