Current issue
Volume 53, Issue 4, 2025
Online ISSN: 2560-3310
ISSN: 0350-8773
Volume 53 , Issue 4, (2025)
Published: 30.06.2025.
Open Access
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Contents
01.01.2017.
Professional paper
Prevalence of the use of psychoactive substances and its connection with the socioeconomic characteristics of students
Youth is a critical age to begin experimenting with alcohol and tobacco, whereby social prestige, self-assertion, relaxation from difficulties, the way of showing rebellion against authority and valid social norms are cited as motives. Consumption of alcohol and tobacco during the period of personality formation leads to permanent behavioral disorders, while the biological characteristics of young people determine the faster development of addiction to these substances regarding to adults. In addition, the social position of young people and the position of their families are extremely jeopardized. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use among students of the University of Pristina with a temporary headquarters in Kosovska Mitrovica, i.e. to establish the connection between these habits and the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the students. The research was done as a cross sectional study on a representative sample of students of the University of Pristina with a temporary headquarters in Kosovska Mitrovica, in March and April 2011. The survey covered 567 subjects. The questionnaire served as a research instrument, the same that was used in researching the health behavior of students from other universities in the Republic of Serbia in 2000. The data were processed using descriptive statistics while the hi-square test was used to analyze the data. Out of the total number of surveyed students, a quarter (24.7%) answered that they were smoking cigarettes, while 91.4% of our respondents tasted alcohol. The highest proportion of respondents from the Faculty of Arts claims to consume cigarettes, students who get 4001-5000 dinars per week, as well as respondents who are "not particularly satisfied" with the their choice of faculty. The highest proportion of male students and students whose weekly pocket is from 2001 to 2000 dinars consume alcohol.
Sladjana Djuric, Momcilo Mirkovic, Danijela Ilic, Jovana Milosevic
01.01.2017.
Professional paper
Pulp and dentin modifications that occur after direct and indirect overlay with materials on the calcium hydroxide-base
When pulp tissue gets exposed, therapy procedures are supposed to promote healing and to ease forming of reparative dentin in order to preserve vitality and health of the pulp. Vital pulp therapy (VPT) procedure includes removal of the local irritants as well as application of protective materials directly or indirectly on tooth pulp. Vital pulp therapy may be used for the treatment of the reversible pulp diseases in order to promote root development and to form apical region which will ensure correct endodontic tooth treatment in later stages. There are numerous controversies concerning vital pulp therapy but mostly related to the choice of the materials, correct technique and evaluation of the final therapy results. The goal of the experimental research is to use scanning electron and polarized microscopy to analyze modifications on cellular and extracellular components of the tooth pulp after direct and indirect overlaying with materials on the calcium hydroxide basis (Calcimol VOCO USA). We will also determine the appearance of dental surface after direct and indirect overlaying and if Calcimol proves good and effective in dentinogenesis, we will propose it for clinical usage. Research has been conducted on experimental animals (pig). Materials used in this research were on calcium hydroxide - base, Calcimol. V class preparation has been applied on the teeth of the experimental group. Eleven teeth have been overlaids directly and the same number of teeth has been overlaid indirectly. After the preparation, materials based on calcium hydroxide have been applied and cavity has been closed with materials from the glass ionomer cement group (FUJI IX GC Japan). Teeth that were treated with pulp perforation had their chambers filled with materials on calcium hydroxide-base and their cavities were closed with glass ionomer cement (FUJI IX GC Japan). Correctly prepared teeth have been observed with SEM and polarization microscopes. Observing and analyzing of the results with polarization and scanning electron microscope in comparison with control group showed that gained results may have significant clinical implication in biological pulp treatment. Directly applied Calcimol observed through polarization microscope points to intensive changes in blood vessels and beginnings of erythrocyte disintegration, distinct extravasation, and appearance of the small necrotic spots. SEM analyzes shows contact of the amalgam-Calcimol without new amorphous dentinal structures. Indirectly applied Calcimol observed through polarization microscope points to newly formed dentinal structures, calcification cores surrounded by huge cells and blood vessels presence. SEM analyzes shows clear border between newly formed dentinal tubules and ordinary dentinal structure. Gained results suggest application of the Calcimol as a material for indirect pulp overlay while its application in indirect overlay isn’t indicated.
Radovan Jovanovic, Ljiljana Subaric, Milan Zivkovic, Dejan Peric, Aleksandar Mitic
01.01.2017.
