Browsing by Author "Vlajinac, Hristina D. (7006581450)"

Objective: To adapt and validate a telephone questionnaire for case detection of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathies (SpA) in the Serbian population. Methods: A questionnaire, developed by the French Society of Rheumatology and successfully tested in France, was adapted to the Serbian language using a cross-cultural adaptation process. It was validated in 150 patients: 50 with RA, 50 with SpA and 50 with degenerative rheumatic disorders. They were recruited from Institute of Rheumatology in Belgrade, hospital registry, years 2001 and 2002. The questionnaire validity was assessed in reference to clinical diagnosis and ACR 1987 and ESSG 1991 classification criteria. A logistic regression model was used for RA-control and SpA-control comparison to identify the set of items that best discriminates these groups. Results: Cross-cultural adaptation of the Questionnaire was successfully achieved, verifying its equivalence with the original (semantic, idiomatic, experiential, conceptual). According to the logistic regression, two items selected for RA provided 92.1% agreement when using either clinical diagnosis or ACR classification criteria as a standard. SpA-control comparison included five items providing 96.8% agreement with clinical diagnosis and four items providing 94.1% agreement with ESSG criteria. Results of the present study are similar to those found in the French study. Conclusion: Validation results of the telephone questionnaire, translated and adapted to the Serbian language, confirm that it can be used as a detection tool for RA and SpA cases in the population of Serbia, whose diagnoses would have to be further confirmed. © Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2007.

Objective: To adapt and validate a telephone questionnaire for case detection of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthropathies (SpA) in the Serbian population. Methods: A questionnaire, developed by the French Society of Rheumatology and successfully tested in France, was adapted to the Serbian language using a cross-cultural adaptation process. It was validated in 150 patients: 50 with RA, 50 with SpA and 50 with degenerative rheumatic disorders. They were recruited from Institute of Rheumatology in Belgrade, hospital registry, years 2001 and 2002. The questionnaire validity was assessed in reference to clinical diagnosis and ACR 1987 and ESSG 1991 classification criteria. A logistic regression model was used for RA-control and SpA-control comparison to identify the set of items that best discriminates these groups. Results: Cross-cultural adaptation of the Questionnaire was successfully achieved, verifying its equivalence with the original (semantic, idiomatic, experiential, conceptual). According to the logistic regression, two items selected for RA provided 92.1% agreement when using either clinical diagnosis or ACR classification criteria as a standard. SpA-control comparison included five items providing 96.8% agreement with clinical diagnosis and four items providing 94.1% agreement with ESSG criteria. Results of the present study are similar to those found in the French study. Conclusion: Validation results of the telephone questionnaire, translated and adapted to the Serbian language, confirm that it can be used as a detection tool for RA and SpA cases in the population of Serbia, whose diagnoses would have to be further confirmed. © Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2007.

