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Dr Božidar Kostić (1892-1960) - physician of noble heart - was born in Niš (Kingdom of Serbia) in a distinguished family of academically educated parents. As there were no medical faculties in Kingdom of Serbia, after high school, which he had finished with great success, in 1911 he enrolled at the Graz University of Medicine, a prestigious medical university. Soon he transferred to the Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in Prague, where he continued his studying for another ten semesters. In Prague, The Golden City, after the First World War, he finished his studies with an average grade of 10. After the Second World War, he worked as a doctor with a private medical practice in Belgrade, but soon he moved to Vranje, where he established the Town Polyclinic and contributed to the final flourishing of the most important forms of health care activities in liberated Vranje, donating his rich knowledge and skills, which led the health service to move to forms of independent work and development of new activities. For his contribution to the community, by decree of His Majesty King of Yugoslavia Alexander I Karađorđević, he received the Order of Saint Sava. Dr Božidar Kostić and his wife Pravda devoted their lives to the health and educational upbringing of the people in the south parts of Serbia (then Social Federative Republic of Yugoslavia). Until his last days he lived and worked as a true folk doctor.

Objectives: Psychometric properties of the DSM-IV Axis V scales in measuring adaptational functioning of psychotraumatised veterans have been chosen as the focus of this study., Subjects and Methods: The reliability and validity of the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), the Social and Occupational Assessment Scale (SOFAS), and the Global Assessment of Relational Functioning (GARF) were examined in a clinical sample of 129 veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)., Results: The interrater reliability of the GAF (ICC=0.82) and the SOFAS (ICC=0.83) was excellent, while the interrater reliability of the GARF (ICC=0.75) was good. Correlations with other clinician-rated scales of psychopathology and overall functioning showed that the GAF is primarily related to a reduction in functioning due to psychiatric symptoms, while an assessment of functioning beyond psychopathology, considering the effects of the individual's general medical condition as well, was provided by the SOFAS and the GARF, which is of importance for a comprehensive evaluation of the patients' health status. The factor analysis of the Axis V scales revealed a theoretically meaningful, single common factor (variance accounted for by the extracted factor = 76.91%), while observed differences, between the subjects with complete and partial PTSD, in scores on the axis V scales support further use of the axis V scales as useful outcome variables., Conclusion: The issue of a valid and reliable measurement of functional impairment is of paramount importance not only in the domain of clinical psychiatry but in forensic practice as well. In this respect, our findings give strong support to extending the scope of the DSM axis V scales with the two experimental scales which provide both conceptual framework and useful tools for reliable and valid evaluation of adaptatinal functioning in persons suffering from PTSD.

Aim: To compare patient's attitudes, demographic, clinical characteristics, psychopathology, insight and type of antipsychotic therapy in compliant and non-compliant outpatients with schizophrenia; to explore correlations between patient's attitudes and related variables., Methods: A sample of 44 outpatients of both genders (> 60 years), with a diagnosis of ICD-10 Schizophrenia (F20) was included into the study. All the patients were on maintenance treatment with different classes of antipsychotics (oral, depot or both), for at least 6 months from the latest hospitalisation. The exclusion criteria were determined. The BPRS and the PANSS were used to assess psychopathology and insight (G12 item). The self-report questionnaire MARS was used to assess patient's attitudes., Results: Compliant patients (N=37) showed the following significant differences compared to non-compliant patients (N=7): higher the MARS (p<0.001), lower the PANSS (Positive sub score) (p<0.01) G12 scores (p<0.01) (the Student t test) and percentage of patients with previous non-compliance (p<0.05) (chi2 test). Considerable correlation between the MARS and the BPRS (p<0.001), the PANSS (Positive, General psychopathology) (p<0.001; p<0.01), G12 scores (p<0.05) (negative) and current compliance (p<0.001) was also found (The Spearman's correlation)., Conclusions: Our results suggest that special attention should be paid to attitudes, severity of psychopathology, insight and history of non-compliance in compliance evaluation of outpatients with schizophrenia.

