The predictive value of cystatin C as a marker of course of the disease has been evaluated. Fifty-two pairs of serum samples of patients with B non-Hodgkin lymphoma have been collected at the time of diagnosis and before fourth cycle of chemotherapy. The levels of cystatin C, CRP, β 2M, LDH, and IL-6 in samples have been measured, and clinical parameters of course of the disease (B symptoms, clinical stage, patients' age, and IPI) have been noted. In total patient's group cystatin C levels correlated with β 2M and IPI. In aggressive lymphomas, the inhibitor levels correlated with clinical stage of disease and were significantly higher in patients with elevated LDH activity. In aggressive nodal lymphomas its levels correlated with β 2M, IPI, and clinical stage of disease. The cystatin C level was significantly increased in total group of patients over 60 years old, while in particular types of lymphoma, no statistical significance has been obtained. Our results indicate that cystatin C should be taken into consideration in disease monitoring. However, we expect that the disease-free and overall survival analysis will give the definitive answer about the reliability of cystatin C as an indicator of course of aggressive lymphomas.

Introduction Pseudomonas aeruginosa is well-known cause of hospital infections with high morbidity and mortality rates [1]. According to the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (NNISS), P. aeruginosa is responsible for approximately 8% of all hospital infections. It was the most frequent cause of ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAP), the fourthrated on the list of causes of hospital urinary infections, and fifth cause of surgical site infections according to frequency of occurence (2). Infections caused by P. aeruginosa are difficult to control and treat due to its high rate of resistance to antibiotics and to the limited number of available antibiotics with efficacy against P. aeruginosa. During the last decade, an increase in resistance to imipenem and meropenem was observed among many strains of Gram-negative bacteria, and especially among isolates of P. aeruginosa [3,4,5]. Numerous studies have also shown that carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) is frequently simultaneously resistant to other antipseudomonal antibiotics, making the treatment very difficult [6]. A number of risk factors for the emergence of CRPA-caused hospital infections was identified, including spending time in an intensive care unit and/or prior use of certain antibiotics [7,8,9,10]; however, for the majority of factors, the strength of the association was either low or equivocal. Sound knowledge of the risk factors and quantification of their influence on hospital infections are important for proper prevention and treatment of the CRPA-caused nosocomial infections. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the CRPA-caused hospital infections.

Introduction: Radicular low back pain is a disorder involving the dysfunction of the lumbosacral nerve roots. Clinical rehabilitation approaches for low back pain include kinesiotherapy, and physical therapyprocedures: ice , rest , heat, ultrasound, TENS, but evidences regarding their effectiveness are lacking. The purpose of this study was to determine if nerve mobilization brings better improvements in pain, SLR testand functional disability in patients with radicular low back pain compared to standard physical therapy.Methods: The study was conducted on a 60 patients with Radicular low back pain, treated in Regional medical center "Dr Safet Mujic", Mostar, during the period from 01.04.2010 untill 31.04.2011. Patientswere divided into two groups. First group (n=30) received a 4-week rehabilitation program including neural mobilization and lumbar stabilization program. Second group (n=30) received a 4-week rehabilitation program including active range of motion (ROM) exercises and lumbar stabilization program.Results: At the beginning, the two groups were not signifi cantly different in terms of score or SLR. After therapy there was statistically signifi cant improvement between groups in both VAS scores[Group A: 1.16±1.5; Group B: 2.25±2.2] and SLR [Group A: 80.9±17.4; Group B: 65.9±16.4]. ]. After the treatment, in group A, 46.6% (14) participants had been rated with 4, but in Group B: 33.3% (10) participants had been rated with 3.Conclusions: Patients treated with neural mobilization and lumbar stabilization showed better VAS scores and Straight Leg Test scores compared to patients treated with active range of motion exercises and lumbar stabilization. Further research to investigate their long term effi cacy is warranted, with emphasis on greater number of participants.

Introduction: Hydatidiform mole is a gestational trophoblastic disease characterized by a range of disorders of abnormal trophoblastic proliferation.Methods: This was a retrospective study of 70 singletone pregnancies until the 12th week of gestational age diagnosed with hydatidiform mole or spontaneously aborted physiological pregnancy. The pregnantwomen had almost similar demographic features and were divided into two groups. 35 pregnant women with a molar pregnancy were included in the study group; while 35 pregnant women with physiologicalpregnancy spontaneously aborted were included in the control group. Analyzed parameters included a pregnant woman’s age, blood type, parity and previous pregnancies (course and outcomes).Results: In the study group 11.43% of cases had hydatidiform mola during previous pregnancies as well as the advanced average gestational age of an ongoing pregnancy (9.63±1.83 in contrast to 8.25±2.03in the control group). The pregnant women with the hydatidiform mole were reported to have statistically significantly greater number of irregular villous borders (71.43%); slightly enlarged villi (54.29%); moderatedpresence of cisterns (65.71%) as well as mild avascularisation of villi (57.14%).Conclusion: It was concluded that a previous molar pregnancy represents the highest risk for hydtidiforme mole and the pathomorphologic analysis of vilous changes can be a reliable parameter for establishingproper diagnosis of partial hydatidiform mole.

