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.

Aim To investigate total homocysteine (tHcy) serum concentration in patients with probable vascular dementia (VD) and in agematched controls, as well as to determine an association between tHcy serum concentration and cognitive impairment in patients with probable VD. Methods Serum concentration of tHcy was determined by the Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay on the AxSYM System. Cognitive impairment was tested by the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each subject included in the study. Results Age, systolic, diastolic blood pressure and BMI did not differ significantly between the two groups. Mean serum tHcy concentration in the control group of subjects was 13.35 µmol/L, while in patients with probable VD it was significantly higher, 19.45 µmol/L (p=0.002). A negative but insignificant association between serum tHcy concentration and cognitive impairment in patients with probable VD was found. Conclusion Increased tHcy concentration in patients with probable VD suggests the possible independent role of Hcy in the pathogenesis of VD.

Introduction Leptin is a cytokine-like hormone which has a complex role in inflammation. However, the importance of leptin in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is far from being fully elucidated. The aim of the study was to determine serum leptin levels in RA patients and to evaluate whether there is an association between disease activity, anthropometric indices and leptin levels. Material and methods This hypothesis-generating study included 55 RA patients and 25 matched healthy subjects. The serum leptin concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Median serum leptin level in RA patients of 27.4 ng/ml (14.5–54.9 ng/ml) was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.03) compared with the median leptin value of 16.3 ng/ml (9.6–38.8 ng/ml) determined in healthy controls. The serum leptin level in the high disease activity group was significantly higher (p < 0.0005) than that in the low disease activity group and in healthy controls. A significant difference (p = 0.001) in serum leptin level was also found when the high disease activity group was compared with the moderate disease activity group. In the RA group a statistically significant positive correlation (rho = 0.390; p = 0.003) was observed between serum leptin level and disease activity score (DAS28). Conclusions The present results show that serum leptin levels are increased and significantly associated with disease activity in patients with RA and may have a valuable role in the inflammatory reactions and pathogenesis of RA.

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 objective of the study was to examine influence of various stimuli on the salivary flow rate in students. Methods : This cross sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, in 108 randomly included students. Students were divided into four groups: group 1-stimulated with physical activity (n=28), group 2-stimulated with chewing gum mint (n=28), group 3-stimulated with chewing gum strawberry (n=25) and group 4-stimulated with lemon flavored candy (n=27). Unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate was determined. Results : Out of 108 students included in the study, 46 were men. Age range was 19-26 years. The flow rate of stimulated salivary flow rate in the study group 1 was lower (0.21 ± 0.04 mL/min) compared to unstimulated one (0.34 ± 0.03 mL/min, (p=0.001). Stimulated salivary flow rates in groups 2, 3 and 4 were higher compared to unstimulated salivary flow rates (p<0.001). Unstimulated salivary flow rate was not associated with gender, daily consumption of cigarettes and chewing gums. There was positive association between unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate and negative association between BMI and stimulated salivary flow rate. Conclusion : Various stimuli had different influence on stimulated salivary flow rate, showing decrease by physical activity and increase by chewing gum and candy. The clinical use of candies and sugar free chewing gums can provide relief to patients with xerostomia. In order to clarify negative association between BMI and stimulated salivary flow rate, larger prospective studies with different age groups are needed. Keywords : saliva, stimuli, unstimulated salivary flow rate, stimulated salivary flow rate

Objectives: Aim of the present study was to investigate serum concentration of leptin and its association with values of body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 HD patients (34 male, 26 female) and 30 age- and sex-matched (4 males, 26 females) apparently healthy subjects. Serum leptin concentration was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum CRP concentration was measured by means of particle-enhanced immunonephelometry. ESR value was determined by Western Green method. BMI was calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m2). Results: Results have shown that median serum leptin concentration (30.65 ng/mL; 12.48-86.40 ng/mL) was statistically significantly higher in HD patients compared to median serum leptin concentration (15.75 ng/mL; 9.15-30.65 ng/mL) in the control group of healthy subjects (p<0.05). Likewise, median serum CRP concentration (5.5 mg/L; 1.93-8.9 mg/L) and median ESR value (57.5 mm/h; 40.5-77.0 mm/h) were significantly higher in HD patients compared to median serum CRP concentration (0.8 mg/L; 0.38-1.43 mg/L) (p<0.001) and median ESR value (10.0 mm/h; 6.5-14.0 mm/h) (p<0.001) determined in the control group. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between BMI values and serum leptin concentration in HD patients (rho=0.434; p<0.001). Positive, although not significant, correlation was observed between serum CRP and leptin levels in HD patients (rho=0.171; p>0.05). Negative correlation between ESR values and serum leptin concentrations in HD patients was determined but it was not statistically significant (rho= -0.029; p>0.05). Conclusions: Increased serum concentration of leptin as pro-inflammatory cytokine as well as elevated serum values of CRP and ESR indicate presence of systemic micro inflammation in HD patients. Results of the present study point to possible use of serum leptin concentration as an indicator of nutritional status in HD patients based on observed significant positive correlation between serum leptin concentrations and BMI values. However, absence of significant association between serum leptin and CRP levels as well as between serum leptin concentrations and ESR values in HD patients requires further investigation and clarification.

