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Clinical trials in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Challenges and future perspectives. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2022; 28:100953. [PMID: 35800034 PMCID: PMC9254004 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2022.100953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clinical trials (CTs) are research investigations in which participants receive medical treatments, interventions, or tests to assess their safety and efficacy. Each planned clinical is registered through local or national medical agencies, which may differ in the amount of administrative and legal procedures. The objective of this study was to systematically analyze the registration process for clinical trials in Bosnia and Herzegovina in comparison to other Balkan countries. Methods The search strategy was based using two online databases: Clinicaltrials.gov (CTGR) and Cortellis Clinical Trials Intelligence (cTi). Search engines included studies until 26th April 2021 and countries were compared in terms of the number of studies, status, type, funding, clinical phases and demographic data. Results The total number of clinical trials from Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded in the CTGR database was 219, while the cTi database comprised 254 registered studies. The total number of reported clinical trials in CTGR and cTi databases were highest in Serbia (n = 1229, n = 1438), followed by Croatia (n = 1142, n = 1300), and Slovenia (n = 801, n = 948), respectively. However, the highest number of clinical trials per capita is in Slovenia (3.85e-4 in CTGR; 4.56e-4 in cTi), followed by Croatia (2.78e-4 in CTGR; 3.17e-4 in cTi), Serbia (1.41e-4 in CTGR; 1.65e-4 in cTi), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (0.67e-4 CTGR; 0.78e-4 cTi). Conclusion Our analysis showed that Bosnia has the lowest number of clinical trials in the Balkans. Furthermore, the registration process is complex and longer than in developed countries. Since the healthcare system has been in a transition in the past decade, clinical trials are underutilized as a tool for the improvement of patient care. The clinical trial registration process could be improved by establishing an ethical committee at the state level and by enabling a parallel submission process to ethical committees and databases.
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Xiao KW, Yang ZQ, Yan X, Liu ZB, Yang M, Guo LY, Cai L. Molecular Characteristics of m6A Regulators and Tumor Microenvironment Infiltration in Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Gene-Based Study. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:846812. [PMID: 35519620 PMCID: PMC9062003 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.846812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation played a key role in tumor growth. However, the relationship between m6A and soft tissue sarcoma (STS) was still unclear. Methods: The characterization and patterns of m6A modification in STS (TCGA-SARC and GSE17674) were analyzed comprehensively through bioinformatics and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effects of different m6A modification patterns on prognosis and immune infiltration of STS were further explored. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis was performed. Moreover, an m6Ascore was constructed by principal component analysis (PCA). In addition, two immunotherapy datasets (IMvigor210 and GSE78220) and a sarcoma dataset (GSE17618) were used to evaluate the m6Ascore. Results: Huge differences were found in somatic mutation, CNV, and expression of 25 m6A regulators in STS. Two modification patterns (A and B) in STS were further identified and the m6A cluster A showed a better clinical outcome with a lower immune/stromal score compared with the m6A cluster B (p < 0.050).In addition to , most STS samples from m6A cluster A showed a high m6Ascore, which was related to mismatch repair and a better prognosis of STS (p < 0.001). In contrast, the m6A cluster B, characterized by a low m6Ascore, was related to the MYC signaling pathway, which led to a poor prognosis of STS. A high m6Ascore also contributed to a better outcome of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy. Conclusion: The modification patterns of 25 m6A regulators in the STS microenvironment were explored comprehensively. The novel m6Ascore effectively predicted the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and outcome in STS and provided novel insights for future immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang-Wen Xiao
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Yan
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhi-Bo Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Min Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Liang-Yu Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lin Cai
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Lin Cai,
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Delayed adjuvant imatinib in patients with high risk of recurrence of gastrointestinal stromal tumor after radical surgery: a retrospective cohort study. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 148:1493-1500. [PMID: 34319443 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03749-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the impact of delayed adjuvant imatinib on GIST patients with high risk of recurrence. METHOD Adult GIST patients were retrospectively collected from our hospital between 2011 and 2018, and patients having high risk of recurrence were included for subsequent analyses. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS According to the interval between the radical surgery and the beginning of adjuvant imatinib, 222 patients were divided into three groups: group A (≤ 2 months, n = 41), group B (2-≤ 4 months, n = 113), and group C (4-≤ 6 months, n = 68). Univariate, multivariate, and survival analyses all showed that patients in group A had significantly more favorable RFS than those in group C but not group B, and patients taking adjuvant imatinib for over 12 months were also associated with longer RFS comparing to adjuvant imatinib of ≤ 12 months. When stratified by the duration of adjuvant imatinib, no significant differences were found in RFS among groups A, B, and C for adjuvant imatinib of ≤ 12 months. While for adjuvant imatinib of over 12 months, both groups A and B had significantly more favorable RFS than group C, and no significant difference in RFS was found between group A and B. CONCLUSION Delayed postoperative adjuvant imatinib for over 4 months in patients with high risk of recurrence of GIST may lead to worse RFS, and longer treatment with shorter delay has best results.
