Introduction: Streptococcus pneumoniae in asymptomatic manner colonize the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx of children and adults, but can cause serious illness in the media which are naturally sterile. In 5-40% of healthy population this bacteria colonize the nasopharyngeal mucosa thanks to the surface adhesin protein, which allow the bacteria to attach to the epithelial cells. The normal nasopharyngeal microflora retains pneumococcus in a small number and does not allow it to express its pathogenic potential and cause disease. If this dominance of the normal microflora is violated, after adherence and local duplication, pneumococcus can spread to the middle ear, sinuses or lungs. Colonization is more common in children than in adults. Goal: The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of the carrier state and susceptibility of pneumococcal strains that circulate in the outpatient population of Sarajevo Canton as a potential source of infection. Material and methods: In the microbiological laboratory of the Institute of Public Health of Canton Sarajevo in the period from July 1, 2013 until April 15, 2014 were analyzed swabs of the nose and nasopharynx, eye and ear from a total of 4109 outpatients. Swabs were inoculated on blood agar nutrient medium. Then was performed catalase test, preparation by Gram and susceptibility test on Optochin. Isolates positive for S. pneumoniae were subjected to in vitro assays to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance. Results: Out of 4109 analyzed swabs the pneumococcus positive was 180 (4.38%). Of these, 137 (76.11%) nasal and nasopharyngeal swabs, 33 (18.33%) of the eyes and 10 (5.56%) ear. The highest number of positive swabs were isolated in children aged 6 years and less, a total of 168 (93.33%), in children aged 7-13 years were positive 7 (3.89%), while among respondents aged 14-20 years only 5 (2.78%). Conclusions: The most common site for isolation of pneumococci is the nose and throat, and the most common carriers of these bacteria are children under 6 years of age. Determining the prevalence of the carrier state contributes to the improvement of preventive measures to reduce the risk of infection and possible sequels.

Introduction: Pneumococcal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, whose treatment is threatened with an increase in the number of strains resistant to antibiotic therapy. Goal: The main goal of this research was to investigate the presence of antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance of S. pneumoniae. Material and methods: Taken are swabs of the nose and nasopharynx, eye and ear. In vitro tests that were made in order to study the antimicrobial resistance of pneumococci are: disk diffusion method and E-test. Results: The resistance to inhibitors of cell wall synthesis was recorded at 39.17%, protein synthesis inhibitors 19.67%, folate antagonists 47.78% and quinolone in 1.11%. S. pneumoniae has shown drug resistance to erythromycin in 45%, clindamycin in 45%, chloramphenicol–0.56%, rifampicin–6.11%, tetracycline–4.67%, penicillin-G in 4.44%, oxacillin in 73.89%, ciprofloxacin in 1.11% and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in 5.34% of cases. Conclusion: The highest resistance pneumococcus showed to erythromycin, clindamycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and these should be avoided in the treatment. The least resistance pneumococcus showed to tetracycline, rifampicin, chloramphenicol, penicillin-G and ciprofloxacin.

Objective: To present the epidemiological features of bronchiolitis in a one-year period in patients of Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Centre of Sarajevo University. Introduction: Bronchiolitis is the most common respiratory infection of early infant age. The disease is one the most common reason for hospitalization of children under the age of six months. The disease is characterized by occurrences in the winter season November–March. For daily diagnosing of severe forms of bronchiolitis as a clinical syndrome, often sufficient are the knowledge of the epidemiological data, age of the patient, clinical examination and insight into the risk factors. Patients and methods: The history of the disease in 155 infant patients, who were clinically treated because of bronchiolitis in the period from February 2013 to February 2014 in the Department of Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic in Sarajevo was retrospectively analyzed. Results: The majority of patients were aged less than 6 months (87.7%). The monthly distribution of bronchiolitis had a peak in January and February. Almost 50% of patients had a risk factors for the development of severe forms of bronchiolitis out of which the most common were artificial diet (53.5%), low birth weight below 2500g (17%), prematurity (16.1%), congenital heart anomalies (14.2%), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (1.9%). 46,5% of patients were on natural nutrition. 46 patients (29.6%) were serologically or by respi-strip test in nasopharyngeal lavage positive on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). There were no patients who required mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: During the one-year period, bronchiolitis was the most common diagnose in the early infantile period up to 6 months, with a peak incidence in January and February. Risk factors such as prematurity, low birth weight, congenital heart anomalies and bronchopulmonary dysplasia have been less present in the studied period compared to the period before the introduction of RSV chemoprophylaxis. The epidemiological data obtained have facilitated the diagnosis, and accordingly the timely and appropriate treatment of bronchiolitis.