Purpose: To compare the prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety among patients with vocal fold (VF) nodules, polyps and edema. At the same time the aim was to analyse association between severity of distress and the level of vocal handicap as well as to identify other factors related to severity of depression and anxiety in these patients. Methods: To all participants were given five questionnaires: (1) questionnaire on socio-demographic and some other characteristics of patient; (2) Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI); (3) State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) 1 (State Anxiety); (4) STAI 2 (Trait Anxiety); and (5) Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10. Results: A total of 205 patients were included in this study. Mild-to-severe depression, according to BDI was present in 79 (38.6%) patients. Mild-to-severe state anxiety and trait anxiety were present in 199 (97.1%) and 200 (97.6%) patients, respectively. Only 10 patients had VHI-10 score ≤ 11. Multivariate analyses showed that there were no significant differences in the level of depression and anxiety between patients with VF nodules, polyps and edema. The VHI-10 score was significantly higher in patients with VF edema in comparison with VF nodule patients (p = 0.001), as well as in comparison with VF polyp patients (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The present study identified a high prevalence of psychological and vocal distress among patients with vocal disorders. Severity of depression and anxiety did not differ between patients with VF nodules, polyps and edema, and it was not related to the level of vocal handicap. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical students in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as to assess the impact of medical education on their knowledge and recognition of the importance of implementation of preventive measures. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 514 students in the second year of studying at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, Serbia (younger students response rate 79.57%) and 511 students in the last year of education (older students response rate 90.21%). For data collection, an anonymous self-administered questionnaire was used, which included two types of questions about CVD risk factors and questions about the student’s attitude. Results: Older students knew significantly more about CVD risk factors than students who were at the beginning of their medical studies; however, more than half of the older students did not know the correct answers about CVD risk factors. The only exceptions were questions about “bad” and “good” cholesterol, metabolic syndrome (MSy) and lipid lowering therapy in high risk subjects. Physical inactivity, obesity, type 2 diabetes, smoking and hypertension were not ranked highly enough as important CVD risk factors. Compared groups of students did not significantly differ in attitude scores. The majority of them recognized CVD as the leading cause of death, had normal weight and knew their own blood pressure. Conclusion: Knowledge of medical students from Belgrade about CVD risk factors should be improved. © 2017, Springer-Verlag Wien.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is very serious disease with bad prognosis and unknown ethiology. The aim of the study was to test some hypotheses about other factors in addition to goiter related to anaplastic thyroid cancer occurrence. A case-control study was performed during the period 1993-2005. The case group comprised 126 patients with newly diagnosed anaplastic thyroid cancer. The control group comprised 252 patients who had for the first time goiter operation, and had no malignancy of thyroid gland. Cases and controls were individually matched by age, sex and place of residence (urban/rural).According to conditional multivariate logistic regression analysis, anaplastic thyroid cancer was significantly related to lower education (odds ratio=1.85, 95% confidence interval=1.21-2.82), other malignant tumors in personal history (odds ratio=4.37, 95% confidence interval=1.11-17.31), blood group B (odds ratio=3.69, 95% confidence interval=1.10-12.49), menarche at ≥15 years of age (odds ratio=2.63, 95% confidence interval=1.15-5.88), and first full-term pregnancy before 19 years of age (odds ratio=2.96, 95% confidence interval=1.26-6.96). On the basis of the results obtained, risk factors for anaplastic thyroid cancer are similar to risk factors for differentiated thyroid cancers. © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is very serious disease with bad prognosis and unknown ethiology. The aim of the study was to test some hypotheses about other factors in addition to goiter related to anaplastic thyroid cancer occurrence. A case-control study was performed during the period 1993-2005. The case group comprised 126 patients with newly diagnosed anaplastic thyroid cancer. The control group comprised 252 patients who had for the first time goiter operation, and had no malignancy of thyroid gland. Cases and controls were individually matched by age, sex and place of residence (urban/rural).According to conditional multivariate logistic regression analysis, anaplastic thyroid cancer was significantly related to lower education (odds ratio=1.85, 95% confidence interval=1.21-2.82), other malignant tumors in personal history (odds ratio=4.37, 95% confidence interval=1.11-17.31), blood group B (odds ratio=3.69, 95% confidence interval=1.10-12.49), menarche at ≥15 years of age (odds ratio=2.63, 95% confidence interval=1.15-5.88), and first full-term pregnancy before 19 years of age (odds ratio=2.96, 95% confidence interval=1.26-6.96). On the basis of the results obtained, risk factors for anaplastic thyroid cancer are similar to risk factors for differentiated thyroid cancers. © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Background: In order to test some hypotheses of risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer (neoplasm of base of tongue, palate and tonsils) matched case-control study was conducted in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, during the period 1998-2000. Methods: Study comprised 100 incidence cases with oropharyngeal cancer and 100 controls with some non-malignant diseases of head and neck. Results: According to multivariate analysis, ever smoking, interaction between smoking and alcohol consumption, and occupational exposure to wood dust were found to be independent risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer (odds ratio-OR = 5.10 95% confidence intervals-95% CI = 1.70-15.27, OR = 2.61 95% CI = 1.54-4.41, and OR = 4.16 95% CI = 1.45-11.91, respectively). Conclusion: The results of the present study are in line with other authors , findings showing that smoking and alcohol consumption are the main risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer. The effect of occupational exposure to wood dust warrants further investigation. © 2006 International Society for Preventive Oncology.

