Remodeling of extracellular matrix of the lamina propria in the uninvolved human rectal mucosa 10 and 20 cm away from the malignant tumor.

In recent years, it has been demonstrated that malignancy arises and advances through the molecular interplay between tumor cells and non-malignant elements of the tumor stroma, that is, fibroblasts and extracellular matrix. However, in contrast to the mounting evidence about the role of tumor stroma in the genesis and progression of the malignant disease, there are very few data regarding the uninvolved stromal tissue in the remote surrounding of the tumor. Using the objective morphometric approach in patients with adenocarcinoma, we demonstrate the remodeling of extracellular matrix of the lamina propria in the uninvolved rectal mucosa 10 and 20 cm away from the neoplasm. We show that the representation of basic extracellular matrix constituents (reticular and collagen fibers and ground substance) is decreased. Also, the diameter of empty spaces that appear within the extracellular matrix of the lamina propria is increased. These spaces do not represent the blood or lymphatic vessel elements. Very likely, they reflect the development of tissue edema in the remote, uninvolved lamina propria of the mucosa in patients with the malignant tumor of the rectum. We hypothesize that the remodeling of extracellular matrix in lamina propria of the rectal mucosa may increase its stiffness, modulating the mechano-signal transduction, and thus promote the progression of the malignant disease.

Biogerontology in Serbia.

UNLABELLED: Aging is caused by gradual accumulation of cell and tissue damage. Accumulation of damage begins early and continues progressively throughout life, resulting after several decades in the overt frailty, disability and diseases associated with aging. In Serbia during the last few years, several different institutions participated in the investigation in the aging process: (1) Changes in hormone signaling with aging-the age-related increase in insulinemia and glucose metabolism deregulation was found to be attributed to changes in insulin signaling as demonstrated on murine models. (2) Changes in immunological response in aging-along with involution of thymic lymphoepithelial tissue, it has been demonstrated on a murine model that early thymocyte differentiational steps within the CD4-8-double negative developmental stage are age-sensitive. (3) Changes in cholesterol metabolism and oxidative processes in aging-the beneficial effect of long-term dietary restriction on ageing, was explained as effect on cholesterol metabolism. (4) Alzheimer's disease-the connection between neurodegenerative processes associated to the Alzheimer's disease and the function of the Na-K-ATPase which is known to be altered by ageing has been experimentally shown. CONCLUSION: The recent work of Serbian investigators suggest some new evidence that aging process influences the hormone signaling, immunological response, cholesterol metabolism and oxidative processes.

Relationship of reduced cerebral blood flow and heart failure severity in elderly males.

INTRODUCTION: Brain detrimental effects are under-recognised complication of chronic heart failure (CHF). One of the major causes may be cerebral hypoperfusion. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between cerebral blood flow (CBF) and severity of CHF as well as to evaluate its determinants among different parameters of cardiac dysfunction. METHODS: Seventy-one CHF males with NYHA class II and III and 20 control subjects age ≥ 55 years were recruited. CBF was evaluated by colour duplex sonography of extracranial arteries. Echocardiography, 6-min walk test, quality of life and endothelial function were also assessed. Serum NT-pro-BNP and adipokines levels (adiponectin and leptin) were measured. RESULTS: CBF was significantly reduced in elderly patients with CHF compared to healthy controls (677 +/- 170 vs 783 +/- 128 ml/min, p=0.011). Reduced CBF was associated with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r=0.271, p=0.022), lower 6-min walk distance (r=0.339, p=0.004), deteriorated quality of life (r= -0.327, p=0.005), increased serum adiponectin (r= -0.359, p=0.002), and NT-pro-BNP levels (r= -0.375, p=0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, LVEF and adiponectin were independently associated with reduced CBF in CHF patients (R(2)=0.289). CONCLUSION: CBF was reduced in elderly males with mild-to-moderate CHF, and was associated with factors that represent the severity of CHF including high serum adiponectin and NT-pro-BNP levels, decreased LVEF, impaired physical performance, and deteriorated quality of life.

Apolipoprotein ɛ4 Allele and Dental Occlusion Deficiency as Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease.

