Investigation of predictors of hepatitis b vaccination status in persons employed in healthcare institutions

Uvod: Osobe zaposlene u zdravstvenim ustanovama predstavljaju kohortu visokog rizika za nastanak infekcije izazvane virusom hepatitisa B (HBV). Procenjuje se da se, na globalnom nivou, svake godine 600.000-800.000 osoba zaposlenih u zdravstvenim ustanovama poseče ili ubode iglom na radnom mestu. Takođe, prema ovim procenama, oko 5,9% zdravstvenih radnika biva izloženo HBV što rezulira sa oko 66.000 novoinficiranih. U zemljama u razvoju za 40-60% svih HBV infekcija u grupi zdravstvenih radnika odgovorna je profesionalna ekspozicija. U razvijenim zemljama je nešto manje od 10% slučajeva hepatitisa B u grupi zdravstvenih radanika povezano sa kontaktom sa krvlju i krvnim derivatima na radnom mestu, što se dovodi u vezu sa značajno većim vakcinalnim obuhvatom. Iako je bezbedna i efektivna vakcina dostupna od 1982. godine, veliki broj zdravstvenih radnika na globalnom nivou se ne vakciniše protiv ove bolesti. Istraživanja na nivou svetske populacije su pokazala da je oko 90% zdravstvenih radnika svesno činjenice da je potrebno da se vakcinišu, ali da samo nešto više od 50% to i uradi. Stoga, danas se smatra da se u pozadini prijemčivosti vakcine protiv hepatitisa B u grupi zdravstvenih radnika nalazi čitav niz psiholoških, profesionalnih i bihejvioralnih faktora koji potencijalno utiču na ovu komplesnu sliku. Ciljevi: (I) Procena prevalencije vakcinacije protiv hepatitisa B u grupi osoba zaposlenih u ustanovama tercijarnog nivoa zdravstvene zaštite u Beogradu; (II) Ispitivanje znanja, stavova i ponašanja osoba zaposlenih u zdravstvenim ustanovama u vezi sa vakcinacijom protiv hepatitisa B; (III) Ispitivanje prediktora vakcinalnog statusa povezanog sa imunizacijom protiv hepatitisa B kod osoba zaposlenih u zdravstvenim ustanovama. Materijal i metod: Istraživanje je dizajnirano po tipu studije preseka. Target grupu činili su svi zaposleni u Kliničkom centru Srbije (KCS) u Beogradu, koji su metodom slučajnog izbora, po principu formiranja višefaznog uzorka, selektovani za uključivanje u studiju tokom decembra 2015. godine. Uzorak je činio 7,1% svih zaposlenih u KCS. Osnovni instrument za prikupljanje podataka bio je strukturirani upitnik, koji je sastavljen na bazi literaturnih podataka. Prvi deo upitnika obuhvatio je socijalno-demografske i profesionalne karakteristike ispitanika: pol, uzrast, bračni status, obrazovanje, zanimanje, tip radnog mesta i ukupan broj godina radnog staža. Drugi deo sadržao je upitnik o znanju o hepatitisu B...Introduction: Hepatitis B infection is a major cause of occupational disease among health-care workers (HCWs) worldwide. It has been estimated that every year approximately 600-800,000 cut and puncture injures occur in this professional group. Furthermore, the global annual proportion of the HCWs exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been estimated at 5.9%, corresponding to about 66,000 HBV infections. In developing countries, 40-60% of HBV infections in HCWs was attributed to professional hazard, while in developed countries the attributed fraction was less than 10% due to greater vaccination coverage. In spite of availability of the safe and effective vaccine since 1982, the overall prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination, in this susceptible cohort, has not reached satisfactory level. While approximately 90% of the HCWs are aware of the necessity of the hepatitis B vaccination at workplace, only half of them completed their vaccination program against HBV. Apparently, there are numerous psychological, occupational and behavioral factors that should be taken into consideration when predicting the hepatitis B vaccine acceptance in this susceptible cohort. Aims: (I) to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination among HCWs of a national health care centre in Serbia; (II) to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding hepatitis B vaccination among HCWs; (III) to assess the independent predictors of hepatitis B vaccination status in this susceptible cohort. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study design was applied in order to explore predictors of hepatitis B vaccine status among HCWs in the largest clinical centre in Serbia. A random sample of HCWs stratified by occupation was selected from the list of employees during December 2015, with the sample structure reflecting the occupational distribution in the Clinical Centre of Serbia. The sample comprised 7.1% of the employees at the Clinical Centre of Serbia. The relevant data in this study were collected by means of questionnaire, derived and adapted from others surveys. The questionnaire consisted of four parts. First part comprised demographic and professional data comprising gender, age, marital status, occupation, work site and duration of work experience..

Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of the measles resurgence in the Republic of Serbia in 2014-2015

The Republic of Serbia is a country with ongoing endemic transmission of measles. The aim of this study is to summarize the main characteristics of the measles resurgence that occurred in Serbia in 2014-2015. The national surveillance data on measles was analysed in relation to the clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data. Between November 2014 and December 2015 a measles resurgence with 420 cases was observed in Serbia. Measles virus was initially introduced by and spread among citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina with temporary residence in Serbia, before spreading to the resident population. Of the 223 patients with available medical records, 173 (77.6%) were unvaccinated. The overall measles incidence during the outbreak was 5.8/100.000. The highest age-specific incidence rate was recorded in children aged lt = 4 years (25.9/100.000), but most cases (67.9%) were gt = 20 years old. Hospitalization rate was high (32.9%) and included two cases of encephalitis associated with measles. In total, 42 health-care workers and 22 related cases including hospitalized patients (n = 13) contracted measles. The overall percentage of laboratory confirmed cases was 81.7% (n = 343/420). All measles virus sequences except one (D9) belonged to genotype D8, suggesting interruption of transmission after the previous outbreak in 2010-2011 caused by genotype D4 viruses. The growing number of adult patients as compared to previous epidemics, suggests an urgent need for supplementary immunization activities targeting susceptible health care workers, unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated adults as well as people without vaccination records. The comprehensive investigation of the 2014/2015 measles resurgence will contribute to decisions about appropriate countermeasures to stop the future measles resurgences in Serbia

Understanding vaccination communication between health workers and parents: a Tailoring Immunization Programmes (TIP) qualitative study in Serbia

Vaccine communication between health workers and parents affects parental acceptance, so understanding this is particularly important when vaccination rates drop. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative research study conducted in Serbia as part of a Tailoring Immunization Programmes (TIP) project. The aims were to explore the process of vaccination communication between health workers and parents (accepting, indecisive, delaying, refusing), and identify barriers and drivers to effective communication. In-depth interviews with 14 health workers were supplemented and qualified by observations of 40 consultations, using thematic analysis. Study sites were two community health centers in two Belgrade municipalities where a significant drop in childhood vaccination rates had occurred. Key findings were: (1) communication mainly took place between pediatricians and parents, while nurses focused on administering vaccines. (2) Health workers were confident in their skills to communicate and address concerns of accepting and indecisive parents, successfully applying specific strategies. (3) When interacting with delaying and refusing parents, they sometimes agreed to delay vaccination to maintain relationships, confident that most parents would vaccinate in due course. (4) Some refusing parents asked questions grounded in a socio-political agenda regarding vaccines or vaccination. Such questions exceeded the domain of health workers’ expertise, which affected the communication between them. (5) Health workers’ behavior in consultations was sometimes affected by parents’ (dis) trust in their recommendations about vaccination. The study revealed that health workers in Serbia require additional skills and techniques to respond to parents who refuse and wish to delay vaccination, to secure timely vaccination