Background: In order to test some hypotheses of risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer (neoplasm of base of tongue, palate and tonsils) matched case-control study was conducted in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, during the period 1998-2000. Methods: Study comprised 100 incidence cases with oropharyngeal cancer and 100 controls with some non-malignant diseases of head and neck. Results: According to multivariate analysis, ever smoking, interaction between smoking and alcohol consumption, and occupational exposure to wood dust were found to be independent risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer (odds ratio-OR = 5.10 95% confidence intervals-95% CI = 1.70-15.27, OR = 2.61 95% CI = 1.54-4.41, and OR = 4.16 95% CI = 1.45-11.91, respectively). Conclusion: The results of the present study are in line with other authors , findings showing that smoking and alcohol consumption are the main risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer. The effect of occupational exposure to wood dust warrants further investigation. © 2006 International Society for Preventive Oncology.

The correlation between substance use and depression has been emphasized in the literature. Substance use disorders can also adversely affect the caregivers of drug-addicted persons. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Special Hospital for Addiction Diseases in Belgrade in 2015 to analyze the characteristics, consequences, and health-related quality of life of drug users and their caregivers. The sample comprised 136 users of various substances, and 136 caregivers. A questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, the Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36), and Beck Depression Inventory were administered to all participants. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, compared with caregivers, substance users were significantly more frequently male (P < .001), ≤ 39 years old (P < .001), and more frequently reported the use of sedatives (P = .009) and smoking (P < .001). Some level of depression was present in all participants, but severe forms were more frequent in substance users (P = .010). Among substance users, mean scores of SF-36 domains ranged from 56.6287.17, and among their caregivers, from 50.3775.07; however, the difference was significant only for the health change domain (P = .037), the score for which was lower in caregivers. Substance users suffered from more severe forms of depression compared to their caregivers, who had lower SF-36 scores in the domain of health change. © 2022 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Objective: A case-control study was performed in Belgrade in order to investigate the association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and smoking, coffee and alcohol consumption. Methods: During the period 2001-2005, 110 new PD cases and 220 hospital controls were interviewed. Cases and controls were matched by sex, age and place of residence (urban/rural). For the analysis of data conditional univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used. Results: With PD were associated, independently from each other, current smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.23-0.82], alcohol consumption (OR = 4.78; 95% CI = 2.67-8.55) and coffee consumption (OR = 2.54; 95% CI = 1.36-4.75). In ever smokers the risk for PD significantly decreased with the increasing number of cigarettes smoked and with increasing duration of smoking. The risk for PD significantly increased with the increasing quantity of alcohol consumption. PD risk was significantly higher in subjects whose average daily consumption of coffee was 1 and 2-3 cups, and it was lower (but not significantly) in those whose daily coffee consumption was 4+ cups. Cases and controls did not differ in duration of alcohol and coffee consumption. The results of multivariate analyses did not substantially change after adjustment on family history positive on PD. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the hypotheses of inverse association of smoking with PD, but an inverse association with coffee was not confirmed. PD was found to be positively associated with coffee and alcohol consumption. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S All rights reserved.

Objective: A case-control study was performed in Belgrade in order to investigate the association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and smoking, coffee and alcohol consumption. Methods: During the period 2001-2005, 110 new PD cases and 220 hospital controls were interviewed. Cases and controls were matched by sex, age and place of residence (urban/rural). For the analysis of data conditional univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used. Results: With PD were associated, independently from each other, current smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.23-0.82], alcohol consumption (OR = 4.78; 95% CI = 2.67-8.55) and coffee consumption (OR = 2.54; 95% CI = 1.36-4.75). In ever smokers the risk for PD significantly decreased with the increasing number of cigarettes smoked and with increasing duration of smoking. The risk for PD significantly increased with the increasing quantity of alcohol consumption. PD risk was significantly higher in subjects whose average daily consumption of coffee was 1 and 2-3 cups, and it was lower (but not significantly) in those whose daily coffee consumption was 4+ cups. Cases and controls did not differ in duration of alcohol and coffee consumption. The results of multivariate analyses did not substantially change after adjustment on family history positive on PD. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the hypotheses of inverse association of smoking with PD, but an inverse association with coffee was not confirmed. PD was found to be positively associated with coffee and alcohol consumption. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S All rights reserved.

