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Introduction/Objective. Active treatment options for localized prostate cancer (LPCa) include surgery and radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in selected cases, but all options have side effects, mainly addressed to urinary, sexual, and bowel function. Our study aimed to assess and compare patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after open retropubic radical prostatectomy (ORRP) or external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Methods. Between June 2019 and May 2021, a total of 120 patients, with LPCa had undergone active treatment, as follow: ORRP – 60 patients and EBRT – 60 patients. A validated questionnaire, the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite Short Form (EPIC-26) instrument was used to assess PROM, through the following domains: urinary, sexual and bowel. Patients completed a questionnaire at baseline and six, 12, and 24 months after primary treatment. Results. All urinary scores had statistically significant interaction between time and group. After six, 12, and 24 months, all urinary scores were statistically significantly lower in the ORRP group. After 12 and 24 months, bowel score values were statistically significantly lower in patients in the ERBT group. Sexual scores change statistically significant during the follow-up period, without difference between the groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Both ORRP and EBRT are associated with decline of sexual scores. ORRP showed significant variations in all urinary scores, with more pronounced negative impact on urinary symptoms compared to EBRT during the entire follow-up period. Bowel scores are lower in EBRT.

Introduction: Carcinoma of the stratified squamous epithelium of the oral cavity - oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an invasive pathological lesion of the epithelium with varying degrees of squamous differentiation. It is characterized by early and extensive metastases, infiltration of adjacent anatomical structures, frequent recurrences, and a relatively low five-year survival rate of less than 50%. The aim of the study to determine the correlation between the analysis of the lymphocytic infiltrate of biopsy specimens with pathohistologically proven metastases of oral squamous cellular carcinoma on postoperative neck dissection specimens. Material and methods: The study included 42 patients with pathohistologically verified oral squamous cellular carcinoma who underwent surgery at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery of the Clinic of Dental medicine in Niš in the period from 2018 to 2022. The histopathological analysis included the depth of tumor invasion, histopathological analysis of the lymph nodes of neck dissections, analysis of lymphocytic infiltration, and presence of lymphovascularand perineural invasion. Results: It was determined that the depth of invasion is statistically significantly different regarding the degree of lymphocytic infiltration (p=0.004). Invasion of over 4mm was present in 20% of patients with high infiltration, 44.4% of patients with medium infiltration, and 85.7% of patients with low infiltration. Conclusion: Given that the results of the study indicate that the analysis of the lymphocytic infiltrate can be a reliable predictive factor of the appearance of metastases in the lymph nodes of the neck, further research should be directed toward as sociating lymphocytic infiltration with certain biochemical and genetic parameters based on which a plan can be created for neck treatment in the N0 stage of oral squamous cellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Cancer is causing death in countries with more or less economic development, and it is expected that the burden will grow worldwide, especially in countries with less developed populations, where about 82% of the global population lives. The aim of this study was to present and estimate trends in incidence, mortality rate and MIR of malignant neoplasm of otherand ill-defined sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer in Central Serbia from 1999 to 2020. Material and methods: The registry-based study was conducted using the data from the publically accessible Yearbooks of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia: Incidence and Mortality in Central Serbia, from 1999 to 2020. Joinpoint regression was used to determine the trend and annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence and mortality rate with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total number of 558 cases (436men and 122women) of other and ill-defined lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer sites registered in Central Serbia from 1999 to 2020. The crude rate (CR) and age-standardized rate (ASR-W) of incidence in males increased (p

Introduction/Objective. Rib fractures are common in blunt chest trauma (BCT), and when they are associated with pleural complications (PC) – pneumothorax, hemothorax and hemopneumothorax – the treatment of these patients is prolonged and difficult. Without the ability to predict PC after rib fractures in BCT, most doctors are forced to initially treat these patients through observation and conservative treatment. The goal of this research is to determine which of the investigated biomarkers of inflammation – fibrinogen, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) – are significantly associated with the occurrence of PC after rib fracture in BCT, and whether they can be used in stratifying patients for hospitalization and further treatment. Methods. The prospective study included 90 patients with rib fractures caused by BCT. The test group comprised 45 patients with rib fractures and the presence of PC, and the control group consisted of 45 patients with rib fractures without PC. Blood sampling was performed on admission, on the second, third, and fifth day after the injury, and PC were monitored until the seventh day after the injury. Results. Serum values of IL-6 on the second day and fibrinogen and CRP on the second and third day after injury were statistically significantly higher in patients with PC, and IL-6 showed a good discriminative ability in assessing the occurrence of PC on the second day after a rib fracture in BCT. Conclusion. The investigated biomarkers of inflammation – fibrinogen, IL-6, and CRP – can be used as predictors of PC after rib fracture in BCT, and their application can significantly replace clinical observation.

