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    Pharmacokinetics of different selenium supplements in healthy individuals and patients with autoimmune thyroiditis after oral administration
    (Society of Chemists and Technologists of Macedonia, 2025-06-24)
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    Stafilov, Trajče
    Selenium is essential for the function of key selenoproteins such as glutathione peroxidase, thiore-doxin reductase, and iodothyronine deiodinase, which have antioxidant properties and support thyroid hormone metabolism. Due to the low selenium content in European soils – particularly in the Southeast-ern regions, supplementation is often recommended, especially for conditions like Hashimoto's thyroidi-tis. However, careful consideration of selenium dosage and pharmacokinetics is crucial, as the margin be-tween essential and toxic levels is very narrow. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacoki-netics of selenium absorption and plasma concentration following oral administration of various selenium doses and chemical forms, both in the short and long term, in healthy individuals and patients with auto-immune thyroiditis. Selenium concentrations in blood plasma were measured using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The study found that L-selenomethionine is absorbed more efficiently than inorganic sodium selenite, with peak plasma concentrations reached and sustained within 6 – 8 hours. Selenium levels remained elevated 48 hours after ingestion compared to baseline. At a daily dose of 200 μg of selenium as L-selenomethionine, plasma selenium concentrations increased by approximate-ly 30 %, and by about 25 % at 100 μg/day, relative to the initial value. Long-term studies showed that plasma selenium concentrations rose significantly after the first month of supplementation, with a slower increase in subsequent months. After supplementation ended, selenium levels declined rapidly. Interest-ingly, no significant differences in selenium absorption or excretion were observed between patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and healthy controls.
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    CENANGIUM OLYMPIUM, COMB. NOV.
    (Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 2026-02-16)
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    Wu, Gang
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    Yang, Zhu-Liang
    New records of the cup-fungus Zeus olympius Minter & Diam. (Rhytismataceae, Ascomycota) are reported from the territory of Kosovo, and a new taxonomic combination for the species is proposed. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using nrITS (Nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer) sequences from dry material collected in Kosovo and Greece. Based on the new phylogenetic placement, where species morphologically identified as Zeus olympius are placed within a clade of the genus Cenangium, Cenangium olympium (Minter & Diam.) M. Karadelev, K. Rusevska, G. Wu & Zhu L. Yang is introduced as a comb. nov. for Zeus olympius.
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    Mapping the landscape of mycological organizations in europe: where citizen science meets professional mycology
    (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2026-01)
    Haelewaters, Danny
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    Aghayeva, Dilzara
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    de-Miguel, Sergio
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    Degtjarenko, Polina
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    Dierickx, Glen
    Fungi have been used by humans since prehistoric times. Informal structures or groups for knowledge exchange regarding mushrooms and lichens probably existed for ages. Only recently, mycological activities have been structured in formal organizations. And where until a few centuries ago there were only learned societies and naturalists’ clubs, nowadays also mycological societies and citizen scientists have joined the landscape. However, the history of mycological organizations and activities in Europe is difficult to track. Here, we initiated two surveys to characterize the current landscape of mycological organizations focused on fungal diversity across Europe and to collate citizen science activities mapping fungi. The surveys were shared on social media and sent to mycologists in 49 countries in Europe. Responses of the surveys allowed us to present the history, geographical distribution, and structure of mycological rganizations in Europe as well as their types of activities, including the publication of journals and magazines, the organization of meetings and educational initiatives, and citizen science projects. In addition to the surveys, local mycologists presented expert knowledge for a more comprehensive overview. Our data show that the mycological landscape in Europe is diverse and heterogeneous. We discuss ways to overcome economic, cultural, and linguistic barriers towards better integration of mycological communities, activities, and data in Europe. Mycological societies focusedon studying fungal diversity can be leveraged towards common goals that include raising public awareness, data integration, uniting academics and non-academics, and developing common standards for research and communication.
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    Provisional list of the Ascomycota species from Kosovo with data on new records
    (Nature Research Centre -NRC, 2025)
    Ramshaj, Qëndrim
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    Tofilovska, Slavica
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    The mycobiota of Kosovo, especially fungi of the phylum Ascomycota, remains under-explored despite its ecological and biological importance. This study aims to assess the diversity and distribution of macrofungal species of the phylum Ascomycota in different ecosystems in Kosovo. Field work combined with laboratory analysis was conducted from 2017 to 2022, using standard mycological techniques for species identification. A total of 82 species have now been documented in Kosovo. Of these, 39 species have been previously reported in the scientific literature, and 43 species are new records, significantly enriching the knowledge of the diversity of fungi in Kosovo. Taxonomic analysis showed that these species belong to 56 genera, distributed in 34 families, 10 orders, six subclasses, five classes and one subphylum. The Helotiales and Pezizales orders had the highest diversity, with 12 and nine families, respectively. In contrast, the orders such as Xylariales and Hypocreales showed remarkable variation, while several other orders were represented by a single family. These results highlight the rich but under-explored diversity of Ascomycota in Kosovo and emphasise the importance of further research to support biodiversity conservation.
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    Infrared and Raman spectra of racemic ibuprofen sodium dihydrate – Spectra-structure correlations
    (Elsevier BV, 2025-10)
    Cvetkovska Bogatinovska, E.
