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Background/Aim. Quality of life in patients early after elective surgery is related to postoperative pain and recovery rate. The aim of this study was to compare immediate preoperative and early postoperative quality of life after three common elective surgical interventions in hospital settings. Methods. Population of this prospective cohort study included patients who underwent one of the three surgical interventions: elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 40), open inguinal hernia repair (n = 40) or excision of pilonidal sinus (n = 40). Primary outcome of the study was quality of life measured once-daily, starting from the day before surgery, and then each postoperative day. It was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) and by Serbian translation of short questionnaire on quality of life developed by World Health Organization. Results. Postoperative quality of life dropped to the lowest level on the first postoperative day, regardless of the type of surgery. The drop was the most pronounced in physical and psychological aspects of quality of life (e.g. after cholecystectomy from 15.4 ± 2.5 to 12.5 ± 2.0, and from 15.9 ± 2.0 to 14.9 ± 2.1, respectively) while social and environmental aspects were the least affected by the surgery (e.g., after excision of pilonidal sinus from 16.3 ± 2.6 to 15.7 ± 2.1, and from 14.3 ± 2.6 to 14.1 ± 2.2, respectively). Quality of life was rapidly restored on the second postoperative day, and on the last day before discharge of the patient from hospital it surpasses preoperative level (e.g., after open inguinal hernia repair from 14.6 ± 3.6 to 15.2 ± 3.0. Conclusions. Minor elective surgical interventions are associated with only moderate (less than 25%) and short (one day) immediate postoperative decrease in quality of life, which is followed by increase on discharge from hospital to the levels, higher than preoperative one.

Introduction. Any research of reproductive health has to encompass the relevant connotations of this complex term. In order to establish relevant multidimensional characteristics, it is necessary to assess intercorrelations of the characteristics most commonly used to describe it. Objective. Our aim was to describe the characteristics of reproductive health and to establish their significance in describing this term. Methods. Within the study of health of adult inhabitants of Serbia, on the sample of 2,817 women aged 20-49 years, the data on different reproductive health characteristics were collected by way of a structured questionnaire. By way of factorial analysis (principal components method, Kaisser Varimax criterion), representative characteristics (factors) were selected out of a large number of characteristics, describing reproductive health of women in a multidimensional way, interrelationships of the factors were explained, and carriers - the most important individual characteristics - were selected for further analysis. Results. The characteristics of female reproductive health in Serbia are poor, both from the health policy standpoint and in comparison with other countries. Reproductive health describes 7 relevant factors and their carriers (characteristics which best reflect the variability of characteristics involved in a factor). These involve sexual behaviour (self-assessed HIV infection risk), contraception (use of contraceptive devices on one’s own initiative), adequate protection of reproductive health (usage of gynaecological services even when healthy), abortions (pregnancy outcome), HIV control (HIV testing usage), postpartal protection (visits of field nurses after being discharged from maternity ward) and reproductive period (doctor visits after being discharged from maternity ward). Conclusion. All the characteristics of reproductive health used in various studies are not equally important in the description of this complex phenomenon. Factorial analysis can explain intercorrelations of the studied characteristics and make possible the selection of those most representative.

Introduction. The quality of life is a multidimensional concept, which is best expressed by the subjective well-being. Evaluation of the quality of life is the basis for measuring the well-being, and the determination of factors that determine the quality of life quality is the basis for its improvement Objective. To evaluate and assess the determinants of the perceived quality of life of group distinguishing features which characterize demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study of a representative sample of the population in Serbia aged over 20 years (9479 examinees). The quality of life was expressed by the perception of well-being (pleasure of life). Data on the examinees (demographic and socioeconomic characteristics) were collected by using a questionnaire for adults of each household. To process, analyze and present the data, we used the methods of parametric descriptive statistics (mean value, standard deviation, coefficient of variation), variance analysis and factor analysis. Results. Although men evaluated the quality of life with a slightly higher grading, there was no statistically significant difference in the evaluation of the quality of life in relation to the examinee’s gender (p>0.005). Among the examinees there was a high statistically significant difference in grading the quality of life depending on age, level of education, marital status and type of job (p0.005). Conclusion. The quality of life is influenced by numerous factors that characterize each person (demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of individual). Determining factors of the quality of life are numerous and diverse, and the manner and the strength of their influence are variable.

