Left atrial stiffness is in correlation with left atrial reservoir strain in pediatric patients with mitral regurgitation.

Background: Left atrial stiffness index (LASI), defined as the ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity/lateral mitral annulus myocardial velocity (E/e') to peak atrial strain, reflects reduced left atrial (LA) compliance and represents an emerging marker that can be used for noninvasive measurement of fibrosis of LA in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR).

Objective: To investigate the impact of chronic MR in children and adolescents on the remodeling and function of the LA, quantified through strain parameters and diastolic function.

Methods: The study included fifty patients (n= 50) diagnosed with primary and secondary chronic MR lasting at least 5 years.

Left atrial strain analysis in the realm of pediatric cardiology: Advantages and implications.

Background: Left atrial (LA) strain analysis has emerged as a noninvasive technique for assessing LA function and early detection of myocardial deformation. Recently, its application has also shown promise in the pediatric population, spanning diverse cardiac conditions that demand accurate and sensitive diagnostic measures.

Objective: This research article endeavors to explore the role of LA strain parameters and contribute to the growing body of knowledge in pediatric cardiology, paving the way for more effective and tailored approaches to patient care.

Pericardial Effusion in Postcoronavirus Disease Patients with Preserved Ejection Fraction of the Left Ventricle and Normal Values of N-Terminal-Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide-Link with C-Reactive Protein and D-Dimer.

Aim: The aim of this study was to link the values of D-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP), with the occurrence of pericardial effusion in patients who had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and have preserved systolic function of the left ventricle (LV).

Methods: This was a prospective study and included 146 patients who underwent echocardiographic examination 30 days after the acute phase of COVID-19. Patients who were placed on mechanical ventilation, patients who had pulmonary thromboembolism or acute coronary syndrome during the acute period of the disease, patients who had an ejection fraction of the LV <50%, patients who were diagnosed with pericarditis during acute illness or clinical signs of heart failure (or had elevated N-terminal-pro hormone B-type natriuretic peptide value), with verified renal or hepatic dysfunction were excluded from the study, including patients with diabetes mellitus Type 1, patients with cancer, connective tissue disease, or pregnant women.

Serum Creatinine versus Corrected Cockcroft-Gault Equation According to Poggio Reference Values in Patients with Arterial Hypertension.

Introduction: Serum creatinine is not enough sensitive marker for the evaluation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Cockcroft-Gault (CG) formula is often used to assess GFR, but it is necessary to correct original one for body surface area (BSA), adipositas, and the creatinine tubular secretion. The values of the estimated creatinine clearance and GFR are considered to Poggio reference ones according to biological parameters (age and gender).

From Heart Murmur to Echocardiography - Congenital Heart Defects Diagnostics Using Machine-Learning Algorithms.

The most common clinical sign in pediatric cardiology is heart murmur, which can often be uncharacteristic. The aim of this research was to present the results of development of a classifier based on machine learning algorithms whose purpose is to classify organic murmur that occur in congenital heart defect (CHD). The study is based on the data collected at Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo during three-year period.

Increased Levels of Coagulation Factor XI in Plasma Are Related to Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease is a complex disorder of unclear etiology that develops in the elderly population. It is a debilitating, progressive neurodegeneration for which disease-modifying therapies do not exist. Previous studies have suggested that, for a subset of patients, dysregulation in hemostasis might be one of the molecular mechanisms that ultimately leads to the development of neurodegeneration resulting in cognitive decline that represents the most prominent symptomatic characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

Amnioreduction in Emergency Rescue Cervical Cerclage with Bulging Membranes.

Introduction: Emergency cerclage in the second trimester is aestablished treatment for a dilated cervix.

Aim: To report a case of a successful cerclage performed in a 33-year old woman in her secondpregnancy, after 5 years of non-successfulpregnancy outcomes.

Case Report: In her fourth month of pregnancy, the patient was hospitalized because of suprapubic pressure.

Optimal Choice of Pharmacological Therapy - Prevention of Stroke and Assessment of Bleeding Risk in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: The aim of the study was to highlight the importance of adequate anticoagulant therapy and the correlation of higher risk of stroke.

Methods: This study analyzed data obtained from 103 patients with diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) (39 of them had a stroke). Patients were divided into groups according to the CHADS, CHADS-VASc, and HASBLED scores.

SOMAscan-based proteomic measurements of plasma brain natriuretic peptide are decreased in mild cognitive impairment and in Alzheimer's dementia patients.

Alzheimer's disease represents the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder and a leading cause of progressive cognitive impairment. Predicting cognitive decline is challenging but would be invaluable in an increasingly aging population which also experiences a rising cardiovascular risk. In order to examine whether plasma measurements of one of the established biomarkers of heart failure, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), reflect a decline in cognitive function, associated with Alzheimer's disease neurodegeneration, BNP levels were analysed, by using a novel assay called a SOMAscan, in 1.

Lafora Disease during a Seven-Year Period, Bosnian and Herzegovinian experience.

Lafora progressive myoclonus epilepsy (Lafora disease, LD) is a fatal autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder (with an onset in teenage years in previously normal adolescents). This paper represents a view of a patient diagnosed with Lafora progressive myoclonus epilepsy, over a course of seven years. A description of the initial manifestation of symptoms, doctors' attempts to combat the symptoms with drug treatment, further attempts towards reaching the correct diagnosis, the final confirmation of the Lafora diagnosis (mutation in the gene), and the current state of the patient is presented.

Tetralogy of Fallot - Clinical Course and Treatment as a Mirror of Contemporary Cardiology/Cardiac Surgery Development in Correction of Congenital Heart Disease in the Adults.

