Biochemical and Hematological Profile of Covid-19 Patients on Mechanical Ventilation.

Beakground: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in COVID-19 patients, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which are the most common comorbid conditions in COVID-19 patients, is considered a risk factor for premature mortality in the population. The aim of the study is to compare the standard biochemical and hematological markers of COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation and those who have recovered, and to identify differences by gender and comorbidities, as well as the dominant marker in comorbidities that frequently shows statistical significance, in order to investigate its prognostic value in further research. METHODS: The study is a retrospective study of patients with RT-PCR confirmed presence of the Sars-CoV-2 virus who were hospitalized at the Zenica Cantonal Hospital. The study lasted from February to April 2021. RESULTS: The results of the study, which included a sample of 302 participants, indicate that men were more represented in both the mechanical ventilation group and the recovered group, with 59.6% compared to women with 40.4%. Among the investigated biochemical and hematological parameters, there was a significantly higher number of leukocytes, urea, creatinine, LDH, and troponin in patients on mechanical ventilation, while the number of platelets was significantly higher in recovered patients. The most common comorbidity was hypertension in both groups of patients, with 24.5%. In patients on mechanical ventilation with cardiovascular disease, there was a significantly higher number of leukocytes, urea, creatinine, LDH, and troponin. In the same patients with three comorbidities, there was a significantly higher number of leukocytes, troponin, and LDH, while recovered patients without comorbidities had a significantly higher number of platelets. CONCLUSIONS: The male gender and comorbidities remain a vicious circle in COVID-19 infection, while biochemical and hematological markers can help in forecasting and improve the clinical treatment of these high-risk patients.

Eating habits in the turn of the 19th and 20th century: exhibition of menu cards at the Sarajevo City Museum.

Through a selection of menu cards exhibited at the Sarajevo City Museum, this article looks into the eating habits in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century (period before the World War I). These menu cards offer a specific overview of eating habits of all ranks of society in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where there are no essential differences between dinner tables of prelates and ordinary people. The paper gives a short comparison of traditional eating habits in Bosnia and Herzegovina with nowadays eating habits, especially concerning the problem of obesity.

Participation of women in the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Many authors have written about the participation of women in WW2 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, mostly in health care. Participation of Bosnian and Herzegovinian women in the 1992-1995 war was also significant. According to Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina data, there were 5360 recruited women. Some were engaged in logistics and some were fighters. This review presents the characters of the brave women who have inspired current generations.