Background: Cognitive dysfunctions are considered as a poor prognostic factor that influence health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of cognitive impairment on the quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients. Methods: This study included 60 MS patients treated at the Department of Neurology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. Inclusion criteria were clinically definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, 18 years of age or older and were able to give written informed consent. Cognitivefunction was evaluated by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa) screening test. Quality of life was evaluated by SF36 questionnaire. Results: 88.33% of patients had cognitive impairment with 68.33% with mild cognitive impairment. Abstraction (60,83%), language (56,66%), executive functions (53.66%) and delayed recall (28.33%) were rated the worst. The median value of SF-36 score was 54.1 (27.7-70.01). The lowest results were achieved in the QOL domains of psycial limitation with a median value of 12.5 (0-75) and emotional limitation 33.3 (0-100). It is found statistically significant correlation of the MoCa score with social functioning, energy, vitality and general health (p<0.05) and physical functioning (p<0.001) domains of quality of life, as well as with SF -36 total scores (p<0.05). Among group of patients with cognitive impairment, statistically significant positive correlation between cognitive status mental health HRQOL domain (rho=0.427; p<0.001) was found. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment is very often presented in patients with multiple sclerosis with significant contribution to a poorer quality of life. It is associated with physical and emotional limitations, as well as poorer mental health. Further studies are needed, especially when we take into account very important clinical and prognostic role of cognition in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Covid-19 primarily manifests itself as a respiratory disease, but also with numerous extrapulmonary symptoms and complications. The clinical form of the disease before hospitalization, has a great influence on the further course and occurrence of complications of the disease. Objective: To analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with moderate and severe clinical form of the disease, the complications that developed in these patients during hospitalization and the outcome of the disease. Methods: The retrospective study included 520 patients from the Tuzla Canton, treated in the COVID-19 Hospital at University Clinical Center Tuzla in the period from March 27 to October 1, 2020. The source of data were the medical records of hospitalized patients. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with moderate and severe clinical form of the disease and the complications that developed in these patients during hospitalization were analyzed. Results: The number of hospitalized men was statistically significantly higher, p=0.000. Most patients were in the age group of 60-69 years: 152 (29.3%), then in the age group of 50-59 years: 119 (22.9%). Women <70 years had more often a moderate, and women >70 years more often a severe clinical form of the disease, p<0.01. Patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hematological diseases and tumors of solid organs, with leukopenia and lymphopenia, elevated LDH, CRP, transaminases and serum ferritin, significantly more often had a clinically severe form of the disease (p<0.01). Patients with a severe clinical form of the disease on admission to the hospital had more frequent complications and death as outcome (p<0.01). Conclusion: Patients who were hospitalized with a severe form of COVID-19 had significantly more frequent disease complications and death as outcome.

In Europe, wood is a crucial construction material that has experienced a surge in use for building applications in recent years. To enhance its dimensional stability and durability, thermal modification is a widely accepted commercial technology. Thermal modification is a popular technique that alters the properties of wood, improving its resistance to decay and increasing its dimensional stability. The process involves heating wood to high temperatures under controlled conditions, leading to chemical reactions that result in various physical and mechanical changes. This paper will discuss the effects of thermal modification on the physical properties of wood, such as density, moisture content, and color, as well as its impact on the mechanical properties, including strength, stiffness, and hardness. Additionally, the review will examine the factors that influence the degree of modification, such as temperature, duration, and wood species. Finally, the paper will conclude with an overview of the current state of research in this field and identify potential avenues for future investigation.

This study aimed to investigate the water absorption capacity of thermally modi fi ed and non-modi fi ed spruce and blue-stained spruce wood. The wettability of wood depends on various factors, including its type, density, porosity, and surface treatment. Wood can swell and become distorted when exposed to water or humidity, impacting its structural integrity. Hence, it is crucial to consider the water and water vapour uptake in the wood when choosing materials for applications that are likely to be exposed to moisture. Various moisture absorption tests were conducted to assess water absorption capacity, including short-term and long-term water absorption and water vapour absorption. The results showed a signi fi cant difference in the long-term exposure to water, which was related to the density of the wood. The study examined the in fl uence of thermal treatment on the physical properties of wood and observed signi fi cant variations in mass change due to coating, indicating differences in adhesion among different wood types. Vacuum-treated blue-stained Norway spruce demonstrated higher adhesion (5% – 15%) compared to air-treated samples. Furthermore, cohesion tests revealed lower cohesion force in blue-stained Norway spruce (approximately 20% – 30%) compared to Norway spruce. The study also used indus-try-standard tests to investigate the adhesion and cohesion of nano-coatings on wood surfaces. The results provided valuable information on the properties of coatings applied to wood, which is vital in protecting and decorating wood while also providing preventive protection against wood pests, weathering, and mechanical in fl uences. Wood modi fi cation in vacuum involves subjecting the wood to a low-pressure environment to remove air and moisture, allowing for deeper and more uniform penetration of treatment chemicals. In contrast, wood modi fi cation in air relies on the natural circulation of air to facilitate the absorption of chemical treatments, without the need for a vacuum chamber.

The aim of this research is to analyze the spatial distribution of the population ageing in Bosnia and Herzegovina and identify areas of the country that are particularly vulnerable to negative demographic trends. To achieve the goal of the study, data on the ageing coefficient and ageing index for the period 2013-2020 were used. The geospatial analysis of these indicators was performed using global (Global Moran's I and Getis-Ord General G) and local (Anselin Local Moran's I and Getis-Ord G*) indexes of spatial autocorrelation. The research results confirmed the clustering of both indicators. Ageing coefficient values are clustered in municipalities in western, northwestern, Eastern, and central Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ageing index values are clustered in municipalities in central, western, northwestern, and northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. This study provides insight into the research methods of spatial demographic trends and phenomena, and its findings can serve as a basis for future demographic research and development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The acute scrotum (AS) in the pediatric population is a medical emergency. AS is usually caused by testicular torsion (TT) and torsion of the appendix testis (TAT). The current study explored which demographic and clinical characteristics can help distinguish between TT and TAT. We analyzed all children ≤16 years who underwent surgical exploration for AS. The patients were divided into Group 1/TT and Group 2/TAT. Ninety patients were included in the study (24 with TT and 66 with TAT). The peak incidence of TT was significantly higher than in the TAT group (p<0.001). Scrotal pain was more prevalent in the TAT group (p=0.02), whereas systemic signs (nausea/vomiting and abdominal pain) affected more frequently the TT patients (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively). The duration of symptoms was significantly longer in the TAT group (p<0.001). The duration of symptoms in the TT cohort significantly impacted the testicular salvage (p=0.008). Color Doppler ultrasound (CDUS) findings of absent/decreased testicular blood flow in the affected testis strongly favored the diagnosis of TT (p<0.001). The older age, shorter duration of symptoms, systemic signs, and CDUS findings can help distinguish between the two most common acute scrotum causes.