80th Anniversary of the Establishment of the "Medical Archives" Journal (1947-2026)

Abstract

This year the journal “Medical Archives” celebrates 80th anniversary of the establishiment (1947-2026). With the name “Medicinski Arhiv” this journal was founded in the year 1947 as official journal of the Society of physicians of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The first Editorial board was consisted of professors of the Faculty of Medicine of the University in Sarajevo opened in November 16th 1947: Vladimir Čavka, Blagoje Kovačević, Bogdan Zimonjić and Ibro Brkić. “Medical Archives” journal was a key milestone that helped in education of all academic and professional staff that became the foundation of Bosnian and Herzegovinian medicine, as a science and health care as a profession. The oldest medical journal in B&H was “Jahrbuch des Bosnisch-Herzegowinischen Landesspitales in Sarajevo” (“Annual of the National Hospital in Sarajevo”) which was established in 1897 and printed in German language in the period from 1897 until 1900. From the year 1950 “Medicinski Arhiv” was included in the most influential and important index database MEDLINE, as one of oldest medical journals in Souut-Eastern Europe. The first aim of journal was to give a opportunity to young researchers from B&H to present their scientific and research work to wider community. The tradition of publishing of “Medical Archives” as the most recognizable journal in B&H, was kept by Editor of Professor Izet Masic in 1993 who in extraordinary and difficult occasions (during wartime in BiH from 1992 until 1995) re-established journal and continued printing of the war issues. Hopefully the MEDLINE did not stop to continue receiving “Medicinski arhiv” journal and did not stop accept of published articles of “Medicinski Arhiv” in Medline/PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, HINARI, EBSCO, and a lot of other indexed databases. From the year 2013 articles published in “Medical Archives” were included in PubMed Central with full papers (in extenso). Today “Medical Archives” belong to the most cited journals in former Yugoslavia countries with h-Index 38 in SCImago rank, it means 38 published papers in “Medical Archives” were cited 38 times in other indexed scientific journals worldwide, with SJR 0.33 and Q3 in the year 2024.

1. BACKGROUND

Biomedical publication in the former Yugoslavia has a long tradition (1). Longest printed journals in former Yugoslavia were: Medical News Journal (Medicinski vjesnik) in Croatia (1877), Health News (Zdravstveni vestnik) in Slovenia (1927), Medical Archives (Medicinski arhiv) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1947) and Domestic physician (Domaci lekar) in Serbia (1877), represent a precursor of today’s journal in the former Yugoslavia (1).

The oldest medical journal in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) was “Jahrbuch des Bosnisch-Herzegowinischen Landesspitales in Sarajevo” ("Annual of the General State Hospital in Sarajevo") (Figure 1) which was established in the year 1897 and published in German language (1). This year the journal “Medical Archives” celebrates 80 year of existing.

Figure 1. “Jahrbuch des Bosnisch-Herzegowinischen Landesspitales in Sarajevo” (“Annual of the National Hospital in Sarajevo”), the first medical journal in BiH (1897-1890).

“Medical Archive” was founded in 1947 with name “Medicinski Arhiv” as official journal of the Association of physicians of B&H. The first Editorial board was consisted of the four professors of Medical faculty of University in Sarajevo: Vladimir Čavka, Blagoje Kovačević, Bogdan Zimonjić and Ibro Brkić. Exactly the "Medical Archives" journal was a key milestone that helped in education of all academic and professional staff that became the foundation of B&H medicine as a science and health care as a profession. “Medical Archives” was edited and printed continually from the year 1947, when was founded by academician Vladimir Čavka, in that time as President of Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-3). In November 16th of the year 1947 in Sarajevo started the first established Faculty of Medicine two years before opened the University in Sarajevo (on December 2nd 1949). Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo in 1947 established the first cathedras and elected the first chiefs of cathedras. The femous professors of Medical faculty: Vladimir Čavka, Blagoje Kovacević, Bogdan Zimonjić and Ibro Brkić were founders of the Association of physicians of B&H and also founders and the first elected editors of the "Medicinski Arhiv" journal (Figures 2-10) (1-5).

Figure 2. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Čavka (1900 -1984), Editor from 1947 untill 1956.

Figure 10. Cover page of the "Medical Archives" journal issue 1961-1 edited by Academician Miloš Aranicki.

From respect for a number of our scholars and researchers who over the past eighty years was engaged in publishing of the "Medical Archives", in this article, we will pride one summary, cursory crossection of their names and activities in the journals in the past period.

I decided to describe important facts about the first Editors of “Medicinski Arhiv” from the year 1947 until 1958 because "Medicinski arhiv" played capital rule for under and postgraduated students education and also gave possibility to published results of professional and scientific researchs of physicians at hospitals and faculty cathedras of Faculty of medicine in Sarajevo (4).

2. THE FACTS ABOUT THE FIRST EDITORS OF THE JOURNAL “MEDICINSKI ARHIV”

Professor Vladimir Čavka was born in 1900 in city Orašje (B&H) (4) (Figure 2). Completed high school in Vinkovci and graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Vienna in 1924. After graduating, he was employed at the Clinic for Eye Diseases in Zagreb under Professor Botteri, as a secondary physician, and from 1926 as an assistant in the subject of Eye Diseases, where he remained until 1940. During that period, he attended Eye clinics in Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Geneva, Vienna and London. In 1939, he was appointed as a private assistant professor in Zagreb, and in 1940 he became the Head of the Eye Department of the State Hospital in Belgrade. In 1946, he took over the position of Head of the Eye Department of the Clinical Hospital in Sarajevo, which grew into the Eye Clinic, where Assistant Professor Vladimir Čavka became the first Head of the Eye Clinic and the newly founded Department of Ophthalmology at the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo, with the title of full Professor. In 1948/49, he was elected Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Editor-in-Chief of the journal “Medical Archives”. From 1956 to 1962, he was in Belgrade and managed the Eye Clinic and the Department of Ophthalmology of the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, and returned to Sarajevo in 1962 and managed the Eye Clinic and the Department of Ophthalmology of the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo until his retirement in 1983. As a scientist and researcher, he was very fruitful and one of the service pioneers in the former Yugoslav territories. When he was still an assistant, in 1935 he constructed a corneoflexometer, and during the period of managing the Eye Clinic in Sarajevo, he deals mainly with glaucoma, the application of tissue therapy and implantology according to Filatov, corneal pathology, keratoplasty and keratotomy surgery (he modified Sato’s surgery for keratoconus), then he introduces new operative methods in plastic surgeries of the eyelids, total symblepharon, orbit, applying transorbital leukotomy,

lobotomy (lobotomy Fiamberti-Čavka), and modifications of existing applications for retinal ablation. It also describes new forms of epidemic cellulitis of the orbit in children caused by viruses, and “spider-like” telangiectasias on the conjunctiva and eyelids in patients with liver cirrhosis. He published the research results from the above-mentioned rich oeuvre in over 200 scientific and professional papers in domestic and foreign journals and two monographs: “Refractive anomalies and neurology of the eye”, published in 1941, and “Retinitis pigmentosa”, published in 1953, as well as the textbook “Ophthalmology”, published in 1983. He was a member of numerous scientific and professional associations in the country and abroad, among others, the English, German, French and Austrian ophthalmological societies. He was the first president of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of B&H and its regular member since 1948. He founded the journals “Medical Archives” and “Yugoslavian Ophthalmological Archives” and was their Editor-in-Chief. For his public and social engagement, he received a number of awards, among others: the academic Toga of the University of Oxford in 1950, then the academic Toga of the University of Montreal in 1954, and the first award of the Government of B&H in 1948, then the award of the AVNOJ (Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia) in 1947 and, finally, the Order of Labor of the First and Second Class and the Order of Labor with the Red Banner. He died in 1984.

