Introduction Both diabetes mellitus and being female significantly increase the risk of being diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). The diagnosis of MDD, combined with diabetes mellitus, can be detrimental in terms of mortality and morbidity. We aimed at investigating the impact of diabetes mellitus on the gender gap in MDD over the course of a human lifetime. Research design and methods In a cross-sectional study over the course of 17 years, medical claims data of the general Austrian population (n=8 996 916) between 1997 and 2014 was analyzed. Of these, 123 232 patients with diabetes mellitus were extracted and compared with non-diabetic controls. Results In a cohort of 123 232 patients with diabetes mellitus and 1 933 218 controls (52% females, 48% males), women with diabetes had 2.55 times increased ORs to be diagnosed with MDD compared with women without diabetes (95% CI 2.48 to 2.62, p<0.001) between the age of 30 and 69 years. The effect of diabetes mellitus on the prevalence of MDD was significantly smaller in men (OR=1.85, 95% CI 1.80 to 1.91, p<0.001). Between 0 and 30 years and after age 70 years, the gender gap of MDD was not different between patients with and without diabetes mellitus. The peak of the gender gap in MDD in patients with diabetes mellitus was around the age of 40–49 years. A sensitivity analysis identified overweight, obesity and alcohol dependence as the most potent influencing factors of the widening of the gender gap among patients with diabetes mellitus. Conclusions Diabetes mellitus is a stronger risk factor for MDD in women than in men, with the greatest width of the gender gap between 40 and 49 years. High-risk patients for MDD, such as overweight female patients with diabetes, should be more carefully assessed and monitored.
Introduction: The most common cause of myocardial ischemia is atherosclerotic epicardial coronary artery disease, present in 90% of patients. Risk factors positively correlate with the onset, development and subsequent complications of atherosclerotic disease. Aim: Determine the percentage frequency of classic risk factors for coronary disease in patients with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), with regard to gender. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 600 respondents, treated for NSTEMI at the Clinic for Internal Medicine of the University Clinical Center (UKC) Tuzla, in the period from June 2016 to December 2019. Results: Overall, smoking was the leading risk factor (65%), followed by hypertension (58%), hyperlipoproteinemia (39%), overweight (33%), positive family burden (30%) and diabetes mellitus (19%). In male patients, the leading risk factor was smoking, rating at 74%, while in female patients – it was hypertension at 67%. In younger groups of patients leading risk factors were smoking and a positive family burden. Conclusion: With adequate prevention and treatment measures, a significant reduction in the prevalence of the cardiovascular disease can be achieved, since the risk factors for its development have long been known. Quitting smoking is one of the most effective secondary prevention measure since it reduces the reinfarction risk rate by 50%. Knowledge of coronary risks, as well as success in reducing them, can greatly contribute to patients’ overall sense of contentment and significantly raise their self-confidence.
Elaeagnus angustifolia (EA) is a medicinal plant used for treating several human diseases in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the outcome of EA extract on HER2-positive breast cancer remains nascent. Thus, we herein investigated the effects of the aqueous EA extract obtained from the flowers of EA on two HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines, SKBR3 and ZR75-1. Our data revealed that EA extract inhibits cell proliferation and deregulates cell-cycle progression of these two cancer cell lines. EA extract also prevents the progression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), an important event for cancer invasion and metastasis; this is accompanied by upregulations of E-cadherin and β-catenin, in addition to downregulations of vimentin and fascin, which are major markers of EMT. Thus, EA extract causes a drastic decrease in cell invasion ability of SKBR3 and ZR75-1 cancer cells. Additionally, we found that EA extract inhibits colony formation of both cell lines in comparison with their matched control. The molecular pathway analysis of HER2 and JNK1/2/3 of EA extract exposed cells revealed that it can block HER2 and JNK1/2/3 activities, which could be the major molecular pathway behind these events. Our findings implicate that EA extract may possess chemo-preventive effects against HER2-positive breast cancer via HER2 inactivation and specifically JNK1/2/3 signaling pathways.
