Browsing by Author "Jarebinski, Mirjana (7003463550)"

The aim of this case-control study was to analyze the role of childhood infections and vaccinations in patients with MS in the Belgrade population. The study group comprised 110 cases with definite MS according to Poser's criteria, in whom onset symptoms occurred up to 2 years prior to the interview. An equal number of controls, individually matched by sex, age and area of residence, was recruited from patients with various nonautoimmune neurological disorders. Measles (OR O 2.6, 95%CI 1.4-5.0), chickenpox (OR O 3.0, 95%CI 1.5-6.0), rubella (OR O 2.4, 95%CI 1.2-4.7), whooping cough (OR O 1.9, 95%CI 0.8-4.4), and mumps (OR O 1.8, 95%CI 0.8-4.5), at age ≤ 7 years, were more frequently reported by MS cases. The total number of childhood viral infections (including measles, rubella, chickenpox, and mumps) at age ≤ 7 years was signifi cantly higher in MS cases than in controls (OR O 1.8, 95%CI 1.4-2.5). Concerning vaccinations, no statistically signifi cant differences were found between groups. According to multivariate analysis, rubella (OR O 2.5, 95%CI 1.4-4.4, p O 0.001) and measles (OR O 2.4, 95%CI 1.3-4.3, p O 0.003) at age ≤ 7 years were signifi cantly related to MS. Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α has been considered the prototypic cytopathogenic cytokine in multiple sclerosis (MS), but recently this cytokine has been shown to possess significant anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in demyelinating diseases. It has been reported that the TNFα-308 polymorphism influences levels of TNFα production, and that the rare allele, TNF2, is associated with high TNFα production. We investigated the TNFα-308 polymorphism in 143 unrelated Serbian patients with MS and 123 ethnically matched, healthy individuals using the allele-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction technique. The frequency of the TNF2 allele was significantly decreased in MS patients (14%) in comparison with controls (24%; p = 0.044). The TNF2 allele had no influence on disease behavior, since it was not associated with the course and severity of MS in this group of patients. The result suggests that in the Serbian population polymorphism at position -308 of TNFα or at an adjacent locus might have a role in MS susceptibility. Copyright © 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α has been considered the prototypic cytopathogenic cytokine in multiple sclerosis (MS), but recently this cytokine has been shown to possess significant anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in demyelinating diseases. It has been reported that the TNFα-308 polymorphism influences levels of TNFα production, and that the rare allele, TNF2, is associated with high TNFα production. We investigated the TNFα-308 polymorphism in 143 unrelated Serbian patients with MS and 123 ethnically matched, healthy individuals using the allele-specific restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction technique. The frequency of the TNF2 allele was significantly decreased in MS patients (14%) in comparison with controls (24%; p = 0.044). The TNF2 allele had no influence on disease behavior, since it was not associated with the course and severity of MS in this group of patients. The result suggests that in the Serbian population polymorphism at position -308 of TNFα or at an adjacent locus might have a role in MS susceptibility. Copyright © 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The aim of this survey was to estimate the incidence of primary CNS tumors among children aged 0-14 in Belgrade during the period 1991-2004. Incidence rates were age-adjusted according to the world standard population. The average age-adjusted incidence rates were 3.4/100,000 for boys, 2.4/100,000 for girls, and 2.9/100,000 for both genders. There was a nonsignificant tendency toward increased CNS tumor incidence (y = 2.547 + 0.052x, p =.549). The age-specific incidence rates were 3.0/100,000 (0-4 years), 2.2/100,000 (5-9 years), and 3.8/100,000 (10-14 years). Among the population aged between 0 and 14, the cumulative probability of acquiring primary CNS tumors was 1 per 1961 for boys and 1 per 2778 for girls. Astrocytoma was the most common pathohistological type of primary CNS tumors accounting for 41.5% of cases. © Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

