Introduction: This study aims to compare the early and late diagnosis of foreign body aspiration (FBA) in children. Patients and methods: A pediatric rigid bronchoscpe under general anesthesia was used to identify and extract the foreign body in 48 children up to 14 years old. A retrospective review of a 4-year experience (from 2011 to 2014) in ENT Clinic Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Results: The were slight prevalence of boys, the majority were up to three years, average time for bronchoscopy was 90.7 hours. There was not significant difference between timing for bronchoscopy for children under and above three years. Near 100% children had timing for bronchoscopy less than one week. Conclusion: Delay in diagnosis of foreign body aspiration can produce morbidity in children and foreign body aspiration always has to be in mind when children have cough like main symptom. Early referral of patients following foreign body aspiration should be encouraged. 

The aim of this study was to evaluate anosognosia in acute stroke phase in order to type of stroke (ischemia, hemorrhage) and stroke localization as well as post-stroke patients recovery. Subjects and methods: In this prospective analysis were included 191 patients (96 males and 95 females) with first-ever stroke who were treated at the Department of neurology of the University Clinical Center in Tuzla. All patients were tested to anosognosia presence in acute stroke phase according to the modified Bisiach scale (7), while the level of disability was assessed using the Rankin scale (8) and level of functioning in daily activities using the Barthel index (9). Re-testing was done in week five post-stroke. Results: The average age of patients was 66.41 (mean age 10.21). Ischemic stroke had 168 patients (88%) while 23 (12%) the hemorrhagic one. The lesions localized to the right hemisphere were in 111 (58.11%) patients as well as in 80 (41.89%) patients with lesions localized to the left hemisphere. Anosognosia with no statistical significance was verified in 28% of patients in acute stroke phase, more often caused by lesions to the right hemisphere. Otherwise, significantly more frequent anosognosia was present in patients with hemorrhagic stroke mostly caused by massive lesions localized to the right hemisphere. Conclusion: Presence of anosognosia in patients with stroke vitally influenced patient’s functional status in re-testing phase just as well as in the acute stroke phase.

The development of industry, agriculture, transport and urbanization has resulted in excessive emissions of heavy metals into the environment, which due to their bioaccumulative properties express negative effects on the environment and living organisms as a whole. In this work the presence of heavy metals in the soil samples of the urban area of Lukavac and Kalesija municipality and their effect on the health of the population were studied. Soil samples were collected in October 2017 at five locations in the urban area of Lukavac municipality and two urban locations in Kalesija municipality. Concentrations of chromium (Cr) copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in the soil samples were determined. The results indicated that in some locations the concentration of heavy metals exceeded the maximum permissible concentration (MPC). MPC value for chromium was exceeded at four locations in the urban area of Lukavac, whereas MPC value for nickel and cadmium was exceeded at all locations. In Kalesija, MPC value was exceeded for chromium and nickel at one location, while cadmium MPC was exceeded at both locations. The negative impact of heavy metals on the health of the population is the cause of many malignant diseases. Statistical analysis of the number of patients with malignant diseases in the area of the Lukavac and Kalesija revealed significantly higher prevalence of malignant diseases of the lungs, breast, skin and cervix in the Lukavac (p<0,05) in comparisson to Kalesija municipality.

Objectives: cesarean section rates show a wide variation among countries, ranging from 0,4-40%, and continuous rise. Our aim was to test hypothesis that higher Cesarean rate than 15% does not correlates with lower perinatal mortality rate.Methods: We analysed 18-year period with high–quality cesarean delivery and perinatal mortality rates information data. Data were analised by Chi-square test with Yate's correction for large values.Results: Cesarean section rates has increasing trend. In first six-years of observed period (1998-2003) mean cesarean section rate was 17,24%, in second (2004-2010) 19,33% and in third (1011-2015) 23,97%. In observed period mean perinatal mortality rate was 9,90‰, with fluctuation of 20,70‰ to 3,82‰. In first six-years of observed period (1998-2003) mean perinatal mortality rate was 13,81‰, in second (2004-2011) 8,28‰ and in third (2011-2015) 7,46‰. These data clearly showed that increase of cesarean section rate more than 19,33% is not correlate with decreasing od perinatal mortality.Conclusion: Despite many suggestions that improvement in perinatal mortality does not necessarily rely upon an ever-increasing cesarean section rate and recommendation by World Health Organisation that cesarean section rate should not exceed 10-15 percent to optimise neonatal outcomes, this recommendation may be too low, and suggests rate of 19%.

