OVERCOMING FEAR AVOIDANCE BEHAVIORS AND KINESIOPHOBIA IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a very complex medical, social and economic problem. Long duration and variability of symptoms can be frustrating for patients and lead to various psychological and behavioral changes, which can be expressed as an over-powering fear of movement and lead to avoidance behavior. The aim of this study was to highlight  the importance of individually designed exercises (IDE) and cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) in the treatment of patients with CLBP who have signs of fear-avoidance behavior and kinesiophobia. One hundred and thirty patients were included in a prospective randomized study. Group 1 (G1; n = 35) had a combined IDE and CBT program. Group 2 (G2; n = 35) had IDE, without CBT. Group 3 (G3; n = 30) had standard group exercises for CLBP. Group 4 (G4; n = 30) was a control, patients did not have IDE or CBT. Waddel's Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) and Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK), were used for monitoring and evaluation. Patients completed them at the beginning, at the end of the therapy, and also after 3 months. After therapy and three months later, a statistically significant reduction in symptoms in G1 and G2 was recorded, with better results in G1: FABQph = 4.77±3.83/5.51±4.02; FABQw = 2.31±3.69/2.94±4.19; TSK = 5.63±4.56/5.69 ± 4.55. (p <0.001). The combination of IDE and CBT is an effective therapy for CLBP patients with fear avoidance behaviour and kinesiophobia

Quality and autochthonous microbiota of dry-cured sheep ham from western Balkans

Dry-cured sheep ham is a traditional product of Western Balkans. It is prepared by dry curing specially treated whole sheep carcasses which are smoked for a short time and spontaneously fermented in air under uncontrolled conditions. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a key role in defining the quality and organoleptic characteristics of dry-cured sheep ham. The aim of this research was to investigate the chemical parameters of drycured sheep ham quality as well as the isolation and preliminary categorization of LAB. To this end, samples of dry-cured sheep ham were obtained from nine sheep of average age of about five years, from three households from the geographical area Sjenica (Western Serbia). Physicochemical analysis has determined the content of water, protein, fat, mineral matter, water activity and pH values in the product. Phenotypic characterization of LAB isolated from dry-cured sheep ham was based on the general morphology of the cell, physiological tests and sugar fermentation patterns of LAB isolates. 124 isolates of LAB were preliminary identified as Lactobacillus curvatus , Lactobacillus sakei and Enterococcus faecium . Chemical analysis confirmed a harmonious relationship between the quality parameters of dry-cured sheep ham.Author's versio

An Investigation into the Influence of Experimental Conditions on In Vitro Drug Release from Immediate-Release Tablets of Levothyroxine Sodium and Its Relation to Oral Bioavailability

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of experimental conditions on levothyroxine sodium release from two immediate-release tablet formulations which narrowly passed the standard requirements for bioequivalence studies. The in vivo study was conducted as randomised, single-dose, two-way cross-over pharmacokinetic study in 24 healthy subjects. The in vitro study was performed using various dissolution media, and obtained dissolution profiles were compared using the similarity factor value. Drug solubility in different media was also determined. The in vivo results showed narrowly passing bioequivalence. Considering that levothyroxine sodium is classified as Class III drug according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System, drug bioavailability will be less sensitive to the variation in its dissolution characteristics and it can be assumed that the differences observed in vitro in some of investigated media probably do not have significant influence on the absorption process, as long as rapid and complete dissolution exists. The study results indicate that the current regulatory criteria for the value of similarity factor in comparative dissolution testing, as well as request for very rapid dissolution (more than 85% of drug dissolved in 15 min), are very restricted for immediate-release dosage forms containing highly soluble drug substance and need further investigation. The obtained results also add to the existing debate on the appropriateness of the current bioequivalence standards for levothyroxine sodium products

ANAMNESTČKA STUDIJA KAO METOD ZA SAGLEDAVANJE IZLOŽENOSTI U ŽIVOTNOJ SREDINI I ZDRAVSTVENIH ISHODA

Case-control study has made, and will continue to make, important contributions to the environmental health field. Case-control studies are very common in environmental epidemiologic research as hypothesis-testing designs. The purpose of this article is to discuss the principles of a case-control study design and related methodological issues in environmental epidemiology. Case-control studies assessing environmental risk factors are pursued due to low cost, efficiency, disease latency, etc. Weaknesses do not negate strengths of the case-control design. Many examples illustrate the value of the case-control study as investigative approach in assessing environmental exposures and health outcomes. Recognizing that well-designed case-control studies can provide valid results is important, so that investigators can both critically appraise and appropriately design case-control studies to address important environmental research questions.Anamnestičke studije su doprinele, i nastaviće da daju značajan doprinos istraživanju u oblasti zaštite zdravlja i izloženosti noksama u životnoj sredini. Ove studije se često koriste, pre svega za testiranje etioloških hipoteza. Cij rada je bio da sagleda karakteristike dizajna anamnestičke studije, i razmotri metodološke principe na primerima izloženosti u životnoj i radnoj sredini i zdravstvenih ishoda. Uprkos nedostacima, mnogobrojni primeri iz literature ukazuju na značaj ovog istraživačkog dizajna, pre svega zbog efikasnosti, mogućnosti da istražuje uticaj brojnih faktora na određeni poremećaj zdravlja, zbog angažovanja relativno malog broja ispitanika i sredstava, mogućnosti da istraži poremećaji zdravlja sa niskom učestalošću kao i onih s dugim latentnim periodom

SPORT CULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN KINDERGARDENS IN NIŠ

