Management of severe pyogenic spinal infections: the 2SICK study by the EANS spine section.

Background Context: Spondylodiscitis management presents significant clinical challenges, particularly in critically ill patients, where the risks and benefits of surgical intervention must be carefully balanced. The optimal timing of surgery in this context remains a subject of debate.

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of early surgery versus delayed surgery or conservative management in critically ill patients with de novo pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

The Efficacy of Various Orthodontic Appliances in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Objective: The goal of this review was to determine the effectiveness of different types of monobloc and bibloc mandibular advancement device (MAD) devices in the treatment of all forms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), by reviewing the available literature.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, ResearchGate, NCBI and Google Scholar databases. The search included articles in English, published in the inclusive time period from 2000 to 2024.

The Predictive Significance of Doppler Parameters on the Arteriovenous Fistula Maturation for Hemodialysis-A Single Center Experience.

Background: Doppler ultrasound examination of blood vessels has a significant role in planning and identifying parameters that affect the functioning and maturation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Our goal was to determine the predictive parameters of Doppler ultrasound, measured at different time distances, which affect the maturation of AVF for hemodialysis.

Materials And Methods: The research was a retrospective cohort study.

The trend in national childhood immunization program coverage throughout Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija from 2003 to 2022: pre-COVID-19 period vs. COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The childhood immunization coverage in Serbian communities in Kosovo after the 1999 armed conflict has not been investigated. The study purpose was to evaluate the trend of immunization coverage with vaccines from the national childhood immunization program in Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija from 2003 to 2022.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the annual reports of the Public Health Institute of Kosovska Mitrovica received through notifications from the primary health centers where vaccines are being administered.

Application of Convolutional Neural Networks for Determining Gender and Age in Forensic Dentistry.

Background Determining human identity has always been important in forensic investigations. Forensic dentistry has developed significantly having a key role in determining gender and age. One of the methods that is important in forensic dentistry is the analysis of orthopantomograms, which are X-rays of the complete upper and lower jaw, including the surrounding anatomical structures.

Therapeutic Potential of N-acetylcysteine and Glycine in Reducing Pulmonary Injury in Diabetic Rats.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is associated with systemic complications, including the development of pulmonary injury, characterized mainly by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue. This process is driven by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, both caused and exacerbated by hyperglycemia. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and glycine, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, offer potential therapeutic benefits in mitigating diabetes-induced lung injury.

Glucocorticoids influence on rat hematological parameters and catalase activity.

In this study, the impact of glucocorticoid, betamethasone dipropionate on enzyme activity and its effects on hematological parameters was investigated. The immobilized catalase, crucial for cell oxidative stress response via hydrogen peroxide reduction, exhibited a robust electrocatalytic response, maintaining its biological activity. The inhibition kinetics of catalase, as determined by electrocatalytic methods and expressed using Lineweaver-Burke diagrams, revealed an uncompetitive type of inhibition with altered Imax and Km in the presence of a range of betamethasone dipropionate concentrations.

The Effects of Intensity, Exposure Time, and Distance of Polymerization Light on Vickers Microhardness and Temperature Rise of Conventional Resin-Based Composite.

(1) Background: This study investigates the effects of curing light intensity, exposure time, and distance on the Vickers microhardness (VMH), hardness bottom-to-top ratio (HR), and temperature rise (TR) of conventional dental resin-based composite (RBC). (2) Materials and Methods: Specimens of one conventional RBC (Tetric EvoCeram, Ivoclar Vivadent) were cured with 12 different curing protocols (CPs), created with three different light intensities (Quartz Tungsten Halogen 300 mW/cm, LED 650 mW/cm, LED 1100 mW/cm), two exposure times (20 and 40 s), and two distances of curing tip (0 and 8 mm). The VMH of top (VMH-T) and bottom (VMH-B) surfaces was measured.

The Trend of Changes in Adiponectin, Resistin, and Adiponectin-Resistin Index Values in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with the Development of Metabolic Syndrome.

: This study aimed to investigate the novel adiponectin-resistin (AR) index as a predictor of the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MetS is common in T2DM and increases cardiovascular risk. Adiponectin and resistin, adipokines with opposing effects on insulin sensitivity and inflammation, make the AR index a potential marker for metabolic risk.

Comparative Diagnostic Value of 18F-FDG-PET-CT and Intraoperative Examination in Cervical Cancer Staging.