Despite substantial benefits of HAART treatment of HIV-infected patients, cumulative long-term toxicity, including drug-induced hepatotoxicity, has emerged as an important complication. Thus, to examine the prevalence and risk of developing severe hepatic injury during HAART, we conducted a retrospective study in a cohort of 364 HIV-infected patients treated with HAART between January 1998 and May 2006, for whom data on alanine aminotransferase activity were available both before and during HAART. HCV co-infection was recorded in 35.4% of the series, but was found not to influence either the efficacy of HAART or survival (P>0.05). Severe hepatotoxicity occurred in a total of 24 patients (6.6%). Multivariate logistic regression defined HCV co-infection (OR 16.6, 95% CI 3.8-46.0, P<0.0001), and the use of SQV/RTV and d4T (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.2-8.16, P=0.02, and OR 7.1, 95% CI 1.0-54.5, P=0.05, respectively) as independent risk factors for aggravation of hepatitis. In addition, there was a significant increase in the probability of developing liver damage over years of treatment (Log rank, P<0.01). Conversely, the probability of developing hepatotoxicity was not associated with an increase in the CD4 cell count to values greater than 350/microL (Log rank, P=0.59). In conclusion, in the setting of chronic viral hepatitis, hepatotoxicity during HAART may be attributed to the cumulative toxicity of drugs that induce mitochondrial toxicity, along with particular PIs and/or NNRTIs. Furthermore, our data suggest prudent use of D-drugs, still common in resource-limited countries, in HCV co-infected patients.

The aims of this study were to compare the efficacy of 1-year peak expiratory flow (PEF)-based self-management of asthma against conventional treatment and to analyze the long-term effectiveness of self-management. Eighty adult patients with persistent asthma (group B). After 1 year, significant improvement was noted in markers of asthma severity in group A but there were no changes in group B. After 6 years of the self-management program, asthma morbidity and emergency use of health services were reduced. These results show short-term and long-term effectiveness of a PEF-based self-management program in persistent asthma.

Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and survival of patients with upper urinary tract (UUT) transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in Serbia, followed for >/=5 years or until death., Patients and Methods: From 1998 to 2005 we analysed 114 cases of pathologically confirmed UUT TCC, divided into two groups according to topographical characteristics, and compared their demographic, clinical and pathological characteristics. The influence of various factors on overall 5-year survival of patients with UUT TCC was also tested. The prognostic value of different variables was assessed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazard models., Results: The most important change in demographic characteristics of the patients with UUT TCC in Serbia was a similar proportion of patients residing in areas of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and non-endemic areas. The median (range) follow-up was 67 (46-88) months. The 5-year probability of survival was 51.2 +/- 5.8%. There was a significantly lower probability of 5-year survival for patients with a higher histological grade (P = 0.001), higher T stage (P < 0.001) and tumour size >3 cm (P = 0.001) at diagnosis. In this cohort of patients the independent predictors of a poorer outcome of the disease were being female (hazard ratio, HR, 2.2, P = 0.010), tumour size >3 cm (HR 2.8, P = 0.001) and T3 or T4 stages (HR 3.1, P = 0.001)., Conclusion: Comparative analysis of the characteristics of UUT TCC between patients from BEN and non-endemic areas of Serbia showed similarities in demographic, clinical and pathological features. Factors that significantly influenced survival of patients with UUT TCC were being female, tumour size and tumour grade and stage.

Introduction: This study retrospectively determined the incidence rates of hip fractures in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, during the period 1990-2000., Materials and Methods: All patients with hip fractures treated at all Belgrade hospitals were identified from the Republic of Serbia's Ministry of Health National Health Care database. Patient demographics, type of hip fracture, and details of the mechanism of injury were collected. The annual incidence rates were calculated with interpolation according to the Belgrade population census of 1991 and 2002., Results: There were a total of 8,904 hip fractures with a mean annual incidence of 51.7 per 100,000 adults (62.2 females and 35.5 males). Mean age at the time of fracture was 67 years (72.6 for females and 59.3 for males), with 64.7% of all fractures occurring in women. There was a significant increase in hip fracture incidence rates over the observed period in females (P = 0.006), but not in males (P = 0.962). Trochanteric fractures predominated, accounting for 53% compared with cervical fractures. In patients over 50 years of age there was an exponential increase in the incidence of hip fractures in both sexes; though more so in females. 91% of hip fractures occurred in these older patients with incidence rates of 143.6 per 100,000 (185.9 for female and 92.2 for male patients). The most common mechanism of injury in the older group was low-energy trauma (70.3%) resulting from a fall from standing height onto a flat surface (same level). Standardizing incidence rates in the older age group to the US 1985 white population gave values of 228 per 100,000 females and 96 per 100,000 males. These incidence rates are similar to those reported in Italy, France and Great Britain, but lower than those in Scandinavian countries., Conclusion: In view of growing population numbers and an increase in the proportion of patients aged over 60 years, we can expect an increase in the prevalence of osteoporosis and an increase in the incidence of fragility hip fractures in the future, with resource implications.

