Nebojša Zdravković
@medf.kg.ac.rs
Department of Medical Statistics and Informatics
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac
Nebojša Zdravković (male) is Full Professor and Head of the Department of Health Informatics and Statistics at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac. He is also member of National Council for Higher Education and Council for the National Framework of Qualifications of the Republic of Serbia. Prof. Dr. Zdravković is author and co-author of more than 90 papers published in scientific journals, seminars and conferences, co-author of two monographs, author of 6 books. He is manager of master and PhD studies ‘’Management in the health care system’’. Prof. Dr. Zdravković is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Serbian Society for Computational Mechanics and a member of management team of the Serbian Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research. His expertise includes health informatics, health statistics, health management and e-learning. Prof. Dr. Zdravković is leader of the several courses of continuous medical education. Moreover, he is highly expe
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
General Medicine, Multidisciplinary
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Stefan Milojević, Marko Slavković, Snežana Knežević, Nebojša Zdravković, Vladislava Stojić, Miljan Adamović, and Vuk Mirčetić
MDPI AG
This study systematically investigated the extent and application of sustainability practices in the healthcare system by thoroughly examining existing research conducted on healthcare-related issues within the framework of sustainability. The review primarily focuses on three key conceptual aspects: the social, economic, and ecological dimensions of sustainability. PLS-SEM (partial least squares structural equation modeling) and MGA (multigroup analysis) for private and state healthcare organizations were applied in the study. The results show that there exists a robust positive relationship between the environmental dimension and the social dimension of health organizations’ outcomes, and the environmental dimension of the sustainability of healthcare organizations achieves a positive relationship with the economic dimension, while this relatedness is absent in the case of private healthcare organizations, for two perspectives: internal processes and learning. Moreover, the social dimension is identified as a factor that strengthens the impact of the environmental dimension on the economic dimension of health organizations’ outcomes. The results can be used in the development of policies and regulations, and for defining the strategies of healthcare organizations.
Snežana Marković, Olivera Kostić, Zorica Terzić-Supic, Sanja Tomic Mihajlovic, Jasmina Milovanović, Snezana Radovanovic, Nebojša Zdravković, Vladislava Stojić, Ljiljana Jovčić, Biljana Jocić-Pivač,et al.
MDPI AG
Background and Objectives: Workplace burnout syndrome is often as sociated with particular aspects of certain job positions, especially those that entail working with people with special needs. The burnout syndrome in healthcare jobs is a serious problem that has grown into an epidemic among healthcare workers and associates. The aim of this research is to assess the presence of stress and burnout syndrome at work with healthcare workers, expert workers, professional associates, and associates in social service institutions in Belgrade. Materials and Methods: This research was conducted in the form of a cross-sectional study of a representative sample in social institutions in Belgrade. It was conducted from March to the end of June of 2023. The sample of the study had 491 participants. The questionnaires used were a structured instrument with social–demographic and social–economic characteristics, workplace characteristics, lifestyle characteristics, and the following questionnaires: DASS-21, Copenhagen, Brief Resilience Scale, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Results: The end results indicate the following to be significant risk factors for the occurrence of workplace burnout syndrome: overtime (OR = 2.62; CI = 1.50–4.56), BRS average score (OR = 0.28; CI = 0.17–0.44), DASS21 D heightened depression (OR = 2.09; CI = 1.1–4.04), DASS21 A heightened anxiety (OR = 2.38; CI = 1.34–4.21), and DASS21 S heightened stress (OR = 2.08; CI = 1.11–3.89). The only protective risk factor that stood out was the self-assessment of health levels (OR = 0.60; CI = 0.42–0.85). Conclusion: Overtime is a significant factor associated with workplace burnout. Apart from it, other significant factors associated with workplace burnout were heightened depression, anxiety, and stress levels.
