Introduction: Preeclampsia is defined as hypertension (systolic pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic pressure ≥90 mmHg) after week 20 of gestation with one or more of the following symptoms: proteinuria, organ dysfunction (including renal, hepatologic, hematologic or neurological complications) and in case of stagnation of fetal development. So far, there are no valid clinical tools or tests that can tell with sufficient sensitivity and specificity in early pregnancy which pregnant woman will develop preeclampsia or have unwanted outcomes. Aim: To present the properties of biochemical parameter, uric acid, in patients with signs of preclampsia, which was confirmed by Doppler sonography. Methods: The study included 60 female subjects in the second trimester of pregnancy who were examined or were hospitalized at the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. Pregnant women who had normal Doppler sonography scan of the uterine arteries in the second trimester of pregnancy were included in the control group, while pregnant women with pathologic Doppler sonographic findings in the second trimester of pregnancy were included in the group of pregnant women at risk of preeclampsia, i.e. the study group. Results: There is statistically significant difference between the average value of uric acid in the control and in the study group (213.36 ± 28.96 μmol / L vs 249.73 ± 47.06 μmol / L) (F = 12.991; p = 0.001). Applying the Wilcoxon non-parametric paired test to the average uric acid values during all measurements within the control group, no statistically significant difference was found. There was a statistically significant increase in the study group between all measurements, from 18.04 μmol / L between the first and second measurement (Z = -1.955; p = 0.043), 29.10 μmol / L between the second and third measurement (Z = -2.973; p = 0.003), 37.27 μmol / L between the third and fourth measurement (Z = -4.325; p = 0.001) and 109.87 μmol / L at the end of the study in comparison to values from the start of the study (Z = -4.309; p = 0.001). Conclusion: Uric acid values should become part of a broad biochemical range in screening and optimizing the treatment of patients diagnosed with early preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to analyze the distribution of stress and deformation on the mandibular first premolar under two types of loading (axial and para-axial load of 200 N) using the FEM computer method. MATERIALS AND METHOD For this research a µCT scan of the first mandibular premolar was used, and the method used in this research was FEM analysis under two types of loading. RESULTS The values of the von Mises stress measured in the cervical part of an intact tooth under axial load were up to 12 MPa, and under paraaxial load over 50 MPa. The values of the stress measured on the bottom of the noncarious lesion are very high ≈ 240 Mpa. Stress values in the cervical part of the intact tooth are higher in the zone of the sub-surface enamel. The deformation values of the tooth under para-axial loading were ≈ 10 times higher than the value of the deformation under axial load. The greatest deformations were seen in the area of the tooth crown. CONCLUSIONS Occlusal loading leads to significant stress in the cervical part of teeth. The values of the measured stress are greater under the action of paraxial load. The values of stress in abfraction lesions measured under a paraxial load are extremely high. Exposing the lesion to further stress will lead to its deepening. The total deformation of the entire tooth under paraxial load was ≈ 10 times higher compared to the deformation value of the tooth under axial load.

BACKGROUND We investigated sexual-orientation differences in typologies of self-reported familial and non-familial warmth in childhood (before age 11) and adolescence (ages 11-17); and tested whether warmth explained sexual minority emerging adults' (ages 18-25) heightened odds of having heavier alcohol use trajectories (AUTs) and heightened risk for past-year alcohol use disorder (AUD) compared to completely heterosexuals. METHODS Using self-reported data from the U.S.-based Growing Up Today Study cohort, latent class analyses identified typologies of familial and non-familial warmth during childhood and adolescence. Multivariable regression models tested our objectives. RESULTS Six warmth classes emerged, including: High-High (i.e., high familial and high non-familial warmth, respectively); High-Moderate; Moderate-Moderate; Moderate-Occasional; Occasional-Occasional; and Low-Low. Among women, sexual minorities had higher odds than completely heterosexuals of being in the Moderate-Moderate, Moderate-Occasional, and Occasional-Occasional versus the High-High warmth class. There were not significant associations between sexual orientation and warmth classes for men. Lower warmth classes were generally associated with greater past-year AUD, and mediated heightened disparities in AUD for sexual minority women versus completely heterosexual women (4.3% mediated), but not among men. Warmth classes were generally unassociated with AUTs, and did not mediate sexual-orientation differences in AUTs. CONCLUSIONS Lower warmth was associated with greater alcohol-related problems, but not alcohol use itself. Warmth explained a small proportion of AUD disparities for sexual minority women-but not for men.