Objective The present study aimed to compare different indicators of obesity in the Serbian adult population. Design Cross-sectional study. A stratified, two-stage, national-representative random sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample. Data sources were questionnaires created according to the European Health Interview Survey questionnaire. Measurements of weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were performed using standard procedures. Anthropometric measures included BMI, WC and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Setting Data for the study were obtained from the 2013 National Health Survey, performed in line with the EUROSTAT recommendations for performance of the European Health Interview Survey. Subjects Adults aged ≥20 years. Results According to BMI, out of the whole studied population (12 460 adults of both sexes) 2·4 % were underweight, 36·4 % overweight and 22·4 % obese. Using WC and WHtR as measures of adiposity showed that 22·5 % and 42·8 % of participants were overweight and 39·8 % and 25·3 % were obese, respectively. Men and women differed significantly in all variables observed. Overweight was more frequent in men and obesity in women regardless of adiposity measure used. Conclusions In spite of strong correlations between BMI, WC and WHtR, substantial discrepancies between these three measures in the assessment of overweight and obesity were found, especially in some age groups. Which of these anthropometric measures should be used, or whether two or all three of them should be applied, depends on their associations with cardiovascular or some other disease of interest. Copyright © The Authors 2016.

Objective The present study aimed to compare different indicators of obesity in the Serbian adult population. Design Cross-sectional study. A stratified, two-stage, national-representative random sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample. Data sources were questionnaires created according to the European Health Interview Survey questionnaire. Measurements of weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were performed using standard procedures. Anthropometric measures included BMI, WC and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Setting Data for the study were obtained from the 2013 National Health Survey, performed in line with the EUROSTAT recommendations for performance of the European Health Interview Survey. Subjects Adults aged ≥20 years. Results According to BMI, out of the whole studied population (12 460 adults of both sexes) 2·4 % were underweight, 36·4 % overweight and 22·4 % obese. Using WC and WHtR as measures of adiposity showed that 22·5 % and 42·8 % of participants were overweight and 39·8 % and 25·3 % were obese, respectively. Men and women differed significantly in all variables observed. Overweight was more frequent in men and obesity in women regardless of adiposity measure used. Conclusions In spite of strong correlations between BMI, WC and WHtR, substantial discrepancies between these three measures in the assessment of overweight and obesity were found, especially in some age groups. Which of these anthropometric measures should be used, or whether two or all three of them should be applied, depends on their associations with cardiovascular or some other disease of interest. Copyright © The Authors 2016.