Miloš Živić, Nebojša Zdravković, Bojan Stojanović, Bojan Milošević, Željko Todorović, Miljan Adamović, and Nataša Zdravković
MDPI AG
Introduction: Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory granulomatous disease that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract. It is characterized by various extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs), of which oral manifestations (OMs) are often possible. One of the possible OMs is periodontal disease (PD), a chronic inflammatory condition of the supporting tissues of the teeth. This study aimed to show the existence of a mutual relationship between the clinical activity of PD and the clinical and endoscopic activity of CD. Materials and methods: One clinical and two endoscopic indexes were used for the assessment of CD activity and clinical attachment loss (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket probing depth (PPD), and radiographic bone loss (RBL) in a dental panoramic tomogram to assess PD in CD patients. Results: A total of 38 patients underwent the entire study process, of which 20 patients had CD and 18 patients had CD and PD. Considering all CD activity scores, there were 26 patients with active disease; half of them had PD, and 85.7% of operated patients had active CD. The values of CAL, PPD, BOP, and RBL were higher in active CD patients than those in remission, except for BOP when comparing to the CDAI score, which was higher in those in remission of CD. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that there is a connection between the activity of CD and worse conditions of the supporting tissues of the gums in the oral cavity, so it is important to keep in mind the necessity of referring patients with CD to a dentist for timely and adequate therapeutic measures.
Kristina Radoman, Vladimir Zivkovic, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Natalia Vasilievna Chichkova, Sergey Bolevich, and Vladimir Jakovljevic
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractThis study aimed to examine the effects of dandelion root on rat heart function and oxidative status. At the beginning of the experimental protocol, Wistar albino rats were randomly classified into two groups (10 rats per group): 1. control group – animals that drank tap water; 2. experimental group – animals that drank dandelion root for four weeks. Every morning for four weeks, the animals received freshly boiled dandelion root in a volume of 250 ml. At the end of the dandelion administration, animals were sacrificed, and their hearts were isolated and retrogradely perfused according to the Langendorff technique at a gradually increasing perfusion pressure between 40 – 120 cm H2O. The following myocardial function parameters were measured: maximum rate of left ventricular pressure development (dp/dt max), minimum rate of left ventricular pressure development (dp/dt min), systolic left ventricular pressure (SLVP), diastolic left ventricular pressure (DLVP), heart rate (HR). In addition, the coronary flow (CF) was measured flowmetrically. Finally, blood samples were collected after sacrificing to determine oxidative stress biomarkers: nitrite (NO2−), superoxide anion radical (O2−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the index of lipid peroxidation (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The present pioneer results indicated that dandelion root did not manifest a negative impact on functional aspects of isolated rat heart. In addition, dandelion consumption was not associated with promising results in terms of maintaining systemic redox balance.
Jasmin J. Nukovic, Valentina Opancina, Elisa Ciceri, Mario Muto, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Ahmet Altin, Pelin Altaysoy, Rebeka Kastelic, Diana Maria Velazquez Mendivil, Jusuf A. Nukovic,et al.
MDPI AG
Strokes are one of the global leading causes of physical or mental impairment and fatality, classified into hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Ischemic strokes happen when a thrombus blocks or plugs an artery and interrupts or reduces blood supply to the brain tissue. Deciding on the imaging modality which will be used for stroke detection depends on the expertise and availability of staff and the infrastructure of hospitals. Magnetic resonance imaging provides valuable information, and its sensitivity for smaller infarcts is greater, while computed tomography is more extensively used, since it can promptly exclude acute cerebral hemorrhages and is more favorable speed-wise. The aim of this article was to give information about the neuroimaging modalities used for the diagnosis and monitoring of ischemic strokes. We reviewed the available literature and presented the use of computed tomography, CT angiography, CT perfusion, magnetic resonance imaging, MR angiography and MR perfusion for the detection of ischemic strokes and their monitoring in different phases of stroke development.