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases among women worldwide and is highly associated with cancer-related mortality. Of the four major molecular subtypes, HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) comprise more than 30% of all breast cancers. While the HER2-positive subtype lacks estrogen and progesterone receptors and overexpresses HER2, the TNBC subtype lacks estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors. Although advances in molecular biology and genetics have substantially ameliorated breast cancer disease management, targeted therapies for the treatment of estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer patients are still restricted, particularly for TNBC. On the other hand, it has been demonstrated that microRNAs, miRNAs or small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression are involved in diverse biological processes, including carcinogenesis. Moreover, circulating miRNAs in serum/plasma are among the most promising diagnostic/therapeutic tools as they are stable and relatively easy to quantify. Various circulating miRNAs have been identified in several human cancers including specific breast cancer subtypes. This review aims to discuss the role of circulating miRNAs as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for estrogen-receptor negative breast cancers, HER2+ and triple negative.
Water-pipe smoking (WPS) is becoming the most popular form of tobacco use among the youth, especially in the Middle East, replacing cigarettes rapidly and becoming a major risk of tobacco addiction worldwide. Smoke from WPS contains similar toxins as those present in cigarette smoke and is linked directly with different types of cancers including lung and head and neck (HN) carcinomas. However, the underlying molecular pathways and/or target genes responsible for the carcinogenic process are still unknown. In this study, human normal oral epithelial (HNOE) cells, NanoString PanCancer Pathways panel of 770 gene transcripts and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis were applied to discover differentially expressed genes (DEG) modulated by WPS. In silico analysis was performed to analyze the impact of these genes in HN cancer patient’s biology and outcome. We found that WPS can induce the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT: hallmark of cancer progression) of HNOE cells. More significantly, our analysis of NanoString revealed 23 genes deregulated under the effect of WPS, responsible for the modulation of cell cycle, proliferation, migration/invasion, apoptosis, signal transduction, and inflammatory response. Further analysis was performed using qRT-PCR of HNOE WPS-exposed and unexposed cells supported the reliability of our NanoString data. Moreover, we demonstrate those DEG to be upregulated in cancer compared with normal tissue. Using the Kaplan–Meier analysis, we observed a significant association between WPS-deregulated genes and relapse-free survival/overall survival in HN cancer patients. Our findings imply that WPS can modulate EMT as well as a set of genes that are directly involved in human HN carcinogenesis, thereby affecting HN cancer patients’ survival.
Introduction: The water pipe is a form of tobacco smoking that recently become very popular among youth in many countries all over the globe. Aim: To highlight recent data collected through Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) 2019, related to knowledge, attitudes and behavior of school children and youth to water pipe consumption. Methods: The GYTS questionnaire for the Federation of BiH 2019 contained 60 multiple-choice questions. The GYTS 2019 in the Federation of BiH was conducted in a total of 73 of the 75 sampled primary and secondary schools with a school response rate of 97.3%. From the 6,972 sampled students a total of 6,415 participated as eligible students in grades 8-9 of primary and 1st grade of secondary school, with a response rate for students of 92.0%. Results: Survey findings show that almost half (44.1%) of the school children confirm ever smoking the water pipe, while Current smoking of water pipe is confirmed by 16.1% school children. Conclusion: There is a substantial need for implementing of systematic and inter sectorial tobacco control measures that involves a water pipe as new public health challenge among youth.
Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic suddenly affected all countries and health care systems from different perspectives including severe disruption of chronic disease services including diabetes. Diabetes is a serious condition and highly present in Bosnia and Herzegovina population, so provision of diabetes care is a important part of good control. Countries had different responses to adopt diabetes care under new circumstances as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Aim: To investigate and evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of diabetology care in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the perspective of patients and diabetologists. Methods: Online survey for diabetologists and patient organizations have been developed with adopted question for different perspectives. The survey has been conducted online early September 2020. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS software for descriptive statistics. Results: 25 diabetologists and 24 diabetes patient organizations responded. 72% of diabetologists believe that pandemic has partially altered work with patients and 56% believe that the organization of diabetes care has successfully responded to the new circumstances but 80% believe that the diabetes care system should change. 75% of patient organizations thought that the organization of diabetes care did not adequately respond and 87.5% believe system should change. Conclusion: No significant differences found between RS and FBiH when it comes to majority of questions. Both diabetologists and patients consider that system of diabetes care in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be improved in future. It has been also found that diabetologists in Bosnia and Herzegovina responded and adopted their practices similar to other countries.
