Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common in men and women of all ages in all sociodemographic strata of society. Pain and functional limitations caused by MSDs severely limit independence and quality of life and interfere with an individual’s ability to participate in family and social life and work. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the Kinesio Tape (KT) technique on pain intensity in patients with MSDs of the upper and/or lower extremities before, during, and after therapeutic treatment. Methods: The study involved 123 patients of both sexes and all ages diagnosed with MSDs of the upper and/or lower extremities. Patients were randomly divided into two groups, a control group and an experimental group. The control group received the standard therapy protocol for MSDs, while the experimental group received the standard therapy protocol for MSDs plus the KT technique on the treated segment. The brief pain inventory was used to assess pain intensity. Both groups of participants were tested with the research instruments at baseline, during and after therapeutic treatment. Results: The ability to walk due to pain was significantly less impaired in the control group than in participants in the experimental group, in whom pain significantly impeded walking (p < 0.001). Normal walking was significantly more impaired in the experimental group than in the control group (p = 0.001). Pain significantly impaired relationships with others in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Subjects in the experimental group showed a significant decrease in pain in all areas after therapeutic treatment with KT compared to subjects in the control group.

Summary Background Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and affects people regardless of country, age group, or sex. Using the most recent evidentiary and analytical framework from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), we produced location-specific, age-specific, and sex-specific estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden from 1990 to 2021, the proportion of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in 2021, the proportion of the type 2 diabetes burden attributable to selected risk factors, and projections of diabetes prevalence through 2050. Methods Estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden were computed in 204 countries and territories, across 25 age groups, for males and females separately and combined; these estimates comprised lost years of healthy life, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs; defined as the sum of years of life lost [YLLs] and years lived with disability [YLDs]). We used the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) approach to estimate deaths due to diabetes, incorporating 25 666 location-years of data from vital registration and verbal autopsy reports in separate total (including both type 1 and type 2 diabetes) and type-specific models. Other forms of diabetes, including gestational and monogenic diabetes, were not explicitly modelled. Total and type 1 diabetes prevalence was estimated by use of a Bayesian meta-regression modelling tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, to analyse 1527 location-years of data from the scientific literature, survey microdata, and insurance claims; type 2 diabetes estimates were computed by subtracting type 1 diabetes from total estimates. Mortality and prevalence estimates, along with standard life expectancy and disability weights, were used to calculate YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs. When appropriate, we extrapolated estimates to a hypothetical population with a standardised age structure to allow comparison in populations with different age structures. We used the comparative risk assessment framework to estimate the risk-attributable type 2 diabetes burden for 16 risk factors falling under risk categories including environmental and occupational factors, tobacco use, high alcohol use, high body-mass index (BMI), dietary factors, and low physical activity. Using a regression framework, we forecast type 1 and type 2 diabetes prevalence through 2050 with Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and high BMI as predictors, respectively. Findings In 2021, there were 529 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 500–564) people living with diabetes worldwide, and the global age-standardised total diabetes prevalence was 6·1% (5·8–6·5). At the super-region level, the highest age-standardised rates were observed in north Africa and the Middle East (9·3% [8·7–9·9]) and, at the regional level, in Oceania (12·3% [11·5–13·0]). Nationally, Qatar had the world's highest age-specific prevalence of diabetes, at 76·1% (73·1–79·5) in individuals aged 75–79 years. Total diabetes prevalence—especially among older adults—primarily reflects type 2 diabetes, which in 2021 accounted for 96·0% (95·1–96·8) of diabetes cases and 95·4% (94·9–95·9) of diabetes DALYs worldwide. In 2021, 52·2% (25·5–71·8) of global type 2 diabetes DALYs were attributable to high BMI. The contribution of high BMI to type 2 diabetes DALYs rose by 24·3% (18·5–30·4) worldwide between 1990 and 2021. By 2050, more than 1·31 billion (1·22–1·39) people are projected to have diabetes, with expected age-standardised total diabetes prevalence rates greater than 10% in two super-regions: 16·8% (16·1–17·6) in north Africa and the Middle East and 11·3% (10·8–11·9) in Latin America and Caribbean. By 2050, 89 (43·6%) of 204 countries and territories will have an age-standardised rate greater than 10%. Interpretation Diabetes remains a substantial public health issue. Type 2 diabetes, which makes up the bulk of diabetes cases, is largely preventable and, in some cases, potentially reversible if identified and managed early in the disease course. However, all evidence indicates that diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, primarily due to a rise in obesity caused by multiple factors. Preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes remains an ongoing challenge. It is essential to better understand disparities in risk factor profiles and diabetes burden across populations, to inform strategies to successfully control diabetes risk factors within the context of multiple and complex drivers. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background Waterpipe, also known as a hookah or narghile, is a type of tobacco products consumption device. Recently it has been increasingly popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. Waterpipe consumers are predominantly adolescents and young adults. Many of them believe in slighter harmful effects of waterpipes, compared to cigarettes. We aimed to determine the DNA damage in oral leukocytes and buccal cells of young individuals who have smoked a waterpipe for more than one year. Methods The study group consisted of 40 cigarette non-smokers who regularly smoked a waterpipe on average of once per week. As a control, 40 non-smoking individuals were selected to match smokers for age. All participants in the study were healthy male and female adults from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 18–30 years of age. Before sampling, detailed survey and informed consent have been provided by each participant. Comet assay in oral leukocytes and buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay in exfoliated buccal cells were applied. Results Almost half of waterpipe smokers (WPS) tasted waterpipe at 15–16 years of age. Comet assay analysis showed increased tail intensity, tail length, and tail moment values among WPS compared to non-smokers (NS) (p = 0.0001, p = 0.0067, and p = 0.0001, respectively). Frequencies of the micronucleated (p = 0.0004), binucleated (p = 0.01), karyorrhectic, (p = 0.0036), and pycnotic cells (p = 0.03) were significantly higher in WPS compared to NS group. Conclusions Genotoxicity and DNA damage biomarkers were increased in oral leukocytes and exfoliated buccal cells of young waterpipe smokers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, compared to NS group.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major public health issue and a leading cause of death globally. It is one of the most common indications for surgical intervention. There are a lot of different techniques, including CABG, which consists of two approaches: sternotomy and mini-thoracotomy. Different techniques have been developed to improve surgical outcomes, including the use of machine for extracorporal circulation (on-pump) or without it (off-pump). Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether off-pump CABG offers superior short-term outcomes compared to traditional on-pump CABG in patients undergoing isolated CABG.. Methods: In period between 2022 – 2023, we performed CABG operation in 80 patients. CABG was performed either on- pump or off-pump. Results: The results have shown advantages and disadvantages of one or another type of CABG. We were comparing the duration of surgical procedure, time on mechanical ventilation, drainage volume, neurological incidents, time to discharge, indication for repeat revascularization and mortality between two groups. Conclusion: The choice of surgical technique should be based on individual patient factors, including comorbidities and surgical risks. It is important to say that OPCABG is more challenging than ONCABG, and it is very important that OPCABG is done by skilled, experienced and confident surgeon, which contributes to better outcome and survival.

