BACKGROUND The incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) vary between regions but have risen globally in recent decades. A lack of data from developing nations limits the understanding of IBD epidemiology. AIM To perform a follow-up review of IBD epidemiology in the Tuzla Canton of Bosnia-Herzegovina during a 10-year period (2009-2019). METHODS We prospectively evaluated the hospital records of both IBD inpatients and outpatients residing in Tuzla Canton for the specified period of time between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2019. Since all our patients had undergone proximal and distal endoscopic evaluations at the hospital endoscopy unit, we used the hospital’s database as a primary data source, alongside an additional cross-relational search of the database. Both adult and pediatric patients were included in the study. Patients were grouped by IBD type, phenotype, age, and gender. Incidence rates were calculated with age standardization using the European standard population. Trends in incidence and prevalence were evaluated as a 3-year moving average and average annual percentage change rates. RESULTS During the 10-year follow-up period, 651 patients diagnosed with IBD were monitored (of whom 334, or 51.3%, were males, and 317, or 48.7%, were females). Of all the patients, 346 (53.1%) had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), 292 (44.9%) with Crohn’s disease (CD), and 13 (2%) with indeterminate colitis (IC). We observed 440 newly diagnosed patients with IBD: 240 (54.5%) with UC, 190 (43.2%) with CD, and 10 (2.3%) with IC. The mean annual crude incidence rates were found to be 9.01/100000 population for IBD [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.17-9.85], with 4.91/100000 (95%CI: 4.29-5.54) for UC and 3.89/100000 (95%CI: 3.34-4.44) for CD. Calculated IBD prevalence in 2019 was 146.64/100000 (95%CI: 128.09-165.19), with 77.94/100000 (95%CI: 68.08-87.70) for UC and 65.77/100000 (95%CI: 54.45-74.1) for CD. The average annual IBD percentage change was 0.79% (95%CI: 0.60-0.88), with -2.82% (95%CI: -2.67 to -2.97) for UC and 6.92% (95%CI: 6.64-7.20) for CD. During the study period, 24,509 distal endoscopic procedures were performed. The incidence of IBD was 3.16/100 examinations (95%CI: 2.86-3.45) or 1.72/100 examinations (95%CI: 1.5-1.94) for UC and 1.36/100 examinations (95%CI: 1.17-1.56) for CD. CONCLUSION Trends in the incidence and prevalence of IBD in Tuzla Canton are similar to Eastern European averages, although there are significant epidemiological differences within geographically close and demographically similar areas.

Brain tumors diagnosis in children is a scientific concern due to rapid anatomical, metabolic, and functional changes arising in the brain and non-specific or conflicting imaging results. Pediatric brain tumors diagnosis is typically centralized in clinical practice on the basis of diagnostic clues such as, child age, tumor location and incidence, clinical history, and imaging (Magnetic resonance imaging MRI / computed tomography CT) findings. The implementation of deep learning has rapidly propagated in almost every field in recent years, particularly in the medical images’ evaluation. This review would only address critical deep learning issues specific to pediatric brain tumor imaging research in view of the vast spectrum of other applications of deep learning. The purpose of this review paper is to include a detailed summary by first providing a succinct guide to the types of pediatric brain tumors and pediatric brain tumor imaging techniques. Then, we will present the research carried out by summarizing the scientific contributions to the field of pediatric brain tumor imaging processing and analysis. Finally, to establish open research issues and guidance for potential study in this emerging area, the medical and technical limitations of the deep learning-based approach were included.

Terms such as “charge” and “oxidation state” appear frequently in the literature. The problem is that they are often viewed to be synonymous. However, they are fundamentally different concepts using distinct notations. The aim of the present discussion is to attract the attention of researchers from various fields of science in order to prevent further use of misleading interpretations.

Using the Kolmogorov–Arnold–Mozer (KAM) theory, we investigate the stability of May’s host–parasitoid model’s solutions with proportional stocking upon the parasitoid population. We show the existence of the extinction, boundary, and interior equilibrium points. When the host population’s intrinsic growth rate and the releasement coefficient are less than one, both populations are extinct. There are an infinite number of boundary equilibrium points, which are nonhyperbolic and stable. Under certain conditions, there appear 1:1 nonisolated resonance fixed points for which we thoroughly described dynamics. Regarding the interior equilibrium point, we use the KAM theory to prove its stability. We give a biological meaning of obtained results. Using the software package Mathematica, we produce numerical simulations to support our findings.

