Characteristics and quality of life of substance users and their caregivers.

The correlation between substance use and depression has been emphasized in the literature. Substance use disorders can also adversely affect the caregivers of drug-addicted persons. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Special Hospital for Addiction Diseases in Belgrade in 2015 to analyze the characteristics, consequences, and health-related quality of life of drug users and their caregivers.

Anxiety and depression in patients with vocal fold nodules, edema and polyps.

Purpose: To compare the prevalence and severity of depression and anxiety among patients with vocal fold (VF) nodules, polyps and edema. At the same time the aim was to analyse association between severity of distress and the level of vocal handicap as well as to identify other factors related to severity of depression and anxiety in these patients.

Methods: To all participants were given five questionnaires: (1) questionnaire on socio-demographic and some other characteristics of patient; (2) Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI); (3) State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) 1 (State Anxiety); (4) STAI 2 (Trait Anxiety); and (5) Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10.

The prevalence of polyvascular disease in patients with carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease.

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of mortality in the Western World.

Aims: We aimed to assess the prevalence of polyvascular disease in patients with carotid artery disease and peripheral artery disease (PAD), and to determine the risk profile of patients with polyvascular disease.

Methods: The study included 1045 consecutive patients presenting to our department with carotid disease or PAD.

Awareness and knowledge of cardiovascular disease risk factors among medical students.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of medical students in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors as well as to assess the impact of medical education on their knowledge and recognition of the importance of implementation of preventive measures.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 514 students in the second year of studying at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, Serbia (younger students response rate 79.57%) and 511 students in the last year of education (older students response rate 90.

Comparison of different anthropometric measures in the adult population in Serbia as indicators of obesity: data from the National Health Survey 2013.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare different indicators of obesity in the Serbian adult population.

Design: Cross-sectional study. A stratified, two-stage, national-representative random sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample.

Relationship between health behaviour and body mass index in the Serbian adult population: data from National Health Survey 2013.

Objectives: To determine relationship between health behaviour and body mass index (BMI) in a Serbian adult population.

Methods: Study population included adults aged 20 and more years. A stratified, two-stage national representative random sampling approach was used for the selection of the survey sample.

Trends in mortality rates from coronary heart disease in Belgrade (Serbia) during the period 1990-2010: a joinpoint regression analysis.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) causes an estimated 7 million deaths worldwide each year. In the last few decades, mortality from CHD has been decreasing in many countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the trends of mortality from CHD and myocardial infarction (MI) in the population of Belgrade during the period 1990-2010.

Chronic venous disease: Correlation between ultrasound findings and the clinical, etiologic, anatomic and pathophysiologic classification.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate association between clinical manifestation of chronic venous disease and the presence and severity of functional venous disease.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 14 towns in Serbia. All men and women aged >18 years, consecutively coming to venous specialists (47 specialists) were included in the study.

Cigarette smoking, coffee intake and alcohol consumption preceding Parkinson's disease: a case-control study.

Objective: A case-control study was performed in Belgrade in order to investigate the association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and smoking, coffee and alcohol consumption.

Methods: During the period 2001-2005, 110 new PD cases and 220 hospital controls were interviewed. Cases and controls were matched by sex, age and place of residence (urban/rural).

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with carotid disease according to NHLBI/AHA and IDF criteria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been related to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Different criteria for diagnosis of MetS have been recommended, but there is no agreement about which criteria are best to use. The aim of the present study was to investigate agreement between the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, American Heart Association (NHLBI/AHA) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definitions of MetS in patients with symptomatic carotid disease and to compare the frequency of cardiovascular risk factor in patients with MetS diagnosed by these two sets of criteria.

Quality of life in chronic venous disease patients measured by short Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) in Serbia.

Background: This was a psychometric validation of the short Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) as quality of life (QOL) instrument for chronic venous disease (CVD) patients.

Methods: Patients aged >18 years who had CVD in CEAP C stages C0s to C6 were included in the study. Diagnosis was made by general practitioners according to CVD symptoms and visual examination of the lower extremities.

Environmental factors and Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in Belgrade, Serbia.

A case-control study was performed in Belgrade in order to investigate the association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and some environmental factors. During the period 2001-2005, 110 new PD cases and 220 hospital controls were interviewed. Cases and controls were matched by sex, age (+/-2 years), and place of residence (urban/rural).

Association of socioeconomic status measured by education and risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis: cross-sectional study.

Aim: To investigate the association between socioeconomic status and metabolic syndrome, lifestyle, clinical and biochemical characteristics, and inflammatory markers as risk factors for carotid atherosclerotic disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study, involving 657 consecutive patients with verified carotid atherosclerotic disease, was performed in Belgrade, Serbia, during the period 2006-2007. Formal education level was used as a proxy for socioeconomic status.

Case-control study of anaplastic thyroid cancer: goiter patients as controls.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is very serious disease with bad prognosis and unknown etiology. The aim of the study was to test some hypotheses about other factors in addition to goiter related to anaplastic thyroid cancer occurrence. A case-control study was performed during the period 1993-2005.

Case-control study of oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: In order to test some hypotheses of risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer (neoplasm of base of tongue, palate and tonsils) matched case-control study was conducted in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, during the period 1998-2000.

Methods: Study comprised 100 incidence cases with oropharyngeal cancer and 100 controls with some non-malignant diseases of head and neck.

Results: According to multivariate analysis, ever smoking, interaction between smoking and alcohol consumption, and occupational exposure to wood dust were found to be independent risk factors for oropharyngeal cancer (odds ratio-OR=5.

Risk factors for Peyronie's disease: a case-control study.

Objective: To test some hypotheses about risk factors for Peyronie's disease (PD).

Patients And Methods: In a case-control study, 82 patients with PD, consecutively diagnosed at the first author's institution, were compared with 246 men visiting the same institution for dermatological diseases. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess the data.

The Belgrade childhood diabetes study: a multivariate analysis of risk determinants for diabetes.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate some hypotheses about factors related to the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Belgrade during the period 1994-1997. A total of 105 recently onset diabetic and 210 control children, individually matched by age (+/-1 year), sex and place of residence, were included in the study.

Sexual behaviour of male teenagers attending a City Department for Skin and Venereal Diseases in Belgrade.

A study of sexual behaviour of teenagers is essential in the design of an effective intervention programme for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). A questionnaire was administered to 380 men, attending the department for skin and venereal diseases in Belgrade in the period from January 2000 to June 2001. Two groups were compared, 'STD cases' (attending for suspected STDs) and controls (with skin mycotic diseases).

Hereditary patterns of Belgrade university female students with migraine and nonmigraine primary headache.

Various studies have provided evidence that migraine is a multifactorial genetic disorder. The aim of the present study was to compare hereditary patterns of female students with migraine (245 subjects) and non-migraine primary headaches (1053 subjects). The prevalence study was performed combined with a case-control study.