Anaphylaxis is an unanticipated systemic hypersensitivity reaction which can produce deleterious effects, even death, if not treated promptly. Preventive approach implies taking a thorough anamnesis with the emphasis on previously diagnosed allergies. If an allergic reaction occurred during previous surgery, a detailed documentation of administered anaesthetic agents and drugs would be crucial for the following anaesthesiologic management. Preoperative planning and avoiding cross-reactivity with drugs commonly used during anaesthesia are the key points to prevent an anaphylaxis. In case of emergency surgery when the exact identification of allergens is not possible, premedication prophylaxis should be considered. General measures for prevention of anaphylaxis could be undertaken as well, such as the choice of anaesthesiologic drugs and techniques in the operating theatre adequately equipped for the management of predictable anaphylaxis.

Abstract The aim of this paper is to examine performance of pension funds in Croatia, or more precisely, to measure the technical efficiency of mandatory pension funds. The main role of the pension funds is to collect and invest the money contributed by the employer or the employee during working years until retirement. Therefore, development of pension funds as institutional investors is especially important for capital markets as well as for the whole economy. By applying the methodology of data envelopment analysis on a sample of 12 DMUs, i.e. four mandatory pension funds divided into three categories (A, B or C) for 2015-2018 period, we provide further evidence on their efficiency level. The results have shown very small differences among relative inefficient pension funds.

Organizations in today’s extremely competitive environment need to devote significant time, energy as well as human and financial resources to the measurement of their efficiency, in order to increase their profit, reduce costs, better plan their assets and manage their budgets, as well as to improve budget controls and risk assessment. Therefore, they need performance models, including the Balanced Scorecard. Primarily intended for profit organizations, the Balanced Scorecard is today used in the public sector, as well. This paper presents the research into the utilization of the Balanced Scorecard in the public sector, examining whether the performance of higher education institutions may be improved by the design and utilization of the Balanced Scorecard model.

Introduction: Lately, the use of biological therapy in various autoimmune diseases is increasing. The ideal marker for monitoring the effects of modern therapy is still non-existent. Aim: To investigate early response biomarkers of SLE and RA patients under the rituximab treatment are in research phase and each new investigations offer new and original useful data. Material and Methods: Immunophenotyping of cells was carried out by a standard method of sample preparation. We investigated by flow cytometric analyses expression of NK and CD19+ cells at ten SLE and five RA patients before and after treatment with rituximab, in laboratory of Department of Clinical immunology in the Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo. Results: In both cases, SLE and RA patients, reduced number of CD16+ parameter indicates lower cytotoxic activity of NK cells. Increased number of B cells indicates higher pathological activity leading to severe autoimmune disease allegation. Conclusion: Determining the proportion of NK and B will be useful diagnostic tool in therapeutic strategy, and also in monitoring of effect of biological therapy.

