The modern period of neurosurgery in Bosnia and Herzegovina began with the first neurosurgical procedure performed by Dr. Karl Bayer in 1891 on 3 patients with depressed skull fractures and epilepsy. In 1956 the Department of Surgery in Sarajevo designated several beds specifically for a neurosurgical unit. A significant milestone in the history of neurosurgery in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the establishment of the Division of Neurosurgery at the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo in 1970. The first neurosurgeon to complete his training in Bosnia and Herzegovina was Dr. Faruk Konjhodžić. The first female neurosurgeon was Dr. Nermina Iblizović. Presently, there are 7 neurosurgical departments in the country, located in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Zenica, Mostar, Banja Luka, Bihać, and Foča. The Association of Neurosurgeons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, founded in 2003, is a member of the European Association of Neurosurgical Societies and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. The aim of this historical paper is to provide a concise chronology of important events and mention key individuals who have contributed to the development of modern neurosurgery in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Objectives: To compare carotid endarterectomy patch angioplasty (p-CEA) with eversion carotid endarterectomy (e-CEA) and associated risks of early cardio-cerebrovascular complications. Methods: The study was a prospective randomized single-blind trial, monocentric, clinically applicable, descriptive analytical and comparative. From June 2021 to June 2023, 62 consecutive patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic stenosis of the internal carotid artery, admitted to our department and randomized into two groups: carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty and eversion carotid endarterectomy. Follow-up for 30 days after surgery. Results: During surgery e-CEA, 70% patients had an arrhythmia, and 24 hours after 66.7%, seven days after 46.7% and month after 13.3%. During surgery p-CEA, 33.3% patients had an arrhythmia, 24 hours later 33.3%, 7 days after 13.3% and 30 days after 13.3% patients. Statistically significant difference observed during surgery (Fishers p=0.004). One day after the surgery rate of patients with arrhythmia that were treated e-CEA has decreased, but it was still higher than after p-CEA (Fishers p=0.010). Conclusion: The frequency and categorization of postoperative cardiac arrhythmias after eversion carotid endarterectomy, the clinical implications of various postoperative heart rhythm disturbances and their long-term effects on patients need to be further investigate through sufficiently powered randomized controlled studies

Abstract Background During the first epidemic wave, COVID-19 surveillance focused on quantifying the magnitude and the escalation of a growing global health crisis. The scientific community first assessed risk through basic indicators, such as the number of cases or rates of new cases and deaths, and later began using other direct impact indicators to conduct more detailed analyses. We aimed at synthesizing the scientific community’s contribution to assessing the direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population health through indicators reported in research papers. Methods We conducted a rapid scoping review to identify and describe health indicators included in articles published between January 2020 and June 2021, using one strategy to search PubMed, EMBASE and WHO COVID-19 databases. Sixteen experts from European public health institutions screened papers and retrieved indicator characteristics. We also asked in an online survey how the health indicators were added to and used in policy documents in Europe. Results After reviewing 3891 records, we selected a final sample of 67 articles and 233 indicators. We identified 52 (22.3%) morbidity indicators from 33 articles, 105 severity indicators (45.1%, 27 articles) and 68 mortality indicators (29.2%, 51). Respondents from 22 countries completed 31 questionnaires, and the majority reported morbidity indicators (29, 93.5%), followed by mortality indicators (26, 83.9%). Conclusions The indicators collated here might be useful to assess the impact of future pandemics. Therefore, their measurement should be standardized to allow for comparisons between settings, countries and different populations.

Background. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia (SCZ) are highly heritable and linked to disruptions in foetal (neuro)development. While epigenetic processes are considered an important underlying pathway between genetic susceptibility and neurodevelopmental conditions, it is unclear (i) whether genetic susceptibility to these conditions is associated with epigenetic patterns, specifically DNA methylation (DNAm), already at birth; (ii) to what extent DNAm patterns are unique or shared across conditions, and (iii) whether these neonatal DNAm patterns can be leveraged to enhance genetic prediction of (neuro)developmental outcomes. Methods. We conducted epigenome-wide meta-analyses of genetic susceptibility to ASD, ADHD, and schizophrenia, quantified using polygenic scores (PGSs) on cord blood DNAm, using four population-based cohorts (npooled=5,802), all North European. Heterogeneity statistics were used to estimate DNAm pattern overlap between PGSs. Subsequently, DNAm-based measures of PGSs were built in a target sample, and used as predictors to test incremental variance explained over PGS in 130 (neuro)developmental outcomes spanning birth to 14 years. Outcomes. Probe-level analyses showed SCZ-PGS associated with neonatal DNAm at 246 loci (p<9x10-8), predominantly in the major histocompatibility complex. Functional characterization of SCZ-PGS loci confirmed strong genetic effects, significant blood-brain concordance and enrichment for immune-related pathways. 8 loci were identified for ASD-PGS (mapping to FDFT1 and MFHAS1), and none for ADHD-PGS. Regional analyses indicated a large number of differentially methylated regions for all PGSs (SCZ-PGS: 157, ASD-PGS: 130, ADHD-PGS: 166). DNAm signals are largely unique for individual PGSs. Finally, a DNAm-based measure of genetic susceptibility at birth nominally increased explained variance for several child cognitive and motor outcomes above PGS, but not after multiple testing correction. Interpretation. Genetic susceptibility for neurodevelopmental conditions, particularly schizophrenia, is detectable in cord blood DNAm at birth in a population-based sample, with largely distinct DNAm patterns between PGSs. These findings support the early-origins perspective on schizophrenia. Funding. HorizonEurope; European Research Council Keywords. Population-based; Genetic susceptibility; DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Neurodevelopmental conditions; Generation R Study; PREDO; ALSPAC; MoBa