Introduction: Laparoscopic treatment in general, in recent age has proven that it is well associated with low morbidity, mortality, fast recovery, less pain and sound oncologic outcomes. Recent reports from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) GIST Task Force and the GIST Consensus Conference under the auspices of The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) show that laparoscopic resection may be used for small gastric GISTs (< 2 cm in size). Case report: We report, all the benefits of laparoscopic approach which include short hospitalization, less pain, better cosmetic effect and good oncological outcome, in this case report of 60 year old female patient with gastric GIST larger than 2 cm.

Aim To present the results obtained in the identification of human remains from World War II found in two mass graves in Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods Samples from 10 skeletal remains were collected. Teeth and femoral fragments were collected from 9 skeletons and only a femoral fragment from 1 skeleton. DNA was isolated from bone and teeth samples using an optimized phenol/chloroform DNA extraction procedure. All samples required a pre-extraction decalcification with EDTA and additional post-extraction DNA purification using filter columns. Additionally, DNA from 12 reference samples (buccal swabs from potential living relatives) was extracted using the Qiagen DNA extraction method. QuantifilerTM Human DNA Quantification Kit was used for DNA quantification. PowerPlex ESI kit was used to simultaneously amplify 15 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci, and PowerPlex Y23 was used to amplify 23 Y chromosomal STR loci. Matching probabilities were estimated using a standard statistical approach. Results A total of 10 samples were processed, 9 teeth and 1 femoral fragment. Nine of 10 samples were profiled using autosomal STR loci, which resulted in useful DNA profiles for 9 skeletal remains. A comparison of established victims' profiles against a reference sample database yielded 6 positive identifications. Conclusion DNA analysis may efficiently contribute to the identification of remains even seven decades after the end of the World War II. The significant percentage of positively identified remains (60%), even when the number of the examined possible living relatives was relatively small (only 12), proved the importance of cooperation with the members of the local community, who helped to identify the closest missing persons’ relatives and collect referent samples from them.

SUMMARY Stress is defined as a state in which homeostasis, as a dynamic balance of internal conditions necessary for the proper functioning of cells or the living organism as a whole, is affected by the action of various stressors. Stress reaction occurs as a result of stress system activities, which is located in the central and peripheral nervous system. Stress evaluation involves a qualitative and quantitative analyses and valuation of certain biologically active substances (biomarkers of stress) in body fluids that are so often associated with stress. Saliva as a diagnostic medium is being increasingly used for purposes of clinical and basic research because of its composition and content as well as the advantages of the process of sampling, as compared to traditional methods of collecting blood samples and urine samples. Cortisol, as a biomarker of stress, is the most often studied salivary biomarker, which is associated with the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis. Since stress leads to the suppression of the immune system, values of salivary secretory IgA and salivary lysozyme, as biomarkers of stress, can be analyzed. In saliva, it is difficult to monitor acute stress parameters, catecholamines, due to their low concentrations, rapid degradation and instability in the samples. Chromogranin A (CgA) and α-amylase enzyme can be used as alternative indices of adrenergic activity during stress reactions, due to their stability in saliva and reliability of the obtained values. Stress reaction and the diseases in whose pathogenesis it participates are yet another proof of the constant interaction of physical, psychological and social factors in health / disease SAŽETAK Stres se definiše kao stanje u kome je homeostaza, kao dinamička ravnoteža unutrašnjih uslova neophodnih za pravilno funkcionisanje ćelija ili živog organizma u cjelini, ugrožena djelovanjem različitih stresora. Stresna reakcija nastaje kao posljedica aktivnosti tzv. stres sistema, koji je smješten u centralnom i perifernom nervnom sistemu. Stres sistem, preko odgovarajućih medijatora, stimuliše kataboličke, lipolitičke, antireproduktivne i imunosupresivne efekte stresne reakcije s ciljem preusmjeravanja energije zbog povećane potrebe organizma u trenutku značajnim za njegovo preživljavanje. Evaluacija stresa podrazumijeva kvalitativno i kvantitativno analiziranje i vrednovanje određenih biološki aktivnih komponenti (biomarkera stresa) u tjelesnim tečnostima koje se dovode u vezu sa stresom. Pljuvačka se kao dijagnostički medijum sve češće koristi za klinička i bazična istraživanja zbog mogućnosti koje pruža, s obzirom na njen sastav i sadržaj kao i na prednosti samog procesa uzorkovanja u odnosu na tradicionalne metode prikupljanja uzoraka krvi i urina. Od biomarkera stresa, u pljuvački je najčešće ispitivan kortizol, koji se dovodi u vezu sa aktivacijom hipotalamus-hipofiza-adrenalne (HPA) osovine. S obzirom da stres dovodi do supresije imunog sistema, u pljuvački se mogu analizirati i vrijednosti sekretornog IgA i lizozima kao biomarkera stresa. Parametre akutnog stresa, kateholamine, teško je pratiti u pljuvački zbog njihove male koncentracije, brze degradacije i nestabilnosti u uzetim uzorcima. Kao alternativni indeksi adrenergičke aktivnosti tokom stresne reakcije, zbog stabilnosti u pljuvački i pouzdanosti dobijenih vrijednosti, mogu se koristiti hromogramin A (CgA) i enzim α-amilaza. Stresna reakcija i oboljenja u čijoj etiopatogenezi ona učestvuje još su jedan dokaz stalne interakcije fizičkih, psihičkih i socijalnih faktora u zdravlju/bolesti

