Here we will focus on two of the four indexed biomedical journals that were published in Sarajevo during wartime conditions in 1992-1995. The first is the Medical Archives, which was founded in 1947 and whose last editor until 1991 was the respected Academician Mirko Grujic, and whose last edited issue remained in storage (then the printing was done on Heidelberg machines and the text was typed using lead letters) and that unprinted issue – the number one volume in 1991 never even came out. Given that the contracts with the strongest index database MEDLINE included the Contract of the Assembly of doctors of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which at that time was the owner of the journal, and the pause in printing had already been going on for two years, Medline withdrew this journal as well. Numerous correspondences with the main responsible person Mr. Sheldon Kotzin, we received an unexpected consent from the Medline database to try to fill the gap with at least a few double-issues within 6 months, and Medline will meet us and reactivate the depositing of the Medical Archive in Medline. In addition to these facts, I was reminded of the incredible activities related to the preparation and printing of 47 books and monographs out of a total of 98 in B&H in the war period 1992-1995, and their list is in the attached tables. Those war publications were created in various ways. Very important collection of published monographs are printed during wartime written by very famous scientists from Golden Arabic Ages: Ibn Sina, Ibn Haitham, Ibn Rushd, Ibn Nafis, Al Biruni, Ar Razi, which has been forgotten, translated by famous professors Sakir Sikiric and Hamdija Karamehmedovic until 1962. In addition to these facts, I was reminded of the incredible activities related to the preparation and printing of 4 scientific journals out of 8 biomedicine which today indexed journals in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Very important item from wartime was recording documetary movie "Amputation or Reconstruction in Wartime Conditions" recorded by Izet Masic and Zoran Ridjanovic which made in 1994 and showen in Lisbon during MIE '94 Conefernce as one of war miracles. Finaly, during wartime in B&H Avicena organized and published Proceedings of ten scientific meetings held in sieged Sarajevo and all presented papers were published and deposited in PubMed Central database. Total amount of published books and monographs during past thirty years is more than 200, and, also published papers by Avicena during 30 years in four Avicena Publisher's journals have number more than 15,000 papers writen at least by 60,000 authors, from over 50 countries from all continents, and almost a half of them are stored in most influential indexed databases. It is incredible job of one very small publisher from small countriy.

