Histopathological spectrum of lumbar disc changes in obesity: analysis of intervertebral discs in lumbar hernia patients in Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Aim To investigate the correlation of body mass index (BMI) with severity of intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods The study enrolled patients who had undergone surgical intervention for a herniated disc at the Department of Neurosurgery of the Cantonal Hospital Zenica. Patients underwent thorough preoperative evaluation, including medical history, neurological and physical assessments, and radiological analysis.

Morphometric analysis of clinically significant parameters of the main trunk of the left coronary artery.

Aim To determine the value of angles between the left coronary artery main trunk (LMT) and its branches, the anterior interventricular branch (LAD) and the circumflex branch (CX), and their possible relationship with the LMT length. Methods A total of 29 cadaveric hearts were used. The left coronary artery and its branches were dissected.

Changes in body mass index and clinical outcomes after initiation of contemporary antiretroviral regimens.

Background: Weight gain is becoming increasingly prevalent amongst people with HIV (PWH) receiving contemporary antiretroviral treatment. We investigated BMI changes and clinical impact in a large prospective observational study.

Methods: PWH aged ≥18 years were included who started a new antiretroviral (baseline) during 2010-2019 with baseline and ≥1 follow-up BMI assessment available.

Genetic variations in AURORA cell cycle kinases are associated with glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent type of primary astrocytomas. We examined the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Aurora kinase A (AURKA), Aurora kinase B (AURKB), Aurora kinase C (AURKC) and Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) mitotic checkpoint genes and GBM risk by qPCR genotyping. In silico analysis was performed to evaluate effects of polymorphic biological sequences on protein binding motifs.

Preoperative tumour size as a predictor of the presence of lymphovascular invasion in lung adenocarcinoma.

Aim To examine whether preoperative tumour size may serve as a biomarker for the occurrence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in centrally and peripherally located lung adenocarcinoma. Method The study included 261 patients surgically treated for diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma. A ROC curve was used to determine the biomarker potential of tumour size relative to the occurrence of LVI.

Characteristics of lymphovascular metastatic spread in lung adenocarcinoma according to the primary cancer location.

Aim To compare the localization of lung adenocarcinoma with tumour size and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) presence, and to determine the frequency of metastasis findings in hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes depending on the localization of the tumour and status of lymphovascular invasion. Method This observational cross-sectional study included 261 patients with complete resection of confirmed lung adenocarcinoma. The dependence between categorical variables were performed with χ2 and Fisher's exact tests.

Characterization and risk association of polymorphisms in Aurora kinases A, B and C with genetic susceptibility to gastric cancer development.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding mitotic kinases could influence development and progression of gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: Case-control study of nine SNPs in mitotic genes was conducted using qPCR. The study included 116 GC patients and 203 controls.

CD4/CD8 Ratio as a Predictor for the Occurrence of Metabolic Syndrome in HIV / AIDS Patients During 6 Months of cART Therapy.

Background: HIV infection is characterized by progressive depletion of CD4 T cells due to their reduced synthesis and increased destruction followed by marked activation and expansion of CD8 T lymphocytes. CD4/CD8 ratio was traditionally described as a marker of immune system ageing in the general population, but it increasingly appears as a marker of different outcomes in the HIV-infected population. The main objective of this study is to examine the power of CD4/CD8 ratio in predicting the occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in HIV-positive patients receiving cART therapy.

The New Method of Pocket Forming for Breast Implant Placement in Augmentation Mammaplasty: Dual Plane Subfascial.

Introduction: Breast augmentation is one of the most frequently performed aesthetic surgical procedures in the world. The most important preoperative decisions which influence the final appearance of the augmented breast are the breast implant pocket choice and selection of the most appropriate implant. Described pocket locations are subglandular, subfascial, partially retropectoral, totally submuscular and dual plane.

Penile Compression Release Index Revisited: Evaluation and Comparison with Other Noninvasive Tools in the Prediction of Bladder Outlet Obstruction in Men with Benign Prostatic Enlargement.

Aim: To determine the discriminatory power of penile urethral compression-release index (PCRI), clinical prostate score (CLIPS) and bladder outlet obstruction index 2 (BOON2) for the detection of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), and the associated bladder abnormality in patients with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE).

Material And Methods: In study was included of 135 patients with proven BPE underwent urodynamic measurement (UDM) and PCR maneuver. PCR Index was calculated following the formula: (Qs-Qss)/Qss x 100(%).

Changes in bone density measured by ultrasound of calcaneus in sedentary workers.

Aim To determine a degree of change in the bones of workers who spend their full time job in sitting position and to find a correlation between smoking and changes in bone structure. Methods Examinees were 213 female workers who worked full time sedentary work in front of computer. Each worker was subjected to physical examination and ultrasonic osteodensitometry of calcaneus.

The experience of nurse anaesthetists in assessing postoperative pain in orthopaedic patients.

Aim To explore the experiences of anaesthesia nurses in assessing postoperative pain in patients undergoing total hip and/or knee arthroplasty. Methods Data were collected through four focus group interviews (FGI) using the critical incident technique (CIT). The participants were six men and 12 women, all registered nurses with further education in anaesthesia with at least five-year experience of caring for patients on a postoperative ward.

The serum triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio in patients with acute coronary syndrome with and without renal dysfunction.