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Kurtovic-Kozaric A, Islamagic E, Komic H, Bilalovic N, Eminovic I, Burekovic A, Uzunovic A, Kurtovic S. The effects of mutational profiles on phenotypic presentation of myeloproliferative neoplasm subtypes in Bosnia: 18 year follow-up. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2020; 20:236-247. [PMID: 31668145 PMCID: PMC7202189 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2019.4391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of mutually exclusive somatic mutations shared among myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) subtypes has provided a powerful tool for studying disease evolution. Clinical features, gene mutations, and survival over 18 years were analyzed in MPN patients. One hundred thirty-eight MPN patients were subcategorized according to MPN subtypes: essential thrombocythemia (ET, n = 41), polycythemia vera (PV, n = 56), primary myelofibrosis (PMF, n = 10), and MPN unclassified (MPN-U, n = 31). Patient characteristics included clinical parameters, overall survival (OS), and mutational status of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), calreticulin (CALR), and myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene (MPL) genes. We compared hematologic and clinical features of JAK2V617F-ET vs. CALR-mutated ET vs. JAK2V617F-PV patients. JAK2V617F-patients had higher values of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit compared to CALR-mutated patients (p < 0.05). The mutant allele burden in JAK2V617F-PV and JAK2V617F-ET patients directly correlated with erythrocyte, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values, but it inversely correlated with platelet count. Thus, mutant allele burden was an indicator of the clinical phenotype in JAK2V617F-MPN patients. OS was not affected by the mutational status. In general, mutated JAK2, CALR, and MPL genes left specific hematological signatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Cytology and Human Genetics, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Erna Islamagic
- Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Hana Komic
- Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Nurija Bilalovic
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Cytology and Human Genetics, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Izet Eminovic
- Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Adnan Burekovic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Hospital, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Amna Uzunovic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Hospital, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Sabira Kurtovic
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Li YS, Li W, Zeng QS, Fu WH. Effect of the imatinib treatment regimen on the postoperative prognosis of patients with high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:4713-4719. [PMID: 31354302 PMCID: PMC6590845 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s198129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Surgical resection is the standard treatment for localized and potentially resectable gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), If the postoperative pathology diagnosis indicates that patients are at high risk of recurrence, they should be treated with imatinib. Even though the introduction of imatinib substantially improved the outcome of GIST patients, it is unclear whether different imatinib treatment regimens affect patients' survival. Methods: This retrospective study included 120 patients who underwent tumor resection for high-risk GISTs between January 2009 and October 2018. The patients were divided into three groups: one group of patients received postoperative imatinib adjuvant therapy regularly (regular treatment group); the second group was not treated with imatinib until they were found to have disease progression (observation group); the third group was treated with postoperative imatinib adjuvant therapy irregularly (irregularly treatment group). The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the three groups, and the prognostic risk factors were analysed by the Cox regression model. Results: The median PFS was 45 months (range: 25-59). The 3- and 5-year PFS values were 71.3% and 49.9%, respectively. The PFS in the regular group was longer than in the observation group and irregular group (P<0.001). The median OS was 59 months (range:47-78). The 3- and 5-year OS values were 91.6% and 84.2%, respectively. There were no differences in OS among the three groups (P=0.150). The extent of radical resection (P<0.001) and intraoperative tumor rupture (P=0.005) were independent prognostic factors influencing OS. Conclusions: Irregular administration of imatinib was associated with a worse PFS, but it did not affect the OS of patients with high-risk GISTs. Avoiding intraoperative tumor rupture and R0 resection were associated with better survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Shu Li
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.,Department of General Surgery, Huabei Petroleum General Hospital, Renqiu, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of General Surgery, Cang Zhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing-Sheng Zeng
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei-Hua Fu
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
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Savi M, Frati C, Cavalli S, Graiani G, Galati S, Buschini A, Madeddu D, Falco A, Prezioso L, Mazzaschi G, Galaverna F, Lagrasta CAM, Corradini E, De Angelis A, Cappetta D, Berrino L, Aversa F, Quaini F, Urbanek K. Imatinib mesylate-induced cardiomyopathy involves resident cardiac progenitors. Pharmacol Res 2017; 127:15-25. [PMID: 28964914 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular complications are included among the systemic effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-based therapeutic strategies. To test the hypothesis that inhibition of Kit tyrosine kinase that promotes cardiac progenitor cell (CPC) survival and function may be one of the triggering mechanisms of imatinib mesylate (IM)-related cardiovascular effects, the anatomical, structural and ultrastructural changes in the heart of IM-treated rats were evaluated. Cardiac anatomy in IM-exposed rats showed a dose-dependent, restrictive type of remodeling and depressed hemodynamic performance in the absence of remarkable myocardial fibrosis. The effects of IM on rat and human CPCs were also assessed. IM induced rat CPC depletion, reduced growth and increased cell death. Similar effects were observed in CPCs isolated from human hearts. These results extend the notion that cardiovascular side effects are driven by multiple actions of IM. The identification of cellular mechanisms responsible for cardiovascular complications due to TKIs will enable future strategies aimed at preserving concomitantly cardiac integrity and anti-tumor activity of advanced cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monia Savi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Caterina Frati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Cavalli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Gallia Graiani
