General Health of Healthcare Professionals With Low Back Pain.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of morbidity in the healthcare profession. It is a complex problem of the biopsychosocial factors (BPS) effect, where processing mechanisms affect the experience of pain, function, participation in society and personal prosperity. Psychological factors are important predictors of poor outcomes because they can significantly influence pain management and coping.

Pharmaco-Invasive Strategy With Half-Dose Tenecteplase in Patients With STEMI: Prespecified Pooled Analysis of Patients Aged ≥75 Years in STREAM-1 and 2.

Background: In STREAM-1 (Strategic Reperfusion Early After Myocardial Infarction), excess intracranial hemorrhage occurred in patients aged ≥75 years receiving full-dose tenecteplase as part of a pharmaco-invasive strategy, whereas no further intracranial hemorrhage occurred after halving the tenecteplase dose. In STREAM-2 (Second Strategic Reperfusion Early After Myocardial Infarction), half-dose tenecteplase was an effective and safe pharmaco-invasive strategy in older patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction presenting within <3 hours, compared with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We prespecified evaluating the efficacy and safety of a half-dose versus full-dose pharmaco-invasive strategy and compared the half-dose pharmaco-invasive strategy to primary PCI in patients aged ≥75 years.

The significance of B-type natriuretic peptide in predicting early mortality among pulmonary embolism patients, alongside troponin: insights from a multicentric registry.

Background: Early mortality assessment in acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is crucial for treatment decisions. The role of natriuretic peptides in this context is debated. This study explores elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, relative to the upper normal limit (UNL), predicting mortality in PE, comparing with troponin (Tn).

The 'peptide for life' initiative in the emergency department study.

Aims: Natriuretic peptide (NP) uptake varies in Emergency Departments (EDs) across Europe. The 'Peptide for Life' (P4L) initiative, led by Heart Failure Association, aims to enhance NP utilization for early diagnosis of heart failure (HF). We tested the hypothesis that implementing an educational campaign in Western Balkan countries would significantly increase NP adoption rates in the ED.

STREAM-2: Half-Dose Tenecteplase or Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Older Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized, Open-Label Trial.

Background: ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) guidelines recommend pharmaco-invasive treatment if timely primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is unavailable. Full-dose tenecteplase is associated with an increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage in older patients. Whether pharmaco-invasive treatment with half-dose tenecteplase is effective and safe in older patients with STEMI is unknown.

New-Onset Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in the Setting of Acute Pulmonary Embolism Is Associated with All-Cause Hospital Mortality in Women but Not in Men.

Background: Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) may have various types of atrial fibrillation (AF). The role of AF in hemodynamic states and outcomes may differ between men and women.

Methods: In total, 1600 patients (743 males and 857 females) with acute PE were enrolled in this study.

Signs and symptoms of acute pulmonary embolism and their predictive value for all-cause hospital death in respect of severity of the disease, age, sex and body mass index: retrospective analysis of the Regional PE Registry (REPER).

Background: The incidence of the signs and symptoms of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) according to mortality risk, age and sex has been partly explored.

Patients And Methods: A total of 1242 patients diagnosed with acute PE and included in the Regional Pulmonary Embolism Registry were enrolled in the study. Patients were classified as low risk, intermediate risk or high risk according to the European Society of Cardiology mortality risk model.

Prognostic significance of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis in patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism regarding the European Society of Cardiology mortality risk model.

Background: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can be symptomatic or asymptomatic in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The prognostic value of the symptomatic DVT at the presentation regarding the prognosis of PE is unknown.

Methods: Data were extracted from the REgional Pulmonary Embolism Registry (REPER) which enrolled 1604 hospitalized patients after multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) diagnosed symptomatic acute PE.

Adherence to the 4S-AF Scheme in the Balkan region: Insights from the BALKAN-AF survey.

Background: The 4S-AF scheme includes stroke risk, symptoms, severity of burden, and substrate severity domain.

Aim: We aimed to assess the adherence to the 4S-AF scheme in patients classified according to stroke risk in post hoc analysis of the BALKAN-AF dataset.

Methods: A 14-week prospective enrolment of consecutive patients with electrocardiographically documented atrial fibrillation (AF) was performed in seven Balkan countries from 2014 to 2015.

The Assessment of Prolonged Inferior Alveolar Nerve Blockade for Postoperative Analgesia in Mandibular Third Molar Surgery by a Perineural Addition of Dexamethasone to 0.5% Ropivacaine: A Randomized Comparison Study.

Perineurally adding dexamethasone to local anesthetics could enable postoperative analgesia. Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of 4 mg dexamethasone and 0.5% ropivacaine on the prolonged duration of mandibular anesthesia for postoperative analgesia during third molar surgery.

Quality indicators in the management of atrial fibrillation: the BALKAN-AF survey.

Background: The implementation of quality indicators in the atrial fibrillation (AF) care should be considered to improve quality of management and patient outcome.

