Introduction: Osteoarthritis of the joints (osteoarthritis or arthritis) represents the largest group of rheumatic diseases. Within rheumatic diseases 50% are degenerative rheumatic diseases, 10% inflammatory and 40% extra-articular. Goal: To determine the modalities of physical therapy for elderly with degenerative diseases. Material and methods: The study is retrospective-prospective and descriptive. The survey conducted included 25 patients with degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems in Gerontology Center in Sarajevo, from May 1, 2014- April 30, 2015. As research instruments were used: Questionnaire for users of physical therapy in Gerontology Center in Sarajevo, self-developed, visual-analog scale to assess pain and patient records. Results: Of the total number of patients with degenerative diseases (25), 10 (40%) were male and 15 (60%) were female. The most common degenerative disease is knee osteoarthritis which had 11 patients (29%), 3 males and 8 females. From physical therapy modalities in the treatment of degenerative diseases at the Gerontology Center in Sarajevo, kinetic therapy was administered to all patients, followed by manual massage and TENS in 15 cases (60%). From twenty-two patients, who completed a questionnaire, 11 (50%, 2 male and 9 female) rated their health as poor. Seven patients (32%, 3 male and 4 female) assessed their health as good. Three patients (14%, 2 male and 1 female) rated their health as very poor, and one patient (4%, 1 male) rated its health as very good. Conclusion: The Research Physical therapy in elderly with degenerative diseases is a pilot project, which highlights the need for: Conducting research for a longer time period, with a larger sample; Quality of keeping health records; Implementation of a continuous evaluation of functional status and; Stricter control for optimal effectiveness of physical therapy in order to improve the quality of life of elderly patients.

Introduction Heart rhythm disorders are common in the post-operative period following surgical myocardial revascularization (CABG). The incidence of any type of arrhythmia in the postoperative period can go up to 85%. While most are transient and short-term, it does not lead to deterioration of the postoperative course, in a smaller number of patients they can be predictors of various events that result in fatal outcome. Arrhythmias occur suddenly and need to be recognized and reacted in time. Standard monitoring consists of 12-channel electrocardiogram (ECG), laboratory findings and, if necessary, 24-hour HOLTER monitoring. Persistent arrhythmias increase overall morbidity and mortality, and costs treatments are increasing enormously. Patients and methods The prospective study analyzed patients of all age groups and sexes in whom angiographically coronary arterial disease was confirmed and who underwent surgery CABG. A total of 60 patients were screened during 2016. All age groups of both sexes in whom no rhythm disorders were previously recorded were included in the study. Results A total of 60 patients undergoing CABG were analyzed. The average age of patients was 63.56 8.55 years. The most preoperative factor was hypertension, which was recorded in 53 (88.33%) patients. The higher number of patients was operated using CPB 75.86%. The most commonly performed 3 aorto-coronary by-pass 45 (75%). The most common form of rhythm disorder was POAF, which occurred in 18 (30%) patients. In 24 patients, a change in heart rhythm was observed in the postoperative period in the group of operated ON pump techniques, while in the case of the application of Off pump technique only 5 patients were present, which was statistically significant (p <0.05). Conclusion Preoperative patient preparation and prophylaxis with good anesthesia monitoring and minimal trauma during surgery are the main preconditions for reducing the incidence of postoperative heart rhythm disorders.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of mortality in the West, and rectal cancer accounts for about 25% of the colon cancers. The concept of total mesothelial excision (TME) was the most important event in surgery for rectal cancer of the last two decades, because even without a curative approach, it reduced local recurrence and extended 5-year survival.

Objectives Endemic nephropathy (EN) is a chronic tubulointerstitial renal disease associated with increased incidence of upper urinary tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) occurring predominantly in geographically limited areas in villages along big Danube river. Based on results obtained by the research it is confirmed that aristolochic acid is causative agent of endemic nephropathy (EN). Aim The aim of this study was to determine characteristics of UTUC in two endemic areas and analyze trends in 5-year period. Methods This study included all patients with UTUC with or without synchronous/metachronous urothelial cancer in urinary bladder, from Croatian and Bosnian EN and non-EN regions. We analyzed archival data bases from all patients with UTUC who were admitted and operated in Department for surgery and urology, General Hospital Josip Bencevic Slavonski Brod in the time period between 2005 and 2010. Analyzed groups of patients were divided and compared as EN group (that includes patients from Croatian and Bosnian EN region) and non-EN group (that includes patients from Croatian and Bosnian non-EN region). All surgical specimens were processed according to standardized pathological procedures. Results Comparing patients basic characteristics from Croatian and Bosnian EN region there was no significant difference in gender (females were more frequently affected in both EN regions, p=0.99) or age (p=0.43) of patients. We found higher blood levels of urea and creatinine in group of patients from Croatian EN region when compared with group of patients from Bosnian EN region but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.79 and p=0.44, respectively). In patients from Croatian EN group Hemoglobin levels were significantly lower than levels from Bosnian EN region patients, p=0.0049. In group of patients from Bosnian EN region ureteral tumors were more frequently observed than in Croatian group of patients, when compared with renal pelvis tumors but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.258). Conclusion Our data showed some differences in tumor localization between to investigated, relatively nearly situated, EN regions in Croatia and Bosnia. Statistically significant difference in hemoglobin levels between Croatian and Bosnian EN regions that should be further analyzed to give some reasonable explanation.

Because the term ‘naevoid melanoma’ has variable clinical and pathological interpretations, we aimed to clarify the features of melanomas referred to as naevoid.

Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 multisystem involvement leads to functional impairment with an increased risk of falling. This multinational study estimates the prevalence of falls and fall-associated fractures. A web-based survey among disease-specific registries (Germany, UK and The Netherlands) was carried out among DM1 ambulant adults with a total of 573 responses retrieved. Results provided a risk ratio estimation of 30%-72% for falls and of 11%-17% for associated fractures. There was no significant difference for falls between male and female, but there was for fall-related fractures with a higher prevalence in women. Balance and leg weakness were the most commonly reported causes for falling. This study is based on a voluntary retrospective survey with naturally inherent limitations; however, the sample size allows for robust comparisons. The estimated risk of falls in this cohort with a mean age of 46 years compares to a previous estimation for a healthy population of over 65 years of age. These results suggest a premature-ageing DM1 phenotype with an increased risk of falling depending on age and disease severity that, so far, might have been underestimated. This may have clinical implications for the development of care guidelines and when testing new interventions in this population.