Although we are lately witnessing major improvements in breast cancer treatment and patient outcomes, there is still a significant proportion of patients not receiving efficient therapy. More precisely, patients with triple-negative breast cancer or any type of metastatic disease. Currently available prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers are not always applicable and oftentimes lack precision. The science of glycans is a relatively new scientific approach to better characterize malignant transformation and tumor progression. In this review, we summarize the most important information about glycosylation characteristics in breast cancer cells and how different glycoproteins and enzymes involved in glycosylation could serve as more precise biomarkers, as well as new therapeutic targets.

Lumbar disk herniation is a common cause of pain in people older than 30, often associated with workload, where the therapeutic approach includes different methods of treatment; therefore, the aim of the study was to inspect the effectiveness of different methods of treating pain caused by lumbar disk herniation in relation to pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory parameters before and after two weeks of therapy. There were twenty-eight participants with a diagnosis confirmed by a specialist who also assigned the participant to a clinically appropriate type of treatment. Pain and disability were assessed using the SF-MPQ and ODI (Title: Immune Response During the Conservative and Minimal Invasive Treatment of Pain Caused by Lumbar Disc Herniation, Clinical Trials Number (NCT06545812), Initial Release 23 July 2024, Last Release 27 August 2025). In addition to the above questionnaires, serum samples were collected before and after therapy for analysis of inflammatory biomarkers. Although there was no statistically significant difference, the tendency of decreases in IL-1 beta and IL-8 in the median levels (interquartile range) was observed after conservative treatment. The results indicate role of inflammatory mechanisms in the treatment of disk herniation and support the benefits of a conservative approach through the regulation of pain, disability, and cytokine activity.

Background/Objectives: A person’s values regarding oral health significantly shape their related behaviors and habits. Therefore, it is essential to systematically study this relationship and create reliable tools to assess perceptions of oral health values, which can inform evidence-based interventions and policy decisions. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the “Oral Health Values Scale” (OHVS) for use in the Croatian context. Methods: The process involved two key phases. First, an expert committee oversaw the translation to ensure consistency across all versions and produce a test-ready instrument. To identify any ambiguities in translation and test the instrument’s reliability, a pilot study with 40 participants was conducted. Once the expert committee confirmed content validity, the finalized OHVS was administered to a sample of 702 Croatian adults to evaluate its psychometric properties. Results: Factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure in the Croatian version, differing from the original four-factor model, with items from the “Retaining Natural Teeth” subscale distributed across two factors. Results demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α > 0.78) and test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.976, 95% CI: 0.955–0.987, p < 0.01), confirming the instrument’s reliability. Conclusions: These results confirm the OHVS-CRO as a valid and reliable instrument for assessing oral health values, offering valuable insights into the perspectives of Croatian populations. This validation study provides a foundation for future research, supports culturally tailored interventions, and highlights the potential for the OHVS to inform oral health research and policy development both locally and globally.

Background/Objectives: Overweight and obesity in early childhood is a serious public health problem as in most cases it persists into adulthood and significantly affects the quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms that trigger extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in the subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue of male children in relation to their body weight. Methods: During elective abdominal surgery, SAT and VAT were acquired from 75 male subjects undergoing hernia repair (inguinal herniorrhaphy by Ferguson) or orchidopexy. Based on their Z-score, subjects were separated into two groups. The morphometry of both adipose tissue compartments was assessed after hematoxylin and eosin histological staining, immunohistochemistry to quantify CD163⁺ cells and the number of crown-like structures (CLSs), and real-time polymerase chain reaction to assess the relative gene expression for collagen VI subtype alpha 3 (COL6α3). Results: Obese and overweight individuals were found to have higher numbers of CD163⁺ cells, greater numbers of CLSs in VAT and SAT, and a higher expression of COL6α3 in both compartments. Conclusions: Obesity in childhood may lead to increased COL6α3 gene expression and promote the activation of macrophage polarization, compromise the structural integrity of the ECM, and thus influence the development of inflammatory processes.

Lower back pain is today the most common condition caused by a sedentary lifestyle. As it occurs more frequently at a younger age, this research was conducted to examine physical activity and lower back pain in students, and whether there are any correlations. The study surveyed 113 respondents using a survey questionnaire that included sociodemographic data, respondents ’attitudes about physical activity and lower back pain, and a visual analogue scale for pain assessment (VAS) and Oswestry’s Quality of Life Questionnaire. The results of the research showed a statistically significant difference in concentration during learning and sleep quality in relation to sitting for several hours and performing activities of daily living, as well as the influence of pain. Considering that the study of nursing and physiotherapy from undergraduate to graduate level was compared, a significant difference was found in the total sum of the Oswestry questionnaire between these levels (p = 0.003), while a positive correlation of mean strength was found between the results of this questionnaire (τ = 0.448) and degree of pain. Hours of sitting and physical inactivity contribute to the development of pain. Physical activity and strengthening of the abdominal and back muscles, and proper change of position leads to the prevention of pain.