Introduction: “Athlete’s heart syndrome” is a condition characterized by structural, electrophysiologic and functional adaptation of the myocardium to physical activity (training), depending on the activity intensity, duration and type. In athletes left ventricular hypertrophy often resembles comorbid conditions (hypertension or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) so the differential diagnosis of the disease is very important and crucial, especially in people who are in active training. In fact, if an athlete has finding which indicate thickening of the left ventricle walls, should be distinguished hypertrophy which occurred as a result of many years of training from accidental existence of hypertension or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the same person. Therefore, it is important to make a diagnostic difference between healthy and sick heart. Material and methods: The study involved male persons aged 20-45 which have increased muscle mass of the left ventricle due to different etiology. Definite sample included 80 respondents divided into two groups. All respondent underwent interview, clinical examination, ECG and echocardiography. Results: Average systolic blood pressure (SBP) for the athletes were 115.8±7.2 mmHg, and in patients, with hypertension 154.4±3.5 mmHg, average values of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) for the athletes were 74.2±8.1 mmHg in patients, hypertensive 96.2 ± 3.9 mmHg. Values of SBP and DBP were significantly lower in the group of athletes compared to patients with hypertension (p=0.001). The value of the SFO/min was significantly lower in the group of athletes compared to patients with hypertension (p <0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the sum of SV2 RV5 and between groups of athletes and groups of patients with hypertension (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the echocardiography parameters between two groups. There was a statistically significant difference in the sum of SV2 and RV5 between groups of athletes and groups of patients with hypertension (p<0.05). Conclusion: ECG parameters, PQ, QRS, QT did not prove to be useful in the differentiation between the groups because no statistically significant differences in their values were found. Echocardiography is a reliable diagnostic tool in differentiating physiologic hypertrophy of athletes compared to hypertrophy in patients with hypertension.

Introduction: Among long term athletes there is always present hypertrophy of the left ventricle walls as well as increased cardiac mass. These changes are the result of the heart muscle adaptation to load during the years of training, which should not be considered as pathology. In people suffering from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), there is also present hypertrophy of the left ventricle walls and increased mass of the heart, but these changes are the result of pathological changes in the heart caused by a genetic predisposition for the development HCM of. Differences between myocardial hypertrophy in athletes and HCM are not clearly differentiated and there are always dilemmas between pathological and physiological hypertrophy. The goal of the study is to determine and compare the echocardiographic cardiac parameters of longtime athletes to patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Material and methods: The study included 60 subjects divided into two groups: active athletes and people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Results: Mean values of IVSd recorded in GB is IVSd=17.5 mm (n=20, 95% CI, 16.00–19.00 mm), while a significantly smaller mean value is recorded in GA, IVSd=10.0 mm (n=40, 95% CI, 9.00-11.00 mm). The mean value of the left ventricle in diastole (LVDd) recorded in the GA is LVDd=51 mm (n=40; 95% CI, 48.00 to 52.00 mm), while in the group with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (GB) mean LVDd value is 42 mm (n=20; 95% CI, 40.00 to 48.00 mm). The mean value of the rear wall of the left ventricle (LVPWd) recorded in the GA is LVDd=10 mm (n=40; 95% CI, 9.00-10.00 mm) while in the group with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (GB) mean LVDd is 14 mm (n=20; 95% CI, 12.00 to 16.00 mm). The mean of the left ventricle during systole (LVSD) observed in GA is LVSD=34 mm (n=40; 95% CI, 32.00 to 36.00 mm), while in the group with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (GB) mean LVSD is 28 mm (n=20; 95% CI, 24.00 to 28.83 mm). The mean ejection fraction (EF%) observed in GA is EF=60% (n=40; 95% CI, 56.41 to 63.00%), while in the group with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (GB) mean EF value is 69% (n=20; 95% CI, 62.00 to 70.83 mm). Somewhat higher mean diastolic left ventricular function (E/A) was observed in GA, E/A=1.76±0.15, and lower average values in the group with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: (GB) E/A=0.78±0.02. Conclusion: Mean values of parameters intraventricular septum thickness in diastole (IVSd), the thickness of the rear wall of the left ventricle (LVPWd), the diameter of the left ventricle during systole (LVSD) were statistically different between groups of athletes (GA) compared to the group of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (GB).