The aim of this case-control study was to assess the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) associated with certain lifestyle factors (cigarette smoking and coffee and alcohol consumption). The study groups consisted of 210 cases with clinically proven and/or laboratory-confirmed MS (Poser's criteria) and an identical number of sex- and age-matched hospital controls. In the MS patients, cigarette smoking was significantly more frequent than in the controls (OR = 1.6, p = 0.021). A dose-response relationship between the risk of MS and both duration (years) of smoking (p = 0.027) and number of cigarettes smoked daily (p = 0.021) was observed. Coffee consumption was significantly more frequent in the MS group (OR = 1.7, p = 0.047), with dose-response relationships. The analysis of alcohol drinking showed a significant association between consumption of hard liquor per day and risk of MS (OR = 6.7, p = 0.026). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, smoking was detected to be a significant independent risk factor for MS (OR = 2.4, p = 0.004). Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG.

[No abstract available]

The aim of our study is to estimate the prevalence of migraine and tension-type headaches in 7-12-year-old school children from Belgrade. The sample was drawn from a total of 1259 school children from randomly selected primary schools. The diagnosis was made on the basis of a clinical interview combined with the neurological examination. The prevalence of migraine increases with age from 0.5% at the age of seven, to 6.8% at the age of 12. Female to male ratio inverts with age: males predominate at age 7-9, but females predominate at age 10-12. The estimated prevalence of tension-type headache increases with age from 0.5% in 7-year olds to 2.4% in 12-year olds. Statistically, the onset of migraine occurs significantly earlier than that of tension-type headache. Migraine and tension-type headache are frequent headache types and have different demographic characteristics among children. © 2006 European Paediatric Neurology Society.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease with an extremely variable clinical course and prognosis. The problem of prognosis exists ever since the first diagnosis of MS had been established. A broad spectrum of different clinical and non-clinical features has been analysed up to now, with respect to their validity in assessing long-term prognosis in MS. Most investigators agree that male sex, higher age at onset, pyramidal, cerebellar, or sphincteric disturbances at onset and chronic progressive disease course (primary-progressive or secondary progressive) are related to the poor prognosis, whereas female sex, onset at a younger age, sensory symptoms at onset, as well as relapsing-remitting disease course, indicate the better disease outcome. The prognostic significance of other demographic, clinical, paraclinical features, personal or familial history data, genetic and environmental factors, is still a matter of controversy and is to be elucidated in future studies. Studies on natural course and prognosis should meet the criterion of completeness in all its senses, be prospective with a long-term follow-up, and be briefly designed in order to avoid the possible bias influences.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease with an extremely variable clinical course and prognosis. The problem of prognosis exists ever since the first diagnosis of MS had been established. A broad spectrum of different clinical and non-clinical features has been analysed up to now, with respect to their validity in assessing long-term prognosis in MS. Most investigators agree that male sex, higher age at onset, pyramidal, cerebellar, or sphincteric disturbances at onset and chronic progressive disease course (primary-progressive or secondary progressive) are related to the poor prognosis, whereas female sex, onset at a younger age, sensory symptoms at onset, as well as relapsing-remitting disease course, indicate the better disease outcome. The prognostic significance of other demographic, clinical, paraclinical features, personal or familial history data, genetic and environmental factors, is still a matter of controversy and is to be elucidated in future studies. Studies on natural course and prognosis should meet the criterion of completeness in all its senses, be prospective with a long-term follow-up, and be briefly designed in order to avoid the possible bias influences.

All children born in 1989 and 1990 in the district of Krusevac in Central Serbia (population 140,000) were followed to the end of 1995. The total number of children was 3,102. The cumulative incidence of febrile seizures was 25.1/1,000, that of single febrile seizures 3.9/1,000 and that of epilepsy (i.e. recurrent afebrile seizures) 6.5/1,000. The peak age- specific rate of the first febrile and the first afebrile seizure was in the second year of life (11.6/1,000 and 2.9/1,000, respectively). Among 20 cases of epileptic children, the most common type of seizure was the generalized type - 14 cases (70%), while 6 children (30%) suffered from partial seizures. Of these epileptic children, there were 7 children (35%) with associated neurological abnormalities and/or mental retardation, including one with tuberous sclerosis. Thirteen of the total number of epilepsy cases were considered as having active epilepsy (i.e. still having had seizures and/or being on antiepileptic therapy). The calculated point prevalence rate was 4.2/1,000 on December 31, 1995.

