Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) usually develop symptoms when they reach the age of 6-7 years, but the risk of developing respiratory allergies, asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) remains high. In most children with AD, the development of asthma and AR is associated with sensitization to food allergens and/or aeroallergens, while only a small percentage missed atopic diathesis. In about 35% of children with AD, food allergy is the provoking cause, and 60% of infants who had AD in the first 3 months of life were sensitized against aeroallergens by the age of 5. The aim of the study was to follow development of asthma and AR and to assess the most significant risk factors for developing respiratory allergy. A total of 114 children with AD were followed up for five years. At annual visits, the severity of disease, total immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody values, skin prick tests, specific IgE antibodies to food allergens and aeroallergens, and absolute eosinophil count were assessed. Information on the family history of atopy and AD, feeding patterns during infancy, data on sensitivity to food allergens and/or aeroallergens, and on the occurrence of bronchial obstruction and nose symptoms were obtained. Asthma developed in 36 children, median age 7.7 years; 33 children had symptoms of AR, and 13 children with AD had both diseases associated; 38 children had sensitivity to food, of which 24 developed asthma and 13 AR; asthma developed in 18/23 children with sensitivity to aeroallergens, and almost an equal number of children developed AR. The increased absolute eosinophil count and specific IgE to aeroallergens and food allergens were the best asthma predictors, while AR predictors were family history and early onset of AD. In conclusion, children with AD are at a significant risk of developing respiratory allergies, and those with the increased absolute eosinophil count, positive specific IgE to aeroallergens and food allergens, heredity of AD, and early onset of AD are at the highest risk. Identification of risk factors will enable us to improve the treatments of AD in order to reduce the severity of disease and prevent manifestation of respiratory allergy.

Aim To determine newest the most accurate allele frequencies for 15 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in the Bosnian and Herzegovinian population, calculate statistical parameters, and compare them with the relevant data for seven neighboring populations. Methods Genomic DNA was obtained from buccal swabs of 1000 unrelated individuals from all regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Genotyping was performed using PowerPlex® 16 System to obtain allele frequencies for 15 polymorphic STR loci including D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX, and FGA. The calculated allele frequencies were also compared with the data from neighboring populations. Results The highest detected value of polymorphism information content (PIC) was detected at the PentaE locus, whereas the lowest value was detected at the TPOX locus. The power of discrimination (PD) values had similar distribution, with Penta E showing the highest PD of 0.9788. While D18S51 had the highest value of power of exclusion (PE), the lowest PE value was detected at the TPOX locus. Conclusion Upon comparison of Bosnian and Herzegovinian population data with those of seven neighboring populations, the highest allele frequency differentiation was noticed between Bosnian and Herzegovinian and Turkish population at 5 loci, the most informative of which was Penta E. The neighbor-joining dendrogram constructed on the basis of genetic distance showed grouping of Slovenian, Austrian, Hungarian, and Croatian populations. Bosnian and Herzegovinian population was between the mentioned cluster and Serbian population. To determine more accurate distribution of allelic frequencies and forensic parameters, our study included 1000 unrelated individuals from all regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and our findings demonstrated the applicability of these markers in both forensics and future population genetic studies.

The aim of the study was to investigate the unknown effect of air pollutants on the occurrence or deterioration of respiratory diseases in the area with a humid continental climate. This retrospective study included 5868 patients with respiratory symptomatology (upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), pneumonia, acute bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma) admitted to emergency department (ED). The number of patients, values of meteorological parameters (mean daily values of air temperature pressure and relative humidity) and concentrations of air pollution particles (≤10 μm (PM10), ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) were collected during a two-year ( July 2008 - June 2010) period. There were 1839 (31.3%), 1712 (29.2%), 1313 (22.4%), 614 (10.5%) and 390 (6.6%) patients with pneumonia, COPD, URTI, acute bronchitis and asthma, respectively. The mean daily concentrations of NO2 (25.9 (1.7-89.7) μg/m3), O3 (47.1 (4.7-135.4) μg/m3) and PM10 particles (25.7 (4.6-146.6) μg/m3) were below the legally defined thresholds. Among other results, the occurrence of respiratory diseases showed positive Spearman's correlation with the values of air humidity (days 0-3, r=0.15 to 0.19), PM10(days 0-3, r=0.10 to 0.13) and NO2 concentrations (day 0, r=0.11), and negative correlation with the values of air temperature (days 0-3, r=-0.36 to -0.34), pressure (day 0, r=-0.10) and O3 concentrations (days 0-3, r=-0.21 to -0.22) (p<0.05 all). In conclusion, the occurrence of respiratory diseases showed correlation with weather conditions and air pollutants despite the legally permitted values in the region with a humid continental climate.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) both are global epidemics with substantial burden on morbidity and mortality. They present major challenges to healthcare providers and often coexsist. Multiple interactions exist between these conditions. COPD is often responsible for delayed diagnosis of HF and vice versa, since both conditions have similar symptoms such as dyspnea and poor exercise tolerance based on the skeletal myopathic response rather than the primary organ failure. Patients with COPD also have an increased risk of developing HF and higher hospitalization and death rates compared with HF patients without COPD. Echocardiography and pulmonary function tests along with natriuretic peptides should be performed and carefully interpreted. Diagnostic assessment of both conditions present in the same patient is often difficult, but therapeutic approach is also often non-adherent to current guidelines. For example, patients with coexisting COPD and HF receive beta-blockers at disappointingly low rates below 20%. Closer collaboration between cardiologists and pulmonologists is required for better identification and management of concurrent COPD and HF.