Involvement of proteasome activation

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide, characterized by a progressive decline in a variety of cognitive and non-cognitive functions. The amyloid beta protein cascade hypothesis places the formation of amyloid beta protein aggregates on the first position in the complex pathological cascade leading to neurodegeneration, and therefore AD might be considered to be a protein-misfolding disease. The Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS), being the primary protein degradation mechanism with a fundamental role in the maintenance of proteostasis, has been identified as a putative therapeutic target to delay and/or to decelerate the progression of neurodegenerative disorders that are characterized by accumulated/aggregated proteins. The purpose of this study was to test if the activation of proteasome in vivo can alleviate AD pathology. Specifically by using two compounds with complementary modes of proteasome activation and documented antioxidant and redox regulating properties in the 5xFAD transgenic mice model of AD, we ameliorated a number of AD related deficits. Shortly after proteasome activation we detected significantly reduced amyloid-beta load correlated with improved motor functions, reduced anxiety and frailty level. Essentially, to our knowledge this is the first report to demonstrate a dual activation of the proteasome and its downstream effects. In conclusion, these findings open up new directions for future therapeutic potential of proteasome-mediated proteolysis enhancement.publishersversionpublishe

Measles situation in Serbia in an era of measles elimination (2007-2009)

Following the introduction of measles immunization in Serbia in 1971, measles outbreaks were recorded every 3 to 5 years until 1997. The outbreak in 1997 with 4000 cases was the last large outbreak in Serbia. In 2007, an outbreak with 191 laboratory confirmed or epidemiologically linked cases was reported in Vojvodina. In 2008 and 2009, only 3 cases were confirmed. From 2007-2009, measles infections were most frequently detected in the Roma population but also in non-immunized or partially immunized persons from the general population

Investigation of predictors of hepatitis b vaccination status in persons employed in healthcare institutions

Uvod: Osobe zaposlene u zdravstvenim ustanovama predstavljaju kohortu visokog rizika za nastanak infekcije izazvane virusom hepatitisa B (HBV). Procenjuje se da se, na globalnom nivou, svake godine 600.000-800.000 osoba zaposlenih u zdravstvenim ustanovama poseče ili ubode iglom na radnom mestu. Takođe, prema ovim procenama, oko 5,9% zdravstvenih radnika biva izloženo HBV što rezulira sa oko 66.000 novoinficiranih. U zemljama u razvoju za 40-60% svih HBV infekcija u grupi zdravstvenih radnika odgovorna je profesionalna ekspozicija. U razvijenim zemljama je nešto manje od 10% slučajeva hepatitisa B u grupi zdravstvenih radanika povezano sa kontaktom sa krvlju i krvnim derivatima na radnom mestu, što se dovodi u vezu sa značajno većim vakcinalnim obuhvatom. Iako je bezbedna i efektivna vakcina dostupna od 1982. godine, veliki broj zdravstvenih radnika na globalnom nivou se ne vakciniše protiv ove bolesti. Istraživanja na nivou svetske populacije su pokazala da je oko 90% zdravstvenih radnika svesno činjenice da je potrebno da se vakcinišu, ali da samo nešto više od 50% to i uradi. Stoga, danas se smatra da se u pozadini prijemčivosti vakcine protiv hepatitisa B u grupi zdravstvenih radnika nalazi čitav niz psiholoških, profesionalnih