<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p> <p><strong>Aim </strong>To examine the association between metabolic parameters and novel cardiometabolic indices with the coronary artery calcium score (CACS).</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cross-sectional study included 130 patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) at the Radiology Clinic of the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo between January and June 2024.<strong> </strong>Patients were classified into two groups: those with CACS &le;100 and those with CACS &gt;100.<strong> </strong>Platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), uric acid (UA), and novel cardiometabolic indices, including Castelli risk index I and II (CRI-I and CRI-II), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), were compared between the groups.</p> <p><strong>Results </strong>Patients with CACS &gt;100 had significantly higher MPV, TC, LDL-C, UA, non-HDL-C, CRI-I, CRI-II, and the UA/eGFR ratio. Older age, increased platelet activity, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, and the higher UA/eGFR ratio correlated positively with CACS, whereas eGFR correlated negatively. In multivariate regression analysis, the UA/eGFR ratio emerged as an independent predictor of higher CACS (OR = 2.37; 95% CI 1.18&ndash;4.78; p=0.017).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion </strong>Elevated UA levels and adverse cardiometabolic indices are associated with greater coronary artery calcification. The UA/eGFR ratio independently predicts higher CACS, highlighting its potential prognostic value.</p> <p><strong>Keywords: </strong>coronary angiography, glomerular filtration rate, uric acid, vascular calcification</p>

<p><strong>Aim</strong> Vaccine hesitancy challenges global public health, with parental attitudes significantly impacting childhood immunization. This study examined parental perceptions of vaccine safety, effectiveness, and decision-making factors in Bosnia and Herzegovina.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong> A cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2025 with 233 parents at a Primary Healthcare Center in Gračanica. A structured questionnaire based on the Parent Attitude about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) assessed sociodemographic data, vaccination experiences, information sources, and attitudes toward vaccines using a Likert scale.</p> <p><strong>Results </strong>Among 233 participants, 195 (83.7%) fully vaccinated their children, 30 (12.9%) practiced selective vaccination, and eight (3.4%) refused all vaccines. Vaccine hesitancy was significantly associated with lower education, (26.3% vs. 5.1%; p&lt;0.001), rural residence (76.3% vs. 48.2%; p=0.002), and having three or more children (34.2% vs. 12.3%; p=0.01). Trust in healthcare professionals strongly influenced behavior, with 178 (91.3%) of parents who fully trusted doctors adhering to the immunization schedule. Concerns about autism were reported by 14 (36.8%) of hesitant parents and were significantly associated with delayed or refused vaccination (p&lt;0.001).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion</strong> Although overall confidence was high, vaccine hesitancy persisted due to perceived risks. Strengthening healthcare communication and addressing misinformation, particularly autism concerns, may help improve vaccine uptake.</p> <p><strong>Keywords</strong><strong>: </strong>health knowledge, immunization program, public health, vaccination coverage</p>

Understanding and comparing tumor evolutionary histories is fundamental to cancer genomics. Clonal trees, used to model tumor progression, are rooted, unordered trees in which each node represents a subclone labeled by a set of distinct mutations. To compare two clonal trees, we introduce omlta, the optimal multi-label tree alignment, which removes the minimum number of mutation labels from the trees, so that the remaining trees are isomorphic. Computing omlta is NP-hard. Here, we present an algorithm to compute the omlta, with a running time of where L ≥ 1 is the total number of mutation labels occurring in the input trees and k is the minimum possible number of mutation labels that need to be removed for the alignment. Our implementation (https://github.com/algo-cancer/omlta) is the first computational tool for determining the optimal alignment between clonal trees. We applied omlta to 126 cases from the TRACERx study on non-small cell lung cancers and some melanoma single-cell data.

AIM To investigate the impact of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology on vascular surgery, focusing on its role in preoperative planning and surgical training. METHODS A systematic review was conducted of studies published between 2017 and 2024 that evaluated 3D printing in vascular surgery. Databases searched included MEDLINE and CENTRAL. Eligible studies reported applications of 3D printing in preoperative planning, simulation, or surgical education. RESULTS Analysis of relevant studies revealed that 3D-printed vascular models improved surgical precision, reduced fluoroscopy time, enhanced technical skill acquisition, and increased trainees’ confidence. Models based on computed-tomography angiography data provided accurate, patient-specific anatomy for classic or endovascular aortic aneurysm repair and other vascular procedures. CONCLUSION 3D printing significantly enhances vascular-surgery training and preoperative preparation by providing realistic, patient-specific simulations that improve both technical competence and surgical outcomes.

