Accelerometers provide an opportunity to expand standing balance assessments outside of the laboratory. The purpose of this narrative review is to show that accelerometers are accurate, objective, and accessible tools for balance assessment. Accelerometry has been validated against current gold standard technology, such as optical motion capture systems and force plates. Many studies have been conducted to show how accelerometers can be useful for clinical examinations. Recent studies have begun to apply classification algorithms to accelerometry balance measures to discriminate populations at risk for falls. In addition to healthy older adults, accelerometry can monitor balance in patient populations such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. The lack of software packages or easy-to-use applications have hindered the shift into the clinical space. Lack of consensus on outcome metrics has also slowed the clinical adoption of accelerometer-based balance assessments. Future studies should focus on metrics that are most helpful to evaluate balance in specific populations and protocols that are clinically efficacious.

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Background Real-world mobility involves walking in challenging conditions. Assessing gait during simultaneous physical and cognitive challenges provides insights on cognitive health. Research question How does uneven surface, cognitive task, and their combination affect gait quality and does this gait performance relate to cognitive functioning? Methods Community-dwelling older adults (N=104, age=75±6 years, 60% females) performed dual-task walking paradigms (even and uneven surface; with and without alphabeting cognitive task (ABC)) to mimic real-world demands. Gait quality measures [speed(m/s), rhythmicity(steps/minute), stride time variability (%), adaptability (m/s2), similarity, smoothness, power (Hz) and regularity] were calculated from an accelerometer worn on the lower back. Linear-mixed modelling and Tukey analysis were used to analyze independent effects of surface and cognitive task and their interaction on gait quality. Partial Spearman correlations compared gait quality with global cognition and executive function. Results No interaction effects between surface and cognitive task were found. Uneven surface reduced gait speed(m/s) (β=−0.07). Adjusted for speed, uneven surface reduced gait smoothness (β=−0.27) and increased regularity (β=0.09), Tukey p<.05, for even vs uneven and even-ABC vs uneven-ABC. Cognitive task reduced gait speed(m/s) (β=−0.12). Adjusted for speed, cognitive task increased variability (β=7.60), reduced rhythmicity (β= −6.68) and increased regularity (β=0.05), Tukey p<.05, for even vs even-ABC and uneven vs uneven-ABC. With demographics as covariates, gait speed was not associated with cognition. Gait quality [lower variability during even-ABC (ρp=−.31) and uneven-ABC (ρp=−.28); greater rhythmicity (ρp between .22 and .29) and greater signal-adaptability AP (ρp between .22 and .26) during all walking tasks] was associated with better global cognition. Gait adaptability during even (ρp=−0.21, p=0.03) and uneven(ρp=−0.19, p=0.04) walking was associated with executive function. Significance Surface and cognitive walking tasks independently affected gait quality. Our study with high-functioning older adults suggests that task-related changes in gait quality are related to subtle changes in cognitive functioning.

Aim To investigate morphometric determinants of lumbar canal in patients treated in Cantonal Hospital Zenica, and their variation according to gender. Methods Morphometry of lumbar spinal canal was assessed in 52 patients treated at the Department of Neurosurgery of Cantonal Hospital Zenica in the period between September 2022 and November 2022. Data were collected retrospectively: anteroposterior and transverse diameter of lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs, as well as anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal. Results Gender appeared to be an important morphometric determinant, since it significantly differed when it comes to lumbar vertebral anteroposterior and transverse diameter, being mostly larger in males. Conclusion This study increases anatomical knowledge of the vertebras and spinal canal of the lumbar region. Therefore, the measured dimensions of the lumbar vertebrae and spinal canal could be used as a baseline point for evaluation of patients presenting with low back pain and potential spinal canal stenosis.

This article presents two approaches to power circuit breakers condition assessment. The first one covers a wide variety of machine learning classification algorithms where the input for the classification is a manually selected feature set. The second one utilizes deep learning classification based on the convolutional neural network. Both approaches revolve around the idea behind spectral kurtosis, one of which exploits its visual representation in the form of kurtogram. The first approach uses a spectral kurtosis curve as the base for feature extraction while the second approach uses a spectral kurtosis kurtogram as a single input into the convolutional neural network. The validation is performed on a large set of vibration signatures and compared to competing state-of-the-art algorithms. The results indicate promising features of the proposed approach.

Aim To evaluate the predictive significance of the red blood cell distribution width (RDW) >14.5 at admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on outcome parameters: length of hospital stay (LOHS), incidence of hospital mortality, 30-day mortality and 30-day survival after hospital discharge in unselected (surgical and non-surgical) critically ill patients. Methods A total of 325 surgical and non-surgical critically ill patients were divided based on the RDW value at admission to the ICU into two groups: Group 1 (RDW >14.5) and Group 2 (RDW ≤14.5). Demographic and clinical parameters, laboratory findings,treatment and outcome parameters were compared between the groups. The predictive significance of RDW>14.5 on outcome parameters was analysed using linear regression analysis and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, as appropriate. Results In Group 1, LOHS was higher (19.77±15.15; p<0.000) as was the prevalence of hospital mortality (46.6%; p<0.0523), while 30-day survival after hospital discharge was lower (52.9%; p>0.026) compared to Group 2. RDW >14.5 was positively linearly related (r=0.64; r2=0.40; p=0.000) with LOHS. RDW >14.5 predicted the prevalence of in-hospital mortality with a 73.7% positive predictive value (AUC 0.62; sensitivity 70.1%; specificity 59.5%; p<0.05) and 30-day survival after hospital discharge with a 34.5% negative predictive value (AUC 0.45; sensitivity 58.3%; specificity 68.7%; p<0.05). Conclusions RDW value >14.5 at admission to the ICU can predict prolonged hospital stay, higher mortality and lower survival rate. RDW >14.5 may be an inexpensive and widely available early warning to redirect diagnostic and therapeutic decisions and improve outcomes.