Valentina Opancina, Silvia Esposito, Francesco Di Meco, Eleonora Bruno, Marco Moscatelli, Ignazio G. Vetrano, Luisa Chiapparini, Miljan Opancina, Mariangela Farinotti, Laura G. Valentini,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Valentina Opancina, Silvia Esposito, Francesco Di Meco, Eleonora Bruno, Marco Moscatelli, Ignazio G. Vetrano, Luisa Chiapparini, Miljan Opancina, Mariangela Farinotti, Nebojsa Zdravkovic,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sasa Peric, Zeljko Todorovic, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Andjela Gogic, Stefan Simovic, Vesna Grbovic, Mladen Maksic, Stefan Jakovljevic, Olivera Milovanovic, and Natasa Zdravkovic
MDPI AG
Background and Objectives: Ulcerative colitis is chronic and/or progressive inflammation of the colorectal mucosa and submucosa and represents one of two major inflammatory bowel diseases. Ulcerative colitis has been associated with increased risk of arteriosus and venous thrombosis. There are numerous factors responsible for this; one of them is platelet activation and aggregation. The objective of our study was to determine if different treatment options for ulcerative colitis have an impact on platelet aggregation. Materials and Methods: This research was a prospective, observational study and included 94 newly diagnosed patients with UC divided into four treatment groups. For all patients, we measured platelet aggregability by using an impedance aggregometry method with a multiplate analyzer before and after treatment with infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab and azathioprine. A Paired Samples t test was performed in order to determine the difference in platelet aggregability before and after a certain therapy, since the data followed a normal distribution. Taking into account the impact of some clinical characteristics, multiple linear regression was conducted for the purpose of estimating the effect of therapy on the level of reduction in platelet aggregability. Results: All four drugs significantly reduced platelet aggregability. After we excluded the influence of clinical and endoscopic scores and disease localization on the results, we found that infliximab had the greatest anti-platelet activity. Conclusions: In addition to the well-known traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, activation and aggregation of platelets play a significant role in the development of arterial thrombosis, and our results suggested that therapy use for the treatment of UC, especially infliximab, can have a great impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by decreasing platelet aggregability.
Nevena Dragasevic, Maja Savic, Katarina Mihajlovic, Vladimir Zivkovic, Marijana Andjic, Nevena Draginic, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Sergey Bolevich, Stefani Bolevich, Vladimir Jakovljevic,et al.
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Stefan Milojević, Marko Milašinović, Aleksandra Mitrović, Jasmina Ognjanović, Jelena Raičević, Nebojša Zdravković, Snežana Knežević, and Malči Grivec
MDPI AG
As an important topic in the field of corporate governance, the influence of the board of directors’ characteristics on the profitability of corporations is examined here. This paper examines the influence of the board of directors’ and chief executive officers’ (CEO) characteristics on the profitability of banks in Serbia. In this study, the characteristics of boards of directors were examined in terms of size and the participation of women, and the characteristics of CEOs were examined similarly in terms of women’s participation. The research was conducted on a sample of 23 commercial banks from Serbia in the period from 2017 to 2021. Profitability was measured by the rate of return on operating assets (ROA) and the rate of return on equity (ROE). The results of the panel regression analysis indicate that the size of the board of directors had a positive impact on bank profitability during the COVID-19 pandemic period, while this impact was not statistically significant before the pandemic. The participation of women on the board of directors did not have a statistically significant impact on bank profitability before or during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been found that the participation of women as CEOs had a negative impact on bank profitability before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jusuf A. Nukovic, Valentina Opancina, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Nikola Prodanovic, Ana Pejcic, Miljan Opancina, Jasmin J. Nukovic, Radisa Vojinovic, Dragan Dulovic, Fehim Jukovic,et al.