Objectives: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate factors that might influence the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Serbia., Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on a group of 156 patients with MS. HRQoL was assessed by using the SF-36 questionnaire. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scale were assessed as variables affecting the HRQoL of MS patients., Results: EDSS score correlated negatively with all SF-36 health dimensions, and the highest statistically significant coefficients were for physical functioning (r = -0.682), and social and role functioning (r = -0.407 and -0.405 respectively). BDI correlated statistically significantly negatively (P < 0.01) with all SF-36 health dimensions., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that both disability and depression significantly influence the HRQoL in Serbian MS patients, with depressive symptoms having the major influence.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Serbia and Montenegro and their influence on some clinical characteristics in patients with chronic HCV infection., Methods: A total of 164 patients was investigated. Complete history, route of infection, assessment of alcohol consumption, an abdominal ultrasound, standard biochemical tests and liver biopsy were done. Gene sequencing of 5' NTR type-specific PCR or commercial kits was performed for HCV genotyping and subtyping. The SPSS for Windows (version 10.0) was used for univariate regression analysis with further multivariate analysis., Results: The genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 1b3a and 1b4 were present in 57.9%, 3.7%, 23.2%, 6.7%, 6.7% and 1.8% of the patients, respectively. The genotype 1 (mainly the subtype 1b) was found to be independent of age in subjects older than 40 years, high viral load, more severe necro-inflammatory activity, advanced stage of fibrosis, and absence of intravenous drug abuse. The genotype 3a was associated with intravenous drug abuse and the age below 40. Multivariate analysis demonstrated age over 40 and intravenous drug abuse as the positive predictive factors for the genotypes 1b and 3a, respectively., Conclusion: In Serbia and Montenegro, the genotypes 1b and 3a predominate in patients with chronic HCV infection. The subtype 1b is characteristic of older patients, while the genotype 3a is common in drug abusers. Association of the subtype 1b with advanced liver disease, higher viral load and histological activity suggests earlier infection with this genotype and eventually its increased pathogenicity.

The objective of this study was to estimate probability of survival of Huntington's disease (HD) patients in Serbia as a function of CAG repeat length and selected demographic variables. This follow-up study was carried out at the Institute of Neurology, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, 1982-2004. The study group consisted of 112 HD patients. The significant inverse correlation was found between CAG repeat length and age at onset of HD (r = -0.732, P = 0.001) and age at death (r = -0.760, P = 0.001). The cumulative probabilities of survival in a five, ten, fifteen, and twenty-years' period were 90.9, 63.2, 10.3 and 4.5%, respectively. Higher survival probabilities were registered in female patients, as well as in those with older age at onset and lower number of CAG repeat length (

The purpose of this work was to identify germ line RB1 mutations in 16 Serbian retinoblastoma patients for genetic counselling. Mutation analysis was carried out by PCR directed sequencing of the 27 exons. Loss of heterozygosity for two RB1 intragenic markers was also analyzed in 14 tumour samples. Five new RB1 oncogenic mutations (g.2078 del C, g.77047&#95;48 del GC, g.78117&#95;8 del TT, g.160797 del T, and g.64439+2 T>C) and two recurrences (R445X and Q383X) have been found in this study. In addition, four intronic variants were observed germ line in some unilateral patients. Two of these variants (g.44668-15T/G, and g.166204-8T/A) are discussed as potential oncogenic mutation candidates. The results show the relevance of studies aimed to investigate the role of intronic variants in exon splicing regulation. Such studies will help to disclose hidden retinoblastoma susceptibilities, important for accurate genetic counselling.