Figure 4. Cover pages of the "Medical Archives" journal issue 1947-1 edited by Academician Vladimir Čavka.

Professor Blagoje Kovačević was born in 1900 in city Grahovo (Montenegro) (4) (Figure 3). He was one of the founders of the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo and the first Head of the Surgical Clinic of this Faculty. He possessed exceptional organizational skills, and with his abilities, knowledge and experience, he made Bosnian surgery recognizable in the former Yugoslavia and Europe, and made the Sarajevo Surgical clinic as one of the renowned clinics in the former Yugoslavia. After his teacher and the founder of modern surgery in B&H, academician Milivoje Kostić, retired as the head of the first Surgical Clinic of the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, Professor Blagoje Kovačević was offered to take over the management of this clinic, which he refused, with the i

Figure 3. Prof. Dr. Blagoje Kovačević (1900 -1959), Editor from 1957 untill 1958.

ntention of creating a modern Surgical clinic in Sarajevo. In 1949, Professor Blagoje Kovačević was elected as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Sarajevo, and then he was elected dean again in 1956 and Vice-dean in 1957. Also, Professor Blagoje Kovačević was a member of the Editorial board of the journal “Medicinski Arhiv” in the period 1947-1952, then its Editor-in-Chief. His scientific research work covered a wide range of surgical diseases in various pathologies that dominated in B&H at the time (hematogenous osteomyelitis, echinococcosis, etc.). From this period, there are several of his experimental works in which the results are described, presented at the then world congresses of surgery, and which have been cited several times in books by foreign authors. Academician Blagoje Kovačević was extremely engaged in social and public affairs, and was a member of several Yugoslav and international professional associations, including regular membership in ANUBiH and the Serbian Academy of Sciences. He is a recipient of the French Legion of Honor. He died in 1959 in Zagreb.

Figure.5. Cover pages of the "Medical Archives" journal issues 1947-3 and 1952-6 edited by Academician Vladimir Čavka.

Professor Bogdan Zimonjić was born in Sarajevo in 1899, where he finished elementary school (4) (Figure 6). He finished High school in Visoko. He studied medicine at the Medical faculties in Vienna and Prague. After graduation, he returned to Sarajevo and worked at the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo and General State Hospital continuously for 40 years, where he died in 1966 in his position as full Professor of the Department of Internal Diseases. It is known that he spent his entire working life working day and night with patients as a practicing physician, and that after the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo in 1947, he was appointed the first head of the Department of Internal Medicine. In the same year, he was a member and one of the founders of the journal “Medicinski arhiv”, and for two terms he was the Editor-in-Chief (1959-1960 and 1964-1966). Those who knew Professor Zimonjić characterized him as a person whose basic meaning and motto of life was "only life and work, and for him the end of work meant the end of life". Therefore, he died standing while working. He was a scientist of great general culture, versatile, inexhaustible energy, full of ideas and plans for the realization of which the day was often too short. Those who know him say that he never took a vacation. He is responsible for the construction of the amphitheater, reading room, laboratory, library, central building for the use of radioisotopes as part of the Internal Clinic. He participated in all important development activities of the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo and the entire health service in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He has multiple merits for the development and progress of overall medicine in B&H. He introduced into clinical practice all the most important diagnostic and therapeutic methods, from the first use of ECG, radioisotopes, electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, thrombelastography to hemodialysis. Most of his published works are in the field of hematology and the application of radioisotopes. His first works in German language were published in renowned Austrian journal. Unfortunately, he did not manage to publish the results of his research in hematology during his lifetime, they remained as an unpublished book on hematology in manuscript. He was a student of the respected cardiologist professor Wencenbach, whose experience would serve him to record the first electrocardiogram in B&H back in 1923. He devoted his later years to the clinical application of radioisotopes, nephrology and endemic nephropathy. He is responsible for the fact that sub-specialization in the field of radioisotope application became appreciated in B&H, and that he managed to train numerous staff from this domain, and also established the first Institute for Radioisotopes as part of the Internal Clinic. Thanks to the reputation he gained as a scientist, pedagogue, and humanist, after his death, the idea of his sister Ljubica Zimonjić was realized that the entire property of Professor Bogdan Zimonjić should be turned into a foundation, i.e. the Bogdan Zimonjić Fund, and these funds would be used to stimulate gifted students of the Faculty of Medicine. He was Vice-dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sarajevo in 1951/1952. and 1952/53. He was a member of several domestic and foreign scientific associations.

Figure 6. Prof. Dr. Bogdan Zimonjić (1899 -1966), Editor from 1959 untill 1960 and from 1964 till 1966.

Figure 8. Cover pages of the "Medical Archives" journal issues 1957-6 and 1959-2 edited by Academician Blagoje Kovačević.

Professor Ibro Brkić was born in city Mostar (B&H) in 1901 (4). He graduated from the Gymnasium in Mostar and the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade in 1929. He passed the specialist exam in Internal Medicine at the Clinical Hospital in Sarajevo in 1949. After graduating, he worked as a municipal and county physician in Jajce from 1931 to 1941, and from 1941 to 1947 as a secondary physician at the State and Clinical Hospital in Sarajevo. Because of his open sympathies and involvement in NOB (within the Second World War), he and his family were persecuted by the occupiers and domestic traitors. After World War II, he worked as a specialist internist at the Third Internal Clinic in Sarajevo. In 1949, he was elected as an assistant in the subject of Internal Medicine, then in 1951 as an Assistant Professor, in 1959 as an associate professor and in 1962 as a full Professor. He spent part of his specialist internship abroad. As a practicing physician, he was highly respected by patients and colleagues, and as a teacher at the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo he stood out for his pedagogical skills in transferring knowledge to students and colleagues on specialization. He retired in 1971, and was elected Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo in 1972. The following year, he was elected a corresponding member of ANUBiH, and became a regular member in 1978. Most of his scientific research activities were in the field of cardiology, so he published the results of tests conducted in the Electrocardiographic Laboratory III of the Internal clinic in Sarajevo in 52 scientific and professional papers: from clinical cardiology, cardiopulmonary pathology, sports cardiology and general internal medicine. He was socially active and engaged in several local professional associations, among other things, he was the Secretary of the Editorial Board of the journal “Medicinski Arhiv” from its founding in 1947 until 1952. He was the founder and President of the Society of Physicians of B&H and a member of the Association of Cardiologists of Yugoslavia. For his public and social involvement, he received a number of awards, among others: the Order of Merit for the People with Silver Rays in 1964 and the Order of Labor with the Red Banner in 1975, as well as the April 6th Award of the City of Sarajevo in 1966 and the July 27th Award of B&H in 1970. He passed away in 1989 in Sarajevo.

Figure 9. Cover page of the "Medical Archives" journal issue 1970-3-6 edited by Academician Jakob Gaon.

3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF "Medical Archives" journal from 1947 UNTIL 2026

“Medicinski Arhiv” was published for the first time in 1947 as the official journal of the Association of Phisicians of Peoples Republic of B&H. Its first Editor-in -Chief was Professor Vladmir Čavka, secretary of the Editorial Board Professor Ibro Brkić, Members of the Editorial board were consisted of the following persons: Professor Blagoje Kovačević and Professor Bogdan Zimonjić, This Editorial board was active until 1952, so that professor Vladimir Čavka was Editor-in-Chief throughout this period, while as the Board members was very well-established our scientists: Dimitrije Dimitrijević (Secretary), Blagoje Kovačević, Bogdan Zimonjić, Grujica Žarković, Slavko Djurišić, Feodor Lukač, Miloš Aranicki, Teodor Ilić and Mihajlo Protić (2).