: The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of 18F-FDG-PET-CT in preoperative staging of cervical cancer, focusing on determining surgical operability and exploring the correlation between its quantitative parameters and clinicopathological characteristics. : This retrospective study included 62 cervical cancer patients treated at the Department of Gynecology, Clinic for Operative Oncology at the Institute of Oncology Vojvodina between January 2016 and January 2020, where preoperative clinical examinations and 18F-FDG-PET-CT were performed to assess the extent of cancer, followed by intraoperative and pathohistological examinations of surgically removed specimens to provide a comprehensive evaluation. : The mean tumor size measured by 18F-FDG-PET-CT was slightly greater than that obtained through clinical examination (26.

Epigenetics of cardiomyopathies: the next frontier.

Cardiomyopathies (CMP) are a diverse group of myocardial diseases that cause structural, functional, and pathological changes to the heart. Alterations at the molecular level associated with the clinical phenotype and progression of CMPs cannot be solely explained by the genetic mutations, even in inherited cardiomyopathies. Epigenetics and environmental factors are likely to significantly modify the clinical manifestations of CMPs, resulting in variable clinical expression and different age-related penetrance.

Impact of on-hours versus off-hours admission on outcome in pediatric patients with testicular torsion.

Objectives: Testicular torsion (TT) is an emergency requiring timely surgery to prevent testicular loss. There is a lack of reports on the clinical significance of the time of admission (on-hours vs. off-hours) on the long-term surgical outcome of TT.

Toward a common interpretation of the 3Rs principles in animal research.

Many scientific breakthroughs have depended on animal research, yet the ethical concerns surrounding the use of animals in experimentation have long prompted discussions about humane treatment and responsible scientific practice. First articulated by Russell and Burch, the 3Rs Principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement have gained widespread recognition as basic guidelines for animal research. Over time, the 3Rs have transcended the research community, influencing policy decisions, animal welfare advocacy and public perception of animal experimentation.

Cytomorphological and histomorphological features of lung adenocarcinoma with epidermal growth factor receptor mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene rearrangement.

Lung cancer is among the lethal and most prevalent oncological diseases globally. It is known that two types of mutations, namely anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation, are responsible for the development of lung adenocarcinoma. The present study aimed to investigate the differences in the frequency of clinical, cytomorphological and histomorphological features of ALK and EGFR-positive lung adenocarcinomas.

Comparative analysis of diatom testing and histopathological examination in lungs: An experimental study in Wistar rats.

Microscopic signs indicative of drowning are not specific to drowning but also to any other form of suffocation where mechanical obstruction is involved. Our study aimed to evaluate both macroscopic and microscopic findings across different groups sharing a common mechanism of death but differing causes and to compare the diatom test with pathohistological examination.Twenty-nine adult Wistar rats, weighing within recommended ranges, were divided into four groups (L1-L4).

Analysis of excessive corticosteroid use as an indicator of poor quality of care in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical impact of corticosteroids (CS) overuse in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Excessive use of CS could delay more efficacious treatment and may indicate poor quality of care.

Method: This is a two-phase study that used Steroid Assessment Tool (SAT) to measure corticosteroid exposure in IBD patients.

The influence of anthropometric parameters on the concentration of globulin that binds sex hormones during the menopausal transition.

Aim: To determine the effect of body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) on the concentration of circulating sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) throughout the menopausal transition.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 150 women divided into three groups: premenopausal (n=50), perimenopausal (n=50), and postmenopausal (n=50). The processing of the test women consisted of three phases: interview, blood sampling and determination of BMI and WHR.

Prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome in premature twins compared to premature singletons.

Aim: To estimate prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome in preterm twins compared to preterm singletons.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational point prevalence study conducted at the level of three neonatal intensive care units. Medical records of all preterm newborns (<37 weeks of gestation) with respiratory distress syndrome treated in a two-year period were reviewed.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period 2018-2022: current trends, usage of automated external defibrillators (AED) and bystanders' involvement.

Aim: To investigate out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) trend, provided advanced life support (ALS) measures, automated external defibrillator (AEDs) utilization and bystanders' involvement in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during OHCA incidents.

Methods: This cross-sectional study encompassed data pertaining to all OHCA incidents attended to by the Emergency Medical Service of Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, covering the period from January 2018 to December 2022.

Results: Among a total of 1131 OHCA events, 236 (20.

Flu seasons during the period 2018-2023 in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina: possible impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the influenza A and B virus circulation.

Aim: During the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona-virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), many countries reported a significant decrease in the prevalence of influenza virus cases. The study aimed to characterize the flu seasons from 2018 to 2023 in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), and to assess the possible impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the influenza A and B virus circulation.

Methods: The CDC Human Influenza Virus Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panels were used for the detection of influenza virus A and B, and subtyping of influenza virus A (H1pdm09 virus and H3).