MDPI AG
Chest X-ray has verified its role as a crucial tool in COVID-19 assessment due to its practicability, especially in emergency units, and Brixia score has proven as a useful tool for COVID-19 pneumonia grading. The aim of our study was to investigate correlations between main laboratory parameters, vaccination status, and Brixia score, as well as to confirm if Brixia score is a significant independent predictor of unfavorable outcome (death) in COVID-19 patients. The study was designed as a cross-sectional multicentric study. It included patients with a diagnosed COVID-19 infection who were hospitalized. This study included a total of 279 patients with a median age of 62 years. The only significant predictor of unfavorable outcome (death) was Brixia score (adjusted odds ratio 1.148, p = 0.022). In addition, the results of the multiple linear regression analysis (R2 = 0.334, F = 19.424, p < 0.001) have shown that male gender (B = 0.903, p = 0.046), severe COVID-19 (B = 1.970, p < 0.001), and lactate dehydrogenase (B = 0.002, p < 0.001) were significant positive predictors, while albumin level (B = −0.211, p < 0.001) was a significant negative predictor of Brixia score. Our results provide important information about factors influencing Brixia score and its usefulness in predicting the unfavorable outcome (death) of COVID-19 patients. These findings have clinical relevance, especially in epidemic circumstances.
Ivana Simic Vukomanovic, Aleksandar Djukic, Sanja Kocic, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Svetlana Djukic, Svetlana Radevic, Snezana Radovanovic, Katarina Janicijevic, Filip Milutinovic, Vladislava Stojic,et al.
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract University students are a specific adolescent population which is preparing to take participation in different domains of a society as its integral and creative part. Chronic noncommunicable diseases have a major impact on women’s reproductive health, so their adverse epidemiological situation has significant effects on reproductive health in general. Since non-communicable chronic diseases have been a growing burden on reproductive health, the aim of this paper is asses of reproductive behavior and risk factors of non-communicable disease in female student population on Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Kragujevac. This study was conducted as a prospective cross-sectional study. The sample includes 59 female students of The Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac. The study was conducted in three stages based on the methodology and instruments recommended by STEPwise Approach to Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Surveillance of the World Health Organization (STEPS). About 71.2 % of the participants reported that they had a sexual intercourse. In average, the respondents were 18 years old (SD±1.222) at the time of their first sexual intercourse. At that point, a little less than one third of them did not use any type of protection (31.7%). During the last sexual intercourse, about 65.5% did not use protection. About 22.5% of our subjects have morning glycemia with prediabetes values (glycemia cut off ≥ 5.5mmol/L). Hypercholesterolemia is present in 3.4% of the respondents (cut off ≥ 5,2mmol/l). Most respondents are eutrophic (18.8% preobese and 2.1% obese). The android obesity type is the least frequent (about 10%). This results indicates that female students has unhealthy habits in terms of their reproductive health and preventive measures. This activity indicaty a wide array of preventive action which will aim at preserving reproductive health and health in general.
Sofija I. Lugonja, Ivana L. Pantic, Tamara M. Milovanovic, Vesna M. Grbovic, Bojana M. Djokovic, Željko D. Todorovic, Stefan M. Simovic, Raša H. Medovic, Nebojsa D. Zdravkovic, and Natasa D. Zdravkovic
MDPI AG
Background and Objectives: Atherosclerosis is one of inflammatory bowel disease’s most significant cardiovascular manifestations. This research aimed to examine the relationship between biochemical, haemostatic, and immune parameters of atherosclerosis and ulcerative colitis patients and its relationship to platelet aggregation. Materials and Methods: A clinical, observational cross-sectional study was performed, during which the tested parameters were compared in the experimental and control groups. The patients were divided into four groups. The first group had 25 patients who had ulcerative colitis and atherosclerosis. The second group included 39 patients with ulcerative colitis without atherosclerosis. The third group comprised 31 patients suffering from atherosclerosis without ulcerative colitis, and the fourth group comprised 25 healthy subjects. Results: In our study, we registered statistically higher levels of inflammatory markers like SE, CRP, Le, fecal calprotectin, TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as the higher value of thrombocytes and thrombocyte aggregation in the group of patients with ulcerative colitis compared to the control group. Lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL were also recorded in patients with ulcerative colitis and atherosclerosis and ulcerative colitis without atherosclerosis compared to healthy control. Triglyceride and remnant cholesterol were higher in patients with ulcerative colitis and atherosclerosis when compared to patients with ulcerative colitis and healthy control but lower than in patients with atherosclerosis only. Conclusions: Several inflammatory markers and platelet aggregation could be good discrimination markers for subjects with ulcerative colitis with the highest risk of atherosclerosis.
