Supplementary data for the article: Barac, N.; Skrivanj, S.; Bukumiric, Z.; Zivojinovic, D.; Manojlovic, D.; Barac, M.; Petrovic, R.; Corac, A. Distribution and Mobility of Heavy Elements in Floodplain Agricultural Soils along the Ibar River (Southern Serbia and Northern Kosovo). Chemometric Investigation of Pollutant Sources and Ecological Risk Assessment. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2016, 23 (9), 9000–9011. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6142-2

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6142-2]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1929

THE DEVELOPMENT OF TEMPERAMENT EVALUATION OF MEMPHIS, PISA, PARIS, AND SAN DIEGO-AUTO-QUESTIONNAIRE FOR ADOLESCENTS (A-TEMPS-A) IN A SERBIAN SAMPLE

Background: Previous studies suggest that temperament features of adolescents may be good predictors of the development of future psychopathology in this population. The aim of the study was to adapt the content and validate the psychometric properties of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego - Auto questionnaire in a sample of Serbian adolescents. Subjects and methods: The sample included 2113 adolescents, 56% girls and 44% boys, average age 16.73±0.47, attending 48 Serbian secondary schools. The base for the development of this scale included Serbian standardised versions as well as the TEMPSI, Interview version. Results: The final scale is comprised of 36 items, with six factors (depressive, cyclothymic, hyperthymic, irritable, and anxiouscognitive/ somatic) explaining 39.9% of the total variance, the internal consistency coefficient α=0.77, and the average test–retest coefficient (rho=0.84). The correlations among the temperaments ranged from weak to moderate, with the highest positive correlations between the depressive, cyclothymic and anxious scales. The highest values were detected on hyperthymic and the lowest on depressive temperament. Significantly higher scores of depressive, cyclothymic and anxious temperaments were detected in girls, whereas boys had higher scores on the hyperthymic scale. Conclusions: The scale has shown good psychometric properties, which encourages its further use in adolescent population. The results show certain specific features of this population, such as higher scores on all temperament types than the ones in student and adult population and a tendency of socially desirable answers

Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge and Behaviors Regarding Drug–Dietary Supplement and Drug–Herbal Product Interactions

Given the widespread use of dietary supplements (DS) and herbal products (HP), healthcare professionals (HCPs) will increasingly encounter patients who use these preparations with conventional drugs and who need their services to reduce the consequences of adverse therapeutic outcomes. The aim of our survey was to assess the knowledge and behaviors of HCPs regarding the risk of potential drug–dietary supplement (DDSIs) and drug–herbal product (DHPIs) interactions. This cross-sectional survey collected data via on paper-based questionnaire among general practitioners (GPs) (n = 105), specialty doctors (n = 87) and nurses (n = 154). The HCPs were mostly familiar with the interaction of doxycycline with magnesium (83%) and were least familiar with interaction of warfarin with glucosamine (14%). The results on DDSIs and DHPIs knowledge showed that GPs scored significantly higher than nurses (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively), while specialty doctors scored significantly higher than nurses only on DDSIs knowledge (p < 0.001). Only 28% of respondents reported that they often or always ask patients on drug therapy about the use of DS or HP, and 25% of respondents record such data in the medical documentation of patients. Our results showed that HCPs have sufficient knowledge about most major DDSIs and DHPIs, but insufficient knowledge about most moderate interactions. However, their overall knowledge and behavior regarding the risk of these interactions indicate the need for further continuing education and trainin

Supplementary data for the article: Barac, N.; Skrivanj, S.; Bukumiric, Z.; Zivojinovic, D.; Manojlovic, D.; Barac, M.; Petrovic, R.; Corac, A. Distribution and Mobility of Heavy Elements in Floodplain Agricultural Soils along the Ibar River (Southern Serbia and Northern Kosovo). Chemometric Investigation of Pollutant Sources and Ecological Risk Assessment. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2016, 23 (9), 9000–9011. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6142-2

Supplementary material for: [https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-6142-2]Related to published version: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/1929

The burden of gastroesophageal reflux disease on patients’ daily lives: A cross-sectional study conducted in a primary care setting in Serbia

