Browsing by Author "Maksimović, Natasa (12772951900)"

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer represents the most common malignant tumour among men, and appears more and more frequently among women in many countries worldwide. The aims of this descriptive epidemiological study were to evaluate the mortality trends of all malignant tumours and lung cancer in Central Serbia from 1990 to 1999, and to estimate the incidence, mortality and the basic demographic characteristics of lung cancer in Central Serbia in 1999. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The source of data concerning cancer cases in 1999 was the Cancer Registry of Central Serbia, while data of the Republic Statistics Institute were used for the analysis of mortality trends for the period 1990-1999. All rates were standardized by the direct method, to the world standard population. Confidence intervals for mortality rates were assessed with 95% level of probability. Linear regression coefficient was determined by Fisher's test. RESULTS: The mortality rates showed rising tendencies for both lung cancer (y = -1876.26 + 0.96x, p = 0.028 for men; y = -654.78 + 0.33x, p = 0.001 for women) and all malignant tumours (y = -4139.88 + 2.15x, p = 0.163 for men; y = -3649.68 + 1.88x, p = 0.016 for women), with statistically significant increase being observed for all trends, except all malignant tumours among men. In the year 1999, lung cancer ranked first among men and third among women, with 29.2% and 10.3% of cancer mortality respectively. The age-specific mortality rates were much higher in men in all age groups. Mortality increased with age and the highest rates were found in the age group 70-74 for both sexes. The highest incidence and mortality rates were reported in Belgrade, Moravicki and Sumadijski district.

Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, which can interfere with many aspects of an individual's life and severely diminish the quality of life of the person affected. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of life of patients suffering from allergic rhinitis during and out of pollen season. The study involved 100 patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, 48 of who had seasonal, 25 perennial, and 27 who manifested both forms of allergic rhinitis. All study participants were treated at the Institute of Allergology and Immunology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, in the period March-November 2002. A specific quality of life questionnaire for patients with rhinoconjunctivitis was used in the study. During pollen season, itchy eyes (chi2 = 6.34; p = 0.042), red eyes (chi2 = 7.44; p = 0.024), and swollen eyes (chi2 = 6.65; p = 0.036) caused significantly more difficulties for subjects with seasonal and those with both seasonal and perennial rhinitis than for subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis. A highly significant difference in the mean scores of the indoors activity variable during and out of pollen season (F = 347.28; p = 0.000) was noted, that is to say, significant irritation was noted during pollen season among subjects with seasonal and those with both seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, however the dynamics of irritation remained the same in both study groups (F = 0.145; p = 0.704). The patients with seasonal and those with both seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis experienced a significantly poorer quality of life during pollen season than out of it, as well as an inferior quality of life in comparison to patients with perennial allergic rhinitis during pollen season.

The aim of this study was to assess the role of stressful life events, lack of social support and attachment insecurity in triggering exacerbations of psoriasis. Outpatients experiencing exacerbation of psoriasis in the last 6 months (n=110) were compared with outpatients affected by skin conditions in which psychosomatic factors are believed to play a minor role (n=200). Stressful life events during the last 12 months were assessed with Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events. Perceived social support and attachment relationship were assessed with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, respectively. In comparison with controls the patients with psoriasis reported more stressful life events in the last year. The statistically significant difference was found only for the sum of the first 25 events (odds ratio (OR) 1.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-2.87; p<0.001). Also, patients with psoriasis were more likely to score higher on both anxiety (OR=1.44; CI = 1.09-1.92; p=0.011) and avoidance attachment scale (OR= 1.49; CI=1.04-2.14; p= 0.030), and perceived less support from their social network than did the comparison subjects. The results of this study confirm the relevance of psychosocial factors in psoriasis. © 2009 The Authors.