Vladan Markovic, Aleksandra Jurisic-Skevin, Vesna Grbovic, Stefan Simovic, Zeljko Todorovic, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Jelena Dimitrijevic, and Natasa Zdravkovic-Petrovic
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract Respiratory rehabilitation leads to reduction of symptoms, strengthens extremity musculature and improves emotional state and management of daily activities in patients with respiratory diseases. Aim of our study was to determine quality of life and functionality of COVID 19 patients before and after respiratory rehabilitation program. The study was conducted at the Clinical Center, Kragujevac, from June to July 2020. The study was a prospective clinical trial and included 62 patients with the acutephase of COVID-19. Respiratory rehabilitation program started at hospital and continued at home for three months overall. Quality of life was measured by the EQ-5D-5L and patient’s functionality by The FIM score. All five dimension of EQ-5D-5L were higher after respiratory rehabilitation program as well as EQ-5D index score and VAS score (0.8516±0.202 and 53.31±17.129 before rehabilitation, 0.9147±0.074 and 64.53±8.368 after rehabilitation). Respiratory exercise showed significantly improvement in FIM total score from 104.48±12.880 to 106.21±9.791, as well as in FIM motor and cognitive subscores. Respiratory rehabilitation program improves quality of life and functionality of COVID 19 patients.
Vladislava Stojic, Natasa Zdravkovic, Tamara Nikolic-Turnic, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Jelena Dimitrijevic, Aleksandra Misic, Kristijan Jovanovic, Stefan Milojevic, and Jelena Zivic
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic polypectomy as a therapeutic treatment for malignant alteration of colorectal polyps. In a 5-year research, 89 patients were included, who were tested and treated at the University Clinical Center Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia, with the confirmed presence of malignant alteration polyps of the colon by colonoscopy, which were removed using the method of endoscopic polypectomy and confirmed by the histopathological examination of the entire polyp. After that, the same group of patients was monitored endoscopically within a certain period, controlling polypectomy locations and the occurrence of a possible remnant of the polyp, in the period of up to 2 years of polypectomy. We observed that, with an increasing size of polyps, there is also an increase in the percentage of the complexity of endoscopic resection and the appearance of remnant with histological characteristics of the invasive cancer. The highest percentage of incomplete endoscopic resection and the appearance of remnant with histological characteristics of the invasive cancer were shown at malignant altered polyps in the field of tubulovillous adenoma. Eighteen patients in total underwent the surgical intervention. In conclusion, our data support the high efficacy of endoscopic polypectomy for the removal of the altered malignant polyp.
Mina Poskurica, Đorđe Stevanović, Vladimir Zdravković, Ivan Čekerevac, Vojislav Ćupurdija, Nebojša Zdravković, Tomislav Nikolić, Marina Marković, Marina Jovanović, Marija Popović,et al.
MDPI AG
Background: Early prediction of COVID-19 patients’ mortality risk may be beneficial in adequate triage and risk assessment. Therefore, we aimed to single out the independent morality predictors of hospitalized COVID-19 patients among parameters available on hospital admission. Methods: An observational, retrospective–prospective cohort study was conducted on 703 consecutive COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the University Clinical Center Kragujevac between September and December 2021. Patients were followed during the hospitalization, and in-hospital mortality was observed as a primary end-point. Within 24 h of admission, patients were sampled for blood gas and laboratory analysis, including complete blood cell count, inflammation biomarkers and other biochemistry, coagulation parameters, and cardiac biomarkers. Socio-demographic and medical history data were obtained using patients’ medical records. Results: The overall prevalence of mortality was 28.4% (n = 199). After performing multiple regression analysis on 20 parameters, according to the initial univariate analysis, only four independent variables gave statistically significant contributions to the model: SaO2 < 88.5 % (aOR 3.075), IL-6 > 74.6 pg/mL (aOR 2.389), LDH > 804.5 U/L (aOR 2.069) and age > 69.5 years (aOR 1.786). The C-index of the predicted probability calculated using this multivariate logistic model was 0.740 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Parameters available on hospital admission can be beneficial in predicting COVID-19 mortality.
