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.

Aim Steady progress in intensive treatment worldwide has increased the survival of immature neonates, but with multiple invasive procedures, which have increased the risk of infection, thus the bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The aim of this study was to analyse the epidemiology of multidrug resistance pathogens as causative agents of neonatal sepsis in the neonatal intensive care unit. Methods A retrospective cohort study conducted at the Intensive care unit of the Paediatric Clinic of Tuzla over a three-year period (2016-2018) analysed epidemiology of neonatal sepsis caused by multidrug resistance pathogens. Statistical analysis applied standard methods, and the research was approved by the Ethics Committee of the institution. Results Of the total of 921 treated neonates, multidrug resistance (MDR) pathogens among causative agents of neonatal sepsis were found in 22 neonates (2.38%) with no gender difference. Prematurity and low birth weight were confirmed as the most significant risk factors. From the maternal risk factors a significant difference was found in the first birth and in vitro fertilization. Clinically, MDR sepsis manifested frequently as late onset sepsis, with longer hospital stay and higher mortality. The findings of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and coagulation disorders were significant. Gram negative bacteria were frequently isolated, in particular Acinetobacter, which showed the greatest resistance to antibiotics. Conclusion Neonatal MDR sepsis is a threat to life, it complicates the treatment, increases costs and mortality. Outcomes can be improved by preventive strategies, earlier and more accurate diagnosis and rational use of antibiotics.

Introduction: Monitoring and diagnosing glaucoma until 2017 included funduscopy, IOP measurements, gonioscopy, pachymetry, as well as visual field tests, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC) can be observed by fluorescein angiography, as well as histologically - superficial and deep capillary layer. Aim: To correlate density of radial peripapillary capillary network (RPC) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in eight peripapillary segments in patients with a primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) which have the disease under 10 years of duration, over 10 years of duration and in a group of healthy patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional review which included three groups of patients: POAG patients under 10 years of disease duration, over 10 years of disease duration and control group of patients. The study is performed on the commercial optical coherence tomography angiography system (AngioVue, Avanti RTVue-XR, Optovue, CA). Sectoral RPC density values, RPC maps and RNFL thickness were analyzed in three groups of patients, data was compared and correlation between parameters was examined. Results: Mean RPC Density values in both superior segments (S1, S2) were significantly lower in patients with glaucoma over 10 years of disease duration compared to patients with glaucoma under 10 years of disease duration (p<0.05). Statistically significant positive correlation was established between RNFL thickness and RPC density in all eight peripapillary segments. Conclusion: Analysis of radial peripapillary capillary network density on optical coherence tomography angiography may provide an earliest functional sign of progressive optic nerve disease and new insights into the pathophysiology of glaucomatous damage.

Aim Phlebotominae sandflies are primary vectors of phleboviruses, causing the sandfly fever disease. The aim of this study was to detect and report the presence of flaviviruses in Phlebotominae sandflies captured in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods After a microscopic and morphometric analysis, the final identification of collected Phlebotomus specimens was confirmed by PCR, using a hemi-nested polymerase chain reaction on extracted and reversely transcribed RNA. Results We obtained a 155 nt long fragment of the viral non-structural protein 5 (NS5) gene (GenBank accession no. MN090154). The acquired nucleotide sequence, provisionally named as Drežnica, showed a maximum of 70-80% identity in 70-88% (110-137 nucleotides) of the query coverage with several Anopheles, Sabethes, Calbertado and Culex flaviviruses. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis showed that the new flavivirus Drežnica clusters together with the flavivirus isolated from Culiseta annulata mosquitos. Conclusion We report the presence of flavivirus in Phlebotominae sandflies, captured in Drežnica, Herzegovina for the first time. The next phase of research will be directed towards virus cultivation, obtaining a longer or complete virus sequence and clarifying the medical and epidemiological importance of the Drežnica virus.

Aim To present characteristics of collecting autologous peripheral blood stem cells over a one-year period with an emphasis on efficiency and safety. Methods A retrograde analysis of 24 leukapheresis in 20 adult patients with malignant haematological diseases in the Blood Transfusion Institute of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo, was done. Cell separators Amicus and Spectra Optia were used for collection procedures. Results The patient's age ranged from 27 to 65 years. Target cells were collected in one procedure in sixteen patients, while in four patients they were collected in two procedures. The mean CD34+ collection efficiency was 57.7%. The median number of CD34+ cells and percentage of CD34+ cells in the products were 5.52x10e6/kg (range 3.28-9.00) and 1.57% (range 0.96-2.91). A strong positive correlation was found between the number of CD34+ cells in peripheral blood on the apheresis day and the amount of CD34+ cells collected in the products (rs =0.73). A total of 95% of patients collected the amount of ≥3x10e6/kg and 55% of ≥5x10e6/kg CD34+ cells for a single transplant. A decrease in platelet count, haemoglobin and haematocrit values after the procedure was not significant. Potassium decrease showed statistical significance (p<0.000). Adverse events occurred during one procedure (4.2%). Conclusion A low number of adverse events and good collection efficiency with adequate patient monitoring, indicate that leukapheresis is a safe procedure that is successfully used in the autologous transplantation process in the treatment of malignant haematological diseases.