Abstract One of the biggest challenges facing the education system in Bosnia and Herzegovina is bridging the gap between the current state of higher education and the demand for research, innovation and a robust STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) curriculum. Higher education instiutions (HEIs) face poor R&D infrastructure while companies struggle with limited resources and the lack of internal researchers, all of which affect their capabilities to utilize university knowledge and research that will lead to further collaborations and innovations in STEM. Universities are primarily seen as a source of future employees as well as as a source of knowledge and innovation. This study aims to provide an overview and systematic analysis of the current state of scientific and research infrastructure and human resources in public and private universities located in the Sarajevo Canton region. This is done by using primary data collected through semi-structured interviews and a self-reporting comprehensive questionnaire in order to identify areas where further reforms and investments are needed. An analysis of the secondary data sources, such as current strategic documents and the existing assessments of education, was conducted. Consequently, this study offers several practical implications, including policy recommendations in areas such as higher education, research infrastructure and academic excellence, cooperation with the private sector, and IT infrastructure improvements.
AIM Research aimed to gather aepidemiological parameters of MIH from a sample of Sarajevo children born between the years 1999 and 2003. Prevalence of MIH, distribution according to severity (mild vs. moderate/severe cases) and distribution according to phenotypes (MIH vs MH) were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study design: This was a cross-sectional, observational, aepidemiological study that was conducted on a sample of 446 children aged 6 to 9 years. It was conducted as a part of regular dental screening of children attending a randomly selected primary school in the Bosnian capital city of Sarajevo. RESULTS The overall prevalence of MIH was 11.5%. MIH prevalence varied between 19.9% of examinees born in year 2002 to 8.4% among those born in 2003. Number of teeth affected varied from 1 to 7. The average number of affected teeth was 3.82 ± 1.46. Demarcated opacities were recorded on 13.89%, post-eruptive enamel breakdown on 11.28% and atypical filling on 6.2% index teeth. Mild cases of MIH were rare in our sample, 18% of subject had only demarcated opacities present. A smaller percentage of examinees (35.3%) had hypomineralisation present only on first permanent molars (MH group). Out of 64.7% of subjects in MIH group, 37.25% had one incisor affected and 21.57% had two incisors affected. CONCLUSION Over 80% of study subjects with MIH were categorised as moderate/severe case of MIH and they represent a major problem with regards to dental treatment. It is necessary to plan a multi-disciplinary approach for dental care of this population. It is necessary to educate primary care dentists to recognise this condition and provide recommended treatment to patients with mild clinical picture, while directing those with more severe problems to specialised doctors.
The plant Citrullus colocynthis, a member of the squash (Cucurbitaceae) family, has a long history in traditional medicine. Based on the ancient knowledge about the healing properties of herbal preparations, plant-derived small molecules, e.g., salicylic acid, or quinine, have been integral to modern drug discovery. Additionally, many plant families, such as Cucurbitaceae, are known as a rich source for cysteine-rich peptides, which are gaining importance as valuable pharmaceuticals. In this study, we characterized the C. colocynthis peptidome using chemical modification of cysteine residues, and mass shift analysis via matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. We identified the presence of at least 23 cysteine-rich peptides in this plant, and eight novel peptides, named citcol-1 to -8, with a molecular weight between ~3650 and 4160 Da, were purified using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and their amino acid sequences were determined by de novo assignment of b- and y-ion series of proteolytic peptide fragments. In silico analysis of citcol peptides revealed a high sequence similarity to trypsin inhibitor peptides from Cucumis sativus, Momordica cochinchinensis, Momordica macrophylla and Momordica sphaeroidea. Using genome/transcriptome mining it was possible to identify precursor sequences of this peptide family in related Cucurbitaceae species that cluster into trypsin inhibitor and antimicrobial peptides. Based on our analysis, the presence or absence of a crucial Arg/Lys residue at the putative P1 position may be used to classify these common cysteine-rich peptides by functional properties. Despite sequence homology and the common classification into the inhibitor cysteine knot family, these peptides appear to have diverse and additional bioactivities yet to be revealed.
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