Background: The prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) is up to 1-2% of the adult population in developed countries, rising to >10% after the age of 70. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains a prevalent clinical syndrome associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan in a group of ambulatory patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and its effect on the hemodynamic, metabolic, renal, and cardiac remodeling parameters. Methods: From January 2018 to May 2021, 106 patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were prospectively enrolled. Patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan (ARNI) were compared with an arm of the same size (n = 53) and matched by age and gender who were taking a standard optimal medical therapy for HFrEF. Results: The 106 patients completing the study were characterized by age: 69.5 ± 8.0, 64% are male gender. The mean duration of follow-up in the 2 treatment arms was 12 months. In the ARNI arm, we evaluate the hemodynamic, metabolic, renal, and cardiac remodeling parameters upon the initial evaluation and at the end of the follow-up after 12 months treatment with sacubitril/valsartan. The LVEF values increased significantly (p < 0.001) in the ARNI arm compared to the OMT arm, 42.1 % vs. 30.1%. The LVMI decreased from a baseline value of 153.1 g/m2 to 147.8 g/m2 with significant improvement only in the arm treated with ARNI. The eGFR values increased significantly (p < 0.001) in the ARNI arm compared to the OMT arm 70.1 vs. 64.9 mL/min/1.73 m2. Initiation and titration of sacubitril-valsartan was associated with a reduction in NT-pro-BNP concentration, the values of NT-pro-BNP improved significantly only in the arm treated with ARNI 3107.1 vs. 5678.2. Mortality and re-hospitalization due to HF were lower in the arm treated with ARNI compared to the control (20.3 vs. 32.4 % and 25.3 vs. 46.6 %, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Sacubitril/valsartan is an important advancement in the treatment of HFrEF. Sacubitril/valsartan induce “hemodynamic recovery”. This study provides real-world data demonstrating incremental improvements in functional and echocardiographic outcomes in optimally treated patients with HFrEF switched to sacubitril/valsartan in ambulatory setting.

Introduction: Domestic violence is a threat to human dignity and public health. Mounting evidence shows that domestic violence erodes personal and public health, spawning issues such as lifelong mental health challenges. To further compound the situation, COVID-19 and societies’ poor response to the pandemic have not only worsened the domestic violence crisis but also disrupted mental health services for domestic violence victims. While technology-based health solutions can overcome physical constraints posed by the pandemic and offer timely support to address domestic violence victims’ mental health issues, there is a dearth of research in the literature. To bridge the research gap, in this study, we aim to examine technology-based mental health solutions for domestic violence victims amid COVID-19. Methods: A literature review was conducted to examine solutions that domestic violence victims can utilize to safeguard and improve their mental health amid COVID-19. Databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus were utilized for the literature search. The search was focused on four themes: domestic violence, mental health, technology-based interventions, and COVID-19. A reverse search of pertinent references was conducted in Google Scholar. The social ecological model was utilized to systematically structure the review findings. Results: The findings show that a wide array of technology-based solutions has been proposed to address mental health challenges faced by domestic violence victims amid COVID-19. However, none of these proposals is based on empirical evidence amid COVID-19. In terms of social and ecological levels of influence, most of the interventions were developed on the individual level, as opposed to the community level or social level, effectively placing the healthcare responsibility on the victims rather than government and health officials. Furthermore, most of the articles failed to address risks associated with utilizing technology-based interventions (e.g., privacy issues) or navigating the online environment (e.g., cyberstalking). Conclusion: Overall, our findings highlight the need for greater research endeavors on the research topic. Although technology-based interventions have great potential in resolving domestic violence victims’ mental health issues, risks associated with these health solutions should be comprehensively acknowledged and addressed.

Objective. The objective of this study was to study the morphometry of the styloid process of the temporal bone and the prevalence of an elongated styloid process in relation to side and gender. Material and Method. The present study included 200 human skulls which were procured from the rich osteological collections of the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo. The styloid process was observed macroscopically on both sides of all the skulls and elongations, if any, were noted. The lengths of the styloid processes were measured using digital vernier calipers. The measurements were taken from the point of emergence of the process (base) up to the tip. Results. Out of 200 specimens, only 14 cases (7%) exhibited an elongated styloid process. The mean length of the styloid process was 25.8±4.68 mm and 24.2±4.54 mm for the right and left sides, respectively. The size of the styloid process did not different significantly between the two sides (P=0.724). The mean length of the styloid process was 24.05±3.54 mm in females and 25.95±5.68 mm in males, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.023). Conclusion. The study and knowledge of the anatomical variations of the styloid process in the Bosnian population may help clinicians to diagnose Eagle’s syndrome. Knowledge of this disorder can prevent the worsening of the painful symptoms related to an elongated styloid process.

