Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the risk factors and prevalence of vascular calcification (VC) in pre-dialysis and hemodialysis (HD) patients with Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) or other kidney diseases (non-BEN). Materials and Methods: The study involved 115 patients, 32 pre-dialysis and 83 HD patients, separated into groups of BEN and non-BEN patients. In addition to interviews, objective examinations and laboratory analyses, VC was assessed using Adragao score. Results: Patients with BEN were significantly older in both groups, while pre-dialysis BEN patients had significantly lower systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol and phosphorus levels, but higher urinary excretion of phosphorus than non-BEN patients. These differences were lost in HD groups. In pre-dialysis patients, prevalence of VC was lower in BEN than in non-BEN group and mean VC score differed significantly between them (2.8 (1.7) vs. 4.6 (1.8); p = 0.009). No significant difference in VC score was found between BEN and non-BEN patients on HD. Multivariate analysis showed that in pre-dialysis patients VC score >4 was associated with lower iPTH and higher serum cholesterol level, but in the HD group with higher serum triglyceride level and longer HD vintage. Conclusions: Lower prevalence of risk factors for VC in the BEN than non-BEN patients was found in pre-dialysis but not in HD group and this was reflected in the prevalence and severity of VC in the groups. Prevalence of VC and mean VC score were significantly lower in pre-dialysis BEN than in non-BEN patients but not for those on HD.

The field experiment of liming (0 and 10 t ha-1 of powdered hydrated lime) and phosphorus (P) fertilization (monoammonium phosphate or MAP: 12% N + 52% P2O5) started in autumn 2008 on acid soil of Laktasi municipality (Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina). Three doses of P (0, 500, 1000 and 1500 kg P2O5 ha -1) on ordinary fertilization were applied. The experiment was conducted in four replicates. Basic plots of liming and P fertilization were 640 m2 and 40 m2, respectively. Maize was grown in monoculture. Under drought stress of 2011 and 2012 yields were considerably lower (mean 3.86 t ha-1) than in the remaining two years (mean 9.20 t ha-1). As affected by drought and high air-temperature, particularly in August, the 2012 growing season was especially unfavorable for maize growth because mean yield in the experiment was only 2.06 t ha-1 or 22% of yield realized in the 2010 growing season. As affected by liming yield of maize was increased by 31% (4-year mean), while P effect was considerably lower (6.14 and 6.65 t ha-1, for the control and average of ameliorative P treatments, respectively).

In summer of the year 2017, unfortunately, passed away respective academician Zelimir Jaksic, former dean of Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb and former Director of “Andrija Stampar” School of Public Health in Zagreb. In 1955, he graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zagreb. From 1955 to 1959, he worked in the Department of General Medicine at the Zagreb Primary Health Care Center. He completed residency in the Hygiene and Social Medicine and became specialist in 1960. In 1965, he presented his doctoral dissertation on the topic “Assessment of Diabetes Incidence and its Early Detection”. He was habilitated at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zagreb in 1967. Then he was elected as a full professor of Social Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb, in 1974. Professor Zelimir Jaksic was a fruitful organizer and researcher of numerous research and field experiments in epidemiology and the prevention of chronic diseases. Special emphasis was placed on the organization of Primary Health Care and Medical Education. From 1972 to 1974, he was the head of the World Health Organization’s Health Service Development Research team in Iran. The head of the Health Care Institute of the School of Public Health from 1975 to 1977, and for two years later he established the Primary Care and General Medicine Department at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb. The duty of the Director of the School of Public Health “Andrija Stampar” carried from 1978 to 1981. At that time, he established and coordinated international postgraduate courses in “Planning and Management of Primary Health Care in Developing Countries” and “Training of Teachers in General Medical Practice”, and since 1982, he was the Director of the World Health Organization’s Primary Health Care Collaboration Center at the School of National Health “Andrija Stampar”. In 1985 became the main researcher of the international project “Continuous Education for Primary Health Care Using Video and Computer Technologies” in collaboration with Japan. Since 1972 professor Zelimir Jaksic was a regular member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Croatia. In 1983 he was admitted to the Royal College of General Practitioners in London, and in 1988 he became professor at the Boston University. Professor Jaksic was the main project researcher between Yugoslavia and Japan. From 1987 to 1990, he was a vice dean, and later Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Zagreb. For his contribution to the Development of General medicine in the world in 1999, at Palma de Mallorca received Hippocrates Medal from the European branch of the World Association of Family Physicians WONCA Europe. In 2005 he was elected to Professor emeritus of the University of Zagreb. Generations of undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as generations of specialists and specialists of General and Social Medicine will remember professor Jaksic as a calm, patient and good-natured teacher and educator. He was appreciated by his colleagues, associates, students and all the associations. He was a fruitful organizer and scientist especially in the field of epidemiology and the prevention of chronic illnesses, followed by the field of healthcare organization, in particular primary health care, and medical education. Professor Jaksic was a leader or associate at several international scientific projects and international postgraduate courses. For his contribution to the development of General Medicine in the US and worldwide he has received more awards and medals. Professor Jaksic will remain in our memories as a giant of medical education, and his scientific and professional achievements and for the future generations of doctors will be a lasting impetus and inspiration. His students, residents, specialists, colleagues and associates will remember him for his immense patience and benevolence in fostering creative thinking and activities in social medicine, epidemiology and family medicine. The School of public health “Andrija Stampar” lost one of its greats, who partly made it famous and well-known in the former Yugoslav areas, but also in Europe and the World. I personally remember him as a tireless worker, but also associate whose experiences was welcomed in my academic career. He loved Sarajevo and established good cooperation with the Institute and the Department of Social medicine and the organization of health, and several years ago we implemented several joint projects, some of which remained recognizable in Europe. A particularly important project was the “YugoslavSwedish Days of Social Medicine”, on which we worked together with the Karolinska Institute for Social Medicine in Stockholm for ten years, and which experiences and results significantly improved social medicine in our region.

The study was conducted using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the aim of this research is to determine the level of physical activity and differences among students, of the University of Tuzla, in relation to gender. The study was conducted on a sample of 813 students (321 male and 492 female) 1st cycle of studies at the University of Tuzla. The results of present study showed that average level of total physical activity for male students was 6013.493 MET-minutes/week, while female students showed average level of total physical activity was 4619.381 MET-minutes/week. We conclude that the total data indicates that in this group of students the physical activity level is sufficient and that there is a lower physical activity among females than males. Also there is a need to continuously take measures for promoting the sports at Universities with the aim of raising the health status of students to a higher level.

Introduction: Immunization is a lifelong preventive activity that helps prevent/reduce disease, prevent/ reduce mortality and prevent disability from specific infectious diseases. Material and Methods: Authors of this paper researched the WHO extended program of mandatory immunization of children from birth to the age of 18 years and analyzed how it has been implemented in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H), because the guidelines of the specialist physician societies on immunization of adults, elderly people and risk groups of the population are missing. Results: The paper presents the basic characteristics of the immunization program in the FB&H and the world, points to the most frequent problems that the doctor practitioner has in carrying out immunization, and also presents possible modalities of improving immunization. It is pointed out the need to develop the national guidelines and individual immunization booklets, introduction of electronic registration of immunization, and continuous education of health professionals of all profiles, population, educators, teachers and harmonious partnership relations of health workers, population, social entities and the media with the aim of achieving an appropriate lifelong vaccination.