Abstract The aim of this study was to perform screening for anxiety disorders among children with asthma and to reveal factors associated with general anxiety disorder and its specific forms. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among out-patients with asthma during routine visits to pediatricians. They were screened for anxiety disorders using SCARED self-reported questionnaire. Additional data were collected using specially designed questionnaire as well as the patient files. Statistical analysis was performed by the SPPS software using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Study population consisted mostly of schoolchildren (n=58), 8-12 years old, and adolescents (13-17 years) (n=13). Approximately 33.8% respondents were positive for general anxiety disorder. The most common were separation anxiety and social anxiety, recorded among 49.3% and 32.4% of patients, respectively. Generalized anxiety and panic/somatic disorder were recorded in the same percentage of patients (21.3%), while avoiding school was the least frequent (14.08%). Influence of numerous factors was tested, but only the following showed significant effects: peak expiratory flow test was associated with general anxiety disorder, patient’s age and gender with PD, and living place, asthma control according to GINA and age on GAD. Parent’s smoking was associated with SAD, age and patient’s weight status with SPH, and GINA asthma control with SA. These findings suggest that anxiety disorders are common among children and adolescents with asthma. Various factors can be associated with general anxiety disorder and its specific forms, but some of them being preventable as avoiding smoking in the family.

Introduction: Perindopril is a tissue-specific ACE inhibitor with 24 hours long blood pressure-lowering effect, which protects blood vessels and decreases the variability of blood pressure. Aim: The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of perindopril in newly diagnosed or previously treated but uncontrolled adult hypertensive patients. Methods: This prospective cohort study included primary care patients with essential hypertension. Primary study outcomes were decreasing arterial blood pressure to normal levels (<140/90 mmHg), reducing systolic arterial blood pressure for 10 mmHg or more and reducing diastolic arterial blood pressure for 5 mmHg or more. Safety was evaluated by type and frequency of adverse events. Results: In the great majority of the study patients (more than 96%) perindopril was effective as monotherapy, achieving a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and in three-quarters of the study patients it normalized both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The effectiveness of perindopril was shown in both patients with previously and newly diagnosed hypertension, adverse events were mild and rare, even hyperkalemia was encountered less often than before the onset of the therapy with perindopril. Conclusions: Our study confirmed excellent effectiveness of perindopril in the treatment of essential hypertension and its remarkable safety. When used as monotherapy of hypertension, perindopril’s doses should be carefully titrated until the achievement of full effect, which in some patients should be awaited for at least 6 months from onset of the therapy.

Abstract The purpose of the present research is to explore the effect of brand image on brand loyalty and brand commitment to national and private label brands. Data was collected through a field survey via the store-intercept method. To test the research hypotheses, we used two samples, which implied the collection of usable 528 questionnaires. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity of the constructs of interest. The structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was employed to analyze the effect of brand image on brand loyalty and brand commitment. Also, group comparisons were made between national brands and private label brands, using structural equation modeling. This study reveals that brand image has a significant positive effect on brand loyalty and brand commitment, both for national and private label brands. Moreover, it was found that the effect of brand image on brand commitment is stronger for national brands than for private label brands. The present study provides marketing managers of national brands and private label brands some insights into how to spur brand loyalty and commitment by establishing a favorable brand image.