Cover pages of the several printed issues of "Medical Archives" from establishing, including also, pictures of editors of the journals from the year 1947 until today, are visible on the figures 2 to 25 in the next text.

Figure 25. Cover pages of the "Medical Archives" journal issues from 1947 until 2006. Editor was Professor Izet Mašić.

In the first issue, published in the year 1947, Academician Vladimir Čavka signs first Editorial with this line (1, 2): “Our leaders, not sparing the enormous material resources, trying with all their strength that or Medical Faculty in Sarajevo as quickly as possible put on a solid foundation, expecting rightly, of all who participate in the construction of the Faculty the maximum effort. With the formation of the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo and the activation of the Association of Phisicians for B&H there was a need of issuing a professional medical journal, in which, next to scientific papers and articles can be included also clinics and therapy of all branches of medicine, and which will, in the first place, were of interest to practicing doctors. Also the journal was publishing articles from the organization of the medical service, social medicine, as well as articles from the medical literature” (1).

Five years later (May 18, 1952), at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Phisician in B&H, Editorial Board Secretary Professor Dimitrije T. Dimitrijević, after the Assembly accepted the proposal to elect in the Editorial Board: Professor Nedo Zec, Professor Špiro Janović, Teodor Ilić, MD, Isak Samokovlija, MD, Sveto Teofanović MD, Professor Mihajlo Protić, Professor Blagoje Kovačević, Professor Milivoje Sarvan, Professor Stanislav Szabo, Professor Bogdan Zimonjić, Professor Feodor Lukač and Professor Miloš Aranicki (2).

Figure 11. Cover pages of the "Medical Archives" journal issues 1967-3-4 and 1970-1-2 edited by academicians Bogdan Zimonjić and Jakob Gaon.

Editor in Chief Professor Vladimir Čavka, submit to the Assembly a report of the Editorial Board, which states: “The articles received for publishing was mostly from the clinics and the institutes of the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo, as well as other medical experts of our capital. But also were accepted and published articles from other medical centers, primarily in Belgrade and Zagreb, or from other places of our Republic. This increased participation of doctors from others sites which was particularly noticeable in the last year, which clearly showed how much the journal gained the reputation beyond the borders of our Republic... Editorial Board took care to gather the highest possible number of young doctors, to whose cooperation and commitment we owe the most in this considerable progress compared to the early years ... “ (2).

The tenth anniversary volume of "Medical Archives" was edited by the Editorial board, consisting of: Vladimir Čavka (Editor-in-Chief), Dimitrije Dimitrijević (Secretary), and members of the Editorial board: Blagoje Kovačević, Bogdan Zimonjić, Grujica Žarković and Slavko Djurišić. In the period from 1957 to 1959, Editor-in-Chief function was held by Professor Blagoje Kovačević and secretary Professor Jakob Gaon. In 1960 the function of Editor-in-Chief was given to Professor Bogdan Zimonjić, and between 1961 and 1963 professor Miloš Aranicki (Figure 7) and Secretary of the Editorial Board was professor Jakob Gaon.

Figure 7. Prof. dr. Miloš Aranicki (1900 - 1985), Editor from 1961 untill 1963.

Figure 15. Prim. Dr. Milorad Tomašević (1926 -1995), Editor from 1981 untill 1983.

Then, from 1964 to 1965, at the twenty anniversary 1966 the function Editor-in-Chief was carried out by Professor Bogdan Zimonjić and Editorial board secretary by Professor Jakob Gaon (Figure 12). Other members of the Editorial Board on 20th anniversary volume were professors: Ernest Grin, Seid Huković, Živojin Jeftić, Milenko Perinović, A. Rašković and Nedo Zec. From the 1967 to 1971 Editor-in-Chief was Professor Jakob Gaon and the Secretary of the Editorial board was professor Milenko Perinović. Since 1972, was introduced the position of Deputy Editor-in-Chief, and from that year until 1976 jubilee function of the Chief Editor performs Professor Midhat Prcić (Figure 13) and as his Deputy was Professor Rikica Najdanović. Also introduced was the dual functions of the secretary and in this period secretaries were Assistant Professor Albert Musafija and Assistant professor Arif Smajkić (2). Members of the Editorial Board were professors: Mirjana Džumhur, Izet Hadžić, Faruk Konjhodžić, Albert Musafija, Džemal Rezaković, Irfan Zulić, Izet Osmanagić, and Berislav Topić, and also physician Božidar Pokrajčić (2).

Figure 12. Prof. Dr. Jakob Gaon (1914 -1995), Editor from 1967 untill 1971.

Figure 13. Prof. Dr. Midhat Prcić. (1925 -1985), Editor from 1972 until 1976.

Then, at thirty anniversary in the year 1977, Editor -in-Chief became Professor Said Huković (Figure 14) his deputy Chief physician Milorad Tomašević, MD and the Secretary of the Editorial Board Professor Dubravka Potkonjak and Professor Slobodan Loga. From 1981 to 1983, Editor-in-Chief was Chief physician Primarius Milorad Tomašević (Figure 15), his deputy Professor Faruk Konjhodžić and Secretary of the Editorial Board Branka Kovačević. From 1984 to 1988, function of Editor-in-Chief performs Professor Irfan Zulić (Figure 17), and of Secretary Branka Kovacević (deputy function is canceled).

Figure 14. Seid Huković (1925 - 2001), Editor from 1977 untill 1980.

Figure 17. Prof. Dr. Irfan Zulić (1932 -2005), Editor from 1984 untill1988, and from 1991 untill 1992.

Figure 16. Cover pages of the "Medical Archives" journal issue 1980-3 edited by Academician Seid Huković.

Jubilee of 40th volume of the "Medical Archives" was edited the Editorial Board with the following members: Professor Irfan Zulić, as Editor-in-Chief, Branka Kovačević, Secretary of the Editorial Board, and members: professors: Mirjana Bokonjić, Stjepko Jadrić, Mustafa Kapidžić, Duško Kecmanović, Mihael Sabljak, Arif Smajkić, Vera Tadić, Berislav Topić and Jovo Vranić. From the year 1989 to 1991, during pre-war position of Editor-in-Chief, was held by Professor Mirko Grujić (Figure 18), and the Secretary of the Editorial Board Antonije Kecman (2).

Figure 18. Prof. Dr. Mirko Grujić (1931 - 2021), Editor from 1989 untill 1990.

It should be noted that, in addition to numerous other difficulties that we have experienced during war 1991, 1992, and 1993 years have been suspended the continuous publishing of "Medical Archives". True, the problems of financial and technical nature have always been hampered and slowed down its regular publishing, but the circumstances of war specially underlined these difficulties, and the Medical Archive practically ceased to be published until 1994 (Figure 19). Thanks to the exceptional dedication of certain individuals, we were able to ensure the continuity of our journal indexing. But there have been also other problems that are interfering with regular publishing of "Medical Archives". In addition to those of financial and technical nature, a significant role played also the problems of quality articles authorization, the quality of peer review, while hindered communication and serious war policies were crucial to the quality of writing articles and their publication in the "Medical Archives" has declined significantly.

Figure 19. Cover page of the "Medical Archives" journal issue 1994-4 edited by Professor Izet Mašić.