Objectives: Determination of smoking habits of medical students in Belgrade and the factors influencing cigarette use. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students from all study years at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, during the 2015–2016 academic session. A questionnaire, composed of four parts, was administered to all participants: 1. socio-demographic characteristics; 2. habits and lifestyle; 3. Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence; 4. the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors significantly associated with cigarette smoking. Results: A total of 2551 subjects, which constituted 81.8% of all undergraduate medical students, participated in the survey. The prevalence of current regular smokers among medical students was 21.7%. The results obtained using the Fagerstrom tolerance scale showed that 41.8% of the students had high nicotine dependence. According to the results of a multivariate analysis, the following were the independent determinants of being a smoker: being male, grade point average of <8/10, daily coffee consumption, self-reported excessive leisure time, self-reported pressure from parents, alcohol consumption, and smokers among parents. Conclusions: Understanding the factors influencing tobacco use is the first step in implementing prevention strategies and can be helpful in the cessation of smoking. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Objectives: Determination of smoking habits of medical students in Belgrade and the factors influencing cigarette use. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students from all study years at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, during the 2015–2016 academic session. A questionnaire, composed of four parts, was administered to all participants: 1. socio-demographic characteristics; 2. habits and lifestyle; 3. Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence; 4. the Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors significantly associated with cigarette smoking. Results: A total of 2551 subjects, which constituted 81.8% of all undergraduate medical students, participated in the survey. The prevalence of current regular smokers among medical students was 21.7%. The results obtained using the Fagerstrom tolerance scale showed that 41.8% of the students had high nicotine dependence. According to the results of a multivariate analysis, the following were the independent determinants of being a smoker: being male, grade point average of <8/10, daily coffee consumption, self-reported excessive leisure time, self-reported pressure from parents, alcohol consumption, and smokers among parents. Conclusions: Understanding the factors influencing tobacco use is the first step in implementing prevention strategies and can be helpful in the cessation of smoking. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Various studies have provided evidence that migraine is a multifactorial genetic disorder. The aim of the present study was to compare hereditary patterns of female students with migraine (245 subjects) and non-migraine primary headaches (1053 subjects). The prevalence study was performed combined with a case-control study. Migraineurs had significantly more frequently one or more first-degree and/or second-degree relatives with migraine. Students with menstrual migraine, in comparison with other subtypes of migraine (with the exception of pre-menstrual migraine), had significantly more frequently ≥ 2 relatives with migraine. Among students with non-migraine primary headaches, those with menstrually related headache had more frequently relatives with migraine in comparison with students suffering from menstrually unrelated nonmigraine headache. The results obtained are in line with the results of genetic epidemiologic studies suggesting that genetic factors play a role in the occurrence of migraine.

Various studies have provided evidence that migraine is a multifactorial genetic disorder. The aim of the present study was to compare hereditary patterns of female students with migraine (245 subjects) and non-migraine primary headaches (1053 subjects). The prevalence study was performed combined with a case-control study. Migraineurs had significantly more frequently one or more first-degree and/or second-degree relatives with migraine. Students with menstrual migraine, in comparison with other subtypes of migraine (with the exception of pre-menstrual migraine), had significantly more frequently ≥ 2 relatives with migraine. Among students with non-migraine primary headaches, those with menstrually related headache had more frequently relatives with migraine in comparison with students suffering from menstrually unrelated nonmigraine headache. The results obtained are in line with the results of genetic epidemiologic studies suggesting that genetic factors play a role in the occurrence of migraine.

Study objective - To determine the influence and the effect of the war in the former Yugoslavia and of the United Nations economic sanctions on mortality from infectious diseases. Design - This was a descriptive study analysing mortality data time series. Setting - Central Serbia, Yugoslavia. Participants - The population of central Serbia was the subject of the study (about six million inhabitants). Measurements - Mortality rates were standardised directly, using the 'European population') as the standard. Regression analysis and analysis of covariance were undertaken. Main results - During the period 1973-93, mortality from infectious diseases showed a decreasing trend. From 1987-90, and in both men and women, mortality from infectious diseases was significantly higher than expected on the basis of the trend for the preceding period (p = 0.020 and p = 0.000). In addition, there was a statistically significant departure from the preceding trend (p = 0.036) in men between 1991 and 1993 (the period of the war and UN sanctions) - the main effect being in younger age groups. Conclusion - The economic crisis in the former Yugoslavia during the 1980s followed by the outbreak of the war and the damaging effects of UN economic sanctions had a distinctly adverse effect on mortality from infectious diseases.

[No abstract available]

A case-control study comprised 177 patients with various types of thyroid cancer and the same number of hospital controls individually matched by age, sex and place of residence. Malignant tumors were more frequent among first and second degree relatives of cases as compared to controls. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 2.43 (1.33-4.44) and 5.33 (1.77-16.01) respectively. The most frequent were cancers of uterus and stomach with Odds ratio of 6.00 (1.61-22.36) and 9.00 (1.64-49.35). Thyroid cancer was present only in first-degree relatives of two cases and none of controls.