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Gazibara T, Cvjetkovic S, Milic M, Dotlic J, Maksimovic N, Jovanovic V, Jeremic Stojkovic V. Preferences of COVID-19 Vaccines in the General Population in Belgrade, Serbia: A Qualitative Study. Behav Med 2024; 50:16-25. [PMID: 35672260 DOI: 10.1080/08964289.2022.2085652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Few countries provided multiple COVID-19 vaccines for their citizens right from the start of mass immunization. In Serbia, four vaccines were available. Circumstances in which people had several options to choose from are unique. The purpose of this study was to identify motivators behind COVID-19 vaccination and the choice of COVID-19 vaccine among people who were immunized against COVID-19. Qualitative interviews with 35 vaccinated people aged > 18 years were conducted in May 2021 at the Institute of Public Health of Serbia, a reference institution for vaccination. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Four topics emerged: 1) Decision to receive COVID-19 vaccine; 2) Sources of information about the vaccine; 3) Choice of the COVID-19 vaccine and 4) Anti-vaccination sentiment around the vaccinated people. Participants were classified in two groups: those who were determined to receive the vaccine and those who were hesitant. People who were hesitant decided to receive the vaccine after reviewing the information collected from various sources, especially physicians. Although some participants accepted any vaccine regardless of their characteristics, there were others who had explicit preferences. These preferences stemmed mainly from their beliefs about particular vaccine's efficacy and safety, COVID-19 status (previous infection), living or lifestyle circumstances (residence or travel abroad), doctor's recommendation (underlying health status) or trust in expertise of that particular manufacturer's country of origin. Opting for appropriate vaccine was motivated by reasons specific to various individuals, which enabled them to make choices in line with their preferences and values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Gazibara
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Smiljana Cvjetkovic
- Department of Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Milic
- Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut", Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia
| | - Jelena Dotlic
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natasa Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Verica Jovanovic
- Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut", Belgrade, Serbia
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Sladojevic J, Dotlic J, Gazibara T, Matkovic S, Maksimovic N. Longitudinal evaluation of health-related quality of life after removal of high-risk melanoma in a setting where adjuvant therapy is not available. Arch Dermatol Res 2023; 316:27. [PMID: 38060051 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-023-02766-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with a high-risk skin melanoma after completion of the primary surgical treatment over time, as well as, to identify factors associated with better HRQoL at the beginning and at the end of follow-up. The study included subjects with histopathologically confirmed high-risk skin melanoma in clinical stages IIC, IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC, in whom clinical and radiographic signs of the disease were not confirmed after primary surgical treatment. The HRQoL was evaluated using Short Form-36 (SF-36) after completion of primary surgical treatment (start of follow-up) and after 6 to 12 months (end of follow-up). A total of 71 people completed SF-36 at both points in time. There were no significant differences between the initial and the follow-up total HRQoL score (t = 1.118; p = 0.267). At the start of follow-up, having fewer depressive symptoms, better functional status and lower vitamin D serum levels were associated with a better total HRQoL score. At the end of follow-up, having lower Breslow depth and being employed at the start of follow-up, having fewer depressive symptoms and lower C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels at follow-up, and not developing metastases over follow-up were associated with a higher total HRQoL scores. The HRQoL of people with high-risk melanoma did not change in the year following the complete removal of the tumor. However, presence of depressive symptoms and metastases seem to have the strongest impact on poorer quality of life after surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jelena Dotlic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tatjana Gazibara
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26A, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Suzana Matkovic
- Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natasa Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26A, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
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Beronja B, Bubnjevic T, Tasic R, Gasic M, Kulic L, Bogosavljevic I, Maksimovic N, Gazibara T. Comprehensive qualitative evaluation of the first ever full-time online course for medical students in one middle-income country. Libyan J Med 2023; 18:2258665. [PMID: 37729558 PMCID: PMC10512770 DOI: 10.1080/19932820.2023.2258665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic in the academic 2020/2021 included full-time online courses for medical students in Serbia for the first time since the faculty was founded in 1920. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes and opinions about the full-time online course among medical students and their teachers. A qualitative study was carried out in the autumn of 2021. In-depth interviews were conducted with 38 participants (27 students in the 4th study year and 11 teachers who teach in the 3rd study year) about their experiences in the past academic year. To select study participants, purposive sampling was employed. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was applied. Five topics emerged: 1) Theoretical online learning, 2) Practical online learning, 3) Motivation, 4) Technical aspects of online learning and 5) Evaluation of knowledge. Overall, students' attitudes toward theoretical classes were mostly negative, but the attitudes of teachers were mostly positive. However, the attitudes of both students and teachers toward practical online classes were mostly negative. Students were, in general, less motivated to follow online classes compared to conventional courses, even though the teachers felt that they had to put more effort into making a suitable online course. Most participants considered that the online classes had a negative impact on their knowledge and practical skills, but their academic achievement was not inferior compared to previous years. The full-time online course should include conventional on-site teaching. The relevance of acquiring practical skills is strongly emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branko Beronja
