The trend in national childhood immunization program coverage throughout Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija from 2003 to 2022: pre-COVID-19 period vs. COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The childhood immunization coverage in Serbian communities in Kosovo after the 1999 armed conflict has not been investigated. The study purpose was to evaluate the trend of immunization coverage with vaccines from the national childhood immunization program in Serbian communities in Kosovo and Metohija from 2003 to 2022.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the annual reports of the Public Health Institute of Kosovska Mitrovica received through notifications from the primary health centers where vaccines are being administered.

Psychometric Properties of the Serbian Version of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Disability Self-Assessment Questionnaire: Criterion Validity, Construct Validity, and Internal Consistency.

: The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire is a widely employed self-report tool for assessing upper extremity function. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Serbian version of the DASH by determining its criterion and construct validity, as well as internal consistency. : This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with hand and wrist disabilities at the Institute for Orthopedics "Banjica", Serbia.

Effects of Spinal Decompression and Segmental Spinal Instrumentation on Lower Limb Functionality in Patients with Spinal Osteoarthritis.

Spinal osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition of the spine, significantly impairs quality of life, causing pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Treatment primarily aims to improve functionality and quality of life. This study investigated the effects of lower back surgery (e.

Seven-Year Longitudinal Study: Clinical Evaluation of Knee Osteoarthritic Patients Treated with Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

: Numerous studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of intraarticular stem cell injections for treating osteoarthritic knee joints, reporting symptom reduction and pain relief within a few months of treatment. Here, we report the results of a 7-year follow-up after a single intraarticular injection of 0.5-1 × 10 autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells in patients with OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 to 4).

Musculoskeletal Diseases as the Most Prevalent Component of Multimorbidity: A Population-Based Study.

: Due to their high frequency, common risk factors, and similar pathogenic mechanisms, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are more likely to occur with other chronic illnesses, making them a "component disorder" of multimorbidity. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of multimorbidity and to identify the most common clusters of diagnosis within multimorbidity states, with the primary hypothesis that the most common clusters of multimorbidity are MSDs. : The current study employed data from a population-based 2019 European Health Interview Survey (EHIS).

Lower microhardness along with less heterogeneous mineralization in the femoral neck of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus indicates higher fracture risk.

There is still limited understanding of the microstructural reasons for the higher susceptibility to fractures in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, we examined bone mineralization, osteocyte lacunar parameters, and microhardness of the femoral neck trabeculae in 18 individuals with T2DM who sustained low-energy fracture (T2DMFx: 78 ± 7 years, 15 women and 3 men) and 20 controls (74 ± 7 years, 16 women and 4 men). Femoral necks of the T2DMFx subjects were obtained at a tertiary orthopedic hospital, while those of the controls were collected at autopsy.

Ex vivo analysis of cortical microarchitecture of the distal clavicle: implications for surgical management of fractures.

Background: Cortical thickness and porosity are two main determinants of cortical bone strength. Thus, mapping variations in these parameters across the full width of the distal end of the clavicle may be helpful for better understanding the basis of distal clavicle fractures and for selecting optimal surgical treatment.

Methods: Distal ends of 11 clavicles (6 men, 5 women; age: 81.

Correlation between Radiological Characteristics, PET-CT and Histological Subtypes of Primary Lung Adenocarcinoma-A 102 Case Series Analysis.

Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the world for both men and women as well as the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The aim of this study is to summarize the radiological characteristics between primary lung adenocarcinoma subtypes and to correlate them with FDG uptake on PET-CT. This retrospective study included 102 patients with pathohistologically confirmed lung adenocarcinoma.

Translation and Validation of the Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Surgery Survey in Serbian.

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate the Sinus and Nasal Quality of Life Surgery Survey into the Serbian language to evaluate the test-retest reliability and validity.

Study Design: The study included 49 consecutive patients between 12 and 18 years old with rhinologic symptoms. Patients were given a paper survey to complete along with a link to complete the online survey within the same day.

Comparative Analysis of Complication Rates in Tibial Shaft Fractures: Intramedullary Nail vs. Ilizarov External Fixation Method.

: The external fixation (EF) Ilizarov method, shown to offer efficacy and relative safety, has unique biomechanical properties. Intramedullary nail fixation (IMN) is an advantageous alternative, offering biomechanical stability and a minimally invasive procedure. The aim of this study was to assess outcomes in patients undergoing tibia fracture fixation, comparing the Ilizarov EF and IMN methods in an early phase of IMN implementation in Serbia.

Arterial supply and morphological characteristics of sympathetic neurons in the human superior cervical ganglion.

The aim of this study was the micromorphological analysis of the distribution of microvessels, mast cells and ganglionic neurons in two parts, proximal and distal of the human superior cervical sympathetic ganglions (SCSGs). Statistical analyses were applied to detect the possible metric regional differences in their densities. Five injected human SCSGs with colored India ink and gelatin were microdissected and examined.

