Risk factors for the occurrence of cardovascular system diseases in students

Background/Aim. Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death in the majority of developed, as well as in many developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine cardiovascular risk factors in student population and to suggest possible measures for prevention. Methods. The study was carried out during 2007-2008 at the School of Medicine, University of Niš. It included 824 students in their final year (220 males, 604 females). Results. There was no significant difference in prevalence of hypertension among the male (1.81%) and female students (0%). The prevalence of obesity (Body Mass Index - BMI > 30 kg/m2) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the male (7.27%) than in the female population (1.32%). Abdominal obesity was also more frequently encountered (p < 0.01) in the male (9.09%) than in female population (1.32%). Every fourth student smoked cigarettes with no significant difference between the male and female students. Alcohol consumption was a significantly higher problem (p < 0.001) in the male population (18.18%) than in the female one (2.65%). Physical inactivity was more often found (p < 0.001) in the female students (65.56%), than in male ones (36.36%). By the bivariate correlation of cardiovascular risk factors, it was determined that in the male student population systolic blood pressure correlated significantly with diastolic blood pressure, BMI and waist size, whereas age correlated with sistolic blood pressure, waist size and smoking. In the female students sistolic blood pressure correlated with diastolic blood pressure, BMI and waist size; diastolic blood pressure correlated with BMI and physical inactivity; cigarette smoking correlated with alcohol consumption and age. Conclusion. Cardiovascular risk factors are present in the final-year students of the School of Medicine, University of Niš. It is necessary to insist on decreasing obesity prevalence, cigarette and alcohol consumption, and on increasing physical activity of students in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases

A longitudinal study of the association between depression, anxiety and stress symptoms of university students in Serbia with excessive social media use before and during COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundBesides the well known good side of social media, it cannot be denied some of its negative effects. This two-phase study aimed to find out whether the usage of social media during the COVID-19 pandemic showed some significant association with depression and anxiety symptoms, and levels of stress.MethodsThe study was based on the survey of 1,476 randomly selected students at the initial phase (December 2019 to February 2020), and 1,400 students of the same cohort at the follow up phase (December 2021–February 2022). The collected data included socio-demographics, social media usage aspects, and the ones concerning levels of depression, stress and anxiety symptoms. Standardized questionnaires – the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) was applied to measure the levels of social media addiction, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 42) was administered to evaluate the symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.ResultsThe comparison of responses regarding the six components of online social media addiction, which constitute the BSMAS, between the two phases of the study showed significant difference (p < 0.01) in favor of the follow up phase in the raised scores of all but one component. The probable severe or extremely severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were notably enhanced during the peak of pandemic, and all three of them were positively correlated with all 6 BSMAS components (p < 0.01). The results also indicate that students, who consumed alcohol beverages and psychoactive substances more frequently in the pandemic, exhibited more noticeable symptoms of depression (p < 0.01, for both associations). Higher levels of anxiety symptoms in students were found to be associated with longer sleep during the night (p < 0.01), increased alcoholic beverages consumption (p < 0.01). Stress levels had the strongest correlations with consuming alcoholic beverages during the pandemic (r = 0.16, p < 0.01).ConclusionThe comparison between two phases of this follow-up study revealed significant changes in the Internet usage characteristics, which may have had an essential influence on the investigated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. However, other factors that may have influenced student’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic should also be considered

Reproducibility of age determination by scale and vertebra in pontic shad (alosa pontica eichwald, 1838), from the Danube

Specimens of Pontic shad (Alosa pontica Eichwald, 1838) were collected during April and May of 2006 in the Danube River (rkm 863) just downstream of the Iron Gate (Djerdap) II dam. Twenty-eight scales and 30 vertebrae were prepared and given to five interpreters with fish aging experience of from 3 to 30 years and with shad aging experience of from 0 to 12 years. Interpreters with experience in shad age determination showed lower values for the index of average percent error (IAPE) and an index of coefficient of variation (ICV). In regard to within-interpreter reproducibility, no significant differences were found between scale and vertebrae as structure for age determination. The most experienced reader showed the lowest value for IAPE, while the least experienced reader showed the highest value for IAPE. The results of this work indicate that experience in age determination by particular structure had more impact on age determination precision than specificity of structure, scale or vertebra. More work is needed on adopting standard protocols that must include some sort of common interaction between responsible age readers