Introduction. Recent data from the studies conducted in the Western countries have proved that patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease have significantly impaired health-related quality of life compared to general population. Objective. The study is aimed at evaluating the burden of reflux symptoms on patients’ health-related quality of life. Methods. The study involved 1,593 patients with diagnosed gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Serbian version of a generic self-administered Centers for Disease Control and Prevention questionnaire was used. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square test and a multiple regression model. Results. Among all participants, 43.9% reported fair or poor health. Mean value of unhealthy days during the past 30 days was 10.4 days, physically unhealthy days 6.4 days, mentally unhealthy days 5.3 days and activity limitation days 4.3 days. Furthermore, 24.8% participants reported having ≥14 unhealthy days, 14.9% had ≥14 physically unhealthy days, 11.8% reported ≥14 mentally unhealthy days, and 9.4% had ≥14 activity limitation days. Conclusion. This study addressed complex relationships between reflux symptoms and patients’ impaired everyday lives

Health-related quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia

Background/Aim. Recent population based studies have proved that patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) have a significantly impaired health-related quality of life HRQoL as compared to general population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of FD on (HRQoL) in patients treated in primary healthcare settings in Serbia. Methods. The study involved 1,448 patients with FD. The diagnosis was made by a general practice physician or gastroenterologist using the Rome III diagnostic criteria. The Serbian version of the questionnaire for the assessment of HRQoL of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HRQoL-4 item CDC) was used for data collection, while descriptive statistical measurements were applied to calculate standard deviation, frequency as well as multiple logistic regression model. Results. Out of the total number of patients, 41.8% assessed their health condition as seriously disordered or poor. The mean values of health disorder duration over the last 30 days was 11.8 days, disordered physical health 7.2 days, mental disorder 6.3 days, and activity limitation 5.1 days. Also, 29.7%, 15.2%, 12.8% and 10.7% of the patients reported ≥ 14 unhealthy days, ≥ 14 physically unhealthy days, ≥ 14 mentally unhealthy days and ≥ 14 activity limitation days, respectively. Conclusion. From patients’ perspective, FD has a significant impact on HRQoL. In this study, 41.8% of the patients described their health status as fair or poor, and FD significantly affects all aspects of life, both mental and physical. The recognition of that impact is probably the most important step towards appropriate treatment and decreasing HRQoL impairment in patients with FD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and functional dyspepsia: What is the real burden on health-related quality of life?

Introduction/Objective. Recently published studies have addressed the significant impairment of healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) in patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and functional dyspepsia (FD). To the best of our knowledge, none of the previously published studies have compared the impact of GERD and FD on HRQoL. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of GERD and FD on HRQoL. Methods. The current sample was extrapolated from a large cross-sectional population-based study conducted in primary health care facilities. Primary care physicians and general internists diagnosed GERD according to the Montreal definition for population-based studies. Also, primary care physicians and general internists diagnosed FD based on the Rome III criteria. The Serbian version of the generic self-administered Center for Disease Control and Prevention questionnaire was used. We used the propensity score method to match GERD and FD samples on variables such as age, gender, education, and adherence to therapy. Results. Regarding self-rated health, similar results were obtained from both groups. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention HRQoL questionnaire version 4 further revealed that functional dyspepsia led to greater disturbances of every-day functioning in regard to the criteria of physically healthy, mentally healthy, and activity limitation days. Conclusion. The results of the study have shown significant impairment of HRQoL in both groups, but, surprisingly, patients with FD experienced more limitations to their every-day functioning compared to patients with GERD