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Teodora Bubnjevic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Radica Tasic
- The College of Health Sciences, Academy of Applied Studies Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milos Gasic
- Department of Anatomy, University of Pristina temporarily settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
| | - Ljiljana Kulic
- Department of Anatomy, University of Pristina temporarily settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Pristina temporarily settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
| | - Ivan Bogosavljevic
- Department of Anatomy, University of Pristina temporarily settled in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
| | - Natasa Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tatjana Gazibara
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Maksimovic N, Gazibara T, Dotlic J, Milic M, Jeremic Stojkovic V, Cvjetkovic S, Markovic G. "It Bothered Me": The Mental Burden of COVID-19 Media Reports on Community-Dwelling Elderly People. Medicina (Kaunas) 2023; 59:2011. [PMID: 38004060 PMCID: PMC10673444 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59112011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Elderly people may have difficulties understanding the quality and quantity of information about the COVID-19 epidemic, which can put an additional mental strain on their health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the processing of COVID-19 information among older people. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was carried out in summer 2021. The sampling was based on the snowball method. This approach allowed us to communicate with the next potential participants relatively freely and without reservations. Two female researchers (both MD, PhD) conducted the interviews. All interviews were held in Serbian. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The interviews were conducted with 13 participants (average age 71 years). The analysis of qualitative content suggested that four topics could be identified: (1) sources of information, (2) information interest and need, (3) reporting of information and (4) suggestions for better reporting. The participants were troubled by the excess of information, repetitive information about death tolls, unqualified people in media discussing the pandemic and inconsistent reporting. These features caused the participants to feel the psychological burden in processing all the pieces of information. Conclusions: The elderly people in Serbia followed mainstream media to get information about COVID-19; however, they perceived a variety of problems with reporting, which made the understanding of the information difficult and psychologically burdensome. These findings should be taken into consideration when delivering health-related information to elderly people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasa Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tatjana Gazibara
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Dotlic
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Milic
- Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut", 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina Temporarily Seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
| | - Vida Jeremic Stojkovic
- Department of Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Smiljana Cvjetkovic
- Department of Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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Marinkovic M, Stojanovic-Rundic S, Stanojevic A, Ostojic M, Gavrilovic D, Jankovic R, Maksimovic N, Stroggilos R, Zoidakis J, Castellví-Bel S, Fijneman RJA, Cavic M. Exploring novel genetic and hematological predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. Front Genet 2023; 14:1245594. [PMID: 37719698 PMCID: PMC10501402 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1245594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The standard treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). To select patients who would benefit the most from nCRT, there is a need for predictive biomarkers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of clinical, pathological, radiological, inflammation-related genetic, and hematological parameters in the prediction of post-nCRT response. Materials and methods: In silico analysis of published transcriptomics datasets was conducted to identify candidate genes, whose expression will be measured using quantitative Real Time PCR (qRT-PCR) in pretreatment formaline-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. In this study, 75 patients with LARC were prospectively included between June 2020-January 2022. Patients were assessed for tumor response in week 8 post-nCRT with pelvic MRI scan and rigid proctoscopy. For patients with a clinical complete response (cCR) and initially distant located tumor no immediate surgery was suggested ("watch and wait" approach). The response after surgery was assessed using histopathological tumor regression grading (TRG) categories from postoperative specimens by Mandard. Responders (R) were defined as patients with cCR without operative treatment, and those with TRG 1 and TRG 2 postoperative categories. Non-responders (NR) were patients classified as TRG 3-5. Results: Responders group comprised 35 patients (46.6%) and NR group 53.4% of patients. Analysis of published transcriptomics data identified genes that could predict response to treatment and their significance was assessed in our cohort by qRT-PCR. When comparison was made in the subgroup of patients who were operated (TRG1 vs. TRG4), the expression of IDO1 was significantly deregulated (p < 0.05). Among hematological parameters between R and NR a significant difference in the response was detected for neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio (NMR), initial basophil, eosinophil and monocyte counts (p < 0.01). According to MRI findings, non-responders more often presented with extramural vascular invasion (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on logistic regression model, factors associated with favorable response to nCRT were tumor morphology and hematological parameters which can be easily and routinely derived from initial laboratory results (NMR, eosinophil, basophil and monocyte counts) in a minimally invasive manner. Using various metrics, an aggregated score of the initial eosinophil, basophil, and monocyte counts demonstrated the best predictive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mladen Marinkovic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinic for Radiation Oncology and Diagnostics, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Suzana Stojanovic-Rundic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinic for Radiation Oncology and Diagnostics, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Stanojevic
