Background: Undernutrition disorder is a prevalent comorbidity (up to 25%) in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients which significantly compromises their health. We aimed to assess the association between single nucleotide polymorphysms (SNPs) adiponectin (ADIPOQ) +276 (G/T) and resistin (RETN) −420 (C/G) with the risk of developing T2D and undernutrition in patients with T2D. Methods: The research was conducted as prospective case-control study among 106 patients with T2D and 106 healthy control individuals in the territory of the Bosnia and Herzegovina from Sep 1st 2022 to May 1st 2023. For assessing the nutritional status, the mini nutritional assessment (MNA) was used. DNA analysis was carried out by restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) method. The data were analyzed using chi-square test, t-test for independent samples and binary multivariate logistic regression. Results: The research included 212 subjects of which 124 (58.5%) were male. The mean age of the subjects was 68.48±4,67 yr. Almost 20% of subjects were undernourished, significantly more T2D patients when compared to controls (33% vs. 6.6%; P<0.001). ADIPOQ +276 GT genotype was identified as significant predictor of T2D (OR: 3.454; 95% CI: 1.400–8.521; P=0.007) and undernutrition disorder (OR: 3.453; 95% CI: 1.331–8.961; P=0.011) in T2D population, while the presence of RETN −420 CG genotype had protective effect against occurrence of T2D (OR: 0.353; 95% CI: 0.144–0.867; P=0.023). However, RETN genotypes were not associated with undernutrition disorder. Conclusion: ADIPOQ +276 gene polymorphism represent a significant predictor for development of T2D and undernutrition disorder in T2D population, while RETN −420 gene polymorphism was identified as a significant factor associated with a reduced risk for T2D, but was not associated with undernutrition.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the global economy and public health, disrupting various aspects of daily life. Apart from its direct effects on physical health, it has also significantly affected the overall quality of life and mental health. This study employed a path analysis to explore the complex association among multiple factors associated with quality of life, anxiety, and depression in the general population of the Republic of Srpska during the pandemic’s second year. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a nationally representative sample (n = 1382) of the general population (adults aged 20+) during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. Assessment tools included the DASS-21 scale for depression, anxiety, and stress, along with the Brief COPE scale, Quality of Life Scale (QOLS), and Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3). Sociodemographic factors and comorbidities were also assessed. Structural equation modeling was used to identify the direct and indirect links of various characteristics to quality of life, anxiety, and depression. Results: This study revealed a considerable prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms (27.5% and 20.9%, respectively), with quality of life playing a significant mediating role. The constructed path model accounted for 33.1% of moderate to severe depression and 79.5% of anxiety. Negative coping was directly linked to anxiety and indirectly to depression via anxiety, while the absence of positive coping had both direct and indirect paths (through quality of life) on depression. Among variables that directly affected depression, anxiety had the highest effect. However, the bidirectional paths between anxiety and depression were also suggested by the model. Conclusions: Pandemic response strategies should be modified to effectively reduce the adverse effects on public mental health. Further research is necessary to assess the long-term effects of the pandemic on mental health and to analyze the contributing factors of anxiety and depression in the post-COVID period.

Background: Frequent episodes of nasal symptoms are the usual clinical manifestations (CM) of allergic rhinitis (AR) and have a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that cytokines in nasal mucus may be associated with HRQoL in adolescents with AR. Methods: European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version (EQ-5D-3L), “The Adolescent Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire” (AdolRQLQ) and the Total 4 Symptom Score (T4SS) scoring system were administered to 113 adolescents with AR, nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) and to healthy control subjects. Nasal secretions were sampled and tested for 13 cytokines using a multiplex flow cytometric bead assay. Results: The AR group had significantly lower EQ-5D-3L (0.661 ± 0.267 vs. 0.943 ± 0.088; p < 0.001) and higher AdolRQLQ total scores (2.76 ± 1.01 vs. 1.02 ± 0.10; p < 0.001) compared to the control group. The AR group had higher concentrations of IL-1β (p = 0.002), IL-6 (p = 0.031), IL-8 (p < 0.001), IL17-A (p = 0.013) and IL-18 (p = 0.014) compared to the control group, and IL-1β, IL-6, IL17-A and IL-18 were significantly (p < 0.050) increased with disease progression. Cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, as well as severe CM, were identified as significant predictors of lower HRQoL in adolescents with AR. Conclusions: This study identified IL-1β, IL-6, as well as severe CM, as predictors of lower HRQoL in adolescents with AR. However, these results should only serve as a starting point for additional confirmation research.