Mining of the thick coal layers that include roof caving operation can results in residual coal quantities in the gob as a potential threat causing occurence of spontaneous oxidation process, smoldering, and endogenous mine fire that can affect the safety and regular mine operations. Endogeneous fire occurences in Zenica coal mines are directly linked to complex natural conditions reflecting in complex geological conditions, great depth of mining, high methane content in coal seams, and tendency of coal to spontaneous oxidation process. The subject of the paper is the analysis of endogenous fire supression method applyed in conditions of complete coal thickness longwall mining in Raspotočje mine, that has been rehabilitiated upon the endogeneous fire and then reactivated. The following methods were used in fire fighting: passive fire fighting methods (sealing of the area affected by the fire), active method (injection of electrofilter ash) and ventilation methods. Furthermore additional data (position of gob area and sealing objects, air flow regulators, routes of possible air migration, suggested technical solutions, etc) were added in the linear and canonic schemes for the purpose of defining efficient solutions for fire fighting. Key words: endogenous fire, longwall mining, advancing mining, fire fighting.

The aim of this study was to analyze various environmental factors influencing dyslexia to enhance our understanding of its risk factors, including the exposure of mothers of dyslexic children to potential negative developmental influences, perinatal and postnatal developmental characteristics of dyslexic children, genetic predisposition, socioeconomic status, and reading exposure in dyslexic children.Mothers of both dyslexic and non-dyslexic children took part in the study. The home literacy environment and the development of motor skills emerge as significant risk indicators for dyslexia. These findings hold profound implications for public health, emphasizing the critical importance of early childhood in providing children with the best possible educational opportunities.Key words:risk factors, dyslexia, child development, developmental influences, home literacy environment

In diffusion research, journalistic coverage is acknowledged as a significant factor in spreading awareness and fostering knowledge about innovation, potentially accelerating or impeding the adoption process. With regards to AI-related innovations, this dynamic has largely been studied within the context of Western developed countries. There is far less understanding of how this process unfolds in the news ecosystem of post-communist countries, particularly those with lower democratic standards and weaker economic development, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. With the intention of gaining preliminary insights, this study investigated how the journalistic organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina covered the emergence and societal adoption of ChatGPT, a novel form of generative AI, during the initial six-month period following its widespread availability. The content analysis of relevant news messages (N=542) published by 40 legacy and digital- only news outlets was used to explore the key characteristics of journalistic coverage, the attention given to the issue over time and the media depictions of this innovative AI technology. Results indicate that a small group of news outlets, predominantly legacy news organizations, provided significantly more content on ChatGPT than others, particularly public broadcasting services. Findings highlight a tendency among news outlets to focus on either the risks or benefits of ChatGPT and similar AI-based products and amplify sources associated with the business sector and high-tech industry, overrepresented by male voices.

Introduction. At the end of 2019 and the year before, there was a significant spread of measles in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region.Gap statement. Among the countries that reported, a measles outbreak was Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).Aim. To describe the measles outbreak in BiH (an entity of the Federation of BiH, FBiH) in 2019.Methodology. Confirmatory IgM serology, measles nucleic acid detection by real-time RT-PCR and virus genotyping were done in the WHO-accredited laboratory for measles and rubella at the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Unit for Clinical Microbiology. Genotype was determined in all measles-RNA-positive cases by sequence analysis of the 450 nt fragment coding the C-terminal of measles virus nucleoprotein (N).Results. From 1 January to 31 December 2019, 1332 measles cases were reported, with the peak observed in April 2019 (413/1332, 31.01 %). Sarajevo Canton had the highest incidence, number of cases and percentage (206.4; 868/1332; 65.17 %) of measles cases. Around four-fifths of infected persons were unvaccinated (1086/1332, 81.53 %), while 4.58 % of the patients (61/1332) were immunized with one dose of measles-containing vaccine. The highest proportion of cases was found in children 0-6 years of age (738/1332, 55.41 %). Measles IgM positivity was determined in 75.88 % (346/456), while virus RNA was detected in 82.46 % (47/57) of the swab samples. All measles virus sequences belonged to genotype B3. SNP (position 216: C=>T) was detected in 1 of the 40 sequences obtained during this outbreak.Conclusion. Due to suboptimal immunization coverage, BiH belongs to countries at a high risk for measles outbreaks. Post-COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, targeted and tailored strategies are required to ensure routine vaccination demand and acceptance and broad partner and stakeholder group participation.