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Ostojic
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dusica Gavrilovic
- Data Center, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Radmila Jankovic
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Rafael Stroggilos
- Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Jerome Zoidakis
- Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sergi Castellví-Bel
- Gastroenterology Department, Fundació Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Clínic Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Milena Cavic
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
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Tomic T, Henman M, Tadic I, Antic Stankovic J, Santric Milicevic M, Maksimovic N, Odalovic M. Antimicrobial utilization and resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa using segmented regression analysis: a comparative study between Serbia and eight European Countries. Int J Clin Pharm 2023:10.1007/s11096-023-01603-y. [PMID: 37284904 PMCID: PMC10246517 DOI: 10.1007/s11096-023-01603-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Europe, Serbia occupies a high position in antibiotic utilization and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AIM The aim was to analyse utilization trends of meropenem, ceftazidime, aminoglycosides, piperacillin/tazobactam and fluoroquinolones (2006-2020), and the reported AMR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2013-2020) in Serbia and to compare with data from eight European countries (2015-2020). METHOD Joinpoint regression was used to analyse antibiotic utilization data (2006-2020) and the reported AMR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2013-2020). Data sources were relevant national and international institutions. Antibiotic utilization and AMR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa data in Serbia were compared with eight European countries. RESULTS There was a significantly increased trend for ceftazidime utilization and reported resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serbia (p < 0.05) (2018-2020). For ceftazidime, piperacillin/tazobactam, and fluoroquinolones resistances in Pseudomonas aeruginosa an increased trend was observed, Serbia (2013-2020). A decrease in both the utilization of aminoglycosides, Serbia (p < 0.05) (2006-2018) and contemporaneous Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance (p > 0.05) was detected. Fluoroquinolone utilization (2015-2020) was highest in Serbia compared to Netherlands and Finland, 310 and 305% higher, similar compared to Romania, and 2% less compared to Montenegro. Aminoglycosides (2015-2020) were 2550 and 783% more used in Serbia compared to Finland and Netherlands, and 38% less regarding Montenegro. The highest percentage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance was in Romania and Serbia (2015-2020). CONCLUSION The use of piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftazidime and fluoroquinolones should be carefully monitored in clinical practice due to increased Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance. The level of utilization and AMR in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is still high in Serbia compared to other European countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Tomic
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Martin Henman
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ivana Tadic
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | | | | | - Marina Odalovic
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, Belgrade, Serbia
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Jovanovic V, Milic M, Dotlic J, Cvjetkovic S, Jeremic Stojkovic V, Maksimovic N, Sekulic M, Gazibara T. MANDATORY AND SEASONAL VACCINATION AGAINST COVID-19: ATTITUDES OF THE VACCINATED PEOPLE IN SERBIA. Epidemiol Infect 2023; 151:e83. [PMID: 37114759 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268823000614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
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Gazibara T, Maksimovic N, Dotlic J, Jeremic Stojkovic V, Cvjetkovic S, Milic M. Experiences and aftermath of the COVID-19 lockdown among community-dwelling older people in Serbia: A qualitative study. J Eval Clin Pract 2022; 28:631-640. [PMID: 34843147 DOI: 10.1111/jep.13641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND AIM At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Serbian government instituted a 24-h curfew for people aged ≥65 years for 2 months. The aim of this study was to examine the experiences and perceptions of curfew for older people in Serbia 15 months after the curfew had ended. METHODS In-depth interviews were carried out with 23 older adults from urban areas in Serbia. We identified the first three participants, while others were selected using the snowballing method. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and data were analyzed according to guidelines for qualitative studies. RESULTS Six topics emerged: (1) perception of the curfew announcement; (2) attitude toward the curfew; (3) organization of daily living; (4) mood; (5) frustrations/limitations and 6) making sense of the curfew 15 months after. Older people in this study overall remember not feeling disturbed by the curfew because they perceived it as prevention, especially because this population group is considered to have the highest rate of mortality from COVID-19. Some people remember being extremely frustrated because of the restrictions and considered them unnecessary. Most people remembered that the lack of social interactions and lack of physical activity were the most difficult to cope with. CONCLUSIONS Although challenging and bothersome, the majority of older people in this study accepted the curfew as an appropriate measure to avoid catching the virus and combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Gazibara