Compromised dentition has been suggested to pose a significant risk factor for dementia. It was mainly investigated through insufficient tooth number, disregarding contact between opposing teeth (dental occlusion). The ɛ4 allele of apolipoprotein (APOE4) is the primary genetic marker for the late onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, APOE4 and dental occlusion have not yet been investigated as possible associated risk factors for AD. The study was aimed to examine the impact of dental status and different APOE gene variants on AD occurrence. Secondly, sociodemographic variables were investigated as factors potentially associated with AD. The case-control study included two groups: 116 patients with AD (according to the NINDS-ADRDA criteria) and 63 controls (Mini-Mental State Examination scores ≥24). The analysis of APOE gene polymorphism was conducted through PCR reaction. Dental examination included recording of number of teeth, presence of fixed or removable dentures, and number of functional tooth units (FTU). Regression analysis was used to investigate the joint effect of the clinical and genetic variables on AD. Results showed that patients with AD were more often carriers of ɛ3/ɛ4 genotype and ɛ4 allele, had lower number of teeth and FTU, and were less likely to be married, live in home, and had less chronic diseases, compared to the controls. Regression analysis showed that presence of APOE4 allele and the number of total FTU remained associated with AD, even when adjusted for age, sex, and level of education. In conclusion, deficient dental occlusion and presence of APOE4 may independently increase risk for AD.

The influence of various morphologic and hemodynamic carotid plaque characteristics on neurological events onset and deaths.

A group of 72 patients with 111 asymptomatic carotid stenoses (ACS), mean age 65.42 +/- 9.21, and a group of 36 patients with 58 symptomatic carotid stenoses (SCS), mean age 67.63 +/- 8.79, were analyzed prospectively during a 3-year follow-up period. All patients underwent color duplex scan sonography (CDS), carotid arteriography, computed tomography (CT) scan, and neurological examination. The aim of the study was to analyze the correlation between echo plaque morphology (degree and plaque quality), local hemodynamic plaque characteristics, ischemic CT findings, and onset of new neurological events and deaths. The results analysis showed significantly more ACS in the group of 30-49% stenosis (p < 0.001), but significantly more SCS in the group of 70-89% (p < 0.0001) and > or = 90% stenosis (p < 0.05). Fibrous plaque was more frequent in the ACS group (p < 0.001), while ulcerated and mixed plaques were more frequent in the SCS group (both p < 0.0001). In the SCS group, a significantly higher frequency of increased peak systolic and end diastolic velocities was noted at the beginning and end of the study (both p < 0.01), as well as for contralateral common (CCA) or internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively), but reduced carotid blood flow volume (p < 0.05) only at the end of the study. In the ACS group, the best correlation with new neurological events and deaths was shown with positive CT findings, peak systolic flow velocity over 210 cm/sec, end diastolic flow velocity over 110 cm/sec, plaque stenosis > or = 70%, plaque ulceration, mixed plaque (all p < 0.0001); stenosis > or = 50% (p < 0.001); and reduced carotid blood flow volume (p < 0.05).

Prognostic value of health-related quality of life in elderly patients hospitalized with heart failure.

Purpose: Previous research has shown that poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is associated with adverse long-term prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF); however, there have been inconsistencies among studies and not all of them confirmed the prognostic value of HRQOL. In addition, few studies involved elderly patients and most focused on all-cause mortality and HF-related hospitalization as outcomes. The aim of our study was to determine whether HRQOL is a predictor and an independent predictor of long-term cardiac mortality, all-cause mortality, and HF-related rehospitalization in elderly patients hospitalized with HF. Patients and methods: This prospective observational study included 200 elderly patients hospitalized with HF in Serbia. HRQOL was measured using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire (MLHFQ). The median follow-up period was 28 months. The primary outcome was cardiac mortality, and all-cause mortality and HF-related rehospitalization were secondary outcomes. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox-proportional hazards regression. Results: Subjects with poor HRQOL (higher than the median MLHFQ score) had a higher probability of cardiac mortality (P=0.029) and HF-related rehospitalization (P=0.001) during long-term follow-up. Poor HRQOL was an independent predictor of cardiac mortality (HR: 2.051, 95% CI: 1.260-3.339, P=0.004), all-cause mortality (HR: 1.620, 95% CI: 1.076-2.438, P=0.021), and HF-related rehospitalization (HR: 2.040, 95% CI: 1.290-3.227, P=0.002). Conclusion: HRQOL is an independent predictor of long-term cardiac mortality in elderly patients hospitalized with HF. It also independently predicts all-cause mortality and HF-related rehospitalization. HRQOL could be used as a complementary clinical predictive tool in this patient population.

