Compulsory labour as a civic duty

This paper deals with compulsory labour as one of the fundamental civic duties in the function of the country's defence. The authors, considering the current regulations of the Republic of Serbia, as well as the ratified international treaties, endeavour to present the most significant aspects of this issue in a concise manner. Analysing the normative framework, also providing adequate comments and suggestions, the authors pay particular attention to the character of this obligation

The effect of antipsychotic drugs on nonspecific inflammation markers in the first episode of schizophrenia

Background/Aim. Immune system disorder, including inflammation, takes a significant place when considering still unclear etiology of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to determine the blood levels of nonspecific inflammation markers in the first episode of schizophrenia and their relation to the therapy response. Methods. In this study we determined the blood levels of nonspecific inflammation markers: white blood cells count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR) and the elements of differential white blood cell counts (or the leukocyte formula): granulocytes (Gra), lymphocytes (Lym) and monocytes (Mon), in the first episode of schizofrenia, in 78 patients hospitalized at the Clinic for Psychiatric Disorders “Dr Laza Lazarević” in Belgrade. The levels were measured at admission to the clinic, as well as after 4 weeks of antipsychotic treatment. The Positive and negative syndrome scale for schizophrenia (PANSS) was applied to measure the severity of psychopathology and response to the treatment. Results. During the first episode of schizophrenia, before initiation of antipsychotic treatment, the frequency of abnormal values was high (≥ 25% of the patients) for the following non-specific inflammation markers: WBC, CRP, ESR and Gra, in the leukocyte formula, but dropped after 4 weeks of antipsychotic treatment at the level of high statistical significance for WBC and Gra (p < 0.001). The ESR remained unchanged in as many as 50% of the patients even after 4-week antipsychotic treatment, at the level of statistical significance in the non-responders compared to the responders (p = 0.045). Conclusion. The obtained results indicate that in the first episode of schizophrenia the blood levels of non-specific inflammation markers (WBS, CRP, ESR and Gra from the leukocyte formula) were high in the subpopulation of patients with the tendency towards normalization of inflammation parameters after a 4-week antipsychotic treatment

River Floodplain 1D/2D Hydraulic Modelling Combined with Recent LiDAR DTM Technology

The study presents problem of floods management for lowland rivers and provides solution for such complex task. The paper aims to elaborate a methodology for flood management model on large lowland rivers using precision digital terrain models (DTM) and combined 1D/2D unsteady flow model. The river Danube on the territory of Serbia was used with its tributaries for the development of the model. The length of the hydraulic model is 715 km and the achieved accuracy of the model, by comparing the calculated and observed levels on 10 water stations, is below 10 cm. Combined 1D/2D HEC-RAS model is adjusted by making use of the resulting high-resolution input. The ability of the combined 1D/2D model, based mainly on the high-accuracy input data, provides an accurate estimate of flood wave propagation. The result of this paper is a defined methodology providing sufficient accuracy to the hydraulic model of flood wave propagation in case of large lowland rivers, requiring acceptable short calculation time. Also, the methodology to specify relevant flood stage (design flood) which is used to determine levee crest elevation is developed in this paper

Usporedba Conconijevog i ventilacijskog anaerobnog praga određenog kratkim i standardnim protokolom testa na pokretnoj traci