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natasa Maksimovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Dotlic
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Smiljana Cvjetkovic
- Department of Humanities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Milic
- Department of Immunization, Institute of Public Health of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina Temporarily Seated in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia
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Prijic A, Gazibara T, Nikolić D, Ostojić O, Maksimovic N. Critically Severe COVID-19 in a Child with Residual Motor Deficit Due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Klin Padiatr 2021; 234:123-126. [PMID: 34530473 DOI: 10.1055/a-1589-5901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andreja Prijic
- Children's Hospital for Lung diseases and Tuberculosis, University Clinical Hospital Center "Dr Dragisa Misovic - Dedinje", Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tatjana Gazibara
- Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Beograd, Serbia
| | - Dimitrije Nikolić
- Neurology Department, University Children's Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia.,University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Beograd, Serbia
| | - Olivera Ostojić
- Children's Hospital for Lung diseases and Tuberculosis, University Clinical Hospital Center "Dr Dragisa Misovic - Dedinje", Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natasa Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Beograd, Serbia
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Matkovic S, Dotlic J, Gazibara T, Maric G, Nikolic V, Maksimovic N. Functional assessment of cancer therapy questionnaire for melanoma in the Serbian population: A factor analytic approach. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253937. [PMID: 34191859 PMCID: PMC8244891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy—Melanoma (FACT-M) questionnaire in the Serbian language. The FACT-M was translated into Serbian using the standard methodology after obtaining the licence from the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) translation project team. This version of FACT-M was distributed to a cohort of consecutive patients with histologically confirmed high-risk skin melanoma treated at the tertiary referral center. To examine construct validity of the FACT-M in Serbian, we performed exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The FACT-General (FACT-G) did not fit the original 4-domain structure. Instead, we accepted a 7-domain structure which, aside from physical, emotional, social and functional well-being, had domains of ‘friends’ support’, ‘illness acceptance’ and ‘fear of death’. Melanoma scale (MS) and Melanoma surgery scale (MSS) did not fit the original one-dimensional structure. The MS was observed to have 4 domains: ‘pain’, ‘skin problems’, ‘abdominal metastases’ and ‘other problems’. The MSS was observed to have 2 domains: ‘having symptoms’ and ‘no symptoms’. It is suggested that the FACT-M questionnaire is analyzed using the newly extracted domains to examine quality of life of people with high-risk melanoma in Serbia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzana Matkovic
- Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Dotlic
- Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Center of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tatjana Gazibara
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Gorica Maric
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Nikolic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natasa Maksimovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
- * E-mail:
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Gazibara T, Reljic V, Jankovic S, Peric J, Nikolic M, Maksimovic N. Quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis: A one-year prospective cohort study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2021; 88:65-69. [PMID: 34245539 DOI: 10.25259/ijdvl_529_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Literature on the quality of life trends across time in children with atopic dermatitis are scarce. AIMS To assess factors associated with quality of life of children with atopic dermatitis after a one-year follow-up and to examine the factors contributing to greater improvement in the atopic dermatitis-related quality of life over one year. METHODS Our cohort consisted of 98 children who were treated for atopic dermatitis at the clinic of dermatovenereology. Data collection included atopic dermatitis scoring using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) for children aged > four years and Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDLQI) for children aged 0-4 years. Categorization of the impairment of quality of life score due to atopic dermatitis was as follows: mild (score from 0 to 6), moderate (score from 7 to 12) and severe (score from 13 to 30). The cohort was followed for one year after which a total of 80 children were reassessed. RESULTS Improvements of both CDLQI and IDLQI were observed in children whose impairment of quality of life due to atopic dermatitis after one year was 'mild'. This was not observed in children whose atopic dermatitis caused either 'moderate' or 'severe impairment' of their quality of life. Adjusted analysis showed that lower initial SCORAD and greater improvement in SCORAD after the one-year follow-up were associated with a better quality of life at follow-up. LIMITATIONS The size of our cohort was relatively small. Study participants were recruited from the largest urban and medical referral center in Serbia. Persons from suburban or rural regions may have had different perceptions of atopic dermatitis-related quality of life. CONCLUSION Children with less severe atopic dermatitis were more likely to improve their atopic dermatitis-related quality of life. Lower SCORAD was associated with both better quality of life initially and greater improvement in quality of life after one year of follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Gazibara
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna Reljic
- Clinic of Dermatovenereology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Slavenka Jankovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Peric
- Clinic of Dermatovenereology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milos Nikolic