Acquired von Willebrand syndrome and post-operative drainage: a comparison of patients with aortic stenosis versus coronary artery disease.

Objective: Degenerative aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease are considered to be the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases in industrialized countries. This study aims to determine the change over time in von Willebrand factor antigen, von Willebrand factor activity, and factor VIII and where there is a correlation with total post-operative drainage.

Methods: The single-center retrospective study included 203 consecutive patients (64.

Persistent median artery and communicating branch related to the superficial palmar arch.

Microvascular surgery, plastic and reconstructive hand surgery, and coronary artery bypass surgery call for a microanatomical study of the branching pattern of the superficial palmar arch (SPA). For the anatomical analysis, we used a group of 20 dissected human hands injected with 4% formaldehyde solution and a 10% mixture of melted gelatin and India ink. The morphometric study was performed on 40 human hands of adult persons injected with methyl-methacrylate fluid into the ulnar and radial arteries simultaneously and afterwards corroded in 40% KOH solution for the preparation of corrosion cast specimens.

Transcultural adaptation and validation of the Serbian version of Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Treatment Satisfaction-Patient Satisfaction (FACIT-TS-PS) questionnaire.

Objective: Transcultural adaptation and validation of FACIT-TS-PS questionnaire to Serbian language.

Methods: Standard forward and backward translation from English to Serbian language was performed. Pilot testing of FACIT-TS-PS was conducted on 12 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of malignant tumor.

Percutaneous Computed Tomography-Guided Oxygen-Ozone (OO) Injection Therapy in Patients with Lower Back Pain-An Interventional Two-Year Follow-Up Study of 321 Patients.

Objectives: To assess the effect of oxygen-ozone therapy guided by percutaneous Computed Tomography (CT) compared to corticosteroids in individuals experiencing lower back pain (LBP) not attributed to underlying bone-related issues.

Methods: A total of 321 patients (192 males and 129 females, mean age: 51.5 ± 15.

Postoperative Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Patients With and Without Preoperative Colonization.

Importance: Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infections (SSIs) and bloodstream infections (BSIs) are important complications of surgical procedures for which prevention remains suboptimal. Contemporary data on the incidence of and etiologic factors for these infections are needed to support the development of improved preventive strategies.

Objectives: To assess the occurrence of postoperative S aureus SSIs and BSIs and quantify its association with patient-related and contextual factors.

IL-23/IL-17 Axis in Chronic Hepatitis C and Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis-New Insight into Immunohepatotoxicity of Different Chronic Liver Diseases.

Considering the relevance of the research of pathogenesis of different liver diseases, we investigated the possible activity of the IL-23/IL-17 axis on the immunohepatotoxicity of two etiologically different chronic liver diseases. A total of 36 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, 16 with (CHC-SF) and 20 without significant fibrosis (CHC-NSF), 19 patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and 20 healthy controls (CG) were recruited. Anthropometric, biochemical, and immunological cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IL-17 and IL-23) tests were performed in accordance with standard procedure.

Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing External Fixation to Intramedullary Nailing in the Treatment of Open Tibial Fractures.

The purpose of this study was to collect all available randomized controlled trials (RCT) on the treatment of open tibial fractures with an external fixator (EF) and intramedullary nailing (IMN) for meta-analysis to provide reliable evidence-based data for clinical decision-making. The systematic review was undertaken in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and AMSTAR (Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Review). An electronic search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was performed until 1 March 2023 to identify RCTs which compared either IMN or EF to fix the open tibial fracture.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONWIDE ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM IN SERBIA: CHALLENGES, LESSONS LEARNED, AND EARLY OUTCOMES.

Objectives: Many countries around the world have recognized the need for using an electronic health record (EHR) system. However, there is limited literature that could serve as a guide during a lengthy and challenging process of planning, development, and implementation of the e-Health system. Since the EHR system was recently introduced in Serbia, the purpose of this communication is to describe our experience and lessons learned along the way.

Molecular Biomarkers in Perthes Disease: A Review.

Background: Perthes disease is a juvenile form of osteonecrosis of the femoral head that affects children under the age of 15. One hundred years after its discovery, some light has been shed on its etiology and the biological factors relevant to its etiology and disease severity.

Methods: The aim of this study was to summarize the literature findings on the biological factors relevant to the pathogenesis of Perthes disease, their diagnostic and clinical significance, and their therapeutic potential.

From Sarcopenia to Depressive Symptoms in Elderly: A Path Analysis.

Background: Sarcopenia is an age-related progressive, generalized skeletal muscle disorder involving the accelerated loss of muscle function and muscle mass. The aim of this study was to assess the complex relationship between sarcopenia, malnutrition, cognitive impairment, physical activity, and depression in the elderly, with the potential role of quality of life as a mediator in these associations.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample ( = 298) of elderly patients admitted to Special Hospital for Rehabilitation "Termal", Vrdnik, Serbia.