i bihejvioralnih faktora koji potencijalno utiču na ovu komplesnu sliku. Ciljevi: (I) Procena prevalencije vakcinacije protiv hepatitisa B u grupi osoba zaposlenih u ustanovama tercijarnog nivoa zdravstvene zaštite u Beogradu; (II) Ispitivanje znanja, stavova i ponašanja osoba zaposlenih u zdravstvenim ustanovama u vezi sa vakcinacijom protiv hepatitisa B; (III) Ispitivanje prediktora vakcinalnog statusa povezanog sa imunizacijom protiv hepatitisa B kod osoba zaposlenih u zdravstvenim ustanovama. Materijal i metod: Istraživanje je dizajnirano po tipu studije preseka. Target grupu činili su svi zaposleni u Kliničkom centru Srbije (KCS) u Beogradu, koji su metodom slučajnog izbora, po principu formiranja višefaznog uzorka, selektovani za uključivanje u studiju tokom decembra 2015. godine. Uzorak je činio 7,1% svih zaposlenih u KCS. Osnovni instrument za prikupljanje podataka bio je strukturirani upitnik, koji je sastavljen na bazi literaturnih podataka. Prvi deo upitnika obuhvatio je socijalno-demografske i profesionalne karakteristike ispitanika: pol, uzrast, bračni status, obrazovanje, zanimanje, tip radnog mesta i ukupan broj godina radnog staža. Drugi deo sadržao je upitnik o znanju o hepatitisu B...Introduction: Hepatitis B infection is a major cause of occupational disease among health-care workers (HCWs) worldwide. It has been estimated that every year approximately 600-800,000 cut and puncture injures occur in this professional group. Furthermore, the global annual proportion of the HCWs exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been estimated at 5.9%, corresponding to about 66,000 HBV infections. In developing countries, 40-60% of HBV infections in HCWs was attributed to professional hazard, while in developed countries the attributed fraction was less than 10% due to greater vaccination coverage. In spite of availability of the safe and effective vaccine since 1982, the overall prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination, in this susceptible cohort, has not reached satisfactory level. While approximately 90% of the HCWs are aware of the necessity of the hepatitis B vaccination at workplace, only half of them completed their vaccination program against HBV. Apparently, there are numerous psychological, occupational and behavioral factors that should be taken into consideration when predicting the hepatitis B vaccine acceptance in this susceptible cohort. Aims: (I) to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination among HCWs of a national health care centre in Serbia; (II) to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding hepatitis B vaccination among HCWs; (III) to assess the independent predictors of hepatitis B vaccination status in this susceptible cohort. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study design was applied in order to explore predictors of hepatitis B vaccine status among HCWs in the largest clinical centre in Serbia. A random sample of HCWs stratified by occupation was selected from the list of employees during December 2015, with the sample structure reflecting the occupational distribution in the Clinical Centre of Serbia. The sample comprised 7.1% of the employees at the Clinical Centre of Serbia. The relevant data in this study were collected by means of questionnaire, derived and adapted from others surveys. The questionnaire consisted of four parts. First part comprised demographic and professional data comprising gender, age, marital status, occupation, work site and duration of work experience..

