Concentrations of seven metals indicated as hazardous to human health (Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, V, and Cr) were determined in 24 Hezegovinian white and red wines originating from four viticultural localities (Čitluk, Ljubuški, Stolac, and Trebinje). The concentrations of Pb, Cu, Mn, Ni, V, and Cr were determined by the ET AAS, and Zn concentrations were determined by the FAAS technique. Among seven measured metals, Zn and Mn were found in all analysed wines, while Ni was found in only four, and Cr in only five wines. Some wines contained metals at levels above the regulated maximum acceptable limits (Cu in four, Cr in three, Ni in two, and Pb in one wine). White wines from the Stolac locality were characterized by higher concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn. However, it was not possible to establish a firm link between the concentrations of the analysed metals and localities where grapes for wine production were grown for other wines.

PurposeTo investigate whether the surgical technique of single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, the visualization of anatomic surgical factors and the presence or absence of concomitant injuries at primary ACL reconstruction are able to predict patient-reported success and failure. The hypothesis of this study was that anatomic single-bundle surgical procedures would be predictive of patient-reported success.MethodsThis cohort study was based on data from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Register during the period of 1 January 2005 through 31 December 2014. Patients who underwent primary single-bundle ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendons were included. Details on surgical technique were collected using an online questionnaire comprising essential anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction scoring checklist items, defined as the utilization of accessory medial portal drilling, anatomic tunnel placement, the visualization of insertion sites and pertinent landmarks. A univariate logistic regression model adjusted for age and gender was used to determine predictors of patient-reported success and failure, i.e. 20th and 80th percentile, respectively, in the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), 2 years after ACL reconstruction.ResultsIn the 6889 included patients, the surgical technique used for single-bundle ACL reconstruction did not predict the predefined patient-reported success or patient-reported failure in the KOOS4. Patient-reported success was predicted by the absence of concomitant injury to the meniscus (OR = 0.81 [95% CI, 0.72–0.92], p = 0.001) and articular cartilage (OR = 0.70 [95% CI, 0.61–0.81], p < 0.001). Patient-reported failure was predicted by the presence of a concomitant injury to the articular cartilage (OR = 1.27 [95% CI, 1.11–1.44], p < 0.001).ConclusionSurgical techniques used in primary single-bundle ACL reconstruction did not predict the KOOS 2 years after the reconstruction. However, the absence of concomitant injuries at index surgery predicted patient-reported success in the KOOS. The results provide further evidence that concomitant injuries at ACL reconstruction affect subjective knee function and a detailed knowledge of the treatment of these concomitant injuries is needed.Level of evidenceRetrospective cohort study, Level III.

OBJECTIVE The study was conducted to evaluate the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need based on the Dental Health Component (DHC). MATERIALS AND METHODS 300 students aged 12-15 years were included in this study. The examinations were performed in two elementary schools in the municipality of Prozor-Rama, using standard dental instruments. Children were ranked into five grades according to the DHC. RESULTS Only 12% of children were found not to have a need for orthodontic treatment. Of the others, 45.33% had a great, and 10% a very great need for orthodontic treatment. The rest of the children were found to have a need for minor or moderate orthodontic treatment. Slightly more girls than boys had a great or a very great need for treatment, although the difference by gender was not statistically significant. Analysis of the level of need by age of children showed no significant difference; children with a great need of orthodontic treatment prevailed in all age groups. About 85% of children with a great and a very great need for orthodontic treatment would agree to orthodontic treatment, while the rate of non-acceptance was about 5%. CONCLUSION The high rate of need for orthodontic treatment in the examined students is explained by the lack of programs for this type of health care, the insufficient number of qualified orthodontic specialists, and the very low percentage of allocations from the state budget for oral health.

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to show perioperative complications of CABG procedure with and without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients with combined coronary and carotid disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective survey included patients with left main stenosis greater than 50% and carotid stenosis over 50%, who had undergone CABG without carotid endarterectomy at the BH Heart Centre, from May 2009 to May 2014. The patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical method used. Group A consisted of 50 patients who underwent surgery without CPB and the second group of 50 patients with CPB, conformed according to gender, ejection fraction values, EuroSCORE and the number of bypass grafts performed. RESULTS Analysis of the basic results indicates significant differences between the groups in the time spent on a respirator or time in the ICU, the amount of postoperative bleeding or compensated blood, as well as subsequent complications. The overall incidence of neurological complications showed a difference in the observed groups. CONCLUSION With ever easier technical performance, complete planned revascularization and the quality of performed grafts, the conditions have been created for a comparative analysis. According to the results we can say that CABG without CPB has a number of advantages over the other method, in patients with the combined disease.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are often exposed to unequal treatment in societies worldwide as well as to various forms of stigma and discrimination in healthcare services. Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is a postconflict developing country located in Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, where little is known about the experiences of MSM regarding their communities and interactions with healthcare services. The aim of this study was to explore the types of experiences MSM face and to assess the level of stigma and discrimination they are exposed to in this setting. We conducted twelve in-depth face-to-face interviews with MSM who were 16 to 45 years old and residing in B&H. The main findings indicated that they all experienced various levels of stigma, discrimination, prejudice and inequities in treatment and attitudes from different segments of society, including the health care sector, that prevented them from fully developing their human and health potential. Additionally, these experiences were adversely related to opportunities to receive good quality health care services due to the insufficiently educated and old-fashioned health professionals who sometimes believed in black magic practices. The findings present numerous opportunities for educational trainings and structural reform to create a society that provides and guarantees equal opportunities for all.

OBJECTIVE We present the use of targeted temperature management in a tertiary-level intensive care unit, in three patients who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. CASE REPORT Three young patients experienced an out-of-hospital non-coronary cardiac arrest. The causes of the cardiac arrest were: Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome, drug overdose and long-QT syndrome. All patients were resuscitated according to the advanced cardiac life support guidelines, and treated with targeted temperature management, with a target temperature of 33°C for 24 hours. After completion of targeted temperature management, all the patients regained full consciousness and were discharged from hospital without any neurological sequelae. CONCLUSION Targeted temperature management may improve survival and neurological outcome in patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.