The timeline of blood pressure changes and hemodynamic responses during an experimental noise exposure.

Background: Noise exposure increases blood pressure and peripheral vascular resistance in both genders in an experimental setting, as previously reported by the authors.

Objectives: The aim of this re-analysis was to present the minute-by-minute timeline of blood pressure changes and hemodynamic events provoked by traffic noise in the young and healthy adults.

Methods: The experiment consisted of three 10-min phases: rest in quiet conditions before noise (Leq = 40 dBA), exposure to recorded road-traffic noise (Leq = 89 dBA), and rest in quiet conditions after noise (Leq = 40 dBA).

Predisposing Factors Responsible for the Occurrence of Bacterial Purulent Meningoencephalitis.

Bacterial purulent meningoencephalitis (BPME) is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by various pyogenic bacteria. The disease is defined as the inflammatory process of leptomeninges (visceral layer, pia mater and arachnoid membrane) and brain parenchyma with exudates in the subarachnoid space and surrounding brain structures. The aim of the study was to define the predisposing factors responsible for the occurrence of BPME, as well as the possible correlation between the presence of predisposing factors and patient demographic characteristics, etiology and outcome of the disease.

Suitability of blood-pressure-to-height ratio as the criterion for high blood pressure in children in an environmental study.

Background: Blood-pressure-to-height ratio is considered a simple, accurate, inexpensive and non-age-dependent index for screening high blood pressure in a clinical setting, but its suitability in epidemiological surveys was not taken into consideration. The aim of this study was to test the suitability of blood-pressure-to-height ratio against blood pressure for age percentiles for the identification of high blood pressure in an environmental study.

Methods: The sample consisted of 2195 children, aged 3 to 15 years, whose blood pressure was measured as part of an environmental study in Belgrade, Serbia.

Noise annoyance is related to the presence of urban public transport.

Background: The association between noise annoyance and public transport as a source of noise has not been studied previously. The aim was to study noise annoyance in an urban population due to the presence, the type and the number of public transport vehicles, in relation to other acoustical and non-acoustical parameters.

Method: The study sample comprised 5861 adults residing in 118 streets in the city center of Belgrade.

Thoracic bioelectrical impedance assessment of the hemodynamic reactions to recorded road-traffic noise in young adults.

Noise exposure increases blood pressure in both experimental and field studies. The underlying mechanisms may be evaluated by thoracic bioelectrical impedance. The aim of this experimental study was to assess changes in blood pressure, cardiac and hemodynamic parameters provoked by recorded traffic noise in young adults.

Prevalence of arterial hypertension in Serbia: PAHIS study.

Background: Arterial hypertension (AH) is the most common cardiovascular disease risk factor, affecting between 30 and 50% of the adult population in developed countries. A steady increase of the prevalence of AH by about 60% is expected by year 2025.

Methods: Serbian Society of Hypertension conducted a prevalence study from February to May 2012 on a sample of 3878 adult respondents.

The pathophysiological basis of carotid baroreceptor stimulation for the treatment of resistant hypertension.

The prevalence of resistant hypertension and existing limitations in antihypertensive drug therapy renders the interventional management of hypertension an attractive alternative. Carotid baroreceptors have been traditionally thought to be implicated only in short-term blood pressure regulation; however recent evidence suggests that the baroreceptors might play an important role even in the long-term blood pressure regulation. Electrical baroreflex stimulation appears safe and effective and might represent a useful adjunct to medical therapy in patients with resistant hypertension.

Blood pressure of urban school children in relation to road-traffic noise, traffic density and presence of public transport.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between noise levels, traffic density and the presence of public transport and children's blood pressure. Another aim was to assess the applicability of public transport as a proxy indicator of noise exposure. A cross-sectional study involved 1113 children aged 7-11 years from a central municipality in Belgrade.

Arsenic in drinking water and acute coronary syndrome in Zrenjanin municipality, Serbia.

Background: Arsenic is constantly present in drinking water supply systems of Zrenjanin municipality across decades. It presents a great public health problem in Serbia, but its relationship with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has not been studied previously.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the incidence of ACS in two areas from Zrenjanin municipality consuming different levels of arsenic in drinking water, and to explore the association between arsenic exposure and the probability of fatal outcome of ACS.

Low levels of arsenic in drinking water and type 2 diabetes in Middle Banat region, Serbia.

Arsenic in drinking water presents a serious public health problem in Serbia, but its relationship with diabetes has not been studied previously. The aim of this study was to explore the association between exposure to arsenic in drinking water and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes in Middle Banat region, Serbia. This cross-sectional study comprised two populations.

Favourable prognostic factors in therapy related acute myeloid leukaemia.

Introduction: Therapy related acute myeloid leukaemia (t-AML) is a distinct clinical entity recognized by the World Health Organization classification occurring after chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment administered for a previous disease. T-AML is characterised by pancytopenia, three-lineage myelodysplasia, high frequency of unfavourable cytogenetics and short survival.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse clinical, cytogenetic, and cytological characteristics of t-AML and their impact on survival.

Cardiovascular effects of environmental noise: research in Serbia.