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Serena Galati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Annamaria Buschini
- Department of Genetics, Biology of Microorganisms, Anthropology, Evolution, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Denise Madeddu
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Angela Falco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Lucia Prezioso
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giulia Mazzaschi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Emilia Corradini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Antonella De Angelis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Donato Cappetta
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Liberato Berrino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Franco Aversa
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Federico Quaini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Konrad Urbanek
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
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Gaebler M, Silvestri A, Haybaeck J, Reichardt P, Lowery CD, Stancato LF, Zybarth G, Regenbrecht CRA. Three-Dimensional Patient-Derived In Vitro Sarcoma Models: Promising Tools for Improving Clinical Tumor Management. Front Oncol 2017; 7:203. [PMID: 28955656 PMCID: PMC5601986 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, the development of new targeted therapeutics directed against specific molecular pathways involved in tumor cell proliferation and survival has allowed an essential improvement in carcinoma treatment. Unfortunately, the scenario is different for sarcomas, a group of malignant neoplasms originating from mesenchymal cells, for which the main therapeutic approach still consists in the combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The lack of innovative approaches in sarcoma treatment stems from the high degree of heterogeneity of this tumor type, with more that 70 different histopathological subtypes, and the limited knowledge of the molecular drivers of tumor development and progression. Currently, molecular therapies are available mainly for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, a soft-tissue malignancy characterized by an activating mutation of the tyrosine kinase KIT. Since the first application of this approach, a strong effort has been made to understand sarcoma molecular alterations that can be potential targets for therapy. The low incidence combined with the high level of histopathological heterogeneity makes the development of clinical trials for sarcomas very challenging. For this reason, preclinical studies are needed to better understand tumor biology with the aim to develop new targeted therapeutics. Currently, these studies are mainly based on in vitro testing, since cell lines, and in particular patient-derived models, represent a reliable and easy to handle tool for investigation. In the present review, we summarize the most important models currently available in the field, focusing in particular on the three-dimensional spheroid/organoid model. This innovative approach for studying tumor biology better represents tissue architecture and cell–cell as well as cell–microenvironment crosstalk, which are fundamental steps for tumor cell proliferation and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gaebler
- HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch GmbH, Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Medical Faculty, Department of Pathology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Peter Reichardt
- HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch GmbH, Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Caitlin D Lowery
- Eli Lilly and Company, Oncology Translational Research, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Louis F Stancato
- Eli Lilly and Company, Oncology Translational Research, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Gabriele Zybarth
- cpo - Cellular Phenomics & Oncology Berlin-Buch GmbH, Berlin, Germany
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Kurtovic-Kozaric A, Vranic S, Kurtovic S, Hasic A, Kozaric M, Granov N, Ceric T. Lack of Access to Targeted Cancer Treatment Modalities in the Developing World in the Era of Precision Medicine: Real-Life Lessons From Bosnia. J Glob Oncol 2017; 4:1-5. [PMID: 30241174 PMCID: PMC6180810 DOI: 10.1200/jgo.2016.008698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric
- Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Sabira Kurtovic, Mirza Kozaric, Nermir Granov, and Timur Ceric, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo; Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Nermir Granov, Timur Ceric and Azra Hasic, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Semir Vranic
- Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Sabira Kurtovic, Mirza Kozaric, Nermir Granov, and Timur Ceric, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo; Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Nermir Granov, Timur Ceric and Azra Hasic, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Sabira Kurtovic
- Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Sabira Kurtovic, Mirza Kozaric, Nermir Granov, and Timur Ceric, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo; Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Nermir Granov, Timur Ceric and Azra Hasic, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Azra Hasic
- Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Sabira Kurtovic, Mirza Kozaric, Nermir Granov, and Timur Ceric, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo; Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Nermir Granov, Timur Ceric and Azra Hasic, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Mirza Kozaric
- Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Sabira Kurtovic, Mirza Kozaric, Nermir Granov, and Timur Ceric, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo; Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Nermir Granov, Timur Ceric and Azra Hasic, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Nermir Granov
- Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Sabira Kurtovic, Mirza Kozaric, Nermir Granov, and Timur Ceric, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo; Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Nermir Granov, Timur Ceric and Azra Hasic, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Timur Ceric
- Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Sabira Kurtovic, Mirza Kozaric, Nermir Granov, and Timur Ceric, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo; Amina Kurtovic-Kozaric, Semir Vranic, Nermir Granov, Timur Ceric and Azra Hasic, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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