Aim: This open-label, multicentre study investigated the clinical efficacy of liquid peroral risperidone in psychotic disorders, the patients' attitudes toward the study medication vs. previous antipsychotic medication and also psychiatrists' opinion of it., Method: Eighty one patients with psychotic disorder entered the study during 2004. At the baseline (T0), the treatment started with peroral risperidone liquid and lasted for 6 months (T2), with one visit a month after the baseline (T1). Clinical improvement was evaluated using PANSS and CGI, while extrapyramidal side effects were measured by the AIMS scale. The patients' attitudes were evaluated by 3-choice 3-item questionnaire designed for the purposes of present study. Moreover, psychiatrists were asked about their opinion regarding clinical improvement and compliance comparing liquid peroral versus risperidone-tablets., Results: PANSS and CGI scores yielded clinical improvement (p<0.001, DF=151 and p<0.001, DF=151, respectively). Eighty three per cent of patients preferred peroral liquid risperidone for continuation of treatment. The psychiatrists agreed with the patients in deciding to continue treatment with peroral liquid risperidone (83%) because of better tolerability in 88% patients, better cooperation in 82% and more precise dosage in 80% patients. In terms of mental state, it was observed that during the study symptomatology had worsened in 3% of the study patients, in 6% there were no changes, while all others improved (26% moderately, 65% highly). conclusions: Peroral risperidone liquid was effective and well tolerated in patients with psychotic disorders. The patients' as well as their doctors' attitudes expressed satisfaction with the use of the risperidone peroral formulation. This is the only SAG available in peroral liquid formulation.

The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of hip fractures in Belgrade for the period 1990-2000, and to determine distribution of fractures according to sex, age, and causes of injuries. Data based on medical records of the National Health Service in Belgrade were collected from all orthopedic hospitals and departments in Belgrade. A total number of 8904 hip fractures were included in the analysis, out of which 64.7% occurred in women. During the survey period, the estimated average annual incidence rate of hip fractures was 51.7/100 000 (95% CI= 48.1-55.4); 66.2/100 000 (95% CI= 60.8-72.1) in women and 35.3/100 000 (95% CI= 31.4-40.1) in men, respectively. In the age group > or =50 years, the incidence rates standardized by the 1985 US population were 228 and 96 per 100 000 female and male population, respectively. An exponential increase in the incidence of hip fractures with age was observed in both sexes, especially in women. The number of trochanteric fractures was 4718 (53.0%), compared with 4186 (47.0%) cervical fractures. Observation at three time points, in 1990, 1995, 2000, indicated the pronounced increase of trochanteric fractures in women and less distinctive in men. Fall on the flat ground resulted in 70.3% of hip fractures among persons aged 50 years or older, and traffic accidents were recorded as the major cause in 59.7% of patients under 50 years of age.

Dr. Laza K. Lazarević (1851-1890) left a profound imprint on Serbian medicine and literature for 11 years of his medical and literary work. Laza K. Lazarević is considered the progenitor of Serbian realistic psychological story. He studied medicine in Berlin (1872-1879). He fought in Serbian-Turkish wars and remained active in the medical corps. As a physician, he worked in Belgrade, where he was the chief of the internal medicine ward and founder of the first geriatric institution in this part of Europe. In 1880, he described, in the Serbian Archives, a sign that is today called after him in neurology, the "Lazarević sign". In 1888, he became a member of the Serbian Royal Academy. He was an active member of the Serbian Society of Physicians.

The results of clinical and genetic analysis of three Serbian families (pedigrees) with autosomal dominant inheritance, incomplete penetrance and phenotypic features of GEFS+ are presented in this study. Mutation analysis of the SCN1A, SCN1B and GABRG2 genes was performed in all affected and some unaffected members of these three families. Twenty-six exons of SCN1A, five exons of SCN1B and nine exons of GABRG2 were individually amplified using primers based on intronic sequence. PCR products were sequenced in both forward and reverse directions. Subsequently, the samples were run and analyzed using 377 DNA automated sequencer. No consanguinity was noticed. The MM and OM family members live in Republic of Srpska while KS family originates from the central Serbia. No mutations of the exons of SCN1A, SCN1B and GABRG2 genes were found in tested subjects. Obligate carriers in MM family (III-1, III-2, and III-4) exhibit variable expressivity or incomplete penetrance rather than proof of polygenetic inheritance. OM pedigree follows autosomal dominant pattern despite reduced penetrance. Bilinear transmission may assume the possibility of multigenetic mode of inheritance in KS family. The fact that all affected members in three Serbian families were negative for mutations in SCN1A, SCN1B and GABRG2 genes strongly supports the hypothesis of significant genetic heterogeneity of GEFS+. Recognizing GEFS+ on clinical grounds contributes to more precise integration of this syndrome into already existing classification of epileptic syndromes.