Research on the cardiovascular effects of noise in Serbia started in the year 2002, including experimental studies on humans and epidemiological studies on the adult and children population of Belgrade and Pancevo. Experimental exposure to noise [L eq = 89 dB (A)] had a hypodynamic effect, significantly lowering the cardiac index, cardiac work, and pump performance (P < 0.01).

Obesity and fat distribution as predictors of aortoiliac peripheral arterial disease in middle-aged men.

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the aortoiliac segment is found in nearly a half of patients with PAD. The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of obesity and fat distribution on the occurrence of aortoiliac PAD in middle-aged men.

Methods: This case-control study included 204 middle-aged men (mean 58±7 years; range 45-70 years): 102 patients with aortoiliac PAD and 102 healthy controls without PAD.

Arsenic occurrence in drinking water supply systems in ten municipalities in Vojvodina Region, Serbia.

Vojvodina, a northern region of Serbia, belongs to the Pannonian Basin, whose aquifers contain high concentrations of arsenic. This study represents arsenic levels in drinking water in ten municipalities in Serbia. Around 63% of all water samples exceeded Serbian and European standards for arsenic in drinking water.

Assessment of the left ventricular chamber stiffness in athletes.

Since diastolic dysfunction is an early sign of the heart disease, detecting diastolic disturbances is predicted to be the way for early recognizing underlying heart disease in athletes. So-called chamber stiffness index (E/e')/LVDd was predicted to be useful in distinguishing physiological from pathological left ventricular hypertrophy, because it was shown to be reduced in athletes. It remains unknown whether it is reduced in all athletic population.

Predictors of noise annoyance in noisy and quiet urban streets.

Objectives: Although noise annoyance is a major public health problem in urban areas, there is a lack of published data on predictors for noise annoyance in acoustically different urban environments. The aim of the study was to assess the predictive value of various factors on noise annoyance in noisy and quiet urban streets.

Methods: Equivalent noise levels [Leq (dBA)] were measured during day, evening and night times in all of the streets of a central Belgrade municipality.

[An outbreak of trichinellosis in a military unit].

Background/aim: In December 2001, an outbreak of trichinellosis spreaded in a military unit. The aim of this paper was to show possibilities and consequences of trichinellosis infestations in military units during peace time, as well as to improve knowledge and awareness of medical corps personnel, commanders and soldiers about this disease.

Methods: A descriptive and analytical epidemiological models were used to find out a source of outbreak and to identify the ways of its transmission.

[Changes and variations of body weight as risk factors for coronary heart disease].

Introduction: Weight variations are a common phenomenon. Therefore, concern has been raised about the association between weight changes and weight variations and coronary heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of weight change and weight variations as risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Road-traffic noise and factors influencing noise annoyance in an urban population.

Noise annoyance is influenced by sound-related factors: type of noise, noise level and frequency, and person-related factors-physiological, psychological, and social factors. Prior to implementation of the Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council in Serbia, there was a need for the first comprehensive study on noise annoyance in Serbian urban population. The aim of this study was to determine principal factors for high noise annoyance in an adult urban population and to assess their predictive value.

Arsenic and bladder cancer: observations and suggestions.

Arsenic from drinking water is a well-known risk factor for bladder cancer. The purpose of this paper is to systematize some important yet often overlooked facts considering the relationship between arsenic exposure and the occurrence of bladder cancer. Since the exposure to inorganic arsenic from food, inhaled air, and skin absorption as well as arsenic methylation ability are not fully investigated, our assumption is that the exposure of arsenic only from drinking water is underestimated and its role as a risk factor is highly overestimated.

[Frequency of alcohol use among elementary school pupils at Belgrade Territory].

Introduction: Alcoholism is one of the most frequent modern diseases. These kinds of epidemiological studies have not been carried out in this country at a global level.

Objective: The aim of the study was to establish the spread of alcohol abuse among the young regarding the sex, and find the connection between the alcohol abuse and the consumption of drugs and cigarettes.

[Comparative analysis of gynaecological status of workers from textile and metal industry].

Introduction: Female workers in textile and metal industry are exposed to various physical and chemical hazards that can lead to the occurrence of gynaecological diseases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of gynaecological diseases among workers of textile and metal industries.

Method: The investigation comprised 197 female workers, 148 from textile and 49 from metal industry, aged from 26 to 57 years.

[Frequency and risk factors of the use of psychoactive substances among the young].

Background/aim: Socio-economic changes that occured in the wake of dismemberment of former Yugoslavia resulted in the appearance of social pathology, one of which was the increase in the use of psychoactive substances. The overwhole epidemiological research in the use of psychoactive substances has not been conducted so far. The aim of this study was to establish the type and form of the use of psychoactive substances considering sex and age, as well as risk factors for the use of psychoactive substances among the children and adolescents.

Nighttime road-traffic noise and arterial hypertension in an urban population.

Commonly used daytime measurements in previous investigations on community noise and arterial hypertension (AH) may be a source of exposure bias, as urban residents spend most of their daytime hours out of the home on workdays. For this reason, we focused on the relation of nighttime noise and AH. A cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 2,503 (995 men and 1,508 women) adult residents of a downtown Belgrade municipality.