Malaria is a severe disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, which is transmitted to humans by a bite of an infected female mosquito of the species Anopheles. Malaria remains the leading cause of mortality around the world, and early diagnosis and fast-acting treatment prevent unwanted outcomes. It is the most common disease in Africa and some countries of Asia, while in the developed world malaria occurs as imported from endemic areas. The sweet sagewort plant was used as early as the second century BC to treat malaria fever in China. Much later, quinine started being used as an antimalaria drug. A global battle against malaria started in 1955, and Croatia declared 1964 to be the year of eradication of malaria. The World Health Organization carries out a malaria control program on a global scale, focusing on local strengthening of primary health care, early diagnosis of the disease, timely treatment, and disease prevention. Globally, the burden of malaria is lower than ten years ago. However, in the last few years, there has been an increase in the number of malaria cases around the world. It is moving towards targets established by the WHO, but that progress has slowed down.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the latest pandemic with a high rate of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Crises like these can harm the academic functioning and psychophysical health of nursing students. With this qualitative study, we aim to explore how students perceive the COVID-19 crisis and what their personal experiences were while studying during the global pandemic. In the study, data saturation was achieved after analyzing the reports of 33 undergraduate nursing students, using the inductive thematic saturation method. Data were collected using an online form, which students filled out, describing their perceptions and experiences. Qualitative inductive content analysis of students’ reports resulted in 29 codes, indicating different student perceptions of the efficiency of state institutions in crises. All students described the spread of misinformation on social networks and the risky behavior of the population. Most are afraid of infection and worried about the well-being of their family, so they constantly apply protective measures. Students recognize their responsibility to the community and the importance and risks of the nursing profession. They also describe negative experiences with public transportation and residence in the student dorm. The fear of possible infection in the classroom is not significant, however, students are afraid of the clinical settings. Thirteen students reported difficulty in concentrating and learning, while all students praised teacher support and faculty work in this crisis.

The gut microbiota, which represent a community of different microorganisms in the human intestinal tract, are crucial to preserving human health by participating in various physiological functions and acting as a metabolic organ. In physiological conditions, microbiota–host partnership exerts homeostatic stability; however, changes in intestinal microbiota composition (dysbiosis) are an important factor in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease and its two main disease entities: ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The incidence and prevalence of these inflammatory conditions have increased rapidly in the last decade, becoming a significant problem for the healthcare system and a true challenge in finding novel therapeutic solutions. The issue is that, despite numerous studies, the etiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease is not completely clear. Based on current knowledge, chronic intestinal inflammation occurs due to altered intestinal microbiota and environmental factors, as well as a complex interplay between the genetic predisposition of the host and an inappropriate innate and acquired immune response. It is important to note that the development of biological and immunomodulatory therapy has led to significant progress in treating inflammatory bowel disease. Certain lifestyle changes and novel approaches—including fecal microbiota transplantation and nutritional supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics—have offered solutions for dysbiosis management and paved the way towards restoring a healthy microbiome, with only minimal long-term unfavorable effects.

Over the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized the treatment of advanced melanoma and ensured significant improvement in overall survival versus chemotherapy. ICI or targeted therapy are now the first line treatment in advanced melanoma, depending on the tumor v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) mutational status. While these new approaches have changed the outcomes for many patients, a significant proportion of them still experience lack of response, known as primary resistance. Mechanisms of primary drug resistance are not fully elucidated. However, many alterations have been found in ICI-resistant melanomas and possibly contribute to that outcome. Furthermore, some tumors which initially responded to ICI treatment ultimately developed mechanisms of acquired resistance and subsequent tumor progression. In this review, we give an overview of tumor primary and acquired resistance mechanisms to ICI and discuss future perspectives with regards to new molecular targets and combinatorial therapies.

Nurse–patient interaction is a professional and therapeutic relationship created to enable nurses to assess, plan, and deliver health care aimed at meeting patients’ basic human needs. The main aim of this study was to identify distinctive characteristics and differences in perceptions between patients and nurses related to the importance of caring interactions and to examine the contribution of independent variables in explaining their perceptions. A total of 446 respondents were included in the research (291 patients and 155 registered nurses). Data were collected using the translated and standardized 70-item version of the Caring Nurse–Patient Interactions Scale (CNPI-70) version for patients and version for nurses. According to the overall CNPI-70 scale, there was a significant difference in patients’ and nurses’ perception (p < 0.001). Patients assessed caring nurse–patient interactions significantly higher (4.39) than nurses (4.16). Additionally, nurses assessed all subscales significantly lower than patients who assessed them high (p < 0.05), except for the subscales for “environment” (p = 0.123) and “spirituality” (p = 0.132). Independent variables did not contribute to an explanation of respondents’ perceptions. Providing quality physical assistance in meeting human needs through effective communication and teaching is crucial for promoting a holistic patient approach, improving psychosocial support and nurse–patient interaction, and attaining greater satisfaction with health care provided without additional financial investments.

Vitamins play a vital role in human health, particularly in the development and maintenance of oral health in children. These nutrients are broadly categorized into fat-soluble and water-soluble types, crucial for children’s well-being. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of vitamin deficiencies on the oral health of children, focusing on how these deficiencies contribute to various oral health issues and determining the relationship between specific vitamin shortages and oral diseases. Findings indicate that shortages in vitamins A and D lead to enamel issues and a higher susceptibility to dental diseases, vitamin E assists in treating oral mucositis, and vitamin K is essential for blood clotting in dental surgeries. Deficits in B-complex and vitamin C result in enamel hypomineralization and soft tissue ailments, including aphthous stomatitis and gingival petechiae. Additionally, a lack of vitamin B7 compromises the immune response, increasing oral candidiasis risk. Therefore, vitamin deficiencies markedly affect children’s oral health, highlighting the need for joint efforts between dental professionals and caregivers for effective pediatric care. Addressing vitamin deficiencies through supplementation and tailored dental care emphasizes the significance of nutritional health in children’s overall and dental well-being, advocating for a collaborative approach to achieve optimal health outcomes.