Background: Cardiosurgical patients can be often anemic, and preoperative anaemia is associated with increased postoperative complications, as well as morbidity and mortality. Objective: The present study was conducted aiming to determine the influence of lower preoperative hematocrit values on the early postoperative recovery of patients undergoing elective off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). Methods: Our retrospective study included 150 patients who underwent elective OPCABG surgery from September 2021 to December 2022 at the Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery University of Sarajevo. Patients were divided into two groups, anemic and non-anemic, with anemia defined as hemoglobin level <130g/l males and <120g/l females. Study observed comorbidities and early postoperative data. Results: Overall prevalence of anemia in OPCABG patients was 36,6%, more frequent among older patients. Comorbidities as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, ejection fraction was quite similar in both groups, but body mass index was significantly higher in the group of patients with anemia (29.9% vs 28.4%). In early recovery period, vasopressors were more used in patients with anemia (63.6% vs 42.1%) and their doses were higher. Total drainage was higher in patients with anemia (744.45±45.72 ml vs 681.58±349.06 ml). Number of transfusions was higher in the group of patients with anemia: red blood cells (0.89±1.29 vs 0.29±0.84; p<0,05), fresh frozen plasma (0.65±1.13 vs 0.41±1.15; p<0,05) and platelets (0.11±0.57 vs 0,07±0.42; p>0,05). Duration of mechanical ventilation was longer in patients with anemia compared to non-anemic patients (623-91±259.83 minutes vs 469±191.13 minutes). Atrial fibrillation occurred more often in patients with anemia (12.7 vs 7.4%). Length of stay in the intensive care unit was without significant difference. Conclusion: Based on our findings, patients who underwent elective OPCABG with lower than normal hematocrit, needed more blood and blood products, more vasopressor drugs in higher doses, longer mechanical ventilation, all which can prolong the patient’s recovery and increase the cost of treatment.

Abstract This study classifies local self-government units (local communities) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBIH) according to socio-economic characteristics by applying the following multivariate methods: principal component analysis (PCA), regression and cluster analysis. The selection of variables was based on literature and adjusted by FBIH specifics, covering the four hypothetical dimensions of regional differentiation: macroeconomic, demographic, infrastructural and socio-cultural indicators. PCA has identified five components: the productivity component, demographic component, component of economic activity potential, spatial component and employment component. Further analysis showed that all identified factors are significant predictors of local communities’ development, measured by the development index. The cluster analysis resulted with four clusters in the FBIH with significant differences in development level. Considering that FBIH municipalities are administrative units of local government and that the classification is based on socio-economic dimensions, identified clusters correspond to the NUTS principles.