The authors wish to call attention to the fact that, according to available sources, including MEDLINE data base, Dr. Petar Radovic, senior consultant, was the first expert worldwide who had suggested the transplantation of a fertilized egg cell in human reproduction. He presented his paper "Possibility of transplantation of a fertilized egg in woman" at the Fifth Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics in Sydney in 1967. Dr. Radovic had not considered the respective problem in theoretical aspect only, but he also devised an adequate instrument for performing this procedure in practice. The concept of Dr. Radovic was not well comprehended in our milieu, and accordingly, it remained as an intriguing idea. The ethical and legal issues that might result from implementation of this procedure have not been reviewed in this article.

Unlabelled: Over the period 1980-1992 256 kidney transplantations were carried out in the Institute of Urology and Nephrology, Clinical Centre, Belgrade: 105 (41%) from cadaveric and 151 (59%) from alive related donors. The first kidney transplantation was performed in our Institution in 1974; however, in the first decade only 27 kidney transplantations were performed. Since 1987, thanks to an increasing number of living kidney donors, the number of transplantations continually increased, and after that period an average of 30 kidney transplantations are performed annually (Figure 1). The aim of the study was to establish the survival of patients and grafts, and factors influencing this survival, as well as to determine the causes of patients' death and graft loss. All the patients were followed-up in our outpatient department within at least 5 years to maximum 17 years. Drug combination therapies were changed in the observation period. From 1983 cyclosporin A (CyA) was added to azathioprine (Aza) and prednisolone (Pr). An increasing number of patients with high immunological risks necessitated the strongest initial immunosuppressive treatment with ALG in addition to Aza and Pr. CyA in a dose of 8 mg/kg b.w. was introduced when serum creatinine concentration fell below 300 mumol/L. The triple treatment including CyA, Aza and Pr was the most common maintenance immunosuppressive therapy in our patients., Results: One and five years survived 95% and 75% of patients, and 84% and 52% of grafts. In assessing the impact of donor source, the year of transplantation, and age of donors we obtained the following results: Living related grafts survived better than cadaver grafts, especially during the first posttransplantation year (Figure 2). Furthermore, graft survival rates from 1987 to 1992 were significantly better than those from early period i.e. 1980 to 1986 (Figure 3). The significantly worse survival rate for grafts from donors older than 60 was noted than for grafts from younger donors. Searching for factors influencing the survival, non immunological and immunological differences between donors and recipients were analyzed. Our analysis showed that 50 living related donors were older than 60. In addition, the majority of them were 20 years older than their graft recipients. Two and more HLA mismatches were observed in 46% of our transplant patients, and 20 patients were highly sensitized. However, the immunological risks were higher in living related transplantations: different ABO blood groups, historical positive cross match reaction between donors and recipients (Table 1). A multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards model was performed to determine the important independent predictors of graft survival, and it revealed the following factors (Table 2): number of acute rejections, graft function at the end of the first month and until the end of the first posttransplant year, donors' age, and age and sex differences between donors and recipients. The occurrence of acute rejection at any time had a significant negative effect on graft survival. Since better HLA matching is likely to mean less early rejection it could be concluded that HLA matching influenced graft function and survival in our patients. Absence of acute rejection and delayed graft function or acute tubular necrosis were associated with an improvement of the graft function based on serum creatinine concentration, indicating that delayed graft function also influenced graft survival. The relative risk of graft loss was 2 times higher for patients receiving graft from donors older than 60. Until December 1997, when our analysis was done, of 256 kidney transplant patients 156 lost their grafts. The major causes of graft loss (Table 3) in the early period from 1980 to 1986 were non immunological such as acute tubular necrosis, vascular thrombosis and patients death with functioning graft. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

The prevalence of HIV infection among intravenous drug addicts (IVDAs) was 11% in Belgrade in 1997 (500 IVDAs). There are only two ways of transmission of HIV infection among IVDAs: the use of contaminated needles and syringes and sexual intercourse with an infected partner. We established in the counselling office for IVDAs that only 47.8% of them were injected with their own devices, 43% shared somebody's equipment, and 9.2% used other routes for drug taking. Condoms or safe sex were exceptional. Only 10.17% used condoms regularly; 12.5% from time to time and 77.32% never. Among 391 interviewed IVDAs 7% were not sexually active during the last year, 40% had one constant partner, 32% had intercourses with 2 to five partners, and 21% were promiscuous (more than 5 partners over one year). Fifty five were seropositive against HIV. Ten of them were promiscuous and used no condom. There is some evidence that the majority of IVDAs after twelve years of post seroconversion (average age between 35 and 45), stopped their sexual activity. The prostitution of female IVDAs in order to finance their own and their partners supply of drugs is found in 3% of cases. This study can be helpful in implementing a selective and individual approach to some IVDAs with risk behaviour, who accept treatment, to prevent the spreading of infection.