War Editorial Board from 1991 to 1993 year consisted of Professor Irfan Zulić as Editor, and professors Izet Mašić and Halid Sulejmanagić as Co-Editors. Board members were professors: Faruk Dalagija, Zehra Dizdarević, Osman Durić, Mediha Filipović, Mirko Grujić, Sabira Hadžović, Salahudin Hodžić, Halid Hujić, Faruk Konjhodžić, Nedžad Mulabegović, Branko Nikolin, Amir Pleho, Umid Šalaka, Vera Šunjic, Hamid Tahmiščija and Savo Vlaški.

From the year 1993 the function of Editor-in-Chief performs Professor Izet Mašić (Figure 29).

Figure 29. Academician Izet Mašić, MD, PhD. (1952 -). Editor from 1993 until 2026.

In 1996, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of publishing “Medical archives” (Figure 21) I made a detailed analysis of past events related to historical facts and figures, which are responsible for maintaining the continuity of the journal, and this text was published in the issue of "Medical Archives", 1996; 50 (1-2) as it was stating this: “It is needless to point out how much and what kind of role this journal played over the past 50 years. “Medical Archives” became affirmed medical journal in our country, and by the exchange with the most famous libraries and journals became known in medical circles in majority of the countries of the world. True, from this distance, if we made valid scientific and professional analysis of the value of published articles in "Medical Archives", acceptable at the international level, or by the citation - indices “Impact Factor” and “Influence Factor”, which are relevant for the transfer of published scientific information and their availability to the scientific world, we are not sure that these parameters were sufficiently illustrative. But do not let that worry us, because according to the Garfield list, just before the aggression on B&H, from the 1,000 most cited researchers in the world, unfortunately, there is none from the former Yugoslavia. Therefore, we need not be wrong if the citation of articles from the “Medical Archives” is relatively low, because in the same position are many esteemed journals from other areas of the former Yugoslavia”.

Figure 21. Cover page of the "Medical Archives" journal issue 1996-1-2 edited by Professor Izet Mašić.

Jubilee of 60th volume of the journal “Medical Archives” in 2006 was edited by the Editorial Board composed of: Professor Izet Mašić as Editor-in-Chief and members of Editorial Board professors: Enisa Mešić, Belma Paralija, Nada Koluder, Zakira Mornjaković, Bećir Heljić, Husref Tahirović, Haris Tanović, Habiba Salihović, Damir Aganović and Osman Sinanović (Figure 25).

In this period, “Medical Archives” becomes recognizable in the international scientific community, more authors published their articles in it because its recentness become significantly higher compared to other Bosnian journals and with highest H index included. It is important to note that to all contributed the fact that the “Medical Archives” with the full articles was made available to the wider scientific and academic community after being indexed in prestigious index database - PubMed Central and through it in more than 20 other databases worldwide. Since then, number by number, first as a double issue (in 1992 and 1993), then as a quarterly issue (1994-2000), and a bi-monthly journal (since 2001) “Medical Archives” grew by content, with more quality design, more international and over the past decade well known in Europe and the worldwide, and on the library shelves of major university centers in Europe, and as on-line edition is represented in the most influential databases MEDLINE, PubMed Central, EBSCO, SCOPUS, EMBASE, HINARI, and at platforms Researchgate and Academia.edu. (6-20) (Figure 20).

Figure 20. Tthe "Medical Archives" journal was included in MEDLINE index databases from the year 1950, and in PubMed Central from the year 2013.

At this point another fact must be noted that a significant decline in the quality of published articles in the “Medical Archives” occurred after 1991 (2). The reasons for this are well known to us all, and on them we do not need to waste words and time. One is indisputable, browsing through all the volumes of the “Medical Archives”, from the first from 1947 to the last in 1995, “I got the impression that the articles by, our outstanding teachers and researchers, particularly in the first and the second decade of “Medical Archives” publishing were of significantly higher quality. This was probably the result of a more serious approach and dealing with science and scientific research in those years. One thing is certain, “Medical archives” has enabled us all to realize our ideas through research, to convert results of the research into practice, to convert the results of the practice into scientific facts, to join scientific facts in the base of knowledge and, finally, to convert our knowledge into specific policies and practices. The point of all this is that the whole our research, as our strongest weapon, put in practical use, either in our own environment and internationally. A key element of this philosophy is the rapid application of existing knowledge. Regardless that existing information are underused and that the creation of new scientific and technical information is very dynamic, “Medical Archives” by its impact, to a great extent, in many communities improve the quality of health care and was a source of current scientific and professional information in daily activities. This is especially proved valuable during the aggression on B&H, when it was interrupted the flow of current scientific and technical information from the world, and the publication of the “Medical Archives” had the most significant educational role in its long history”.

On this occasion, we emphasize that extraordinary role in the flow of scientific and technical information have documentation and information that open paths to the exchange of ideas, results and experiences. that is why systematic professional data collection in medical science and practice, and that is and should be one of the most important tasks of the “Medical Archives”, should provide that any user of specified data and information is fully and duly informed. The data and information thus become crucial for many specific solutions in healthcare practice, and their storage internally in the minds of researchers and practitioners, or in their local documents and records is of no use (2, 22, 23).

Seen from this angle, the essence and size of our motives and desires to directly acquired medical scientific and technical information present through the “Medical Archives” to the general scientific and professional public, has its full meaning and justification. “This is supported by the fact that modern technology - modern computer systems and super modern communication systems for transmission or transfer of scientific and technical information to the most remote corners of the world from the central hosts through computer databases of the national library in Bethesda (USA), Philadelphia, Cologne, London, Moscow, Tokyo, etc., totally changed, modernized this sense, without which it is now impossible to work and live” (2).

4. A FEW REMEMBRANCES OF FORMER EDITORS ABOUT "Medical Archives"

"I started to follow the journal “Medical Archives” from the first number (1). Although in 1946 I was still a high school student, my father, who was a doctor, received on regular basis “Medical archives” so I also with great care and curiosity followed it, because I had already decided that I would study medicine.

I started education at the Medical faculty in 1949 and graduated in 1955. In January 1960 I started residency in internal medicine at the I Internal Diseases Clinic in Sarajevo with professor Bogdan Zimonjić, who was then the head of the Clinic. Already in 1963 I published my first article in the “Medical Archives”. It was a case presentation of cystic fibrosis tested at the Internal Diseases Clinic. Mucoviscidosis was then a rare and little-known disease, so I’m on the advice of professor Zimonjić published that case report. When I retired in 1998 after 42 years of service, I had a little over two hundred published articles, and more than half of these articles are published actually in the “Medical Archives”. So it is not by chance that I always considered and perceived “Medical Archives” like my journal and I feel this also today. By the publication of all these articles, I gained gradually the conditions for elections later in teaching titles at the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo. But that’s not all. “Medical Archives” from the beginning had a regular column “Book review”, which have published all new and important books from domestic and foreign medical literature. My immediate manager was then professor Milenko Perinović MD was published reviews of the largest number of these books. Publishing companies from Germany “Georg Thieme Verlag”, “Schattauer Verlag” and “Springer” sent him all newly published medical books in German, and he was writing reviews of these books and also gave them and other doctors, or his associates to do the same. That’s how I started writing reviews of these books. After the death of professor Milenko Perinović in 1983, I continued the work. In addition to German books, I turned more domestic issues, so I wrote reviews of most newly published medical books in the former Yugoslavia, mainly in the field of internal medicine, diabetology and endocrinology. I have not kept records on the number of these reviews, and even today I do not know their total number. That job I performed with great pleasure, interest and love. I’m happy if I by my work contributed to a better and fuller content of “Medical Archives”.