Smoking habits, knowledge about and attitudes toward smoking among employees in health institutions in Serbia

Background/Aim. According to the number of active smokers, Serbia occupies a high position in Europe, as well as worldwide. More than 47% of adults are smokers according to WHO data, and 33.6% according to the National Health Survey Serbia in 2006. Smoking physicians are setting a bad example to patients, they are uncritical to this habit, rarely ask patients whether they smoke and rarely advise them not to smoke. These facts contribute to the battle for reducing the number of medical workers who smoke, as well as the number of smokers among general population. The aim of the study was to determine the smoking behavior, knowledge and attitudes and cessation advice given to patients by healthcare professionals in Serbia. Methods. A stratified random cluster sample of 1,383 participants included all types of health institutions in Serbia excluding Kosovo. The self administrated questionnaire was used to collect data about smoking habits, knowledge, attitudes and cessation advice to patients given by health professionals in Serbia. Results. Out of 1,383 participants, 45.60% were smokers, of whom 34.13% were physicians and 51.87% nurses. There were 46.4% male and 45.4% female smokers. The differences in agreement with the statements related to the responsibilities of health care professionals and smoking policy are significant between the “ever” and “never” smokers, and also between physicians and nurses. Twenty-five percent of nurses and 22% of doctors claimed they had received formal training. However, only 35.7% of the healthcare professionals felt very prepared to counsel patients, while 52.7% felt somewhat prepared and 11.6% were not prepared at all. Conclusions. According to the result of this survey, there are needs for more aggressive nationwide non-smoking campaigns for physicians and medical students. Experiences from countries where physicians smoke less and more effectively carry out smoking cessation practices need to be shared with Serbian physicians in order to improve their smoking behavior and smoking cessation practices. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 43012

Concentrations of 17 elements in muscle, gills, liver and gonads of five economically important fish species from the Danube River

The Danube River in the vicinity of the city of Belgrade receives large amounts of untreated or poorly treated communal and industrial waste waters. The aim of this study was to assess elemental accumulation patterns in a number of economically important fish species in this area that belong to different trophic levels. Concentrations of 17 elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr and Zn) were assessedin liver, muscle, gills and gonads of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), freshwater bream (Abramis brama), white bream (Blicca bjoerkna), common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and wels catfish (Silurus glanis) from the Danube River in Serbia by the use of ICP-OES. Silver carp specimens were differentiated from the other four species by high concentrations of Al and Fe in the liver. Common carp specimens were differentiated by high concentrations of Zn in gills, muscle and liver. Distribution of elements among different tissues had a consistent pattern among the species. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, As, Zn, Cu and Fe in muscle were at acceptable levels for human consumption, while concentrations of Fe and Zn were above maximum acceptable concentrations in liver and gonads

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and socioeconomic factors as predictors of low birth weight in term pregnancies in Niš

Background/Aim. Low birth weight (LBW) is a result of preterm birth or intrauterine growth retardation, and in both cases is the strongest single factor associated with perinatal and neonatal mortality. It is considered that socioeconomic factors, as well as mothers bad habits, play the most significant role in the development of LBW, which explains notable number of researches focused on this particular problem. The aim of this study was to characterize socioeconomic factors, as well as smoking habits of the mothers, and their connection with LBW. Methods. The questionnaire was carried out among mothers of 2 years old children (n = 956), born after 37 gestational weeks. The characteristics of mothers who had children with LBW, defined as < 2 500 g, (n = 50), were matched with the characteristics of mothers who had children ≥ 2 500 g, (n = 906). For defining risk factors, and protective factors as well, we used univariant and multivariant logistic modeles. Results. As significant risk factors for LBW in an univariant model we had education level of the mothers, smoking during pregnancy, smoking before pregnancy, the number of daily cigarettes, the number of cigarettes used during pregnancy, paternal earnings and socioeconomic factors. In a multivariant model the most significant factors were socioeconomic factors, education level of the mothers, paternal earnings and mothers smoking during pregnancy. Conclusion. Smoking during pregnancy and socioeconomic factors have great influence on LBW. Future studies should be carried out in different social groups, with the intention to define their influence on LBW and reproduction, as well. This should be the proper way of adequate health breeding planning for giving up smoking, the prevention of bad habits and melioration of mothers and children health, as the most vulnerable population

