Search

Background/Aim. Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are ones of the most rapidly increasing cancers worldwide. Although NMSCs have a relatively low mortality rate, they are an important public health concern and the most costly cancers in many countries. The two main objectives in this study were: first, to analyze the trend of age-standardized incidence rate of NMSCs in Serbia and second, to assess the need for national prevention and control strategy based on analyzed trend. Methods. From the Serbian Cancer Registry, we extracted all cases of NMSCs registered in central Serbia from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2015. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to define trends and annual percentage change (APC). Results. NMSCs significantly increased for both genders with APC of +2.32% (p < 0.001). Significantly increasing trend of incidence rates was higher in women (APC, +2.63%; p < 0.0001) than in men (APC, +2.01%; p < 0.001). Conclusion. Our results show a continuously increasing incidence rate of NMCS in Serbia. Without the national preventive strategy, current sporadic activities are highly unlikely to result in reducing the growing trends

The present study was conducted in order to evaluate efficiency of a personal body cooling system based on passive evaporative technologies and its effects on test subjects psycho-physiological suitability during exertional heat stress in hot environment. Performed results are based on conducted tests in climatic chamber in the Military Medical Academy Institute of Hygiene in Belgrade. Ten male test subjects were subjected to exertional heat stress test consisted of walking on motorized treadmill at a speed of 5 km/h in hot environment. Tests were performed with and without cooling system. As a physiological strain indicator the following parameters have been determined: mean skin temperature, tympanic temperature, heart rate and sweat rate. Results confirmed that cooling vest worn over the clothes was able to attenuate the physiological strain levels during exercise, when compared to identical exposure without the cooling system.

nema

Background/Aim. In military services, emergency situations when soldiers are exposed to a combination of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) contamination combined with heat stress, are frequent and complex. In these specific conditions, usage of personal body cooling systems may be effective in reducing heat stress. The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of four various types of contemporary personal body cooling systems based on the “Phase Change Material” (PCM), and its effects on soldiers’ subjective comfort and physiological performance during exertional heat stress in hot environments. Methods. Ten male soldiers were voluntarily subjected to exertional heat stress tests (EHSTs) consisted of walking on a treadmill (5.5 km/h) in hot conditions (40ºC) in climatic chamber, wearing NBC isolating impermeable protective suits. One of the tests was performed without any additional cooling solution (NOCOOL), and four tests were performed while using different types of cooling systems: three in a form of vests and one as underwear. Physiological strain was determined by the mean skin temperature (Tsk), tympanic temperature (Tty), and heart rate values (HR), while sweat rates (SwR) indicated changes in hydration status. Results. In all the cases EHST induced physiological response manifested through increasing Tty, HR and SwR. Compared to NOCOOL tests, when using cooling vests, Tty and Tsk were significantly lower (on 35th min, for 0.44 ± 0.03 and 0.49 ± 0.05ºC, respectively; p < 0.05), as well as the average SwR (0.17 ± 0.03 L/m2/h). When using underwear, the values of given parameters were not significantly different compared to NOCOOL tests. Conclusions. Using a body cooling system based on PCM in the form of vest under NBC protective clothes during physical activity in hot conditions, reduces sweating and alleviates heat stress manifested by increased core and skin temperatures and heart rate values. These effects directly improve heat tolerance, hydration state, decrease in the risk of heat illness, and extends the duration of soldiers’ exposure to extreme conditions.

