Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors: a swinging pendulum in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are integral in treating patients with heart failure, regardless of the existence of diabetes mellitus. In light of their benefits on the heart muscle, the question of their effect on acute coronary syndrome is raised, and a hypothesis as to whether they can be implemented in its treatment is proposed. The aim of the article was to indicate the potential of using SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI).

Pregabalin in the Treatment of Peripheral and Central Chronic Neuropathic Pain.

Background: Pregabalin is a first-line therapy of pain with additional positive effects on the states of depression and anxiety that often occur in patients with chronic pain, thus improving their quality of life.

Objective: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of pregabalin in reducing neuropathic pain and improving quality of life in patients with peripheral and central chronic neuropathic pain in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, the aim was to monitor the safety of therapy with pregabalin.

Triglyceride level as a potential marker of residual cardiovascular risk and its relation to HeartScore.

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Elevated LDL-cholesterol is established as a strong marker of cardiovascular risk. Some researchers believe that measuring triglyceride levels gives a good assessment of the residual risk for ASCVD besides the measurement of LDL-cholesterol.

Level of prematurity as a predictor for the activity of retinopathy of prematurity and strabismus.

To evaluate the prevalence of strabismus in premature children after the screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to determine whether the level of prematurity (birth weight and gestation age) can be used as a predictor for both strabismus development and disease activity. This is a retrospective study, conducted in the Clinic for Eye Disease, section for Pediatric Ophthalmology of the Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo during the period from December 2013 until January 2017. 126 patients were involved.

Neurosarcoidosis - the Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Diagnostics.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, characterized by presence of granulomas in affected tissues with variety in clinical presentations and presents a differential diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Clinical presentation of neurosarcoidosis is very variable. Diagnosis is based on clinical and radiological criteria and histological findings of disseminated non-necrotic granuloma followed by negative cultures for bacteria and fungi.

A Rare Case of Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma with Central Necrosis in the Right Atrium.

Primary cardiac tumors, which are uncommon types of tumors, can be presented with a variety of clinical signs and symptoms, depending on their location. We present a case of a 57-year-old female patient with a severe right-sided heart failure. Examination using 2-dimensional transthoracic and 3-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography detected a large, oval, tumor-like formation within the right atrium, which compromised the blood flow from the superior and inferior vena cava.

High Flow Nasal Cannula Versus Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation as Initial Respiratory Support in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Covid-19: Exploratory Analysis in Two Intensive Care Units.

Objective: To identify the type of the non-invasive ventilatory treatment for patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with respiratory status deteriorated by COVID-19 pneumonia, and in need of treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a one-year period in the medical intensive care units of two hospitals. As the patients' clinical condition deteriorated and the parameters of the arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis worsened, oxygen support was applied via a high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) or by non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV).

The Efficacy and Tolerability of a Fixed Combination of Perindopril and Indapamide in the Treatment of Unregulated Essential Hypertension - a Postmarketing Study.

Objective: The objective of this non-interventional post-marketing clinical trial was to analyze the antihypertensive effect and safety of a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide in the treatment of unregulated essential hypertension.

Patients And Methods: The prospective clinical trial included patients aged 20 to 75 years with essential hypertension and blood pressure values ≥ 140/90 mmHg at baseline. On the basis of the investigator's decision, patients received 2 mg perindopril + 0.

Hemodialysis Parameters and Pulse Wave Velocity.

Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the acute effect of ultrafiltration on the mechanical properties of the aorta using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) before and after hemodialysis (HD).

Patients And Methods: This study included 80 patients who were on a long-term HD program. The input variables were anamnestic data, body composition monitor (BCM) parameters, and echocardiography findings.

Heat-not-burn tobacco products and cardiovascular risk reduction: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Heat-not-burn (HNB) technology by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been classified as a modified risk tobacco product, which can be a better option for those populations who cannot give up the habit of smoking.

Diagnostic Potential of Ratio Between Creatine Kinase and Amylase in Acute Pancreatitis.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammatory illness of the pancreas representing a true question in diagnostic process. Laboratory markers of the hepatobiliary tract such as liver transaminases with pancreatic enzymes give a true hint of a hidden diagnosis together with urea, creatinine and creatine kinase (CK).

Objective: This clinical study aims to show whether there is any correlation between alpha-amylase and CK or their ratio examining hospitalized patients with AP diagnosis.