Introduction: Leptospirosis is an infection caused by spiral bacteria from the family Leptospiraceae, and is considered to be the most widespread zoonosis in the world. Aim: To analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with Leptospirosis over five years. Methods: The study included 160 patients aged 17-79 years, who in the period 01.01.2014. to 21.12.2018. were hospitalized at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of the University Clinical Center Tuzla. They were diagnosed based on medical history, clinical examination, laboratory and microbiological results. The definitive diagnosis was confirmed by serological testing from the patients’ blood. Results: In the observed period, the highest number of patients were in 2014 80/160, and the lowest in 2015 15/160. Male patients were more likely to suffer from 118 (73.8%) than female 42 (26,3%). The mean age was ±56.5 years. The most common symptoms in patients were: fever (95,6%), headache (93,8%), malaise (87,5%) and myalgia (85,6%). In all patients, 160/160 (100%) accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation and elevated C-reactive protein was observed. The following findings were reported from white blood cell findings: leukocytosis in 81/160 (50,6%), neutrophilia in 103/160 (64,4%) and lymphopenia in 128/160 (80%) patients. Liver findings had the following values: elevated AST in 142/160 (88%) and ALT in 130/160 (81,3%) patients. Total bilirubin was elevated in 105/160 (65,6%) and direct in 107/160 (66,9%). Thrombocytopenia was in 142/160 (88%) patients. Urea was elevated in 103/160 (64,4%) and creatinine in 101/160 (61,3%) patients. Conclusion: it is very important that physicians in their day to day practice, especially in ambiguous febrile conditions, differentially diagnose leptospirosis and establish a timely diagnosis, this is ley to adequate and timely therapy, and therefore to reducing to development of complications and mortality.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a chronic progressive bone disease where the bone tissue resorption exceeds its regenerative capacities. Such a process leads to the reduction of bone mineral density (BMD), and distortion of trabecular microarchitectonics, which creates the basis for an increased fracture risk on a “low trauma” for osteoporosis patients. The notion of low trauma implies a stressor that will not cause a fracture in a healthy person under normal circumstances. BMD is a strong predictor of future fractures. However, many fractures occur in persons with BMD values beyond the defined osteoporosis threshold, and BMD measurement only partially identifies the part of the population with increased fracture risk. Also, it is known that risk factors are influencing the bone mass reduction as predictors of future fractures, and their association may lead to an increased fracture risk irrespective of the bone mass and T-score. Aim: The 10-year individual risk assessment for osteoporotic fracture and the analysis of impact of individual and multiple osteoporosis risk factors on the degree of osteoporotic fracture risk. Methods: The research is a retrospective-prospective study which analyzed 120 patients divided into two groups: 1) asymptomatic patients with known risk factors for osteoporosis in the age group of 40-65 (n=60), 2) asymptomatic patients with known risk factors for osteoporosis in the age group of 65-90 (n=60). FRAX® algorithm was used as a tool for the 10-year hip fracture risk assessment, with prior approval of the Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases, University of Sheffield from the United Kingdom. Fracture risk assessment was calculated using the online FRAX® calculator. High risk is defined as the hip fracture risk higher than 3% or the risk of a “big” osteoporotic fracture higher than 20%. Results are expressed as mean values with a standard deviation. A comparison between tested patient groups was made applying the student T-test. Results: 32% of patients of average age of 65.8±12.6 years are under high hip fracture risk, 28% of patients are under the hip fracture risk higher than 3%, and the risk for 0.03% patients is higher than 20%. Patients with high fracture risk are of advanced age, female, with lower body weight and height values, lower bone mineral density (BMD) and T score values than patients who are not under a high fracture risk. A positive family anamnesis to osteoporosis and fractures, earlier fractures, smoking, rheumatoid arthritis, and use of glucocorticoids are risk factors that are more represented in patients with high fracture risk and osteoporosis. The impact of the majority of individual risk factors for osteoporosis and fracture is moderate, and their joint effect is significant. The contribution of individual risk factors to the overall 10-year fracture risk depends on the type, number and association of risk factors. Conclusion: This research is a contribution to the resolution of polemics among authors, i.e. a dilemma whether persons with multiple clinical risk factors for osteoporosis with T score values beyond the defined threshold for osteoporosis are candidates for therapy with bisphosphonates, and a dilemma whether persons without any clinical risk factors for osteoporosis with T score values within the defined osteoporosis threshold require therapy with bisphosphonates, or only monitoring is sufficient.

In this review, we highlight information on microRNA (miRNA) identification and functional characterization in the beef for muscle and carcass composition traits, with an emphasis on Qinchuan beef cattle, and discuss the current challenges and future directions for the use of miRNA as a biomarker in cattle for breeding programs to improve meat quality and carcass traits. MicroRNAs are endogenous and non-coding RNA that have the function of making post-transcriptional modifications during the process of preadipocyte differentiation in mammals. Many studies claim that diverse miRNAs have an impact on adipogenesis. Furthermore, their target genes are associated with every phase of adipocyte differentiation. It has been confirmed that, during adipogenesis, several miRNAs are differentially expressed, including miR-204, miR-224, and miR-33. The development of mammalian skeletal muscle is sequentially controlled by somite commitment into progenitor cells, followed by their fusion and migration, the proliferation of myoblasts, and final modification into fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibers. It has been reported that miRNA in the bovine MEG3-DIO3 locus has a regulatory function for myoblast differentiation. Likewise, miR-224 has been associated with controlling the differentiation of bovine adipocytes by targeting lipoprotein lipase. Through the posttranscriptional downregulation of KLF6, miR-148a-3p disrupts the proliferation of bovine myoblasts and stimulates apoptosis while the miR-23a~27a~24-2 cluster represses adipogenesis. Additional to influences on muscle and fat, bta-mir-182, bta-mir-183, and bta-mir-338 represent regulators of proteolysis in muscle, which influences meat tenderness.