Aims and objectives: This paperwork aims to analyse the knowledge and attitudes on immunisation, subjective perceptions of the risks and decision theory of vaccination amongst the specific female population living in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Purpose: The purpose of the research is to point out the significance of parents’ decisions and strengthening of positive attitudes on vaccination. Material and methods: The research was conducted during 2018. Females from different parts of the Federation were asked questions. There were 4000 respondents of different ages ranging from 20 to 50 years old females (approximately 1% of the target population). The respondents were classified according to their place of living (urban/rural), and also being a parent or not. The questionnaire was answered by 2504 respondents being parents with a certain experience with immunisation of their children, but also 1496 future parents who expressed their attitude towards immunisation. For this research, a special questionnaire was used, comprising 18 questions classified into 4 different groups. Results: Most of the respondents (71.2%) who already have children claim they vaccinated their children completely whereas 2.0% respondents from urban areas and 1.3% from rural areas explicitly refuse to vaccinate their children. The rest of the respondents (25.4%) claim they partially vaccinated their children or they are not familiar with the vaccination status of their children. Our research shows that parents are mostly informed about vaccinations and immunisation by some medical workers – paediatricians (36.6%). This research also suggests that respondents are showing a great level of reluctance and scepticism towards some medical workers and that only 40.6% of respondents unconditionally trust their doctor. Additionally, the results show that considering the safety of vaccines there are significant differences amongst urban and rural population. In urban areas, 18.8% of respondents claim that they completely trust vaccines and in rural areas there are 36.2% of respondents trusting them. Conclusion: We may conclude that personal experience, medical system efficiency, trusting medical professionals, vaccine safety and communication in public health community are very important to make decisions on vaccinating children

Background: People with intellectual disability, have been shown to become high and frequent users of primary health care services—both general population health professionals and intellectual disability specialists. Aim: The aim of this paper has been to assess differences of Health and Safety Activities children with intellectual disabilities on the Supports Intensity Scale-Children’s Version and to confirm assumptions that support needs are confounded with age, IQ andgender.Methods:The sample included 377 children with intellectual disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina aged 5-16. Most respondents also had the presence of other, concurrent conditions and disorders. Using IQ, the sample was equalized to the level of intellectual functioning, and this data was obtained from the findings and opinions of the Commission for the Categorization of Children with Special Needs.Results:It was found at the multivariate level there are statistically significant differences between respondents of different ages and IQ in values of type, frequency and time of duration of support. No significant differences between boys and girls were identified at the multivariate level. Healthcare professionals and intellectual disability specialists must work as a team to guarantee any person with intellectual disability possibility to come as close as possible to the standard levels of well-being and health-related quality of life of the general population.