The purpose of this study was to compare two methods for determination of anaerobic threshold from two different treadmill protocols. Forty-eight Croatian runners of national rank (ten sprinters, fifteen 400-m runners, ten middle distance runners and thirteen long distance runners), mean age 21.7}5.1 years, participated in the study. They performed two graded maximal exercise tests on a treadmill, a standard ramp treadmill test (TSR, speed increments of 1 km•h-1 every 60 seconds) and a fast ramp treadmill test (TFR, speed increments of 1 km•h-1 every 30 seconds) to determine and compare the parameters at peak values and at heart rate at the deflection point (HR DP) and ventilation threshold (VT ). There were no significant differences between protocols (p>0.05) for peak values of oxygen uptake (VO2max, 4.48±0.43 and 4.44±0.45 L•min-1), weight related VO2max (62.5±6.2 and 62.0±6.0 mL•kg-1•min-1), pulmonary ventilation (VE max, 163.1}18.7 and 161.3}19.9 L•min-1) and heart rate (HR max, 192.3}8.5 and 194.4}8.7 bpm) (TFR and TSR, respectively). Moreover, no significant differences between TFR and TSR where found for VT and HR DP when expressed as VO2 and HR . However, there was a significant effect of ramp slope on running speed at VO2max and at the anaerobic threshold (AnT) , independent of the method used (VT : 16.0}2.2 vs 14.9}2.2 km•h-1;HR DP: 16.5}1.9 vs 14.9±2.0 km•h-1 for TFR and TSR respectively). Linear regression analysis revealed high between-test and between-method correlations for VO2, HR and running speed parameters (r=0.78-0.89, p<0.01). The present study has indicated that the VT and HR DP for running (VO2, ventilation, and heart rate at VT /HR DP) are independent of test protocol, while there is a significant effect of ramp slope on VT and HR DP when expressed as running speed. Moreover, this study demonstrates that the point of deflection from linearity of heart rate may be an accurate predictor of the anaerobic threshold in trained runners, independently of the protocol used.Cilj istraživanja bio je usporediti dvije metode za utvrđivanje anaerobnog praga u dva različita protokola opterećenja. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 48 trkača hrvatskog nacionalnog ranga (10 sprintera na 100 m, 15 sprintera na 400 m, 10 srednjeprugaša i 13 dugoprugaša) srednje dobi 21,7}5,1 god. Ispitanici su testirani dvama različitim protokolima maksimalnog opterećenja na pokretnoj traci: standardnim progresivnim protokolom opterećenja (TSR, brzina trake povećava se svake minute za 1 km/h) i brzo-rastućim progresivnim testom opterećenja (TFR, brzina trake povećava se za 1 km/h svakih 30 sekunda), u cilju mjerenja i usporedbe vršnih vrijednosti i vrijednosti pri ventilacijskom anaerobnom pragu (VT ) i točki defleksije frekvencije srca (HR DP). Vršne vrijednosti izmjerene u dva protokola (TFR :TSR) nisu se značajno razlikovale za primitak kisika (VO2max, 4,48:4,44 L/min), relativni VO2max (62,5:62,0 mL/kg/min), minutni volumen disanja (VE max, 163,1:161,3 L/min) i frekvenciju srca (192,3:194,4 otkucaja/min). Značajne razlike između TFR i TSR nisu utvrđene niti za VT i HR DP izražene primitkom kisika i frekvencijom srca. Međutim, utvrđen je značajan utjecaj protokola testa (akceleracije brzine trake) na brzine trčanja pri maksimumu i pri anaerobnom pragu, neovisno o primijenjenoj metodi (VT : 16,0±2,2 prema 14,9±2,2 km•h-1; HRDP: 16,5±1,9 prema 14,9±2,0 km•h-1 za TFR i TSR). Linearnom regresijskom analizom utvrđene su visoke pozitivne korelacije između protokola i između metoda određivanja praga za parametre primitka kisika, frekvencije srca i brzine trčanja (r=0,78-0,89, p<0,01). Rezultati rada pokazuju da su VT i HR DP za trčanje (VO2, VE i HR pri VT /HR DP) neovisni o protokolu testa, dok je značajan utjecaj protokola (brzine porasta brzine trake) na VT i HRDP izražene brzinom trčanja. Nadalje, ovo istraživanje pokazuje da se točka defleksije frekvencije srca (Conconijev test) može pouzdano koristiti za predviđanje anaerobnog praga u treniranih trkača neovisno o primijenjenom protokolu testa

Lung cancer mortality in Montenegro, 1990 to 2015

Aim To analyze the trend of lung cancer mortality in Montenegro from 1990 to 2015. Methods Data on lung cancer mortality were collected from death certificates obtained from the Statistical Office of Montenegro for the period 1990-2009 and the Institute for Public Health for the period 2010-2015. Population data were obtained from the Statistical Office of Montenegro. Rates were age-standardized to the World Standard Population, and mortality trends were analyzed with the joinpoint regression. Results In 2015, lung cancer accounted for 5.44% of all deaths and 22.92% of all cancer deaths. It was the leading cause of all cancer deaths and the third-leading cause of all deaths. A joinpoint was observed in 2004 in women and in the entire population, and in 2005 in men. The overall mortality rates increased from 1990 to 2004 by an average of 3.91% per year and decreased from 2004 to 2015 by an average of 1.95%; which in the entire observed period resulted in an average increase of 1.3% per year. A particularly strong growth rate was observed in women, even 7.14% in the period from 1990 to 2004. Conclusion The observed increase in lung cancer mortality warrants improved tobacco control

Electroclinical characteristics of MRI negative focal epilepsy: A video-EEG study

