The importance of minimum capital adequacy ratios in preventing banks from going bankrupt and losing depositor money is underscored by their ability to absorb a reasonable amount of losses. This work contributes to the literature on bank capital and, in particular, delivers a thorough analysis of bank capital in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia contexts. This analysis refers to the strand of literature on non-performing loans and bank capital that has been of continuous interest to researchers. It is a relevant area of research because it discusses the most important part of the banking business, especially in the context of increasing global competition and crises. In this scientific area, we inquire whether and how leverage rate, gross domestic product rate, and return on equity affect the capital adequacy ratio. In this respect, this study advances the literature of effects on bank capital that have not been analysed by other scholarly contributions, especially as it discusses the impact of leverage rate, gross domestic product rate, and return on equity in the context of the entire banking systems of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. The study is limited to a six-year period from 2016 to 2021. Empirical evidence based on the application of a model suggests that both countries resulted in different correlations between countries. Modelling was done to determine the relationship between the independent variables LR, GDP Growth, ROE, and effect on CAR. In addition, the capital adequacy ratio proves to be more and more important for banks.

The main goal of this research is to evaluate the returns and risks of the following types of assets: Bitcoin, EUR Stoxx 50, gold, bonds: government bonds ICE Bof A 1-10 Year excluding Italy and Greece and the corporate bond index ICEB of A 1-10 Year AA. The paper tested a total of ten portfolios according to different scenarios for digital and financial assets. Also, in the paper, greater measures of risk and return were calculated with the aim of forming an optimal portfolio with minimal risk. The results of this research revealed that the correlation between Bitcoin and other forms of financial assets is generally low and negative, which can be a good instrument for portfolio diversification, and positively affect portfolio performance. Also, the results of this study showed that in terms of volatility and return measure of a total of ten portfolios, the second portfolio (whose structure consists of Bitcoin, Euro Stoxx 50, gold, government bonds ICE Bof A 1-10 Year - excluding Italy and Greece and the corporate index bond ICEBof A 1-10 Year AA) is the most optimal portfolio. The findings of this research can serve in risk and loss assessments of portfolio managers, investors, and regulators.

Introduction. Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of the acute abdomen. Based on the idea that appendicitis is a progressive disease eventually leading to perforation, removal of the appendix is the gold standard of treatment. Material and Methods. The objective of the study is to determine if there is any difference in the occurrence of postoperative complications, and if hospitalization differs depending on the appendicitis surgery method used with the patients. A retrospective analysis was made using the data from the hospital sample of patients admitted to the University Hospital in Foca in the period from January 2019 to December 2021. Results. In the period that was retrospectively analyzed, 107 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis were operated on. There was no statistically significant difference between the treated groups in relation to the degree of appendicitis, type and duration of symptoms, diagnostic procedures and the time that had elapsed from admission to surgery. The Alverado Score in the probable appendicitis group was 41.1%. The most common symptoms were palpation sensitivity in the inguinal region (84.1%), and pain in the right lower quadrant (69.1%), intraoperative findings of uncomplicated appendicitis 58%, and 25.2% intraoperative findings inconsistent with the pathohistological ones. Conclusion. Acute appendicitis is one of the most common emergency surgical conditions, which requires surgical intervention if not treated in time, and causes life-threatening consequences. Surgical treatment with selected techniques for faster establishment of the gastrointestinal tract function, shorter stay in the hospital, faster recovery and return to daily activities.

Objective. Long-term care represents a series of health and social care services that are provided at home or in an institutional environment to people with reduced functional capacity (reduced physical and/or cognitive abilities) who need support in performing daily activities, and who depend on the help of others for a long time period. The goal of the research was to examine the quality of life of users with long-term health care, with a special focus on comparing the quality of life between people placed institutionally and outside of the institution. Methods. The research was designed according to the principle of a cross-sectional study. In the research, a general questionnaire and a scale for assessing the quality of life Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) were used. Among the statistical tests, the ch2 square test was used. The usual value of p<0.05 was taken as the level of statistical significance. Results. Subjects who were institutionalized had statistically significantly lower values of domains and summary scores of quality of life compared to subjects whose health care took place outside of institutions, whereby the difference was observed in physical functioning (p<0.001), social functioning (p=0.003) and mental health summary score (p=0.015). Conclusion. Users of long-term health care placed in an institution had significantly worse physical functioning, a higher level of limitations due to physical problems, worse general health, a lower level of social functioning, as well as mental health.