Background/Aim. Exertional heat stress is a common problem in military services. Considering the coagulation abnormalities are of major importance in development of severe heat stroke, we wanted to examine changes in hemostatic parameters in soldiers during exertional heat stress test as well as the effects of a 10-day passive or active acclimatization in a climatic chamber. Methods. A total of 40 male soldiers with high aerobic capacity performed exertional heat stress test (EHST) either in cool [20ºC, 16ºC wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT)], or hot (40ºC, 29ºC, (WBGT) environment, unacclimatized (U) or after 10 days of passive (P) or active (A) acclimatization. Physiological strain was measured by tympanic temperatures (Tty) and heart rates (HR). Platelet count (PC), antithrombin III (AT), and prothrombin time (PT) were assessed in blood samples collected before and immediately after the EHST. Results. EHST in hot conditions induced physiological heat stress (increase in Tty and HR), with a significant increase in prothrombin time in the groups U and A. Platelet counts were significantly higher after the EHST compared to the basic levels in all the investigated groups, regardless environmental conditions and acclimatization state. Antithrombin levels were not affected by EHST whatsoever. Conclusion. In the trained soldiers, physiological heat stress caused mild changes in some serum parameters of blood clotting such as prothrombin time, while others such as antithrombin levels were not affected. Platelet counts were increased after EHST in all groups. A 10-day passive or active acclimatization in climatic chamber showed no effect on parameters investigated.

Introduction. Mortality rate in trauma complicated with sepsis is exceeding 50%. Outcome is not determined only by infection or trauma, but also by the intensity of immuno-inflammatory response. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of sepsis on the immuno-inflammatory response, in the group of 35 traumatized men, of which in 25 cases trauma was complicated with sepsis. Methods. Cytokines were measured by ELISA test in plasma. Blood samples were drown on the first, third and fifth day after ICU admission. Results. Proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 was 230-fold higher in trauma + sepsis group (1148.48 vs. 5.05 pg/ml; p

Background/Aim. Exertional heat stress is a common problem in military services. The aim of this study was to examine changes in body water and serum concentrations of some electrolites in soldiers during exertional heat stress (EHST), as well as effects of 10-day passive or active acclimation in a climatic chamber. Methods. Forty male soldiers with high aerobic capacity, performed EHST either in cool (20 ºC, 16 ºC WBGT-wet bulb globe temperature), or hot (40 ºC, 25 ºC WBGT) environment, unacclimatized, or after 10 days of passive or active acclimation. The subjects were allowed to drink tap water ad libitum during EHST. Mean skin (Tsk) and tympanic (Tty) temperatures and heart rates (HR) measured physiological strain, while sweat rate (SwR), and serum concentrations of sodium, potassium and osmolality measured changes in water and electrolyte status. Blood samples were collected before and immediately after the EHST. Results. Exertional heat stress in hot conditions induced physiological heat stress (increase in Tty, HR, and SwR), with significant decrease in serum sodium concentration (140.6±1.52 before vs 138.5±1.0 mmol/l after EHST, p < 0.01) and osmolality (280.7±3.8 vs 277.5±2.6 mOsm/kg, p < 0.05) in the unacclimatized group. The acclimated soldiers suffered no such effects of exertional heat stress, despite almost the same degree of heat strain, measured by Tty, HR and SwR. Conclusion. In the trained soldiers, 10-day passive or active acclimation in a climatic chamber can prevent disturbances in water and electrolytic balance, i.e. decrease in serum sodium concentrations and osmolality induced by exertional heat stress.