Bleeding during enoxaparin treatment more common with age over 75 years and severe renal insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Severe renal insufficiency, defined as a creatinine clearance <30 mL/min, increases the risk for bleeding in elderly patients receiving enoxaparin (enoxaparin sodium) treatment. METHODS: The risk/benefit ratios of enoxaparin and unfractionated heparin (UFH) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) aged >75 years were determined by investigating the parameters of efficacy (ischaemic event, lethal outcome), safety (bleeding events, renal insufficiency) or both (composite endpoint: ischaemic event or lethal outcome or bleeding event). RESULTS: The study included 113 patients (59 male, 52.2%) with AMI aged >75 years; 36 of these patients received enoxaparin. In the patients who had severe renal insufficiency, bleeding events were more frequent in those receiving enoxaparin than in those patients who received UFH (3 vs 1, respectively; p = 0.024). Irrespective of the presence of renal insufficiency, bleeding events occurred more often in patients who received enoxaparin than in those who received UFH (13 vs 8, respectively; p = 0.007). The composite endpoint showed a nonsignificantly better profile in patients who received enoxaparin than in those who received UFH. CONCLUSION: Although the use of enoxaparin (compared with UFH) and the presence of severe renal insufficiency significantly increased the occurrence of bleeding in patients with AMI aged >75 years, the risk/benefit difference in this population was not significant.

Ageism: does it exist among children?

Ageism is stereotyping and prejudice against individuals or groups because of their age. Robert Butler first used it in 1969, to express a systematic stereotyping and discrimination against elderly people. Available data appears to confirm that attitudes of children to the old age differ from that of adults. The study population consisted of 162 subjects (56 school children, 48 nurses and 58 elderly patients). Each subject in the survey was asked to respond to the following three questions: Question #1: "Is the old age unattractive?"; Question #2: "How old is an old man?"; Question #3: "What should you do to have a long life (what is good for longevity)? The majority of polled children (33) gave positive statements about ageing in their responses to the first item, while most of the nurses gave condition answers, like: "It is not unattractive if you are healthy". Elderly subjects made up a group with the majority of negative responses (in percentage), as only 33% of them answered that old age is not unattractive. All three groups of subjects demonstrated a good knowledge of what is considered good for longevity, and had a generally positive health attitude. Our results indicate that majority of children have positive perception and attitude about old age, which leads us to conclusion that ageism is adopted later in life.

Caregivers' attitudes, knowledge and practices of oral care at nursing homes in Serbia.

Background/Aim: Within the elderly population, residents in nursing homes, there is a greather risk of caries, periodontal disease and teeth loss. Assistance of caregivers in maintaininig good oral hygiene besides improving oral health can improve of residents general health and the qulity of their lives. The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes of caregivers and knowledge about oral health, as well as the practice regarding oral care they apply at nursing homes in Serbia. Methods: The survey was conducted at the Gerontology Center Belgrade, consisting of four nursing homes located in the urban area. The study included 58 caregivers. They were contacted on working days, in all work shifts, during January, February and March of 2013. They were asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire consisting of 26 closed-type questions. Results: The caregivers mostly considered that it was very important to take care of oral health of the residents, but 69% responded that the level of their oral health was low or very low. As the main barriers to oral hygiene maintenance, the caregivers indicated lack of time. The caregivers had more knowledge about periodontal disease than about the main cause of caries and its prevention. Formal medical education had the influence on the knowledge about oral diseases. Oral hygiene procedures carried out by the mayority of caregivers were denture cleaning and tooth brushing. Conclusion: The caregivers were aware of the limitations in everyday oral care of nursing homes residents in Serbia, although solving these problems requires the involvement of the entire public health service.

Morphometric study of uninvolved rectal mucosa 10 cm and 20 cm away from the malignant tumor.