Aging implies a process during which changes occur in the function of all organic systems in the human body. For a detailed assessment of the health status of an elderly person, a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is recommended. CGA is defined as a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach that enables the identification of medical, psychosocial and functional limitations of an elderly person, all with the aim of developing a coordinated plan to improve the health of the elderly person. The aim of this review was to point out the significance, comprehensiveness, applicability and prognostic significance of geriatric assessment based on data from recent literature and by searching available electronic databases. Studies were collected from the electronic databases MEDLINE (via Ovid), Pubmed, COBSON database and Google Scholar database, as well as by manual search of relevant studies cited in the references of key articles. The search for papers as a whole is limited to the English language. All studies that used a comprehensive geriatric assessment in their methodology, in elderly people over 65 years of age, were included. CGA is very important for the elderly, for their families, health systems of countries, health professionals as well as the social community. Interventions resulting from a CGA are one way to improve the performance of activities of daily living in elderly patients. CGA has numerous advantages in practice, it is comprehensive, applicable, economically relatively acceptable and as such can be routinely implemented at different levels of health care. CGA has a high prognostic significance for the early detection of multimodal problems in the geriatric population.

Objective. Aging is characterized by the loss of abilities in the psychological and physical sense. Detailed assessment of cognitive status may enable early identification of high-risk patients who are candidates for dementia. The aim of this research was to examine the cognitive status of elderly people over 65 years of age living in the community and potential risk factors that contribute to the onset of dementia. Methods. The research was designed according to the principle of a cross-sectional study. The research used a general questionnaire, subjective and objective assessment of respondents, Mini Kog assessment. The ch2 square test was used for statistical tests. The usual value of p<0.05 was taken as the level of statistical significance. Results. Females (80.2%) had better cognitive status than males (84.6%) (ch2 =0.189; p=0.664). Respondents with the lowest level of education (primary school) had a worse cognitive status (23.5%) compared to 13.3% of respondents with an intermediate level of education (ch2 =9.139; p=0.010). 8.8% of respondents who socialize with friends had a good cognitive score compared to 0% of respondents with a good cognitive score who do not socialize with friends (ch2 =18.243; p=0.000), also, the cognitive status was worse in those respondents who used different aids (75%) versus 17% of those who do not use different aids for their functional mobility (ch2 =8.832; p=0.003). Conclusion. Dementia is present in a high percentage among elderly people. The level of education and the use of aids are potential risk factors for the onset of dementia.

Background: In the last two decades diagnostic criteria for acute kidney injury (AKI) were developed: Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of Kidney Function, End-Stage Kidney Disease (RIFLE), Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN), and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classifications. Objective: The study aimed to determine the incidence of AKI based on the RIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO criteria, as well as analyze their predictive value for mortality and renal function outcome. Methods: This was a single-center prospective study of patients diagnosed with AKI. Acute kidney injury was defined and classified according to the RIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO criteria. The outcomes were renal function outcome and in-hospital mortality. Results: The incidence rates of AKI based on the RIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO criteria were 13.4%, 14-36%, and 14.64%, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher stages of AKI according to the KDIGO criteria were independently associated with non-recovery of renal function (p=0.011). However, the predictive ability of RIFLE, AKIN and KDIGO classifications for renal function recovery was poor (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristics-AUROC=0.599, AUROC=0.637, AUROC=0.659, respectively). According to the RIFLE and AKIN criteria, in-hospital mortality was statistically significantly higher in stage Failure/3 (p=0.0403 and p=0.0329, respectively) compared to stages Risk/1 and Injury/2. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis showed that all three classifications had poor predictive ability for in-hospital mortality (AUROC=0.675, AUROC=0.66, AUROC=0.681). Conclusions: KDIGO classification is an independent predictor of renal function non-recovery. However, by ROC analysis, all three classifications have poor predictive ability for renal function outcome and mortality.