Morbidity patterns of workers employed in pharmaceutical-chemical industry

Introduction. Work in pharmaceutical-chemical industry is characterized by exposure to numerous hazards, both physical (microclimate, illumination, noise) and chemical (organic solvents). Organic solvents can cause damage to many organic systems and have carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic effects. Objective. The aim of this study was to analyze patterns of chronic morbidity of workers employed in pharmaceuticalchemical industry during 2002. Method. The study was conducted in the pharmaceutical- chemical industry "Zdravlje" Leskovac in 2002. A total of 143 workers in workplaces with special working conditions - exposed to chemical hazards as well as 40 workers from control group took part in the study. The physical examinations of the participants were performed at the Department of Occupational Health in Health Center, Leskovac. Results. Heart diseases were the most frequent both among exposed workers (17.8%) and in control group (33.3%). Respiratory diseases were at the second place (16.9% in the exposed group, and 7.4% in control group). Arterial hypertension was diagnosed in 14.7% workers occupationally exposed to hazards, and in 12.5% workers from control group (p&gt;0.05). Chronic bronchitis was diagnosed in 17.5% of the exposed workers and in only 5.0% of controls (p&gt;0.05). The highest prevalence of diseases in both groups was observed among workers aged 40-49 years, with 20-29 years of exposure working time. 73.4% of the exposed workers and 85% of control workers were capable of work (p&gt;0.05). Conclusion. Workers occupationally exposed to hazards in pharmaceutical-chemical industry have higher prevalence of various diseases compared to non-exposed workers, which can be the result of work, working conditions and work activity. Preventive measures should be directed towards the decrease of occupational hazards and unfavorable working conditions and increase of work protection. Regular physical examinations of workers are of prime importance for the prevention of occupational morbidity, traumatism and invalidity.

The concentration of soot as a factor of change in the air quality

Introduction: Soot usually occurs as a result of incomplete combustion of fuels containing carbon (fossil fuels - wood, coal). Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental threats to the urban population, which has harmful effects on human health, regardless of age. Objective to determine the extent to which the development of concentrations of soot in the air affects the air quality in the area tested. Methods: In the period from 2007. to 2011. the soot immission was followed at two sites: in Kosovska Mitrovica and Zvecan. The concentration of soot is determined by the reflectometric method. The statistical hypotheses were tested on statistical significance level of 0.05. Results: Overall, for both measuring points, there was a statistically significant change in value of the concentration of soot in the air (F = 6.779; p = 0.009). There was a significant increase in the concentration of soot in the air during the investigated years, with the highest values in 2010. and 2011. The average value of soot concentration for the period from 2007 to 2009 was 17.7 ± 21.3 mg / m3 while in the period from 2010. to 2011. it was 36.7 ± 45.2 µg/m3, which represents a statistically significant difference (U = 910082.5; p<0.001). The amount of average concentrations of soot in the heating season was 32.8 ± 44.2 µg/m3 while out of the heating season it was 16.8 ± 15.6 µg/m3 which is a statistically significant difference (U = 1030936; p <0.001). The distribution of average concentrations of soot in the air represented by month showed the highest value in January at both measuring locations, in Kosovska Mitrovica 86.8 µg/m3, and in Zvecan 34 µg/m3. The total number of soot over the limit value in the period surveyed was in Kosovska Mitrovica 256 days, and in Zvecan 90 days. Conclusion: In accordance with the objectives set out in this study and the results that we got, we found that there are significant differences in the movement of soot concentration and its impact on air quality

Arsenic in Agricultural Soils of a Historically Mined and Industrial Region of Southern Serbia and Northern Kosovo: Bioavailability and Uptake by Plants Species Zea mays L. and Solanum tuberosum L.

This article reports the results of a study focused on the presence and bioavailability of arsenic in agricultural soil in the mining and industrial regions of northern Kosovo and southern Serbia, as well as uptake and bioaccumulation of arsenic in two commonly cultivated plant species (Zea mays L. and Solanum tuberosum L.). This area was one of the most important mining districts in Europe. The collected soil samples were subjected to a modified BCR three-step sequential extraction procedure in order to investigate the chemical partitioning of arsenic in the soils. The general distribution of arsenic in various fractions was: exchangeable lt reducible lt oxidizable fractions. Highest concentrations of total arsenic in soil were found close to industrial facilities and tailing ponds. In addition, fluvisols were significantly more enriched with arsenic than soils at a distance from the river flows. The edible parts of the plant specimen showed different As contents, suggesting that these plant species have different propensities for the uptake and bioaccumulation of arsenic from soil