Objective: To assess the age, period, and cohort effects on stroke mortality in Belgrade, Serbia, between 1989 and 2003. Methods: Mortality data for stroke events were obtained from the Municipal Institute of Statistics. The age- and gender-specific mortality rates were calculated for the cohorts of individuals born between 1904-1908 and 1964-1968. Results: In males, the average mortality rate increased from 80.9/100,000 in 1989-1993 to 111.3/100,000 in 1994-1998, and decreased slightly to 101.8/100,000 in 1999-2003. A similar pattern was observed among females. Stroke mortality risk was strongly related to age in both genders. This age effect was present for both genders, independent of the cohort or time period. The majority of the successive generations in Belgrade had an increased risk of death from stroke in the recent cohorts especially among females. Conclusions: Our results suggest the need to improve efforts in the primary and secondary prevention of stroke. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG.

Objective: To assess the age, period, and cohort effects on stroke mortality in Belgrade, Serbia, between 1989 and 2003. Methods: Mortality data for stroke events were obtained from the Municipal Institute of Statistics. The age- and gender-specific mortality rates were calculated for the cohorts of individuals born between 1904-1908 and 1964-1968. Results: In males, the average mortality rate increased from 80.9/100,000 in 1989-1993 to 111.3/100,000 in 1994-1998, and decreased slightly to 101.8/100,000 in 1999-2003. A similar pattern was observed among females. Stroke mortality risk was strongly related to age in both genders. This age effect was present for both genders, independent of the cohort or time period. The majority of the successive generations in Belgrade had an increased risk of death from stroke in the recent cohorts especially among females. Conclusions: Our results suggest the need to improve efforts in the primary and secondary prevention of stroke. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG.

The aim of this study was to estimate survival rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in the Belgrade population, Yugoslavia, and furthermore, to determine the prognostic value of some demographic and clinical variables for survival. The cumulative survival probability was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic value of different variables was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox regression model. In the Belgrade population, the cumulative 25-year survival probability of MS patients and the mean survival time from MS onset were 73.2% and 38 years, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that survival was significantly related to sex, age at onset, course of disease and monoregional initial symptoms. A multivariate model demonstrated that a relapsing-remitting course of MS and monoregional onset were predictors of a better prognosis. The presence of motor symptoms at the onset was found to be an independent predictor of a poorer outcome of MS. Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Objective: To estimate trends in mortality due to different stroke subtypes in the population of Belgrade during the period 1989-2003. Patients and methods: Mortality data for stroke were compiled from material of the Municipal Institute of Statistics. Stroke mortality rates were standardized by world standard population. Linear regression coefficient in time trend analysis of mortality rates was assessed by Fisher's test. Results: In Belgrade, 1989-2003, the highest values of mortality rates were for ischemic stroke in both sexes: 50.1/100,000-men, and 39.9/100,000-women. The mortality rate from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was lower in men (3.9/100,000) compared to women (5.3/100,000). For intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), the death rate was 3.1 times higher than that for SAH. Stroke due to hemorrhage was a more common cause of death than ischemic stroke for both sexes in all age groups up to 59. In older age, ischemic stroke became the more frequent cause of death. The time trends of stroke mortality rates in the Belgrade population during the period 1989-2003 showed that the most excessive statistically significant increase in death rates was related to ICH in both sexes. The death rates from SAH had increasing tendency in both sexes, especially in women (p = 0.017). Upward trends were observed for ischemic stroke mortality rates too, with statistical significance in men (p = 0.048). Conclusion: Further research is needed to explain the causes of the increasing burden of stroke in Serbia. Since different profiles of risk factors play a role in the etiology of different stroke subtypes, these facts should be taken into account in the creation of both prevention and management strategies. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.