Publications by authors named "Mira Samardzic"

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a condition that affects all aspects of life, and thus is closely related to the quality of life itself. Dealing with it during the COVID-19 pandemic is a big challenge. A case-control study conducted in Montenegro at the end of 2021 included 87 elementary school students with T1D and 248 of their peers as controls matched by gender.

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Significant and unexplained variations in type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence through the years were observed all around the world. The update on this disorder's incidence is crucial for adequate healthcare resource planning and monitoring of the disease. The aim of this study was to give an update on the current incidence of pediatric T1D in Montenegro and to analyze incidence changes over time and how the exposure to different factors might have affected it.

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Background: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of lysosomal storage disorders caused by defects in genes coding for different lysosomal enzymes which degrade glycosaminoglycans. Impaired lysosomal degradation causes cell dysfunction leading to progressive multiorgan involvement, disabling consequences and poor life expectancy. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is now available for most MPS types, offering beneficial effects on disease progression and improving quality of life of patients.

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Significant part of Southeastern Europe (with a population of 76 million) has newborn screening (NBS) programs non-harmonized with developed European countries. Initial survey was conducted in 2013/2014 among 11 countries from the region (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH), Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia) to assess the main characteristics of their NBS programs and their future plans. Their cumulative population at that time was ~52,5 million.

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Neonatal screening (NBS) was initiated in Europe during the 1960s with the screening for phenylketonuria. The panel of screened disorders ("conditions") then gradually expanded, with a boost in the late 1990s with the introduction of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), making it possible to screen for 40-50 conditions using a single blood spot. The most recent additions to screening programmes (screening for cystic fibrosis, severe combined immunodeficiency and spinal muscular atrophy) were assisted by or realised through the introduction of molecular technologies.

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Knowledge about the population's iodine status is important, because it allows adjustment of iodine supply and prevention of iodine deficiency. The validity and comparability of iodine-related population studies can be improved by standardization, which was one of the goals of the EUthyroid project. The aim of this study was to establish the first standardized map of iodine status in Europe by using standardized urinary iodine concentration (UIC) data.

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Aims/hypothesis: Against a background of a near-universally increasing incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes, recent reports from some countries suggest a slowing in this increase. Occasional reports also describe cyclical variations in incidence, with periodicities of between 4 and 6 years.

Methods: Age/sex-standardised incidence rates for the 0- to 14-year-old age group are reported for 26 European centres (representing 22 countries) that have registered newly diagnosed individuals in geographically defined regions for up to 25 years during the period 1989-2013.

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Introduction: The incidence rate of childhood type1 diabetes continues to rise across Europe by an average of approximately 3–4% per annum.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine incidence and trends of type 1 diabetes in children aged 0–14 years in Montenegro from 1997 to 2011.

Methods: This was a prospective study.

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In the last several decades, a great number of studies have pointed to a dramatic increase of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) incidence in the whole world, especially in younger age groups. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess changes in the age distribution at onset of T1DM in Montenegro children aged < 15 years during a 15-year period (1997-2011) and analyze the seasonal pattern. Primary case ascertainment was from diabetes register, secondary and tertiary independent data sources were hospital case records and register of children receiving free test stripes in pharmacy.

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Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (TIDM) in Montenegro compared with healthy controls and to estimate the effect of metabolic control on perceptions of HRQOL.

Methods: This study involved children and adolescents with T1DM, age- and gender-matched healthy children and their parents. Children and adolescents with T1DM and their parents completed Peds QL 4.

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Background: We aimed to assess the current state of PKU screening and management in the region of southeastern Europe.

Methods: A survey was performed involving all identified professionals responsible for the PKU management in the 11 countries from South-Eastern region of Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia). The questionnaire was designed to assess the characteristics regarding PKU management in three main areas: nation-wide characteristics, PKU screening, and characteristics of the PKU management in the responding centre.

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Background: Newly emerging Western style economic systems provide new opportunities to study the prevalence and predictors of childhood obesity. We also provide for the first time a national study of childhood obesity using all three international anthropometric criteria.

Methods: The sample included 4097 Montenegrin children, 2076 boys (50.

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The aim of our study was to assess the current state of newborn screening (NBS) in the region of southeastern Europe, as an example of a developing region, focusing also on future plans. Responses were obtained from 11 countries. Phenylketonuria screening was not introduced in four of 11 countries, while congenital hypothyroidism screening was not introduced in three of them; extended NBS programs were non-existent.

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Background: Health inequalities may begin during childhood. The aim of this study was to investigate the main effect of poverty and its interactive effect with gender on children's blood pressure.

Methods: The study was performed in two elementary schools from a rural region near Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro.

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Introduction: The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis during the period of 10 years (1999-2008) among children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Montenegro.

Material And Methods: A retrospective population-based incidence study was performed. The study participants were selected from two independent sources: the diabetes register and hospital records.

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Water intoxication (WI) is a rare condition that originates from over-consumption of water, with a potentially fatal outcome. Increased water intake (polydipsia) is followed by urination of high amount of diluted urine (polyuria) which are the main initial symptoms of WI. We present four case reports of WI.

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Introduction: Dent's disease is an X-linked recessive proximal tubulopathy characterized by low molecular weight proteinuria, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, nephrolithiasis and progressive renal failure. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the third report on the use of growth hormone therapy in a child with poor growth associated with Dent's disease.

Case Presentation: We report on a 7-year-old Montenegrin boy with proteinuria, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, rickets and short stature with unimpaired growth hormone secretion.

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Objective: To determine and analyze the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in 0- to 14-yr-old children in Montenegro from 1997 to 2006.

Research Design And Methods: This was a prospective study. Primary case ascertainment came from a diabetes register and secondary independent data source was from prescription data.

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Introduction: Dent disease is X-linked recessive proximal tubulopathy, due to mutations in the CLCN5 gene. It is characterized by low molecular weight proteinuria, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis and progressive renal failure.

Case Outline: A seven-year-old boy was referred after endocrinological examination where abdominal ultrasound showed nephrocalcinosis.

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