In 1989 I became Editor in Chief of the Medical Archives. The journal was previously published regularly. As Editor-in-Chief I sent query to Index Medicus and was told that the journal is still indexed, that is registered in the Index Medicus, which is a certificate of recognition of its quality. In the publishing of the journal, we had great support from the director of the printing company “Oslobodjenje”, Mr. Petar Skert, graphics engineer, who was always very helpful and printed us all the volumes at minimum possible price, since the Association of Phisicians of Bosnia and Herzegovina never had enough funds. Then to the engineer Petar Skert, I as Editor-in-Chief, for his merits and contribution to publishing of “Medical Archives” presented a special letter of thanks, and the plaque of the Association of Phisicians of B&H.

A long-time secretary of the Editorial Board of the journal, for technical affairs, was Ms. Branka Kovačević with whom I also had great cooperation. She, unfortunately, suddenly passed away during my term in 1989. At that time, the Association of Phisicians of BiH, whose offices were in the former Dositejeva Street, as an administrative clerk worked Mrs. Mina Demirović. There was the acceptance and distribution of the journal. And Mrs. Mina Demirović, unfortunately, died in 1995 at the height of the war.

Already at the beginning of the last war in 1992 was destroyed and heavily damaged the building of “Oslobodjenje”, where we previously printed “Medical Archives”. Through the efforts of the staff was printed only a daily newspaper “Oslobodjenje” in very limited number of copies. In such situation there was no possibility for further printing of the “Medical Archives” in this institution. The number that was already in the press was never printed. Those of us in Sarajevo, however wanted that journal still be printed, not to be definitely shut down. As Editor-in-Chief, after a preliminary discussion with the Professor Izet Mašić, I suggested to the Presidency of Association of Phisicians of B&H to elect for the Editor-in-Chief, instead of me, professor Izet Mašić. He in these conditions only could continue with the publishing of the journal, because as a doctor was also versed in informatics, and he had the printing and publishing house “Avicena”. This company printed for us during the war, also many other materials, from scientific meetings and round tables, where was mainly presented principles of the medical doctrine, which we needed as well as practical experience of war from all areas of medicine. The Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Association of Phisicians then elected Professor Masić and entrusted him the further publishing of the journal, which is the extraordinary success achieved. During all the war years (1992-1995) the journal was published, although with fewer volumes published during each year and with a very reduced number of copies. However, a regular publication of the journal was secured. Thus, “Medical Archives”, despite everything, was still regularly published, and some copies of the journal were sent to Index Medicus, which confirmed his publishing on regular basis despite war activities. Professor Mašić from then until now has remained the Editor-in-Chief of the “Medical Archives” (12 years), which speaks about his undoubted merits to sustain the journal, as well as his daily improvement and development. Year after year, the journal was getting richer and more meaningful, and also with nicer appearance and more technically polished. From leaded syllable in “Oslobodjenje”, it is now transferred to highly sophisticated printing techniques (2).

In living memory remained to me a celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the Provincial Hospital in Sarajevo that we organized and celebrated in 1994. In war-torn and ravaged Sarajevo met the Organizing Committee for this celebration which I was a member, and the Professor Izet Mašić was chairman of this Committee (2) (Figure 22).

Figure 22. Editorial Board members of "Medical Archives" in 1994: Professors: Faruk Dalagija, Mehmed Gribajčević, Zehra Dizdarević, Izet Mašić (Editor-in-Chief), Mirko Grujć, Nadežda Zjuzin, Muhamed Hadžimejlć, Sadžida Telalbašić.

And, finally, on November 16^th 1994 under the auspices of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Health of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Assembly of City of Sarajevo, in the great amphitheater of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo was organized gala ceremony on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo and 50^th anniversary of the Medical Faculty, University of Sarajevo. The academy was attended by distinguished guests: The President of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegović, the mayor of Sarajevo, Tarik Kupusović, Health Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina ass. professor Božo Ljubić, ambassadors of several countries: The Republic of Austria Franz Bogen, the Republic of Turkey Šukru Tufan, the Croatia Zdravko Sančević, religious representatives, Cardinal Vinko Puljić, Reis-naibu Hafiz Ismet Effendi Spahić, then Ms. Stephani on behalf of the World Health Organization, professor Said Huković in front of the Academy of Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with many other distinguished guests. After the solemn celebration of the Academy continued Symposium “War medicine and medicine in the war 1993/1994“. The symposium lasted for two days. At this celebration, I had a presentation called “One hundred years of internal medicine in Sarajevo”.

Materials from this Academy and Symposium were published later in a special issue of the “Medical Archives”. I remember that at the beginning of the Academy to the President Izetbegović was presented a Plaque by the Association of Phisicians of BiH. He in his speech thanked and said that he did not deserve a plaque and a medallion in fact he should give one to us, the doctors, and not we to him. Also, I remember when the Turkish Ambassador Šukru Tufan congratulated Ambassador of Austria Franz Bogen indicating that the Hospital in Sarajevo then founded and raised by the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and brought to Sarajevo the best doctors in Vienna. Ambassador Bogen thanked and said that he, too, should like to congratulate Ambassador Tufan, because the first hospital in Sarajevo was raised and established by Turkish state in 1866. It was done by the Bosnian governor Šerif Topal Osman Pasha, and was called Vakuf hospital. Thus, in difficult conditions of war, in a solemn and dignified manner marked by these big dates of the Clinical Center and Medical Faculty, University of Sarajevo. (2)

Five years ago, at one convention of doctors of preventive and social medicine at the Grand Hotel in Sarajevo, Professor Masic organized celebration of the 55^th anniversary of the publication of the Medical Archives and published the anniversary issue. I was present at that meeting. Among other things, professor Masic said that from 10 former Editors in Chief of the Medical Archives remained alive only three: professor Huković, professor Zulić and professor Grujić. Unfortunately, since then until now, they have died and gone from our company academician professor Seid Huković and Professor Irfan Zulić, so today I am, in fact, the only living Editor in Chief, of the former 10, whose names appear on the cover of Medical Archives. Professor Masić was chosen after me and he is still the current Editor in Chief. Finally, I would like to wish the Medical Archives continued success in the next 60 years, in favor of those that are yet to come and will publish their work. Medical Archives, whose anniversary we celebrate, has been and remains a symbol of honor, pride, respect and dignity of all doctors of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so I want it to remain like that in the coming times" (2) (Figure 24).

Figure 24. Cover page of the book printed on occasion of the 60th anniversary of "Medical Archives" journal in 2006.

Professor Mirko Grujić,Editor from 1989 to 1991

Figure 23. Cover page of the "Medical Archives" journal with photos of all Editors from 1947 until 2026.

