New-Onset Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation in the Setting of Acute Pulmonary Embolism Is Associated with All-Cause Hospital Mortality in Women but Not in Men.

Background: Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) may have various types of atrial fibrillation (AF). The role of AF in hemodynamic states and outcomes may differ between men and women.

Methods: In total, 1600 patients (743 males and 857 females) with acute PE were enrolled in this study.

Impact on long-term mortality of access and non-access site bleeding after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: The influence of the bleeding site on long-term survival after the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is poorly understood. This study sought to investigate the relationship between in-hospital access site versus non-access site bleeding and very late mortality in unselected patients treated with primary PCI.

Methods: Data of the 2715 consecutive patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary PCI, enrolled in a prospective registry of a high volume tertiary centre, were analysed.

Biomarkers for the prediction of early pulmonary embolism related mortality in spontaneous and provoked thrombotic disease.

Factors associated with provoked PE may influence a biomarker's predictive value for the primary outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of BNP, cTnI, CRP and D-Dimer measurements taken soon after hospital admission for the prediction of 30-day PE-caused death in patients with spontaneous versus provoked PE.Data were extracted from a pool of 726 consecutive PE patients enrolled in the multicenter Serbian PE registry.

The importance of angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism to losartan treatment in improving glomerulopathy in type 1 diabetic patients.

Objective: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a clinical syndrome characterized by persistent albuminuria, increasing arterial blood pressure and progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). When persistent albuminuria is established, antihypertensive treatment becomes most important factor in slowing the progression of diabetic glomerulopathy. Aim of this study was to examine if renoprotective response to losartan therapy, in patients with diabetic nephropathy, depends on 1166 A/C gene polymorphism for its target receptor, angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R).

Incidence, predictors and prognostic implications of bleeding complicating primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background/aim: Data about bleeding complicating primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are more frequently obtained from randomized clinical trials on patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), but less frequently from surveys or registries on patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, predictors and prognostic impact of in-hospital major bleeding in the population of unselected real-world patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary PCI.

Methods: All consecutive patients presenting with STEMI who underwent primary PCI at a single large tertiary healthcare center between January 2005 and July 2009, were studied.

Quality of life after peripheral bypass surgery: a 1 year follow-up.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess quality of life (QoL) in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) after aortobifemoral bypass.

Methods: QoL assessments were completed by 78 patients, 61 (78.2 %) men and 17 (21.

The association of CHA2DS2-VASc score and blood biomarkers with ischemic stroke outcomes: the Belgrade stroke study.

Background: Many blood biomarkers have a positive association with stroke outcome, but adding blood biomarkers to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) did not significantly improve its discriminatory ability. We investigated the association of the CHA2DS2-VASc score with unfavourable functional outcome (defined as a 30-day modified Rankin Scale [mRS] ≥ 3) in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and examined whether the addition of blood biomarkers (troponin I [TnI], fibrinogen, C-reactive protein [CRP]) affects the model discriminatory ability.

Methods: We conducted an observational single-centre study of consecutive patients with AIS.

Prognostic implications of bleeding measured by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) categorisation in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between inhospital bleeding as defined by Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) consensus classification and short-term and long-term mortality in unselected patients admitted for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: We analysed data of all consecutive patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) admitted for primary PCI, enrolled in a prospective registry of a high volume centre. The BARC-defined bleeding events were reconstructed from the detailed, prospectively collected clinical data.

Feasibility of applying data mining techniques for predicting technical difficulties during laparoscopic cholecystectomy based on routine patient work-up in a small community hospital.

Background/aims: Predicting technical difficulties in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in a small regional hospital increases efficacy, cost-benefit and safety of the procedure. The aim of the study was to assess whether it is possible to accurately predict a difficult LC (DLC) in a small regional hospital based only on the routine available clinical work-up parameters (patient history, ultrasound examination and blood chemistry) and their combinations.

Methodology: A prospective, cohort, of 369 consecutive patients operated by the same surgeon was analyzed.

Pancreatic cancer mortality in Serbia from 1991-2010 - a joinpoint analysis.

Aim: To analyze the trends of pancreatic cancer mortality in Serbia.

Methods: The study covered the population of Serbia in the period 1991 to 2010. Mortality trends were assessed by the joinpoint regression analysis by age and sex.

Biomarkers of acute kidney injury in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant problem in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The aims of this study were to assess the diagnostic validity of serum CysC (sCysC), serum neutrophil gelatinase lipocalin (sNGAL), urine neutrophil gelatinase lipocalin (uNGAL), urine kidney injury molecule (uKIM)-1, and urine liver fatty acid-binding protein (uL-FABP) to predict AKI presence and severity in children undergoing CPB.

Design And Methods: We performed a prospective single-center evaluation of sCysC, sNGAL, uNGAL, uKIM-1 and uL-FABP at 0, 2, 6, 24 and 48 h postoperatively in children undergoing CPB during cardiac surgery.

Health-related quality of life among patients with peripheral arterial disease.

We evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and compared the results with those of the general population. We also evaluated the possible association between some demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with PAD and HRQoL. A cross-sectional study involved 102 consecutive patients with verified PAD referred to the Dedinje Vascular Surgery Clinic in Belgrade.

Simple risk algorithm to predict serious bleeding in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: RISK-PCI bleeding score.

Background: Bleeding is a potentially catastrophic complication after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). It occurs most frequently within the first 30 days following the intervention. The aim of this study was to generate a simple and accurate risk model for the prediction of bleeding after PPCI.

L-FABP can be an early marker of acute kidney injury in children.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common postoperative complication following cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery. New biomarkers to identify patients with early AKI (before increases in serum creatinine) are needed to facilitate appropriate treatment. This study aimed to test the role of urinary liver fatty-acid-binding protein (L-FABP) as an early biomarker for AKI in children undergoing CPB surgery.

The influence of maternal smoking and exposure to residential ETS on pregnancy outcomes: a retrospective national study.

In a nationwide study of Serbian births, in 2008, we estimated the influence of maternal prenatal smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure on birth outcomes. Using stratified two-stage random cluster sampling, 2,721 women were interviewed in-person (response rates 98.1 %), and 2,613 singleton live births were included.

Health-related quality of life among patients with symptomatic carotid disease.

Objectives: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with symptomatic carotid disease (amaurosis fugax, transient ischaemic attack, stroke); to compare it with that of the general population; to explore whether HRQoL depends on the severity of the disease and to investigate the possible association between some demographic and clinical characteristics of patients and HRQoL.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 175 patients with symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic disease who were referred for endarterectomy between January 2011 and December 2011. HRQoL was measured using Medical Outcome Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36).

Impact of high post-loading platelet aggregation on 30-day clinical outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The antiplatelet regimen tailoring after primary PCI (ART-PCI) trial.

Background: Patients with high post-loading platelet aggregation (PPA) are at increased risk of stent thrombosis and death after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). The objective of the present trial was to examine whether high PPA is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in pPCI patients whose therapy was modified in accordance with PPA.

Methods: We analyzed 961 consecutive pPCI patients who underwent pPCI between February 2008 and June 2011.

Incidence, predictors, and 30-day outcomes of new-onset atrial fibrillation after primary percutaneous coronary intervention: insight into the RISK-PCI trial.

Objectives: Limited data exist about the prognostic significance of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) after contemporary primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). The objective of this study was to identify the incidence and predictors of new-onset AF and associated adverse 30-day outcomes in AF patients who underwent pPCI.

Methods: We analyzed 2096 patients undergoing pPCI after pretreatment with 600 mg clopidogrel.

Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in children in Serbia.

Background: The epidemiological information from well-defined populations regarding childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those concerning non-terminal stages, are scanty. The epidemiology of CKD in children is often based on renal replacement therapy (RRT) data, which means that a considerable number of children in earlier stages of CKD are missed as they will reach end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in adulthood. Here, we report the basic epidemiological data on childhood CKD in Serbia, gathered over the 10-year period of activity of the Serbian Pediatric Registry of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Prevalence and predictors of smoking and quitting during pregnancy in Serbia: results of a nationally representative survey.

Objectives: Middle- and low-income countries rarely have national surveillance data on smoking in pregnancy. This nationwide population-representative survey investigated pre- and post-partum smoking and their predictors in Serbia.

Methods: Using stratified two-stage random cluster sampling, 2,721 women in 66 health care centres were interviewed at 3 and 6 months post-partum.

Predicting 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The RISK-PCI score.

Background: Identification of patients at risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) might help selecting candidates for aggressive treatment or early discharge after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

Methods: The RISK-PCI is an observational trial of 2096 consecutive patients who underwent pPCI between 2006 and 2009, randomly allocated to derivation and validation sets with a set ratio of 80% to 20%. Thirty-day MACE comprising death, nonfatal reinfarction and stroke was the primary end point.

Acute patellar dislocation in adolescents: operative versus nonoperative treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of this prospective non-randomised study was to compare the efficacy of two opposed methods, operative and conservative. Our hypothesis was that if the method was selected correctly, on an individual basis, the results should be approximately equal.

Methods: The study included 37 adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years, with a mean follow up of 6.

[Individual renal hemodynamic response to chronic angiotensin II receptor blockade and the influence on the renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms].

Introduction: Our study was aimed at determining whether the polymorphism of genes for different components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system could influence the renal hemodynamic response to losartan treatment.

Material And Method: The study included 35 patients with type I diabetes mellitus and persistent albuminuria, genotyped for the 1166 A/C polymorphism gene for the angiotensin II type 1 receptor and I/D polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene. The participants were divided into groups according to the combinations of A or C allele: AA, AC, CC; and according to the combinations of I or D allele: II, ID and DD genotype.

Health-related quality of life in patients with psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that has a significant impact on patients' lives.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess factors that might influence the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with psoriasis.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 110 outpatients with psoriasis.