Aim To assess triglyceride - to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL)-C ratio in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to verify its association with renal dysfunction. Methods A cross sectional study included 85 ACS patients divided in two groups with (ACS - RD) and without (ACS-nRD) presence of renal dysfunction, and 35 healthy subjects. Blood pressure, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, urea, creatinine, eGFR and serum lipids levels (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C) was measured in all participants.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy effect on renal arterial resistive index changing.

Aim To investigate a correlation between resistive index (RI) level changes following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in treated and non-treated kidneys depending on the ESWL treatment intensity. The study was conducted on 60 subjects, which were divided in two groups according to age and treatment protocol. Results In the group of patients younger than 55 years of age there was a significant increase in mean RI values, on the first (p=0.

Potential Immune Biomarkers in Diagnosis and Clinical Management for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Background: There is still no reliable, specific biomarker for precision diagnosis and clinical monitoring of systemic lupus erythematosus. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of the determination of immunofenotypic profiles (T, B lymphocytes and NK cells) and serum cytokine concentrations (IL-17 and IFN-alpha) as potential biomarkers for this disease.

Methods: The study included 55 patients with SLE and 25 healthy controls.

Effects of kinesiotherapy on muscle strengthening in patients with Parkinson disease.

Aim To investigate the effect of kinesiotherapy on muscle strengthening in patients with Parkinon's disease. Methods This clinical retrospective - prospective study was based on collected data from medical histories and included 40 patients, who, beside medicaments, had undergone kinesiotherapy. This study analysed age, gender, duration of the rehabilitation and estimation of the gross muscle strength at admittance and discharge using Manual Muscle Test (MMT).

Statistical analysis of the gamma evaluation acceptance criteria: A simulation study of 2D dose distributions under error free conditions.

Purpose: To investigate the statistical distribution of the gamma value under error-free conditions, in order to study the relation between the gamma evaluation failure rate and statistically significant deviations in the general situation.

Methods: The 2D absorbed dose distribution for 30 clinical head-and-neck IMRT fields were calculated in a QC phantom. For the same fields, dose measurements were simulated by assuming that the calculated value represented the expectation value, and by adding a random spatial uncertainty of 1-9 mm (1SD) and a random dose uncertainty of 1%-3% (1SD).

Epidemiology and clinical pattern of paediatric burns requiring hospitalization in sarajevo canton, bosnia and herzegovina, 2012-2016.

We first aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and clinical pattern of hospitalized paediatric burn patients in Sarajevo Canton. Second, we aimed to determine the targets for the paediatric burn prevention program. This descriptive retrospective study was carried out to analyse the demographic, etiologic and clinical data of 73 hospitalized paediatric burn patients in Sarajevo Canton over a 5-year period from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016.

Linear Short-Term Heart Rate Variability Parameters of Subjects Tobacco Cigarette Smokers and Subjects Nonsmokers in Preoperative Period.

Background: Variations of heart cycles reflect complex dynamic cardiocirculatory regulatory systems in humans. Exposure to tobacco from cigarettes has been shown to elicit specific alterations of heart rate variability parameters leading to predominance of sympathetic and decreasing parameters of parasympathetic measures of cardiac autonomic nervous system tone.

Aim: The aim of the trial was assessing differences of linear parameters of heart rate variability in subjects with habit of consuming of cigarettes tobacco in regard to subjects who are not consumers of tobacco.

Medical physics in Europe following recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Background: Medical physics is a health profession where principles of applied physics are mostly directed towards the application of ionizing radiation in medicine. The key role of the medical physics expert in safe and effective use of ionizing radiation in medicine was widely recognized in recent European reference documents like the European Union Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM (2014), and European Commission Radiation Protection No. 174, European Guidelines on Medical Physics Expert (2014).

Epidemiologic and laboratory surveillance of the measles outbreak in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, February 2014-April 2015.

A measles outbreak with two epidemic waves involving 4649 probable and laboratory-confirmed cases was recorded in six out of ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina between February 2014 and April 2015. The majority of the patients had never received measles vaccination (3115/4649, 67.00%), and the vaccination status of another 23% was unknown (1066/4649).

The reality of cancer treatment in a developing country: the effects of delayed TKI treatment on survival, cytogenetic and molecular responses in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients.

Cancer patients in developing and low-income countries have limited access to target therapies. For example, tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy for chronic myeloid leukaemia patients (CML) is often delayed. In Bosnia, 16% of patients received immediate TKI treatment (<3 months of diagnosis), while 66% of patients received therapy after a median 14-month wait period.

Influence of Malondialdehyde and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 on Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis in Chronic Renal Disease with Cardiometabolic Syndrome.

Objective was to assess whether the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of lipid peroxidation and serum concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are involved in the process of atherosclerosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients nondialysis-dependent and those on peritoneal dialysis (PD), both with signs of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS). Thirty CKD and 22 PD patients were included in a study. All observed patients were divided into three subgroups depending on the degree of atherosclerotic changes in the carotid arteries (CA).

Brucellosis in children in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period 2000 - 2013.

Aim: To analyse clinical, laboratory and epidemiological characteristics of brucellosis in children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Methods: The study included 246 children aged 0-18 years, who were hospitalized in Clinics and Departments for Infectious Diseases in Tuzla, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Zenica and Bihać in the period 2000-2013, in whom the diagnosis of brucellosis was established based on anamnestic data, clinical features and positive results from blood culture and/or positive results from one of the serological tests.

Results: In this period, a total of 2630 patients, 246 (9.