Background: According to the WHO (2019), more than 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with soil-transmitted parasites. Previous research in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) was mainly conducted in the area of the Sarajevo Canton. Therefore, the aim of the research was to explore contamination of soil and vegetation with developmental forms of parasites in the other cantons of FB&H. Methods: Between Apr and Oct 2018, a total of 1,618 soil and vegetation samples were taken from 386 different locations in the 9 cantons of the FB&H. Results: Positive samples were observed, 65/66 (98.48%) municipalities/cities and on 239/386 (61.92%) locations. Out of 1,618 samples taken in total (1,263 soil samples and 355 vegetation samples), 357 (22.06%) were positive, out of which 337 (26.68%) and 20 (5.63%) were soil and plant samples, respectively. In total, the following adult and developmental forms were identified: Taeniidae eggs (7.30%), Toxocara spp. eggs (62.08%), Ancylostomatidae eggs (25.00%), Trichuris spp. eggs (9.55%), Capillaria spp. eggs (3.37%), Toxascaris leonina eggs (1.40%), Nematodes larvae (19.38%), Giardia duodenalis cysts (5.06%), Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts (1.4%), oocysts and cysts of different species of Protozoa (3.93%). Conclusion: The identified developmental forms of parasites pose a permanent threat to human health. It is necessary to carry out measures to reduce the contamination of soil and vegetation in coordination with systematic solutions (legislation), paralelly with contribution of animal owners, veterinarians, physicians, ecologists, parents and all the others involved in this issue.

The study investigated the influence of maturity, biomass type, and depositional settings on the distribution and relative abundance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for lacustrine sediments collected from depths up to 1000 m of Prebreza and Čučale stratigraphic units (the northwest part of the Toplica Basin). A recently proposed benzo[ghi]perylene/(perylene + benzo[ghi]perylene) parameter, along with commonly used Phenanthrene Alkylation Index and benzo[e]pyrene/(perylene + benzo[e]pyrene) indices, pointed out differences in maturity levels between stratigraphic units by displaying a positive linear relationship with vitrinite reflectance. However, in several immature Prebreza sediments, a substantial presence of algae and/or anoxic, mesosaline/hypersaline conditions were suitable for forming β-substituted methylphenanthrenes and 6-ring benzo[ghi]perylene. Generally, high molecular weight unsubstituted PAHs (HMWPAHs), particularly perylene, predominated Prebreza sediments. Anoxic conditions appeared to be decisive for accumulating and preserving the perylene carbon skeleton in studied stratigraphic units. Besides, more intense volcanism in the Čučale unit favored combustion processes, which prompted the accumulation of low molecular weight unsubstituted PAHs (LMWPAHs), especially phenanthrene. A general prevalence of retene over cadalene in Prebreza sediments, in which alginite and liptodetrinite predominated, implied algae as retene precursor. Selective degradation of retene or hindered demethylation of 9-methylphenanthrene under anoxic and more saline environmental settings had occurred notably in the Prebreza unit, which led to the formation of 1-methylphenanthrene and/or pimanthrene (1,7-dimethylphenanthrene). Čučale sediments with substantial amounts of vitrinite macerals or saturated diterpenoids had a predominant simonellite derived from conifers. Non-degraded and well-preserved Pinaceae conifers predominated in Prebreza sediments deposited under semi-arid climatic conditions, whereas mixed degraded/non-degraded conifers characterized Čučale sediments deposited in a wide range of climatic conditions, from semi-arid to semi-humid.

