Background: Lymphadenopathy is a common finding in clinical practice. The cause of enlarged nodes on clinical examination alone is challenging and there may be multiple reasons for this enlargement. It may become enlarged due to stimulation by infectious agents or the involvement of metastasis or malignant diseases, such as lymphoma. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic role of fine needle aspiration cytology of lymph nodes in metastatic cancer and lymphoma. Methods: A total of 48 FNAC lymph nodes suspicious for malignancy were sampled with follow-up biopsy in Clinical Center of University of Sarajevo from 2017 to 2023. Lymph nodes were aspirated using 20-22 G needle with minimally 2 passes, spread on slides, air-dried, stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa or Papanikolaou and residual material sent for cytoblock. Results: Out of 48 cytological samples, 30 (62.5%) revealed metastatic epithelial cells and 12 (25%) lymphoproliferative neoplasm. Three samples were suspected for malignancies, one sample was unrepresentative, one inconclusive and one falsely negative. Histopathological confirmation had 35 patients, while others were confirmed based on clinical presentation and radiological techniques. Compared to histopathological diagnosis, cytology had a sensitivity of 89.47%, specificity of 93.33%, positive predictive value (PPV) 95.04% and negative predictive values (NPV) 86.13% for epithelial metastatic cancer. The overall diagnostic test accuracy was 91.06%. For lymphoproliferative neoplasms cytology in comparison to histopathology had sensitivity 85.71%, specificity 91.18%, PPV 76.4% and NPV 95.04%. The overall diagnostic test accuracy was 89.81%. In both ways cytology is showing significant possibility to be used as a primary tool in detecting cancers. Conclusion: FNAC is a fast, reliable, and efficient method for diagnosing malignant lymphadenopathy. The cytological diagnosis can sometimes be accepted as the definitive diagnosis without further correlation with histopathology, especially in advanced malignancies and known primary malignancies.

Background: Cervical cancer is a cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix–the lower part of the uterus that connects it to the vagina and represents a global public health problem. In 2008, 530,000 new cases and 275,000 deaths from cervical cancer were recorded worldwide, and in 2018, an increase to 570,000 new cases and 311,000 deaths was recorded. For many years, it has been known that the main cause of preinvasive lesions and cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus–HPV. The total prevalence of HPV in the cervix in the general population of women is 10%. In developing countries, this prevalence is higher and describe most frequent clinical manifestations in the praxis. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze and describe molecular genetic basis of cervical cancer and the most frequent clinical manifestations in the praxis. Methods: This is cross-sectional study based on meta-analysis of the facts published in scientific literature stored in indexed databases Medline, PubMed Central, Scopus, Hinari, etc., about molecular genetic basis of the cervical cancer with description of clinical manifestations and its consequences describing morbidity and mortality rate in the population worldwide. Results and Discussion:  In 2008, 530,000 new cases and 275,000 deaths from cervical cancer were recorded worldwide, and in 2018, an increase to 570,000 new cases and 311,000 deaths was recorded. The main cause of preinvasive lesions and cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus–HPV. HPV infection is most common in young, sexually active women under the age of 25, but cervical cancer is more common in older women. Oncogenic types of human papillomavirus 16 and 18 together with HPV 45 and 31 are the causative agents of 80% of cervical cancer cases. HPV 16 has the highest oncogenic potential. Epigenetic changes include DNA methylation and post-translational modifications of histones, such as: methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination and sumoylation. Cervical intraepithelial (CIN / SIL) lesion is a premalignant change of the cervix that occurs due to chronic infection with high-risk types of HPV. Persistent infection with oncogenic types of HPV causes almost all cases of cancer. HPV DNA was detected in 99.7% of cancer samples. Conclusion: There are four main steps in the development of cervical cancer: infection of the metaplastic epithelium of the transformation zone, viral persistence, progression towards precancerous lesions and invasion of the basement membrane. Histologically, in about 80% of cases, squamous cell carcinomas arise from preexisting dysplasias. Adenocarcinoma accounts for about 15-20% of cancer cases. HPV 16 is the main cause of squamous cell carcinoma, unlike HPV 18 which is typically associated with adenocarcinoma.