Investigation of predictors of hepatitis b vaccination status in persons employed in healthcare institutions

Uvod: Osobe zaposlene u zdravstvenim ustanovama predstavljaju kohortu visokog rizika za nastanak infekcije izazvane virusom hepatitisa B (HBV). Procenjuje se da se, na globalnom nivou, svake godine 600.000-800.000 osoba zaposlenih u zdravstvenim ustanovama poseče ili ubode iglom na radnom mestu. Takođe, prema ovim procenama, oko 5,9% zdravstvenih radnika biva izloženo HBV što rezulira sa oko 66.000 novoinficiranih. U zemljama u razvoju za 40-60% svih HBV infekcija u grupi zdravstvenih radnika odgovorna je profesionalna ekspozicija. U razvijenim zemljama je nešto manje od 10% slučajeva hepatitisa B u grupi zdravstvenih radanika povezano sa kontaktom sa krvlju i krvnim derivatima na radnom mestu, što se dovodi u vezu sa značajno većim vakcinalnim obuhvatom. Iako je bezbedna i efektivna vakcina dostupna od 1982. godine, veliki broj zdravstvenih radnika na globalnom nivou se ne vakciniše protiv ove bolesti. Istraživanja na nivou svetske populacije su pokazala da je oko 90% zdravstvenih radnika svesno činjenice da je potrebno da se vakcinišu, ali da samo nešto više od 50% to i uradi. Stoga, danas se smatra da se u pozadini prijemčivosti vakcine protiv hepatitisa B u grupi zdravstvenih radnika nalazi čitav niz psiholoških, profesionalnih i bihejvioralnih faktora koji potencijalno utiču na ovu komplesnu sliku. Ciljevi: (I) Procena prevalencije vakcinacije protiv hepatitisa B u grupi osoba zaposlenih u ustanovama tercijarnog nivoa zdravstvene zaštite u Beogradu; (II) Ispitivanje znanja, stavova i ponašanja osoba zaposlenih u zdravstvenim ustanovama u vezi sa vakcinacijom protiv hepatitisa B; (III) Ispitivanje prediktora vakcinalnog statusa povezanog sa imunizacijom protiv hepatitisa B kod osoba zaposlenih u zdravstvenim ustanovama. Materijal i metod: Istraživanje je dizajnirano po tipu studije preseka. Target grupu činili su svi zaposleni u Kliničkom centru Srbije (KCS) u Beogradu, koji su metodom slučajnog izbora, po principu formiranja višefaznog uzorka, selektovani za uključivanje u studiju tokom decembra 2015. godine. Uzorak je činio 7,1% svih zaposlenih u KCS. Osnovni instrument za prikupljanje podataka bio je strukturirani upitnik, koji je sastavljen na bazi literaturnih podataka. Prvi deo upitnika obuhvatio je socijalno-demografske i profesionalne karakteristike ispitanika: pol, uzrast, bračni status, obrazovanje, zanimanje, tip radnog mesta i ukupan broj godina radnog staža. Drugi deo sadržao je upitnik o znanju o hepatitisu B...Introduction: Hepatitis B infection is a major cause of occupational disease among health-care workers (HCWs) worldwide. It has been estimated that every year approximately 600-800,000 cut and puncture injures occur in this professional group. Furthermore, the global annual proportion of the HCWs exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been estimated at 5.9%, corresponding to about 66,000 HBV infections. In developing countries, 40-60% of HBV infections in HCWs was attributed to professional hazard, while in developed countries the attributed fraction was less than 10% due to greater vaccination coverage. In spite of availability of the safe and effective vaccine since 1982, the overall prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination, in this susceptible cohort, has not reached satisfactory level. While approximately 90% of the HCWs are aware of the necessity of the hepatitis B vaccination at workplace, only half of them completed their vaccination program against HBV. Apparently, there are numerous psychological, occupational and behavioral factors that should be taken into consideration when predicting the hepatitis B vaccine acceptance in this susceptible cohort. Aims: (I) to estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination among HCWs of a national health care centre in Serbia; (II) to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding hepatitis B vaccination among HCWs; (III) to assess the independent predictors of hepatitis B vaccination status in this susceptible cohort. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study design was applied in order to explore predictors of hepatitis B vaccine status among HCWs in the largest clinical centre in Serbia. A random sample of HCWs stratified by occupation was selected from the list of employees during December 2015, with the sample structure reflecting the occupational distribution in the Clinical Centre of Serbia. The sample comprised 7.1% of the employees at the Clinical Centre of Serbia. The relevant data in this study were collected by means of questionnaire, derived and adapted from others surveys. The questionnaire consisted of four parts. First part comprised demographic and professional data comprising gender, age, marital status, occupation, work site and duration of work experience..

Early Impairments of Hippocampal Neurogenesis in 5xFAD Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease Are Associated with Altered Expression of SOXB Transcription Factors.

Dysregulation of neurogenesis in the subgranular zone (SGZ) of the hippocampal dentate gyrus has been related to cognitive deficits and memory loss in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Members of the B group of SOX transcription factors play critical roles in regulating neurogenesis in the embryonic and adult nervous system, including maintaining the multipotency, renewal, and cell fate decision of neural stem/progenitor cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression patterns of selected SOXB proteins in the SGZ, of 8-week-old male and female 5xFAD mice, which represent a transgenic model of AD with a severe and very early development of amyloid pathology. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant decrease in the number of cells expressing SOX1, SOX2, and SOX21 transcription factors within the SGZ of 5xFAD mice in comparison to their non-transgenic counterparts which coincidences with reduced number of doublecortin immunoreactive immature neurons found in Tg males. Despite observed changes in expressional pattern of examined SOXB proteins, the proliferative capacity evaluated by the number of Ki-67 immunoreactive cells remained unaffected in transgenic mice of both genders. Based on our results, we suggest that SOXB proteins might be considered as new biomarkers for the detection of early impairments in adult neurogenesis in different animal models or/and new targets in human regenerative medicine