- Clinic of Dermatovenereology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natasa Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Vlaisavljevic Z, Jankovic S, Maksimovic N, Culafic M, Stulic M, Milovanovic T, Oluic B. Attitudes of Nurses Toward Organ Donation in Serbia. Transplant Proc 2020; 52:673-679. [PMID: 32143868 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2020.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nurses represent the key persons in the process of organ donation, acting as intermediaries between the patient and the family of a potential donor. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the attitudes of nurses toward bequeathing and organ and tissue donation. METHODS The research was designed as a cross-sectional study from November 2013 to November 2014 and included a sample of 264 nurses employed in the health system of Serbia. Data were collected using a specific questionnaire of 18 questions referring to the information on sociodemographic characteristics and the knowledge of organ donation. RESULTS The investigation enrolled 264 participants, of which 78% were women. The majority of study subjects had secondary medical education (64.4%), lived in an urban area (82.6%), were married (56.4%), and were predominantly Orthodox (87.1%) with their work experience between 5 and 10 years (29.9%) and 10 to 20 years (29.5%). The average knowledge score concerning organ donation was 29.03 (SD, 2.33; range, 23-34). There was a statistically significant difference in the scores between 2 groups formed according the length of service (P < .001) and the level of education (P = .019), which showed the strongest influence on nurses' attitudes toward donation. CONCLUSION This investigation showed that nurses did not express strong positive attitude toward this issue. Further education of nurses in the Serbian health care system focusing on transplantation and bequeathing of organs and tissues are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeljko Vlaisavljevic
- Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Slobodan Jankovic
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Natasa Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milica Culafic
- Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Department of Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milos Stulic
- Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tamara Milovanovic
- Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Branislav Oluic
- Emergency Center, Transplant Surgery Clinic, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
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Djuric O, Markovic Denic L, Popovac S, Todorovic J, Marusic V, Maksimovic N. Awareness and knowledge about HPV infection and HPV vaccination among women undergoing cytology and colposcopy in Serbian cervical cancer counseling center. J BUON 2020; 25:116-124. [PMID: 32277622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Understanding target groups' awareness and knowledge regarding the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine is essential for planning the screening and vaccination programs and attaining adequate vaccination coverage. The aim of this study was to estimate awareness and knowledge about HPV infection and the HPV vaccine and to assess factors associated with HPV awareness, HPV vaccine awareness and high HPV-related knowledge among women undergoing cervical cancer screening in Serbia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2013 at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic "Narodni Front" in Belgrade, Serbia. HPV awareness, HPV vaccine awareness, and HPV-related knowledge of women undergoing cervical cancer screening were estimated by the means of structured, self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS The median age of respondents was 36.0 years (range 18-65). Of 324 women participating in the study, 196 (60.5%) had heard of HPV while 95 (29.3%) had heard of the HPV vaccine. The median HPV-related knowledge score was 7 (interquartile range 4.8). Type of occupation and having an increasing number of lifetime sexual partners were associated with HPV awareness, while having no children was associated with HPV vaccine awareness. High HPV knowledge score was associated with younger age and type of occupation. CONCLUSIONS Women undergoing cervical cancer screening in Serbia have moderate awareness of HPV infection and low awareness of HPV vaccine. However, it is promising that those who heard of HPV have high knowledge about it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivera Djuric
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, Belgrade, Serbia
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Maksimovic N, Zaric M, Reljic V, Nikolic M, Gazibara T. Factors associated with improvement of quality of life among parents of children with atopic dermatitis: 1-year prospective cohort study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019; 34:325-332. [PMID: 31494995 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.15939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies exploring the impact of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children focused on factors associated with parental quality of life at one point in time. OBJECTIVE To examine factors associated with change of quality of life among parents of children affected with AD. METHODS The study cohort comprised 98 parent-children pairs treated for AD at the Clinic of Dermatovenereology; however, 18 parents (18.4%) were lost to follow-up after 1 year. Children were assessed with SCORing Atopic Dermatitis Index (SCORAD) and Children Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) or the Infants' Dermatitis Quality of Life Index (IDQOL), depending on their age. Parents filled in socio-demographic questionnaire and Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI). After 1 year, both children and parents were reassessed using the same AD-related battery of questionnaires. RESULTS After follow-up, a significant improvement in the average total DFI score was observed, especially for domains of fatigue/exhaustion, emotional distress and impact of helping in child treatment. Lower baseline SCORAD, greater improvement of SCORAD over follow-up, better CDLQI/IDQOL at baseline, greater improvement in CDLQI/IDQOL over follow-up, not having asthma and having older child with AD were associated with better parental quality of life after 1 year of follow-up. Parental higher education level, shorter AD duration, better baseline SCORAD and greater improvement in CDLQI/IDQOL over follow-up were associated with greater improvement in parental life quality over 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION Contributors to parental quality of life after 1 year included clinical features of AD and child's comorbidity (asthma), but also the perception of child's quality of life and its improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - M Zaric
