The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sunlight on the degradation of DNA samples taken from blood stains from different types of surfaces. A blood sample obtained from a single male donor was placed on seven different surfaces (galvanized sheet, iron rod, newspaper, white printer paper, glass, soil, and ceramic panel). Samples were kept, during a 4-week summer period, in a room, but next to an open window. Every 7 days, 1 mm² of blood sample was collected from each substrate and stored in labeled tube for later analysis. DNA was extracted with the Chelex method, amplified using AmpFISTR^TM Minifiler^TM Plus Amplification Kit, and quantified using a Quantifiler^TM Human DNA Quantification kit. After 7 days of sun exposure, the highest DNA concentration was determined to be from the sample from a galvanized sheet stain, followed by, in order of decreasing concentration, the ceramic panel, glass, newspaper, iron rod, and white printer paper surface. As expected, the DNA concentration from all samples decreased as the sunlight exposure time progressed. The results obtained after the amplification in the MiniFiler^TM system were in correlation with the DNA concentrations measured by the qPCR method for all samples, except for the glass, soil, and white printer paper samples. The obtained data show that DNA degradation is correlated to the length of sunlight exposure and to the type of surface the samples are collected from. A negative qPCR result does not mean negative PCR amplification in the STR system; therefore, both methods should be applied when analyzing forensic samples collected from trace evidence.

Nicotine is the main psychoactive component of tobacco and is considered to be the main substance responsible for the development of tobacco addiction. The main enzyme responsible for nicotine metabolism, CYP2A6, catalyzes the conversion of nicotine to cotinine and the subsequent metabolism of cotinine to trans-3′-hydroxycotinine. CYP2A6 activity is known to be modulated by various compounds, such as quercetin. This repeated-measures study examined the effects of short-term quercetin supplementation on urinary nicotine metabolism biomarkers in adult users of conventional and alternative nicotine products. Seventy-two participants completed a two-week study protocol involving first-morning urine collection at four time points: baseline, immediately after three days of quercetin supplementation (500 mg/day), seven days after supplementation, and ten days after supplementation. Urinary nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3′-hydroxycotinine concentrations were measured, and the nicotine metabolite ratio was calculated as trans-3′-hydroxycotinine/cotinine. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate biomarker changes over time according to sex, nicotine product type, and self-reported nicotine consumption intensity. Quercetin supplementation did not consistently alter nicotine metabolism biomarkers, while a descriptive increase in median urinary nicotine concentration after supplementation was observed in participants reporting lower daily nicotine consumption compared with other groups. These findings suggest that further studies are warranted to better clarify the effects of quercetin on nicotine metabolism across different levels of nicotine exposure.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has attracted growing scientific and clinical interest due to its potential therapeutic applications and increasing availability across Europe. This narrative review examined the regulatory status, market availability, and clinical use of CBD in Croatia in relation to selected European Union countries and international reference models (Canada and Australia). A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, complemented by official regulatory and governmental sources. The analysis included Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Italy, France, and Finland, while Canada and Australia were discussed as international reference models. Considerable differences were identified regarding the regulation of CBD-containing products, access to medical cannabis, reimbursement policies, clinical implementation, and the role of pharmacists. Germany and the Netherlands have established well-developed systems for medical cannabis use, whereas Finland represents a more restrictive regulatory model. In Croatia, CBD-containing products are widely available, but their integration into routine clinical practice remains limited. Regulatory uncertainty, insufficient professional training, and the lack of standardised clinical guidance were identified as important barriers. The findings suggest that the expansion of the consumer CBD market has generally outpaced the integration of cannabinoid-based therapies into healthcare practice across the countries included in this review. Improved professional training and clearer clinical guidance may facilitate their evidence-based implementation in clinical practice.