Nebojsa Tasic, Danijela Tasic, Zorana Kovacevic, Marko Filipovic, Milan Arsic, Sladjana Bozovic-Ogarevic, Biljana Despotovic, Milovan Bojic, Zlatko Maksimovic, Nebojsa Zdravkovic,et al.
MDPI AG
Background: The purpose of this study was to compare home and office BP in the adjustment of antihypertensive treatment. Methods: This study was an open, prospective, noninterventional, multicenter clinical trial that occurred between July 2019 and February 2020, in 34 cities in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, which monitored 1581 participants for 6 months. Depending on the used blood pressure monitoring method used, all patients were divided into control (office BP monitoring) and experimental (home BP telemonitoring) groups. We collected anamnestic data and data about systolic blood pressure (SP), in mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (DP), in mmHg, and heart rate (HR), in beats/minute, from all patients. Results: SP values were significantly different at baseline, and at the second, third, and fourth visits between the two tested groups. Home and office BP decreased significantly (p < 0.000) during the 6-month follow-up. We observed a statistically significant influence of the presence of diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia on the dynamics of differences between SP monitoring values. Conclusions: Our study suggests that novel technologies in BP monitoring can be excellent alternatives for BP assessment in hypertensive patients with other cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes and dyslipidemia.
Vesna Grbovic, Natasa Markovic, Predrag Bogojevic, Jovana Nikolic, Jelena Milosevic, Stefan Simovic, Ivan Cekerevac, Aleksandra Jurišić-Škevin, Nebojša Zdravkovic, Sara Mijailovic,et al.
Informa UK Limited
ABSTRACT Introduction Respiratory exercise in post-COVID-19 significantly improves pulmonary function, exercise capacity and quality of life. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of respiratory exercise on partial pressures of oxygen, carbon dioxide and oxygen saturation in arterial blood and anxiety assessed by the GAD-7 scale in the acute phase of COVID-19 infection. Methods The study was conducted at the Clinical Center, Kragujevac, from June to July 2020. The study was a prospective clinical trial and included 62 patients with the acute-phase of COVID-19 infection (61.3% males, mean age 60.82 ± 11.72). The duration of the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program was 14 days ± 2.28 days. Oxygen saturation and heart rate were determined by using the pulse oximeter, oxygen flow, and arterial blood gas analysis values by using the gas analyzer. The anxiety assessment was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Results The values of oxygen saturation significantly differed before and after the respiratory exercise sessions (95.77 vs 98.02, respectively; p < .001). After the respiratory exercise program, significantly lower values of the GAD-7 scale were observed compared to the values before the respiratory exercise program (p = .049). A significant negative correlation was observed between oxygen saturation after respiratory exercise and age and presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ρ = −0.329; p = .013; ρ = −0.334; p = .009, respectively). GAD-7 score after respiratory exercise negatively correlated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and malignancy (ρ = −0.285; p = .025; ρ = −0.350; p = .005, respectively). Conclusion The respiratory exercise program significantly improves oxygen saturation and anxiety levels in COVID-19 patients.