Extended Abstract Phosphonates possess a great potential for the therapy of bone tumours due to their inhibitory potential for osteoclasts. The delivery of phosphonates via cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) seems a promising approach for their increased efficacy in target tissues. However, the immunological effects of these conjugates have not been investigated thoroughly. Here we modified used wood-based native (n)CNC, oxidized (ox-CNC) and phosphonate (3-AminoPropylphosphonic Acid (ApA))-conjugated CNC to test their physicochemical properties and immunomodulatory potential. Modification of CNC increased their elasticity module and hardness, which resulted in their reduced internalization by

. We present data on NAb and T cell responses against whole live virus, including wild-type SARS-CoV-2 (WT), Beta, and Delta VOCs. We

BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, a multitude of surveys have analyzed the impact virus spreading on the everyday medical practice, including neurosurgery. However, none have examined the perceptions of neurosurgeons towards the pandemic, their life changes, and the strategies they implemented to be able to deal with their patients in such a difficult time. METHODS From April 2021 to May 2021 a modified Delphi method was used to construct, pilot, and refine the questionnaire focused on the evolution of global neurosurgical practice during the pandemic. This survey was distributed among 1000 neurosurgeons; the responses were then collected and critically analyzed. RESULTS Outpatient department practices changed with a rapid rise in teleservices. 63.9% of respondents reported that they have changed their OT practices to emergency cases with occasional elective cases. 40.0% of respondents and 47.9% of their family members reported to have suffered from COVID-19. 56.2% of the respondents reported having felt depressed in the last 1 year. 40.9% of respondents reported having faced financial difficulties. 80.6% of the respondents found online webinars to be a good source of learning. 47.8% of respondents tried to improve their neurosurgical knowledge while 31.6% spent the extra time in research activities. CONLCUSIONS Progressive increase in operative waiting lists, preferential use of telemedicine, reduction in tendency to complete stoppage of physical clinic services and drop in the use of PPE kits were evident. Respondents' age had an impact on how the clinical services and operative practices have evolved. Financial concerns overshadow mental health.

This manuscript summarizes the educational and scientific outcome of the Research-based learning activities performed in the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programmes in aerospace engineering at the Technical University of Madrid. The activities are related to the line of research in Phase Change Materials in microgravity developed at the Spanish User Support and Operations Centre. The principal scientific results obtained during these years are outlined, drawing particular attention to those related to the “Thermocapillary Effects in Phase Change Materials in Microgravity” experiment and the “Effect of Marangoni convection on heat transfer in Phase Change Materials” project. The outcomes of this research are discussed from an educational perspective. Since 2016, we observe an increased interest from students to participate in research activities, which has had direct positive impact on the production of scientific results