Background/Aim: The aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the national oral health programmes in the Balkan countries, to compare key measures and activities in the implementation of the general and specific objectives of the programme, and to analyse the results achieved after the implementation of the programme. Material and Methods: The data were obtained through an electronic search of publicly available documents published by the relevant institutions in the field of dental health care in the Balkan countries. The search terms were: "national programme", "strategy", "action plan", "project", and "oral health". The search was conducted in English and in the native languages of the Balkan Peninsula countries. A comparative analysis of valid documents and those whose validity period has expired was carried out. Results: Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia have valid national preventive programmes. In Cyprus, a strategic plan for the provision of dental services is described. An oral health promotion programme for elementary school children and universal preventive programme for children ("dentist pass") have been implemented in Greece. Serbia has a national preventive programme that has expired, but the programme activities still apply. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Romania, and Turkey do not have national oral health preventive programmes. Countries in the region with no oral health promotion programmes have poorer oral health indicators compared to countries with existing programmes. Conclusions: While countries in the Balkan Peninsula have made progress in improving the oral health of their inhabitants, the absence of national oral health promotion programmes is striking in many countries in the region. Greater involvement of the community in activities to maintain and improve oral health is needed, as is more comprehensive dental care for vulnerable populations. This paper (Part I) compares national oral health promotion programmes of the Balkan countries, the key measures and activities, and general and specific objectives of the programme.

This article describes the architecture life cycle effect analysis (ALCEA) method, a structured method for evaluating proposed new architectures for software-intensive systems. The method evaluates a proposed architecture by quantifying its effect on the performance of system life-cycle phases. The method is instantiated by identifying the relevant life-cycle phases of the system under investigation and a set of evaluation functions that capture, in terms of basic factors, the effect of different architectural decisions on key life-cycle PAs, such as revenue, operating resources, and investments. The method results in a transparent cost and revenue structure, documented in a tabular form, based on quantifiable factors from the developing organization. The results of the method can be used directly as part of a business case, and their robustness can be estimated by sensitivity analysis. The ALCEA method is designed for system-level architectural analysis, covering both software and hardware aspects. In this article, we introduce the ALCEA method and provide a detailed example of how to apply it in the evolution of embedded systems. Moreover, we share early experiences of using the method in large-scale industrial settings.

Large peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and carrier frequency offset (CFO) are dominant impairments of the orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol transmission that is applied within the state-of-the-art wireless operator networks. In this work, we deal with consequences of the amplitude peak clipping that is commonly used at the transmitter to reduce the PAPR of the OFDM symbol, and thus prevent its non-linear distortion which would otherwise be imposed by the output high-power amplifier (HPA). Accordingly, regardless of the clipping generating mechanism at the transmitter being either inherent (related to the HPA) or deliberate (due to PAPR reduction), the clipped incoming OFDM symbol at the receiver may lead to degraded detection accuracy and transmission performance. However, the methods that have been applied so far at the receiver for compensating non-linear distortion due to clipping, are quite complex and computationally demanding. On the contrary, we propose effective mitigation of the problem to be performed at the receiver, by deriving the closed-form enhanced detection criterion, which requires common measurements of the mean and the rms values, as well as the autocorrelation of the received OFDM symbol comprising both un-clipped and clipped sections. Such improved detection was shown to significantly reduce the side effects of clipping, and restore satisfactory transmission performance – the bit error rate (BER) in particular. The proposed analytical model was preliminarily verified by versatile Monte-Carlo simulations and professional industry-standard vector signal analysis (VSA) test system, as well as by BER testing. The evident convergence of the three methods’ test results leads to the conclusion that the proposed clipped OFDM symbol detection method provides clear improvement with respect to the conventional one.

To behave in a socially responsible manner and to support the concepts of sustainable development, organizations apply various processes and activities for greening their business. In addition to green marketing, supply and distribution chain, production, packaging and recycling, green human resources management (GHRM) also plays a big role. For this purpose, organizations incorporate a green component into all human resources management (HRM) phases, thereby building a green employer brand. This paper examines the extent to which organizations in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina apply GHRM activities and practices, and whether there are differences in the application of these practices depending on the size and business sector. Empirical research carried out in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has found that green activities and HRM practices are applied to a small extent, with slightly higher results achieved by small and manufacturing organizations. The findings indicate the need for greater engagement of organizations to strengthen the awareness of the importance of GHRM, support their sustainable development and strengthen the brand in domestic and foreign markets.

Background: Lyme borreliosis is a multisystemic infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Erythema migras is the main clinical marker of the disease. Objective: This study aimed was to investigate the frequency and clinical manifestations of European borreliosis on the skin, and to determine the significance of these findings for diagnosis and therapy. Methods: A retrospective-prospective clinical study of outpatients treated and monitored in a private clinic of an infectologist was conducted over nine years from to 2013-2021. The study was clinical, descriptive and analytical in nature. Results: In the investigated period, 509 (30.8%) patients with borreliosis symptoms were treated. EM in our patients occurred under the following conditions: a) ringed redness, b) redness of target cels and d) continuous round or oval redness of different sizes of individual redness, or multiple occurrences with primary dissemination. Skin changes with multiorgan chronic symptoms of borreliosis occurred in 67.7% of cases the including: walking redness of different shapes and sizes, pink borreliosis stretch marks, white borreliosis stretch marks, borreliosis palms and soles, psoriatic changes, Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, Scleroderma circumscripta-morphae, Erythema nodosum, Granuloma anulare and Lichen striatus et atrophicans. Of the 509 patients treated for borreliosis, 32.3% with multi-organ symptomatology had no skin changes. Conclusion: The skin manifestations of European borreliosis are multi-layered and Erythema migrans are basic, but not the only markers of the disease. ‘Pink borreliose stretch marks, “white borreliosis striae”, “borreliosis palms or soles”, and intermittent redness accompanied by itching are unique markers for the diagnosis of chronic borreliosis, if they are manifested.