Abstract Introduction. COVID-19 pandemic increased consumption of alcohol (including harmful drinking – HD), and decreased physical activity levels (PAL) globally, but there is an evident lack of studies examining the problem in the post-pandemic period. This study aimed to evaluate gender-specific associations between sport participation and PAL (independent variables), and HD (dependent variable) among college/university students during the first post-pandemic year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods. The participants were college/university students, aged 18 to 21 years (n = 788; 409 females) from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. They were tested on socio-demographic factors, HD (using the AUDIT scale), sport participation and PAL (using the IPAQ questionnaire). Analysis of variance, Chi square test, and t-test for independent samples were used to evaluate differences, while logistic regression with dichotomized criterion (HD vs. non-harmful drinking – NHD) was calculated to establish associations between independent and dependent variables. Results. T-test indicated significant differences between HD and NHD in PAL (t-test = 2.16, p = 0.02), but only in males. Also, logistic regression indicated a significant correlation between PAL and HD in males (OR: 1.41, 95%CI: 1.11-1.76), while no association was evidenced: (i) between sport participation and HD (in both males and females), and (ii) between PAL and HD (in females). Conclusions. Results indicated that an overall increase in PAL could be helpful in decreasing HD among college/university students; however, to evaluate it more specifically, prospective analyses are needed.

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Background: The book “An Impossible Decision - the Life Interrupted by Uncertainty”has been published by Avicena Publisher in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2023 - ISBN: 978-9958-720-76-5. Objective: The aim of this article is to analize what is the most rational and ethical way to treat people facing life-and-death decisions and how do we exactly communicate these inevitable uncertainties that all of us will sooner or later face? Methods: Author of the book shows real-life relevance to patients often left alone to make these difficult decisions. Using the techniques of medical dramaturgy, this text brilliantly bridges science. Results and Discussion: The author of the book explained and proposed how to educate the public on how medical advances are made and how inferences and evidence are generated and appraised - in the best tradition of evidence-based medicine while highlighting uncertainties and inevitable trade-offs that accompany science, policies, and personal choices in the attempt to arrive at most satisfactory decisions. In addition to the general public, this play’s important audiences are students and faculty in humanities disciplines and medical schools. These students are required to read many dense scientific, philosophical, and technical writings (many of which are referenced/annotated in the footnotes in the play). The play provides an exceptional teaching tool, which includes over 35 theoretical concepts to show how they can be applied to decisions relevant to all of us and what shared decision- making entails. Conclusion: Author’s answer on the question “How to make the life and death medical decisions?” coul’d and shoul’d be: The method of using a playwright and Socrates dialogue format to connect the science of uncertainty with personal humanity decision will be appropriate. It will be important and quiet usefull for phisicians and, also, patients in healthcare practice, as joined decision makers.

Physical activity is important for the physical and mental health of almost everyone. Nordic walking is a physical activity in which participants use specially designed poles while walking, while the term jogging implies light running at speeds less than 10 km/h. PURPOSE: The aim of this research is to monitor the load intensity in real conditions, using a heart rate monitor Team Polar System, during nordic walking and jogging and comparing possible differences in heart rate responses after the fifth minute of activity, at an average speed of 7.5km/h. METHODS: The assessment of heart rate responses for this research was conducted on the 30 male students, at 2 separate days. RESULTS: The results of the variables used in this study show statistically significant differences at the level of significance p=.000. From the mean value results (M) it is obvious that the respondents achieved higher results of heart rate responses during nordic walking compared to the identical tests applied during jogging. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that both Nordic walking and jogging are beneficial but Nordic walking contributes more in achieving higher body loads resulting in increased oxygen consumption and thus calories Key words: load intensity, heart rate, nordic walking, jogging

Balanced simplicial complexes are important objects in combinatorics and commutative algebra. A d -dimensional simplicial complex is balanced if its vertices can be coloured into d +1 colors, so there is no monochromatic edge. In this article, we establish two results concerning balanced simplicial complexes assigned to tilings of m × n board in a plane and a torus by I p -omino tile

Abstract The main aim of this study is to explore the mediating effect of innovation in the relationship between human resource management (HRM) practices and organizational performance. HRM practices are observed through selective hiring, training, participative decision-making, and rewarding. Innovation is conceptualized over behavioral, product, process, and market innovation. The study relies upon the principles of social exchange theory and resource-based theory. Data were collected from 408 managers in an emerging economy context. The proposed conceptual model is evaluated with structural equation modeling using Lisrel 8.8 and SPSS 22. Study findings suggest that innovation influences the relationship between selective hiring, training, and participative decision-making and organizational performance. However, no mediating effect of innovation was found in a relationship between rewarding and organizational business performances. Since human resources and innovation are among the leading sources for building competitive advantage for companies, the study findings contribute to HRM and innovation.

Abstract Banks and banking business are exposed to the influence of numerous risks, of which the importance of credit risk management stands out, because credit risk is the only risk that banks are obliged to measure, record in accounting and report. Banks monitor credit risk through the segmentation of the credit portfolio according to the level of risk. This paper is focused on research related to the management of the riskiest category of the credit portfolio, for which we will use the term special credit risk (SCR) in this paper.