Background Neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the most frequent spinal cord injury (SCI) complications. Pain, quality of life, and functionality are associated and can lead to pain catastrophization. Pharmacological management of patients with NP secondary to SCI is widely known and there is increasing evidence in the area. Nevertheless, nonpharmacological management is not fully elucidated since its efficacy is inconclusive. Objective We hypothesize that (1) hydrotherapy is effective in reducing NP secondary to SCI. Additionally, our secondary hypotheses are that (2) hydrotherapy decreases the catastrophization of NP, and that (3) hydrotherapy improves life quality and minimizes the degree of disability, when compared to physical therapy. Methods A sample of approximately 20 participants will be randomly assigned to either the intervention (hydrotherapy) or control group (standard physical therapy). Both interventions will be administered twice a week over a 9-week period (18 sessions in total). Primary outcomes are changes in neuropathic pain perception and pain catastrophization. Secondary outcomes are changes in disability and quality of life scores. They will be assessed at baseline and follow-up at 4 weeks after discharge. Validated Spanish language scales that will be used are the following: Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Pain Catastrophization, Health-related Quality of life, and the World Health Organization’s Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Generalized mixed linear models will be used for comparing baseline and postintervention means of each group and their differences, together with 95% CIs and P values. A P value of less than .05 will be considered significant. Results Recruitment began in April 2019, and we recruited the last participants by December 2019, with 10 individuals assigned to hydrotherapy and 8 to physical therapy (control). Results from this study will be disseminated via scientific publication, in ClinicalTrials.gov, and in national and international conferences in the latter half of 2022. Conclusions This trial will explore the effects of hydrotherapy on neuropathic pain, together with functionality and quality of life, in patients with SCI. Furthermore, this study aims to evaluate these therapeutic modalities, including perception variables, and mental processes, which may affect the clinical condition and rehabilitation outcomes in these patients. Hydrotherapy is likely to be a safe, efficient, and cost-effective alternative to the current standard of care for NP secondary to SCI, with comparable results between the two. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04164810; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04164810 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/37255

The last several years have seen a strong growth of telerobotic technologies with promising implications for many areas of learning. HCI has contributed to these discussions, mainly with studies on user experiences and user interfaces of telepresence robots. However, only a few telerobot studies have addressed everyday use in real-world learning environments. In the post-COVID 19 world, sociotechnical uncertainties and unforeseen challenges to learning in hybrid learning environments constitute a unique frontier where robotic and immersive technologies can mediate learning experiences. The aim of this workshop is to set the stage for a new wave of HCI research that accounts for and begins to develop new insights, concepts, and methods for use of immersive and telerobotic technologies in real-world learning environments. Participants are invited to collaboratively define an HCI research agenda focused on robot-mediated learning in the wild, which will require examining end-user engagements and questioning underlying concepts regarding telerobots for learning.

Aim To determine the predictive value of phosphorylated human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (pHER2Y1248) status in breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing trastuzumab-based adjuvant therapy. Methods Immunohistochemical status of pHER2Y1248, EGFR/HER1, HER3, and HER4 was determined in 124 consecutive HER2-positive BC patients (median age [range] = 57 years [49.0-64.0]) treated at the University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, between 2008 and 2011. The median follow-up was 84 months (60.0-84.0). Prognostic factors of disease free survival (DFS) rate were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier/log-rank test and Cox regression analysis. Results pHER2Y1248, HER1, HER3, and HER4 were expressed in 66.1%, 9.7%, 70.2%, and 71.0% of patients, respectively. Disease progression (DP) was observed in 17.1% of pHER2Y1248-positive and 47.6% of pHER2Y1248-negative BCs (P = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a worse five-year DFS in pHER2Y1248-negative patients who were older than 60 years (P < 0.001) and had positive lymph node status (P < 0.001); tumor size >2.0 cm (P < 0.001); higher histological grade (P < 0.001); HER2E intrinsic subtype (P < 0.001), negative hormone receptors (P < 0.001); negative HER1 status (P < 0.001), positive HER3 (P = 0.002); and/or positive HER4 (P = 0.002) status. The only negative prognostic factor for five-year DFS in multivariate Cox regression analysis was pHER2Y1248-negative (hazard ratio [HR] 3.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-7.2, P < 0.001) and lymph node-positive status (HR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3-9.8, P = 0.014). Conclusion pHER2Y1248 predicts sensitivity to trastuzumab and a better five-year DFS regardless of any other prognostic parameter. In HER2-positive BC patients. Non-phosphorylated HER2Y1248 is a strong predictor of trastuzumab resistance and a poor DFS.

Does temporal thought extend asymmetrically into the past and the future? Do asymmetries depend on cultural differences in temporal focus? Some studies suggest that people in Western (arguably future-focused) cultures perceive the future as being closer, more valued, and deeper than the past (a future asymmetry), while the opposite is shown in East Asian (arguably past-focused) cultures. The proposed explanations of these findings predict a negative relationship between past and future: the more we delve into the future, the less we delve into the past. Here, we report findings that pose a significant challenge to this view. We presented several tasks previously used to measure temporal asymmetry (self-continuity, time discounting, temporal distance, and temporal depth) and two measures of temporal focus to American, Spanish, Serbian, Bosniak, Croatian, Moroccan, Turkish, and Chinese participants (total N = 1,075). There was an overall future asymmetry in all tasks except for temporal distance, but the asymmetry only varied with cultural temporal focus in time discounting. Past and future held a positive (instead of negative) relation in the mind: the more we delve into the future, the more we delve into the past. Finally, the findings suggest that temporal thought has a complex underlying structure.

