BackgroundDairy production in Bosnia and Herzegovina exhibits limited productivity, which may partly, be explained by extensive reproductive problems of non-infectious and infectious origin. Brucella spp., Chlamydia abortus, Coxiella burnetii and Neospora caninum are common infectious causes of decreased reproductive outcomes in cattle worldwide. Little is, however, known about the disease status of herds with reduced reproductive performances. A cross-sectional study was designed to document the status of these pathogens in dairy cattle in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 1970 serum samples were collected from cattle in farms located in three cantons (regions). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were used to screen for seropositivity against four selected pathogens.ResultsThe overall seroprevalence was estimated at both the herd level and at individual level for each pathogen. At the individual animal level, the prevalence for C. abortus, C. burnetii, N. caninum and Brucella spp. was 52.1% (95% CI: 41.2–62.7), 8.8% (95% CI: 5.3–14.2), 9.2% (95% CI: 6.0–12.3 and 0.2% (95% CI: 0.1–0.5), respectively. The corresponding estimates for herd level were 87.9% (95% CI: 82.6–91.8), 19.6% (95% CI: 14.6–25.8), 35.2% (95% CI: 28.8–42.1), and 1.5% (95% CI: 0.5–4.6). A substantial overlap was observed in the presence of N. caninum, C. abortus and C. burnetii at individual and herd level.ConclusionOur study demonstrated a high level of antibodies to Chlamydia abortus. Considering the association of this agent with reproductive disorders in cattle, future studies should be directed to the epidemiological traits of this infection. Additionally, the relatively high levels of exposure to C. burnetii and N. caninum found in this study highlights the need for targeted control of infectious causes of reproductive disorders in dairy cattle of the studied areas. Given the low seroprevalence, Brucella spp. does not seem to represent a problem in the reproductive health of cattle in the studied areas.

Introduction The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration in vitreous on postoperative complications after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Material and methods Ninety subjects were surgically treated with PPV and followed up for 12 months at the Clinical Centre University Sarajevo, Clinic for Eye Disease. Exclusion criteria were presence of other eye diseases, systemic acute/chronic inflammatory conditions, or malignant neoplasms; previously performed PPV surgery; previously received intravitreal or systemic anti-VEGF therapy. A vitreous sample was obtained while performing the PPV procedure, using the Quantikine ELISA test to determine VEGF level, as a risk factor. Outcome measures were intraoperative and postoperative complications reported using categorical data: blunt and sharp dissection of membranes, intraoperative hemorrhage stopped by increasing infusion pressure, pressing with blunt instrument, or using diathermy. The following postoperative complications were assessed on the first day and at the 12-month follow-up visit: vitreous hemorrhage, fibrovascular proliferation (FVP), rubeosis iridis, and neovascular glaucoma (NVG). Results Levels of vitreous VEGF at the time of PPV were significantly higher in eyes with: vitreous hemorrhage on the first day after PPV (p = 0.003); FVP on the first day and 12 months after PPV (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively); iris rubeosis on the first day and 12 months after PPV surgery (p < 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively); NVG on the first day and 12 months after PPV surgery (p = 0.043 and p = 0.011, respectively), compared to the eyes without complications. Conclusions Preoperative levels of VEGF in vitreous can be a useful biomarker and predictor of the postoperative outcome in terms of intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Introduction : Inflammation represents tissue homeostasis, body's most powerful defense mechanism, almost completely non-specific with respect to the quality of noxae, and is present in any tissue. Inflammation can be acute or chronic. Acute inflammation has rapid action and short duration, from a few minutes to several days, and is characterized by exudation of fluid and plasma proteins, as well as by a dominant accumulation of neutrophils. Acute phase inflammatory markers commonly used for diagnostic purposes are C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and white blood cell count also known as leukocytes. Materials and methods: Materials used in this study were patients' laboratory results collected from laboratories in the medical institution " Health Center Donji Vakuf" in DonjiVakuf in the period from 1st February to 1st May 2015. For the purposes of this paper we analysed the values of leukocytes, neutrophils, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the CRP. The study was carried out on a sample of 200 participants - 100 adults and 100 children. The process of determining the values of leukocytes and neutrophils was done by an automated hematology analyzer Sysmex electronic XP300 produced by the Sysmex company (Japan). To determine CRP values in adult participants, we used their blood serum and ran it through the biochemical analyzer BT 1500. Determination of CRP values in children participants was carried out from capillary blood samples using the NycoCard READER II. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was measured using a modified Westergren method. Results : The outcome of the statistical analysis has shown that the mean value of leukocytes in children is higher compared to the same value in adults. This parameter is more varied in children (46.91%) than in adults (45.68%). The mean value of neutrophils in children is also higher compared to the same value in adults. This parameter had a higher variation coefficient in adults (58.87%) than in children (51.40%). However, the mean value of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, after the first and second hours in adult patients is higher than in children. Variation coefficients of this parameter are higher in adult patients after the first hour, whereas they appear to be higher in children after the second hour. The Pearson bivariate correlation has shown the existence of a statistically significant relationship between the values ​​of leukocytes and neutrophils ​​in both studied groups. A positive correlation in the group of adult patients is present in the values ​​of leukocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate after the first and second hours, but this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion : The results of this study have shown a high percentage of positive results with erythrocyte sedimentation rate after the 1st and 2nd hours and CRP (95%, 81% and 61%), and quite a low percentage of the reference values of leukocytes and neutrophils (33% and 26%) for the total number of participants. Partial correlation has shown that elevated values of white blood cells, as a control parameter, are associated with the combination of the values of leukocytes and neutrophils in adults (p = 0.030), as well as in children (p = 0.000). This data confirms the results of the Pearson bivariate correlation, implying that with an elevated leukocyte count, comes an increase of the value of neutrophils and CRP.

Background Postoperative bleeding in patients who underwent elective coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) may increase due to preoperative anticoagulant therapy indicative of their disease - acute coronary syndrome or implanted coronary artery stent. Increased bleeding in many cases requires the use of blood and blood derivatives, and sometimes even reoperation. Their use poses the risk of complications, may extend the hospitalization. Methods Our observation retrospective study included 131 patients, 41 treated with aspirin and 90 treated with aspirin and clopidogrel. All underwent for the first time elective on-pump isolated CABG surgery at Clinic for cardiovascular surgery of Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, in period June 2016 to September 2017. The data were collected from patient’s records. Results Out of 131 patients,73.3% were male. The average age was 62. The average total drainage during the first 48 postoperative hours in ASA group was 1027.4±404.9ml and 1049.8±371.3ml in DAPT group. The mean number of whole blood transfusions in the DAPT group washigher compared to ASAgroup. The average number of fresh frozen plasma were higher in the DAPT group 0.84±0.51 compared to the group ASA 0.39±0.07, as well the average thrombocytes transfusions were slightly higher in the DAPT group. Statistical analysis suggests that there is no significant difference between the observed groups (p>0.05). Also, our study did not show a statistically significant difference between arrhythmia onset, the length of mechanical ventilation, use of protamineand tranexamic acid. Reoperation due to postoperative bleeding was recorded in 2 cases in the DAPT group as well as 2 lethal cases. Conclusion In our study, we could not demonstrate less postoperative bleeding and use of blood and blood products in a group of patients who were preoperatively treated with aspirin compared to patients with dual antiplatelet therapy in the elective isolated CABG surgery.