Introduction. Castleman’s disease or angiofollicular lymph hyperplasia is a rare disease with two identified clinical forms. Unicentric or localized form is characterized by isolated growth of lymph nodes, most often in mediastinum, and multicentric form is expressed as systemic disease with spread lymphadenopathy, organomegaly and presence of general symptoms of the disease. Histological types are hyalovascular, plasma-cell and transitive (mixed) cell. Case report. This case report shows a woman, 59 years old, with unicentric form of plasma-cell type of Castleman’s disease. Unicentric form is usually shown as hyalovascular histological type, extremely rare as plasma-cell type, and transitive (mixed) cell type was never described in literature as localized clinical form. The disease was manifested with chest pain, loss of body weight, exhaustion and weakness of legs. Further diagnostic procedures found the presence of enlarged lymph nodes paratracheally right, in a close contact with vena cava superior. The disease was confirmed by histopathological analysis of bioptated mediastinal lymph node after mediastinoscopy. Surgical treatment included extirpation of enlarged lymph nodes. After the regular postoperative condition, a full therapy effect was confirmed. Conclusion. Unicentric form of Castleman’s disease is expressed with enlarged lymph nodes on predilected places, usually in mediastinum. Surgical treatment is best method for the management of the disease and brings a full recovery of patient.

Introduction. Reproductive health of women is determined by females’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics, their behavior, and the complex of environmental factors. Objective. The paper examines the predictive impact of personal and environmental characteristics, health and healthcare characteristics regarding the most important aspects of reproductive health. Methods From a sample of 2,718 women, aged 20-49 years, we collected information on various characteristics using a structured questionnaire. Based on factorial analysis (principal components method, Kaisser Varimax criterion) we selected representative variables (factors), describing personal (demographic and socio-economic) characteristics of women, their environment (family, household, community), health (attitudes towards health, life-style, health status), healthcare (independent) and the characteristics of reproductive health (dependent variables). The predictors were analyzed by multiple regression and correlation. Results. Sexual behavior was determined by socio-economic status, personal tidiness, rest, presence of risk factor(s), health evaluation and attitude toward personal responsibility, trust in physicians etc. The predictors of contraception involved satisfaction with one’s own health, serious health problems, health evaluation. The presence and number of abortions were determined by personal psychological maturity, rest, risk factors, life-style, health evaluation and its manifestations, and the continuity and timely healthcare. The predictors of adequate protection of reproductive health involved the cultural level of the community, financial standing of the household, satisfaction with one’s own life, tidiness and rest, presence of risk factors, health evaluation, attitude towards personal responsibility, and trust in physicians. HIV control was determined by satisfaction with one’s own life, physical activity of women, presence of serious health problems, and the content of primary healthcare. Postpartal protection was determined by the cultural level of the community, reasons for dissatisfaction with one’s own life, presence of risk factors and deficiencies, and timely contraception. The predictors of reproductive period duration are availability of health care in a community and personal tidiness of women. Conclusion. The study confirmed predictive impact of most of the studied characteristics.

Introduction. Castleman's disease or angiofollicular lymph hyperplasia is a rare disease with two identified clinical forms. Unicentric or localized form is character-ized by isolated growth of lymph nodes, most often in mediastinum, and multicentric form is expressed as systemic disease with spread lymphadenopathy, organomegaly and presence of general symptoms of the disease. Histological types are hyalovascular, plasma-cell and tran-sitive (mixed) cell. Case report. This case report shows a woman, 59 years old, with unicentric form of plasma-cell type of Castleman's disease. Unicentric form is usually shown as hyalovascular histological type, extremely rare as plasma-cell type, and transitive (mixed) cell type was never described in literature as localized clinical form. The disease was manifested with chest pain, loss of body weight, exhaustion and weakness of legs. Further diagnostic pro-cedures found the presence of enlarged lymph nodes paratracheally right, in a close contact with vena cava superior. The disease was confirmed by histopathological analysis of bioptated mediastinal lymph node after medi-astinoscopy. Surgical treatment included extirpation of enlarged lymph nodes. After the regular postoperative condition, a full therapy effect was confirmed. Conclusion. Unicentric form of Castleman's disease is expressed with enlarged lymph nodes on predilected places, usually in mediastinum. Surgical treatment is best method for the management of the disease and brings a full recovery of patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]