This study aims to evaluate the temporal trend in the quality of cause-of-death data and garbage code profiles and to determine its association with socio-economic status in Serbia. A longitudinal study was assessed using data from mortality registers from 2005 to 2019. Computer application Analysis of Causes of National Deaths for Action (ANACONDA) calculates the distribution of garbage codes by severity and composite quality indicator: Vital Statistics Performance Index for Quality (VSPI(Q)). A relationship between VSPI(Q) and country development was estimated by analysing two socio-economic indicators: the Socio-demographic Index and the Human Development Index (HDI). Serbia indicates progress in strengthening cause-of-death statistics. The steady upward trend of the VSPI(Q) index has risen from 55.6 (medium quality) to 70.2 (high quality) over the examined years. Significant reduction of 'Insufficiently specified causes with limited impact' (Level 4) and an increase in the trend of 'High-impact garbage codes' (Levels 1 to 3) were evident. Decreased deaths of no policy value (annual percentage change of -1.41%) have manifested since 2014. A strong positive association between VSPI(Q) and socio-economic indicators was assessed, where the HDI has shown a stronger association with VSPI(Q). Improved socioeconomic conditions on the national level are followed by enhanced cause-of-death data quality. Upcoming actions to improve quality should be directed at high-impact garbage codes. The study underlines the need to prioritise the education and training of physicians with a crucial role in death certification to overcome many cause-of-death quality issues identified in this assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. To date, there has been no population-based neonatal anthropometric chart published in Serbia. Charts based on infants born in a single hospital (hospital-based) in the 1 990s are still widely used in our country, as well as the Alexander chart. The aim of this study was to construct population-based centile, gender-specific charts for birth weight and length for singleton infants born in Southeast Serbia from 24 t o 42 weeks of gestation and to compare them with other previously published charts. Methods. Data on 39,842 singleton live infants, delivered from 2006 to 2015 in three maternity wards in Southeast Serbia (Niš, Prokuplje, and Aleksinac), were analyzed. Results. The inclusion criteria met 37,169 newborns. Preterm births were relatively uncommon (5.25%). Estimated centile charts for male and female birth weights and lengths were constructed showing the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th centiles. Conclusion. Our birth weight percentiles provide a population norm for singleton infants adjusted for gender, born in Southeast Serbia. These references are both of epidemiological and clinical use. There is a need for large-scale research that will include a larger number of pre-term newborns which were represented in limited numbers in our study. There is also a need for setting up the gold standard method for the precise determination of the gestational age, i.e. the use of the early fetal ultrasound.

Introduction/Objective. Research has demonstrated the toxicant potential of aluminum, but no therapeutic options have been suggested. The aim of the study was to investigate the extent of the aluminuminduced toxicity, evaluated by hematological/biochemical disarrangements, hepcidin concentration and tissue accumulation after chronic aluminum exposure and to determine possible protection with Ca2+-channel blockage, verapamil. Methods. Experimental animals (36 rats) were treated with different doses of AlCl3 during eight weeks and after that their blood and tissues were analyzed. Results. The significant differences, regardless of the aluminum dose administered, were documented in all evaluated hematological (p < 0.001) and biochemical parameters (p < 0.001), as well as in aluminum tissue deposition in liver, kidneys and testicles (p < 0.001), respectively. After verapamil administration, a significant improvement in some hematological and biochemical parameters was demonstrated, p < 0.001, as well as the attenuation of aluminum deposits in liver and testes, p < 0.001. Evaluated parameters of inflammation and kidney deposition did not show significant change after verapamil application. Conclusion. The findings indicate that chronic AlCl3 intoxication, regardless of the dose, results in the microcytic anemia associated with high hepcidin levels, numerous biochemical abnormalities and significant aluminum deposition in liver, kidney and testes and that these effects may be attenuated by verapamil administration. Overall, the results emphasize the significance of calcium homeostasis preservation in chronic aluminum exposure and propose possible therapeutic option.