Methods: In the post-hoc analysis of the BALKAN-AF dataset, we assessed concordance with quality indicators for AF management. Available domains for AF management [patient assessment (baseline), anticoagulation, rate control strategy, rhythm control strategy and risk factor management] were identified and assessed at baseline visit.

Symptom management strategies: Rhythm vs rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation in the Balkan region: Data from the BALKAN-AF survey.

Background: Symptom-focused management is one of the cornerstones of optimal atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of rhythm control and rate control strategy. Second, to identify predictors of the use of amiodarone in patients with rhythm control and of the use of rhythm control strategy in patients with paroxysmal AF in the Balkans.

Treatment implications of renal disease in patients with atrial fibrillation: The BALKAN-AF survey.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often co-exists with renal function (RF) impairment. We investigated the characteristics and management of AF patients across creatinine clearance strata and potential changes in the use of nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC) according to different equations for estimation of RF.

Methods: In this post hoc analysis of the BALKAN-AF survey, patients were classified according to RF (Cockcroft-Gault formula) as: preserved/mildly depressed RF (P-RF) ≥50 mL/min, moderately depressed RF (MD-RF) 30-49 mL/min, and severely depressed RF (SD-RF) <30 mL/min.

Impact of multimorbidity and polypharmacy on the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: insights from the BALKAN-AF survey.

Objective: We investigated the impact of multimorbidity and polypharmacy on the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in clinical practice and assessed factors associated with polypharmacy and oral anticoagulation (OAC) use in AF patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy.

Methods: A 14-week prospective study of consecutive non-valvular AF patients was performed in seven Balkan countries.

Results: Of 2712 consecutive patients, 2263 patients (83.

Management of patients with newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation: Insights from the BALKAN-AF survey.

Background: BALKAN-AF evaluated patterns of atrial fibrillation (AF) management in real-world clinical practice in the Balkans. The objectives were: to assess the proportion of patients with first-diagnosed AF in the BALKAN-AF cohort and to compare the management of patients with newly-diagnosed AF and those with previously known AF in clinical practice.

Methods: Consecutive patients from 7 Balkan countries were enrolled prospectively to the snapshot BALKAN-AF survey.

Adherence to the ABC (Atrial fibrillation Better Care) pathway in the Balkan region: the BALKAN-AF survey.

Introduction: The Atrial fibrillation Better Care (ABC) pathway provides a useful way of simplifying decision‑making considerations in a holistic approach to atrial fibrillation management.

Objectives: To evaluate adherence to the ABC pathway and to determine major gaps in adherence in patients in the BALKAN‑AF survey.

Patients And Methods: In this ancillary analysis, patients from the BALKAN‑AF survey were divided into the following groups: A (avoid stroke) + B (better symptom control) + C (cardiovascular and comorbidity risk management)-adherent and -nonadherent management.

Stroke prevention in elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in the BALKAN-AF survey.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common amongst the elderly, but this group tends to be suboptimally treated. Limited data are available on the stroke prevention strategies in the elderly, especially in the Balkan region.

Aim: We investigated the use of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAC) amongst elderly AF patients in clinical practice in the Balkan region.

PathGame: Crowdsourcing Time-Constrained Human Solutions for the Travelling Salesperson Problem.

Human strategies for solving the travelling salesperson problem (TSP) continue to draw the attention of the researcher community, both to further understanding of human decision-making and inspiration for the design of automated solvers. Online games represent an efficient way of collecting large amounts of human solutions to the TSP, and PathGame is a game focusing on non-Euclideanclosed-form TSP. To capture the instinctive decision-making process of the users, PathGame requires users to solve the problem as quickly as possible, while still favouring more efficient tours.

Clinical Significance of the Cerebral Perforating Arteries.

There is scarce data in the contemporary literature regarding the correlation of the microanatomy of the perforating arteries, their atherosclerosis, and the ischemia in their territory. In order to examine, at least partially, those parameters, the perforating arteries of 12 brains were microdissected or their vascular casts were obtained. In addition, 30 specimens of the perforators were used for a histological and immunohistochemical study.

The Relevance of Osteoclastic and Osteoblastic Activity Markers Follow-Up in Patients on Antiresorptive Osteoporosis Treatment.

In general, markers of bone formation and markers of bone resorption are changing synergistically, so the monitoring of any osteoclastic and any osteoblastic marker should reflect the rate of bone transformation. The aim of the study is to monitor the bone metabolism markers in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and osteopenia along with the variations caused by the effects of bisphosphonate therapy. The study involved 55 women of average age of 57.

Decapitation in reality and fine art: A review.

The aim of our study was to examine all types of decapitation from forensic literature, including our own case, and to analyze the presentation of beheading in fine art, popular literature, and music. To do this, over 200 scientific articles in regard to decapitation were analyzed, as well as more than 10,000 artworks, and several hundreds of literary works and music pieces. In addition, a macroscopic examination of a decapitated victim was performed.