Sputum eosinophils might predict response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Induction of sputum requires expertise and may not always be successful. Aim was to investigate correlation and predictive relationship between peripheral blood eosinophils (bEo) and sputum eosinophils (sEo), and impact of peripheral blood eosinophilia on outcome of COPD exacerbation. 120 current smokers with COPD (GOLD group C) (57.4 ± 0.92 years, M/F ratio 1.4), with no blood (≥7% or >0.43x109/L) nor sputum (≥3%) eosinophilia, were treated with moderate dose of ICS and long-acting bronchodilatator during stable disease, but systemic corticosteroids and antibiotics during exacerbation. According to sputum eosinophilia (≥4%) during exacerbation, patients were divided into eosinophilic (n=45) and non-eosinophilic group (n=75). In stable disease, bEo and sEo were similar in both groups (p>0.05). During exacerbation, bEo and sEo were significantly higher in eosinophilic group (eosinophilic vs. non-eosinophilic: blood: 1.42 ± 0.39 x109/l vs. 0.23 ± 0.02 x109/l, p<0.001; sputum: 8% (4, 19) vs. 1% (0, 3), p<0.0001), but bEo correlated with sEo in both groups (eosinophilic: r=0.52, p<0.001; non-eosinophilic: r=0.25, p<0.05). Relative bEo predicted sputum eosinophilia (area under the curve=0.71, standard error=0.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.61-0.81; p<0.001) and enabled identification of the presence or absence of sputum eosinophilia in 82% of the cases at a threshold of ≥4% (specificity=83.56%, sensitivity=93.83%, positive likelihood ratio=3.67). Eosinophilic group during exacerbation showed less frequent hospitalisations and shorter exacerbation (eosinophilic vs. non-eosinophilic: hospitalisations: 26.7% vs. 60.0%, p<0.001; duration of exacerbation (days): 8.1±0.35 vs. 10.13±0.31, p<0.0001). In COPD exacerbation, relative peripheral blood eosinophils ≥4% might identify sputum eosinophilia. Blood eosinophilia indicate better outcome of COPD exacerbation. Further investigations are needed to predict eosinophilic exacerbation in COPD patients, with prior absence of sputum or blood eosinophilia.

The aim of this research was to determine the differences among the top soccer players of the two clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, FC Sarajevo and FC Zeljeznicar, both from Sarajevo in the body composition and morphological characteristics. A sample of 51 subjects was divided into two sub-samples. The first sub-sample of the subjects consisted of 25 players FC Sarajevo of the average age 23.60±4.66, who occupied the first position on the table after the semi-season 2018/19, while the other sub-sample consisted of 26 players of FC Zeljeznicar of the average age of 23.58±4.93, who occupied the fourth position on the table after the semiseason 2018/19. Soccer players were tested between the two semi seasons of the championship 2018/19. Body composition and morphological characteristics in the were evaluated by a battery of 11 variables: body height, body weight, body mass index, fat percentage, muscle mass, upper leg skinfold, lower leg skinfold, triceps skinfold, biceps skinfold, skinfold of the back and abdominal skinfold. The standard central and dispersion parameters of all variables were calculated. The significance of the differences between the players of the top two soccer clubs in the variables for assessing body composition and morphological characteristics was determined by a t-test for independent samples. It was found that the soccer players of the two mentioned clubs have statistically significant differences by the two variables that estimate the upper leg skinfold and triceps skinfold, in favor of FC Sarajevo.

Due to the non-deterministic order of interactions between concurrent threads, testing of concurrent software is a challenge. In order to cope with this challenge, researchers have proposed analysis approaches in which the dynamic-based algorithms (e.g., Happens-before, Lockset) are an irreplaceable part. One of the biggest challenges of such algorithms, and a pre-condition to the analysis, is identification of memory locations that are shared between threads. This task is a significant contributor to the overhead of the analysis algorithms. In embedded systems that use static scheduling, scheduling is the implicit synchronization mechanism. In this paper, we suggest taking an advantage of static scheduling scheme to speed up the process of finding variables shared between threads, and with it, the identification of concurrency bugs. We demonstrate this concept by introducing modification to the Lockset algorithm and its internal structure. We show that considering static scheduling reduces the execution analysis time of the Lockset algorithm.

Embedded systems show a tendency of migrating to multicore processors. However, to fully use the potential of multicore processors, it is necessary to partition software into threads that execute concurrently and communicate using shared memory. In order to ensure the correctness and validity of shared data, threads need to synchronize their accesses. Currently prevailing lock-based synchronization introduces new challenges, as the hard-to-predict effect on the worst-case execution time seems to be most severe for embedded systems. Synchronization without locks (mainly lock-free) potentially offers many advantages over lock-based synchronization. In this paper, we investigate relevant aspects of embedded software systems affected by synchronization, including the testing process. We present conclusions in favor of and against migration to lock-free synchronization, including guidelines to help quantify the risks, and the results of applying testing tools to find concurrency bugs in software with lock-free synchronization. We look at the migration from the architectural point of view.