The aim was to examine the predictive value of two different equations for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) assessment: Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) in patients with chronic kidney diseases(CKD). We also aimed to compare sensitivity and specificityof the predictive equations in renal function assessment. Thestudy included 75 patients with CKD who were further dividedinto four groups according to the stages of disease (CKDStage 1-4) and 25 healthy subjects. The GFR was estimatedusing CG and MDRD equations. The estimated GFR valuesusing the MDRD equation in all groups were lower comparedto those calculated using the CG equation. In patientswith CKD stage 1, GFR was significantly lower as estimatedby MDRD compared to CG equation (p=0.032). The ROC curves for estimated GFR using CG and MDRD equations in CKD patients vs healthy subjects were significant (AUC for CG 0.839 and for MDRD 0.923; p<0.0005). The optimal cutoff value for GFR estimated by CG equation was 62.86 mL/min (sensitivity 81.25%; specificity 76%) and for estimated GFR using MDRD equation 57.2 mL/min/1.73° m2 (sensitivity91.3%; specificity 81%). MDRD equation yields higher sensitivity and specificity in predicting GFR in patients with CKD compared to CG equation. Key words: chronic kidney disease, glomerular filtration rate, Cockcroft-Gault equation, modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) study equation

Aim: To investigate the capacity of mean platelet volume (MPV) in detecting CD disease activity and in differentiating CD patients from healthy controls. Methods : MPV values were measured in 30 CD patients and 30 healthy individuals matched for age and gender. Based on the result of Crohn’s Disease Activity Index, CD patients were subdivided into two subgroups: active and inactive phase of disease. MPV was measured by standard methods for all study participants. Results: A significant decrease in MPV was noted in CD patients compared to healthy controls (p=0.002). When active CD patients were compared with inactive CD patients, a  significant decrease in MPV was also found (p=0.031). The overall accuracy of MPV in discriminating CD patients from healthy controls as well as active from inactive CD patients was 66% (cut-off level of 8.83 fL). Significant negative correlation between MPV and platelet count (PLT) (rho= -0.570; p=0.01) and significant positive correlation between MPV and platelet distribution width (PDW) (rho= 0.615; p=0.01) was observed in CD patients. Conclusion: Based on our results that have shown significant difference in MPV that was related to Crohn’s disease activity, we consider that MPV could be added to other serological markers of CD, especially in differentiating the active from the inactive phase of disease. Key words: mean platelet volume, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease

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.

AIM To investigate an influence of the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in serum on the activity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS The IBD patients of both genders (n=60) were divided in two equal groups, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Based on the result of activity index each group was subdivided in two subgroups: active and inactive phase of the disease. Age and gender matched apparently healthy individuals (n=30) involved in the control group. Serum TNF-α concentration was determined by enzyme linked immune-adsorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS The significant difference (Mann-Whitney Test) in serum TNF-α level was found between healthy controls 28.86 pg/ml (28.74 - 29.19 pg/ml) and CD patients (29.47 pg/ml (29.1 - 29.77 pg/ml) (p less than 0.05) and UC patients 29.34 pg/ml (29.14 - 29.71 pg/ ml) (p less than 0.05) respectively. Serum TNF-α level in patients with CD was higher compared to serum TNF-α level in patients with UC, but the difference was not significant (p more than 0,05). There were no significant difference in serum TNF-α concentrations either in CD or UC patients related to the phase of disease activity: active CD 29.53 pg/ml (29.20 - 29.90 pg/ml) vs inactive CD 29.26 pg/ml (29.15 - 29.53 pg/ml); active UC 29.53 pg/ml (29.32 - 29.85 pg/ ml) vs inactive UC 29.26 pg/ml (29.10 - 29.63 pg/ml). CONCLUSIONS Since there were no differences in serum TNF-α concentrations related to the disease activity we consider that TNF-α is not an adequate serum biomarker for an assessment of the disease activity in patients with IBD.

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in serum nitric oxide (NO) concentration in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients and its use as potential biomarker in differential diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) and in disease activity assessment. In 60 patients of both genders - 30 with ulcerative colitis and 30 with Crohn's disease - and 30 controls serum nitric oxide concentration was determined by measuring nitrite concentration, a stable metabolic product of NO with oxygen. Conversion of nitrates (NO3-) to nitrites (NO2-) was done with elementary zinc. The nitrite concentration was determined by classic colorimetrical Griess reaction. Median serum NO concentration was statistically different (p=0,0005) between UC patients (15.25 µmol/L; 13.47 - 19.88 µmol/L), CD patients (14.54 µmol/L; 13.03 -16.32 µmol/L) and healthy controls (13.29 µmol/L; 12.40 - 13.92 µmol/L). When active UC and CD patients were compared with inactive UC and CD patients respectively a significant difference in serum NO level was found (p=0.0005). With a cut-off level of 17.39 µmol/L NO had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 100% in discriminating between active and inactive UC patients. With cut-off value of 14.01 µmol/L serum NO level had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 69% in distinguishing between patients with active CD and inactive CD. Serum NO concentration is a minimally invasive and rapid tool for discriminating between active and inactive IBD patients and could be used as useful biomarker in monitoring of disease activity in IBD patients.

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.

Background: Nitric Oxide (NO) participation is recognized in numerous physiological and pathological processes. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease involving joints and other systems including salivary glands. The role of NO in pathogenesis of development of RA is still unknown. Aim & Objectives: We investigated NO concentration in saliva of 63 patients with RA and in 31 healthy control individuals. The aim of the study was also to investigate the correlation between saliva NO concentration and disease activity score (DAS28) in RA patients and to determine whether the statistically significant difference in saliva NO concentrations exists between RA patients with different stages of disease activity. Methods: Patients with RA in this cross;sectional study have been divided, based on the stage of disease activity evaluated by DAS28score, into three subgroups: low disease activity (n=19), moderate disease activity (n=19) and high disease activity (n=25). NO concentration was determined by measuring nitrite concentration by Griess reaction. Conversion of nitrate (NO ;3 ) to nitrite (NO ;2 ) was done with elementary zinc. Absorbance was measured at 546 nm with the use of spectrophotometer.

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.