Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency globally, affecting approximately one in four individuals, with a particularly high burden among children, women of reproductive age, and populations in low- and middle-income countries. It contributes significantly to the global burden of disease, with consequences ranging from impaired cognitive and motor development in children to increased risks during pregnancy, including low birth weight, preterm delivery, and maternal mortality, as well as reduced physical performance and quality of life in adults. ID often precedes iron deficiency anemia (IDA), though clinical and functional impairments—such as cognitive deficits, immune dysfunction, and fatigue—can occur even in the absence of anemia. Despite its widespread nature, challenges remain in precisely defining, diagnosing, and treating ID effectively. Advances in diagnostic tools allow for earlier detection, while novel therapeutic strategies, including updated oral dosing regimens and modern intravenous iron formulations, offer improved efficacy and tolerability. These approaches are particularly valuable in minimizing gastrointestinal side effects and enhancing patient adherence. This review is based on a comprehensive literature search conducted primarily through PubMed and Scopus, emphasizing studies published within the past 10–15 years. It is thematically structured to explore the epidemiology, health consequences, diagnostic complexities, and therapeutic developments related to ID. It highlights the multifactorial nature of ID and underscores the urgent need for early identification, targeted interventions, and updated clinical guidelines to reduce the long-term health and societal impacts of this preventable and treatable condition.

Introduction: Synthetic cathinones are a group of novel psychoactive substances used as an alternative to classical recreational drugs. As a result of legal prohibitions on older generations of these compounds, new formulations appeared on the drug market. One of them is metaphedrone (3-methylmethcathinone, 3-MMC), a structural isomer of 4-methylmethcathinone and a psychostimulant drug. Metaphedrone became popular in a large number of countries in a short period of time. The aim: The collection, analysis, and review of relevant research on the subject of metaphedrone in order to present information about the pharmacological, clinical, and toxicological profile of this compound. An assessment of the significance and role of metaphedrone in consumption patterns of novel psychoactive substances among recreational drug users. Methodology: By using search engines like Google Scholar and PubMed, the relevant literature on metaphedrone was looked for and analyzed. The search was not limited to a specific period of time. All information regarding the compound of interest was analyzed and presented. Key results and discussion: All novel psychoactive substances are abused due to their pronounced stimulatory, hallucinogenic, dissociative, and euphoric and/or relaxing characteristics. Users of 3-methylmethcathinone usually opt for this substance for recreational purposes and/or sexual stimulation. Metaphedrone has the potential to cause a psychological dependence to the users. It was determined in relevant studies that most users are from 17 to 50 years of age. Older users usually administer metaphedrone intravenously, while younger ones usually choose snorting and oral ingestion of the drug. In Serbia, metaphedrone is a legally controlled substance. The pharmacodynamic properties make metaphedrone similar to classical recreational drugs. The method of administration, mainly repeated administration in a single session, could be explained using the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. The most reported symptoms of intoxication were those of a sympathomimetic nature, such as tachycardia, chest pain, hypertension, diaphoresis, and agitation. Most intoxications and fatal outcomes occurred to users who combined several psychoactive substances. The correlation between measured blood concentrations of the drug and outcomes of intoxication was not found. The mechanisms of metaphedrone’s toxicity are not fully understood. Conclusions: There is an increasing trend of abuse of metaphedrone among recreational drugs users. Future studies should focus on pharmacological and toxicological effects of metaphedrone on animals and humans.

Introduction: Valproic acid (VPA) is a broad-spectrum drug primarily used in the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It is not an uncommon occurrence for VPA to cause intoxication. The established treatment of VPA poisoning includes supportive care, multiple doses of activated charcoal, levocarnitine and hemodialysis/hemoperfusion. There is a clinically significant interaction between carbapenem antibiotics and VPA. By affecting enterohepatic recirculation, carbapenems can increase the overall VPA clearance from the blood of intoxicated patients. It is suggested that carbapenems could successfully be used as antidotes in the treatment of acute VPA poisonings. The aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of carbapenems in the treatment of patients acutely poisoned by VPA. Patients and methods: This retrospective study included patients acutely poisoned by VPA and treated with carbapenems at the Department of Clinical Toxicology at the Military Medicinal Academy in Serbia for a two-year period. Results: After the admission, blood concentrations of VPA kept increasing, reaching their peak at 114–724 mg/L, while the mental state of the patients continued to decline, prompting a decision to introduce carbapenems. After the introduction of carbapenems, the concentrations of the drug dropped by 46–93.59% (average 72%) followed by rapid recovery of consciousness. Ten out of eleven patients had positive outcomes, while one patient died. The most commonly observed complication in our group of patients was bronchopneumonia. Conclusions: The application of carbapenems for the management of acute VPA poisoning might be a useful and effective treatment option.