Vladislava Stojic, Bojana Andjelkovic Cirkovic, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Jelena Dimitrijevic, Vladan Kocic, and Nenad Filipovic
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract Currently, an integrated site-specific and patient-specific comprehensive predictive model of plaque progression in various CVD is not available. In this study, we considered medical records of 256 patients obtained within the EU H2020 SMARTool project which is carefully designed to collect the features from various domains relevant for disease which are used in everyday clinical practice. The database contains detailed information of patients with suspected CAD disease regarding the clinical status, risk factors, routine blood analyses, CAD morphology and progression and current therapy. Results showed that there was statistically significant difference of values of this parameter for the SMARTool patients with and without disease progression, measured at the follow-up, F(1,250)=33.39, p < 0.001, while the CAD Score in the follow-up is significantly different from the score measured at the initial time point, F(1,254)=76.244, p < 0.001. The significant interaction of statins is achieved with aspirin F(1,252)= 3.921, p=0.049, while interactions with other medicaments are insignificant for CAD Score. The results showed that there was no significant interaction of statins and dyslipidemia, F(1,251)=0.877, p = 0.350. Also, there was no significant interaction of statins and hypertension, F(1,245)=0.283, p=0.596. The CAD score in the baseline was significantly different among patients who were further prescribed with therapy than those who were not, and this trend remained unchanged after a given time period, i.e. those patients who were at risk had progression in addition to statins, but the combination of statins and aspirin was shown as effective in decreasing the CAD Score. The Random Forest classifier applied on 24 selected features is the most reliable among all tested ML algorithms for the prediction of CAD progress.
Natasa Mihailovic, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Biljana Milicic, Sanja Kocic, Vesna Milicic, and Olivera Rakic
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract Mortality rate represents a number of deaths on a particular territory per time unit. There are general and specific mortalities. The aims at analysing the characteristics of mortality in Sumadija District for the time period ranging from 2010 – 2017. The study includes all death cases in the District of Sumadija in period 2010-2017, 34681 cases. The data are described and analysed with χ² test and linear trend. The trend analysis does not indicate any significant variations during the given time span. The gender analysis reveals that there is a significantly higher number of deceased persons among male population (52.2%, 47.8%, р<0.05). The average age of the deceased females (76.2±13.4) was higher than the average age of males (73.8±14.1) (р<0.05). The cause-specific analysis shows that natural causes of death dominate absolutely (96.5%) over violent deaths (2.7%) and undetermined causes (0.8%). The distribution of death causes according to ICD 10 shows that the most frequent causes of death are heart and blood vessel diseases, respiratory and neoplasm diseases. The life expectancy of the inhabitants of Sumadija District is increasing over time. There was a slight decrease in the mortality rates during the observed time period. The highest number of the deceased people is 65 or more years old. Men have higher mortality rates throughout their lives. Natural death and non-communicable diseases are dominant. The most common causes of death are heart and blood vessels diseases, in women, and respiratory and neoplasm diseases, in men.
Z. Šarić, M. Subotić, Ruzica Bilibajkic, Marko Barjaktarovic and N. Zdravković
Polish Academy of Sciences Chancellery
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Radivoie Radakovic, Sara Mijailovic, Natasa Zdravkovic Petrovic, Aleksandra Vulovic, Nenad Filipovic, and Nebojsa Zdravkovic
IEEE
In this study, we will consider the forces in the knee joints of futsal players at the beginning and at the end of the training process focusing on two types of jumps: jumps without swing and jumps with swing. This study has two main objectives. The first objective is to compare the forces in the knee joint at the beginning and at the end of the training process in jumps without a swing and in jumps with a swing. The second objective is to show the distribution of deformations and stresses in the menisci of the knee joint at the beginning and at the end of the training process. Professional futsal players performed jumps that were analyzed using a force plate and high-speed video camera system. For this purpose, a 3D model of the human knee joint was developed from medical scans consisting of femur, fibula, tibia, articular cartilage, ligaments and menisci. Loads and material characteristics were adopted from the literature. Using finite element analysis, we were able to obtain a better insight into the distribution of deformation and stress in particular parts of the knee joint.