Mapping differential elemental accumulation in fish tissues: importance of fish tissue sampling standardization

The concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn in the muscle, gills, liver and intestine of the wels catfish (Silurus glanis) from the Danube River were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The aim of the study was to determine whether in complex muscle/skin, gill filament/gill arch, proximal/distal liver and proximal/median/distal intestine samples, particular components differ in concentrations of the analyzed elements. Results indicated that there were no differences in the accumulation of different elements between the proximal and distal liver segments and between the proximal and median intestine sections. Conversely, elemental accumulation patterns in muscle and skin differed significantly. Significant differences were also observed between the gill arch and filaments, as well as between the distal and the two upper intestine sections. Findings indicated the importance of detailed reporting of tissue sampling, i. e. whether the skin was included in the muscle sample, as well as if the gill arch and filaments were analyzed together. Due to a potential bias that can be produced by different muscle/skin or gill arch/filament ratios included in the sample, we strongly recommend that they should not be analyzed together. Results of the present study might be of interest to the scientific community and stakeholders involved in aquatic ecosystem monitoring programs

Literature survey on fish tissues contamination by heavy metals and elements in the Danube River, from 1433-845rkm.

Heavy metals have high potential to enter and accumulate in food chains and therefore are considered as critical contaminants of aquatic ecosystems (Erdoğrul and Erbilir 2007). Given that fish are situated at the top of the food chain they can accumulate large amount of heavy metals (Yilmaz et al. 2007). Heavy metals are taken up through different organs of the fish because of the affinity between them, and then are concentrated at different levels in different organs of the body (Bervoets et al. 2001). Accumulation of heavy metals in muscle tissues was the most studied, given that muscle tissue is the main fish part that is consumed by humans (Begum et al. 2013; Storelli et al. 2006). However, it is important to analyze other tissues since muscles are not always a good indicator of the whole fish body contamination (Has-Schön et al. 2006). The Danube River is the second longest river in Europe and runs through Serbia at a length of 587.4 km. The biggest industrial capacities are largely located on the Danube river banks - Belgrade, Novi Sad, Pančevo and Smederevo (Petrović 2015). The main problem is that none of them has any kind of system for treating municipal wastewaters (Veljković 2005). Within this study, published articles regarding heavy metal accumulation in different tissues of fish in the Danube in Serbia were analyzed in order to evaluate which species, tissues and elements were the most represented in the analyses. The main aim was to assess present practices in research of heavy metal pollution in this region, as well as to identify key gaps regarding the particular river sections, types of pollutants, tissues, and trophic and functional groups of fish communities that were inadequately represented in research

The Danube River in Serbia

Over 2850 km long, the Danube River is certainly the most important river in Europe, flowing through Germany (687 km), Austria (358 km), Slovakia (172 km), Hungary (417 km), Croatia (138 km), Serbia (587 km), Bulgaria (472 km), Romania (1075 km), Moldovia (<1 km) and Ukraine (54 km) in a west-east direction, and representing a “water backbone” for many European countries located in its basin

Carob Extract (Ceratonia siliqua L.): Effects on Dyslipidemia and Obesity in a High-Fat Diet-Fed Rat Model

Dyslipidemia and obesity are recognized as two of the major global health issues and main risk factors for coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. In recent years, carob has shown certain antioxidant and anti-dyslipidemic potential. In this study, Wistar rats were fed with a standard and cholesterol-enriched diet and treated orally with carob extract and simvastatin for four weeks. After sacrifice, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, and liver tissue was taken for histological and immunohistochemical assessment. Weight gain was significantly higher in groups fed with cholesterol-fortified granules; total cholesterol was found to be significantly lower in the hypercholesterolemic groups treated with simvastatin and simvastatin/carob combined regimens compared with hypercholesterolemic animals treated with saline (p < 0.05). The same was true for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the LDL/HDL ratio (p < 0.05). Adiponectin was remarkably higher in animals treated with simvastatin compared to all other groups (p < 0.05). Leptin was significantly lower in groups treated with carob and simvastatin compared to the hypercholesterolemic group treated with saline (p < 0.05). Carob/simvastatin co-administration reduced hepatocyte damage and improved liver morphology. A study confirmed the anti-dyslipidemic, anti-obesity, and hepatoprotective potential of carob pulp alone or in combination with simvastatin in the treatment of high-fat diet-fed rats