Publications by authors named "Alma Mekic-Abazovic"

Background: The study aims to investigate the role of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) in the development, progression, and therapeutic potential of glioblastomas.

Methodology: The study, following PRISMA guidelines, systematically examined hypoxia and HIFs in glioblastoma using MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, and Scopus. A total of 104 relevant studies underwent data extraction.

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Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, accurate data on the status of breast cancer are lacking due to the absence of a central registry. Multiple international guidelines imply that institutions that monitor breast cancer patients should have optimal therapeutic options for treatment.

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Malignancy is one of the major public health problems in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Along with breakthroughs in specific oncological therapy, improving the quality of life of cancer patients and management of therapy-induced side effects need to be recognized as a priority in the comprehensive cancer patient care. Fertility loss after cancer treatment is a field requiring special attention due to its various consequences on patients themselves.

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BACKGROUND Providing oncology services during a pandemic can contribute to mental health challenges among healthcare workers. The present study aimed to evaluate the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in healthcare and administrative staff in 5 oncology institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in 2020 during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional observational study enrolled 175 healthcare and administrative workers from 5 oncology institutions in BiH during December 2020.

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The HERe2Cure project, which involved a group of breast cancer experts, members of multidisciplinary tumor boards from healthcare institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was initiated with the aim of defining an optimal approach to the diagnosis and treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer. After individual multidisciplinary consensus meetings were held in all oncology centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a final consensus meeting was held in order to reconcile the final conclusions discussed in individual meetings. Guidelines were adopted by consensus, based on the presentations and suggestions of experts, which were first discussed in a panel discussion and then agreed electronically between all the authors mentioned.

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Introduction: Beneficial effect of local administration of lysozyme in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis was demonstrated, but there are no published studies focused on treatment of chemotherapy or radiotherapy induced oral mucositis with lysozyme.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare efficacy and safety of Lysobact Complete spray (lysozyme, cetylpyridinium, and lidocaine) and compounded medication for local use in the treatment of radio- and chemo-therapy induced oral mucositis.

Patients And Methods: This observational, phase IV study was designed as prospective cohort investigation, and conducted at two sites, Clinical Hospital Zenica and University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina, from August to November, 2018.

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This observational clinical study was composed of two substudies: a non-comparative one (n = 166), testing only lysozyme-based compounds (LBCs), and a comparative substudy (n = 275), testing both LBCs and bicarbonate-based local compounds (BBCs) on the healing of oral mucositis during radio- or chemotherapy. The density of ulcerations has decreased significantly after the treatment with lysozyme in both substudies. The density of ulcerations in the radiotherapy group was lower in patients treated with LBCs compared to patients treated with BBCs (p < 0.

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The aim of the study was to analyze correlation between morphological characteristics of intracranial meningiomas and Ki67 labeling index (Ki67 LI), and their influence on peritumoral brain edema (PTBE). There were 41 consecutive patients with intracranial meningiomas surgically treated at the Department of Neurosurgery, Zenica Cantonal Hospital, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the period from January 2010 to December 2015. We reviewed clinical data including patient age, gender, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of the tumor and peritumoral edema, tumor margins, intraoperative characteristics, histopathologic grade and Ki67 LI.

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Aim To determine capabilities and potential of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enterography in order to establish the diagnosis and to evaluate severity and activity of intestinal inflammation. Methods Fifty-five patients with suspicion for presence of Crohn's disease were evaluated. All patients underwent contrast enhanced MRI enterography and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), and subsequently endoscopic examination or surgical treatment.

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Aim To investigate the presence, type and distribution of spontaneous brain and arachnoid herniation into the dural venous sinuses as well as a clinical significance of these herniations. Methods This retrospective - prospective, non-randomised anatomical and clinical study included 990 patients who were referred to Magnetic Resonance Imaging at the Department of Radiology of the Cantonal Hospital in Zenica in the period from January to December 2016. The T1 and T2 sequences in axial, sagittal, and coronary section were used for brain or arachnoid herniation analysis.

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Aim To analyze the relationship between timing of surgery and outcome in patients with cauda equina syndrome caused by lumbar disc herniation. Methods A retrospective, non-randomized clinical study included 25 consecutive patients with cauda equina syndrome (CES) caused by lumbar disc herniation. All patients were operated within 24 hours after hospitalization at the Department of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, between January 2000 and December 2010.

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Febrile neutropenia is common chemotherapy complication significantly impacting patient's outcomes, quality of life and costs, too. Febrile neutropenia (FN) often leads to hospitalization, the need for intravenous antibiotics and use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (GCSF) in order to avoid its complications. Cost of febrile neutropenia is well described in literature, but no study has been performed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Aim: To compare efficacy and toxicity of bolus application of chemotherapy protocol, oxaliplatin, fluorouracil (bolus), leucovorin (folfox) between two groups of patients in the therapy of metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC).

Methods: A total of 63 patients were treated for mCRC in the period January 2009 - January 2010 at the Department of Oncology of the Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina (first group, 30 patients) and at the Department of Oncology of the Clinical Hospital Centre Bežanijska kosa in Belgrade, Serbia, in the period January 2005 - January 2006 (second group, 33 patients). The patients were treated according the same protocol, i.

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Lobus v. azygos (lobe of the azygos vein, azygos lobe) is an accessory lobe of the right upper lobe of the lung that corresponds to the anatomical variety. The presence of expansive lesions in it represents unusual radiographic findings.

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Aim: To compare a benefit of chemiotherapeutic protocols docetaxel with Tarceva molecular therapy in advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Primary endpoint-OS (overall survival), toxicity, secondary endpoint-quality of life.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective and -prospective study a total of 63 patients (two groups--30+33 patients) were analysed and treated for advanced or metastatic NSCLC during the period 2008-2010.

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Introduction: This study was aimed at comparing the efficiency and tolerability of two reference protocols Cisplatin and Etoposide and Cisplatin and Vinorelbine in advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Material And Methods: A total of 60 patients (two groups consisting of 30 patients) were treated for advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer during the period from January to December 2005 according to the reference protocols (Cisplatin 100 mg/m2 D1; Vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 D1, D8 on 4 weeks) and (Cisplatin 100 mg/m D1; Etoposide 100 mg/m2 D1, D3, D5 on 4 weeks) at the Department of Oncology of KBC "Bezanijska kosa". All patients were analysed for tumour response, progression free survival as well as for toxicity.

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The study presents a case of endometrial cancer in a breast cancer patient treated with tamoxifen. The disease occured with elevated values of CA 125 and CA 15_3 tumour markers without any other signs. Additional diagnostic analyses were performed showing a "de novo" endometrial cancer rather than metastatic breast cancer.

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The study presents a rare case of organised chronic epidural haematoma that imitated a meningioma. A patient was admitted to the Department of Neurology of the Cantonal Hospital Zenica due to loss of consciousness and right hemiparesis. Non-contrast Computed Tomography (CT) scan had shown an expansive intracranial process in the left parietal region which was radiologically diagnosed as a meningioma.

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Aim: To confirm the efficiency and toxicity of two chemiotherapeutic protocols- Cisplatin Gemcitabin (CDDP, Gemcitabin) and Cisplatin, Vinorelbin (CDDP, Vinorelbin) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Retrospectively were analyzed and treated a total of 60 patients (two groups with 30 patients) for advanced or metastatic NSCLC during the period from January 2005 to January 2007. The patients were treated with chemiotherapeutic protocols CDDP, Vinorelbin and CDDP, Gemcitabin for four weeks.

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