The primary objectives of asthma management during pregnancy are to achieve adequate symptom control, reduce the risk of acute exacerbations, and maintain normal pulmonary function, all of which contribute to ensuring the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) recommends that pregnant women with asthma continue using asthma medications throughout pregnancy, as the benefits of well-controlled asthma for both the mother and fetus outweigh the potential risks of medication side effects, poorly controlled asthma, and exacerbations. The classification of asthma medications by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into categories A, B, C, D, and X is no longer applied. Instead, the potential benefits and risks of each medication during pregnancy and lactation are considered individually. The use of medications to achieve good asthma control and prevent exacerbations during pregnancy is justified, encompassing inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), some leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA), short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA), long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABA), short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMA), long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA), and, recently, biological therapies, even in the absence of definitive safety data during pregnancy.

This study was conducted in order to evaluate prospective health care professionals’ (HCPs) awareness and attitudes regarding new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in the context of their future role in the prevention and treatment of NPS overdose and addiction. Correlates of NPS perception and use were also examined. This cross-sectional survey was performed on 490 students of the Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia, during 2017. NPS awareness was better in pharmacy students (IRR: 1.926, CI: 1.173–3.163, p = 0.010) than in medicine students—pharmacy students recognized 92.6% more NPS names than their peers studying medicine. Female students knew 36.5% less NPS names than their male colleagues (IRR: 0.635, CI: 0.399–1.013, p = 0.049). Number of NPS names students knew was rising by 15.9% with each age group—the higher the age, the larger the number of NPSs they were aware of (IRR: 1.159, CI: 1.025–1.310, p = 0.018). Students who had used marijuana knew 52.6% more NPS names than those who had never had experience with cannabis (IRR: 1.526, CI: 0.953–2.445, p = 0.049). Although a high number of future HCPs claimed to know what NPSs are, numerous misconceptions were noticed. Further educational efforts are necessary to improve their awareness and attitudes regarding NPSs.

Test anxiety is a pervasive issue among students that can significantly affect theiracademic performance. This literature review aims to provide a comprehensiveanalysis of the relationship between test anxiety and the academic achievement ofstudents. We delve into various measurement tools used to assess test anxiety andexplore the factors that put students at risk. Additionally, we examine interventionsand strategies to mitigate the negative effects of test anxiety on academic outcomes.Understanding this complex phenomenon is crucial for educators, students, andpolicymakers to create a supportive learning environment conducive to optimalacademic achievement.Key words: academic performance; coping strategies; psychosomatic well-being;questionnaires; self-efficacy---SažetakIspitna anksioznost sveprisutan je problem među studentima koji može značajnoutjecati na njihov akademski uspjeh. Ovaj pregled literature ima za cilj pružitisveobuhvatnu analizu odnosa između ispitne anksioznosti i akademskoga uspjehastudenata. U radu su prikazani mjerni instrumenti koji se koriste za procjenuispitne anksioznosti i čimbenici koji studente izlažu riziku. Osim toga, prikazanese intervencije i strategije za ublažavanje negativnih učinaka ispitne anksioznostina akademske rezultate. Razumijevanje ovoga složenog fenomena ključno je zanastavnike, studente i kreatore politika kako bi stvorili poticajno okružje za učenjekoje vodi optimalnom akademskom postignuću.Ključne riječi: akademski uspjeh; psihosomatsko blagostanje; samoučinkovitost; strategije suočavanja; upitnici