From a historic point of view, epilepsy and its eponyms were in an ontogenetic symbiosis throughout their history. Epilepsy is a disease with a history of eponyms presenting the frame of mind of both streetwise as well as skilled "authors" about its origin and nature. From ancient times the names for epilepsy, archetypal Hippocratic disease, just as rich in number as varied in their implication, reflected the local folkways of thinking. In this article we briefly presented more than 50 eponyms and patrons of epilepsy. As the source of information we used both the apocryphal, canonical and hagiographic as well as heretic literature, legends and iconography from the Middle Ages of domestic and foreign origin. Pre- and post-Hippocratic era, apart from stemming from the oldest written medical sources, point to the position that the disease had organic origin located in the brain. The period of Rome adopted the attitudes set by Galen which remained en vogue throughout the emerging Middle Ages and Renaissance. These eras generated new eponyms which reflected a downfall in the manor, stating that the disease is the consequence of supernatural forces. In the "Age of darkness" eponyms for epilepsy reflected more the relation of men to the Nature than to the disease or a sick man; this is evidenced through the generation of number of patrons for the disease. The most famous patron of patients with epilepsy was St. Valentine (after conversion from pagandom he died in Rome as a martyr, c. 270). He was allotted a patronage either due to the phonic resemblance of his name with the (past participle of the) verb "fallen"-as Martin Luther claimed, or due to a cure of epilepsy of the son of a Roman rhetor who built for him a chapel in which he continued to cure the sick. The emergence of a flamboyant personality of Paracelsus on the historic scene of the XVI century represents a less successful attempt to revoke the way of thinking set by the old Greek doctors; however, it brought about the precipitous decay of attitudes that started with Romans and inaugurated the way of thinking characteristic of Renaissance and the ages thereafter. Serbian literature of the Middle Age was strongly impacted by influences that fanned from Italy (Salerno) and south France (Montpellier), reflecting the attitudes of medical schools and universities prevailing at that time Europe. The name [symbol: see text] from Hilandar Medical Codex No 517 (XV-XVI century) is obviously taken from Byzantine medicine, which was founded on the works of Hippocrates, Galen and Dioscurides. It came down to us through the Serbian folk Byzantine codices named "latrosophia of Hilandar", preserved mostly from the author Michail Pselos (XI century). On the other hand, the name [symbol: see text] or morbus magnus, reflects its Roman origin. The name [symbol: see text] meaning fainting, loss of consciousness or syncope, stems from the same source. The name [symbol: see text] designated epileptic disease in Serbian monks, monasteries probably being the only niche where epileptics could find refuge. Children's epilepsy or convulsions are expressed as [symbol: see text] No mention is found of epileptic status except for the notion [symbol: see text] meaning "to be without consciousness for a longer period of time'; it does not, however, refer directly to epilepsy or convulsions. It is worthy noting that already in the XIV century Serbs had their medical literature translated to their own language, and were the only one of all Slavic peoples that did so. Nevertheless, both apocryphal and canonical, as well as consecrated medicine were based on magic, astrology and occultism. The magic formulas used in Middle Age Serbia for the cure of epileptics as well as sick in general, were basically irrational; still, as a trace of its descension they contained unintelligible words of the eastern origin (Greek, Persian or Jewish). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

At the nephrologic offices of the Clinical Centre of Serbia Polyclinic 2,451 patients (975 males and 1,476 females) were examined over a period of four years (1987-1990). Out of these 647 (26.40%) were suffering from chronic renal failure. Hypertension as the principal diseases was diagnosed in 432 patients (17.62%), being somewhat more frequent in women. Two hundred patients were suffering from glomerulonephritis. Pyelonephritis was diagnosed in nearly the same number of patients (199). Out of the 129 patients suffering from urinary tract infections 112 (86.82%) were women. Women appeared in large numbers in other diagnostic groups as well. Quite a number of patients (14.08%) reported only once for functional examination of the kidneys. It may be concluded that among the examined patients the most numerous were those with chronic renal failure, while many were suffering from chronic nephropathy which points to the comparatively late diagnosing of nephrological disorders.