Background: Tahyna orthobunyavirus (TAHV) is widely distributed in continental Europe. Very few studies have analyzed TAHV seroprevalence in Croatia. We analyzed the prevalence of TAHV RNA and antibodies in Croatian patients with neuroinvasive disease (NID). Methods: A total of 218 patients with unsolved NID detected during five consecutive arbovirus transmission seasons (April 2017–October 2021) were tested. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine samples were tested for TAHV RNA using RT-PCR. In addition, CSF and serum samples were tested for TAHV antibodies using a virus neutralization test (VNT). Results: Clinical presentations in patients with NID were meningitis (141/64.7%), meningoencephalitis (56/25.7%), myelitis (8/3.7%), and ‘febrile headache’ (13/5.9%). TAHV RNA was not detected in any of the tested CSF or urine samples; however, TAHV-neutralizing (NT) antibodies were detected in 22/10.1% of patients. Detection of NT antibodies in the CSF of two patients presenting with meningitis suggested recent TAHV infection. TAHV seropositivity increased significantly with age, from 1.8% to 24.4%. There was no difference in seroprevalence between genders or areas of residence (urban, suburban/rural). The majority of seropositive patients (90.9%) resided in floodplains along the rivers in continental Croatia. Conclusions: The presented results confirm that TAHV is present in Croatia. The prevalence and clinical significance of TAHV infection in the Croatian population have yet to be determined.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited disorder characterized by significantly elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and is usually diagnosed after the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular event. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate FH existence, increase awareness of this disorder, and highlight the importance of early treatment which leads to a reduction of premature cardiovascular events and death. Methods: The research had a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical character, and included 6881 (n = 6881) patients who were hospitalized in the Clinic for Heart, Blood Vessel and Rheumatic Diseases, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the period from January 2019 to January 2021. LDL values were analyzed, and all patients with LDL ≥4 mmol/L were included in the study. The Dutch Lipid Score was calculated for all patients, and the findings of invasive coronary angiography were taken into account in those patients for whom it was performed. Results: From 6881 patients, 74 patients had LDL ≥4 mmol/L. Possible FH (score: 3–5) was found in 25 patients, probable FH (score: 6–8) in 2 patients, while the diagnosis of definite FH was not made in any patient. A ST-elevation myocardial infarction was an indication for hospitalization in 44.60% (n = 33), hypertension in 14.87% (n = 11), and angina pectoris in 14.87% (n = 11) of patients. Patients under the age of 65 had higher Dutch Lipid Score compared to the patients above the age of 65, regardless of male or female. Correlational analysis indicated a significant positive relationship between Dutch Lipid Score and level of cholesterol (r =0.385; P < 0.01) and LDL (r = 0.401; P < 0.001). Statistically significant predictors in the explanation of FH were age (β = −0.45; P < 0.001) and LDL (β = 0.52; P < 0.001). Conclusion: LDL values and age are the main determinants of the FH existence, and the effect on LDL values should be imperative in clinical practice.

Although systemic inflammation and pulmonary complications increase the mortality rate in COVID-19, a broad spectrum of cardiovascular and neurological complications can also contribute to significant morbidity and mortality. The molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular and neurological complications during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection are incompletely understood. Recently reported perturbations of the epitranscriptome of COVID-19 patients indicate that mechanisms including those derived from RNA modifications and non-coding RNAs may play a contributing role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. In this review paper, we gathered recently published studies investigating (epi)transcriptomic fluctuations upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on the brain-heart axis since neurological and cardiovascular events and their sequelae are of utmost prevalence and importance in this disease.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus is a tick-borne zoonotic agent of the genus Orthonairovirus, and the causal agent of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in humans. The study is aimed at investigating the presence of CCHFV RNA in ticks and cattle in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), as well as the exposure of cattle to CCHFV in this country. Only one pool of three male Hyalomma marginatum ticks tested positive for viral RNA (3/760, 0.39%). No viral RNA was detected in 206 bovine blood samples using real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR). The overall seroprevalence of CCHFV in the cattle population was estimated as 14.97% (72/481). The results indicate the presence and the established circulation of CCHFV in B&H. Considering the endemic character of CCHFV in the Balkans as well as our results, the possibility that CCHFV is endemic in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina is considered to be very high.

The novel segment electric in-line process electric heaters heater designed to heat various fluids analyzed in this work. The complete electric heater consists of several hollow cylindrical segment heating elements. The segment heating elements can vary positioned in relation to the fluid flow. The total power of the segment process heater is equal to the sum of the power of all heating segments and is 0.756kW. Volumetric air flow variations in the amount of 0.001m3s-1, 0.002m3s-1 and 0.003m3s-1. The heating elements are positioned in the three combinations in relation to the direction of the fluid flow. The comparative numeric analysis, conducted for this work, has the goal to determine the influence of the arrangement of segment heaters on the overall energy efficiency of the segment electric heater. In order to verify the results of the numeric simulations carried out and experimental investigations of the segment electric heater. Keywords: In-line heater Energy efficiency Segment elements Fluid flow, Convective heating

