Smart Anklet Use to Measure Vascular Health Benefits of Preventive Intervention in a Nature-Based Environment-A Pilot Study.

The present study aimed to investigate the associations between nature-based intervention and peripheral pulse characteristics of patients with PAOD using new smart technology specifically designed for this purpose. A longitudinal panel study performed between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022 included 32 patients diagnosed with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) who were treated in the vascular surgeons' hospital "Dobb" in Valjevo. These patients were exposed for six months to moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) in a nature-based environment. They practiced 150 to 300 min of walking 6 km/h and cycling activities (16-20 km/h) weekly as recommended for patients with chronic conditions and those living with disability. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with major improvements in peripheral pulse characteristics of patients with PAOD. After six months of MPA, half of the patients (50%, 16/32) achieved minor, and half of them major improvements in peripheral pulse characteristics. The major improvements were associated with current smoking (OR = 9.53; 95%CI = 1.85-49.20), diabetes (OR = 4.84; 95%CI = 1.09-21.58) and cardiac failure, and concurrent pulmonary disease and diabetes (OR = 2.03; 95%CI = 1.01-4.11). Our pilot study showed that patients with PAOD along with other chronic conditions and risk factors benefited more from continuous physical activity in a nature-based environment.

Tuberculosis and associated risk factors among children and adolescent population in Serbia: 12 year's retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Recognition and epidemiological control of childhood and adolescent tuberculosis (TB) is essential to achieve effective control of TB in general as it presents high risk for transmission in the community. The aim of the study is to provide a descriptive and analytic overview of the trends in childhood and adolescent TB notifications and treatment outcomes and to identify factors associated with treatment success in a twelve-year period in Serbia. METHODOLOGY: We performed a retrospective trend analysis and analysis of treatment outcomes of 596 child and adolescent TB cases notified in Serbia in the period 2005-2016 from all health facilities, as well as logistic regression analysis to identify predictors of treatment success. RESULTS: Factors independently associated with treatment success were: new TB (OR=2.60; 95% CI: 1.45-3.74), male sex (OR=2.55; 95% CI: 2.09-3.00), pulmonary TB (OR=3.34; 95% CI: 2.34-4.34), comorbidities (OR=2.58; 95% CI: 2.24-2.91), age below 5 years (OR=0.37; 95% CI: 0.32-0.43), and social vulnerability (OR=0.40; 95% CI: 0.34-0.46). CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve TB treatment outcomes among children and adolescent population in Serbia, it is important to focus on female, age group 5-18, EPTB, retreatment cases and socially vulnerable groups.

HIV prevalence, knowledge and self-perceived risk of HIV infection among tuberculosis patients in Serbia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HIV infection among TB patients, knowledge, self-perceived risks and testing practices related to HIV. METHODS: We performed cross-sectional study from 10 May to 15 July 2011. Cluster sampling method was used to select 27 hospitals where 289 TB patients were consecutively recruited. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression methods were used to identify the factors associated with correct comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS. RESULTS: HIV prevalence among TB patients was 0.3%. Only 25.2% of the respondents presented comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS. The percentage of correct answers to all questions related to knowledge about HIV/AIDS increases with educational status (χ2 = 5.42; p < 0.05) and decreases with the age of respondents (χ2 = 8.53; p > 0.05). The independent predictors of correct comprehensive knowledge were living without partner (OR = 4.45; CI = 1.59-12.95) and self-awareness of HIV risk (OR = 4.43; CI = 1.20-16.52). CONCLUSION: HIV prevalence among TB patients is higher than among general population in Serbia. The level of comprehensive correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS is low. There is a need for continuous implementation of public health strategy to successfully manage HIV and HIV/TB co-infection in Serbia.

Tuberculosis outbreak among high school students in Novi Pazar, Serbia 2016: a retrospective-cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Between February and November 2016, 17 tuberculosis (TB) cases were identified among high school students in Novi Pazar, Serbia. The objectives of our study were to describe the outbreak, to identify potential risk factors and to evaluate the applied control measures. METHODOLOGY: The outbreak was described by time, person and place. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Attack rates, unadjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Multiple log-binomial regression analysis was performed to calculate adjusted RR. RESULTS: Sixteen of the total 17 cases occurred among grade 3 students, AR 5.5%. Previous TB family history, (RR = 5.29; 95% CI = 1.63-17.12), spending time with a known TB case at school (RR = 5.38; 95% CI = 1.48-19.55) and exposure to secondhand smoke (RR = 3.37; 95% CI = 1.11-10.29) were all significantly and independently associated with the occurrence of TB. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed diagnosis and reporting resulted in delayed initiation of the contact investigation and non-identification of latent TB cases probably favored the occurrence of this outbreak in a low incidence country. Public health authorities should consider revising the existing guidelines, promoting inter-sectorial collaboration and increasing awareness of public health professionals.