Background/Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a causative agent of infections and cancers of the reproductive and digestive tract, and vaccination is the most effective prevention method. This research aimed to assess the impact of health education on vaccination coverage and knowledge of the school population related to HPV infection and vaccination. Methods: This non-randomized clinical trial included 170 participants out of the 221 students in the generation of 2022/2023, who were divided into a group of Subjects and Controls and who self-assessed their knowledge and tested knowledge at four and two time points, respectively. Results: The study examined whether there is a difference in the share of vaccinated students of the entire generation compared to the previous generation (62% vs. 47%). The self-assessment and assessment of one’s knowledge in the group of subjects was significantly lower before education than during other time points during the research. At “moment zero”, there was no significant difference in the knowledge assessment between the groups. However, after 8 weeks, the knowledge assessment was significantly higher in the Subject group. Conclusions: The results suggest a positive impact of health education, which may contribute to raising awareness about the importance of prevention and vaccination against HPV.

Background/Objectives: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of STIs, posing a significant public health problem. Today, the transmission of HPV can be very effectively prevented, making it important to vaccinate the target population at a young age. The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes and beliefs of parents regarding the HPV vaccine and the HPV vaccination of their child. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Osijek, Croatia, from June 2021 to September 2022 via a self-administered questionnaire and included 215 respondents. Results: The results showed that respondents who would vaccinate their child were significantly more likely to be those who work in the healthcare field, who had heard of the term HPV, who had sought information about the HPV vaccine on their own, and who had received information about vaccination from school doctors. The attitude towards vaccination was more negative among respondents who did not intend to vaccinate their child. In predicting the decision not to vaccinate one’s child against HPV, bivariate logistic regression revealed that the probability of non-vaccination increases with working outside the field of healthcare (OR = 4.61) and a negative attitude towards vaccination (OR = 1.46), while the probability of non-vaccination decreases if information was received from a school doctor (OR = 0.46). Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression showed that there is a significant model in predicting non-vaccination against HPV, consisting of two predictors: working outside the healthcare field (OR = 8.15) and a negative attitude towards vaccination (OR = 1.49). Conclusions: Given that parents are responsible for making the decision about HPV vaccination, it is necessary to invest additional efforts in educating them about the importance of preventing HPV infections and the benefits of HPV vaccination itself.

Recent scientific evidence confirms that there is no safe threshold for bisphenol A intake, prompting strict regulatory actions and new prohibitions in the European Union. As a result, bisphenol A has increasingly been replaced by other analogues that are also toxic but less regulated and insufficiently studied, posing a new risk to human health due to cumulative exposure. Since food is the primary source of exposure to these compounds, this review aimed to evaluate the most appropriate existing chromatographic methods for their determination under newly introduced near-zero tolerance limits, as well as to assess current cumulative dietary exposure and associated health risks. A systematic literature search was conducted in major scientific databases and relevant regulatory sources covering the period from 2015 to 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. Of the 489 identified publications, 22 met the eligibility criteria for full-text analysis. The findings indicate a clear methodological shift towards simultaneous quantification of multiple bisphenol analogues, with LC-MS/MS emerging as the dominant and most robust analytical technique. Dietary exposure to bisphenol A is expected to decline due to stricter regulations; however, this may trigger a rise in the use of its structural analogues as alternatives. Exposure assessments indicate that combined dietary intake of bisphenol A and its analogues can result in a Hazard Index exceeding 1, primarily due to the substantially reduced Tolerable Daily Intake for bisphenol A. This highlights the need for continuous monitoring under stricter regulatory frameworks.

Background: Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, and it can be interconnected with psychoneurotic disorders due to the psychological and emotional stress that comes with such a chronic condition. The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of the occurrence of anxiety, depression and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in glaucoma patients from December 2023 to December 2024. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 patients with three different stages of OAG. Multiple questionnaires were used to determine the influence of different OAG stages on the severity of anxiety and depression. Results: While predicting the anxiety expression, in a multivariate logistic regression (stepwise method), there was a significant model in predicting the expression of anxiety: female gender (Odds ratio (OR) = 3.03), age of 66 and over (OR = 3.4) and the feeling of being under stress (OR = 7.07). In the prediction of a higher severity of depression, predictors are age 66 and older (OR = 2.03) and feeling stressed (OR = 9.47). Conclusions: While glaucoma and psychoneurotic disorders affect different systems in the body, the psychological toll of living with glaucoma can lead to exacerbation of glaucoma.

Background and Objectives: This research aimed to examine the impact of sociodemographic characteristics on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, with religiosity as a moderator. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in family medicine clinics within the Primary Healthcare Center of Virovitica-Podravina County among 1131 participants, divided into 2 groups: RC (Recovered from COVID-19; N = 423) and NRC (Not Recovered from COVID-19; N = 708). To ensure clear differentiation, RC participants were defined as individuals with documented positive PCR results for SARS-CoV-2 (prior infection and clinical recovery), whereas NRC participants exhibited consistently negative PCR results and lacked any clinical history of the disease. Group allocation was rigorously based on the review of medical records and corresponding PCR documentation obtained both at the time of recruitment and retrospectively. All data were collected through a questionnaire from September 2022 to September 2023. Participants completed questionnaires measuring their sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, education, and marital status), levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and level of religiosity. Results: Older participants were more prone to depression, whereas younger participants showed relatively better mental-health indicators. Sociodemographic characteristics were significantly associated with mental health during the pandemic. Religiosity was found to be a significant moderator in the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and mental health. Individuals with higher levels of religiosity reported higher levels of depression and anxiety, suggesting that religiosity may act as a negative factor in times of crisis. Conclusions: Sociodemographic characteristics were significant predictors of mental health during the pandemic. Religiosity emerged as an important factor, particularly in moderating the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and mental health. Further research is recommended to develop targeted interventions for vulnerable groups such as women, younger individuals, and those with lower incomes.

Penile cancer is a rare but aggressive tumor, most commonly squamous cell carcinoma. Treatment modalities depend on the stage of the disease, but the backbone of treatment is surgical resection of the primary tumor and regional lymph nodes with the use of neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Our case report is about a 59-year-old patient which was presented with bilateral inguinal lymphadenitis, scrotal and penile edema. A biopsy of the change in the penis confirmed squamous cell carcinoma. Partial amputation of the penis and an excisional biopsy of the inguinal lymph nodes was performed, which confirmed the metastasis to the lymph nodes. Diagnostic imaging revealed bilateral enlarged inguinal lymph nodes which were later surgically removed. Postoperative CT scan showed three suspected lung metastases. The patient was then treated with polychemotherapy. Follow-up CT scan showed complete regression of metastatic changes in the lungs but also showed local recurrence in the area of the penile root. Radiotherapy with concomitant administration of cisplatin was conducted. Penile cancer is an aggressive disease that can be cured at an early stage if adequate treatment is applied. We highlight the importance of a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach consisting of polychemotherapy, surgical treatment, and radiotherapy.