Non-destructive thermal examination can uncover the presence of defects via temperature distribution profile anomalies that are created on the surface as a result of a defect. There are many factors that affect the temperature distribution map of the surface being tested by infrared thermography. Internal defect properties such as thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and defect depth play an important role in the temperature behavior of the pixels or regions being analyzed. Also, it is well known that other external factors such as the convection heat transfer, variations on the surface emissivity, and ambient radiation reflectivity can affect the thermographic signal received by the infrared camera. In this paper, we considered a simple structure in the form of flat plate covered with several defects, whose surface we heated with a uniform heat flux impulse. We conducted a theoretical analysis and experimental test of the method for case of defects on an aluminum surface. First, experiments were conducted on surfaces with intentionally created defects in order to determine conditions and boundaries for application of the method. Experimental testing of the pulsed flash thermography method was performed on simulated defects on an aluminum test plate filled with air and organic compound n-hexadecane, hydrocarbon that belongs to the phase change materials. Study results indicate that it is possible, using the pulsed flash thermography method, to detect the type of material inside defect holes, whose presence disturbs the homogeneous structure of aluminum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the efficiency of personal body microclimate cooling systems based on a phase change materials and its effects on physiological strain in soldiers during exertional heat stress in hot environment. The results are obtained in the experiment conducted in the climatic chamber in the Institute of Hygiene, Military Medical Academy in Belgrade. Ten male soldiers were voluntarily subjected to exertional heat stress tests consisted of walking on treadmill (5.5 km/h) in hot conditions (40 °C) in climatic chamber. The subjects performed first test while wearing a field camouflage uniform without any cooling system (CONTROL group) and in second test they used additional microclimate cooling system with paraffin wax consist of n-hexadecane (C16H34), in a form of cooling packs (COOL group). As indicators of thermal strain, mean skin (Tsk) and tympanic (Tty) temperature were determined. Simultaneously, thermal effects of phase change materials were measured by thermal imaging camera. The exercise in hot conditions induced a physiological response to heat stress, manifested through increased body core and skin temperatures. The results confirmed that the cooling vest worn over the field uniform was able to attenuate the physiological strain during exercise, compared to the identical exposure in the "control" group. The results of thermal imaging also indicate that heat generated inside the body is the main factor that will affect the phase change material melting time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Exertional heat stress is a common problem in military services. The aim of this study was to exemine changes in body water and serum concentrations of some electrolites in soldiers during exertional heat stress (EHST), as well as effects of 10-day passive or active acclimation in a climatic chamber. Methods. Forty male soldiers with high aerobic capacity, performed EHST either in cool (20 °C, 16 °C WBGT-wet bulb globe temperature), or hot (40 °C, 25 °C WBGT) environment, unacclimatized, or after 10 days of passive or active acclimation. The subjects were allowed to drink tap water ad libitum during EHST. Mean skin (Tsk) and tympanic (Tty) temperatures and heart rates (HR) measured physiological strain, while sweat rate (SwR), and serum concentrations of sodium, potassium and osmolality measured changes in water and electrolite status. Blood samples were collected before and immediately after the EHST. Results. Exertional heat stress in hot conditions induced physiological heat stress (increase in Tty, HR, and SwR), with significant decrease in serum sodium concentration (140.6±1.52 before vs 138.5±1.0 mmol/l after EHST, p < 0.01) and osmolality (280.7±3.8 vs 277.5±2.6 mOsm/kg, p < 0.05) in the unacclimatized group. The acclimated soldiers suffered no such effects of exertional heat stress, despite almost the same degree of heat strain, measured by Tty, HR and SwR. Conclusion. In the trained soldiers, 10-day passive or active acclimation in a climatic chamber can prevent disturbances in water and electrolitic balance, i.e. decrease in serum sodium concentrations and osmolality induced by exertional heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mortality rate in trauma complicated with sepsis is exceeding 50%. Outcome is not determined only by infection or trauma, but also by the intensity of immuno-inflammatory response., Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of sepsis on the immuno-inflammatory response, in the group of 35 traumatized men, of which in 25 cases trauma was complicated with sepsis., Methods: Cytokines were measured by ELISA test in plasma. Blood samples were drown on the first, third and fifth day after ICU admission., Results: Proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 was 230-fold higher in trauma + sepsis group (1148.48 vs. 5.05 pg/ml; p < 0.01), and antiinflammatory cytokine IL-ra was 4-fold higher (1138.3 vs. 310.05 pg/ml; p < 0.01), whereas IL-12 and IL-4 showed no significant difference between the groups., Conclusion: We concluded that sepsis, as a complication after trauma, drastically enhances immuno-inflammatory response to insult, as indicated by IL-8 and IL-ra, but not IL-12 and IL-4.