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in anthropometric characteristics between sprinters and jumpers to aim education more accurately in these fields. The study included 24 men in athletics, they were divided into two groups: 14 sprinters (age 21.57 ± 1.16 years) and 10 jumpers (21.80 ± 1.03 years). The variables included 13 anthropometric measures. To determine the differences between groups of variables it was used Mann-Whitney U test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of the Mann-Whitney U test showed statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in two variables for estimating subcutaneous adipose tissue, chest skinfold, and midaxillary skinfold. Other analyzed variables for assessing the longitudinal of the skeleton, and body mass and volume differences were not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05). These findings may give coaches better knowledge, suggest following recent methods and be more careful in training programs with different athletics.

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in anthropometric characteristics between sprinters and jumpers to aim education more accurately in these fields. The study included 24 men in athletics, they were divided into two groups: 14 sprinters (age 21.57 ± 1.16 years) and 10 jumpers (21.80 ± 1.03 years). The variables included 13 anthropometric measures. To determine the differences between groups of variables it was used Mann-Whitney U test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of the Mann-Whitney U test showed statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in two variables for estimating subcutaneous adipose tissue, chest skinfold, and midaxillary skinfold. Other analyzed variables for assessing the longitudinal of the skeleton, and body mass and volume differences were not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05). These findings may give coaches better knowledge, suggest following recent methods and be more careful in training programs with different athletics.

Background Serostudies are important resources when following pandemics and predicting their further spread, as well as determining the length of protection against reinfection and vaccine development. The aim of this study was to update data on the prevalence of seropositive individuals in Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) from September 2020 to May 2021. Methods Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were quantified using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results Compared to the period April–July 2020, when anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 3.77% of samples, one year later (May 2021) the estimated percentage within the same population of the urban Canton Sarajevo was 29.9% (5,406/18,066). Of all anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ig-positive individuals, 53.27% were men, and 69.00% were of 50 years of age or younger. Also, the current update found the individuals 50 years of age or younger to be more frequently anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ig positive compared to older individuals. On the other hand, higher median anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ig levels were found in individuals > 50 years old than in younger individuals, as well as in men compared to women. Seropositivity gradually increased from September 2020 to May 2021, with the lowest frequency of positive cases (3.5%) observed in September 2020, and the highest frequency (77.7%) in January 2021. Conclusion Our results provided important seroprevalence data that could help in planning restrictive local public health measures to protect the population of Sarajevo Canton, especially considering that at the time of the study the vaccines were virtually inaccessible to the general population not belonging to any of the high-priority groups for vaccination.

Clinopidium vulgare L. (wild basil, Lamiaceae) is a well‐known medicinal plant used in the traditional medicine in many countries. Medicinal plants present potential sources of bioactive compounds. Many of them are rich in polyphenol compounds that show biological potential in terms of protecting biological molecules from oxidation and in inhibition of cholinesterase enzymes, which may be significant in the treatment of diseases related to oxidative stress. In this work, we examined the chemical composition of Clinopodium vulgare L. hot water and methanol extract using spectroscopic and HPLC/DAD techniques. Using DPPH and FRAP methods the antioxidant activity was analyzed. The ability to protect proteins and lipids from oxidation was also determined as well as the ability of extracts to inhibit cholinesterase enzymes using Ellman's method. Analyzed extracts were rich in polyphenol compounds. Among 16 identified and quantified phenolic compounds dominant were: rosmarinic (26.63 and 34.21 mg/g) and ellagic acid (23.11 and 29.31 mg/g) of hot water and methanol extract, respectively. They show good antioxidant activity and good potential in protecting lipids from oxidation. The ability of extracts to inhibit enzyme acetylcholinesterase was weak, while inhibition of the butyrylcholinesterase was missing. Extracts show prooxidant activity in terms of protecting proteins from oxidation.