Introduction: Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) and surgical site infections (SSI) are a global public health problem. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of SSIs at the Surgical Clinics of the University Clinical Centre Banja Luka and to identify risk factors for the development of SSIs. Methods: In order to determine the frequency of SSIs through the incidence compared to the patients operated at the Surgical Clinics of the University Clinical Centre Banja Luka, we conducted a prospective cohort study which encompassed 11.216 operated patients, in the period from November 11th, 2014 to September 30th, 2015. In order to identify risk factors for the development of SSIs, a nested case-control study of risk factors for SSIs was conducted. The study group consisted of patients who were diagnosed with SSIs in the period of monitoring, while the control group was consisted of patients without SSIs who corresponded with the study group in age and sex. Results: The highest values of incidence of SSIs were observed at the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care (2.65%), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (2.48%) and the Department of Vascular Surgery (2.15%), and the lowest ones at the Department of Urology (0.59%). Among the cases of SSIs, deep infections of the surgical site were the most represented (82.7%). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the following independent risk factors: length of pore-operative stay in hospital (p=0.000; OR=1.062; 95% CI=1.037-1.087), reintervention (p=0.000; OR=22.409; 95% CI=6.361-79.071) and cotrticosteroids (p=0.023; OR=4.141; 95%CI=1.221-14.047). Conclusion: The incidence of SSIs at the Surgical Clinics of the University Clinical Centre Banja Luka is at the level of hospitals in developed countries. There are a number of risk factors for SSIs, which may be prevented.

UDK: 630*81:674.031.632.2(497.6 Kladanj)            582.632.2:674.038.17(497.6 Kladanj) There are many factors that affect appearance and spreading of the red heart in beech stands. Therefore, this research presents an analysis of site quality class and taxation elements (diameter at the breast height, height of the tree and age of the tree) influence on the participation and distribution of the red heart in the forest compartments 107. M.U. „Gosteljaˮ - (II- quality class) and 47. M.U. „Srednja Drinjačaˮ - (III- quality class). The appearance of the red heart on the beech trees considering on the site quality class was researched, as well as the red heart appearance frequency in dependence on the tree diameter at the breast height and age of the tree, size and distribution of the red heart in the longitudinal and transverse direction. The results of research showed that the number of trees with the red heart and the length of the technical roundwood with the red heart increase with increase of diameter at the breast height (age of the tree). As well, it was established that the appearance frequency of the trees with red heart considering the diameter at the breast height (the age of the tree) was larger on the stands belonging low quality site classes. The site quality class affects the distribution of the red heart at the thicker beech trees in the longitudinal direction, while at the thinner and trees of medium diameter, the influence of site quality class on the distribution of the red heart is not expressed in great extent. Larger diameters of the red heart in average have beech trees on the low quality site classes.

UDK: 630*38:625.711.84(497.6 Trnovo) The forest truck roads, as one of the essential conditions for implementation of the planned biotechnical measures in the management unit, have to have an adequate quantity and quality. The aim of this research is determination of quantity and quality of the forest truck roads in the Management Unit (MU) „Gornja Rakitnica“, Forest Management Region (FMR) „Trnovsko“. The accessibility through wider categories of forest and total accessibility for MU have been calculated by the analysis of quantities indicators of the primary network of roads. The accessibility of the most important category of forests, from economy aspect, has been calculated – the forests with natural renewal. This accessibility amounts 12,7 m/ha. By the comparison of the values with the recommended minimum and optimum accessibility, it has been calculated that it is necessary to construct new forest truck roads. The data about quality have been obtained on the basis of terrain measurements in two forest truck roads „Rakitnica-Zućina vrela“ and „Pijevac – Borovac“. By the analysis of qualitative indicators in the analyzed roads it has been concluded that the network of forest truck roads in the MU „Gornja Rakitnica“ is passable i.e. it enables implementation of planned activities from all forest fields. The technical elements of the measured roads enable the values defined by technical regulations. The constructive elements: carriageway condition, slope cuttings, ditches and objects on the road are not in an adequate condition. If the adequate recovery works are not undertaken it could cause progressive deterioration of roads, which could influence functionality of roads transport of timber, access to compartments, etc… For the improvement of the condition of forest truck roads, the measures of recovery have been designed and the calculation of total and average costs has been carried out.