Background: The lumbar spinal canal consists of 5 interconnected lumbar vertebrae through which the final part of the spinal cord passes and the lumbar and sacral spinal nerves that form the cauda equina. The lumbar canal stenosis can directly affect neurological symptoms and pain in the lumbar region and lower extremities. Due to the frequency of such symptoms, lumbar stenosis has been the subject of research around the world. Objective: The objective of this study was to measure, analyze and compare the mediosagital and interpeduncular diameters of the lumbar spinal canal in the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina to other populations around the world. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study on patients (n=200) who underwent Multi-slice computer tomography (MSCT) performed on a 40-slice CT scanner (Siemens Somatom Definition AS) for lumbar pain between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014. Age, gender, midsagittal (MSG) and interpeduncular (IP) diameters of the lumbar spine were recorded for each patient. Results: Results of our study show that the largest MSG diameter is at L1 level for both sexes, with an average length of 19,06mm, and the smallest at L3 level, with an average length of 16,66mm. Our study shows that the MSG diameter is significantly larger in females than males on all levels from L1 to L5. In both sexes, MSG diameter shows the form of an hourglass with narrowing at L3 level. IPD is largest at L5 level for both sexes, with an average length of 31,94mm, and the smallest average length at L1 level, at 24,78mm. IPD diameter is significantly larger in males than females on all levels from L1 to L5. IPD shows a tendency of growth from L1 to L5 in both sexes. Conclusion: There were significant differences in the dimensions of the lumbar spine canal between female and male patients. We found significant difference in MSG and IP diameters measurements between Bosnian and Herzegovinian population compared to other populations. The dimensions of the lumbar canal provide a baseline of normative data for the evaluation of patients presenting with lower back pain and lumbar canal stenosis in study population.

Introduction:The diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in preterm newborns with perinatal asphyxia based on increased serum creatinine (sCr) value and oliguria/anuria is usually delayed. The Aim of this paper is to evaluate serum cystatin C as an early predictor of AKI. Materials and methods:The study included 42 preterm newborns (24-37 weeks) with perinatal asphyxia (Apgar score (AS) ≤ 3 at 5 minutes of life or blood pH on admission ≤ 7.00). The sCr and sCysC levels were measured on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day of life. According to KDIGO criteria, the newborns were classified into groups, and sCr and sCys-C values were compared. Results:The mean gestational age was 29.9 ± 3.0 weeks. AKI was diagnosed in 62.8 % of patients. Of these patients, 81.5% belonged to AKI 1 group, and 18.5 % to AKI 2 group.No newborns had the criteria for AKI 3. On day 7 the mean sCr values were significantly higher in AKI (65.4± 21.8) compared with the non-AKI group (168.4±38.2) (p<0.001), but not on day 1 and 3 (p = 0.322, 0.012, respectively). The sCys-C values were significantly higher in the AKI group on day 3 ( AKI vs. non-AKI group, 0.69 ±0.22 vs. 1.22 ±0.20; p <0.001) and day 7 (AKI vs. non-AKI group, 0.62 ±0.41 vs. 1.68 ±0.20; p <0.001). The sCys-C was also an earlier marker of a more severe stage of AKI than sCr. Conclusion:The sCys-C was elevated earlier than sCr, making it a valuable diagnostic tool for AKI in preterm newborns.

Understanding the responses of animals to seasonal heat stress on the genomic level has led to the identification of genes implicated in thermal stress reaction mechanisms. In this study, the relative gene expression of Interleukin-10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine and biomarker for heat stress-mediated immune modulation, was observed during the summer and winter seasons in continental and tropical sheep breeds, namely, Hungarian Indigenous Tsigai and White Dorper, employing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Temperature-humidity indices (THI) were calculated to assess heat stress levels. The results indicate that IL-10 CT-values were significantly higher during the summer, when heat stress prevails, in both sheep breeds compared to winter. While the White Dorper exhibited a higher numerical value for the summer relative gene expression ratio (16.2) compared to the Hungarian Indigenous Tsigai (12.3), no significant differences in CT values were observed between breeds or among sexes. These findings suggest the immune-adaptive characteristics of the two sheep breeds during seasonal heat stress. The variation of IL-10 gene expression levels between the two breeds can be attributed to their geographical origins; the White Dorper emerging from arid subtropical South Africa and the Hungarian Indigenous Tsigai Sheep thriving in the seasonally harsh Carpathian climate for centuries.

