Experiment Control and Monitoring System for LOG-a-TEC Testbed.

The LOG-a-TEC testbed is a combined outdoor and indoor heterogeneous wireless testbed for experimentation with sensor networks and machine-type communications, which is included within the Fed4FIRE+ federation. It supports continuous deployment principles; however, it is missing an option to monitor and control the experiment in real-time, which is required for experiment execution under comparable conditions. The paper describes the implementation of the experiment control and monitoring system (EC and MS) as the upgrade of the LOG-a-TEC testbed. EC and MS is implemented within existing infrastructure management and built systems as a new service. The EC and MS is accessible as a new tab in sensor management system portal. It supports several commands, including start, stop and restart application, exit the experiment, flash or reset the target device, and displays the real-time status of the experiment application. When nodes apply Contiki-NG as their operating system, the Contiki-NG shell tool is accessible with the help of the newly developed tool, giving further experiment execution control capabilities to the user. By using the ZeroMQ concurrency framework as a message exchange system, information can be asynchronously sent to one or many devices at the same time, providing a real-time data exchange mechanism. The proposed upgrade does not disrupt any continuous deployment functionality and enables remote control and monitoring of the experiment. To evaluate the EC and MS functionality, two experiments were conducted: the first demonstrated the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) localization, while the second analysed interference avoidance in the 6TiSCH (IPv6 over the TSCH mode of IEEE 802.15.4e) wireless technology for the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

Antimicrobial susceptibility among urinary Escherichia coli isolates from female outpatients: age-related differences.

OBJECTIVES: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common problems in women, and important reason for visiting primary care physicians, resulting in substantial financial burden to community. The aim of this study was to determine the resistance rates of E. coli to commonly prescribed antimicrobial drugs for community-acquired UTIs in women and to establish the association between age and resistance to antibiotics among isolates of E. coli from urine. METHODS: The study was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional study during the 5-years period. It was conducted on a sample of urinary tract isolates of E. coli taken from women with community-acquired UTIs. After prevalence of E. coli resistance to antibiotics was established, the analysis of risk factors for emergence of resistance was conducted. RESULTS: There were 10,734 isolates of E. coli, comprising 70.62% of all samples analyzed. E. coli was the most frequently resistant to ampicillin (54.68%), followed by trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (37.46%), first and second generation cephalosporins (cephalexin and cefaclor) (29.53% both), and ciprofloxacin (23.80%). Less than 50% of E. coli isolates was sensitive to all three tested antibiotics, and nearly 13% acquired triple-resistance. Prevalence of isolates resistant to two or three agents was higher in the subgroup of women older than 65 years. CONCLUSIONS: Empirical choice of antimicrobial agent for community-acquired non-complicated UTIs in women should be individualized on the basis of the patient's age, prevalence of resistance in the local community, and compliance history of the patient.

Epidemiology of Suicidal Behaviour in Shumadia District, Serbia: a Fifteen-year Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyze epidemiological characteristics of suicide, as well as to emphasize possible risk factors. METHODS: This is a retrospective study, covering the period of fifteen years (1996-2010), which aims at discovering the relevant factors which have an influence on suicidal behaviour. This research uses the data from the documentation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia and Police Department in Kragujevac, hospitalization reports of patients treated at Psychiatric Clinic of the Clinical Centre Kragujevac, as well as the medical records of patients treated at the Health Centre Kragujevac. χ2 test was applied to examine the influence of all selected factors on incidence of suicide and for this purpose SPSS statistical software package was used. RESULTS: The analysis has shown that during the given period average suicide rate reached 11.8 per population of 100,000. The male to female suicide ratio of 3.6:1 obtained through this study suggests that men (78.4%) are more prone to suicide than women (21.6%). The highest number of suicides has been found within the age group of 65-year-olds (31.2%), while for the youngest age group (15-24 years) the lowest prevalence of 8.8% has been determined. In other words, the youngest subjects are 3.5 times less likely to commit suicide than the participants of the oldest age group. During the given period suicide was most often committed by married males and females with primary school education than by employed and retired people. The research has also revealed that most suicides came from urban areas (52.0%) and that the most common method of suicide is hanging (60.8%), followed by suicide by firearms, jumping from height, poisoning, and drowning. CONCLUSION: In order to prevent suicide, it is essential to collect and analyze all information concerning suicide victims.

