Calcium (Ca) is a significant element that acts as an intracellular second messenger. It is necessary for many physiological processes in spermatozoa including spermatogenesis, sperm motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction and fertilization. Although influences of Calcium deficiency on sperm function and male infertility have been widely studied, mechanisms for these abnormalities are not wel...

Vitamin D insufficiency is an emerging public health concern. National survey data confirm that large proportions of the populations in the United States and Northern Europe have low vitamin D levels (1 , 2). The prevalence of low vitamin D levels looms particularly large among African Americans and others with dark skin (3), the elderly, the overweight (4) and physically inactive, and those wi...

Upper limb reduction defi ciency (ULRD) is a rare condition that has been known ever since the 6 century B.C. This is a lifelong defi ciency which in an affl icted child can lead to practical limitations, social restrictions and physical problems. The overall aim of this research was to increase the knowledge about children with upper limb reduction defi ciencies from three perspectives: the de...

me to coordinate a review series on adult immuno-defi ciency, I voluntarily agreed and suggested 10 topics. Th e editors selected six with the greatest importance for rheumatologists. Th e authors of the six articles all come from research groups with outstanding track-records in their respective fi elds. Why present adult-onset immunodefi ciency to a readership of rheumatologists? Th e answer ...

symptoms: cephalhematomas, injury-related bleeding and bleeding into the skin, manifesting as petechiae, purpura and ecchymoses. Persistent oozing from the umbilical stump is typical for infants with defective fi brinogen production or function and FXIII defi ciency. Joint hemarthroses, typical for severe hemophilias, rarely occur before ambulation. A small proportion of infants with severe coa...

Gaucher disease is the most common lysosomal storage disorder, with autosomal recessive transmission. The disease is due to glucocerebrosidase enzyme defi ciency, resulting in accumulation of glucocerebroside in all organs. The diagnosis is established by measuring enzyme activity. Among the clinical forms, type 2 is the rarest and has the most dismal prognosis. We present the case of an infant...

Micronutrient defi ciency conditions are global in scope, with developing countries suffering most from such "silent epidemics". There are several different approaches to combating micronutrient malnutrition at the level of populations and vulnerable groups. We review these briefl y with attention to successes, advantages and disadvantages. We recommend active governmental leadership and policy...

Main Findings: Hyperphosphatemia constitutes a major stimulus for FGF-23 secretion, together with infl ammation and reduced iron availability, either by iron defi ciency or by iron sequestration in infl ammatory diseases. FGF-23 can be expressed by the damaged liver. Alcoholism is a proinfl ammatory condition, and in alcoholics there is an increased cardiovascular risk. Preliminary data suggest...

Vitamin D is important for the development, growth, and mineralization of the skeletal in neonates and children. Vitamin D is essential for intestinal absorption of calcium. Vitamin D is metabolized to 25-hydroxyvitamin D and then to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Pregnant women in developed countries often have insufficient serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and a supplementation of vitamin...

N. Šehić-Mušić, Chamber of Economy of the Federation of B&H, Š. Goletić, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zenica, D. Pihura, Bosnia Foundry Association, L. Mušić, Faculty of Political Science, University of Sarajevo, K. Hasanović, European University, Brčko District, B&H Integrating environment development, as the objective of the research in this paper, is to defi ne a model to...