Aim: The aim of this paper was to present a 65 year old female patient with chronic heart disease, surgically treated for congenital heart defect type Tetralogy of Fallot.

Case Report: In the sixth year of life the patient underwent palliative Potts anastomosis surgery which created an anastomosis between the left pulmonary artery and the descending aorta. Total correction was made in 34 years of life, six months after catheterization, which indicated malignant pulmonary hypertension.

Pediatric Cardiac Anamnesis: Prevention of Additional Diagnostic Tests.

Pediatrics is defined as the science of a healthy and sick child from birth to end of adolescence. Diseases of the cardiovascular system are the leading causes of mortality in adults, with frequent onset in childhood. The cardiologic examination starts with anamnesis in a pleasant atmosphere, refined space, enough time and patience, detailed measurements, and preferably a noncrying child.

Clinical Course and Treatment of Dilated Cardiomyopathy During Twenty Years of Follow-up.

Objective: Demonstration of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy with unusual flow, unpredictable clinical picture and complex therapy.

Case Report: Patient A.P.

Accidental Heart Murmurs.

Introduction: Accidental murmurs occur in anatomically and physiologically normal heart. Accidental (innocent) murmurs have their own clearly defined clinical characteristics (asymptomatic, they require minimal follow-up care).

Aim: To point out the significance of auscultation of the heart in the differentiation of heart murmurs and show clinical characteristics of accidental heart murmurs.

Mobile Clinical Decision Support System for Acid-base Balance Diagnosis and Treatment Recommendation.

Introduction: This paper presents mobile application implementing a decision support system for acid-base disorder diagnosis and treatment recommendation.

Material And Methods: The application was developed using the official integrated development environment for the Android platform (to maximize availability and minimize investments in specialized hardware) called Android Studio.

Results: The application identifies disorder, based on the blood gas analysis, evaluates whether the disorder has been compensated, and based on additional input related to electrolyte imbalance, provides recommendations for treatment.

Evaluation of Congenital Heart Defects Treatment Options-Establishment of Pediatric Cardiology/Cardiosurgery in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Introduction: Modern pediatric cardiology mainly deals with congenital heart defects (CHD), as the most common congenital anomalies. In most cases CHD requires surgical or interventional treatment.

Goal: The goal of the research was to evaluate CHD treatment at Pediatric Clinic, University Clinical Center (UCC) Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H).

Productive Cough in Children and Adolescents - View from Primary Health Care System.

Cough is one of the most common symptoms that doctor faces in working with pediatric population, and according to some characteristics of cough, doctors can often conclude localization, and sometimes even the nature of the disease that causes it. Cough is not only the physiological defense reaction, but a symptom of a disease. According to duration it can be acute, chronic and recidivist, recurrent and persistent, strong or discreet, caused by changes in body position and changes in outside temperature.

Socio-demographic Characteristics of Patients with Diagnosis of Leukemia in Bosnia and Herzegovina During Six-year Period.

Introduction: Malignancies in children are second most frequent cause of death after accidents in pediatric age, while leukemias represents 30% of all malignancies of children age.

Aim: To present the social and demographic characteristics of patients with a diagnosis of leukemia in Bosnia and Herzegovina during six years period.

Patients And Methods: The study included 97 patients (from birth to 18 years old) with diagnosis of acute leukemia.

The Use of Continuous Electrocardiographic Holter Monitoring in Pediatric Cardiology.

Objective: To show the place and role of continuous electrocardiographic twenty-four-hour ECG monitoring in daily clinical practice of pediatric cardiologists.

Methods: According to protocol, 2753 patients underwent dynamic continuous ECG Holter monitoring (data collected from the "Register of ECG Holter monitoring" of Pediatric Clinic, UCC Sarajevo in period April 2003- April 2015).

Results: There were 50,5% boys and 49,5% girls, aged from birth to 19 years (1,63% - neonates and infants, 2,6% - toddlers, 9,95% - preschool children, 35,5% - gradeschoolers and 50,3% children in puberty and adolescence).

Pulmonary Hypertension - New Trends of Diagnostic and Therapy.

Pulmonary hypertension is a pathophysiological state hemodynamically defined as the increase of the mean pulmonary arterial pressure above 25, or 30 mmHg at rest, measured by catheterization of the right heart. Laboratory findings usually reveals polycythemia, the ECG right ventricle hypertrophy, and x-ray characteristic of diseased branches (echocardiography and biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N-terminal pro-BNP hormones are potentially helpful tools in identifying PH). Echocardiography can be found the increase of the right atrium and ventricle, right ventricular hypertrophy, abnormal contraction of the interventricular septum, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and decreased left ventricular size, with reduced volumes of systole and end diastole.

Evaluation of Diagnostic Methods in the Differentiation of Heart Murmurs in Children.

Introduction: The most common clinical sign in pediatric cardiology is a heart murmur (organic and inorganic). Organic are sign of heart disease, while inorganic (basically divided into accidental and functional) murmurs occur on anatomically healthy heart.

Aim: To determine the justification of the application of the methods of cardiac treatment.

Mitral valve replacement in a patient with infective endocarditis and aneurysm of the cerebral artery: a case report.

Objective: Endocarditis can have profound and devastating neurological consequences, with the vast majority of these complications in patients with left-sided valvular disease. The approach to the acute management of stroke in children with infective endocarditis is limited by the inadequacy of published data on their clinical course and outcome.

Case Report: This case report presents a 12 year old girl with diagnosed endocarditis, complicated with intracranial hemorrhage, due to the rupture of an aneurysm of the peripheral branch medial cerebral artery and gradient therapeutic approach, with an excellent final result.