Introduction. The Nišava District has had low prevalence and incidence rates of trichinellosis for a long period. The aims of this study were to present the frequency of occurrence of trichinellosis in Nišava District and other districts in Southern and Eastern Serbia during 2007-2018, to investigate the demographic characteristics in the region and to compare the tests used for serological diagnosis of trichinellosis. Materials and Methods. This was a retrospective epidemiological study in which we analyzed the results of serological analyses of 139 serum samples taken from individual patients suspected to be infected with Trichinella spp. Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and immunoenzyme (ELISA) methods were used for serological diagnosis of trichinellosis. Results and Conclusions. Of 139 examined sera, 36 (25.9%) were seropositive. Most seropositive findings were encountered in 2012 and 2014 (in both these years, 12 sera were positive, i.e. 33.3% of the total 36 positive sera), when three minor outbreaks of trichinellosis were reported. Seropositivity was equally distributed according to patient sex and according to the district where they reported with illness. Positive serological findings were statistically significantly more common in hospitalized patients than in out-patients. Comparison of the findings with both IIF and ELISA test established the performance level of the tests, with the ELISA test being less sensitive than the IIF test. Immunodiagnostic procedures for the diagnosis of trichinellosis must be improved in view of the sporadic cases and minor outbreaks of the disease in the studied districts of Eastern and Southeastern Serbia.

Recently, there has been a trend of identifying different disease phenotypes based on clinical parameters. Cluster analysis is a statistical method for categorizing different clinical signs and symptoms based on how closely associated they are. The aim of this study was to estimate whether cluster analysis could be used to classify distinct clinical phenotypes of onychomycosis and determine risk factors for this infection. This prospective study evaluated data from the specially designed questionnaire for superficial fungal infections of the skin and adnexa. The questionnaire was composed of three separate groups of questions, including demographic data, symptoms and clinical signs and risk factors. The hierarchical method of cluster analysis, the Ward method with Euclidian distance, was used in statistical analysis. The applied statistical method separated patients into two clusters based on clinical presentation. The first cluster consisted of patients with onychomycosis of toenails accompanied by pain, complete destruction of the nail plate, involvement of 2/3 of the nail, and nail thickening greater than 2 mm. The second cluster, consisting of patients with onychomycosis of fingernails, was further divided into two subclusters. The first one included patients with lesions of the nail root, inside of the nail, superficial changes, and infected skin around the nail. The other subcluster included nail plate thickening of up to 1 mm, changes of the free edge, involvement of up to 1/3, and brittleness of the nail. The most common risk factors are obesity (50%), positive family anamnesis (32.0%), nail plate trauma (15.0%), and long-term antibiotic therapy. Phenotyping the infection and considering it alongside the most prevalent risk factors for onychomycosis can significantly improve predictive assessment and diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lip cancer is the most frequent oral cancer. The aim of this study was to present and estimate trends in the incidence and mortality of lip cancer in Central Serbia during a 16-year period, from 1999 to 2014. Material and methods: This registry-based study was carried out based on the data extracted from publicly available Yearbooks of the Institute of Public Health of Serbia - Incidence and Mortality in Central Serbia, from 1999 to 2014. The trend and the annual percentage change (APC) of the incidence and mortality rate with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated by performing join point regression analyses. Results: A total number of 1,922 cases (1,402 in men and 520 in women) of lip cancer were registered in Central Serbia from 1999 to 2014. The crude rate (CR) and age-standardized rate (ASR-W) of the incidence in males decreased (p=0.001, p

Background/Aim. Acrylic-based resins are intensively used in dentistry practice as restorative or denture-base materials. The purpose of this study was to analyze the surface structure of denture base resins and the amount of released potentially toxic substances (PTS) immediately upon polymerization and incubation in different types of artificial saliva. Methods. Storage of acrylic samples in two models of artificial saliva were performed in a water bath at the temperature of 37 ± 1°C. Analysis of the surface structure of samples was carried out using scanning electronic microscopy analysis immediately after polymerization and after the 30-day incubation. The amounts of PTS per day, week and month extracts were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography. Results. Surface design and amount of PTS in acrylic materials were different and depended on the types and duration of polymerization. The surfaces of tested acrylates became flatter after immersing in solutions of artificial saliva. The degree of acrylic materials release was not dependent on the applied model of artificial saliva. Conclusion. In order to improve biological features of acrylic resin materials, it was recommended that dentures lined with soft or hard coldpolymerized acrylates should be kept at least 1 to 7 days in water before being given to a patient. So, as to reach high degree of biocompatibility preparation of prosthetic restorations from heat-polymerized acrylate was unnecessary. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 41017]

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate parameters of oxidative and nitrosative stress as well as antioxidative parameters in a group of renal transplant recipients with stable graft function and no clinical signs of cardiovascular disease. We also aimed to determine the correlations among these parameters and to evaluate potential differences in all the biomarkers with regard to the immunosuppression protocol. Methods: We enrolled 57 renal transplant recipients and 31 controls who were age and sex matched with the renal transplant recipients. All of the patients included in this study had post-renal transplant surgery at least 12 months earlier and were on standard immunosuppressive therapy. In this study, we determined thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in plasma and red blood cells and advanced oxidation protein products, nitrosative stress parameters (asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine - ADMA and SDMA), and antioxidative parameters (total SH groups and catalase activity). Results: The results of our study demonstrated that the levels of oxidative and nitrosative stress were significantly increased compared to the healthy population (p < 0.01 except for plasma catalase activity p < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations between: ADM A and SDMA (p < 0.01); ADM A and nitrates (p< 0.05); SDMA and nitrates (p < 0.05); between OS parameters in the experimental group; AOPP and SH groups (p < 0.05) and TBARS in plasma and SH groups (p < 0.01), SDMA and AOPP (p< 0.05); SDMA and TBARS in plasma (p < 0.05); SDMA and SH groups (p < 0.01); nitrates and SH groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in oxidative and nitrosative stress parameters with respect to the immunosuppressive protocol.