AIM To describe the clinical picture and laboratory findings, as well as to examine the significance of novel hemogram-derived inflammatory indices in adult patients with measles admitted to a tertiary hospital. METHODS This prospective, descriptive, and analytical study included adult patients over 18 years of age with clinical signs of measles, admitted at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Clinical Center of Sarajevo. Upon admission, medical history, physical examination, and laboratory analyses were conducted from February 2024 to 31 December 2024. RESULTS The study included 124 patients, 52 men and 72 were women with a mean age of 38.33±13.18 years. The most common symptoms in most patients were rash (95.97%) and cough (69.36%). Neutrophilia (63.7%) and lymphopenia (74.19%) were the main hematological features along with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (95.17%) and transaminase (75%) in the vast majority of patients. The results of laboratory analyzes also indicated hyponatremia and hypokalemia, with elevated values ​​of the enzymes creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The CRP, as the most commonly elevated laboratory parameter, showed positive, significant correlation with Neutrophil/Lymphocyte ratio (NLR), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI) (p<0.05) and Systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI) (p<0.01). CONCLUSION Adult measles was associated with significant inflammation, hematologic changes, and organ involvement, with CRP showing strong correlations with hemogram-derived indices. These findings suggesting that they may be useful in diagnostics of measles.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) share symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Both are linked to dysbiosis and gut–brain axis dysfunction. IBS is a multifactorial disorder characterized by abnormal motility, visceral hypersensitivity, low-grade inflammation, and alterations in the microbiota. In contrast, SIBO is defined by excessive bacterial colonization of the small intestine that can mimic or worsen IBS symptoms. Gut microbes and their metabolites influence motility, immune activation, barrier integrity, and gas production; methanogen overgrowth is associated with constipation-predominant presentations, while hydrogen- and hydrogen sulfide-related pathways may contribute to diarrhea and bloating. Because recurrent or empiric antibiotic use is common—particularly in suspected SIBO—yet carries risks of resistance, microbiome disruption, and relapse, there is a strong rationale to prioritize effective non-antibiotic strategies. Accordingly, this review synthesizes current evidence on IBS/SIBO pathophysiology and microbiota interactions. It evaluates non-pharmacological interventions including dietary approaches, probiotics/prebiotics, herbal therapies, and mind–body treatments (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy and gut-directed hypnotherapy). We emphasize an integrative framework that supports symptom control and quality of life while helping reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure.

<p><strong>Aim </strong>To determine the outcome of pregnancies in women whose pregnancies resulted from in vitro fertilisatio&nbsp; (IVF) procedure.</p> <p><strong>Methods </strong>This a retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data from the delivery protocol were analyzed over a five-year period, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023. A total of 257 deliveries from IVF pregnancies were analyzed, constituting the study group, while the control group consisted of an equal number of women with spontaneously conceived pregnancies. The following data were analyzed: baseline obstetrics&nbsp; and neonatal characteristics, and presence of complications during pregnancy and delivery.</p> <p><strong>Results </strong>The average age of pregnant women was higher in the study compared to the control group (p=0.001). The average body weight and body length at birth were lower in the study group (p=0.001). The twin pregnancies were more frequent in the study group (p=0.0001). In the study group it was recorded largest number of primiparous women (p=0.0001). It was found higher number of newborns with Apgar scores &lt;7 at the first and fifth minutes in the study group (p=0.0001). There were higher prevalence of preterm births and cesarean section in the study group (p=0.0001). Fetal asphyxia and breech presentation were more prevalent in the study group (p=0.008 and p&lt;0.0001).</p> <p><strong>Consclusion </strong>Pregnancies resulting from IVF were still riskier than those resulting spontaneously.</p>