Professional paper
The impact of stress on occupational burnout among miners
Existence of stress at workplace leads to the occurrence of occupational burnout among miners. OBJECTIVE is testing of influence of stress on occupational burnout among miners. METHODS The research was designed as a cross-sectional study and covered 345 subjects, which were classified into three groups: two investigated groups, consisting of Miners A (142), Miners B (147) and Control group (56) consisting of administrative workers. The research was conducted in the Health Center ZveĆan, in the Medical Laboratory Service in ZveĆan and at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Niš. The following questionnaires were used in the study: Questionnaire on basic sociodemographic indicators of respondents, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and Occupational stress assesment questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS 16.0 software package. RESULTS The study of the presence of stressors in the workplace compared to the examined groups showed that a large number of stressors were evident, with the average value of all stressors at miners 2.60 ± 1.02, which is significantly above the average value of all stressors in the control group 1.85 ± 1.02. Above the total average of all stressors 2.60 ± 1.02, there is a large number of stressors. All stressors statistically significantly higher in miners compared to the control group (p <0.001) and the values of each individual stressor in the control group are below the average values of all stressors in miners (2.60 ± 1.02). High burnout level is present in 50.70% of Miners A, 46.90% of Miners B and 16.10% of Control group subjects. It was found that there is a statistically significant difference in the incidence of high burnout in relation to the investigated groups (p <0.001). DISCUSSION There is a large number of stressors among miners and their average value is significantly above the average value of all stressors in the control group. The stressors are both quantitatively and qualitatively different in relation to the control group. A large number of high-strength stressors significantly increases the probability of stress in both groups of miners and contributes to the occurrence of occupational burnout. There is a high exposure to stress among miners, and the impact of stress on occupational burnout has been proven in a large number of research in different professions. This was also confirmed in miners, among whom high exposure to stress led to high occupational burnout, which is statistically significant in relation to the control group. CONCLUSION The results of the study showed that there are a large number of stressors in the miner groups, that the average value of all stressors in miners is significantly above the average value of all stressors in the control group, that there are a large number of stressors that are in strength above the total average of all mining stressors and that all stressors are statistically significantly higher in miners than in the control group. The strongest stressors are most important for stress, and the presence of a large number of stressors above the total average of all stressors not only increases the probability of stress, but also proves a great deal of stress, but also contributes to the intense occurrence of occupational burnout. The results of the study have shown that high burnout is present in about 50% of miners in both mines and that there is a statistically significant difference in the incidence of high burnout in relation to the control group. Occupational stress affects occupational burnout among miners.
Ljiljana Kulic, Milivoje Galjak, Rade Grbic, Jovana Jovanovic, Stefan Jovanovic
01.01.2017.
Professional paper
The frequency and characteristics of regional metastases and their impact on the survival of patients with T1 and T2 laryngeal cancer
The presence of regional metastases of laryngeal cancer differs depending on the location of the tumor and has an influence on the overall survival. The aim of this work is to analyze the frequency and characteristics of regional metastases T1 and T2 of laryngeal carcinoma in relation to the primary tumor location, and their effect on the overall survival. A retrospective study, conducted in the period between 2002 and 2012, that analyzed 445 patients who were surgically treated for laryngeal cancer of T1 and T2 category. The first group consisted of 397 patients without regional metastases, while the second group consisted of 48 patients with regional metastases. A three-year survival is followed, as well as the testing of potential predictors of outcomes by methods of regression. Regional metastases were present in 3.1% of patients with glottic carcinoma of T1 and T2 category, while 43.5% of patients with T1 and T2 supraglottis carcinoma had regional metastases. In the group with regional metastases, there is no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of extracapsular extension in relation to the tumor location, p = 0.7027. The three-year survival rate of patients without regional metastasis is 93.95%, while the survival of patients with regional metastases is 68,75%, p = 0.000. The tumor location (95% CI -1.4716 to -0.0497, P = 0.0369), and the presence of regional metastases (95% CI -1.6300 to -0.0253, P = 0.0443), were identified as predictors of outcomes by multifactorial analysis. Regional metastases in T1 and T2 laryngeal cancer are more common in patients with supraglottic carcinoma. The presence of regional metastases significantly reduces the three-year overall survival.
Jugoslav Gasic, Rajko Jovic, Slavisa Antic, Bojan Bozic
01.12.2016.
Professional paper
Randomization techniques in protocols for cluster randomized trials
Introduction: Planning cluster randomized studies requires special attention due to their specific design. To achieve balance on a cluster level as well as on individual level, it is necessary to apply randomization techniques which involve restricted randomization. Objective: Determine randomization techniques as well as their frequency in protocols for cluster randomized trials. Materials and method: Searching the MEDLINE bibliographic database, there were 1020 bibliographic units, the analysis included only the protocols for cluster randomized trials, which was a total of 169 trials. Data on randomization techniques, units of randomization and publication years of protocols were extracted. Results: The randomization technique with most frequency was stratification (35.9%). After stratification the most frequent was simple randomization (13.5%), followed by a combination of block and stratification (10%), block randomization (9.4%) and matching (9.4%). The most frequent units of randomization were health facilities (52%). The number of published protocols statistically increases during time (p<0.01). Conclusion: The most frequent randomization technique used by researchers is restricted randomization
Mirjana Kostic, Dejana Stanisavljevic, Aleksandra Ilic, Zoran Bukumiric, Marija Jovanovic, Goran Trajkovic
01.12.2016.