Burnout syndrome among medical nurse-technicians in intensive care units in cardiovascular surgery.

Background: Healthcare workers in intensive care units work under specifically hard conditions compared to healthcare workers who work under regular clinical conditions. In this sense, the research aims at assessing the level of burnout symptomatology among nurse technicians working in intensive care units for cardiovascular surgery and to compare those burnout levels with those recorded for medical technicians working under regular clinical conditions. Method: The research was designed as a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of nurse technicians working in intensive care units specializing in cardiovascular surgery (70 participants) and nurse technicians working under regular clinical conditions (70 participants) at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases "Dedinje," Belgrade, Serbia. To evaluate the manifestation of burnout syndrome at work, the analysis uses the Serbian version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). Results: To examine the variances in the average sub-scores for burnout within two groups of medical technicians, the study used Two Independent Samples T-test. The statistically noteworthy differentiation was ascertained for emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment, but this does not hold true for depersonalization. However, the mean score values across the different burnout levels (low, moderate, high) are similar in two cohorts of respondents (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study will serve as an impetus for a policy reform focused on ameliorating working conditions and improving healthcare workers' satisfaction and overall healthcare quality.

Frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats: Results of a retrospective serological survey in Sumadija District, Serbia.

It has long been known that coronaviruses cause various infectious diseases in animals. Although SARS-CoV-2 is genetically related to viruses isolated from Rhinolophus bats, the exact origin, mode of transmission, and how the human species has become the epidemiological reservoir of the virus have not yet been established with certainty. Although the main route of transmission is human-to-human, there are considerable numbers of reported cases of infection in animal species, predominantly among pet animals. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in dogs and cats during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sumadija District, Serbia. We used serology to identify household contacts of pet animals with infected pet owners and the degree of association. The study presented in this paper is also the first study of this type in Serbia. The results of a retrospective serosurvey, which was conducted in dogs and cats with different exposure risk factors, were analyzed to find the possible modes of transmission between humans and animals. The relative frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs was 1.45% bounded with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.0007-7.73%, while in cats, it was 5.56% (95% CI: 0.77-4.13%). The relative frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pet owners was 11% (95% CI: 6.25-18.63%). In pets that were in close contact with COVID-19 positive owners, the seropositivity was found to be 9%. Out of a total of five stray dogs and cats tested, seropositivity was observed in two animals. Detected SARS-CoV-2 infection in pets shows that these animals are susceptible to infection and that the most common means of virus transmission to pets is through contact with diseased owners. However, the presence of infection in stray dogs and cats is not clear and needs further research.

Lifestyle, Physical Activity, Eating and Hygiene Habits: A Comparative Analysis Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Student Population.

Background: Changing daily habits such as diet, hygiene and physical activity may be some of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of this pandemic on lifestyle, physical activity, eating and hygiene habits among students. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 171 students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Serbia. Data were statistically analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test, Marginal homogeneity test and Chi-square test. The differences were considered statistically significant when p ≤ 0.05. Results: In this study, it was observed that the most common physical activity before the pandemic was walking, while during the pandemic was home exercising. Compared to the period before the pandemic, there was no difference in the time spent engaging in daily physical activity (p = 0.334). However, there was a significant increase in sitting time during the pandemic (p = 0.005). Difference was noticed in the use of breakfast, the number of meals, and the type of fat in the diet before and during the pandemic (p = 0.000). During the pandemic, there was an increase in the use of fruits (p = 0.000), vegetables, and nuts (p = 0.001), while the use of fast food and alcohol have decreased. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant increase in the use of dietary supplements was observed (40.2%), (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Given that the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, certain changes in lifestyle observed in this study should be confirmed in more extensive population studies.

Discrepancy between Admission and Discharge Diagnoses in Central Serbia: Analysis by the Groups of International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision.