- Parexel International, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - V Reljic
- Clinic of Dermatovenereology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - M Nikolic
- Clinic of Dermatovenereology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - T Gazibara
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Al Fazazi S, Stajer V, Drid P, Maksimovic N, Milosevic Z, Ostojic S. 24-hour dynamics for serum biomarkers of creatine metabolism after an acute session of exhaustive resistance exercise in active men. Sci Sports 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Maksimovic N, Zaric M, Bjelica S, Eric Marinkovic J, Jankovic S. Psychosomatic factors of atopic dermatitis exacerbation. Int J Dermatol 2018; 57:1080-1084. [PMID: 29869332 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.14076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to estimate whether the stress, lack of social support, and poor emotional relationships influence the recurrence of AD in adults. METHODS Case-control study comprised 66 outpatients with AD and 132 controls with different skin diseases believed to be slightly influenced by psychosomatic factors. Participants were treated at the Department of Dermatology - Military Medical Academy and City Department for Skin and Venereal Diseases from January to June 2014. Stressful life events were assessed using the Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events. The attachment relationship and perceived social support were assessed with the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale and with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, respectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied. RESULTS AD patients had significantly higher anxiety scores when initiating a close emotional relationship and when avoiding an affective attachment (OR = 1.49; CI = 1.13-1.97; P = 0.005 and OR = 1.63; CI = 1.16-2.30; P = 0.005, respectively). Perceived social support from family and friends was significantly lower among cases compared to controls (OR = 0.93; CI = 0.88-0.98; P = 0.009 and UO = 0.94; CI = 0.89-0.99; P = 0.027, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AD patients had higher anxiety scores, and those with low social support tended to have more frequent disease recurrence. The number of stressful life events did not differ between studied groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasa Maksimovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milica Zaric
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Suncica Bjelica
- Institute for Medical Research Belgrade, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Eric Marinkovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Slavenka Jankovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Epidemiology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Maksimovic N, Zaric M, Gazibara T, Trajkovic G, Maric G, Miljus D, Suvajdzic Vukovic N, Tomin D, Virijevic M, Kisic Tepavcevic D, Pekmezovic T. Incidence and Mortality Patterns of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Belgrade, Serbia (1999⁻2013). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 54:medicina54010005. [PMID: 30344236 PMCID: PMC6037239 DOI: 10.3390/medicina54010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: To assess incidence and mortality trends of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in Belgrade (Serbia) in a 15-year period (from 1999 to 2013). Material and Methods: Data were obtained from the Cancer Registry of Serbia, Institute of Public Health of Serbia. Standardized incidence and mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated by direct standardization method using World Standard Population. Analysis of raw data indicated single-digit numbers per year and per 5-year age cohorts. Therefore, we merged years of diagnosis to three-year intervals, creating so-called "moving averages". We also merged study population to 10-year age cohorts. Results: Both incidence and mortality rates increased with age, i.e., the lowest rates were observed in the youngest age groups and the highest rates were observed in oldest age groups. In all age groups, except the youngest (15⁻24 years), AML incidence was statistically significantly higher in men compared with women. Average age-adjusted incidence was 2.73/100,000 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.28⁻3.71). Average age-adjusted mortality was 1.81/100,000 (95% CI 1.30⁻2.26). Overall, there were no significant changes in incidence trend. Age-adjusted incidence rates had increasing tendency among men aged 65⁻74 years (B = 0.80, standard error (SE) = 0.11; p = 0.005) and in total population aged 65⁻74 years (B = 0.41, SE = 0.09; p = 0.023). Increasing tendency in incidence of AML among women was observed in age group >75 years (B = 0.63, SE = 0.14; p = 0.019). No changes of mortality trend were observed. Conclusion: There was no significant change in trends of AML from 1999 to 2013 in the population of Belgrade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasa Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Milica Zaric
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Tatjana Gazibara
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Goran Trajkovic
- Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Gorica Maric
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Dragan Miljus
- Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut", Dr Subotica 5, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | | | - Dragica Tomin
- Clinic for Hematology, Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Marijana Virijevic
- Clinic for Hematology, Clinical Center of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Darija Kisic Tepavcevic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Tatjana Pekmezovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
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Langin TK, Strickler T, Maksimovic N, McQuillen P, Pohl T, Vrinceanu D, Killian TC. Publisher's Note: Demonstrating universal scaling for dynamics of Yukawa one-component plasmas after an interaction quench [Phys. Rev. E 93, 023201 (2016)]. Phys Rev E 2016; 93:049905. [PMID: 27176447 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.93.049905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.93.023201.