The complex process of biological aging, as an intrinsic feature of living beings, is the result of genetic and, to a greater extent, environmental factors and time. For many of the changes taking place in the body during aging, three factors are important: inflammation, immune aging and senescence (cellular aging, biological aging). Senescence is an irreversible form of long-term cell-cycle arrest, caused by excessive intracellular or extracellular stress or damage. The purpose of this cell-cycles arrest is to limit the proliferation of damaged cells, to eliminate accumulated harmful factors and to disable potential malignant cell transformation. As the biological age does not have to be in accordance with the chronological age, it is important to find specific hallmarks and biomarkers that could objectively determine the rate of age of a person. These biomarkers might be a valuable measure of physiological, i.e. biological age. Biomarkers should meet several criteria. For example, they have to predict the rate of aging, monitor a basic process that underlies the aging process, be able to be tested repeatedly without harming the person. In addition, biomarkers have to be indicators of biological processes, pathogenic processes or pharmacological responses to therapeutic intervention. It is considered that the telomere length is the weak biomarker (with poor predictive accuracy), and there is currently no reliable biomarker that meets all the necessary criteria.

Originating in the artificial intelligence literature, optimistic planning (OP) is an algorithm that generates near-optimal control inputs for generic nonlinear discrete-time systems whose input set is finite. This technique is therefore relevant for the near-optimal control of nonlinear switched systems, for which the switching signal is the control. However, OP exhibits several limitations, which prevent its application in a standard control context. First, it requires the stage cost to take values in [0, 1], an unnatural prerequisite as it excludes, for instance, quadratic stage costs. Second, it requires the cost function to be discounted. Third, it applies for reward maximization, and not cost minimization. In this paper, we modify OP to overcome these limitations, and we call the new algorithm OPmin. We then make stabilizability and detectability assumptions, under which we derive near-optimality guarantees for OPmin and we show that the obtained bound has major advantages compared to the bound originally given by OP. In addition, we prove that a system whose inputs are generated by OPmin in a receding-horizon fashion exhibits stability properties. As a result, OPmin provides a new tool for the near-optimal, stable control of nonlinear switched discrete-time systems for generic cost functions.

The European standard on transport logistics and services in public passenger transport EN 13816 is based on a relationship between the perception of users and transport carriers throughout the groups of criteria taken as a basis for observation in this paper. The constant development and improvement of services in order to achieve sustainability of passenger transport is an imperative on the one hand and a challenge on the other. This is highly evident in persons with disabilities who are faced with many physical and social barriers related to access to rail transport. In this paper, a new model for the selection of criteria for the quality of passenger service in rail transport, from the perspective of persons with disabilities as the main category of passengers, has been created. The survey has covered 168 criteria classified in several groups and the entire territory of Serbia. In order to select the most important criteria, a new model that implies the integration of Full Consistency Method and a Rough Power Heronian aggregator has been developed. The development of a new aggregator enables more accurate decision-making in the process of group decision-making. The results obtained in this paper show that the most important criteria according to importance are Accessibility, Availability, Security, Time, Customer care, Information, Comfort, Environmental impact. Based on the criteria obtained for the service quality of rail transport for persons with disabilities, railway carriers will be able to change and improve the existing services, content, characteristics, equipment of railway stations and vehicles.

Aim To determine a degree of change in the bones of workers who spend their full time job in sitting position and to find a correlation between smoking and changes in bone structure. Methods Examinees were 213 female workers who worked full time sedentary work in front of computer. Each worker was subjected to physical examination and ultrasonic osteodensitometry of calcaneus. Results The average age of patients was 45.4 years. Changes in bone density were found in 110 (51.64%) workers. Correlation between smoker and non-smoker groups was positive, but "r" was higher in smokers than in non-smokers. It is worrying that 10 out of 22 persons in the group up to 30 years of age have osteopenia. Conclusion Recommendation for regular annual control of bone density of the working group at risk regardless of age should be followed. Prescribing exercise for the working group at risk should be a significant part of preventive work in clinics of occupational medicine and sports.