BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event either experiencing it or witnessing it. Although the pathogenesis is still unknown, some researches indicate inflammatory background and liver dysfunction as a part of the disease. We wanted to determine inflammatory markers' levels and investigate the correlation with liver enzymes in PTSD patients. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 60 male subjects aged between 40 - 60 years. Subjects were divided into two groups: a group of veterans with combat exposure and PTSD according to DSM-IV criteria and a control group of healthy subjects without combat exposure. WBC count, leucocytes ratios, levels of inflammatory markers (C reactive protein- CRP, fibrinogen, and erythrocyte sedimentation rateESR), and liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase- AST, alanine aminotransferase- ALT, creatine kinase- CK, and gamma-glutamyl transferase- GGT) were determined in all respondents. RESULTS The concentrations of CRP, fibrinogen, ESR, platelet-lymphocyte ratio and monocytelymphocyte ratio in subjects with PTSD were statistically significantly higher than those in the control group. Levels of AST and GGT in PTSD subjects were statistically significantly higher than of those in the control group subjects. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between serum AST and CRP concentration (Rho = 0.416; P = 0.022), as well as GGT and CRP concentration (Rho = 0.395; P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS Results indicate the relationship between liver pathology and inflammation in the complex pathogenesis of PTSD. These can be used in future researches and development of a new diagnostic approach and treatment that may lead to a longer lifespan of PTSD patients. KEY WORDS PTSD, Inflammation, Liver Enzymes

Aim To determine the degree of accuracy in determining the sex of the skull based on classical morphometric analysis of the mastoid process. Morphometric analysis excluded a subjective approach expressed in osteoscopic analysis. Methods The study was conducted on a sample of 100 macerated skulls of known gender and age from the second half of the 20th century, including the Bosnian population. Of the 100 skulls, 50 (50%) were male and 50 (50%) were female. Male skulls were on average 60 (47-71) years old and female 57 (43-76) years old. At each mastoid process, 3 measurements were made: mastoid length, mastoid width (medio-lateral diameter) ML) and anteroposterior diameter (AP) of the mastoid process. Results Using the univariate method, we found a significant difference between length, width, AP diameter and size of mastoid processes as well as between gender (p <0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression showed statistically significant differences in AP diameter of the mastoid process (p<0.05). Conclusion The created model "P" ("P"=exp [X]/1+exp [X]) for sex determination based on mastoid process showed sensitivity of 82% correct prediction for female skulls and 65% accurate prediction for male skulls. This discourse with respect of population standards grants most effective anthropological proof and as such may be suggested for forensic expertise based on human skull.

Introduction: The study evaluated of microalbuminuria as a predictor of heart failure in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Materials and methods: The prospective study conducted in a period of time from 01-Feb-2007 to 01-Feb-2010.The study included 100 patients with type 2 diabetes, who had diabetes longer than 5 years. All subjects (average age 66 ± 10 years, 33% male, 67% female) were tested for the presence of microalbuminuria, and 50 patients had microalbuminuria. The second group comprised 50 patients without of microalbuminuria with diabetes mellitus type 2. Results: In the patients with microalbuminuria and diabetes mellitus were found 22% of heart failure and 6% in the second group. Average time to the occurance of heart failure in the first group was 32,5 months, in the second group was 35,3 months. Conclusions: The results show that microalbuminuria is an independent risk factor for heart failure in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and microalbuminuria. Patients without microalbuminuria had 3,7 less likely to development heart failure compared to patients with microalbuminuria and diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum nitric oxide (NO) and C reactive protein (CRP) concentration in veterans with and without PTSD. Furthermore, we aimed to assess whether there is a correlation between serum NO and CRP concentrations in tested groups. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Cross-sectional study included 90 male individuals, with and without experience of direct war combat, divided into three equal groups (n=30): group 1- included war veterans with PTSD, group 2 - included war veterans without PTSD, and control group - 30 apparently healthy volunteers, without experience of direct war combat. The diagnosis of PTSD was assessed according to the guidelines in the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). High-sensitivity CRP was determined by immunonephelometry. The serum NO level was determined by classic colorimetrical Griess reaction. RESULTS Serum CRP concentration in veterans with (3.54±1.19 mg/L) and without PTSD (3.24±2.04 mg/L), was significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to control group (1.26±1.06 mg/L). Serum NO concentration in veterans with (7.64±4.43 μmol/L) and without PTSD (7.12±2.60 μmol/L) was significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to control group (11.26±7.01 μmol/L). Statistically significant correlation between serum NO and CRP concentration was determined in veterans without PTSD (r=-0.473; p<0.01). No correlation was observed between serum NO and CRP concentration in veterans with PTSD (r=0.118; p=0.534) and in control group (r=-0.067; p=0.727). CONCLUSION The present study has showed significant increase of serum CRP and significant decrease of serum NO concentrations in veterans with and without PTSD. Furthermore, statistically significant negative correlation between serum NO and CRP concentration was determined only in veterans without PTSD. Obtained results indicate that the complex mechanism of the pathogenesis of PTSD requires further research.