Background: In the year 2024 Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates anniversaty of three important healthcare institutions: the Vaqf's hospital in Tuzla established in 1874, Regional hospital in Sarajevo (Landesspital) established in 1894 and the first Faculty of Medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina established in Sarajevo in 1944. Objective: The aim of this article was to describe historical facts how mentioned institutions were founded and what was importance of functioning all of them during history of health care education and healthcarte protection. Methods: The author searched important historical facts about establishing and works Hastahana in Tuzla, Landesspital in Sarajevo and Medical faculty in Sarajevo, writen in the books and articles deposited in indexed databases PubMed Central, Scopus, Hinari, Embase, etc. Results and Discussion: The first hospital (hastahanas, named as Waqf's hospitals, besides other 4 - established in Tuzla, Mostar, Travnik and Banja Luka) has been founded in Sarajevo in 1866, which was founded by Governor Serif Osman Topal Pasha and doctor Jozef Kecet. These hastahanas were definitely the embryo of an organized health services in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have had enormous hystorical significance. Vakuf's hospital in Tuzla (Hastahana) founded by doctor Mehmed Serbic Sami, the first Muslim physician, graduated in Instanbul, Turkey at Lecole de Medicine in 1873. The first official hospital established during Austrian-Hungarian period was Regional (Landesspital) hospital opened in the July 1st 1894 and had 303 hospital beds in 4 departments: the first Internal department with diseases of the throat and nose (not the ear) with 45-50 beds, the Second - Surgical Department with ophtalmology (for ear surgery) with 45-50 beds, the Third - Dermatology and Venerology ward with 70-80 beds and the fourth - Gynaecology-obstetrics department with 70-80 beds. It will be a good basis for training future teachers pioneers of medicine, which will be opened in Sarajevo in November 22nd 1944 as a part of Medical Faculty in Zagreb. An generation of medical students attend the first year of study in Sarajevo. True, most students of this generation will be mobilized during the war, some will move on to medical faculties in other cities, and some other faculties in Sarajevo. The first Faculty of Medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina officialy established in November 16th 1946. Conclusion: All institutions described in this article played important role in the history of healthcare education and healthcare protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Background. The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus initiated one of humanity’s biggest pandemics, swiftly spreading worldwide and inducing significant health issues. This virus prompted widespread changes, with initial inadequate immune response and a lack of effective drug therapies. Consequently, every organ, particularly the respiratory and nervous systems, was susceptible to infection. The Covid-19 pandemic ended in 2023, but ongoing symptoms led to the term Long Covid and chronic manifestations. Objective: The aim of this article was to describe the important role of health professionals, especially family physicians and their teams when and how to identify common neurological symptoms and clinical conditions during pandemic and post-pandemic period. Methods. A systematic review gathered data on neurological symptoms and complications in Covid-19 patients, ranging from mild, like headache, to severe, such as encephalitis and stroke. Results and Discussion. Analysis revealed a significant proportion of Covid-19 patients experiencing neurological manifestations, with about one-third exhibiting symptoms. Epidemiological data showed ongoing Long Covid symptoms alongside acute manifestations. Many of cases with Long Covid related neurological complications were presented. Common neurological manifestations included chronic fatigue, changes in smell and taste, brain fog, headaches, fibromyalgia, cognitive impairment, and mood disorders. Severe Covid-19 cases were more likely to exhibit neurological complications, such as ischemic brain vasculitis and thromboembolic events, associated with higher mortality rates. Neurological complications of Covid-19 are frequent and diverse, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis and treatment, coordinated by primary care physicians. In practice, it is necessary to monitor the patient’s immune status over a longer period, and coagulation disorders (D-dimer) for adequate therapy and rehabilitation. Very important is to recognize the immune response after an acute infection. Due to the epidemic occurrence of Long Covid, it is necessary to introduce the above-mentioned procedures also in case of clinical signs of Long Covid. There are several hypotheses for the causes of Long COVID symptoms, including immune disorders, persistence of the virus in various organs, and microvascular coagulation changes. Within primary healthcare as the first line of defense it is necessary to address stress caused by COVID-19, try to recognize the affected other organ systems. Conclusion: The family doctor with his communication skills can make connection with the secondary and tertiary levels and the consulting services of immunologists, microbiologists, nutritionists, pharmacist, physiatrist and infectiologist. The family medicine team plays a key role in prevention, random detection and adequate medical procedures. The main interventions at the primary level should include education, emotional support, specific nutrition interventions and lifestyle modifications.

This publication has always been a cornerstone of our community, providing valuable insights, updates, and a platform for sharing the incredible work of our members. It was initiated during the EFMI presidency of Catherine Chronaki (Belgium, Greece), with our enthusiastic colleague, Izet Masic (Bosnia Herzegovina), serving as the first Editor-in-Chief. The past year has been a period of reflection and rejuvenation for our team. We took this time to evaluate how best to serve you, our esteemed members, and ensure that our newsletter remains a vital resource in our professional journey together. We continue the traditional general content of previous editions, introducing a structural organization by sections, each coordinated by a guest editor. Additionally, we have expanded the range of topics, introducing articles on opinions as well as including some highlights from our previous meetings. This edition features three special sections.