The objective of this study was to compare acceptance rate of immediate postpartum contraception and other characteristics among HIV-infected and HIV-non-infected parturients. Delivery logbooks from January 1990 to June 1994 were reviewed and 776 HIV -positive females  were identified. Data of these women were abstracted together with those of 1,552 HIV-negative women whose names were immediately before and after the HIV-Infected ones(1:2 ratio). HIV infected  women were more likely to be younger, have lower number of gravida, have baby with lower birthweight and lower first-minute APGAR score, and accept immediate postpartum contraception. However, the two groups did not differ in terms of mode of delivery.Stratification of acceptance rates of postpartum contraception revealed that the rates among multigravida were not different (39% vs 33%, OR = 1.30 [0.95-1.77)). However, HlV-infected primigravidous women were more likely than the non-infected to accept contraception (17.9% vs 0.9%, OR =  22.81(lO.03-54.65)).This was probably due to the policy of the hospital in encouraging HlV infected  mothers to adopt permanent or semipermanent methods of contraception.

Introduction: Partial molar trophoblast degeneration is a benign disease characterised by numerous complications such as an invasive mole and malignant alteration.Methods: This was a retrospective study which recruited 70 pregnant women diagnosed with hydatidiform mole or with physiological pregnancy spontaneously aborted. The pregnant women had similar demographic features and were included in two groups. 35 pregnant women with a molar pregnancy diagnosed during the first trimester were included in the study group; while 35 pregnant women with miscarriages during the fi rst trimester were included in the control group.Results: Examined trophoblast changes were: type of atypia, amount and mass of trophoblast proliferation. Specifi c β HCG serum levels were observed in all pregnant women before the treatment. Pregnantwomen in the study group had statistically signifi cant higher levels of β HCG serum in comparison with the control group (both average levels 60191.37±49662.75 and levels according to gestational age). Statisticallysignifi cant changes of villous trophoblast were observed by the pathomorphological analysis: mild trophoblast atypia (57.14%); pronounced trophoblast mass (45.71%) and mild trophoblast proliferationamount (51.43%).Conclusion: Serum β-HCG level measurements and pathomorphological analysis of chorionic villi are reliable and effective methods in a partial mole diagnostics.

Metastases to gastrointestinal tract are uncommon. In particular, metastases to the ampulla of Vater are very rare and may represent a significant diagnostic challenge. Metastases from the uterine cervix to the ampulla of Vater are exceedingly rare and only one case has been described in the available literature. We describe here a second case of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix to the ampulla of Vater in a 45-year-old woman. Poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma presented as an isolated metastasis to the ampulla of Vater, two years after the initial diagnosis. While the squamous cell carcinoma could occur as primary ampullary carcinoma, albeit very rare, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of metastatic cancer.

Introduction: The role of hyperhomocysteinemia in psychotic disorder can be explained by partial antagonism of homocysteine on NMDA-glycine receptor. Plasma concentration of homocysteine is an indicator of the status of the B-vitamins (folate, B12, B6). Folate defi ciency may have different effects on the neurochemical processes of schizophrenia. This suggests that the association between elevated levels of homocysteine and schizophrenia is biologically very likely. Methods: The study was consisted of 20 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. We investigated the levels of serum homocysteine concentration using AxSYM (Abbott), levels of folate assay is two-step immunoassay to determine the presence folate in human serum using CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay) technology and Axsym Holo Tc is microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) for the quantitative determination of human holo TC in serum and determination defi cit of vitamin B 12. Results: The patients group has higher levels of homocysteine in compare with controls group for 3.85 μmol/L while the concentration of folate in the group of patients was lower for 9.17 ng/mL. The mean level of vitamin B-12 in investigation groups were in reference range 19.1-119 pmol/L, but patient group have lower average concentration of vitamin B-12 lower for 24.81 pmol/L compared to the control group. Conclusion: Our results showed that homocysteine concentration is inversely proportionate to folate concentration, i.e. as homocysteine concentration in serum increases, folate concentration falls. Shizophrenic patients with elevated tHcy level and low folate levels should have vitamin supplementation with folic acid.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) or acquired hypogammaglobulinemia is the type of primary immunodeficiency. Deregulation of the immune system, leading to hypogammaglobulinemia, defective activation and proliferation of T cells and dendritic cells, and malfunction of the cytokines are observed in CVID. The clinical picture of CVID varies, any organ or system can be affected, therefore the diagnosis is often difficult and delayed and sometimes is not always possible. This article describes a twelve years old boy with all the clinical signs of immunodeficiency, as confi rmed by laboratory. The main treatment consists of life-long immunoglobulin substitution in intravenous or subcutaneous form.