BACKGROUND: Repeated research while using the same methodology can be useful and it can enable relevant conclusions in the same health care system. The aim of our study was to perform comparative analysis of the agreement between admission and discharge diagnostic groups in period 2014-2017 with period 2006-2013 in the Clinical Center of Kragujevac, Serbia. METHODS: The 5% simple, random sample was made from the basic set of all hospital reports from Clinical Centre Kragujevac, Serbia, in the period 01.01. 2014 - 31.12. 2017 (n=10228). The first four digits of ICD-10 codes at admission and discharge were compared for agreement. We used discharge diagnosis as a "golden standard". Statistical analysis was performed using Cohen's Kappa statistic. RESULTS: In the period 2014-2017, agreement between diagnosis among the most ICD10 groups increased in comparison with the period 2006-2013. Disagreements between diagnosis in the period 2014-2017 in comparation with period 2006-2013 was associated with increased length of stay in the hospital (7.5 vs. 9.1 days, P<0.01), patients were younger (54 vs 49.6 yr, P<0.01), number of males declined (26.3% vs 16.2%, P<0.05), kappa value decreased in XV ICD10 group and XI ICD10 group and kappa value increased in XIV ICD10 group. CONCLUSION: Agreement between admission and discharge diagnosis among the most ICD10 diagnostic groups increased. Introduction of a new web application has increased the quality of data, but interpreting it requires the skill of researchers. Further research should identify modifiable causes of discrepancy between admission and discharge diagnoses.

Influence of different supplementation on platelet aggregation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) have been reported to reduce platelet aggregation. Our aim was to prospectively assess the potential influence of different supplementation omega-3 PUFA on the antiplatelet effects in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: The study included 60 patients with RA at the Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Center Kragujevac. Patients were divided into three groups depending on who used concentrated fish oil only or concentrated fish oil in combination with evening primrose oil or control group without supplementation in a period of 3 months. Platelet aggregation was measured using the multiplate analyzer and expressed through the value of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) test, aranchidonic acid-induced aggregation (ASPI) test, thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP) test (to assess baseline platelet aggregation), and the ratio of ADP/TRAP and ASPI/TRAP representing the degree of inhibition of platelet aggregation compared to the basal value. The platelet function analysis in whole blood was performed 18-24 h before starting supplementation and after 90 days. Considerations were taken in the representation of demographic, clinical characteristics, and laboratory parameters between the groups. RESULTS: Patients who used concentrated fish oil only had a significantly lower value of the ratio of ADP/TRAP (0.68 ± 0.20) compared to patients without supplementation (0.83 ± 0.12; p = 0.008), while there was no statistically significant difference in values of other laboratory parameters of platelet function between other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Co-administration of supplementation-concentrated fish oil may reduce platelet aggregation in adults with RA. KEY POINTS: • Omega-3 PUFAs are essential for health and are known to possess anti-inflammatory properties, improving cardiovascular health as well as benefiting inflammatory diseases.. • In this paper, we report on anti-aggregation effects n-3 PUFAs and ɤ-linolenic acid in RA. • The risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is increased in RA, and dietary supplementation of n-3 PUFA may have preventive potential for the cardiovascular management in rheumatoid arthritis.

Eosinophil Cationic Protein in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Treated with Radioactive Iodine 131.

Published data indicate the involvement of eosinophil granulocytes and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in tumor defense. The aim of this study was to analyze serum ECP concentrations in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) before, 3 days and 7 days after radioactive iodine (131-I) therapy. Association of ECP concentrations with histological type of tumor, stage of disease and/or levels of selected T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokines was examined. The study population included 17 DTC patients and 10 control subjects. ECP was measured by fluoroimmunoassay (FIA). Th2 (cytokines interleukin 4 (IL-4), interleukin 5 (IL-5), and interleukin 13 (IL-13)) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). We found that ECP values in DTC patients before radioactive iodine therapy were approximately two-fold higher than in the controls, but the difference was statistically significant only if the patients with DTC and associated Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) were included. There was no correlation between the serum concentrations of IL-5 and ECP. Radioactive iodine therapy led to a decrease in serum ECP level which did not follow the decline in serum protein levels. Additional studies are needed to determine the significance of these findings.