Abstract In this study, high hydrostatic pressure extraction (HHPE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) were used for the improvement of pectin and polyphenol recovery from tomato peel waste. HHPE enhanced pectin recovery by 15% after 45 min of recycling, in comparison with the conventional extraction (CE) for 180 min. Similar mass fractions of anhydrouronic acid, total sugars and total phenols were obtained by using both methods. FTIR and 1H NMR data confirmed that chemical composition of pectin obtained by HHPE and CE is identical, therefore it was concluded that the faster HHPE method can be used for its further isolation. Although depectinized residues subjected to UAE in 70% ethanol for 15 min contained two times lower values of total phenols (1625.7 mg/100 g) than pectinized samples (3643.9 mg/100 g), their quantities are not negligible, considering the fact that they are generated after HHPE. At the end of UAE, the residues were exploited as a source of fatty acids, among which lauric, palmitic and stearic acids are dominant. In conclusion, by shortening the extraction time using HHPE and UAE, it is possible to efficiently produce two valuable functional ingredients, pectin and polyphenols, and at the same time to reduce peel waste from tomato canning industry, which presents an environmental problem. Industrial relevance Utilizing HHPE and UAE as novel and emerging technologies, and combining them with traditional ones (Soxhlet) is given the solution for sequential isolation of pectin, polyphenols and fatty acids from tomato peel waste, generated by canning factory. Shortening of extraction time using HHPE and UAE, it is possible to replace the conventional techniques, and achieve efficient production of pectin and polyphenols. Overall, the extraction methodology proposed in this work could provide two valuable benefits, i.e. the producers could find mode for decreasing of disposal costs of waste and consumer would take opportunity that isolated compounds could be reintroduced into food.

The importance of agility in futsal is already recognized, but there is an evident lack of information about applicability of futsal specific tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate reliability, validity and correlates of tests evaluating the futsal specific pre-planned agility (PPA), and non-planned agility (NPA). The sample comprised 40 professional futsal players who were tested on newly developed tests of PPA and NPA, sprint over 10 meters, countermovement jump, body height and mass. The reliability analyses included calculation of intra-session Cronbach Alpha (CA) and Inter-Item-Correlation (IIR), as well as analysis (ANOVA) for repeated measurements. Differences between performance groups (starters [first team] vs. non-starters [substitutes]) were evidenced by t-test for independent samples and calculation of Effect Size differences (ES). Pearson’s product moment correlation was calculated to define associations between variables. The reliability of agility tests was appropriate, with somewhat better reliability of PPA (CA: 0.81 and 0.76, IIR: 0.79 and 0.72, for PPA and NPA, respectively). ANOVA did not reveal any significant differences among testing trials. Starters were had better PPA than non-starters (t-test: 1.98, p < 0.01, moderate ES). The PPA and NPA shared less than 40% of the common variance, which suggests that these capacities are independent. Jumping and sprinting were not significantly correlated to PPA and NPA. Study confirmed appropriate reliability of the newly developed tests, and applicability of the PPA in distinguishing performance-levels. Further studies in females and younger players are warranted.

We revisit the physics of neutrino magnetic moments, focusing in particular on the case where the right-handed, or sterile, neutrinos are heavier (up to several MeV) than the left-handed Standard Model neutrinos. The discussion is centered around the idea of detecting an upscattering event mediated by a transition magnetic moment in a neutrino or dark matter experiment. Considering neutrinos from all known sources, as well as including all available data from XENON1T and Borexino, we derive the strongest up-to-date exclusion limits on the active-to-sterile neutrino transition magnetic moment. We then study complementary constraints from astrophysics and cosmology, performing, in particular, a thorough analysis of BBN . We find that these data sets scrutinize most of the relevant parameter space. Explaining the XENON1T excess with transition magnetic moments is marginally possible if very conservative assumptions are adopted regarding the supernova 1987 A and CMB constraints. Finally, we discuss model-building challenges that arise in scenarios that feature large magnetic moments while keeping neutrino masses well below 1 eV. We present a successful ultraviolet-complete model of this type based on TeV-scale leptoquarks, establishing links with muon magnetic moment, B physics anomalies, and collider searches at the LHC.

Background The aim of the study was to address the working population with an occupational stress prevention program using mHealth solution and encourage them for healthy lifestyle choices. Methods Seventeen participants were randomized from the corporate setting. A 24alife app with a good compliance program was selected. Test battery has been designed to test the physical readiness, psychological evaluation and biological blood markers for stress. Participants were followed up after 30, 60 and 90 days, respectively, within the intervention period. Weight of participants was tracked three times per month. Univariate analysis compared the continuous variables by One-Way Repeated-Measures ANOVA test when the data were normally distributed, or Wilcoxon rank sum test for abnormal distribution of variables. Results Participants used the app with a compliance rate of 94.1%. The psychological evaluation revealed higher motivation for work, lower burnout scores and participants gave subjective responses of better general wellbeing. Some of the participants lost up to four kg of body mass. Physical readiness has also improved. Conclusions Results of mHealth projects on corporate could include primary health care institutions and health ministry to extend the existing system to patients’ pockets where they can monitor their disease and increase the ability of self-care.