Bosnia

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), necessitates effective management strategies. This study aims to evaluate the real-world efficacy of vedolizumab, a newer biological therapy, in treating IBD in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A retrospective observational study was conducted across 6 medical centers, involving 139 IBD patients, 76 with UC and 63 with CD. Patients were assessed for clinical remission and other outcomes at the 26-week mark post vedolizumab treatment initiation...

Background and Objectives . In emergency departments, chest pain is a common concern, highlighting the critical importance of distinguishing between acute coronary syndrome and other potential causes. Our research aimed to introduce and implement the HEAR score, specifically, in remote emergency outposts in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Materials and Methods. This follow-up study conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort consisting of patients who were admitted to the remote emergency medicine outposts in Canton Sarajevo and Zenica from 1 November to 31 December 2023...

COVID-19 vaccine uptake in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) accelerated in the second half of 2021, with greater vaccine availability. In this study, we estimated the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of complete primary series BBIBP-CorV vaccine against COVID-19 in patients aged 60 years and older, during the Delta-dominant period, using a test-negative case-control design. Surveillance sites were 11 primary health care centers (PHC) collecting patient data from October 1, 2021, to January 4, 2022, retrospectively according to a common protocol...

INTRODUCTION: A COVID-19 outbreak occurred at the end of October 2021 among pilgrims returning from Medjugorje (Bosnia and Herzegovina). METHODOLOGY: Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2, epidemiological data, and phylogenetic analysis were used to reconstruct outbreak dynamics. RESULTS: The results suggest that only in one case, associated with the SARS-CoV-2 sub-lineage AY.9.2, it is possible to trace back the place of contagion to Medjugorje, while the other cases were likely to be acquired in the country of origin...

Air pollution is a significant global challenge that affects many cities. In Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are among the most highly polluted and are mainly affected by air pollution. In this study, we integrate open-source landsat 8 remote sensing products, topographical data, and the limited ground truth PM2.5 data to spatially predict the air quality level across different seasons in Tuzla Canton, BiH by adopting three pre-existing machine learning models, namely XGBoost, K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN) and Naive Bayes (NB)...

BACKGROUND: The Potamophylaxwinneguthi species cluster comprises species with limited distribution, currently documented from Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bulgaria. NEW INFORMATION: In this paper, we describe a new species, Potamophylaxkosovaensis sp. nov., discovered in two tributaries of the Ibër River Basin, within the Kopaonik Mountains of the Republic of Kosovo. Morphologically, males of this species closely resemble those of P.idliri Ibrahimi, Bilalli & Kučinić, 2022 from Serbia's Jastrebac Mountain and P...

Leptospirosis is a (re) emerging zoonosis that occurs worldwide. This study aimed to assess seroprevalence of leptospirosis and to identify the most common reactive serovars and risk factors for seropositivity in apparently healthy stray dogs of unknown vaccination status in the Sarajevo region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Positive microscopic agglutination test titres (≥ 1:25) were detected in 3.87% (156/4028) of samples and most of the sera reacted against one serovar (85.9%). Dogs were most commonly reactive to Canicola (40...

BACKGROUND: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia have committed to becoming European Union (EU) member states. This, among others, implies that candidate/potential candidate states adopt legally authorized EU policies, including health. The study aims to identify the main country-specific health policy areas critical to the EU accession health policy dimension and present the change in associated selected health indicators from 2000 to 2019. METHODS: The study draws on published reports and analyses of official statistics over time and cross-country...

BACKGROUND: The rate of multi-drug antibiotic resistance in nosocomial bloodstream infections in elderly patients is increasing. This study examined the data for bloodstream infections to gain a better understanding of bacterial antibiotic resistance. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 817 patients with the first positive blood culture between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019. RESULTS: Moyen's age was 77.4 ± 9.8 years, male (52...

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune diseases encompass a diverse array of disorders that disturb the optimal functioning of the immune system, which is to eliminate the 'foreign or/and dangerous' to mistakenly target the body's own tissues. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research is to evaluate the most effective approach to managing autoimmune diseases within the framework of pregnancy. METHODS: The exact causes and etiologies of these diseases are multifactorial and mostly still unclear...