Background: The Social Medicine and organization of health is science organized on the application of modern medicine principles in the health care of human groups and nations. The significant difference of social medicine from clinical disciplines is that the clinical medicine deals with problems of individuals and social medicine is devoted to community health and illness of the family, schools and work organizations from population groups to the overall people of one area or country. Public health refers to all organized measures (whether public or private) to prevent disease, promote health and prolong life among the population as a whole. Its activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy and focus on entire populations, not on individual patients or diseases . Objective: The aims of this article are to show, based on the available literature: a) The development of Social medicine and Public health in the World and Bosnia and Herzegovina from the medieval period until the today. b) The most significant historical events that marked the development of Social medicine and Public health with emfesized most important scientists and discoverers with their achievements. Methods: The subject of this study was the development of Social medicine and Public health in the world and in the areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the uncient peertiod until today. In order to achieve the set goals, a) Retreival of professional and scientific literature; and b) Search of scientific databases and web pages on the Internet that offer adequate and relevant data and historical facts related to the subject of studies were carried out. Most of the facts are covered in previously published articles by the author of this paper and deposited in the PubMed and PubMed Central databases, as well as in books and monographs by the author of this text. Results and Discussion: Social medicine with the organization of the health care system is the scientific discipline, defined by the huge contents, clear goal and specific methodology. It has been presented flow of socio-medical development and implementation on worldwide during the past. Public health was defined by Charles-Edward A. Winslow, in 1920. as „the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts for the sanitation of the environment, the control of community infections, the education of the individual in principles of personal hygiene, the organization of medical and nursing service for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of disease, and the development of the social machinery which will ensure to every individual in the community a standard of living adequate for the maintenance of health“. The names of those who are deserved for socio-medical development and its insufficiency on the organization on health system and some specific parts of it. Social medicine, and Public health as sciences and profession had high level among other disciplines, but also as profession per se, specially at the international level. There is huge evidence of numerous projects, books, papers, recognized by indigenous and international audience. Conclusion: The most importants role in organizatiionn and realization of all kind of public health activities and measures at every healthcare protection levels has World Health Organization (WHO) with its brench offices at all continents and all countries in the world. The author described information flow how it was happened during the history of its development.

Background: Prior to 2012, the mesentery was perceived as a fragmented structure, lacking distinct functional and anatomical characteristics, and was merely considered part of other digestive organs. Dr. J. Calvin Coffey's in 2012 in his study redefined the mesentery as a distinct organ with a clearly defined anatomical and histological structure, although its specific function remains under investigation. The continuous structure and unique tissue properties of the mesentery classify it as the 78th independent organ in the human body. Insights into mesenteric adipose tissue have enhanced our understanding of normal metabolic processes and disease etiology, impacting health significantly. Experimental and clinical research highlights the vital roles of visceral adipose tissue, influencing neighboring organ function. The interaction within the brain-gut-liver axis is illuminated by the newfound functions of mesenteric adipose tissue, emphasizing its independent organ status. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the latest findings on the structure and function of the mesentery, focusing on visceral-mesenteric adipose tissue, and assess its role as a new organ in the brain-gut-liver axis. Methods: A comprehensive analysis of clinical and experimental studies on the mesentery's structure and function was conducted, focusing on recent discoveries regarding mesenteric adipose tissue and its role in the brain-gut-liver axis. Results and Discussion: Recent research has revealed the mesentery's unique functions, particularly in mesenteric adipose tissue. Mesenteric adipose tissue plays a crucial role in metabolic functions and influences disease onset. It acts as a vital link in the brain-gut-liver axis, directly influencing hepatic metabolism and disorders such as metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: Scientific evidence confirms the mesentery's anatomical and functional specificities, solidifying its status as the 78th independent organ in the human body. It serves as a crucial link in the brain-mesentery-small intestine-liver axis, impacting health and disease. Ongoing research holds promise for advancing our understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment approaches for metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases.