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    Najkov, K.
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    Petrushevski, Gj.
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    Koleva, V.
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    Lipoxygenase Inhibitory Activity and Prostate Cancer Cytotoxicity of In Situ- and In Vitro-Cultivated Balkan Endemic Sideritis scardica Griseb
    (MDPI AG, 2025-10-25)
    Danova, Kalina
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    Stoyanova, Elena
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    Alipieva, Kalina
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    Sideritis scardica Griseb., a Balkan endemic species traditionally used for respiratory conditions and wound-healing, was investigated for its 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) inhibitory and cytotoxic activities in relation to its phenolic composition. Aerial parts from the wild-collected and in vitro-cultivated plant were successively extracted with hexane, chloroform, and methanol and the methanol extract was further fractionated into ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fractions. This study presents the first combined evaluation of LOX inhibition and cytotoxicity against prostate cell lines WPMY-1 (normal epithelial fibroblast/myofibroblast), PC-3 (epithelial adenocarcinoma, Grade IV), and LNCaP (epithelial carcinoma) and detailed phytochemical profiles of wild-collected and in vitro-cultivated S. scardica. The phytochemical analysis revealed distinct profiles: increased LOX-inhibition activity was related to a higher phenylethanoid/flavone glycoside ratio, while PC cytotoxicity was rather related to flavone glycoside domination in the plant preparations. The cytotoxic effect of the in vitro-obtained preparations was characterized by a marked selectivity when comparing their effects on WPMY-1, PC-3 and LNCaP cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report linking phenylethanoid/flavone glycoside profiles of in situ and in vitro S. scardica plants with dual LOX-inhibitory and anti-prostate cancer activities, supporting the plant’s potential as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds.
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    LC-HRMS and NMR study of the esterification products of ibuprofen with solketal: Formation, isolation and identification
    (Society of Chemists and Technologists of Macedonia, 2025-12-24)
    Jakimovska Pokupec, Viktorija
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    Popova, Milena
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    Bankova, Vassya
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    Ibuprofen is a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug dispensed in tablets, capsules, suspensions, oral solutions, creams, and gels. Ibuprofen's poor water solubility and gastrointestinal side-effects present ongoing formulation challenges. Alcoholic excipients are often employed to enhance solubility and minimise adverse effects. Solketal (1,2-isopropylidene glycerol), a ketal produced by the condensation of glycerol with acetone, offers further versatility as an excipient due to its free hydroxyl group, which enables esterification reactions with acidic active pharmaceutical ingredients like ibuprofen. Introducing any excipient, especially in direct contact with the active pharmaceutical ingredient, necessitates careful evaluation of potential drug–excipient interactions, as these can alter the drug's physicochemical properties and impact clinical performance. Chromatographic techniques coupled with mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy remain essential for identifying and characterising related and degradation products in pre-formulation studies. In this study, we investigated the esterification of ibuprofen with solketal to identify possible interaction products. Two major compounds were isolated and thoroughly characterised by MS and NMR, confirming their chemical structures: 1-mono-glycerol ester of ibuprofen and ibuprofen-solketal-ester, which contained a 1,3-dioxolane ring. This finding highlights the importance of comprehensive analytical evaluation of drug–excipient interactions during formulation development, as these can affect drug stability and performance.
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    Stabilizing latent fingermarks developed with iodine fuming: A new method
    (Elsevier BV, 2025-05-17)
    Singh, Varinder
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    Mandal, P.
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    Sasho, Stojkovikj
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    Slobodan, Oklevski
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    Models of care and associated targeted implementation strategies for cancer survivorship support in Europe: a scoping review protocol
    (BMJ, 2025-02)
    Prue, Gillian
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    Czamanski-Cohen, Johanna
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    Kassianos, Angelos P
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    Pilleron, Sophie
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    Ladas, Aristea
    Introduction Cancer and its treatments can lead to a wide range of side-effects that can persist long after treatments have ended. Across Europe, survivorship care is traditionally hospital-based specialist-led follow-up, leading to gaps in supportive care. Improved screening, diagnosis and treatment increase survival rates. With more individuals living with, through and beyond cancer, the predominance of the hospital-based specialist model is unsustainable, costly and resource-intensive. An understanding of what alternative Models of Care are available and the barriers and facilitators to their implementation is a first step towards enhancing supportive care across the cancer journey. The aim of this scoping review is to source and synthesise information from studies evaluating patient-oriented models of cancer survivorship supportive care for adults in Europe. Methods and analysis The scoping review will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses—Scoping Review Extension guidelines and will be guided by a six-stage methodological framework. A search strategy has been developed according to the Population, Concept and Context structure and will be applied to seven databases. A targeted search of grey literature will be completed. All identified records will be screened using predefined eligibility criteria by at least two researchers and undergo full-text review for inclusion. Data pertaining to the conceptualisation, evaluation and implementation of sourced Models of Care will be extracted. Ethics and dissemination As there is no primary data, ethical approval is not required. This review will be conducted as part of the EU COST Action CA21152—Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care. The protocol and subsequent scoping review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The Action involves representatives from most countries across Europe which will assist with the dissemination of the work to key stakeholders.