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Langin TK, Strickler T, Maksimovic N, McQuillen P, Pohl T, Vrinceanu D, Killian TC. Demonstrating universal scaling for dynamics of Yukawa one-component plasmas after an interaction quench. Phys Rev E 2016; 93:023201. [PMID: 26986426 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.93.023201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The Yukawa one-component plasma (OCP) model is a paradigm for describing plasmas that contain one component of interest and one or more other components that can be treated as a neutralizing, screening background. In appropriately scaled units, interactions are characterized entirely by a screening parameter, κ. As a result, systems of similar κ show the same dynamics, regardless of the underlying parameters (e.g., density and temperature). We demonstrate this behavior using ultracold neutral plasmas (UNPs) created by photoionizing a cold (T≤10 mK) gas. The ions in UNP systems are well described by the Yukawa model, with the electrons providing the screening. Creation of the plasma through photoionization can be thought of as a rapid quench of the interaction potential from κ=∞ to a final κ value set by the electron density and temperature. We demonstrate experimentally that the postquench dynamics are universal in κ over a factor of 30 in density and an order of magnitude in temperature. Results are compared with molecular-dynamics simulations. We also demonstrate that features of the postquench kinetic energy evolution, such as disorder-induced heating and kinetic-energy oscillations, can be used to determine the plasma density and the electron temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- T K Langin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - T Strickler
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - N Maksimovic
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - P McQuillen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - T Pohl
- Max Planck Institute for Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - D Vrinceanu
- Department of Physics, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas 77004, USA
| | - T C Killian
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
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Markovic-Denic L, Maksimovic N, Marusic V, Vucicevic J, Ostric I, Djuric D. Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among health-care workers in Serbia. Med Princ Pract 2015; 24:36-41. [PMID: 25376432 PMCID: PMC5588185 DOI: 10.1159/000368234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the epidemiology of occupational accidents and self-reported attitude of health-care workers (HCWs) in Serbia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs in selected departments of five tertiary care hospitals and in one secondary care hospital in February 2012. A previously developed self-administered questionnaire was provided to HCWs who had direct daily contact with patients. χ(2) test and Student's t test were used for statistical analysis of the data. RESULTS Of the 1,441 potential participants, 983 (68.2%) completed the questionnaire: 655 (66.7%) were nurses/medical technicians, 243 (24.7%) were physicians and 85 (8.6%) were other personnel. Of the 983 participants, 291 (29.6%) HCWs had had at least one accident during the previous year and 106 (40.2%) of them reported it to the responsible person. The highest prevalence (68.6%) of accidents was among nurses/technicians (p = 0.001). Accidents occurred more often in large clinical centers (81.1%; p < 0.001) and in the clinical ward, intensive care unit and operating theater (p = 0.003) than in other departments. Seventy-six (13.1%) nurses/medical technicians had an accident during needle recapping (p < 0.001). Of all the HCWs, 550 (55.9%) were fully vaccinated, including significantly more doctors (154, 63.4%) than participants from other job categories (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION There was a relatively high rate of accidents among HCWs in our hospitals, most commonly amongst nurses and staff working in clinical wards, intensive care units and operating theaters. The most common types of accidents were needlestick injuries and accidents due to improper handling of contaminated sharp devices or occuring while cleaning instruments or by coming into contact with blood through damaged skin or through the conjunctiva/mucous membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ljiljana Markovic-Denic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
- *Ljiljana Markovic-Denic, Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26, Postanskipregradak 20, RS–11129 Belgrade 102 (Republic of Serbia), E-Mail
| | - Natasa Maksimovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
| | - Vuk Marusic
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
| | | | - Irena Ostric
- Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
| | - Dusan Djuric
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Republic of Serbia
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Reljic V, Maksimovic N, Jankovic J, Mijovic B, Peric J, Jankovic S. Evaluation of the quality of life in adolescents with acne. VOJNOSANIT PREGL 2014; 71:634-8. [DOI: 10.2298/vsp1407634r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aim. Acne is well recognized condition that adversely affects
quality of life (QoL) of the patients. The aim of this study was to determine
the self-reported prevalence of acne and its main characteristics in high
school pupils, and to assess their QoL. Methods. The cross-sectional study
conducted in May 2011 comprised 440 pupils from Serbia (281 from Belgrade and
159 from Uzice). Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous. Two
questionnaires were administered: a short demographic questionnaire, and
Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI). Internal consistency was
assessed using the Cronbach?s alpha while item-total score correlations were
assessed using Spearman's correlation analysis. Results. The majority of the
study population (84.3%) were girls, and 15.7% were boys. The total mean age
of the pupils was 16.48 ? 0.55 years. A total of 228 (51.8%) pupils
self-reported their acne with significantly higher prevalence in Uzice
(73.6%) than in Belgrade (39.5%). The mean CDLQI score was 3.55 with the
similar quality of life impairment in adolescents from the two cities. The
mean Cronbach?s alpha was 0.83. There was a statistically significant
positive correlation between the mean overall CDLQI score and CDLQI subscale
scores that ranged from 0.401 to 0.841. Conclusion. Our study confirmed that
acne is associated with impairment in QoL that is in accordance with previous
studies performed on teenagers. The CDLQI is a reliable and valid measure,
and can be used as a practical tool for measuring the impact of acne on
patients? QoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesna Reljic
- Clinical Center of Serbia, Institute of Dermatology, Belgrade
| | | | - Janko Jankovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Social Medicine, Belgrade
| | | | - Jelena Peric
- Clinical Center of Serbia, Institute of Dermatology, Belgrade
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Peric J, Maksimovic N, Jankovic J, Mijovic B, Reljic V, Jankovic S. Prevalence and quality of life in high school pupils with acne in Serbia. VOJNOSANIT PREGL 2013; 70:935-9. [DOI: 10.2298/vsp1310935p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aim. Acne is a common problem in adolescent children with
considerable emotional and psychological effects. The aim of this study was
to determine the self-reported prevalence of acne and to assess its impact on
the quality of life in high school pupils in Serbia. Methods. The
cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2011 in two medical high schools
in Serbia. Only pupils who gave a written informed consent to participate in
the study (n = 440) were asked to fill in two questionnaires: short
demographic questionnaire and Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI), a
disease-specific questionnaire measuring disability induced by acne. Internal
consistency (tested by Cronbach?s alpha) and item-total score correlations
(Spearman's correlation analysis) were used for reliability analyses.