<jats:p />

The paper provides general information and guidelines for the development of Mobility the Hub’s Action Plan of the City of Sarajevo. The action plan will cover a short-medium term time frame and vision, establishing a series of actions and measures to look for a visible and different concept of mobility through five basic components, such as: infrastructure, electromobility, auxiliary services, renewable energy sources and digital solutions. The main purpose of the work is to reduce the negative effects of traffic on citizens and the environment, encourage the transformation of urban mobility and direct the way of thinking towards sustainable development. Above all, defining the criteria for locating mobility hubs in urban areas. The conclusion is that mobility nodes are built in places of high concentration of people, which are places of exchange of passengers and places to which a large number of people gravitate. The Mobility Hub’s concept represents an attractive location/facility that offers users options for environmentally clean and practical modes of travel. It unites infrastructure and services in one place, creating a reliable model for a new way of moving around the city that saves money, is healthier, and increases involvement in green city transportation.

Background: Discus hernia represents an intervertebral disk prolapse. The intervertebral disk provides stability in rest state and distributes the load of the spinal column on the move. Changes that lead to the occurrence of disc prolapse are desiccation, reduction of proteoglycan content, mucoid degeneration, and fibrosing tissue uptake. Predisposing factors of lumbar pain are heavy physical tasks with lifting loads over twenty pounds, especially professional use of heavy tools. Objective: The aims of this article is the review of diagnostics and physical therapy of lumbar disc herniation at levels L4/L5 and L5/S1. Methods: Authors used descriptive method for review lumbar disc herniation including diagnostic procedures and physical therapx based on scientific literature stored in medical databses PubMed, Scopus, Hinari, etc.. Results: The most common area of the spine to experience a herniated disk is the low back, just below the waist level. Herniated disks also commonly occur in the neck.. Conclusion: Rehabilitation is a delicate problem and requires long-term treatment and multidisciplinary cooperation, and is carried out in accordance with the principles of diagnostic and physical therapy of lumbar dics herniation depending of level of demaged and level of causes of lumbar disc herniation. The majority of herniated disks do not require surgery, and respond best to physical therapy. Physical therapists design personalized treatment programs to help people with herniated disks regain normal movement, reduce pain, and get back to their regular activities.

Background: The treatment strategy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has not changed significantly over the past 30 years. Chemotherapeutic agents (mitomycin-C, epirubicin, etc.) and BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) immunotherapy are used as adjuvant intravesical therapy. Objective: To compare the difference between adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant immunotherapy in their efficacy of reducing the number of tumor recurrences. Methods: In this prospective clinical study, which included 99 patients with NMIBC from March 2018.–March 2023., we publish the results for all risk groups of patients treated with intravesical chemotherapy Epirubicin or with BCG immunotherapy, after TURBT (Trans urethral resection of bladder tumor) within 1 year. Patients were stratified into 2 groups. The first group was treated with Epirubicin (1 dose within 24 hours of surgery, then 6 weekly instillations and 3 maintenance doses), and the second group was treated with BCG (2-3 weeks after TURBT 6 weekly instillations, and 3 maintenance doses). The monitoring period was 24 months. Results: In patients treated with intravesical chemotherapy, recurrence occurred in 9 patients (17.64%), and in patients treated with BCG, recurrence occurred in 7 patients (14.58%). A similar incidence of disease recurrence was observed in both groups (p=0.787). Conclusion: The results of our study show a similar therapeutic response by risk groups of patients treated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Since BCG production will cease in the future, the task of urologists is to introduce intravesical chemotherapy into wider use and to modernize it as a safe and effective method of adjuvant treatment for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

The article presents the contribution of socio-demographic, socio-economic, employment status and level of education of parents/guardians to students’ school success. The aim of this article is to discover the causes of school (un)success given the contribution of predictor variables. The predictor set of variables consists of four scales: socio-demographic status (total number of brothers, total number of sisters, marital status of parents, distance from home to school and number of members households), socio-economic status (total monthly income of parents/guardians, place to study in the house/apartment, possession of laptop/computer, constant internet access in the house/apartment and the way they come to school), employment status of parents/guardian and educated status of parent/guardian. In addition to the set of predictors, a criterion variable was used, which consists of three dimensions, namely school success at the end of the sixth, seventh and eighth grade of primary school. The results of the research confirm a statistically significant correlation between socio-demographic, socio-economic, employment status and the level of education of parents/guardians and school success of children, provided that socio-demographic status has a higher predictive power on students’ school success. It was confirmed that students have a positive attitude about the importance of the grade as well as that they perceive that their parents have the same attitude.