Electrophysiological Evaluation of the Incidence of Martin-Gruber Anastomosis in Healthy Bosnian Population Background: Martin-Gruber anastomosis (MGA) is the well known anostomosis that occur at the various levels between the median and ulnar nerves. This anastomosis involves axons leaving either the main trunk of median nerve or the anterior interosseous nerve, crossing through the forearm to join the ulnar nerve. Knowledge of the incidence of this anastomosis is necessary because MGA can cause confusion in the assesment of nerve injuries and compressive neuropathies. Aim: We aimed to assess the occurance and motor velocities of median to ulnar nerve communication (MGA) in the forearm of Bosnian population by electrophysiological examinations. Material and Methods: One hundred and twenty forearms from a series of 60 volunteers (25 females, 35 males, 23-78 years of age) were studied electrophysiologically using needle recording electrodes. Volunteers with peripheral neuropathies were excluded from the study. Needle recording electrodes were places on the thenar and hypothenar muscles. The median and ulnar nerves were stimulated supramaximally at the wrist and the elbow and compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were recorded as well as motor conduction velocities of median and ulnar nerves. Results: Martin-Gruber anastomosis was found in 27 of 120 forearms; it was bilateral in 7 and unilateral in 13, on the right side in nine and on the left side in four forearms. There were no significant sexual differences in the incidence. In MGA, when stimulating median nerve the respond of abductor digiti minimi was registered in 11, whereas the respond of opponens pollicis when stimulating ulnar nerve was registered in 18 subjects. This finding was statistically significant. Conclusion: With high incidence of MGA in Bosnian population, it is necessary to be aware of the existance of this anomaly, location and its possible presentation.

Objective. To assess whether psychosocial support of the School Projectof the Humanitarian Society (HS) “Prijateljice (Girlfriends)” hada positive eff ect on reducing posttraumatic consequences in Bosnia-Herzegovina primary and secondary school students, aft er the 1992-1995 war. Subjects and Methods. A stratifi ed sample of 336 students,aged 13.5±1.6 (10 to18) years, in primary and secondary schools, involvedin psychosocial support, were compared with 72 randomly selectedpeers from the same schools, not involved in this project. Datawere collected in December 2005 and in May 2006. Th e Children’sDepression Inventory and the Child Post-Traumatic Stress ReactionIndex were utilized. Statistical analysis involved McNemar’s test, Students’t-test, Chi-square test and Pearson’s correlation test. Results.According to DSM, the prevalence of PTSD and depression amongstudents involved in the School Project, signifi cantly decreased from46.1% to 13.4% and 25.6% to 1.8%, respectively (McNemar’s test,P<0.001; P<0.001, respectively). In the control group the prevalenceof PTSP and depression decreased from 30.5% to 23.6% and 22.2%to 11.1%, respectively, with no signifi cance (McNemar’s test, p=0.332;p=0.077, signifi cantly). Girls had a signifi cantly higher prevalence ofboth PTSD and depression compared to the boys. Age, the numberof traumatic episodes, and suicidal behavior correlated with the intensityof PTSD symptoms and depression symptoms. Conclusions.Psychosocial support within the School Project resulted in a signifi -cant reduction of PTSP and depression amongst the involved studentscompared to the controls. Schools and other institutions ought to envisageas many projects as possible to be implemented in school andout-of-school to assist young people to overcome more easily the consequencesof the war in their development.

BACKGROUND The 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) has had a tremendous impact on civilians; thousands of inhabitants were left with numerous traumatic experiences. Many children suffered or witnessed horrifying acts of violence and aggression. Although young trauma victims are often resilient, many experience mental health difficulties, including PTSD. The aim of the study was to estimate whether psychosocial support given by the School Project of Humanitarian Association of " Prijateljice" reduced posttraumatic consequences in students in primary and secondary schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina after 1992-1995 war. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A stratified sample of 336 students in primary and secondary schools located in two entities of North-East Bosnia and Herzegovina, involved in psychosocial support, was compared with 72 voluntarily selected same-age students from the same schools who were not involved in this project. Data were collected on two occasions, beginning of December 2005 and end of May 2006, by using a self-evaluation survey method for measuring symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) according to DSM IV. The Index of Children Post-traumatic reactions were used. RESULTS The severity of PTSD symptoms among students involved in the School Project decreased from (mean+/-standard deviation=35.3+/-10.2 to 26.7+/-8.7) (t=13.1, P<0.001, Paired sample test), whereas in the group with no psychosocial assistance this reduction was from (29.7+/-10.9 to 28.1+/-11.8) (t=0.9, P=0.396, Paired sample test). CONCLUSION This study suggests that work with students by giving them psychosocial support within the School Project resulted in significant reduction of PTSD symptoms' severity.