Significance Invasive alien species pose major threats to biodiversity and ecosystems. However, identifying drivers of invasion success has been challenging, in part because species can achieve invasiveness in different ways, each corresponding to different aspects of demographics and distribution. Employing a multidimensional perspective of invasiveness to Europe’s alien flora, we find species generally fall along an axis from overall poor invaders to super invaders that become abundant, widespread, and invade diverse habitats. Some species that deviate from this pattern are recently introduced and still spreading, but others represent atypical forms of invasiveness. In addition to identifying species traits and ecological circumstances associated with super invaders (e.g., intercontinental introductions), we explore drivers in atypical invasions, providing increased clarity into invasion processes. Understanding drivers of success for alien species can inform on potential future invasions. Recent conceptual advances highlight that species may achieve invasiveness via performance along at least three distinct dimensions: 1) local abundance, 2) geographic range size, and 3) habitat breadth in naturalized distributions. Associations among these dimensions and the factors that determine success in each have yet to be assessed at large geographic scales. Here, we combine data from over one million vegetation plots covering the extent of Europe and its habitat diversity with databases on species’ distributions, traits, and historical origins to provide a comprehensive assessment of invasiveness dimensions for the European alien seed plant flora. Invasiveness dimensions are linked in alien distributions, leading to a continuum from overall poor invaders to super invaders—abundant, widespread aliens that invade diverse habitats. This pattern echoes relationships among analogous dimensions measured for native European species. Success along invasiveness dimensions was associated with details of alien species’ introduction histories: earlier introduction dates were positively associated with all three dimensions, and consistent with theory-based expectations, species originating from other continents, particularly acquisitive growth strategists, were among the most successful invaders in Europe. Despite general correlations among invasiveness dimensions, we identified habitats and traits associated with atypical patterns of success in only one or two dimensions—for example, the role of disturbed habitats in facilitating widespread specialists. We conclude that considering invasiveness within a multidimensional framework can provide insights into invasion processes while also informing general understanding of the dynamics of species distributions.

In neuroscience research, the refined analysis of rodent locomotion is complex and cumbersome, and access to the technique is limited because of the necessity for expensive equipment. In this study, we implemented a new deep learning-based open-source toolbox for Automated Limb Motion Analysis (ALMA) that requires only basic behavioral equipment and an inexpensive camera. The ALMA toolbox enables the consistent and comprehensive analyses of locomotor kinematics and paw placement and can be applied to neurological conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord. We demonstrated that the ALMA toolbox can (1) robustly track the evolution of locomotor deficits after spinal cord injury, (2) sensitively detect locomotor abnormalities after traumatic brain injury, and (3) correctly predict disease onset in a multiple sclerosis model. We, therefore, established a broadly applicable automated and standardized approach that requires minimal financial and time commitments to facilitate the comprehensive analysis of locomotion in rodent disease models. Presenting ALMA toolbox, an open source Python repository for automatic analysis of mouse locomotion using bodypart coordinates from markerless pose estimation tools. ALMA is capable of analyzing both healthy and CNS-injured mice. ALMA is also capable of predicting onset of disease in a multiple sclerosis model.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in Europe. The European Stroke Action Plan (ESAP) defines four main targets for the years 2018 to 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the use of innovative technologies and created pressure to improve internet networks. Moreover, 5G internet network will be helpful for the transfer and collecting of extremely big databases. Nowadays, the speed of internet connection is a limiting factor for robotic systems, which can be controlled and commanded potentially from various places in the world. Innovative technologies can be implemented for acute stroke patient management soon. Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are used increasingly often without the exception of medicine. Their implementation can be achieved in every level of stroke care. In this article, all steps of stroke health care processes are discussed in terms of how to improve them (including prehospital diagnosis, consultation, transfer of the patient, diagnosis, techniques of the treatment as well as rehabilitation and usage of AI). New ethical problems have also been discovered. Everything must be aligned to the concept of “time is brain”.

In this paper we will look at the one system of ODE and analyze it. We aim to determine the points of equilibrium; examine their character and establish the existence of a bifurcation for the corresponding parameter value. A detailed analysis of local stability was performed for all values of the given parameter. For a certain value of the parameter, the existence of supercritical Hopf bifurcation of the observed system of differential equations has been proved. Also, the existence of a limit cycle that is always stable has been proved.