We explored the self-reported antibiotic stewardship (AS), and infection prevention and control (IPC) activities in intensive care units (ICUs) of different income settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect data about IPC and AS measures in participating ICUs. The study participants were Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative (IDI-IR) members, committed as per their institutional agreement form. We analyzed responses from 57 ICUs in 24 countries (Lower-middle income (LMI), n = 13; Upper-middle income (UMI), n = 33; High-income (HI), n = 11). This represented (~5%) of centers represented in the ID-IRI. Surveillance programs were implemented in (76.9%-90.9%) of ICUs with fewer contact precaution measures in LMI ones (p = 0.02); (LMI:69.2%, UMI:97%, HI:100%). Participation in regional antimicrobial resistance programs was more significantly applied in HI (p = 0.02) (LMI:38.4%,UMI:81.8%,HI:72.2%). AS programs are implemented in 77.2% of institutions with AS champions in 66.7%. Infectious diseases physicians and microbiologists are members of many AS teams (59%&50%) respectively. Unqualified healthcare professionals(42.1%), and deficient incentives(28.1%) are the main barriers to implementing AS. We underscore the existing differences in IPC and AS programs' implementation, team composition, and faced barriers. Continuous collaboration and sharing best practices on APM is needed. The role of regional and international organizations should be encouraged. Global support for capacity building of healthcare practitioners is warranted.

The aim of the research was to determine whether the age of the patient affects the duration of the procedure and the amount of ionizied radiation delivered when performing diagnostic coronary angiography. The research was conducted at the Clinic for Invasive Cardiology of the Public Health Institution "University Clinical Center" Tuzla in the period from December 2018. to January 2020. The research included a total sample of 240 respondents, average chronological age of 62.60 ± 9.22 years, ranging from 24 to 85 years. Out of a total of 240 respondents, in 121 respondents coronarny angiography was performed using transradial arterial approach and 119 by performing a transfemoral arterial approach. The total sample was divided into two subsamples of respondents. The first sub-sample consists of respondents up to 65 years of age, and the second sub-sample consists of respondents over 65 years of age. During each performance of coronary angiography, the duration of the procedure (in minutes and seconds) and the amount of radiation delivered during the procedure (in mGy) were measured. The research data were processed using the method of parametric and non- parametric statistics. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to verify the research objective. Based on the obtained research results, it can be concluded that in patients over 65 years of age, the duration of the coronary angiography procedure is longer, and is at the limit of statistical significance (p= 0.057). The amount of delivered radiation is higher in respondents over 65 years of age, but it is not statistically significant (p= 0.396). Keywords: Coronary angiography, coronary disease, procedure duration, age, amount of delivered radiation.

The aim of the study is to present and tune a fully automatic deep learning algorithm to segment colorectal cancers (CRC) on MR images, based on a U-Net structure. It is a multicenter study, including 3 different Italian institutions, that used 4 different MRI scanners. Two of them were used for training and tuning the systems, while the other two for the validation. The implemented algorithm consists of a pre-processing step to normalize and to highlight the tumoral area, followed by the CRC segmentation using different U-net structures. Automatic masks were compared with manual segmentations performed by three experienced radiologists, one at each center. The two best performing systems (called mdl2 and mdl3), obtained a median Dice Similarity Coefficient of 0.68(mdl2) - 0.69(mdl3), precision of 0.75(md/2) - 0.71(md/3), and recall of 0.69(mdl2) - 0.73(mdl3) on the validation set. Both systems reached high detection rates, 0.98 and 0.95, respectively, on the validation set. These encouraging results, if confirmed on larger dataset, might improve the management of patients with CRC, since it can be used as a fast and precise tool for further radiomics analyses. Clinical Relevance - To provide a reliable tool able to automatically segment CRC tumors that can be used as first step in future radiomics studies aimed at predicting response to chemotherapy and personalizing treatment.

To deal with the deep learning-based automatic modulation classification (AMC) in the scenario that the training dataset are distributed over a network without gathering the data at a centralized location, the decentralized learning-based AMC (DecentAMC) had been presented. However, there exists frequent model parameter uploading and downloading in DecentAMC method, which cause high communication overhead. In this paper, an innovative learning framework are proposed for AMC (named DeEnAMC), in which the framework is realized by utilizing the combination of decentralized learning and ensemble learning. Our results show that the proposed DeEnAMC reduces communication overhead while keeping a similar classification performance to DecentAMC.

The motor development of the child, especially motor coordination, is important for performing purposeful activities. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of individual educational and rehabilitation treatment on motor coordination in students with visual impairment. The sample included one student, male, aged 9 years, with a diagnosis of nystagmus, amblyopia and astigmatism. The initial and final assessment was done with the student, and the Beery-Buktenica developmental test of visual-motor integration (VMI) fifth edition was used for the same, which is intended for the assessment of visual-motor integration, visual perception and motor coordination. For the purposes of this research, the subtest Motor Coordination was used, which consists of 30 tasks. After the initial assessment, an individual educational-rehabilitation treatment lasting 2 months was conducted. Survey data was processed by frequency analysis. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that there has been an improvement in students in the field of motor coordination. The results of the research indicated the importance of recognizing students with motor coordination difficulties as early as possible, as well as the importance of conducting educational and rehabilitation treatment, with a positive effect on motor coordination. Keywords: visual impairment, motor coordination, educational-rehabilitation program.