We present a complete local dynamics and investigate the global dynamics of the following second‐order difference equation: xn+1=Axn2+Exn-1+F/axn2+exn-1+f,  n=0,12,,… , where the parameters A, E, F, a, e, and f are nonnegative numbers with condition A + E + F > 0, a + e + f > 0, and the initial conditions x−1, x0 are arbitrary nonnegative numbers such that axn2+exn-1+f>00,12,  n=,,….

AIM To investigate association of mean platelet volume (MPV) and glycemic control markers, and whether MPV could be used as a predictor of deterioration of glucoregulation in Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2) patients. METHODS The cross-sectional study included 106 DMT2 patients, treated at the Primary Health Care Centre in Zenica, distributed into groups according to glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) values: A(n=44, HbA1c ≤7.0%) and B (n=62, HbA1c>7.0%). Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the relationships between MPV and glycemic control markers. Binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the relationship between glycemic control, as dichotomous outcome, and MPV as the main predictor. Diagnostic value of MPV as a marker for poor glucoregulation was estimated by using ROC analysis. RESULTS Mean platelet volume was significantly higher in the group B compared to the group A (p<0.0005). Significant positive correlations of MPV with fasting blood glucose and HbA1c were found in the total sample (rho=0.382, p<0.0005; rho=0.430, p<0.0005, respectively). Mean platelet volume was positively associated with the risk of inadequate glycemic control, with 2 times increased odds of inadequate glycemic control per femtoliter greater MPV (Exp (β) =2.195; 95% CI=1.468 - 3.282, p<0.0005). The area under ROC curve for MPV was 0.726 (95% CI: =0.628- 0.823, p <0.0005). At the best cut-off value 9.55 fL, MPV showed sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 54.5%. CONCLUSION Mean platelet volume correlates with glycemic control markers in DMT2 patients. It could be used as a simple and cost-effective predictor of deterioration of glucoregulation.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections cause 9 million new tuberculosis cases and 1.5 million deaths annually. To identify variants conferring risk of tuberculosis, we tested 28.3 million variants identified through whole-genome sequencing of 2,636 Icelanders for association with tuberculosis (8,162 cases and 277,643 controls), pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and M. tuberculosis infection. We found association of three variants in the region harboring genes encoding the class II human leukocyte antigens (HLAs): rs557011[T] (minor allele frequency (MAF) = 40.2%), associated with M. tuberculosis infection (odds ratio (OR) = 1.14, P = 3.1 × 10−13) and PTB (OR = 1.25, P = 5.8 × 10−12), and rs9271378[G] (MAF = 32.5%), associated with PTB (OR = 0.78, P = 2.5 × 10−12)—both located between HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DRB1—and a missense variant encoding p.Ala210Thr in HLA-DQA1 (MAF = 19.1%, rs9272785), associated with M. tuberculosis infection (P = 9.3 × 10−9, OR = 1.14). We replicated association of these variants with PTB in samples of European ancestry from Russia and Croatia (P < 5.9 × 10−4). These findings show that the HLA class II region contributes to genetic risk of tuberculosis, possibly through reduced presentation of protective M. tuberculosis antigens to T cells.

A recently developed unified description of low-order above-threshold ionization (Becker et al 2014 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 47 204022; 2015 J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 48 151001) is revisited and extended. By considering the rescattering electron energies and angles at the classical cutoffs and the contributions of particular quantum-orbit solutions, it is shown that summing both the backward- and the forward-scattering contributions, within the low-frequency approximation, it is possible to reproduce the observed features of the ATI spectra both for low and high energies and both on and off the laser-polarization axis in the momentum plane.

The development and progression of cancer, a collection of diseases with complex genetic architectures, is facilitated by the interplay of multiple etiological factors. This complexity challenges the traditional single-platform study design and calls for an integrated approach to data analysis. However, integration of heterogeneous measurements of biological variation is a non-trivial exercise due to the diversity of the human genome and the variety of output data formats and genome coverage obtained from the commonly used molecular platforms. This review article will provide an introduction to integration strategies used for analyzing genetic risk factors for cancer. We critically examine the ability of these strategies to handle the complexity of the human genome and also accommodate information about the biological and functional interactions between the elements that have been measured—making the assessment of disease risk against a composite genomic factor possible. The focus of this review is to provide an overview and introduction to the main strategies and to discuss where there is a need for further development.