Copyright of Acta Stomatologica Naissi is the property of Clinic of Stomatology Nis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Stomatologica Naissi is the property of Clinic of Stomatology Nis and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Otomycosis (OM) is a superficial fungal infection of the external auditory canal (EAC) with a worldwide prevalence ranging from 9% to 30%. Commonly, otomycoses are caused by Aspergillus (A.) niger complex and Candida spp. Other causative agents are yeasts of the genera Cryptococcus spp., Rhodotorula spp., Geotrichum candidum, dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes), and non-dermatophytes molds (Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Mucorales fungi). The widest range of different species causing OM are found in the territories of Iran, India, China, Egypt, Mexico, and Brazil. Fungal infection of the EAC varies from mild to severe forms. It can be acute, subacute, or chronic, and is often unilateral, while the bilateral form is more common in immunocompromised patients. From an epidemiological point of view, tropical and subtropical climates are the most significant risk factor for the development of otomycosis. Other predisposing conditions include clothing habits, EAC hygiene practices, long-term antibiotic therapy, diabetes, and immunodeficiency. Since it is often difficult to distinguish otomycosis from an infection of a different origin, laboratory-based evidence, including standard procedures (microscopy and cultivation), is essential for diagnosis. For the treatment of this superficial fungal infection, there are no official therapeutic guidelines and protocols. However, many antifungals for local application, such as polyene, imidazoles, and allylamines, can be applied, as well as systemic antimycotics (triazoles) in severe forms of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Decreased nitric oxide (NO) production and/or impaired NO bioavailability may occur in patients with the chronic kidney disease (CKD), and could contribute to elevation of blood pressure, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and progression of renal injury in these patients. Free guanidinomethylated arginine residues occur endogenously as a result of proteolysis of post-translational methylated tissue proteins. The asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) is a competitive inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes. The kidney has a predominant role in ADMA elimination by combining two mechanisms; urinary excretion and metabolization of ADMA The degradation of ADMA is accomplished intracellularly by the enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH). ADMA is not only a uremic toxin, but also a strong marker of the endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis and a stronger independent predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcome in patients with the chronic renal failure. There are at least four mechanisms that may explain the accumulation of ADMA in CKD: increased methylation of proteins, increased protein turnover, decreased metabolism by DDAH and impaired renal excretion. A strong positive correlation between symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA) and creatinine suggests that SDMA might be of value as a marker of the renal function. Reduced NO elaboration secondary to accumulation of ADMA and elevated inflammation may be important pathogenic factors for endothelial dysfunction in patients with the renal disease. Elevation of ADMA may be a missing link between CVD and CKD.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the performance of ChatGPT (GPT-3.5 and GPT-4) as a study tool in solving biostatistical problems and to identify any potential drawbacks that might arise from using ChatGPT in medical education, particularly in solving practical biostatistical problems. Methods: ChatGPT was tested to evaluate its ability to solve biostatistical problems from the Handbook of Medical Statistics by Peacock and Peacock in this descriptive study. Tables from the problems were transformed into textual questions. Ten biostatistical problems were randomly chosen and used as text-based input for conversation with ChatGPT (versions 3.5 and 4). Results: GPT-3.5 solved 5 practical problems in the first attempt, related to categorical data, cross-sectional study, measuring reliability, probability properties, and the t-test. GPT-3.5 failed to provide correct answers regarding analysis of variance, the chi-square test, and sample size within 3 attempts. GPT-4 also solved a task related to the confidence interval in the first attempt and solved all questions within 3 attempts, with precise guidance and monitoring. Conclusion: The assessment of both versions of ChatGPT performance in 10 biostatistical problems revealed that GPT-3.5 and 4's performance was below average, with correct response rates of 5 and 6 out of 10 on the first attempt. GPT-4 succeeded in providing all correct answers within 3 attempts. These findings indicate that students must be aware that this tool, even when providing and calculating different statistical analyses, can be wrong, and they should be aware of ChatGPT's limitations and be careful when incorporating this model into medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]