"In the Editorial Board of the journal “Medical Archives,” I actively participated in the period from 1972 to 1978 and from 1984 to 1988 (1). For the first time, it was at the time when the Editor -in-Chief was Professor Midhat Prcić MD, when I worked as the Secretary of the Editorial Board, and the second time, at the time when Editor-in-Chief was Professor Irfan Zulić, and then I was a member of the Editorial Board. At the time I was Secretary of the Editorial Board, in the Board were still, in addition to professors Midhat Prcić, Editor-in-Chief, his deputy, professor Rikica Najdanović, then Second Secretary of the Editorial Board was Professor Albert Musafija, and members of the Editorial Board: Professor Mirko Ćuš, Professor Izet Hadžić, Professor Aleksandar Kostić, Professor Faruk Konjhodžić, Professor Aleksandar Milojković, Chief physician Božidar Pokrajčić, Professor Džemal Rezaković, Professor Irfan Zulić, Professor Mirko Grujić and Professor Grujica Žarković. In addition to these members, we had also broader Editorial Board, which included: Branislav Banić, Muhammad Bećarević, Mirjana Bijedić, Sreten Bošković, Marko Ciglar, G. Ceh, Izet Čustović, Aleksandar Doder, Aleksandar Fajgelj, Nijaz Fazlagić, Jakob Gaon, Josip Gerc, Muhamed Hadžimejlić, Seid Huković, Leopold Kaufer, Slavko Laketić, Aleksandar Marković, Borislav Mastilović, Ivan Milaković, Slobodan Obradov, Fuad Pinjo, M. Popović, Zulejka Popović, Vladimir Pšorn, Hišam Serdarević, Smiljko Slankamenac, Dževad Softić, Pavao Štern, Tibor Šalamon, Muhamed Teftedarija, Rifat Tvrtković, M. Eminagić (Bihać), Sead Pozderac (Cazin), Tomislav Veljanović (Doboj), Aleksandar Goldberger (Foča), M. Humo (Mostar), Z. Azapagić (Tuzla), M. Zečević (Zenica). Thus imposing and diverse structure of the Editorial Boars of the journal “Medical Archives “ points us to the fact how important reputation even then had the journal “Medical Archives “ as a scientific and professional journal of the Association of Phisicians of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which included teachers and doctor’s practitioners from all areas of Republic of B&H.

Just then, the journal “Medical Archives” has changed its design and from B5 format crossed to A4 format, in which is still published, thanks to the new set of the Editorial Board, which has taken over from the previous which until 1971 led prominent academic, Jakob Gaon. One of the reasons was that those years spent significant reform of medical studies in the former Yugoslavia, and that one faculty group of teachers, including former deans of medical schools from Ljubljana to Skopje, at the time of our Editorial Board worked on the project of reform of medical studies, a significant number of meetings was held just in Sarajevo, on our faculty, because a certain number of teachers, mentioned in the then Editorial Board was actively involved in the project of reform of medical faculties in the former Yugoslavia (2).

In this issue, from February 1972, the Editorial Board met in the premises of the Central Public Health Institute in Sarajevo, at Maršala Tita 7 street, Editor, Professor Midhat Prcić signed introductory text, from which I extract some thoughts and messages „...wanting that „Medical Archives” bring closer to the reader and be of interest to all doctors of our Republic, as well as doctors abroad, the new Editorial Board, elected at the end of 1971, the striving and will endeavor to create new sections growing interest in the journal. According to this new concept of “Medical Archives” will in the future have a greater number of sections and chapters. To mention some: original articles, case presentation, medical news, discussions from practical doctors, from medical journals, new in medical circles (graduated doctors and dentists, various improvements at the Medical Faculty and various health institutions, passed specialist examinations, as well as various other everyday problems from medical circles), information on the various congresses, symposia and professional travel, book reviews and so on. in addition to medical doctors, the journal will participate and dental doctors–dentists who are represented in the Editorial Board”.

I must emphasize, that the journal “Medical Archives”, even before that, had a strong influence on my professional development. It was my second school in form of the written word, and my professional and scientific guide back in my student days and later, as well as school organization collecting and publishing of technical and scientific communications, and I actively participated in the creation of its contents. The first time I met with the journal and carefully freely consulted was in the Library Central Public Health Institute in Sarajevo, later the Institute for Health Protection of B&H, during the school year 1956/57. In fact, then we in a lecture from to me difficult subject Virology, academician Aleksandar Terzin recommended that in addition to read scripts and two review papers on virology by author Chief physician Hamdija Karamehmedović, published in the journal “Medical Archives”. Me and my colleagues remained a striking encounter with the journal “Medical Archive” and mentioned that the author was a virologist and founder of the library at the Central Public Health Institute. This amiable retired man then recounted his work on viral diseases, and how he came to know and by the way gave us two reprints the bibliography he used in writing these papers (2).

A little later, in 1958, when I took the exam in the subject Internal Medicine with Professor Bogdan Zimonjić (Chief of the First Internal Clinic of Clinical Hospital in Sarajevo), which is, as a rule, lasted more than three months, I have met more detailed individual sections of the journal “Medical Archives”, such as case reports and reviews of books, whose authors were mostly then assistant Professor Milenko Perinović and assistant Mirko Grujić. Professor Bogdan Zimonjić, who was a fond of the journal “Medical Archives” and one of its founders, together with academicians Vladimir Čavka, Blagoje Kovačević and Ibto Brkić, and that on two occasions was its Editor, often quoted something from the past numbers of “Medicine archives”. And I’ve become a fan of the written word, and I came up with the idea, which with the help of a few then distinguished teacher, at Medical Faculty, led by academician Hajrudin Hadžiselimović, in April 1961, together with colleagues from the studies: Muhamed Jelkić, Esad Drino, Nikola Radović, Husein Sušić, Mirko Knezević, Irfan Aganović and Mubera Sarić, who was secretary of the Editorial Board, prepared the first issue of the newly established journal “Voice of the Medics”, the professional journal of the Alliance of students of the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo. This journal will become the official professional journal of the students of the Faculty, which will prepare future teachers of the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo and other medical centers, and will be an excellent medium to future researchers to “coin” and shape their ability to engage in scientific research and teaching profession. Some of these colleagues in the first Editorial board of this journal will become later our distinguished teachers at other medical faculties. I know in the year 1975, the current Editor of the journal “Medical Archives” Professor Izet Mašić, after a long pause, “revitalize” the student’s newspaper, and which at one time successfully came out, just at the time when I was Secretary of the Editorial Board of the journal “Medical Archives”, or at the time of the mentioned reform of medical studies. Also, I know that recently the journal again, after a long pause, is started again, so students and teachers publish their work, which is very important. “The voice of the medics” at the time when I was Editor-in-Chief (1961 to 1966), a journal of the expert team of students and professors who conducted field actions practicing medical students in Hresa, Ahatovići near Sarajevo and Podvelezje and Drežnica near Mostar, which will also play an important role in the education of medical students. Significant assistance in the work of the mentioned Expert club and writing papers with the experience we have gained in the field of student conferences at which we presented these works, gave us then respected epidemiologists and professors Miroslav Aranicki and Jakob Gaon, who were also the Editors of the journal “Medical Archives” and distinguished professors Miletić and Dragan Kosorić and internists and surgeons headed by Professor Feodor Lukač. I know our visual design for the journal was prepared by Branko Krstić, later professor of Histology at the Medical University of Lausanne, then technical Editor was Hasan Jusufović and Secretary of the Editorial Board was Branko Pikula, later professor of Pathological anatomy at medical faculties in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Vienna. This says something which at that time meant the student journal “Voice of the medics” in education and preparation of teachers for the extra education of medical students, as well as a medium, which is next to the journal “Medical Archives”, in which they published their work by teachers and faculty physician’s practitioners, and students allowed to publish their work. At that time, I began to publish contributions in the journal “Medical Archives”, as some original works in the field of biological standards, the organization of health, addiction diseases, health promotion, and some as professional communications or journal reviews.

