Demographic and Socioeconomic Predictors of Prehypertension and Hypertension in the Adult Population: Serbian National Health Survey.

Background and Objectives: Prehypertension and hypertension are the most common cardiovascular disorders worldwide and are increasingly considered one of the most serious public health problems, particularly in developing countries. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and demographic and socioeconomic predictors of prehypertension and hypertension in the adults in Serbia, and to examine the relationship between prehypertension and hypertension and health behavior determinants (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity) and individual aspects of health (a health self-assessment, multimorbidity, BMI, depressive symptoms). Materials and Methods: The research is part of the fourth National Population Health Survey conducted in 2019, which was conducted by the Republic Institute of Statistics, in cooperation with the Institute of Public Health of Serbia and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia. As a research instrument, questionnaires were used in accordance with the methodology of the European Health Survey. For the purposes of this research, data on the adult population aged 20 and over were used. Results: Women are at a reduced risk for both prehypertension (OR = 0.328) and hypertension (OR = 0.349) by nearly 70%. Similarly, those aged below 60 years have a lower risk for prehypertension and those younger than 40 years have a lower risk for hypertension (OR = 0.995), whereas people with a lower education have a 4.3 times higher risk of prehypertension (OR = 4.323) and a 1.6 times higher risk of hypertension (OR = 1.614). The poor have a 1.4 times higher risk of prehypertension (OR = 1.413) and a 1 times higher risk of hypertension (OR = 1.035). People with multimorbidity have a 1.2 times higher risk of both prehypertension (OR = 1.218) and a 4.8 times higher risk of hypertension (OR = 4.867). Conclusions: Male gender, lower education, poverty, age and the presence of multimorbidity are significant predictors of prehypertension and hypertension in the Serbian adult population, so preventive strategies should be aimed at these sensitive population groups.

The influence of acclimatization on stress hormone concentration in serum during heat stress.

This study was aimed to examine the influence of acclimatization on the change of concentration of stress hormones in men's serum exposed to heat stress during physical training. The study included a total of 40 men, aged 19-21 years, divided randomly into four groups: CTRL group: control, exposed to the Exercise Tolerance Testing in comfortable conditions; O group: exposed to Exercise Tolerance Testing in a warm environment; P group: exposed to passive acclimation to heat for 10 days, followed by Exercise Tolerance Testing in a warm environment; A group: exposed to active acclimation to heat for 10 days, followed by Exercise Tolerance Testing in a warm environment. All participants were tested for thermoregulation and acclimatization, skin and tympanic temperature, heart rate (HR), hormonal status and sweating. The mean skin temperature was the lowest in the control group of subjects exposed to physical exertion under comfortable conditions, and at each point of measurement it was statistically significantly different from that of the other study groups (p < 0.001). Sweating intensity was statistically significantly the lowest in the CTRL group (0.32 ± 0.04 l/m2/h; p < 0.001), compared to all other groups. Cortisol was significantly altered in O group (632.2 ± 92.3; 467.2 ± 89.7), testosterone levels were significantly altered in P (19.2 ± 9.3; 16.4 ± 7.3) and in A groups (22.1 ± 12.4; 14.9 ± 9.9), while prolactin was changed in O (392.1 ± 51.3; 181.4 ± 42.3), P (595.1 ± 191.1; 191.2 ± 52.5), and A group (407.4 ± 189.3; 173.4 ± 43.9) after the experimental period. The impact of acclimatization on hormonal indicators emphasizes its importance in the response of the endocrine system of soldiers to perform military activities in warm climates.

Supported housing services for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems in Serbia-Social and community integration or "mini-institutions".

Minimal general knowledge of the quality of life (QoL) of people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems (ID/MHP) in Serbia exists at present. The outcomes of the deinstitutionalisation process of these groups, which began in 2015, are very questionable-many individuals have faced challenges, and very few have been deinstitutionalised to date. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of quality of life in the domain of social belonging/community integration, the differences in this domain between persons with ID/MHP living together in institutional residential arrangements and community settings, particularly in supported housing, and the differences in the same domain relating to the service provider (governmental/state-run or non-governmental sector). The results of the study indicate that the level of social belonging for this specific population is low, especially on indicators such as belonging to civic or community clubs or organisations, participating in events in the local community, and establishing friendships and emotional relationships. Users of services provided by the non-governmental sector show slightly higher scores in this domain compared to institutionalised users and users in supported housing. The organisational culture based on institutionalism is transferred to community services, leading to an inability to fulfil the basic principles of proclaimed deinstitutionalisation. The recommendations provided should enable the basing of support services for persons with ID/MHP on the principles of deinstitutionalisation while respecting their rights and facilitating their participation in local communities.