In assume that there is insufficient physical angagement in children, insufficient teachers`, parents`, and childs`„sport entelligence“, it was decided to realize the project „Communication and culture in sport“. Previous aim of project was growing up the health level in children, growing up the level of sport culture, giving educative and entertaining contents to familly, children, and teachers, such as opening kindergardens to local society. To satisfaction and happiness of children, it was find friends which understood ideas and which supported in financial way. At the end of 2007. year it was start to build sport outdoor grass terrains in kindergarden yard ’’Cvrčak’’ in Niš. It was build athlet track, outdoor mini foodball, basketball and voleyball. After that more interested was sport clubs in town to work with children at their own fields, which contributed greather affirmation an growing health and sport culture level in children. In one year lasted ciclus, sport clubs afirmated their work, showing and training children the bases of sports elements, such as attracted children in sport clubs in cooperation with physical education expert service Office. In that way clubs reached a lot of members, parents had painless favor, teachers varies work contents, and in children it was growen up health and sport culture level. In cooperation with coatches many of them could find and induced tallent to sport activities right choise. It was more intensive cooperated with parents. To many of them it was the first small-great step in sport worl

SPORT-RECREATIVE ACTIVITIES 5-6 YEARS OLD CHILDREN IN KINDERGARDEN ’’CVRČAK’’ IN NIŠ

It is well known that body activities are needed in child such as food and drink. Nowadays way of life causes reduced movement in whole population, such as in preeschool children. Reducing movement in preeschool children can result many postural disturbances and body deformities. In that case it was made systematic medical chackup in children 5-6 years old from ’’Cvrčak’’- Niš kindergarden on food deformities during last seven years (2004-2010). Received results showed desastrous level on food arch, reduced function of food muscules. The idea was that reason for that was childs` reduced body activities, from 2008. year it was made and start to realize the project „komunication and culture in sport“, in regard to grow up sport culture level in children, parents and teachers. As all of us is born having some predispozitions, it was given chance to sport clubs to present to children, teachers and parents all of sport-recreative bases. In cooperation with physical education expert service Office and coatches from sport clubs in Niš, it was made the sport-recreative Project. In one cyclus during one year children are included in next sports: rhythmic gymnastics, judo, tennis, basketball, vollyball, foodball, athledics, skating, skiing. The project gave wonderfull results: a great number of children joined sport clubs, more sport-recreative activities in children, growing right mind about body exercises needs, such as better statistic results after childrens` systematic medical chackup in 2009. and 2010. year. Mentioned Project is lasted till now

Methods of the physical medicine therapy in prevention of heterotopic ossification after total hip arthroplasty

Background/aim: In the prevention of periarticular heterotopic ossification (HO), a common complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) and irradiation are used. Some theories presume that local hypoxia of the soft tissue causes HO. The aim of this study was to investigate if the early use of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) could prevent this ossification since it accelerates the circulation and oxigenation of soft tissue. Methods. The study included three groups of the patients with primary THA. The group C consisted of 66 patients/79 hips who had only kinesitherapy in postoperative rehabilitation. The group B consisted of 117 patients/ 131 hips who had PEMF and interferential current (IC) which, on average, started on the 14th day after the surgery combined with the standard kinesitherapy. The group A consisted of 117 patients/131 hips who had PEMF from the third postoperative day and IC from, on average, the 14th postoperative day with the standard kinesitherapy. The classification of HO was done on a standard AP roentgenograms of the hips, taken at least one year after the surgery. Results. The overall HO was seen in 50.63% of the group C patients, in 43.51% of the B group and in 16.67% of the group A. Severe HO (III and IV class according to Brooker) was seen in 26.58% of the group C patients and in 6.10% of the group B, but none in the group A. Conclusion. According to the obtained results an early treatment with PEMF could prevent severe HO and reduce the overall HO

Pulsed electromagnetic field during cast immobilization in postmenopausal women with Colles’ fracture

Introduction. Although Colles’ fracture i.e. a dorsally displaced distal radius fracture (DRF) is one of the most common fractures, there is no enough evidence to determine the best form of rehabilitation. Objective. To assess whether the use of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy during cast immobilization of DRF provides beneficial effects on pain, edema, wrist range of motion and function, as well as on the frequency of complications immediately after cast removal. Methods. The prospective randomized controlled study included 60 women over the age of 55 years with extra-articular displaced DRF treated with reduction and cast immobilization. The patients were alternately allocated to either a PEMF group (n=30, received 10 days of PEMF therapy during immobilization), or a control group (n=30, without PEMF therapy). Pain, function, hand circumference, wrist and forearm range of motion and frequency of complications for each patient was evaluated within two to three days of cast removal. Results. Better mean values for the majority of examined parameters were recorded in the PEMF group than in the control group, but the difference was statistically significant just for edema (p&lt;0.001), flexion, extension and supination range (p&lt;0.01). Conclusion. During immobilization PEMF therapy in DRF patients gave better results immediately after cast removal in terms of edema and wrist range of motion (ROM)

Humoral immune response to campylobacter jejuni in patients with enterocolitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most important causes of diarrheal disease worldwide. In addition, it can cause neurological post-infectious sequels, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Humoral immune response to C. jejuni was monitored in patients with C. jejuni enterocolitis, GBS patients and healthy persons, by ELISA. Statistical significance between patients with enterocolitis and healthy persons, as well as among GBS patients and healthy controls, was proven. Statistical significance in IgA among the examined groups was also noticed. The highest values of IgM were found in the patients with GBS, while the highest values of IgG were found in those with enterocolitis. C. jejuni is a significant cause of antecedent infection in GBS. ELISA techniques can be considered a reliable method in determining the presence of serum antibodies in patients with enterocolitis caused by C. jejuni, as well as in patients with GBS