Under the circumstances, in the same time period I was also the president of the Association for Social Medicine and Organization of Health Alliance of medical societies of Yugoslavia, so I acquired substantial experience in the regulation of the two previous mentioned journal, launched also professional voice of this association, which we called “Materia Socio-Medica Iugoslavica “, and which was published continuously for several years. Very important to note, but it is interesting to point out, that this journal, after many years of delay, just started again Professor Izet Mašić and successfully led it for the last six years, the same time as the journal “Medical Archives” (2).

Otherwise, “Medical Archives”, I am convinced, is the only true “ARCHIVE” of our biggest registered achievement, total in medicine, especially in public health, because it published a series of original papers on the mass eradication of the most serious diseases then and now: about malaria, trachoma, syphilis, mycoses and others. Finally, I want to emphasize that in all these journals, and especially in our most eminent journal with the longest “path”, in addition to satisfaction in the creative work wear special bitterness concerning the lack of understanding of those who are in that time and later were in a position to give a specific type of support, especially financial, to any of the three above-mentioned journals, especially “Medical Archives” was published as it deserves. Always “Medical Archives” plagued, and I know that this is the situation today, with the money necessary for an adequate quality, design, number of copies, etc., which was and is a result of misunderstanding with the relevant authorities and institutions where medical education component is part of their work and activities. I know that the Association of Phisicians of B&H, not even the journal “Medical Archives” never in its long history, has become the owner of the minimum space to work, and that even once held the Meeting of the Editorial Board in the building at the corner of the present Strosmajer Street and Zelenih Beretki traded off for good private service of one of the then officials of the Phisicians Association.

Also, I know that the journal “Medical Archives” has never had a continuous and assured adequate financial support, the system solved by its founder and owner the Association of Phisicians of B&H, but has always lived from sponsoring by certain pharmaceutical companies, among which is “Bosnalijek” Ltd. Sarajevo played a major role in the past, and part of the subscription by members of Association of Phisicians of B&H, but that is not important could help the solution of these problems. In the mentioned sixty years of publishing temptation, without their own editing room and archives, moving from the private rooms at the then secretary of the Editorial Board, Mrs. Branka Kovačević at Mustafa Golubić street, the Institute for Health Protection Agency, ATD in Dositejeva street from daffodils and almost three-year delay journal “Medical Archive” ended up in the hands of an experienced rescuer written word and has come to life again, I would say now in full maturity and safer than ever before through 60 years of its existence (2).

It is therefore rightly raises the question: Is the sixtieth volume of the journal “Medical Archives a real measure of our value and our scientific awareness of their contribution to knowledge about knowledge and knowledge of contemporary medical practice in Bosnia and Herzegovina? We need to get serious thoughts over this".

Professor Arif Smajkić,Editorial Board Secretary

"Last call for passengers through the virtual world of MedArh! I stood on the platform for catapulting, while a call echoed in deserted hall, corridors and stairs of the Faculty of Medicine, in one of those difficult war years (2). Where are all these wonderful people, where are all the children cheerful hearts that dream to voyage nebulae toward the medical universe? And whether it is forgotten that Cairos makers called Medical Archive? Is it already in the title of our journal was stored germ of its longevity and tradition? MedArh we now look like a mythical creature with the title of a religious dignitary who we astutely observed under heavy brows, stroking his long white beard. Maybe then gave a secret hint that the devastation of all printing out a sound word AVICENA – on the one-tag by Izet fastened to the wall of his study room – the signal word, which still faithfully follows the Medical Archives! I try to include a virtual reality which is stronger than reality itself. Here I am, already floating path you draw symbols of the world of medicine. The memory is unpredictable adventure spirit rooted in a syncretic perception, in which the terms and tactile feelings intertwined. The names create mental representations and images shifted somewhat unclear edges and space agree in time. Archives of this wonderful word-trigger. A bunch of yellow paper with faded headlines of one’s hopes, which is getting all eating fungi invasion, invoked by the sonority and the scent of Archimedes who jumps out of the bathroom naked and all published–Eureka! I found! Architecture hallway howling in quite unexpected directions worn charm of infantile discoveries. Something old, archaic, yet modern day awaits me at every bend until you can climb, avoiding broken glass and pieces of plaster. The archetype, the original image of something well-known and close, which cannot be addressed, but in something can plunge deep, with confidence that we are in a safe place, emerging from the deep shadows of the past. Several flashes from the hills, with thunder rumbling in the depths, in fact the photons that adjective aura Archive. Negation of the negation! Giving birth, flourish and culture! “Medical Archive” ... meeting those (indestructible?) who care for the impossible: to save a little bit of human dignity through the written word! Another flash, and now I’m sailing a different route. My father had a habit of each new book smell, deep breathing a mysterious smell of freshly printed material. Then make a sudden movement turned book somewhere in the middle, combining unexpected covers, such as heavy ballet figures “string”, all in order to check the strength and skill of the master connectivity. Too bad for a book if ligaments snapped and leaves are crumbling one after the other and finally and irreversibly scattered. Journals immediately read, it seems to me from cover to cover, and then lied high on a shelf with the explanation that can be used. My mother thought that unnecessarily collecting dust. My father often said that the form is inseparable from its essence. The layout and cover, fragrant or less fragrant contents, multicolored ridges of books, stacked horizontally dark green law journals, and later some of my medical (it was the “Medical Archives”), had a fire in our fireplace, the flame that warmed our hearts. Visual identity, tactile sensation of roughness or smoothness, typography, color cover, brightness and greasy paper weight at your fingertips, elite professional activities that eluded the omnipresent control words at the time of the old regime, and a scent that followed me everywhere in my nostrils – all at once , enters into a lavish array of memories, nostalgia, and nonferrous appealed peaceful and happy moments. Father is gone and neither my good mother. The room where we used to sit, talk and read now is completely different. Neither MedArh is no longer the same. Once was with stiff covers, smaller format and a bit thicker, perhaps – at first glance – a little more serious, with a small mustache that are cherished – his, for today’s taste, thick-founders, photographed with rigid collars, round glasses and bow-tie. On the edges of the photos are traces of the seal. We owe them a lot, and as our professors and researchers as well, and above all humanists (2).

Figure 27. Cover page of the "Medical Archives" journal issue 2016-1 edited by Academician Izet Mašić.

We measure time that we may perceive it and mastered. A simple calculation of addition about the regularity of each new number. Regularity testifies to stability; all safe and expected: an uncertain future is described through a reliable history. A past MedArh began the institutionalization of the profession. For the profession needs your mirror, great and faithful, which will be recognized, in which the look-his oneness and his fraternity, his palpable second nature through which breathes and speaks. It is all important: the colors and fragrances and small symbols of care and diligence and quality manuscripts. When I hold our journal in your hand as if holding a stem of fragrant flowers, of all the profession to which I belong and which belongs to me. And it took a lot of effort and care predecessor! Vivid I followed MedArh on this path of growth, development, maturity and disappearance, resuscitation and rehabilitation.

The years went by in a flash, the volumes are winning shelf. I was deputy Editor-in-Chief, a man who has restored our soul journal, a doctor who had cured their scarce resources when all but given up on the Archive. I remember those difficult war years and the lean post-war period when the white-haired young man – MedArh shut down its fifty candles on a celebratory cake. Before him, on the table, lay a certificate of re-indexation, in fact, his new birth certificate! The main resuscitator journal deserved at least one human magic word – thank you!–All experts in the field, for all that he came to do. And he did a lot for the history of our health and medicine! And for the future! Around that time, I suggested Izet to examine, to evaluate the form and content of the journal (2).