Recently, many details of the interplay between tumor cells and tumor-associated stromal elements leading to the progression of malignant disease were elucidated. In contrast, little is known about the role of uninvolved stromal tissue in the remote surrounding of the malignant tumor. Therefore, we performed a computer-aided morphometric study of rectal mucosa in samples taken 10 cm and 20 cm away from the malignant tumor during endoscopic examination of 23 patients older than 60 years. The samples of rectal mucosa from 10 healthy persons of corresponding age subjected to diagnostic rectoscopy during active screening for asymptomatic cancer were used as control. All structural elements of the rectal mucosa were studied and the number of nucleated cells in the lamina propria per 0.1 mm² of tissue was assessed. Our study revealed a reduced number of cells in the lamina propria of the rectal mucosa 10 cm and 20 cm away from the tumor lesion in both male and female patients. The decreased mucosal height and increased crypt number were registered in female patients 10 cm away from the tumor. The connective tissue of lamina propria showed a disorderly organization: the collagen fibers were frail, loosely arranged and signs of tissue edema were present. Small blood vessels and capillaries were much more frequently seen than in healthy tissue. Our results demonstrate the complex interactions between the cancer and remote mucosal tissue of the affected organ.

Health-related quality of life in elderly patients hospitalized with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure is a very common condition in the elderly, characterized not only by high mortality rates, but also by a strong impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Previous studies of HRQOL in elderly heart failure subjects have included mostly outpatients, and little is known about determinants of HRQOL in hospitalized elderly population, especially in Serbia. In this study, we tried to identify factors that influence HRQOL in elderly patients hospitalized with chronic heart failure in Serbia. METHODS: The study population consisted of 136 patients aged 65 years or older hospitalized for chronic heart failure. HRQOL was assessed using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire. Predictors of HRQOL were identified by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that patients with lower income, a longer history of chronic heart failure, and longer length of hospital stay, as well as those receiving aldosterone antagonists and digoxin, taking multiple medications, in a higher NYHA class, and showing signs of depression and cognitive impairment had significantly worse HRQOL. Presence of depressive symptoms (P<0.001), higher NYHA class (P=0.021), lower income (P=0.029), and longer duration of heart failure (P=0.049) were independent predictors of poor HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms, higher NYHA class, lower income, and longer duration of chronic heart failure are independent predictors of poor HRQOL in elderly patients hospitalized with chronic heart failure in Serbia. Further, there is an association between multiple medication usage and poor HRQOL, as well as a negative impact of cognitive impairment on HRQOL. Hence, measures should be implemented to identify such patients, especially those with depressive symptoms, and appropriate interventions undertaken in order to improve their HRQOL.

[Prospective follow-up of nebivolol in the treatment of arterial hypertension].

INTRODUCTION: Nebivolol, a third-generation beta-blocker (BB) shows a highly selective beta-blockade and specific vasodilating effects due to getting free nitro-oxide from the dysfunctional endothelium. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the antihypertensive effect of nebivolol in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) of both sexes. METHODS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), heart rate and serum glycemia, creatinin, cholesterol and trygliceride were measured after a 6-week treatment with a single 5 mg dose of nebivolol once daily so as to assess its efficacy and metabolic effects, as well as its tolerance by using a questionnaire answered by physicians and patients. RESULTS: Out of 520 patients with mild or moderate AH, 430 (82.7%) were treated with nebivolol as monotherapy. After a 6-week treatment with nebivolol, with very good tolerability and neutral metabolic effects, systolic BP was significantly decreased (in male from initial 165 +/- 19 to 129 +/- 12 mm Hg, and female from initial 169 +/- 22 to 132 +/- 15 mm Hg at the end of the study; average decrease 22.3%, p<0.001) and as well as diastolic BP (male from initial 103 +/- 12 to 79 +/- 6 mm Hg and female from initial 100 +/- 9 to 82 +/- 7 mm Hg, average decrease 22.6%; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: After a 6-week treatment nebivolol significantly decreased systolic and diastolic BP in patients with mild and moderate AH, independently of the sex.

Old age as a privilege of the "selfish ones".