BACKGROUND: Lymphadenopathy is a common finding in clinical practice. The cause of enlarged nodes on clinical examination alone is challenging and there may be multiple reasons for this enlargement. It may become enlarged due to stimulation by infectious agents or the involvement of metastasis or malignant diseases, such as lymphoma. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic role of fine needle aspiration cytology of lymph nodes in metastatic cancer and lymphoma...

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction refers to an individual's overall attitude towards their job. It is influenced by various factors such as work environment, job role, work-life balance, compensation, anxiety, opportunities for growth and development. However, low levels of job satisfaction can have a significant impact on an individual's mental health and overall well-being. OBJECTIVE: We contacted this study in order to assess the effect of PICU nurses' and pediatricians' job satisfaction on their psychosocial functioning and to examine the role of anxiety as a mediating factor in this relationship...

BACKGROUND: Lyme borreliosis is a multisystemic infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Erythema migras is the main clinical marker of the disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed was to investigate the frequency and clinical manifestations of European borreliosis on the skin, and to determine the significance of these findings for diagnosis and therapy. METHODS: A retrospective-prospective clinical study of outpatients treated and monitored in a private clinic of an infectologist was conducted over nine years from to 2013-2021...

BACKGROUND: Nursing home care refers to the provision of long-term care services to individuals who are unable to live independently and require assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, eating, and medication management. OBJECTIVE: To explore the experience of nursing home care in Shkoder during COVID - 19 and to explore the key challenges and concerns associated with nursing home care during the quarantine period. METHODS: A qualitative phenomenal approach study was conducted...

BACKGROUND: This study examines the employability and career trajectories of International Hellenic University's (IHU) midwifery students who graduated between 2016 to 2021, with a focus on undergraduate curriculum changes. OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively examine the post-graduation journey of recent IHU Midwifery graduates. This includes shedding light on their employment trajectories, satisfaction levels, and the practical application of academic knowledge. Through this exploration, the study seeks to inform educational strategies to ensure alignment with the evolving needs of midwifery professionals in Greece...

BACKGROUND: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) refers to the cessation of mechanical cardiac activity outside healthcare facilities which requires prompt intervention and intensive resuscitative efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to OHCA systems-of-care, adversely affecting every component of the chain of survival. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on OHCA events, to draw comparisons between the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic...

BACKGROUND: Primary central nervous system lymphoma(PCNSL) is an aggressive, rare form of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, characterized by the absence of systemic disease. There are limited data and no strictly defined guidelines for management of PCNSL. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report a 10 year experience of PCNSL treatment, to evaluate treatment outcomes and asses Progression Free and Overall Survival of these patients. METHODS: Study was conducted on the Haematology Clinic, Clinical center University of Sarajevo, BH, in the period from January 2012...

BACKGROUND: In Vietnam, lung cancer ranks second among common types of cancer. Although there have been many advances in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, it is still one of the deadliest types of cancer. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prognostic value of pretreatment white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts of patients with lung cancer. METHODS: This was a prospective, descriptive study with longitudinal follow-up. Data from 203 patients with stage IIIA-IV lung cancer presenting at Can Tho City Oncology Hospital between June 2020 and June 2022 were analyzed...

BACKGROUND: In developing and developed countries, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has grown. The college phase is a critical period during which healthy behaviors are learned through lifestyle and social environment. College students are prone to increased stress, negatively affecting their daily activities and academic performance. OBJECTIVE: The general study objective was to investigate the prevalence of obesity among Jazan University students. METHODS: This observational cross-sectional study used a pre-tested self-administered anonymous electronic questionnaire to evaluate the prevalence of obesity among 474 Jazan University students and its association with academic performance, physical activity, and social support...

BACKGROUND: Hypertension, a significant public health concern, is frequently linked to emotional disorders like depression. Research shows a reciprocal link between depression and hypertension, potentially influencing patients' adherence to self-care routines. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to examine the association between depressive symptoms and aspects of self-care, with a focus on medication adherence in individuals diagnosed with hypertension. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed, PsycINFO and Scopus until March 17, 2023...