BACKGROUND Energy drinks (EDs) are non-alcoholic beverages that contain caffeine and other ingredients, marketed for their actual or perceived effects as stimulants, energizers and performance enhancers. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate patterns of EDs consumption in leisure, sports, and academic activities over the last year among a group of pregraduate students of the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. STUDY DESIGN A cross-sectional study conducted by an online questionnaire-based survey. METHODS An anonymous questionnaire was mainly based on a Consortium Nomisma-Areté questionnaire [background information and consumer profile, general EDs consumption practices and reasons; alcohol mixed with EDs (AmEDs) consumption, EDs consumption in sports, consumption of other caffeinated beverages], and an additional part to evaluate EDs consumption during academic activities. RESULTS Out of 812 respondents from 22 faculties (participation rate of 23%), mean age 21.37 ± 1.98 years, 498 (61.7%) reported EDs consumption over the last year. Three main reasons for EDs consumption were to stay awake (58.2%), to enjoy the taste (46.8%), and to boost energy (38.0%). Energy drinks were mainly consumed less than once a month (70.5%), most frequently during academic activity (50.4%), less frequently mixed with alcohol for relaxation (21.5%), and only rarely in association with sports or other physical activity (10%). Drinking coffee (OR = 2.022; 95% CI 1.416-2.830; p < 0.001) and being a higher year student (OR = 0.723; 95% CI 0.639-0.819; p < 0.001) were independent predictors for EDs consumption; being single and living with parents (OR = 17.138; 95% CI 1.328-221.528; p = 0.030) for consumption of AmEDs; and being a man (OR = 2.251; 95% CI 1.493-3.392; p < 0.001) and living in urban environment (OR = 1.193; 95% CI 1.125-3.251; p = 0.017) for consuming EDs in association with sports or other physical activity. CONCLUSION Based on these preliminary data and taking low participation rate into account, EDs consumption seems not to be alarming among university students in our region. EDs are most frequently consumed during academic activity, less frequently mixed with alcohol for relaxation, and only rarely in association with sports or other physical activity. However, as EDs are increasingly aggressively promoted and easily accessible, the larger study is warranted to provide more reliable and up to date conclusions, and if necessary, to inform measures preventing health risks associated with EDs consumption.

The rapid development of financial markets results in data variability and unpredictability. Anomaly detection in financial data is a very important issue. Finding anomalies can result in error reduction and corrections in due time. The main aim of this research was to find anomalies in general ledgers of a real company in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Anomalies are defined as input errors of accountants. Main concepts of anomaly detection are defined, a summary of the current progress is given, and challenges of future work are presented. Cluster-based and histogram-based anomaly detections were performed on a real-life dataset of a microcredit organization. Results of algorithms were presented, as well as results achieved using synthetic data.

Abstract The main objective of this investigation was to determine and summarize the economic burden of severe COPD exacerbations that required hospitalization and the difference in the costs of treatment between patients with frequent (at least two exacerbations in one year) and infrequent exacerbation. Our results suggested that significantly more resources had to be spent to treat patients with at least two hospitalizations during the study related to the use of medications primarily affecting the respiratory system (corticosteroids, p = 0.013, theophylline, p = 0.007) and total hospital stay (31336.68 ± 19140 RSD/517.53 ± 316.1 EUR versus 23650.15 ± 14956.0 RSD/390.59 ± 247 EUR, p=0.002) compared to patients who stayed in a semi-intensive care unit (12875.35 ± 20742.54 RSD versus 4310.62 ± 9779.78 RSD/ 212.64 ± 342.57 EUR versus 71.19 ± 161.51 EUR, p=0.006). Based on the total number of days in the hospital, the costs of the drugs, the materials used and services provided, patients from the frequent exacerbation group had significantly higher costs (80034.1 ± 36823.7 RSD/1321.78 ± 608.15 EUR versus 69425.5 ± 34083.1 RSD/1146.58 ± 562.89 EUR) comparedthan patients in the infrequent exacerbation group (p=0.039). Our results indicate that significantly more funds will be spent treating the deterioration of patients who stay longer in the hospital or in the semi-intensive care unit. Their condition will require a significantly greater use of drugs that are primarily used to treat the respiratory system and, therefore, will utiliseutilize significantly more resources.

Fast, accurate and noninvasive methods for a High Voltage Circuit Breaker (HVCB) condition assessment are hot topics since the first breaker has been utilized in the electrical power grid. The HVCB is the key to the stable power system, so its fault diagnosis is of great significance. The vibration signal obtained during the operation of the HVCB contains valuable information on its mechanical and structural integrity. Based on these premises, the paper present method for noninvasive HVCB condition assessment based on the vibration signature measurement. The proposed method is suitable for offline as well as online or monitoring based measurement systems. The core of the assessment method consists of variational mode decomposition and Higuchi fractal dimension estimation.