Valentina Opancina, Predrag Sazdanovic, Dejan Baskic, Miljan Opancina, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, and Radisa Vojinovic
Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Abstract COVID-19 is defined as a respiratory infection which is spread by droplets and immediate contact with an infected person. The first case of COVID-19 infection in Serbia was reported on March 6th, 2020. Herein, we present the case of confirmed COVID-19 infection in a previously healthy man, whose three other family members showed mild symptoms of coronavirus disease, without the need for hospitalization. The patient was treated at the tertiary medical center, four days after the onset of symptoms. During the hospitalization, he developed serious complications and fatal outcome. In this case, hypoxia-induced cardiac arrest was secondary to severe COVID-19 pneumonia with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis. Laboratory and flow cytometry results indicate the presence of the cytokine storm, while the mechanical ventilation might potentially increase the risk of lethal outcome. This case report is important because it should give clinicians the insight into the treatment of the previously healthy individuals with COVID-19, especially in terms of possible laboratory markers that could indicate the presence of the cytokine storm phenomenon.
Anica Petkovic, Faris Al-Khalili, Aleksandra Antovic, Majeed Ammar, Iva Pruner, Aleksandra Vranic, Nida Soutari, Nebojsa Zdravkovic, Rickard E. Malmström, Vladimir Jakovljevic,et al.
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
The study was aimed to evaluate the effects of two standard doses of rivaroxaban and dabigatran on global hemostatic assays in patients with atrial fibrillation. The study included 52 patients treated with rivaroxaban (15/20 mg), 50 on dabigatran (110/150 mg) and 20 healthy individuals. Platelet-poor plasma was used for determination of three global hemostatic assays, namely endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT) and overall hemostasis potential (OHP). Rivaroxaban and dabigatran reduced ETP (P < 0.01) although OHP (P < 0.05) was diminished only by dabigatran. Strong correlations were noticed between ETP parameters and the plasma concentrations of rivaroxaban (ETP, r = −0.51; c-max, r = −0.85; t-lag, r = 0.83; t-max, r = 0.66) as well as with plasma concentration of dabigatran (ETP, r = −0.75; c-max, r = −0.74; t-lag, r = 0.73; t-max, r = 0.52). Analysis of dabigatran concentrations under 50 ng/ml showed that ETP parameter has area under the concentration–time curve-receiver operating characteristic value of 0.879 (95% confidence interval 0.776–0.980). Dabigatran treatment paradoxically increased area under the concentration–time curve and peak values although rivaroxaban decreased peak values (P < 0.01). However, significant correlation between CAT parameters and plasma concentration of both direct oral anticoagulants was not observed. We confirmed that the CAT assay is inappropriate for estimation of dabigatran effects and is not fully sensitive as regards rivaroxaban. The ETP assay can potentially be the appropriate method for estimation of global hemostatic capacity as regards both direct oral anticoagulants. The role of OHP needs to be confirmed in additional studies. ETP parameter of chromogenic assay has promising potential in exclusion of high plasma concentrations of dabigatran.
B R Anđelković, A Al-Sammarraie, D Milčić, D Stamenković, M Banić, J S Marinović, B Đorđević, and N Zdravković
IOP Publishing
Sliding bearings’ main advantages over the ball bearings are it’s load capacity and longevity. If hydrodinamic lubrication conditions are met then the sliding bearings will work forever. This is especially important when dealing with high rotation rate environments, where ball bearings see very limited use due to their inferior load capacity and longevity. The focus of this study is the examination and determination of coefficient of friction values in sliding bearings made of tin based white metal alloys conditioned with hydrodinamic lubrication. A sliding bearing is based on a kinematic pair made of a steel axle and a braided alloy TEGOTENAX V840 made by Ecka Granules. The chemical composition of the this alloy is 88.7% Sn, 7.6% Sb and 3.7% Cu. The examination was performed using one oil lubricant. Experimental data has been used for creating an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system model. ANFIS model provides an estimation of coefficient of friction values in function of load. Based on the ANFIS model an analytical expression, used for connecting load values with coefficient of friction values, was defined. This analytical expression is suitable for engineering applications and purposes.