Flood extent maps (FEM) and flood hazard maps (FHM) serve as legal instruments for spatial planning, decision-making, strategic flood risk planning, and public awareness, supporting sustainable and safe land use along the river corridor. This study aims to improve existing FEM and create FHM for the Sanica river, prone to frequent flooding. The existing FEM were developed using a 1D HEC-RAS model under steady-flow conditions, applying a single uniform Manning roughness coefficient along the entire river reach. The study presents the first application of an unsteady 2D HEC-RAS model along Sanica river, integrating LiDAR-based topography and updated hydrological data to derive FEM and FEH for common return periods. The final 2D hydraulic model was selected through calibration of seven variants of the Manning roughness coefficient, three lumped and four distributed, with the optimal configuration identified based on three goodness-of-fit measures. The comparison of 1D and 2D FEM shows close agreement in morphologically confined canyon reaches, while significant differences occur in river sections with floodplain inundation and dominant 2D flow. These results indicate that model dimensionality can be selected based on reach-scale morphology, enabling the use of 1D models in canyon sections to reduce computational time, while applying 2D models only where complex flow dynamics are present within the Sanica river study area.

Objective: To describe patient-reported symptoms of hypothyroidism in a primary care cohort and perform an exploratory assessment of potential gender differences. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 1000 patients with confirmed hypothyroidism treated at the Public Institution Health Care Centre Visoko between January and October 2024. Data were extracted from electronic medical records. Collected variables included age, gender, comorbidities, family history, pregnancy status, and reported symptoms. Descriptive statistics were performed for the entire cohort. Exploratory logistic regression analyses were used to assess potential gender differences in reported symptoms. Results: The cohort comprised 921 (92.1%) female and 79 (7.9%) male patients, with a mean age of 57±14.6 years. The most commonly reported symptoms were hyperhidrosis (97%), fatigue (96.6%), and heart palpitations (83.5%). Male patients showed a higher likelihood of reporting heart palpitations (OR 2.42, p=0.03) and bowel problems (OR 2.03, p=0.01), and a lower likelihood of reporting neck tightness (OR 0.26, p<0.001) and tearfulness (OR 0.045, p<0.001). Conclusion: In this primary care cohort, the reported symptom burden was largely nonspecific and reflects real-world patient-reported complaints rather than classical manifestations of overt hypothyroidism. Exploratory analyses suggested potential gender-related differences; however, the low number of male patients limits firm conclusions. Larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these observations.

This study investigated the effect of altitude on the microbiological quality of raw sheep milk and Vlašić cheese produced at three locations (Galica, Gostilj, and Paklarevo) on Mount Vlašić, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 30 samples were analysed for the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes, and for the quantification of coagulase-positive staphylococci, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, yeasts, and moulds. None of the samples contained Salmonella spp. or Listeria monocytogenes. In milk samples, significant differences were found among localities for moulds, with regression analysis indicating a significant negative correlation between altitude and mould count (p < 0.001, R² = 0.486). In Vlašić cheese samples, aerobic mesophilic bacteria were abundant at all sites, while regression analysis showed that E. coli (p < 0.001, R² = 0.472) and Enterobacteriaceae (p < 0.001, R² = 0.767) counts varied significantly with altitude. No significant correlations with altitude were observed for other microorganisms. The results suggest that differences among localities and altitude-related trends reflect the influence of variations in cheese-making practices on microbial dynamics in artisanal dairy systems. Improving hygiene control, as well as expanding altitude-based studies across different regions, could enhance both product safety and the preservation of traditional cheesemaking practices.

Background Previous studies have shown that items that another individual looks at are better remembered than items that are not looked at, whereas the same effect has rarely been observed for non-social cues such as arrows. This pattern of results has been taken as an indication that joint attention improves memory. However, these previous studies have differed in the type of memory being tested and the type of content that is to be remembered: while effects of joint attention on long-term memory were tested with verbal items and non-verbal items, effects on working memory have only been tested with non-verbal items such as colour. Thus, the aim of the current study was to extend these previous findings and investigate whether joint attention influences working memory for verbal items. Methods In Experiment 1, participants were first presented with an image of a face with eyes that gazed either to the left or to the right. A grid of 4 letters (2x2) was then shown either on the side cued by gaze or on the opposite side. After a retention interval (1000 ms), participants were shown a letter in the centre of the screen and judged whether this letter was part of the grid shown before. In Experiment 2, we followed the same general procedure but one group was presented with gaze cues, and the other group was presented with arrow cues. Results Across two experiments, our results revealed that participants had better recall of letters that had been cued than letters that had not been cued, regardless of cue type. In contrast, participants’ reaction times were not influenced by whether the letter had been cued. Conclusions Our findings suggest that both social and non-social cues can modulate recall of verbal items such as letters in a working memory task.