Results. The study population consisted of 440 pupils, 281 from Belgrade and
159 from Uzice. Among them 371 (84.3%) were girls and 69 (15.7%) boys, with
similar sex distribution in Belgrade and Uzice. The total mean age of pupils
was 16.48 years (SD = 0.55). Out of 440 pupils 228 (51.8%) self-reported
their acne. The acne prevalence was significantly higher in pupils from Uzice
(73.6%) than in those from Belgrade (39.6%). The overall mean CADI score for
the whole sample was 2.87 ? 2.74, with the similar quality of life impairment
in adolescents from Belgrade and from Uzice. The mean Cronbach?s alpha was
0.82. Conclusion. This study shows that the quality of life impairment due to
acne is mild for the majority of the affected pupils. The Serbian version of
the CADI is a reliable, valid, and valuable tool for assessing the impact of
acne on the quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Peric
- Institute of Dermatology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade
| | | | - Janko Jankovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Social Medicine, Belgrade
| | | | - Vesna Reljic
- Institute of Dermatology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade
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Abstract
A case-control study of 110 consecutive psoriatic outpatients and 200 unmatched controls was carried out in order to analyze the association of psoriasis with smoking habits, alcohol consumption, family history of psoriasis and stressful life events. Stressful life events were assessed with Paykel's Interview for Recent Life Events, a semi-structured interview covering 63 life events. According to our results, the risk of psoriasis is higher in urban dwellers (odds ratio [OR] = 3.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.99-13.18), patients who were divorced (OR = 5.69; 95% CI = 2.26-14.34) and those exposed to environmental tobacco smoke at home (OR = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.12-4.67). Alcohol consumption (OR = 2.55; 95% CI = 1.26-5.17), family history of psoriasis (OR = 33.96; 95% CI = 14.14-81.57) and change in work conditions (OR = 8.34; 95% CI = 1.86-37.43) are also risk factors for psoriasis. Separate analyses for men and women showed that the risk of developing psoriasis was stronger in men with a family history of psoriasis (OR = 30.39; 95% CI = 6.72-137.42) than in women (OR = 16.99; 95% CI = 7.21-40.07). The effect of environmental tobacco smoke at home was found only in women (OR = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.26-4.73). Future well-designed epidemiological studies need to be performed in order to determine whether lifestyle factors and stress could be risk factors triggering or aggravating psoriasis.
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Jankovic S, Vlajinac H, Bjegovic V, Marinkovic J, Sipetic-Grujicic S, Markovic-Denic L, Kocev N, Santric-Milicevic M, Terzic-Supic Z, Maksimovic N, Laaser U. The burden of disease and injury in Serbia. Eur J Public Health 2006; 17:80-5. [PMID: 16751634 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckl072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last decade of the 20th century, a considerable effort has been put into the development of summary measures of population health that combine information on mortality and non-fatal health outcomes. We used the DALYs (Disability adjusted life years) method to assess the burden of disease and injury in the population of Serbia. METHODS Our study, largely based on the methods developed for the Global burden of disease study, was conducted between October 2002 and September 2003. DALYs, stratified by gender and age, were calculated for 18 selected health conditions for the population of Serbia, Serbia and Montenegro for 2000. Years of life lost (YLL) were calculated using country mortality statistics, while years lived with disability (YLD) were calculated using different sources of information. Also, the YLD/YYL ratio and age-adjusted rates of DALYs were calculated. RESULTS Ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, lung cancer, unipolar depressive disorders, and diabetes mellitus were responsible for almost two-thirds (70%) of the total burden of 18 selected disorders in Serbia 2000. The leading five causes for males were ischaemic heart disease (26.1 DALY per 1000), stroke (17.9), lung cancer (12.7), road traffic accidents (6.5), and self-inflicted injuries (5.5). For females, the leading five causes were stroke (18.1 DALY per 1000), ischaemic heart disease (14.1), depression (8.7), breast cancer (6.1), and diabetes mellitus (5.2). CONCLUSIONS The final results of the study have shown that the national health priority areas should cover cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slavenka Jankovic
- Institute of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade Serbia and Montenegro.
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