SUMMARY The aim of this paper is to determine nutritive, functional, microbiological and sensory properties of probiotic beverages produced from different volume ratios of cow's milk and soy beverage (25:75, 50:50 and 75:25). Pure cow’s milk and soy beverage served as control samples. Fermentation was performed at 43 °C by a combined culture consisting of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and yoghurt culture. Viable counts of La5 strain in the produced beverages ranged from 7.52 to 8.20 log CFU/mL, which is above the probiotic minimum (106 CFU/mL). Lactic acid was the most prevalent organic acid in all samples (660.1 to 1003.0 mg/100 mL). The fatty acid profiles of fermented beverages were as follows: the mass fraction of saturated fatty acids was 22.2-82.7%, of unsaturated fatty acids 22.3-77.8% and of polyunsaturated fatty acids 15.5-65.9%. The main soy sugars were transformed well (80% stachyose and 50% raffinose conversion) into lactic acid during fermentation. Functional probiotic beverages were successfully produced from different volume ratios of cow's milk and soy beverage by L. acidophilus La5 and yoghurt culture. Mixing cow's milk with soy beverage significantly improved the sensory properties of the product, especially its smell, taste and colour. The acceptability test showed good acceptance by potential consumers of all fermented beverage samples except for the sample made from 100% soy beverage. In the end, the obtained results represent a good basis for further optimisation of the ideal volume ratios of cow's milk and soy beverage for production of fermented beverages characterised by good viability of probiotic bacteria as well as by good functional, nutritive and sensory characteristics.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the use of neuroenhancing substances, exam anxiety and academic performance among first-year Bosnian-Herzegovinian (BH) university students. METHODS In a cross-sectional study, an ad hoc questionnaire was delivered to a sample of BH first-year university students. The following data were collected: socio-demographic features, consumption of neuroenchancing substances, the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS) and academic performance. RESULTS A total of 214 students were included. Consumption of lifestyle substances, coffee, energy drinks, nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana, for the purpose of neuroenhancement increased during the week before the exams. OTC cognitive enhancer use was reported by 31.0%, and of benzodiazepines by 1.5% of students. No psycostimulants were used. A high to extremely high exam WTAS score was reported in 38.3% students. The exam WTAS score was positively correlated with consumption of coffee (rho=0.31; P<0.001), energy drinks (rho=0.18; P=0.009), and nicotine (rho=0.22; P=0.001), and negatively correlated with last exam grade (rho=-0.33; P<0.001). The exam WTAS score was a significant independent predictor (OR=0.55; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.97, P=0.039) for self-assessed academic performance. Self-assessed academic performance was positively correlated with last exam grade (rho=0.15; P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS Although first-year BH university students do not seem to use either prescription or illicit psycostimulants, the consumption of nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana is worrying. However, the consumption of these neuroenhancing substances seems not to be related to better self-assessed academic performance. Finally, exam anxiety seems to be a significant problem among BH first-year university students.

SUMMARY This review article is focused on the impact of antioxidants and prooxidants on health with emphasis on the type of antioxidants that should be taken. Medical researchers suggest that diet may be the solution for the control of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular complications, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and different cancers. In this survey, we found scientific evidence that the use of antioxidants should be limited only to the cases where oxidative stress has been identified. This is often the case of specific population groups such as postmenopausal women, the elderly, infants, workers exposed to environmental pollutants, and the obese. Before starting any supplementation, it is necessary to measure oxidative stress and to identify and eliminate the possible sources of free radicals and thus increased oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND In order to protect itself from the pain or discomfort that would result from the forbidden instinctual impulses, the ego developed defence mechanisms (DM). Mature DMs are associated with adaptive functioning. Immature and neurotic DMs are associated with maladaptive functioning. Our goal was to determine the intensity of the most frequently used immature, neurotic and mature ego DMs in patients with epilepsy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We examined 50 patients with epilepsy, using a Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40). We measured the intensity of individual DMs. Mature DMs: sublimation, humour, suppression and anticipation; neurotic DMs: undoing, pseudo-altruism, idealization and reactive formation; and immature DMs: projections, passive aggression, acting out, isolation, devaluation, autistic fantasies, denial, displacement, dissociation, splitting, rationalization and somatization. The control group consisted of 36 healthy subjects. Groups are equal in age and level of education. RESULTS Patients with epilepsy use neurotic (p=0.0290) and immature (p=0.0155) defensive styles significantly more. Individually, they most intensively use acting out, humour and sublimation, and statistically significantly more they use displacement (p=0.0161), denial (p=0.05) and somatization (p=0.0019). CONCLUSION Patients with epilepsy use the neurotic and immature styles of ego defence more intensively. As such, they are less adaptable to new situations. Our knowledge can be useful for planning future interventions for people living with epilepsy.