CRP/HDL-C and Monocyte/HDL-C ratios as Predictors of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) denotes a cluster of co-occurring medical conditions associated with regulating hyperglycemia and acute cardiovascular events and complications. The escalating frequency of MetS among individuals afflicted with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) underscores its burgeoning significance as a critical public health concern and a complex clinical conundrum. Timely identification is imperative to avert the expedited progression of diabetic complications.

Relation between thyroid hormonal status, neutrophillymphocyte ratio and left ventricular systolic function in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Aim To examine a relation of thyroid function, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with left ventricular function measured through the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods This prospective research involved 160 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction. Patients were divided into those with normal thyroid hormone status (n=80) and those with hypothyroidism (newly diagnosed) (n=80).

Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of selected congenital anomalies at the largest Bosnian pediatric surgery tertiary center.

Congenital anomalies (CA) are any abnormality present at birth, either structural or functional, that may potentially affect an infant's health, development, and/or survival. There is a paucity of studies on clinical characteristics and outcomes of CA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mainly due to the lack of a nationwide congenital malformations monitoring system. A 5-year hospital-based study was conducted to determine the prevalence at birth and clinical characteristics of selected major CA in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Parameters in predicting the risk of a prolonged hospital stay in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a single-centre experience.

Aim To identify clinical and laboratory parameters on admission and/or during a hospital stay that would predict prolonged hospital stay in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo for the period 2019-2021 accounting patients admitted due to AECOPD. The need for hospitalization was evaluated according to the current GOLD criteria and certain clinical parameters.

Development of neural network models for prediction of the outcome of COVID-19 hospitalized patients based on initial laboratory findings, demographics, and comorbidities.

Background: During the process of the treatment of COVID-19 hospitalized patients, physicians still face a lot of unknowns and problems. Despite the application of the treatment protocol, it is still unknown why the medical status of a certain number of patients worsens and ends with death. Many factors were analyzed for the prediction of the clinical outcome of the patients using different methods.

Effect of pan-retinal laser photocoagulation on intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor concentration in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

This study aimed to determine the intravitreal concentration of VEGF in eyes with PDR and to evaluate the effects of previous PRP on its level. It was a cross-sectional study performed at the Clinical Centre University. It included 90 eyes surgically treated with PPV, divided into three groups, group A - patients with PDR with previous PRP, group B - patients with PDR without previous PRP, and group C - PPV performed due to the indication unrelated to diabetes.

Atypical Viral Infections in Gastroenterology.

Enteric viruses are commonly found obligate parasites in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These viruses usually follow a fecal-oral route of transmission and are characterized by their extraordinary stability as well as resistance in high-stress environments. Most of them cause similar symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

The Role of Novel Motorized Spiral Enteroscopy in the Diagnosis of Cecal Tumors.

Small bowel and ileocecal diseases remain a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, despite the introduction of various modalities for deep enteroscopy. Novel Motorized Spiral Enteroscopy is an innovative technology that uses an overtube with a raised spiral at the distal end to pleat the small intestine. It consumes less time and meets both the diagnostic and therapeutic needs of small bowel diseases.

Brixia Chest X-ray Severity Scoring System is in Relation with C-reactive Protein and D-dimer Values in Patients with COVID-19.

Background: The Brixia scoring system interpreted chest X-ray changes, serves as an indicator of the extent of changes in the lung parenchyma.

Objective: To indicate the effect of D-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) on Brixia score in patients with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: The research had prospective, descriptive and analytical character, and included patients (n=104) with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis.

The Efficiency of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) in the Treatment of Distal Ureteral Stones: An Unjustly Forgotten Option?

Introduction The optimal management of distal ureteral stones remains a matter of debate since current guidelines favor ureteroscopy over extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of ESWL for distal ureteral stones and to identify factors that affect treatment outcomes. Materials and methods The retrospective study included records of 115 patients with distal ureteral stones, 5 mm to 18 mm in size, undergoing 223 ESWL sessions as an outpatient procedure.

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.

Morphologic and Functional Changes of Macula and Optic Nerve Head in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipient.

Aim: To assess macular and optic nerve head characteristics in patients after kidney transplantation using noninvasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.

Methods: The study had a prospective character and was performed during period from November 2019 to November 2020 at the University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and included 59 patients with renal graft who underwent OCT. The obtained OCT images, pathologic changes on the fundus, including macula and optic nerve, were analyzed by reviewing nonparametric measures such as scanning laser ophthalmoscope, B-scan, 3D display, as well as parametric measurements such as central macular thickness, optic nerve head excavation, and retinal nerve thickness fiber (RNFL).