Background: Chordoma is a rare malignant neoplasm that predominantly arises from the axial skeleton, but can also develop in unusual locations. However, there are also rare cases of „NOS“ chordoma involving the oropharyx and epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland in the same patient. According to contemporary research, chordoma is a rare malignant neoplasm that arises from the embryonic remnants of the notochord. and typically involves the clivus, sacrococcygeal bones or vertebrae. Studies have shown that the incidence of chordoma has been estimated to be one per one million people per year. Chordoma can occur at any age, but most commonly it is diagnosed in the 40–60 year old age group with the male predominance. Objective: The aim of this article was to review the case of a 74-year-old female patient with epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland and a case of „NOS“ chordoma involving the oropharyx. Methods: Diagnostic methods were used to examine a female patient with two primary malignant tumors: CT neck scan, CT of paranasal sinuses, ultrasound examination, scintigraphy and operative finding. Case presentzation: Due to the anatomy complexity, complete resection of the tumor through a transoral-transpharyngeal approach was not possible. Intraoperative palpation of the mass revealed well defined submucosal lesion 20x43x46mm beginning at the level of the oro- and hypopharynx and extending superiorly to the nasopharynx, and posteriorly into the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen causing near complete occlusion of the oro and hypopharynx. The patient also underwent extracapsular dissection of the parotid tumor. Postoperative palliative radiotherapy was performed. Conclusion: Surgical treatment remains the mainstay of treatment for EMC and radiation is imperative for patients who refuse surgery and for those with advanced or inoperable diseases.

Every attempt to access to the Internet through a Web browser, email sent, VPN connection, VoIP call, instant message or other use of telecommunications systems involves cryptographic techniques. The most commonly applied technique is asymmetric cryptography, which is generally executed in the background without the user even being aware. It establishes a cryptographic code based on the computational complexity of mathematical problems. However, this type of cryptography, which is widely used in today’s telecommunications systems, is under threat as electronics and computing rapidly develop. The development of fifth-generation cellular networks (5G) is gaining momentum, and given its wide field of application, security requires special attention. This is especially true faced with the development of quantum computers. One solution to this security challenge is to use more advanced techniques to establish cryptographic keys that are not susceptible to attack. An essential part of quantum cryptography, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) uses the principles of quantum physics to establish and distribute symmetric cryptographic keys between two geographically distant users. QKD establishes information-theoretically secure cryptographic keys that are resistant to eavesdropping when they are created. In this paper, we survey the security challenges and approaches in 5G networks concerning network protocols, interfaces and management organizations. We begin by examining the fundamentals of QKD and discuss the creation of QKD networks and their applications. We then outline QKD network architecture and its components and standards, following with a summary of QKD and post-quantum key distribution techniques and approaches for its integration into existing security frameworks such as VPNs (IPsec and MACsec). We also discuss the requirements, architecture and methods for implementing the FPGA-based encryptors needed to execute cryptographic algorithms with security keys. We discuss the performance and technologies of post-quantum cryptography, and finally, examine reported 5G demonstrations which have used quantum technologies, highlighting future research directions.

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common nonmelanoma skin cancer. Although there has been a noticeable increase in incidence over the last decades, the exact incidence is difficult to establish, because data and cancer registries are heterogeneous among countries. Objective: The study aimed to analyze the recent clinical trends of basal cell carcinoma by reviewing a six-year single institution’s experience. Methods: A total number of 582 patients with histologically diagnosed BCC were included in the study. All relevant data were collected from medical records and patients, using short questionnaire. Results: BCC was slightly more common among the male population with female to male ratio of 1:1.24. At the time of diagnosis, male patients were statistically significantly older (70.47±11.9 years) compared to female patients (67.64±12.22 years) (p=0.005). The most common types of BCC were nodular (51.64%) and superficial (25.95%), affecting most commonly the head and neck region (71.2%). Relative risk (RR) for development of BCC is 2.79 times higher in sun-exposed skin areas (p<0.001). Conclusion: Sun exposure remains one of the most important risk factors for the development of BCC, with episodes of sunburns, occupational and recreational risks noted among the majority of patients. Although non-fatal disease, due to morbidity and high frequency, prevention and early diagnosis are important to prevent further increase in the incidence of BCC among the population.