Background: Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease affecting millions of people worldwide, but little is known about the impact of anti-seizure medications on redox homeostasis. Methods: This study aimed to compare the effects of the long-term use of oral anti-seizure medications in monotherapy (lamotrigine, carbamazepine, and valproate) on antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, haemoglobin, and methaemoglobin content in erythrocytes, and concentrations of total proteins and thiols, nitrites, lipid peroxides and total glutathione in the plasma of epilepsy patients and drug-naïve patients. Results: The results showed that lamotrigine therapy led to lower superoxide dismutase activity (p < 0.005) and lower concentrations of total thiols (p < 0.01) and lipid peroxides (p < 0.01) compared to controls. On the other hand, therapy with carbamazepine increased nitrite levels (p < 0.01) but reduced superoxide dismutase activity (p < 0.005). In the valproate group, only a decrease in catalase activity was observed (p < 0.005). Canonical discriminant analysis showed that the composition of antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes was different for both the lamotrigine and carbamazepine groups, while the controls were separated from all others. Conclusions: Monotherapy with anti-seizure medications discretely alters redox homeostasis, followed by distinct relationships between antioxidant components.

The link between obesity, diabetes and bone metabolism is quite complex and not entirely clear. Although many clinical and epidemiological studies demonstrate that obesity enhances bone mineral density, its effect on bone microarchitecture is uncertain. The objective of this study was to examine the bone microarchitecture in obese patients with and without diabetes. The study included 119 individuals with ages from 30 to 50. Participants were divided into three groups: obese patients, obese diabetic patients, and a healthy control group. Results showed that obesity has a positive effect on trabecular bone score (TBS). Diabetes and obesity have a significant interactive impact on bone microarchitecture (TBS). Furthermore, HbA1c influences TBS in both obese diabetic patients and obese non-diabetic subjects. In contrast to the majority of studies, we found that obesity positively influenced TBS. TBS was inversely related to HbA1c levels in obese type 2 diabetics. Diabetes and obesity have a significant interactive impact on bone structure, in particular on bone microarchitecture.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of scores indicating depression, anxiety and stress (<95th percentile of the score on each of the domains) among students at the University of Pristina-Kosovska Mitrovica and social and lifestyle characteristics associated with scores indicative of depression, anxiety and stress in this population studying in a post-conflict area. Methods: The cross-sectional study applying the non-probabilistic convenience sampling that included a total of 656 students of nine faculties who were present in the classes during the day of this study at the University of Pristina-Kosovska Mitrovica was conducted during the 2024/2025 school year. Results: A total of 9.3% had a score on the DASS-D scale, indicating severe or extremely severe depression, 19.6% had a score indicating severe or extremely severe anxiety, and 13.9% had a score indicative of severe or extremely severe stress. Our study showed the association of scores indicating depression with living in rural areas, average self-rated health, use of anti-anxiety medications, and mobile phone addiction. Our study showed the association of scores indicating anxiety and average self-rated health, use of anti-anxiety medications, score on social support scale, and score on state impulsivity scale. Our study showed the association of scores indicating stress with female sex, age in years, poor self-rated financial status, average self-rated health, use of anti-anxiety medications, and score on the state impulsivity scale. Conclusions: This study has shown a significant burden of psychological distress among students at the University of Pristina-Kosovska Mitrovica.

Introduction/Objective. Higher rates of morbidity and mortality from the infection of COVID-19 have been recorded among people with mental disorders, especially among those suffering from severe forms, so they should be prioritized during vaccination campaigns. The aim of this study was to examine possible predictors of acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 in patients with mental disorders. Methods. This retrospective study was conducted from January 2021 until January 2022 and included 458 patients with mental disorders treated at the Dr Laza Lazarević Clinic for Mental Disorders in Belgrade, Serbia. Patients were segregated into the vaccinated and unvaccinated group depending on their vaccination status. Questionnaire developed specifically for the present study was administered to gather the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, while data related to their mental disorders, COVID-19 infection, and comorbidities was obtained from their medical records. Results. Eighty percent of the vaccinated group opted for the Sinopharm vaccine. Significantly higher percentage of vaccinated patients was hospitalized during the study period and had comorbidities compared to the unvaccinated group (51.4% vs. 32.6% and 52.8% vs. 37.5%, respectively). Education level, employment status, marital status, diagnostic category, and comorbidities were statistically significant predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake among people with mental disorders. Conclusion. Our findings show that higher level of education, greater trust in the healthcare system, and knowledge of the available vaccination points significantly contribute to the vaccination uptake in this vulnerable population group.

Introduction. Langerhans cell histiocytosis, as a hematopoietic neoplasm, is a clonal proliferation of Langerhans dendritic cells. Case study: A 43-year-old female patient first presented for an endocrinology consultation due to front neck pain and swelling accompanied by fatigue and malaise. Results.Physical examination revealed enlarged thyroid gland lobe of extremely firm consistency that was painfully tender on palpation. Echosonographic findings confirmed that the right thyroid gland lobe was enlarged and was not clearly demarcated from the surrounding tissue, while exhibiting pronounced parenchyma inhomogeneity characterized by reduced echogenicity of the anterior aspect and pronounced hypoechoicity of the posterior aspect, permeated with fibrous bands and calcifications. The structure of the left thyroid lobe was pseudonodose, with the characteristics of a chronic inflammatory process. Biohumoral findings indicated chronic autoimmune thyroiditis and primary hypothyroidism. Medical history, clinical findings, and personal and family predisposition to malignancy confirmed the need for accelerated additional diagnosis. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was indicative of atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) involving Hurthle cells, nuclear overlaps, anisocytosis, anisonucleosis, and presence of nuclear incisions. Analyses performed after thyroidectomy pointed to the fibrous form of chronic thyroiditis, with suspected monoclonal proliferation of histiocytic and/or lymphoid cells. Immunohistochemical findings confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Langerhans cell histiocytosis. As the postoperative course was favorable, the patient was prescribed L-thyroxine replacement therapy, along with continuous and systematic monitoring for histiocytosis.Conclusion.A comprehensive clinical examination is sometimes crucial for detecting rare adult diseases, such as Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) with concomitant autoimmune thyroid disease, where timely LCH diagnosis largely determines the outcome. Histiocytosis should be suspected more often given the high incidence of autoimmune thyroid disease in adulthood.