BackgroundWe aimed to assess the current state of PKU screening and management in the region of southeastern Europe.MethodsA survey was performed involving all identified professionals responsible for the PKU management in the 11 countries from South-Eastern region of Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia). The questionnaire was designed to assess the characteristics regarding PKU management in three main areas: nation-wide characteristics, PKU screening, and characteristics of the PKU management in the responding centre. It consisted of 56 questions. The distribution and collection of the questionnaires (via e-mail) was taking place from December 2013 to March 2014.ResultsResponses from participants from 11 countries were included; the countries cumulative population is approx. 52.5 mio. PKU screening was not yet introduced in 4 of 11 countries. Reported PKU incidences ranged from 1/7325 to 1/39338 (and were not known for 5 countries). National PKU guidelines existed in 5 of 11 countries and 7 of 11 countries had PKU registry (registries included 40 to 194 patients). The number of PKU centers in each country varied from 1 to 6. Routine genetic diagnostics was reported in 4 of 11 countries. Most commonly used laboratory method to assess phenylalanine levels was fluorometric. Tetrahydrobiopterine was used in only 2 of 11 countries. Most frequently, pediatricians were caring for the patients. Dietitian was a member of PKU team in only 4 of 11 countries, while regular psychological assessments were performed in 6 of 11 countries. Patient’s PKU society existed in 7 of 11 countries.ConclusionsThe region of southeastern Europe was facing certain important challenges of PKU screening and management. Neonatal PKU screening should be introduced throughout the region. Furthermore, PKU management was falling behind internationally established standards-of-care in many aspects.

In discussing the 1947 rebellion in the Zafimaniry village in Madagascar, cultural anthropologist Maurice E. Bloch [1] observed that children who have not been involved in the events of that period but who have had these events narrated to them by their elders, appear to ´remember´ these events in a qualitatively similar manner to the elders who have actually experienced them. Specifically, Bloch argues that the hearers of the narratives engage in an imaginative play of “what it was like” thus forming a mental mode which contains both imagery and emotion. In this way, the form, if not necessarily the content, of autobiographical and ´transmitted´memories is alike. In a related field of research in psychology, imagination has been implicated in the formation of false memories. One study has found that imagining performing a simple action can lead to false remembrance of having performed that action [2]. The authors propose that this may be because imagination and the intention to perform an action involve similar cognitive functions. Similarly, another study has demonstrated that imagination is also involved in the formation of more complex false memories involving childhood events [3]. Moreover, both of these studies indicate that while there are some qualitative differences between true and false memories, these differences disappear or diminish as the frequency of imaginings increases. Transmitted memories are not false memories, however it is not unreasonable to propose that the process of their formation is similar. Namely, the aid of imagination during the encoding stage and the repeated recollection of that imaginary scene may lead to transmitted memories being experienced in a qualitatively similar way to autobiographical memories. Thus, the present study will examine the experience of autobiographical and orally transmitted memories for the same events. The focus of events will be from the war in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. !! References: [1] Bloch, M.E.F. (1996). Autobiographical Memory and the Historical Memory of the More Distant Past. In Bloch, M.E.F., How We Think They Think (pp. 114 - 127). Cumnor Hill, OX: Westview Press. [2] Lampinen, J.M., Odegard, T.N., & Bullington, J.L. (2003). Qualities of Memories for Performed and Imagined Actions. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 17, 881 – 893. [3] Heaps, C.M., & Nash, M. (2001). Comparing Recollective Experience in True and False Autobiographical Memories. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 27, 920 – 930.