Background/Aim. Epileptogenic lesions carry intrinsic epileptogenicity or epileptogenic potential in their close vicinity. One third of patients with focal epilepsy have no epileptogenic lesions magnetic resonance imaging [MRI(-)]. The aim of this study was to determine the epileptogenic zone investigating electrical and clinical properties of MRI-patients. Methods. In 180 patients with focal epilepsy we analyzed 1,712 seizures for interictal and ictal electroencephalography (EEG) and seizure semiology. If multiple seizures occurred we took the best seen on video as an example, with secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) if it occurred. Brain MRI was focused to investigate the zone of ictal EEG onset. Electroclinical properties of the MRI-patients were compared to lesion positive patients [MRI(+)]. Results. A single epileptogenic lesion was identified in 68.89% [hippocampal sclerosis (HS) in 58, focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) in 28 and other pathologies in 38 patients]. MRI(-) patients had significantly less interictal epileptiform abnormalities, and presented more often (p lt 0.001) with secondary GTCS as the only seizure. Eye opening, hypermotor seizure, bilateral asymmetric clonic seizure, vocalization, and contralateral body turning occurred more frequently in the MRI-group compared to the MRI+ one. MRI-patients share some semiological features with FCD as opposed to HS patients. Conclusion. MRIepilepsy patients frequently present with electroclinical features seen in frontal lobe epilepsy or in epilepsy associated with FCD

Analysis of the factors influencing development of urinary tract infections in patients with spinal cord injuriеs

© 2015, Institut za Vojnomedicinske Naucne Informacije/Documentaciju. All rights reserved. Background/Aim. Urinary tract infections are still the most frequent complications in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of this study was to analyze the factors influencing development of urinary tract infections during rehabilitation in patients with SCI. Methods. This retrospective case/control study including 540 patients with SCI which were rehabilitated in the Clinic for Rehabilitation “Dr Miroslav Zotović” between January 2000 and December 2009. We used patient files and other available medical documentation for obtaining information contained in this study, such as the manner of bladder emptying, the type of neurological disorder of the bladder, the neurological level and completeness of a lesion, the injury etiology, treatment method, secondary complications and associated injuries, kidney and bladder calculosis, age and sex. Results. Out of the total number of patients included in the study, 152 (28.1%) were without urinary tract infections, whereas 388 (71.9%) had urinary tract infections. There were 389 (72%) male and 151 (28%) female patients. The average age of patients without urinary tract infections was 51.0 ± 15.4 years, whereas the mean age of patients with urinary tract infections was 44.3 ± 16.9 years. The results of our study showed that the occurrence of urinary tract infections during rehabilitation in patients with SCIs was associated with the following factors: combined injuries (OR = 3.5), anemia (OR = 5.67), type of the bladder functional disorder (OR = 40–60) and crystals in urine (OR = 7.54). Conclusion. The physicians should take precautions and try to make the early diagnosis and rapid appropriate treatment of urinary tract infections in patients with SCI who also have functional bladder disorder, combined spinal injuries, anemia or urine crystals

The influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with renal insufficiency

Introduction/Aim. Gastric acid is a key factor in the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease. A plausible mechanism by which the Helicobacter pylori infection might protect against reflux disease is by its propensity to produce atrophic gastritis. The aim of the study was to establish the influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with different stages of renal insufficiency. Methods. The examination was organized as a prospective, clinical study and involved 68 patients − 33 patients with preterminal stage of renal failure and 35 patients with terminal renal insufficiency. Due to dyspeptic difficulties, in all the patients there was preformed upper esophagogastroscopy and Helicobacter pylori infection was found by ureasa test. Results. The patients with preterminal renal insufficiency were significantly younger than patients with terminal renal failure (53.4±11.1 vs. 65.4±12.3 years; p = 0.014). There was found a statistically significant difference between the groups in Helicobacter pylori infection (p = 0.03), hiatal hernia (p = 0.008), gastroesophageal reflux disease (p = 0.007), and duodenal ulcer (p = 0.002). Using the multiple non-parametric correlative analysis there was confirmed a negative correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (Kendal τB = -0.523; p = 0.003) and hiatal hernia (Kendal τB = 0.403; p = 0.021), while there was found a positive correlation between gastro-esophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia (Kendal τB = 0.350; p = 0.044). Conclusion. Helicobacter pylori infection is a significant protective parameter of the incidence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease in patients with both pre-terminal and terminal renal insufficiency

The influence of print orientation and print location on the mechanical characteristics of specimens obtained by SLS technology

SLS technology has become popular in various industries due to its ability to produce complex components with less effort than traditional methods. The study used PA 12, a commonly used material in SLS printing, to create three types of specimens that were tested for their mechanical characteristics. The specimens were designed based on ISO standards (i.e. ISO 178, ISO 527-2, ISO 604) and printed on the Fuse 1 (FormLabs, Summerville, MA) 3D printer in four batches. These batches differed according to the printing orientation (i.e. horizontal and vertical) and the printing location (i.e. in the middle and on the edge of the powder bed). The printed specimens were then tested on subjected to a standard tensile testing machine (SHIMADZU AGS-X 100kN). The study found that the specimens printed according to ISO 178 standard vertically in the middle of the powder bed had the smallest deviations in mechanical characteristics. On the other hand, the specimens printed based on ISO 604 standard had the biggest deviations. These findings suggest that the printing orientation and location on the powder bed can affect the mechanical properties of SLS-printed component