High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Patients with Oral Carcinoma and Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders in Serbia—A Pilot Study

Background and Objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for about 95% of oral cancers. It represents a serious public health problem due to the high degree of morbidity and mortality, as well as multifactorial etiology. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a well-documented risk factor for oropharyngeal carcinoma, but its role in oral carcinogenesis is still debatable. Our aim was to investigate the differences in the prevalence of high-risk HPV genotypes (HR-HPV) in patients with OSCC and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) from that of healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: A total of 90 subjects were included in the cross-sectional study and divided into three groups of 30 patients each: (1) patients with OSCC, (2) patients with OPMD, and (3) healthy subjects. We examined the presence of 12 HR-HPV genotypes in the obtained biological material (oral swabs) using real-time PCR. Results: One or more of the 12 tested HR-HPV genotypes were detected in 5/30 patients with OSCC and 2/30 with OPMD, whereas no healthy subjects were positive for any of the tested genotypes. There was a statistically significant difference in nodal involvement between HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients with OSCC. Conclusions: Oral HR-HPV was detected in patients with oral premalignant and malignant lesions but not in healthy individuals, suggesting a possible role in oral carcinogenesis. Broad HR-HPV panel testing could increase the sensitivity of risk assessment and screening for OSCC

Some management challenges for food companies in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

This paper aims to explore controlling, one of the key management functions, and autonomy at work, a determinant of employee control. Another purpose of this research is to examine the differences in autonomy or, more precisely, to find out to what degree autonomy among non-managers may affect creativity, innovation and business performance of an organization. The research was performed in food companies in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The data collected via a questionnaire were analysed by the SPSS statistical software. Five-level Likert scale was used to rate the responses. The main findings show that employees in food companies in Serbia perceive a higher level of autonomy than their counterparts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the level of autonomy varies among different departments, the highest being in marketing and sales

Modulating chemosensitivity of oral carcinoma to Cisplatin by combination with plasma activated medium on 3D cell models

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity, with a high mortality rate. Since the long-term survival rate of patients diagnosed with OSCC has remained unchanged over the past several decades, it is of utmost importance to discover new treatment modalities or enhance existing ones [1]. Since we previously demonstrated the antitumor efficacy of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) on OSCC cell lines in a two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cell model, we moved further and tried to explain the mechanism of these cytotoxic events as well as analyze the effect of plasma-activated medium (PAM) in combination with chemotherapy as a gold standard in carcinoma treatment. The modified plasma needle operating at 13.56MHz with He as working gas was used for PAM generation with the distance of 3 mm between liquid surface and the tube and applying different exposure intervals [2]. OSCC cell line (SCC25) was cultivated in 2D or 3D culture systems when regular culture medium was changed for PAM for 24 h before performing assays. PAM treatment showed cytotoxic effects on 2D-cultured OSCC by inducing apoptotic cell death through the activation of the intrinsic caspase pathway. To analyze the combined effect of cisplatin and PAM we used a 3D cell culture approach with OSCC spheroids, as this method reflects more closely the in vivo cellular response to chemotherapeutics [3]. When PAM was combined with the increasing concentrations of cisplatin, the results showed an almost linear dose dependent decrease in OSCC spheroid viability. These arepromising and encouraging results for a potential application of CAP in the treatment of oral carcinoma. By combining the effects of chemotherapeutics with PAM, we developed a new prospect for a possible cancer treatment in which the same or even better antitumor effects could be achieved with lower doses of cytotoxic drugs. Consequently, it means that with lower doses of chemotherapeutics, we could minimize potential side effects associated with the high-dose usage of cytostatics and improve the quality of life for patients with these malignancies

Multi-layer masonry bed joint subjected to shear: Analytical modelling

ISSN:0950-061

SOME MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES FOR FOOD COMPANIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

This paper aims to explore controlling, one of the key management functions, and autonomy at work, a determinant of employee control. Another purpose of this research is to examine the differences in autonomy or, more precisely, to find out to what degree autonomy among nonmanagers may affect creativity, innovation and business performance of an organization. The research was performed in food companies in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The data collected via a questionnaire were analysed by the SPSS statistical software. Five-level Likert scale was used to rate the responses. The main findings show that employees in food companies in Serbia perceive a higher level of autonomy than their counterparts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and that the level of autonomy varies among different departments, the highest being in marketing and sales

Opportunities to revitalise rural tourism through the operation of agrarian cooperatives

Agrarian cooperatives are still in a period of transition. Practice shows that it is necessary to reconsider the business activities performed in the sector. Under the 2015 Cooperatives Act, rural tourism was recognised as a business activity, but the legal move has had no practical implications. In order to identify opportunities for the revitalisation of rural tourism, a study has been carried out based on interviews with the general managers of agrarian cooperatives. Their views have been analysed to gauge their awareness of the effects of rural tourism on rural areas arising from the operation of cooperatives, and the potential of human resources to implement the consequent organisational changes. In addition, the potential of agrarian cooperatives has been explored in the context of external surroundings. The results of the research have shown that the general managers view positively the revitalisation of rural tourism as part of the operation of the cooperatives, and that they are aware of the favourable impacts of tourism on rural areas, but that incompetence of the staff in the cooperatives has been a main obstacle to such a development