Objectives: The aim was to examine whether plasma coagulation factors activities are increased in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Also, we aimed to assess whether any association exists between plasma coagulation factors and cardiometabolic risk factors in these patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30 DM2 patients and 30 healthy subjects as control group. Plasma fibrinogen concentration and activities of coagulation factors II, V, VII, IX, X, XI and XII were measured. Results: The activities of coagulation factors IX (145.51±5.27 % of norm; p <0.0005) and XI (136.38±5.08 % of norm; p=0.001) and fibrinogen concentration [10.5 (9.3-13.25) mmol/L; p=0.001] were significantly higher in DM2 patients compared to control (IX - 116.44±3.86 % of norm; XI - 109,27±5,95 % of norm; fibrinogen – 8.8  (7.9-10.2) mmol/L). Plasma activities of factors II, V, VII and X were higher, whereas factor XII activity was lower in diabetic patients than in control subjects, but not statistically significant. A significant positive correlation between fasting blood glucose and factors IX, X and XI, was observed in DM2 patients. In the same group significant positive correlation was determined between factors II, VII, IX, X and triglycerides and between factor II and total cholesterol. Conclusion: Procoagulant state in DM2 as evidenced by enhanced activation of coagulation factors IX and XI and elevated fibrinogen concentration, may contribute to the increased risk of thrombosis and vascular complications in DM2 patients. Furthermore, in the prevention of thrombotic complications in patients with diabetes mellitus it is necessery to keep blood glucose and lipids under control. Key words: coagulation factors, patients with DM2, thrombosis, lipids

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate liver function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with and without metabolic syndrome (MS) by determining serum levels of gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). We also investigated correlation between levels of liver enzymes and some components of MS in both groups of patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 96 patients (age 47–83 years) with T2DM. All patients were divided according to the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in two groups: 50 patients with T2 DM and MS (T2DM-MS) and 46 patients with T2DM without MS (T2DM-Non MS). The analysis included blood pressure monitoring and laboratory tests: fasting blood glucose (FBG), total lipoprotein cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), fibrinogen and liver enzymes: GGT, ALT and AST. T2DM-MS group included patients which had FBG ≥ 6,1 mmol/L, TG ≥ 1,7 mmol/L and blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mm Hg. Results: T2DM-MS patients had significant higher values of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and medium arterial pressure compared to T2DM-Non MS patients. Serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C and FBG were significantly higher in the T2DM-MS group compared to the T2DM-Non MS group. Serum fibrinogen level and GGT level were significantly higher in patients with T2DM-MS compared to the serum fibrinogen level and GGT level in T2DM-Non MS patients. Mean serum AST and ALT level were higher, but not significantly, in patients with T2DM and MS compared to the patients with T2DM without MS. Significant negative correlations were observed between TC and AST (r= -0,28, p<0,05), as well as between TC and ALT level (r= -0,29, p<0,05) in T2DM-MS group of patients. Conclusion: These results suggest that patients with T2DM and MS have markedly elevated liver enzymes. T2DM and MS probably play a role in increasing the risk of liver injury.