Background: The development of medicine and pharmacy in the Bosnia and Herzegovina was marked by different historical periods–first they were settled by the Illyrians and Delmatians, and after them came the Romans, the Ottoman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Objective: The aims of this article are to show, based on the available literature: a) The development of medicine and pharmacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the medieval period until the Second World War; b) The most significant historical events that marked the development of medicine and pharmacy in the areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina; c) Methods of treatment, medicinal forms and preparations that were used in the mentioned period. Methods: The subject of this study was the development of medicine and pharmacy in the areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the 14th century until the Second World War. In order to achieve the set goals, a) Retreival of professional and scientific literature and b) Search of scientific databases and web pages on the Internet that offer adequate and relevant data and historical facts related to the subject of studies were carried out. Most of the facts are covered in previously published articles by the author and deposited in the PubMed and PubMed Central databases, as well as in books and monographs by the author of this text. Results and Discussion: In the Middle Ages, folk medicine was present, in which herbalists looked for medicines in certain plant and animal species. In the 13th century, Bosnia was settled by the Franciscans, who permanently marked the development of medicine and pharmacy. They are educated at prestigious universities abroad, from where they bring their knowledge, skills and recipes and write them in books, which are called ljekaruse (medicine books). Every historical period brought some changes for medicine and pharmacy, so the Ottoman Empire brought customs of frequent cleaning, public fountains and hammams were built. During the reign of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the first hospitals and pharmacies were established, and laws on pharmacy activity were introduced. Written documents on the history of the medicine and pharmacy development in Bosnia and Herzegovina are mostly found in the libraries of monasteries, and a significant number of them are also in the libraries of madrasas, and the National and University Librarie in Sarajevo and the library of former Institute of Hygiene in Sarajevo. Conclusion: In connection with the medical and pharmacy practice of the Bosnian Franciscans, the question of the various medical records that they created, which helped them in their health efforts, stands out. First of all, we are talking about numerous medicinal books, so called ”ljekaruse”. On the soil of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there were many such “ljekarusa” who mostly grew up at the sources of national experience. In those books, the recipes are mostly based on the use of medicinal herbs. Historians of medicine believe that these medicinal books represent the cultural and historical significance of our regions.

Background: The Organized health care during Ottoman Empire was poor, and the population of Bosnia looked to the clergy of all denominations, among which the Franciscans play a significant role, for a cure for their ailments, both mental and physical. The Franciscan motto of living, not only for yourself but also for others was, also, reflected in the Bosnian Franciscans’ provision of medical services to people. Objective: The aim of this article was to show, based on the available literature, the development of medicine and pharmacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the medieval period until the Second World War with description methods of treatment, medicinal forms and preparations that were used in the mentioned period. Methods: The subject of this study was the development of medicine and pharmacy in the areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina from the 14th century until the Second World War. In order to achieve the set goals, a) Retreival of professional and scientific literature and b) Search of scientific databases and web pages on the Internet that offer adequate and relevant data and historical facts related to the subject of studies were carried out. Most of the facts are covered in previously published articles by the author and deposited in the PubMed and PubMed Central databases, as well as in books and monographs by the author of this text. Results and Discussion: In the Middle Ages, folk medicine was present, in which herbalists looked for medicines in certain plant and animal species. In the 13th century, Bosnia was settled by the Franciscans, who permanently marked the development of medicine and pharmacy. They are educated at prestigious universities abroad, from where they bring their knowledge, skills and recipes and write them in books, which are called ljekaruse (medicine books). Every historical period brought some changes for medicine and pharmacy, so the Ottoman Empire brought customs of frequent cleaning, public fountains and hammams were built. During the reign of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the first hospitals and pharmacies were established, and laws on pharmacy activity were introduced. Written documents on the history of the medicine and pharmacy development in Bosnia and Herzegovina are mostly found in the libraries of monasteries, and a significant number of them are also in the libraries of madrasas, and the National and University Librarie in Sarajevo and the former Institute of Hygiene in Sarajevo. Conclusion: In connection with the medical and pharmacy practice of the Bosnian Franciscans, the question of the various medical records that they created, which helped them in their health efforts, stands out. First of all, we are talking about numerous medicinal books, so called ”ljekaruse”. On the soil of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there were many such “ljekarusa” who mostly grew up at the sources of national experience. In those books, the recipes are mostly based on the use of medicinal herbs. Historians of medicine believe that these medicinal books represent the cultural and historical significance of our regions