BackgroundIn order to influence every day clinical practice professional organisations issue management guidelines. Cross-sectional surveys are used to evaluate the implementation of such guidelines. The present survey investigated screening for glucose perturbations in people with coronary artery disease and compared patients with known and newly detected type 2 diabetes with those without diabetes in terms of their life-style and pharmacological risk factor management in relation to contemporary European guidelines.MethodsA total of 6187 patients (18–80 years) with coronary artery disease and known glycaemic status based on a self reported history of diabetes (previously known diabetes) or the results of an oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c (no diabetes or newly diagnosed diabetes) were investigated in EUROASPIRE IV including patients in 24 European countries 2012–2013. The patients were interviewed and investigated in order to enable a comparison between their actual risk factor control with that recommended in current European management guidelines and the outcome in previously conducted surveys.ResultsA total of 2846 (46 %) patients had no diabetes, 1158 (19 %) newly diagnosed diabetes and 2183 (35 %) previously known diabetes. The combined use of all four cardioprotective drugs in these groups was 53, 55 and 60 %, respectively. A blood pressure target of <140/90 mmHg was achieved in 68, 61, 54 % and a LDL-cholesterol target of <1.8 mmol/L in 16, 18 and 28 %. Patients with newly diagnosed and previously known diabetes reached an HbA1c <7.0 % (53 mmol/mol) in 95 and 53 % and 11 % of those with previously known diabetes had an HbA1c >9.0 % (>75 mmol/mol). Of the patients with diabetes 69 % reported on low physical activity. The proportion of patients participating in cardiac rehabilitation programmes was low (≈40 %) and only 27 % of those with diabetes had attended diabetes schools. Compared with data from previous surveys the use of cardioprotective drugs had increased and more patients were achieving the risk factor treatment targets.ConclusionsDespite advances in patient management there is further potential to improve both the detection and management of patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of sonographically demonstrated ureteral dilatation in detecting vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Methods: Ethical approval from the Ethical Committee of Clinical Center University of Sarajevo and parental consent were obtained for this prospective study involving 120 children with history of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Ultrasound examination included the evaluation of the urinary tract, with a special emphasis on evaluation of ureteral dilatation. Voiding urosonography (VUS) was carried out according to a standard protocol with the use of ultrasound contrast agent Sono Vue of second generation. Ureteral diameter greater than 3 mm was considered pathological. Proven VUR was graded into one of three stages. Results: Infectio tracti urinarii recidivans was referral diagnosis in the majority of patients. The average age of patients was 4.33 ± 3.88 years (from 2 months to 16 years of age). VUS findings were normal in 59 (49.2%), and pathological in 61 (50.8%) patients. Statistical analysis showed significant correlation between type and grade of VUR. Our data confirmed predominance of VUR in females and in children under the age of 5. Statistically significant correlation between ureteral dilatation and the existence of VUR was found, with relatively high sensitivity (67.2%), specificity (81.4%), and high positive (78.8%) and negative predictive value (70.6%), total diagnostic accuracy of 74.2% in detecting VUR, and significantly increased probability (20 – 25%) of detecting VUR in patients with sonographically confirmed ureteral dilatation. Conclusion: Sonographically confirmed ureteral dilatation can be used as a predictor of VUR in children with UTIs, and in combination with other predictors, might find a place in an evidence-based selective strategy in children with suspected VUR.

Na temelju prvih osmanskih popisa u radu se daje prikaz stanja na prostoru novoosnovane nahije Mostar, neposredno nakon osmanskoga osvajanja. Izravna posljedica osvajanja bio je velik broj pustih i polupustih naselja. Povlasticama i oslobađanjem od pojedinih obveza nove su vlasti nastojale privoljeti izbjeglo stanovništvo da se vrati svojim domovima, ali i naseliti novo. Poduzete mjere pozitivno će se odraziti na povratak stanovništva, tako da će samo nekoliko godina nakon osvajanja broj pustih mjesta biti smanjen.

Aim: To determine the possible relation between intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal resistance (CR) in kerotoconic eyes before, 3,6 and 12 months after collagen crosslinking procedure (CXL) with aim to find out does the thicker cornea means already more resistance cornea followed with higher IOP. Methods: Thirty eyes (30 patients) with central keratoconus (KC)were evaluated in retrospective cross sectional study. The corneal biomechanical parameters were taken with Wave Light Allegro Oculyzer produced by Alcon before the CXL, 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure. IOP were checked by Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) before, 3, 6 and 12 months after CXL. Results: The value of IOP before the CXL was 12,0 mmHg (10,62-15,25 mmHg), 3 months later 13,5 mmHg (11,0-16,0 mmHg), 6 months 14,0 mmHg (11,0-16,0 mmHg) and 12 months later 15,0 mmHg (10,37-17,25 mmHg) and was statistically significant higher (p=0,015) comparing to the value of IOP 3 months after the CXL, IOP 12 months after CXL procedure was statistically significant higher comparing to preoperative values (p=0,010). There were no statistically significant difference between the values 3 and 6 months after CXL. The CCT before the CXL procedure was 449 (433-505,75 microns), 3 months after CXL was 420 (383-473microns, p < 0,005), 6 months later 437 (401,25-480,25, p=0,001), 12 months after CXL 437 (401-503 microns, p=0,001). However there is statistically significant difference in CCT 12 months after CXL 437 (401-503microns p=0,032) and the value of CCT 3 months later the procedure (p=0,004) and the CCT 12 months after CXL and the value of CXL 6 months after CXL (p=0,036). The value of CCT did not show any statistically significant difference 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Conclusion: After riboflavin-UVA CXL in eyes with KC there was significant decrease in central corneal thickness 3 and 6 months after the procedure and the thickness is almost the same 12 months later. However IOP is low before CXL, raising up 3 and 6 months after CXL but significant increase is seen 12 months later. It means the regular measurement of IOP could be the serious and confident indicator of increasing of corneal resistance which is the main goal of CXL treatment.