Introduction: COVID-19 has been a major focus of scientific research since early 2020. Due to its societal, economic, and clinical impact worldwide, research efforts aimed, among other questions, to address the effect of host genetics in susceptibility and severity of COVID-19. Methods: We, therefore, performed next-generation sequencing of coding and regulatory regions of 16 human genes, involved in maintenance of the immune system or encoding receptors for viral entry into the host cells, in a subset of 60 COVID-19 patients from the General Hospital Tešanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, classified into three groups of clinical conditions of different severity (“mild,” “moderate,” and “severe”). Results: We confirmed that the male sex and older age are risk factors for severe clinical picture and identified 13 variants on seven genes (CD55, IL1B, IL4, IRF7, DDX58, TMPRSS2, and ACE2) with potential functional significance, either as genetic markers of modulated susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection or modifiers of the infection severity. Our results include variants reported for the first time as potentially associated with COVID-19, but further research and larger patient cohorts are required to confirm their effect. Discussion: Such studies, focused on candidate genes and/or variants, have a potential to answer the questions regarding the effect of human genetic makeup on the expected infection outcome. In addition, loci we identified here were previously reported to have clinical significance in other diseases and viral infections, thus confirming a general, broader significance of COVID-19-related research results following the end of the pandemic period.

Background: All viral genomes, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus, mutate over time, and some of these mutations can affect the characteristics of the virus, such as the ease of spread, the severity of the patient’s clinical picture, or the effect of vaccines, therapeutic drugs, diagnostic tools or other measures of public health and social protection. Because of all the above, it is imperative to carry out continuous sequencing of this pathogen. Objective: The main goal of this research was to obtain the highest quality genomic sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, to compare the obtained sequences with the reference Wuhan-Hu-1 sequence and to obtain a high-quality genomic alignment in order to reconstruct the appropriate phylogenetic tree. Methods: For the purposes of this research, a next-generation semiconductor sequencing method was chosen. In this research, a total of 47 samples of nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs from patients from the human population of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 were collected. Results: In the processed 47 samples, there are several monophyletic groups on the constructed phylogenetic tree, of which one sample belongs to the same monophyletic group as the Wuhan-Hu-1 reference sequence. Conclusion: The greater number of samples is needed for a more comprehensive approach. Therefore, the results of this research can act as a guideline for the design of effective measures and strategies in order to solve problems regarding future pandemics as efficiently as possible.

Background: Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection and it is estimated that 75% of all women have been exposed to HPV infection in a certain period of life. High-risk types of HPV are considered to be one of the major causes of cervical cancer and its precursor intraepithelial neoplasia. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of HPV infections and to provide more data on HPV genotype distribution among women in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Methods: Number of 375 samples were collected from different polyclinics in Sarajevo and were analyzed by Alea Genetic Center using Genomed f-HPV typing™ multiplex Fluorescent PCR kit for human papillomavirus genotyping. DNA required for this method is extracted from cervical swabs and amplified using a multiplex PCR reaction containing a set of 16 fluorescently labeled primers that recognize 16 HPV types. 14 HPV types are classified as high-risk (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68) and two are low-risk (6 and 11) HPV types. Results: Results showed that in the years 2018, 2019, and 2021, HPV type 16 is predominant causing the high-risk factor for CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and cervical cancer development. HPV 18 infection rates decreased during the last four years of study. HPV 6 infection rates increased during that period of time. Conclusion: HPV 16 and HPV 18 are almost completely preventable by vaccination implying that the number of diagnosed cervical cancers in B&H could be much lower in the next decades if the HPV vaccination routine immunization program starts soon.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus that causes a respiratory disease, COVID-19. For COVID-19 testing, real-time PCR is considered gold standard and therefore many commercial SARS-Cov-2 detection kits are available. Objective: The aim of the study is to determine diagnostic values of 10 different commercially available SARS-CoV-2 detection kits, based on their Ct value. Methods: For this study thirty clinical nasopharyngeal samples were collected in ALEA Genetic Center. Twenty four of them were positive, while six were negative and used as a negative control. Positive samples were selected based on the day when first symptoms appeared. RNA was extracted using the same extraction method for all samples. For amplification and comparison of detection kits, the same RT- PCR instrument was used. Results: Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and Cohen’s kappa coefficient were estimated to evaluate diagnostic values of the tested kits. This study showed that all kits showed 100% specificity. Accuracy, sensitivity and kappa coefficient varied among examined assays. Based on clinical features, LabGunTM COVID-19 Assay by LabGenomics proved to be the most sensitive, the most accurate and most specific. Therefore this assay was used as a reference kit. Conclusion: If things from practice are taken into account, accuracy and reliability of the tested commercial kits can vary compared to those obtained in this study where results were based on ideal functioning of the kits. When choosing the convenient commercial SARS-CoV-2 detection kit using RT-PCR method, many parameters need to be considered.

Malignant disease of the colon and rectum is the most often human neoplasm which comprises about 30% of all digestive tumours. Thereat, cancer of the lower end the colon (rectum) comprises 45 to 48% of all CRC (colorectal cancers). According to "American Society Cancer", only lung and prostate cancer in men and breast and cervix cancer in women are more frequent than CRC. The incidence of colorectal cancer is 20 to 30/100.000 citizens. Rectal cancer is the result of interection of disturbed genetic factors with external factors. The first surgical treatments began with Faget, who did the first rectal extraperitoneal excision (1739). It was improved by Ernest Milles in 1908, and in 1923, Hartman did the resection without anamnesis. In the middle of 20th century, Dixon defined the resective interventions and in Litre did a colostomy. The aim of this study is point out the necessity of early diagnosis and protocolar chirurgical end oncological approach to the treatment of this malignant disease which must be done before choosing any operative procedure in order to prevent postoperative morbidity. On the material of the Clinic for Abdominal Surgery at the Clinical centre University of Sarajevo, during the four-year period (from 2006 to 2010), out of the 406 patients with CRC, 261 of them (64.3%) had cancer of the final part of the colon and rectum. In this case, all the time of the treatment, protocol was strictly applied. Primary surgery was performed on the early stages of the disease. Radiochemotherapy (RCT) followed by operation after 6 to 8 week is applied in the progressive state of the disease with the penetration of the meso rectal fascia with positive lymph-gland assessment (NMR-nuclear magnete resonance). Out of 261 operated patients, 5 of them (1.9%) underwent transanal resections where the tumour was up to 2 cm; 104 patients (39.8%) underwent rectal resection with TME (II and III tumour states of recto-sigma); 24 (9.2%) patients uderwent amputation; 156 (22.4%) underwent left chemicolectomy with rectal resection and 29 (11%) underwent intersphincteric colo-trans-versal-anal anastomosis. The operation by Hartman was performed on 44 (16.8%) patients and colostomy on 10 (3.8%) patients in emergency service. In the tumours with low localisation we do low colo-transversal-rectal or ultra-low intersphincer colo-anal anastomosis. Total meso rectal excision and lymhadenectomy is our priority. We fully respect the oncologic approach, i.e. complete removement of the affected organ with the lymphovascular arcade. Operative lethality up to 30 days was 2.5% (comorbidity, thromboembolism). Owing to combined protocolar approach of surgical and radiochemotherapy, extirpational interventions are not so frequent any more compared with resections with low and ultra-low anastomosis. Team work and close cooperation of oncologic team of physicians (surgeons, gastroenterologists, pathologists, oncologists, radiotherapeutists) as well as respect for the protocol of the treatment are the most important factors of a successful oncologic surgery.