Aim To determine the relationship between coagulation disorders and septic condition in COVID-19 critically ill patients. Methods Data from 99 patients who presented with COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (CAHRF) were divided into two groups: Group 1- patients who developed sepsis, and Group 2 - patients who developed septic shock. Age, sex, comorbidities, quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score, vasopressor and inotrope requirement, laboratory findings (platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, procalcitonin - PCT, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, D-dimer, sepsis-induced coagulopathy - SIC, and disseminated intravascular coagulation - DIC score) were recorded on the day of admission and on the day of starting invasive mechanical ventilation. The primary outcome was to establish COVID-19 associated coagulopathy with sepsis and septic shock; the secondary outcome measure was incidence of coagulopathy in septic COVID-19 critically ill patients. Results The most common coagulation abnormality was international normalized ratio (INR) (p=0.019) for Group 2, followed by the values of inflammatory parameters PCT (p=0.002) and lymphocytes (p=0.011) also for Group 2. The statistical significance of SIC score was observed for both groups (p=0.007) and p=0.012, respectively. Norepinephrine (p=0.000) and dobutamine (p=0.000) for Group 2, qSOFA for both groups (p = 0.000) were statistically significant. Conclusion The observed coagulation abnormalities met the criteria for a SIC diagnosis, therefore, the management of coagulation disorders at this stage of the disease should follow the management of a septic condition.

Aim To evaluate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) resistance to clarithromycin and quinolones in patients with dyspepsia in Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, a region with no data on clarithromycin or quinolones resistance. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at University Clinical Centre Tuzla between January 2021 and June 2022. The study included 99 patients who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) due to dyspepsia. In all patients biopsies were taken for rapid urease test (RUT) and histology findings, concomitantly with blood samples for IgG serology. All RUT positive patient samples were tested for clarithromycin and quinolones susceptibility with GenoType HelicoDr, a PCR method which detects point mutations in 23S rRNA and mutations in the gyrA gene. Results Out of 99 dyspeptic patients, 67 (67.7%) were serologically positive to H. pylori, 46 (46.4.%) were RUT positive, and 19 (19.2 %) had a positive histology finding. Antibiotic (AB) resistance was tested in the total of 46/99 (46.4%) patients. Resistance to clarithromycin was detected in 28.26% (13/46), quinolones resistance in 36.96% (17/46) , and resistance to both AB was detected in 8.69% (4/46) tested biopsies. Conclusions Due to high clarithromycin and quinolones resistance rates, we recommend the use of bismuth quadruple or non-bismuth concomitant quadruple therapy for H. pylori eradication in Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Buccal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) appears to behave more aggressively than other oral subsites, in particular with regards to regional disease at presentation and regional recurrence. Adequate management of the neck is of the utmost importance but is still the subject of debate. An international multicentre retrospective review of 101 patients treated for T1-T2 buccal SCC was performed. Twenty-four were staged clinical node positive (cN+) and underwent therapeutic neck dissection, while 77 were node negative (cN0), with 32 undergoing elective neck dissection (END), with an occult nodal metastasis rate of 28.1%. Depth of invasion (DOI) < 4 mm was associated with a significantly lower rate of cervical nodal metastasis (87.5% versus 12.5%; P = 0.033). END demonstrated a non-significantly lower regional recurrence rate compared to observation (6.3% versus 8.9%, P = 0.670). Regional recurrence was more common in pN+ (24%) and undissected cases (8.9%) than in pN0 patients (0%) (P = 0.011) and was associated with DOI > 5 mm (P = 0.002). Regional recurrence resulted in a reduction in survival (24 versus 93 months, P < 0.001). In the pT2cN0 group, END improved survival (123 versus 26 months, P = 0.009). It is suggested that END be performed in cT2N0 buccal SCC, particularly for tumours with DOI > 4 mm.

The constant worsening of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) imposes the need for an urgent response. Use of antibiotics (AB), both due to irrational prescribing by doctors and irrational use by patients, is recognized as one of the leading causes of this problem. This study aimed to identify knowledge, attitudes, and practices about AB use and AMR within the general population, stratified by age, gender, and urban/rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2022 among patients who visited three health centers in the eastern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A high frequency of AB use was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic (64.2% of respondents were treated with AB). Age and place of residence have not been shown to be factors associated with AB use practices that pose a risk for AMR. However, female gender (β = 0.063; p = 0.041), better knowledge (β = 0.226; p < 0.001), and positive attitudes (β = 0.170; p < 0.001) about use of AB and towards to AMR proved to be factors associated with better practice by respondents. Women, younger respondents, and respondents from urban areas showed better knowledge, attitudes, and behavior about the use of AB and AMR during the COVID-19 pandemic.