Introduction: The aim of this study was the evaluation of symptom improvements in patients with moderate lumbar spinal stenosis, who consecutively underwent placement of interspinous distraction deviceIMPALA®.Methods: This study included a total of 11 adult patients with moderate lumbar spinal stenosis. Clinical evaluations were performed preoperatively and 3-months after surgery using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).Results: The mean preoperative VAS was 7.09 and fell to 2.27 a 3-months after surgery. The mean preoperative ODI was 59.45 fell to 20.72 a 3-months after surgery.Conclusions: Using the IMPALA® device in patients with moderate lumbar spinal stenosis is a minimal invasive, effective and safe procedure. Clinical symptoms were improved 3 months after surgery.

Introduction: Sex determination is one of fi rst and most important steps in identifying disintegrated bodies and skeletal remains. During the exhumation of bodies from the mass graves and archaeologicalexcavations, it is quite often the case that not all bones of one person are found, therefore, teeth and the scull are the only true identifi cation material. Canines are teeth most appropriate for sex determination.The aim of the research was to determine sex identity of the Bosnian-Herzegovinian population based on odontometric characteristics of permanent lower canines.Methods: The research sample included 180 patients of the Dental Offi ce, of both sexes. All patients with permanent lower right and left canines, without caries, with healthy state of gingiva and periodontium,without crown restorations were included in the research. Measurement was done directly in the patients' mouth using a digital sliding caliper. Greatest mesiodistal width of the lower right and left canine and intercuspal distance of the lower jaw were measured.Results: All parameters were higher in case of male, including Mandibular Canine Index (MCI) (p<0.01). The precision of appraising the sex identity for the Bosnian-Herzegovinian population, based on MCI on the right, amounts 68.89% and 68.54% on the left.Conclusions: The study showed that right canines are signifi cantly broader than the left ones and they are broader in case of males. Lower right canines, that is, MCI on the right, indicates greater accuracy insex determination in relation to left lower canines. The accuracy in sex determination for all variables is higher for the female.

Adresa za dopisivanje Samra Korać DMD, MSc Sveučilište u Sarajevu Stomatološki fakultet Zavod za restorativnu stomatologiju i endodonciju Bolnička 4 a 1000 Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina samragk@gmail.com Sažetak Svrha istraživanja bila je izmjeriti i usporediti unutarnju stabilnost boje triju svjetlosnopolimerizirajućih materijala i jednoga kemijski stvrdnjavajućeg nakon njihova ubrzanog starenja. Materijali i metode: Testovi za stabilnost boja obavljeni su na svjetlosnopolimerizirajućim kompozitima – nanopunjenju Filtek Supreme XT (3M ESPE), nanohibridu Tetric Evo Ceram (Ivoclar Vivadent) i mikrohibridu Herculite XRV (Kerr) te na samopolimerizirajućem kompozitu Bisfil II (Bisco). Svi uzorci bili su uronjeni u destiliranu vodu (37°C) i držani u tamnoj posudi 24 sata. Nakon toga podijeljeni su u tri skupine. Postupak ubrzanog starenja proveden je prema dvama protokolima – u vodenoj kupelji na 60°C i prema ISO-u 7491. Uzorci iz kontrolne skupine držani su u destiliranoj vodi 30 dana na temperaturi od 37°C. Razlike u boji – ∆E, računale su se iz koordinata CIE L*a*b* izmjerenih spektrofotometrom nasuprot bijeloj pozadini prije postupka starenja uzoraka i poslije njega. Razina osjetljivosti boje postavljena je na 1, a prihvatljivi šum na 3,5. Statistička analiza obavljena je uparenim t-testom i ANOVA-om (p≤0,05). Rezultati: Svi ispitani materijali pokazali su klinički neprihvatljive promjene boje nakon ubrzanog starenja u vodenoj kupelji, a fotostarenjem nastala je vidljiva promjena boje kod svih svjetlosnopolimerizirajućih kompozita. Nanokompozitni materijali značajno su promijenili boju i u kontrolnoj skupini. Zaključak: Unutarnja stabilnost boje testiranih materijala ovisi o uvjetima starenja i vrsti dentalnog kompozita. Kemijski stvrdnjavajući kompoziti pokazali su tijekom fotostarenja bolju stabilnost. Ključne riječi kompozitne smole; starenje; materijali, testiranje; boja 1 Katedra za restorativnu stomatologiju i endodonciju Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Sarajevu Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sarajevo 2 Odjel za ispitivanje dentalnih materijala Akademskog centra za stomatologiju, Amsterdam (ACTA), Nizozemska Dental Materials Science Department, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA) 3 Katedra za pretkliničku stomatologiju Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Sarajevu Departmet of Preclinical Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Sarajevo