In the past couple of centuries, scientists proposed great number of aging theories but neither of them appears to be fully satisfactory. In the statistical sense, we are dealing with an even greater challenge because large array of factors affects the aging process. Although at this point the most of these factors are well known, it is the very fact of their innumerability that complicates approaches to the issue at hand. Both in life and in medicine, the cause behind an effect can rarely be unequivocally determined. Thus, it appears that through out human history longevity has been primarily affected by eradication of diseases, especially by eradication of infectious diseases and introduction of the vaccines. For that reason, maybe we should not be referring to this issue as the «fountain of youth¼ but rather as the «vaccine of youth¼. The postulate that genetic instability is the precipitating factor both of aging and cancer has withstood many tests and keeps on being reaffirmed. For this reason, it is legitimate to pose a question of whether long-lived individuals may be those with «selfish¼ genes and more stable genetic material. They certainly cannot avoid aging, but aging in such individuals could be delayed due to steady character of their genome, which is less susceptible to mutations. On the population level, they constitute minority because stable genome would represent an obstacle to successful evolution of the species. If this was not the case, we might not be writing all these texts today.

Morphometric study of healthy jejunal and ileal mucosa in adult and aged subjects.

Small intestine mucosa is often affected with malabsorptive, autoimmune and inflammatory pathological processes. However, morphometric data on the healthy human small intestine mucosa, especially ileum, are scarce. We aimed to obtain histoquantitative data on the healthy jejunal and ileal mucosa and assess the effects of gender and ageing on these parameters. Computer-aided morphometric analysis was performed on 24 jejunal and 25 ileal biopsy samples collected upon routine endoscopy screening of healthy persons with a family history of intestinal malignancy. Subjects were distributed in four groups according to age and sex: adult (<60 years) and elderly (>60 years) males, and adult (<60 years) and elderly (>60 years) females. Results were statistically analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test. Jejunal mucosal thickness was significantly reduced in elderly subjects (p<0.05), especially in elderly females compared to adult ones (p<0.05). Jejunal villi were significantly wider in adult than in the elderly subjects (p<0.05), whereas ileal villi were significantly wider in elderly compared to adult subjects (p<0.01) and in male compared to female subjects (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in other histoquantitative parameters (mucosa epithelium height, crypt numerical density, villous height, crypts and villous perimeter, diameter and epithelium height) of jejunal and ileal mucosa. This study provides complete morphometric data on the healthy human jejunum and the first relevant data on the healthy ileal mucosa, thus representing a valuable morphometric reference for future histoquantitative studies of human small bowel mucosa in both healthy and disease affected individuals.

[Articles on elderly in Serbian medical journals].

INTRODUCTION: Population aging is a feature of all countries in the world. According to statistics, the Republic of Serbia is one of the countries with the majority of the elderly. Taking this into account, are articles on the elderly well represented in domestic medical journals? OBJECTIVE: The aim of the paper was to determine whether there was a sufficient number of articles on the elderly in domestic medical journals. METHODS: The articles on the elderly were searched using search engines in domestic and foreign medical journals for the last 5 years compared with the number of articles on children in the same publications for the same period. RESULTS: In the Serbian Citation Index, 11 articles on the topic of the elderly, and 487 on children were registered. In Srpski arhivza celokupno lekarstvo, there was registered only one article on the topic of the elderly, and 30 on children. In Vojnosanitetskipregled, 2 articles on the elderly and 13 on children were registered (p < 0001). For the last five years, in the New England Journal of Medicine, there were 593 articles on the elderly and 759 articles on children; in the JAMA, there were 63 articles on the elderly and 303 articles on children; and in The Lancet, in the last five years, 46 articles on the elderly and 148 articles on children were published. CONCLUSION: The themes of the elderly were rarely represented in Serbian medical journals.This has reduced the interest of physicians in medical problems of this growing population of patients and further sent them away from making standards in the diagnosis and treatment of the elderly.

[Application of enoxaparin simultaneously with fibrinolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST-elevation].

INTRODUCTION: Applied simultaneously with fibrinolytic therapy, low-molecular heparin enoxaparin is showing the potential of improving efficacy with rare adverse effects. Our objective was to investigate if enoxaparin with streptokinase (SK) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) had better effect than unfractioned heparin (UFH). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients with AMI with ST elevation where SK was applied, were divided into two groups: 1. In the study group (N=32, SK+E) both SK and enoxaparin were administered (E, 30 mg intravenously before SK, then after SK 80 mg subcutaneously every 12 hours for 3 days); 2. The patients of the control group were given continuous infusion of UFH 4 hours after SK (1000 i.j. per hour, 3 days). Two groups were similar regarding average age, previous coronary events and diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The reperfusion, depending mostly on fibrinolytic therapy, was successful in both groups (71.9% vs. 65.8%). The recurrent ischemia was less frequent in the group where enoxaparin was used (18.8% vs. 40.6%, p=0.055), as well as heart failure (15.6% vs. 53.2%, p=0,095). There was no difference in adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Enoxaparin used simultaneously with streptokinase in patients with AMI with ST elevation was safe and effective. The recurrent ischemia, the parameter of "infarcted" coronary artery reoclusion, is less frequent in patients who had enoxaparin than unfractioned heparin with fibrinolytic therapy.