: Heart Rate Variability in Children with Congenital Heart Disease Before and After Open Heart Surgery. Background: Spectrum analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive procedure that provides information on sympathetic and parasympathetic controls. Reduced HRV may indicate cardiac autonomic dysfunction and susceptibility to hemodynamic instability during anesthesia, after myocardial infarction or cardiac operations. Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass on HRV variability in children with congenital heart disease and if HRV is turning to the normal in postoperative period and when, as well as the duration of the process. Methods: HRV data were obtained from 29 pediatric patients with congenital heart disease, who underwent elective cardiac surgery. Electrocardiographic data were collected with PC-based ECG acquisition system (PC-ECG 1200). ECG results were obtained by assessing 200 heart beats that recorded in supine position. Clinical data including age, type of cardiac lesion, type of surgical procedure, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, cross clamp time were recorded. Results: 16 male and 13 female patients mean aged 8.08 ± 3.8 (1-15), 27 had an acyanotic heart disease, 2 of them had a cyanotic heart disease. Standard deviation of all normal RR intervals (SDNN) (p=0.048) and HRV triangular index (p=0.017) were significantly lower in the postoperative first month than preoperatively. There were no significant preoperative differences in other time or frequency domain measures of HRV between the preoperative recordings and postoperative for the first month. SDNN, low and high frequency were found significantly low when compared between the postoperative first and third month, although HF was decreased in the first postoperative month, but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Our findings showed that decreased HRV is a nonspecific marker of cardiovascular stress just after the cardiac operations, reflecting an alteration in autonomic nervous system input to the heart and turning to the normal in the third month

Background: The scientific researchers have the role of interacting through published articles in scientific journals or presentations at scientific and professional conferences were they can affect the practices that can make achievements to society and country. or worldwide. For this reason, scientists are encouraged after completing the project and finalizing their research investigation to publish scientific work outcomes in professional and scientific journals. Objective: The aim of this article was to describe scientometric and bibliometric indexes and explaine its importance for its evaluation and measuring quality assessment of published papers in scientific journals deposited in scientific indexed databases. Also, author criticaly analized advantages and disadvantages of current bibliometric portals for creating the list of universities and its accademic staff by counts of deposited articles in databases and number of its citations. Methods: The author searched the most influential online databases and analyzed deposited papers by scientometric/bibliometric indexes, and used a descriptive method to review important facts about scientometrics experiences in scientific and academic practice. The author used facts deposited on the main international portals for analyzing number of citations of deposited scientific papers on Scopus and Google Scholar platform - h-Index and i10-Index and number of citations as basic data fot created top list of most citated scientists in almost of all countries in the world. . Results and Discussion: Bibliometric methods are used for quantitative analysis of written materials. Citation provides guidelines for scientific work because it stimulates scientists to deal with the most current research areas and organizes scientific articles at the world level or shapes and directs them. Citation is influenced by: article quality, understanding of the article, language in which the article is written, loyalty to a group of researchers, article type, etc. Some indicators used in evaluating scientific work are Impact factor (IF); Citation of the article; Journal citations; Number and order of authors, etc. The index factor of influence depends on the quality of the journal, the language in which it was printed, the area it covers, and the journal distribution system. Finaly, three portals and its plaforms (Webometrics, "AD Scientific Index" and Stanford Bibliometric List) are not fully relevant for measuring quality assessment of universities and its academic staff, even as potentialy members of academies of sciences, like it used in the past. They need to improve in the future. In this article, we pointed out that h-Index and Google Scholar indexes for present valuable measures to determine scientific excellence. These criteria should be necessary for quality assessment of the scientific curriculum of scientists and their published papers in journals when experts of indexed databases like Medline, PMC, Scopus, etc., do reviews during the evaluation of applied journals for potentially including indexed databases. Conclusion: Current academies and academicians can propose criteria how improve indexing scientific papers with the consultation of scientific bodies and experts at universities in one country, selected regions, or worldwide. Only quality research with exact results offers the scientific community new information about the examined problem and the researcher’s personal satisfaction, and opening opportunities to receive critical reviews of those who have insight into the research.

