Short-term efficacy of vedolizumab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease in real-life settings in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), necessitates effective management strategies. This study aims to evaluate the real-world efficacy of vedolizumab, a newer biological therapy, in treating IBD in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A retrospective observational study was conducted across 6 medical centers, involving 139 IBD patients, 76 with UC and 63 with CD. Patients were assessed for clinical remission and other outcomes at the 26-week mark post vedolizumab treatment initiation. At 26 weeks, clinical remission was achieved in 82.9% of UC patients and 85.7% of CD patients. Mucosal healing was observed in 38.1% of CD patients. The efficacy of vedolizumab did not significantly differ based on prior anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) exposure. Notably, the clinical scoring tools for predicting vedolizumab response showed limited applicability in this cohort. Vedolizumab demonstrated high efficacy in treating both UC and CD in a real-world settings in Bosnia and Herzegovina, underscoring its potential as a significant therapeutic option in IBD management.

Comparative analysis of substance use in ballet, dance sport, and synchronized swimming: results of a longitudinal study.

There have been few studies comparing substance use and misuse (SU&M) in different performing arts forms. Herein, we identified and compared SU&M in women studying an art (ballet, n = 21), a non-Olympic sport (dance sport, n = 25), and an Olympic sport (synchronized swimming, n = 23). The sample of variables comprised general, educational, and sport factors, as well as SU&M data, including consumption of opiates, cigarettes, alcohol, nutritional supplements, doping behaviors, and beliefs. Using the Kruskal-Wallis test, we found no significant differences between study groups in potential doping behaviors. Most of the examinees reported that they did not rely on physicians' and/or coaches' opinions regarding doping. Only sport dancers recognized their consumption of cannabis as a violation of anti-doping rules. Those more convinced that doping habits are present in their sport (or art) have a certain tendency toward doping usage. In conclusion, a strong anti-doping campaign within the studied arts is suggested, focusing on the health-related problems of SU&M.

Non linear anthropometric predictors in swimming.

In this paper we have tried to identify the significance and character of the linear and non-linear relations between simple anthropometric predictors: body height (BH), body weight (BW), and body mass index, and swimming performance: freestyle swimming 50 (FS50) and 400 meters (FS400), in a sample of young (15 years old on average) male (N = 40) and female (N = 28) swimmers. Linear (general model: y = a+bx) and nonlinear regression (general model: y = a+bx+cx2) were calculated simultaneously. Morphological variables are a significantly better predictor of the FS50 in males (BH mostly), and FS400 in females (BW mostly). This study emphasized some of the main advantages in the nonlinear regression calculation (including an interpretation of the relationships at a more superior level), and consequently allowed a precise anthropometric modeling in swimming using simple and easily measurable variables. For example, the best results in FS400 can be expected for the subjects that are average in BW (which guarantees solid muscle mass--the generator of force), but above average in BH (because of the physical law of lever). In conclusion, nonlinear regressions allow one to define the real nature of the relationships between variables, but only if compared with the linear ones. Additionally, this study emphasized one of the most important factors in defining possible specification-equation (e.g. structure of the influence of the different dimensions on the sport achievement) in different sports. In short, it underlines the importance of sampling the appropriate sample of the subject--highly skilled athletes exclusively.

Non-invasive liver fibrosis markers: use of serum levels of cytokines IL 1α and TGF ß1 in management of chronic liver diseases.

AIM: To analyze the usefulness of specified immunological parameters, proinflammatory IL-1α and profibrogenic, antiinflammatory TGF-ß1, along with routinely used laboratory tests, in the differential - diagnostic procedure of chronic hepatitis of infectious and noninfectious etiology. METHODS: A total of 150 subjects were divided into two groups, depending on the infectious or noninfectious etiology of liver damage, and the control group. Apart from standard laboratory tests, the analysis included serum levels of cytokines: IL-1α and TGF-ß1. RESULTS: A high degree of correlation of serum level of IL-1α with viral hepatitis has been found, especially with active replication of genetic material ( HBV-DNA or HCV-RNA-PCR positive), p less 0.01. The highest mean concentration of TGF-ß1 was noted in the group of malignant and toxic hepatitis, p less 0.0001. A negative correlation between the concentration of IL-1α and TGF-ß1 has been found (-0.18). For IL-1 α significant predictive parameters included a previous infection of hepatitis B, lower serum level of TGFß, age, use of alcohol, lower MELD and Chilld-Pugh scores. For TGF-ß1 significant predictive parameters were age, lower MELD and Child-Pugh scores, history of receiving transfusions, lower serum level of IL-1α, higher serum level of fibrinogen. A predictive model has been delivered MELD = (TGF-ß1) x 0,001- (IL-1 α) x 0,085 + CTP x 1,771-2,052; ( ± 2.04, R2=0,61; p less 0,001). CONCLUSION: Inflammatory and immune parameters, analyzed together could significantly contribute to the understanding of chronic liver damage and thus differential diagnostic procedure. IL-1α and TGF-ß1 are important parameters of inflammatory activity and fibrosis evaluation in chronic liver damage.

[Mucosal damage caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents in H. pylori infection]. / Ostecenje sluznice uzrokovane nesteroidnim antiinflamatornim lijekovima kod prisustva H. pylori infekcije.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenic role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in the setting of NSAID use is still controversial. Aim of the study is to prove increased incidence of gastric mucosa damage in H. pylori positive NSAID users compared to H. pylori negative patients. METHODS: Patients with dyspeptic symptoms (n = 160, average age 62.13 +/- 6.24, ranged from 51 to 77 years) were divided in two groups: 80 patients (45 male, 35 female) with positive history of using NSAID and same group with negative history for NSAID. All patients underwent endoscopy, examined to H. pylori presence by rapid unease test. Patients with ulcer or erosions (> 5) were evaluated and grade of gastric mucosa damage were done according to Forrest classification of gastrointestinal bleeding. RESULTS: In first group 69/80 of examined patients were H. pylori positive, in second group 56/80 were H. pylori positive (X2 = 5.266; p = 0.022). In gastric mucosa bleeding, caused with NSAIDs, H. pylori was not diagnosed more often compared to other group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with NSAID induced gastric injury were significantly greater incidence of H. pylori infection compared to patients without history of NSAIDs abuse. H. pylori was not significantly present in complication of ulcer disease (bleeding) caused by NSAID.