[Hospital mortality trend analysis of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction in the Belgrade area coronary care units].

INTRODUCTION: Mortality in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) ranges from 4-24% and is dependent on the variety of patients' clinical characteristics (CC) that are present prior to and within the first hours of the onset of MI, affecting reliability of the diagnosis. The higher mortality rate of patients with STEMI should be associated with a higher rate of applied reperfusion therapy according to guidelines and randomized study results, which is in opposition to everyday hospital practice. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the mortality of STEMI patients in relationship to their clinical characteristics at presentation, their age, sex, risk factors, prior coronary disease, and time interval from symptom onset to hospital presentation, complications and administered therapy. METHOD: The analysis involved patients treated in five coronary care units, four Belgrade Hospital Centres and the Belgrade Emergency Centre of the Clinical Centre of Serbia. Evaluated data was obtained from the Serbian National Registry for Acute Coronary Syndrome (REAKSS) and databases of local coronary care units (CCU). RESULTS: During 2005 and 2006, a total of 2739 patients with STEMI, of average age 63.3 +/- 11.7, with 64.9% males aged 61.3 +/- 11.7 and 35.1% females aged 67.0 +/- 10.7 (p < 0.01) who underwent treatment. Most of the patients (80.5%) were distributed within the elderly groups of 60, 70 and 80 years of age, with the highest percent of mortality rate (45.9%) noted at age 80 years. Anterior localization of myocardial infarction was observed in 40.2% of patients, with lethal outcome in 21.4% patients, while 59.8% of patients suffered inferiorly localized MI with much lower mortality rate (12.2%, p < 0.01). In 2005, STEMI was registered in 48.7%, while in 2006 in 44.7% of patients. Prior angina pectoris was present in 19.9% of patients, more frequently among women (p < 0.05), prior MI in 14.5% of patients, more often among males (p < 0.05), while aortocoronary revascularization was found in 3.9% of patients. Hospital mortality rate due to STEMI was higher in the group of patients with a history of prior MI (19.1% vs. 15.7%; p > 0.05). Regarding risk factors, hypertension was present in 61.8% of patients, more often among women (69.1% vs.57.9%) (p < 0.01), carrying a higher mortality rate of 18.9% vs. 9.9% among males (p < 0.01). Hyperlipidemia was found in 31.9% of patients; more frequently among women 34.8% vs. 30.4% males (p < 0.05), as well as diabetes mellitus observed in 25.1% of patients; 22.4% males and 30.1% females (p < 0.01). 39.6% of patients were smokers; 46.9% males and 28.0% females (p < 0.01). Heart failure had 33.4% of patients; mortality rate was registered in 28.2% of patients, and was significantly higher than in the non heart failure group (7.9%, p < 0.01). Heart rhythm disorders were registered in 21.3% of patients, more frequently involving posterior MI 55.3% vs 44.7% of anterior MI (p > 0.05), and was significantly higher among females 23.5% vs. 20.1% in males (p < 0.05). In 2005 in Belgrade hospitals, reperfusion therapy (RT) was performed in 34.6% of patients, mostly as thrombolytic therapy (TT) (in 99.0% of patients), and as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 1.0% of patients. STEMI mortality rate was 12.8%. In 2006, in the CCU of the In the Emergency Center RT was applied in 48.0% of patients, TT in 13.8% and PCI in 34.2%, while classical therapy without RT was applied in 52.0% of patients. CONCLUSION: Clinical characteristics significantly influence mortality in STEMI; a significantly higher mortality is among women, patients in their 80's and 90's, anterior MI localization and prior coronary disease. RT significantly lowers mortality in STEMI compared to the use of classical therapeutic approach and therefore STEMI patients with a higher mortality determined by their prehospital charactheristics, i.e. higher risk, are those who have higher benefit of RT, which should be taken into consideration when making decision about the therapy of choice.