Our fathers are constantly kept vigil over our attempts. Once the door to the room at the Clinical Center, where we print a multitude of medical sites and often talked about the deceased Chief. Muhamed Mašić, around and silently just opened. It was a sure sign of providence to continue to believe in the impossible. High goals for high achievement! For institutions (a MedArh institution for themselves!), That they do not question, you do not peek into his own throat, not a serious institution or promising companies! The analysis pointed to places that require therapy and modifications. Some of the new winds blew the old site. I turn them not without a certain melancholy. In the last two words lies in the name of his new creator" (2).

Zoran Riđanović, MD,Editor-in-Chief Deputy (1993-1994)

5. historical beckground of “Medical Arhives” during last 15 years of printing

From the year 2010 “Medical Archives” was included in Academy of Medical Sciences of B&H as official journal and all members of Academy were included as member of Editorial Board (21-24). Academician Izet Mašic continued to edit the journal “Medical Archives” as Editor-in-Chief, but because of cardiac consequences, in the year 2019, Academician Izet Hozo was involved to be Editor of the journal (9-12). All members of Editorial Board during last 15 years were (Figure 26 and 28): Editor-in-Chief Academician Izet Masic, MD, PhD (Figure 29), University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, B&H. ORCID ID: http://www.orcid.org/0000-0002-9080-5456. E-mail: imasic@lol.ba. Co-Editor Academician Muharem Zildzic, MD. PhD, University of Zenica, Zenica, B&H. ORCID ID: http://www.orcid.org/0000-0001-5418-2274. E-mail: zildzic@yahoo.com. Co-Editor Academcian Izet Hozo, MD, PhD. University of Split, Split, Croatia. ORCID ID: http//www.orcid.org/0000-0002-6975-7656. E-mail: izet.hozo51@gmail.com. Co-Editor Academician Jacob Bergsland, MD, PhD, University of Oslo, Norway. ORCID ID: http//www.orcid.org/0000-0002-3101-4064. E-mail: jacobbergsland622@gmail.com. Statistical Editor: Academician Slobodan M. Jankovic, MD, PhD, University of Health Sciences, Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia ORCID ID: http//www.orcid.org/0000-0002-1519-8828.. E-mail: slobnera@gmail.com. Other members of Editorial Board are: Academcian Asim Kurjak, MD, PhD. University of Zagreb, Croatia. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0002-1680-3030. E-mail: asim.kurjak1@yahoo.com. Academician Zlatko Hrgovic, MD, PhD, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. ORCID ID: http//www.orcid.org/0000-0001-5504-9256. E-mail: info@hrgovic.de. Academician Benjamin Djulbegovic, MD, PhD. University City of Hope, USA. ORCID ID: //www.orcid.org/0000-0003-0671-1447. E-mail: bdjulbegovic@coh.org. Academician Doncho Donev, MD, PhD. University of Skopje, Skopje, Nort Macedonia. ORCID ID: http//www.orcid.org/0000-0002-5237-443X. E-mail: dmdonev@gmail.com. Academcan Šefik Hasukic, MD, PhD. University of Tuzla, Tuzla, B&H. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0003-2893-3745. E-mail: shasukic@bih.net.ba. Academician Snjezana Milicevic, MD, PhD. University of Banja Luka, BiH, ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0001-8368-1929. E-mail: smilicevic@blic.net. Academician Emir Mujanovic, MD, PhD. University of Tuzla, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0002-8242-7037. E-mail: emirmujanovic2@gmail.com. Academician Mustafa Sefic, MD, PhD. University of Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0003215-5982. E-mail: seficmustafa@gmail.com. Academician Osman Sinanovic, MD, PhD. University of Tuzla, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0001-8957-7284.. E-mail: osman.sinanovic1@gmail.com. Academician Halima Resic, MD, PhD. Academy of Medical Sciences of BiH. Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//www.orcid.org/. http//orcid.org/0000-0003-3215-5982. E-mail: halimaresic@hotmail.com. Academician Abdulah Kucukalic, MD, PhD. Academy of Medical Sciences of BiH. Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0002-1175-3214. E-mail: adokucukalic@hotmail.com. Academician Jasenko Karamehic, MD, PhD. Academy of Medical Sciences of BiH. Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0002-6147. E-mail: jasenko karamehic@gmail.com. Academician Kenan Arnautovic, MD, PhD. Academy of Medical Sciences of BiH. Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0003-3745-288X. E-mail: kenanarnaut@yahoo.com. Academician Sukrija Zvizdic, MD, PhD. Academy of Medical Sciences of BiH. Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0002-8987-8906. E-mail: sukrijazvizdic@yahoo.com. Academician Enver Zerem, MD, PhD. Academy of Medical Sciences of BiH. Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0001-6906-3630..E-mail: zerem@live.com. Academician Enisa Mesic, MD, PhD. Academy of Medical Sciences of BiH. Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0002-6026-9349. E-mail: enisa.mesic@ukctuzla.ba. Academician Senaid Trnacevic, MD, PhD. Academy of Medical Sciences of BiH. Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0002-6975-7656. E-mail: prof.trnacevic@yahoo.com. Academician Mirza Biscevic, MD, PhD. University of Sarajevo, BiH. ORCID ID: http//orcid.org/0000-0002-8866-5749. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2/images/cleardot.gifE-mail: mirzabiscevic@hotmail.com.

Figure 26. Editorail Board members in 2014: Academicians Muharem Zildžić, Ljubo Šimić, Vjekoslav Gerc, Snježana Miličević, Halima Resić, Kenan Arnautović, Enver Zerem, Izet Mašić (Editor-in-Chief), Marko Bukša, Izet Hozo, Mirko Grujić (left to right).

Figure 28. Editorial Board members in 2025: Academicians Muharem Zildžić, Jacob Bergsland, Abdulah Kučukalić, Izet Mašić (Editor-in-Chief) Halima Resić, Enver Zerem, Osman Sinanović, Emir Mujanović (from left to right).

Unfortunately we lost three very influential academicians during last 4 years, who passed away: Mehmed Gribajčević, Mirko Grujić (former Editor-in-Chief of “Medical Archives” and Vice President of Academy) and Vjekolsav Gerc, also Vice President iof Academy (12) (Figure 26). On December 6th 2025 Academy of Medical Sciences of BiH (AMNuBiH - www.amnbih.org) has been organized 13th Days of AMNuBiH and celebration of 15th anniversary of establishing Academy and also, 80 years of establishing of “Medicinski Arhiv/Medical Archives! journal (23, 24).

6. CONCLUSION

The tradition of publishing of “Medical Archives” as the most recognizable journal in BiH, was kept by Editor-in-Chief of Professor Izet Mašić in 1993 who in extraordinary time (wartime in B&H from 1992 until 1995) and very difficult occasions continued printing of the ten “war time issues”. Thanks to Director of Medline Mr. Sheldon Kotzin, MEDLINE did not stop to continue receiving the “Medicinski arhiv” journal and did not stop involving citation of published articles in MEDLINE/PubMed Central, SCOPUS, EBSCO, EMBASE, HINARI and other important indexed databases.

From the year 2013 articles published in “Medical Archives” were included in PubMed Central with full papers. Today “Medical Archives” belong to the most cited journals in former Yugoslavia countries with h-Index 38 at SCImago rank, it means 38 published papers in “Medical Archives” were cited 38 times in other indexed scientific journals worldwide in the last year and for the year 2024 SCImago rank is Q3, and SJR 0.33.

Author’s contribution:

The author was involved in all steps of preparation this article including final proofreading.

Conflicts of interest:

There are no conflicts of interest.

Financial support and sponsorship:

None.