Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a worldwide emergency. The disease is characterized primarily by symptoms of the respiratory system, but also by systemic inflammation. Since the onset of the disease, there has been a need for biomarkers to predict the severity of the clinical picture and the outcome of the disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate systemic inflammatory markers for predicting severity of COVID-19. Methods: The study was conducted at the Sarajevo Canton Health Center on a total of 170 adults suffering from COVID-19. 70 subjects had mild clinical picture, while the control group consisted of 100 subjects with moderate clinical picture. The results of complete and differential blood counts, C-reactive protein (CRP), and systemic inflammatory indexes (SII) (neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio [NLR], derived NLR [dNLR], platelet/lymphocyte ratio [PLR], and SII) were used to compare the groups. IBM SPSS Ver. 23 was used for statistical analysis and data processing. Results: The proportion of male patients in the group with a milder clinical picture was higher than the proportion of male patients with a moderate clinical picture, p = 0.016. The values of leukocytes and neutrophils were higher in patients with a moderate clinical picture (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively). The values of all inflammatory indexes (NLR, dNLR, PLR and SII) were higher in patients with a moderate clinical picture of COVID-19 than in patients with a mild clinical picture (p < 0.001 for NLR, dNLR, and SII; p = 0.023 for PLR). In the research, patient age showed no correlation and CRP showed no correlation with SII. Conclusion: SII show higher values in patients with a moderate compared with a mild clinical picture of COVID-19. These parameters can be cost-effective and useful indicators in patient classification, diagnosis, and probably in monitoring patients with COVID-19.

Background: Diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1D) is an autoimmune organ-specific disease with a wide range of clinical manifestations, in which the β cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans are destroyed by the action of autoreactive T lymphocytes and the formation of autoantibodies against β cell components. Among used serological markers of T1D, anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GAD65), anti-tyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA2), islet cell antibodies (ICA), insulin autoantibodies (IAA) and anti-zinc transporter antibodies (Zn-T8) are of great significance. Objective: This study aimed to analyze presence of type 1 diabetes-related autoantibodies (GAD65, IA2, ICA, IAA and Zn-T8 and effects of age and gender on their occurrence in pediatric population. Methods: Sixty seven (N=67) T1D pediatric patients were included in the study. The levels of immunological parameters such as anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GAD-Ab), anti-tyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA2-Ab), islet cell antibodies (ICA) and insulin autoantibodies (IAA) were determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and anti-zinc transporter antibodies (Zn-T8-Ab) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). For statistical analysis, we used SPSS statistical program. Results: Our study revealed that among 67 patients with T1D (40 male and 27 female), with an average age of 12,1±3,9 years. The average age of diabetes diagnosis was 6,15±3,29 years. 24 (35,8%) cases were positive for GAD65, 15 (22,4%) for ICA, 34 (50,7%) for IAA, 16 (23,9%) for IA2 and 36 (53,7%) for Zn-T8. The largest number of patients had single positive antibody, the most dominated among them was IAA dominated (40,9%), then Zn-T8 (31,8%). According to Spearman correlation test Zn-transporter shows a significant positive correlation with age of the participants (p=0.027) and disease duration (p=0.006). Anti IA2 shows significant negative correlation with HbA1c (p=0.043). Zn-transporter is associated with patients age and duration of T1D. Conclusion: In most cases, patients with T1D are positive for at least one of the specific autoantibodies. Zn-T8 is the most frequently detected and is an important serological marker of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Gender effects on autoantibodies seems to be insignificant, while age alongside disease duration shows important effects.

Background: Psoriasis as an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. The basis of the pathogenesis of psoriasis is the dysregulation of immune cell function in genetically predisposed individuals. The characteristic dysfunction of the immune system in patients with psoriasis is manifested as a variation in the cellular phenotypic profile in accordance with the disease status. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunophenotypic profile of lymphocytes obtained by flow cytometry as an auxiliary diagnostic tool in the objectivization of the PASI score. Methods: The study group included 40 patients with psoriasis, hospitalized and treated at Dermatology Clinic of Clinical center University of Sarajevo and 30 healthy individuals as controls. After venepunction, the blood samples for determining the immune profile were prepared following standard laboratory procedures using conjugated monoclonal antibodies and BD FACSCanto II flow cytometer. T-lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD8), B lymphocytes (CD19), Natural killer cells (NK), and activatet T-cells (CD3HLA) were determined for all patients. Based on the PASI score, the severity and area of the disease was assessed for all psoriasis patients by dermatology specialist. Results: Our data shows no significant difference in any of the lymphocyte subpopulations between psoriasis patients and healthy controls, except CD3HLA. CD3HLA has higher values in patients with psoriasis, p=0.015. Of all the parameters, only NK cells were significantly correlated to the PASI score (rho -0.279; p=0.048). ROC curve analysis revealed a statistically significant difference for the proportion of CD3 lymphocytes (AUC 0.799; p=0.004), CD8 lymphocytes (AUC 0.733; p= 0.023), NK cells (AUC 0.722; p=0.008) and CD3HLA activated T lymphocytes (AUC 0.347; p=0.034). Conclusion: Profile of major lymphocyte subsets in patients with psoriasis is similar to that of healthy controls. The values of CD3, CD8, NK, CD3HLA were defined as biomarkers capable of distinguishing psoriasis according to the severity of the disease. Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood lymphocytes can play an important role as an auxiliary diagnostic method in differentiating the clinical stages of psoriasis and objectifying the PASI score.

Objectives: Young laboratory medicine professionals (YLMPs) are the future of clinical laboratories. Although everyday practice shows significant differences among countries, especially during residency training, most of them face the same challenges. Besides promoting scientific, professional and clinical aspects of laboratory medicine in Europe, the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) should take into consideration YLMPs’ concerns and interests to help them achieve excellence. The aim of this survey was to assess the opinion and expectations of YLMPs about their involvement in the activities of EFLM. Methods: An online survey was distributed to YLMPs in Europe through different channels. The questionnaire consisted of 21 items grouped into five sections: demographic questions, opinion about the current status of YLMPs within EFLM, YLMPs network, suggestions and opportunities, and scientific training and exchange.Where appropriate, responses from residents and specialists were compared. Results: A total of 329 valid responses were obtained from 53 different countries. Countries with the highest number of participantswere Spain, Turkey, Croatia andRomania. A significant percentage would like to know more about EFLM and their activities (86%) and wish EFLM promoted networking and scientific exchanges (95%), for instance by means of a European YLMPs network (93%). EFLMLabX project was widely unknown (75%). Conclusions: YLMPs demand better connection to share concerns about daily healthcare duties, to keep updated and to advance professionally. EFLM needs to improve their advertising through national societies to increase YLMPs’ participation. In addition to internationalmeetings and congresses, respondents have emphasized that workshops and other small group activities would significantly help promote laboratory medicine practice in Europe.