Introduction: Stroke is a medical emergency in neurology, and is one of the leading causes of death nowadays. At a recent time, a therapeutic method used in adequate conditions is thrombolysis, a treatment of an emerging clot in the brain vascular system by alteplase. The application of alteplase also has a high risk of life threatening conditions. Case report: This is a brief report of a case with thrombolysis complication which manifested as a spleen rupture.

Objective: to determine ascites and serum sodium significance in short term mortality prediction in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. Methods: a cohort of 115 cirrhotic patients referred to our Department were followed up for 6 months in non-transplant settings. The c index equivalent to the area under the receiver operating curve (ROC) was calculated and compared to estimate the short-term prognostic accuracy of the following parameters: ascites, serum sodium and MELD score. Results: in patients with a MELD score less than 21, ascites and low serum sodium (c index 0,687, p<0 0,001 and 0,748, p<0,001 respectively) showed better prognostic accuracy and were independent predictors of mortality. For MELD scores above 21, only MELD was an independent mortality prognostic factor (c index 0,710, p<0,001). Conclusion: in our study, sample ascites and low serum sodium help identify patients with advanced liver disease who are at high risk of mortality despite low MELD scores. These parameters should be considered as additional prognostic parameters that could improve available treatment options and outcomes in this group of patients.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate biochemical parameters in serum of women with preeclampsia and IUGR. Material and methods: A clinical prospective study was conducted and included 120 pregnant women divided in two groups: non IUGR group included healthy pregnant women (n=60) and IUGR group included pregnant women with preeclampsia and IUGR (n=60). Outcome measures were following values of biochemical parameters in serum of mother and fetuses: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin (indirect and direct) and cholesterol. A blood for analysis was drawn from the cubital vein of mothers and the umbilical vein of the fetuses during delivery period. Results: The mean of maternal age was 30.0±6.1 years in women with preeclampsia and IUGR and 28.1±5.1 years in healthy pregnant women, p > 0.05. The most of women with preeclampsia and IUGR had grade III of placental maturation (48.3%). There is a significant association between the placental maturation and the diagnosis, p < 0.001. There was a statistically significant difference in body mass of newborns between IUGR and non IUGR groups, p < 0.001. There was a significant statistically difference in serum value of AST, ALT, LDH and total cholesterol between women with preeclampsia and IUGR and healthy pregnant women (all p < 0.001). Conclusion: Measurement of AST, ALT, LDH, and total cholesterol in serum of pregnant women and newborns with IUGR allows the differentiation and threatening risk of perinatal complications due to hypoxia.

Introduction: Medical Archives is the oldest medical journal in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) (founded in 1947.). A total of 104 articles were published in Medical Archives during 2015. Analyzing the type of articles, original articles are present in majority during 2015–80.7% (in last seven years, 561 (76%) were original out of 738). In last seven years, 651 (88.2%) articles were from the field of clinical medicine (preclinical disciplines, in the last three years are more represented than in previous years). Collaboration rate in 2015 was 0,92. Articles written in collaboration of five authors (21.1 %) are found to be predominant. From year to year, most often required time for a decision on acceptance or on the revision prior acceptance is between 50 and 60 days (30% of cases in 2015). During 2015, 47.1% of articles were originally from B&H (eleven countries were represented). H index of Medical Archive for 2014 was 12, and does not vary during the last decade. Findings: In 2015 in B&H about twenty-five journals are issued in the field of biomedical and life sciences in general (six are indexed on Medline/PubMed, one is indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE)/Web of Science base). According to GoogleScholar the biggest h5 index has Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences (BJBMS) and Medical Archives, while the biggest h5 median has BJBMS i Acta Informatica Medica. The highest H-index (13) in B&H has Izet Masic MD, PhD, Enver Zerem MD, PhD and Semir Vranic MD, PhD, while highest g-index (22) has Enver Zerem MD, PhD (analyzed by software package “Publish or Perish”). Conclusion: By comparing the state of medical publishing in B&H with neighboring countries (Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro), we have concluded that B&H is behind Croatia and Serbia by following parameters: Total Documents, Total Cites and H index but in front of Montenegro.