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Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the cause of 17 million deaths a year worldwide, of which 25% are sudden cardiac deaths (SCD). In Europe cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remains a leading cause of death in Europe accounting for 3.9 million deaths each year. Even with well-known risk factors and the current standards of health care, improvement of health and quality of life of CVD patients are still remains one of the biggest public health challenges we must overcome. Objective: The aim of this study was to analize of current strategic documents and relevant facts of WHO and other appropriate institutions regarding CVDs prevention and control for potentialy use in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). Methods: Authors made a narrative review to provide a brief overview of the recent and relevant documents of good practice in prevention, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of cardiovascular diseases that should be consider as milestones for the health authorities in the Federation of B&H. Results and Discussion: Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the countries with a high risk of CVD together with Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Poland, Slovakia, and Turkey. The main public health challenge in Bosnia and Herzegovina is reducing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease. NCDs are estimated to account for 80% of the country’s annual deaths, and addressing them is the foremost public health priority in the country. Cardiovascular diseases still represent a worldwide public health problem, with some new dimensions caused by challenges caused through pandemic of COVID-19. The well-known cardiovascular risk factors require new and more efficient public health approaches to the prevention and control. Conclusion: Due to the recently developed cardiovascular guidelines that were made by the European Society of Cardiology and World Heart Federation, key priority for health authorities should be is to update the existing CVD guidelines in the Federation of BiH in accordance with the international good practice to support healthcare professionals in their efforts to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in both individual patients, as well as at a population level..

This is the issue of third volume of EFMI Inside - the official magazine of the European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI), founded in Lyon, France in August 2019, during “MEDINFO 2019” Conference and EFMI Council meeting. In this issue readers can find important information about events organized during 2022 by EFMI Working Groups and national Medical informatics associations, including the most influential Conference - 32nd MIE 2022 Conference held in Nice, France in May 2022, and EFMI STC held in Cardiff in September 22. This EFMI Inside issue contains important facts about other EFMI activities which needed to be recorded for people who couln’t be active participants at the evenings organized by EFMI and members of EFMI associatins.. Very important part of the issue is official report of the EFMI Council Secretary, Professor Alfred Winter about EFMI Council meetings during years 2020, 2021 and 2022 with included all important facts about EFMI activities during past, especialy during the mandate of Alfred Winter as Secretary from 2014 until 2022. It was the first time that all important facts about EFMI were completed at the one place and we decided to published it as some kind of historical bachground of EFMI for people who will continue managing EFMI Council and EFMI Board activities in the future.In this issue we also involved information about new elected Honorry Fellows during last three years and also obituaries about members who passed away, but their names need to be mentioned regarding its important contributions in the development of Medical informatics globaly and in its national organizatios, Some of chairs of Working Groups contributed with their reports in the past year who were actively involved in the development of Medical informatics in their countries, but also worldwide.

The idea for establishing “EFMI Inside” Newsletter was born in Lyon in August 2019, during “MEDINFO 2019” Conference and EFMI Council meeting, when Catherine Chronaki, Izet Masic, and some other EFMI Council members discussed and concluded to start with magazine in which we can record important and prompt facts and information about past, current and future activities of European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI). EFMI has other types of spreading information about important facts of its activities, as “Reports”, but closely for official Council members, as reports of national and other representatives in EFMI. This publication will be an important and useful resource of EFMI and its activities for everybody who wants to be familiar with Medical informatics development and achievements in all areas of this academic and scientific discipline in European countries, but also, worldwide. In the first issue of of “EFMI Inside” readers can find contributions of influential medical informatics persons, former or current EFMI Council members - Presidents or Chairs of Working Groups, Honorary Fellows, and other EFMI members who were actively involved in the development of Medical informatics in their countries, but also worldwide. A lot of facts “inside” of the ”newsletter” was not available and visible on the way like presented in this issue.