This study provides useful insight into the current state and recent developments in blue (marine) biotechnology education (BBE) in Europe. A questionnaire assessing awareness and interest in blue biotechnology (BB) was conducted among students in their final year of upper secondary school in a selection of European countries. Results demonstrate that there are great regional differences in students’ recognition of BB; recognition of BB is relatively poor (though biotechnology knowledge is relatively good). This illustrates the lack of early education and ocean literacy. The interest in BB studies varied by country. Non-formal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities, especially visits to research institutes and private businesses, help raise awareness. The review of education programs conducted in this study revealed that only a small number of programs are dedicated to BB and that it is not well integrated into existing curricula. Early ocean literacy, lifelong learning opportunities, and the inclusion of entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary skills in education are essential for developing a workforce capable of driving the future of the blue bioeconomy within the broader objectives of the EU Blue Economy Strategy and European Union (EU) Bioeconomy Strategy. To advance BBE, we propose the following recommendations: 1) incorporate and increase ocean literacy and BBE at the primary and secondary school levels; 2) support lifelong learning and adaptation to emerging technologies; 3) build collaborative ocean education networks; 4) bridge education communities, research and industry; 5) encourage entrepreneurship; 6) harmonise postgraduate BB programs; 7) establish joint European MSc and PhD degrees; and 8) align funding and BBE activities with national and regional gross domestic product (GDP) contributions for the BB sector.

The expansion of industrialization and household use of synthetic compounds has generated significant wastewater containing toxic heavy metals. In developing countries, this wastewater is often discharged untreated due to the high cost of advanced treatment technologies. This study used sodium hydroxide as a low-cost, readily available precipitation agent to remove selected metal ions from mono- and binary-component solutions. Unlike most studies focusing on pH and initial ion concentration, this work investigated operational parameters such as stirring speed (0–800 rpm) and time (0–30 min) while keeping pH and concentration constant. Results showed that higher stirring speeds and longer stirring times enhanced metal ion removal, with Pb(II) efficiency increasing from 86.64% at 100 rpm to 94.33% at 800 rpm. In binary mixtures, similar improvements were observed. These findings highlight that simple, low-cost operational adjustments can significantly improve metal removal efficiency, which is particularly relevant for water treatment in resource-limited settings. The two-way ANOVA without replication showed that the type of metal or mixture had a significant effect on removal efficiency, while stirring speed and time within the investigated ranges did not have a statistically significant effect. These results indicate that differences in removal efficiency are primarily due to the metals’ chemical properties rather than the operational parameters.

China’s export-oriented economic expansion has substantially influenced transport-sector CO2 emissions, raising critical concerns about the environmental impacts of sustained industrial growth and global trade integration. Understanding the interplay between macroeconomic dynamics, trade composition, and industrial structure is essential for aligning economic development with climate mitigation objectives. This study examines transport-related CO2 emissions in China over the period 1990–2023, employing a hybrid methodological framework that combines econometric modeling—including Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing, Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS)—with machine-learning techniques using Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) interpreted through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). The analysis confirms a long-run cointegration relationship between transport emissions and the selected macroeconomic variables. Short-run dynamics indicate a strong sensitivity of emissions to GDP growth, while long-run estimates reveal that higher export-to-GDP ratios and industrial value added contribute to reducing transport emissions, reflecting the efficiency gains from industrial upgrading and cleaner trade practices. By contrast, the expansion of medium- and high-technology exports increases emissions due to the energy- and logistics-intensive nature of high-value goods. The XGBoost model achieves high predictive performance, with an out-of-sample R2 of 0.9975 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 87.16, confirming the dominant contribution of medium- and high-technology exports to transport-sector emissions. The results underscore the critical role of aligning trade structure, industrial productivity, and low-carbon logistics within China’s policy agenda. Implementing strategies that enhance industrial energy efficiency and develop sustainable transport infrastructure can substantially reduce the environmental impacts associated with export-driven economic expansion.