In current guidelines, thiopurines are still recommended as first-line maintenance therapy for patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Due to their lack of immunogenicity, oral administration route and low costs, thiopurines are an attractive first-line treatment option. However, in recent studies the position of thiopurine monotherapy in CD has been questioned as a result of relatively lower overall effectiveness rates compared to ulcerative colitis. Real-world long-term effectiveness data substantiating the use and position of thiopurines in CD management remain sparse. We assessed long-term effectiveness of thiopurine monotherapy in CD using the population-based IBD South-Limburg (IBDSL) cohort. All CD patients in the IBDSL cohort starting thiopurine monotherapy as first-line maintenance therapy between 1991–2014 were included. Thiopurine monotherapy was defined effective if either: (1) no escalation to biological treatment, (2) no course of corticosteroids, (3) no resective surgery or, (4) no hospitalization for active disease was required whilst on thiopurine treatment. Patients with early treatment discontinuation (i.e. <3 months) were identified, including reason of discontinuation. Long-term effectiveness was assessed adjusting for differences in follow-up between patients using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Potential risk factors for therapy failure were identified using Cox regression. In total, 643/1162 (55.3%) CD patients (median follow-up: 8.5 years IQR 5.0–13.2) received first-line thiopurine monotherapy after a median of 9.7 months (IQR 3.2–31.3) after diagnosis. Therapy was discontinued within three months in 164 patients (25.5%), mainly due to adverse events [Figure 1]. Thiopurine monotherapy was effective for the duration of treatment in 229/479 (35.6%) patients, corresponding to estimated effectiveness rates of 62.9%, 43.9% and 31.2% after 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively [Figure 1–2]. No significant difference in effectiveness was observed after stratifying for era of thiopurine initiation (pre-biological (1991–1998) vs. biological (>1999) era, p=0.84). Factors associated with thiopurine failure were stricturing disease (aHR 1.41, 95%CI 1.01–1.96) and upper GI involvement (aHR 1.52, 95%CI 1.02–2.28) at diagnosis. During follow-up, 40/229 patients with a durable response discontinued treatment due to quiescent disease. Of these, 35 patients (87.5%) remained without treatment 24 months after discontinuation. Real-world data from this population-based study demonstrate that thiopurine monotherapy remains an effective and durable first-line treatment option for CD, even in the biological era. These results should be considered in the ongoing discussion regarding the position of thiopurine therapy.

Immunomodulators and biologicals are cornerstones in the current management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), but are associated with increased risk of infections. Post-marketing surveillance studies are important to assess the risk for infectious side effects in real-world populations, yet mainly focus on severe infections. Data on mild and moderate infections in IBD patients are scarce, primarily since self-limiting infections and infections treated by the general practitioner are not systematically captured in surveillance registries. Mild and moderate infections take longer to clear in immunosuppressed patients, have a large impact on (work) disability and quality of life, and potentially precede severe infections. In the current study, we aimed to develop and implement a remote monitoring tool for real-world assessment of infections in IBD patients. Through a structured iterative process with input from IBD specialists, nurse practitioners, and a comprehensive literature review, a 7-item Questionnaire comprising 15 different types of infections (covering e.g. upper/lower respiratory tract; urinary tract; eye; and skin infections) was developed to measure Patient-Reported Infections (PRIQ) with a recall period of 3 months. Infection severity was defined as either mild (self-limiting or requiring topical/local treatment), moderate (requiring oral antibiotic, antiviral or antifungal drugs) or severe (requiring hospitalization and/or IV treatment). To ascertain comprehensiveness and comprehensibility in the intended study population prior to implementation, in three rounds a total of 36 randomly selected IBD patients visiting the outpatient clinic were interviewed individually until saturation was reached. Overall, patient understanding of the PRIQ was good and cognitive interviews did not result in reduction of questionnaire-items. Analysis of feedback from interviews resulted in addition of definitions to certain response options (e.g. definition for antivirals) and minor linguistic adjustments to further improve patient understanding. A total of three patients (8.3%) raised concerns on the recall period of 3 months, which after expert consensus, did not result in alteration of the recall period. Next, the PRIQ was digitized and implemented in myIBDcoach, an established telemedicine platform for management of IBD. We developed a remote monitoring tool (PRIQ) to assess patient-reported infections in IBD and ascertained patient understanding through cognitive interviewing. A prospective multicentre study using the myIBDcoach platform is ongoing to validate the PRIQ and subsequently report the risk of mild and moderate infections across different treatment regimens in IBD patients (NCT04151420).

D2D is a promising paradigm of the 5G network offering a beneficial infrastructure and allowing different applications such as social applications, advertising services, or those supporting mutual connectivity of heterogenous objects, as well as those offering support in cases of natural disasters. Compared to conventional network communication, communication achieved by D2D technology shows a lower degree of security. It is necessary to modify existing security mechanisms and new solutions to be adapted to the application of D2D in the fifth generation network, which will raise the level of security in terms of authenticity verification, ensuring service availability and maintaining integrity.