The effects of acclimatization on blood clotting parameters in exertional heat stress.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Exertional heat stress is a common problem in military services. Considering the coagulation abnormalities are of major importance in development of severe heat stroke, we wanted to examine changes in hemostatic parameters in soldiers during exertional heat stress test as well as the effects of a 10-day passive or active acclimatization in a climatic chamber. METHODS: A total of 40 male soldiers with high aerobic capacity performed exertional heat stress test (EHST) either in cool [20 degrees C, 16 degrees C wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT)], or hot (40 degrees C, 29 degrees C, (WBGT) environment, unacclimatized (U) or after 10 days of passive (P) or active (A) acclimatization. Physiological strain was measured by tympanic temperatures (Tty) and heart rates (HR). Platelet count (PC), antithrombin III (AT), and prothrombin time (PT) were assessed in blood samples collected before and immediately after the EHST. RESULT: EHST in hot conditions induced physiological heat stress (increase in Tty and HR), with a significant increase in prothrombin time in the groups U and A. Platelet counts were significantly higher after the EHST compared to the basic levels in all the investigated groups, regardless environmental conditions and acclimatization state. Antithrombin levels were not affected by EHST whatsoever. CONCLUSION: In the trained soldiers, physiological heat stress caused mild changes in some serum parameters of blood clotting such as prothrombin time, while others such as antithrombin levels were not affected. Platelet counts were increased after EHST in all groups. A 10-day passive or active acclimatization in climatic chamber showed no effect on parameters investigated.

[Effect of mechanical pressure-controled ventilation in patients with disturbed respiratory function during laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered to be the gold standard for laparoscopic surgical procedures. In ASA III patients with concomitant respiratory diseases, however, creation of pneumoperitoneum and the position of patients during surgery exert additional negative effect on intraoperative respiratory function, thus making a higher challenge for the anesthesiologist than for the surgeon. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) and pressure controlled ventilation (PCV) during general anesthesia on respiratory function in ASA III patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: The study included 60 patients randomized into two groups depending on the mode of ventilation: IPPV or PCV. Respiratory volume (VT), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), compliance (C), end-tidal CO2 pressure (PETCO2), oxygen saturation (SpO2), partial pressures of O2, CO2 (PaO2 and PaCO2) and pH of arterial blood were recorded within four time intervals. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in VT, SpO2, PaO2, PaCO2 and pH values neither within nor between the two groups. In time interval t1 there were no statistically significant differences in PIP, C, PETCO2 values between the IPPV and the PCV group. But, in the next three time intervals there was a difference in PIP, C, and PETCO2 values between the two groups which ranged from statistically significant to highly significant; PIP was lower, C and PETCO2 were higher in the PCV group. CONCLUSION: Pressure controlled ventilation better maintains stability regarding intraoperative ventilatory parameters in ASA III patients with concomitant respiratory diseases during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

[Hemodynamic stability in total intravenous propofol anesthesia with midazolam coinduction versus general balanced anaesthesia in laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be a greater challenge for anesthesiologist than for surgeon if the patient is ASA III with concomitant cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study was to compare the effect of total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA--propofol with midazolam) and general balanced anesthesia (GBA--midazolam, thiopenton, nitrous oxide and 02) on hemodynamic stability in the ASA III patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: In our study, 60 patients were randomized into two groups depending on whether they received TIVA or GBA. Heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure were monitored continuously and recorded in five time intervals. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that TIVA with propofol provides better hemodynamic stability (less than 10% deviation from basal values for each measured parameter) then GBA group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol provides better hemodynamic stability for ASA III patients with concomitant cardiovascular diseases then GBA.

[Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the cerebrospinal fluid flow within the cerebral aqueduct by different FISP 2D sequences].

BACKGROUND/AIM: A vast majority of current radiogical techniques, such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have great potencial of vizualization and delineation of cerebrospinal fuid spaces morphology within cerebral aqueduct. The aim of this study was to determine the possibilities of two differently acquired FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady State Precession) 2D MR sequences in the estimation of the pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow intensity through the normal cerebral aqueduct. METHODS: Sixty eight volunteers underwent brain MRI on 1.5T MR imager with additionally performed ECG retrospectively gated FISP 2D sequences (first one, as the part of the standard software package, with following technical parameters: TR 40, TE 12, FA 17, Matrix: 192 x 256, Acq 1, and the second one, experimentally developed by our investigation team: TR 30, TE 12, FA 70, Matrix: 192 x 256, Acq 1) respectively at two fixed slice positions--midsagittal and perpendicular to cerebral aqueduct, displayed and evaluated by multiplegated images in a closed-loop cinematographic (CINE) format. RESULTS: Normal brain morphology with preserved patency of the cerebral aqueduct in all of 68 healthy volunteers was demonstrated on MRI examination. Cerebrospinal fluid flow within the cerebral aqueduct was distinguishable on both CINE MRI studies in midsagittal plane, but the estimation of intraaqueductal CSF flow in perpendicular plane was possible on CINE MRI studies acquired with experimentally improved FISP 2D (TR 30, FA 70) sequence only. CONCLUSION: Due to the changes of technical parameters CINE MRI study acquired with FISP 2D (TR 30, FA 70) in perpendicular plane demonstrated significantly higher capability in the estimation of the CSF pulsation intensity within the cerebral aqueduct.