Clinical Benefits of n-3 PUFA and ɤ-Linolenic Acid in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

(1) Background: Marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and ɤ-linolenic acid (GLA) are well-known anti-inflammatory agents that may help in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. Their effects were examined in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; (2) Methods: Sixty patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were involved in a prospective, randomized trial of a 12 week supplementation with fish oil (group I), fish oil with primrose evening oil (group II), or with no supplementation (group III). Clinical and laboratory evaluations were done at the beginning and at the end of the study; (3) Results: The Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28 score), number of tender joints and visual analogue scale (VAS) score decreased notably after supplementation in groups I and II (p < 0.001). In plasma phospholipids the n-6/n-3 fatty acids ratio declined from 15.47 ± 5.51 to 10.62 ± 5.07 (p = 0.005), and from 18.15 ± 5.04 to 13.50 ± 4.81 (p = 0.005) in groups I and II respectively. The combination of n-3 PUFA and GLA (group II) increased ɤ-linolenic acid (0.00 ± 0.00 to 0.13 ± 0.11, p < 0.001), which was undetectable in all groups before the treatments; (4) Conclusion: Daily supplementation with n-3 fatty acids alone or in combination with GLA exerted significant clinical benefits and certain changes in disease activity.

Evaluation of the effects of different supplementation on oxidative status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Reactive oxygen species have been considered as aggravating factors for autoimmune diseases. Fatty acids had been linked in reduction of various diseases by augment of their antioxidant potential and antiinflammatory mechanisms. The aim of this study was to assess the oxidative status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who used concentrated fish oil only or concentrated fish oil in combination with evening primrose oil in a period of 3 months. Subjects were divided into three groups. The group I consists of patients who had been taking only their regular rheumatologic therapy; group II, patients who had been taking concentrated fish oil; and group III, patients who had been taking concentrated fish oil and evening primrose oil. Peripheral blood samples were used for all the assays. We assessed the following oxidative stress markers: index of lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS)), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion radical (O2 (-)), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), catalase activity (CAT), and glutathione levels (GSH) in erythrocytes. There were no statistically significant changes for any of the oxidative stress parameters in group I. In group II, levels of TBARS, NO2 (-), and GSH were increased, while levels of H2O2 decreased. Increased values of TBARS, NO2 (-), and SOD were found in group III. Our findings indicate that intakes of fish oil and evening primrose oil may be of importance in mitigation of inflammation, disease activity, and oxidative stress biomarkers, through increased activities of antioxidant enzymes.

[Out-hospital morbidity of population in Shumadia district].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this paper was to analyze out-hospital morbidity of population in the district of Shumadia and to identify the priority health problems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data source were the Reports on diseases, conditions and injuries provided by Department of General Medicine. Department of Preschool and School children Health Care and Department of Women's Health Care at Health Care Centres in the district of Shumadia for the period from 1999 to 2008. RESULTS: Cardiovascular diseases account for 22.4% of morbidity in the district of Shumadia. thus taking the leading place in the morbidity structure according to Departments of General Medicine. However, pulmonary diseases are the most frequent ones in pre-school and school children and diseases of genitourinary system in females account for more than a half (63.9%) of the total morbidity in the Departments of Women's Health Care. CONCLUSION: As the mass non-contagious diseases are dominating in the morbidity and mortality structure of population in the district of Shumadia. it is necessary to intensify promotional-preventive measures and activities in order to improve the health status of the population and to solve the priority health problems.

[Sex as suicidal risk factor].

INTRODUCTION: The rates of suicide are two to three times higher in men than in women in all communities. This "gender paradox" can be explained by various factors, such as more impulsive nature of men and their choice of more efficient (more lethal) methods to commit suicide. This study was aimed at finding the correlation between the gender and other suicidal factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of persons who committed suicide on the territory of Kragujevac in the period from 1996 to 2001. This study was based on the records kept by the Ministry of the Interior as well as by the Psychiatric Clinic of the Clinical Centre "Kragujevac". Data for weather were obtained from the Serbian Meteorological Institute reports. RESULTS: During the analyzed period 121 suicides were committed on the territory of Kragujevac. The gender structure showed that within persons who committed suicide there were 78.5% men and 21.5% women (p < 0.01). As for diseases which had existed before suicide, women suffered from the underlying psychic disorder in 65.3%, while 50.5% of men had both a psychic disorder and addiction problem. Hanging was the most frequently used method by both men and women (57.9% and 65.4%, respectively); and home was chosen as the place to commit suicide by 49.5% men and 42.3% women. Both men and women had a behaviour disorder before suicide, in 75.8% and 88.4% of the cases, respectively, (p < 0.01). The dominating motive was a disease in 17.9% of men, whereas family problems prevailed in 11.5% of women (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: There is a statistically important difference between men and women considering pre-suicidal behaviour, suicidal motive and suicidal frequency.