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization estimates annually in the world die due to CVI every sixth women and 10th man. This paper is the research of the correlation between changes in relative air humidity and stroke (CVA) in the Sarajevo Canton. Included are patients who experienced an acute stroke in the Canton of Sarajevo and treated in the pre hospital phase by the staff of the Institute for Emergency Medicine. Days with stroke and those without cases of stroke were compared within three years and meteorological data for those days were obtained by the Weather Bureau of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meteorological data include measurements of average humidity every day at 7, 14 and 21 o’clock in three years. Aim: To evaluate the significance of the influence of humidity on the incidence of CVI’s. Show the trend towards CVI in the reporting period and is it correlated with the trend of change in relative humidity in those days. Correlate the incidence of stroke as determined in relation to gender, age and selected climatic parameter. Material and Methods: This article presents a retrospective study. Subjects were patients of Emergency Medical Care Institute in Sarajevo, which in the period from 2004 to 2006 had a CVI. Included are patients who had a working diagnosis of stroke for the first time or as a repeated stroke. Analysis of cases of stroke was carried out by gender, age, days and seasons by descriptive-analytical epidemiological methods. Results: In total were registered 1930 patients during three years period. According to years of research in 2004–635, 2005-616 and 2006 – 679. It was found that when testing the null hypothesis about the effects of humidity in two months with a maximum stroke in the year and days without CVI and relative humidity only in 2005 had a statistically significant effect on the incidence of stroke, while during the other two years of the study there was no impacts. It turned out that the extreme values of relative humidity of the day whether there was a rapid increase or decrees in humidity increases the incidence of stroke in all three years of research. Conclusion: Patients gender had no effect on the incidence of CVI. Seasons had no effect on the incidence of CVI. Most CVI in all three years of research was in relation to the old age and occurred in the older age group 70-79 (41.35%), where it was shown that the age of the patient influences the incidence of CVI. Extremely low relative humidity and extremely high, influence on the increase in the number of CVI. Determined is a slight correlation between the average relative humidity and CVI in single day.

Introduction: Life satisfaction involves cognitive component that allows evaluation of the life and accomplishments of life, and emotional component that includes an evaluation of emotions and mood that followed these accomplishments. Goal: To examine the life satisfaction of young people who attend secondary school, examine the level of satisfaction with life according to sex, to academic achievement, the presence of siblings and to examine the relationship between levels of life satisfaction and risk-taking behaviors. Results and Discussion: The results showed that there was no relationship between life satisfaction and preferences of delinquency, as well as life satisfaction and achieved academic success. The results confirmed the relationship between life satisfaction and sex as well as the relationship between life satisfaction and the presence of siblings in the family.

Introduction: The intention of this work is to research whether the link between the barometer pressure and the cerebrovascular insult (CVI) exists. The stroke is the first cause of non-traumatic disability and third illness by mortality in the majority of available relevant literature. Goals: Goal of the sudy was to research all the cases of the patients who suffered from the acute stroke in the Canton of Sarajevo and those who were treated in the pre-hospital phase by Emergency Medical Institute staff and their working diagnosis was established as CVI ac. Material and methods: The criteria in the research were established for inclusion and exclusion of cases. The days with and without CVI cases were compared with the meteorological data obtained from the Hydro-meteorological Institute of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina . Since the approval was requested and obtained from the Hydro-meteorological Institute, all the meteorological data could be compared. The meteorological data comprise the barometer pressure measuring every day at 7 h, 14 h and 21 h. Results and discussion: In the retrospective study, there will be followed, during three years (2004, 2005 and 2006), the cases of the patients who suffered from the stroke, and, the emergency medical care was offered to them by the side of the Emergency Medical Institute of Canton of Sarajevo staff. All the cases in the Canton of Sarajevo were followed regardless of the place of incidence: whether the help was offered in Institute’s outpatient departments, patient’s flat or at public place. Due to the extensiveness of data (in the analysis comprising three years, there was the total of 1930 cases), the test of normal distribution was used. Since it was about the pre-hospital research, the acute stroke was looked at generally without division by types. The certain diagnostics by types can only be established in the hospital. Conclusion: The results in the research indicate that the extreme values of barometer pressure, regardless of their being increased ones or decreased ones, influence the increase of CVI incidence, while by comparing the average values in the days with CVI and without CVI, they did not have any influence on the CVI incidence.

INTRODUCTION This study was aimed at comparing the efficiency and tolerability of two reference protocols Cisplatin and Etoposide and Cisplatin and Vinorelbine in advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 60 patients (two groups consisting of 30 patients) were treated for advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer during the period from January to December 2005 according to the reference protocols (Cisplatin 100 mg/m2 D1; Vinorelbine 30 mg/m2 D1, D8 on 4 weeks) and (Cisplatin 100 mg/m D1; Etoposide 100 mg/m2 D1, D3, D5 on 4 weeks) at the Department of Oncology of KBC "Bezanijska kosa". All patients were analysed for tumour response, progression free survival as well as for toxicity. X2 test, Kaplan Meiers curves and Log rank test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Although the recorded response rates were a bit lower than in previously published trials, they were not significantly different p = 0.485. No statistically significant difference was recorded in either progression free survival or overall survival. The chemotherapeutical Cisplatin/Etoposide protocol proved to be more toxic both in hematologic (3% vs. 10%) and total toxicities (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION Our study proved both protocols to have equivalent efficacy. However, the Cisplatin, Vinorelbine protocol could be recommended because of its less expressed toxic effects.