Professional paper
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was described for the first time by Sato in Japan in 1990. It is also called: stress cardiomyopathy, ampulla cardiomyopathy, transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome, "broken heart" syndrome and takotsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction. It is characterized by finding of transient abnormal wall motion of the left ventricle, without significant coronary artery stenosis (<50% of lumen), typically accompanied by chest pain, dynamic, reversible disorders of ST-T segment and a slight increase in levels of cardiac enzymes. Previously it was thought that this disease occurs primarily in older women, usually in menopause. With the increase of knowledge and experience about this cardiomyopathy, it is more and more often diagnosed in younger people of all ages, even in younger women during pregnancy or childbirth. Etiology of this disease still remains unknown. The trigger for development of this syndrome is usually, but not always, an intensive emotional or physical stress. Pathogenesis is still not clear enough. There are several pathogenetic theories, and the most widely accepted is a catecholamine theory. It is described seven different types of cardiac dysfunction until now, and the most common are apical akinesia of the left ventricle with a compensatory basal hyperkinesia (classical form), akinesia of the middle part of the left ventricle with preserved ability of contraction in the basal and apical regions (MLV form), biventricular akinesia and isolated right ventricular dysfunction. In this paper are presented the latest findings about this cardiomyopathy, by etiopathogenetic, clinical and therapeutic aspects.
Vladan Peric, Nenad Relic
01.12.2016.
Professional paper
Systematic review of factor validity of psychiatric scales in longitudinal studies
Validity shows the degree of concurrence between the results received by an actual measuring and that of what an instrument is supposed to measure. There are three main types of validity: content validity, criterion-related validity and construct validity. Factor validity is a special approach to constructive validity, tested by statistical analysis called factor analysis. Hamilton rating scale for depression and Montgomery-Asberg depression scale are the most widely used psychiatric instruments. The aim was to carry out a systematic review of the literature on factor structure of psychiatric scales reported in different times during longitudinal studies. The units of analysis were published papers obtained by searching the two bibliographic databases: MEDLINE and PsycINFO. Factor validity of the HAMD scale was reported in 6 (0.09%) of 6590 studies which used this scale, whereas the factor validity of the MADRS scale was reported in 4 (0.2%) of 2051 studies which used the MADRS scale. The difference between the first and the last measuring in relation to values was not statistically significant: median of the number of extracted factors of the HAMD scale (p=0.371), median of total explained factor variance of the HAMD scale (p=0.250), median of variance explained by the first factor of the HAMD scale (p=0.125). Factor validity of the MADRS scale in repeated measuring also did not have statistically significant difference for the following values: median of the number of extracted factors of the MADRS scale (p=0.174), median of variance explained by the first factor of the MADRS scale (p=0.125). Coefficients of concurrent validity of the HAMD i MADRS depression scales show the trend of increase in longitudinal studies and their values are for about a third higher at the end of studies than in their beginning. Low frequency of reporting the data about reliability and validity of applied rating scales is the main problem in using the meta-analytical methods effectively to study changes in adequacy of measures in longitudinal studies.
Aleksandra Ilic, Zoran Bukumiric, Mirjana Kostic, Marija Jovanovic, Goran Trajkovic
01.01.2016.
Professional paper
Ispravka: Konzumiranje alkohola, pušenje i fizička aktivnost među studentima Državnog univerziteta u Novom Pazaru (2014, vol. 43, br. 3, str. 41-47)
01.12.2016.
Professional paper
Effect of low potassium concentration on cadmium induced epileptiform activity of leech retzius neurons
Nebojsa Milicevic, Marija Stanojevic, Svetolik Spasic, Zorica Jovanovic, Milica Prostran, Srdjan Lopicic
01.06.2016.
Professional paper
The role of endocardial endothelium in the effect of histamine on myocardial contractions of histamine H1 and H2 receptor blockade
Endocardial endothelium (EE) is a barrier which controls the passage of macromolecules and fluids between the blood and the adjacent miocardial interstitium. At the same time it is the place of synthesis of numerous endothelial mediators. Histamine as an inflammation mediator increases the permeability of the endothelium, but also has a positive inotropic and chronotropic effects on the heart through the activation of histamine H1 and H2 receptors. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of the role of endocardial endothelium in the effect of histamine on myocardial contraction in the conditions of histamine receptors blockade. The study was carried out on the samples of the right ventricle of the albino Wistar rats (n = 42, age 8 weeks, body mass 180-200g) presented in two experimental models. The first experimental model presented the right ventricle of the rat heart with an intact endocardial endothelium and the second with the endothelium chemically removed by immersion of the chamber in a 1% solution of Triton X-100. Histamine (1x10-4 mol/l) increases the contraction of the right ventricle of the heart with intact endocardial endothelium but also with the removed endocardial endothelium. The effect of the histamine on the contraction was significantly increased in the absence of endocardial endothelium (p<0.05). H1 receptor antagonist, pyrilamine (1x10-6 mol/l) significantly inhibites the positive inotropic effect of histamine on the heart in both groups, with or without endocardial endothelium. Modulatory role of endocardial endothelium in the effect of histamine after the receptors blockade by pyrilamine is not significant. H2 receptor antagonist, cimetidine (1x10-4 mol/l), blocks the positive inotropic effect of histamine on the heart reagardless of the preservation of the endocardial endothelium. Our results indicate the undoubted importance of the modulatory role of endocardial endothelial in the effect of histamine on myocardial contraction.
Sonja Smiljic, Dragica Parlic, Zvezdan Milanovic, Vojkan Nestorovic, Mirjana Pavlovic