bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MlAB10: A Triticum turgidum Subsp. dicoccoides Derived Powdery Mildew Resistance Gene Identified in Common Wheat
Authors: Maxwell J. J. , Lyerly J. H. , Srnic G. , Parks R. , Cowger C. , Marshall D. , Brown‐Guedira G. , Murphy J. P.
Published: October 2010

Powdery mildew is an economically important disease in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). NC97BGTAB10 contains powdery mildew resistance introgressed from wild emmer wheat (T. turgidum subsp. dicoccoides). The objectives of this research were to genetically characterize the powdery mildew resistance in NC97BGTAB10, identify SSR markers closely linked to the resistance gene, and provide evidence that the gene is novel. One hundred thirty nine F2:3 lines from the cross NC97BGTAB10/Saluda were evaluated in the field and greenhouse for reaction to powdery mildew. Resistance was controlled by a single gene. Bulked segregant analysis identified a polymorphism between the resistant and susceptible bulks on chromosome 2BL. The population was genotyped with SSR markers that were specific to chromosome 2B and a linkage map was developed. The SSR marker Xwmc445 mapped 7 cM proximal to the resistance gene and no marker could be mapped distal to the gene. It was concluded that the resistance gene lies in the distal tip of chromosome 2BL. The powdery mildew resistance genes Pm33 and MlZec1 have also been mapped to the region. A detached leaf test with two powdery mildew isolates indicated the resistance gene in NC97BGTAB10 was different from MlZec1. No allelism test could be conducted to determine the relationships between the resistance genes in NC97BGTAB10, Pm33 or MlZec1 at this time. Thus, the resistance gene in NC97BGTAB10 was given the temporary designation MlAB10.
The Temporal Dynamics of Kernel Set in Tropical Sweet Maize Determined by Visual Markers
Authors: Rupitak Quanjai , Stamp Peter , Jampatong Sansern , Chowchong Surapol , Messmer Rainer
Published: October 2010

The initiation of kernels along the maize ear depends on the temporal dynamics of silk emergence and pollen shedding. We conducted a nondestructive examination of the dynamics of silk emergence of tropical sweet maize (Zea mays L.); flint‐type grains were the visual markers. The silks were pollinated on consecutive days with pollen of sweet maize (recessive allele) on 6 d and with pollen of flint‐type maize (dominant allele) on 1 d (one pollination treatment for each of the seven possible days). The resulting hard kernels could be distinguished from the shriveled sweet kernels. The time of pollination had a strong effect on kernel set. The highest percentage of daily kernel set was observed on the first day of silking (Day 1). It accounted for 31 (2007) and 42% (2008) of the total kernels per ear. The distribution of these kernels followed a bell‐shaped curve with a peak at around the position of the tenth kernel from the bottom of the ear. On the following days, kernel set followed a double bell‐shaped curve with the peak shifting to the tip of the ear followed by a steady decrease. The minor peak, at the bottom of the ears, almost disappeared by Day 4 of silking. More than 90% of the final number of kernels was set within five (2007) or three (2008) days. The visual marker system successfully traced the dynamics of silk emergence and its impact on kernel set as well as its dependence on environmental conditions during flowering.
Genetic Maps of Stem Rust Resistance Gene Sr35 in Diploid and Hexaploid Wheat
Authors: Zhang Wenjun , Olson Eric , Saintenac Cyrille , Rouse Matt , Abate Zewdie , Jin Yue , Akhunov Eduard , Pumphrey Mike , Dubcovsky Jorge
Published: October 2010

Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici is the causal agent of stem rust of wheat. A new race designated TTKSK (also known as Ug99) and its variants (TTKST and TTTSK) are virulent to most of the stem rust resistance genes currently deployed in wheat cultivars worldwide. Therefore, identification, mapping, and deployment of effective resistance genes are critical components of global efforts to mitigate this threat. Multipathotype seedling tests demonstrated that resistance gene Sr35 is effective against the three TTKS variants and another broadly virulent race from Yemen, TRTTF. Two genetic maps of Sr35 are presented in diploid (Triticum monococcum) and two in hexaploid wheat (T. aestivum). The Sr35 resistance to TRTTF and RKQQC races was mapped in diploid wheat within a 2.2 to 3.1 cM interval on the long arm of chromosome 3Am between markers XBF483299 and XCJ656351 This interval corresponds to a 174‐kb region in Brachypodium that includes 16 annotated genes. The Sr35 map location was confirmed in two backcross‐derived hexaploid populations segregating for Sr35 Recombination between diploid and hexaploid chromosomes was 10‐fold lower than between homologous chromosomes, but was sufficient to reduce the introgressed diploid segment. These maps provide markers closely linked to Sr35 that will be useful to accelerate its deployment and pyramiding with other stem rust resistance genes.
Assessment of Genetic Diversity among U.S. Runner‐Type Peanut Cultivars Using Simple Sequence Repeat Markers
Authors: Milla‐Lewis Susana R. , Zuleta M. Carolina , Isleib T.G.
Published: October 2010

The scientific community has long assumed that plant breeding activities decrease genetic diversity in crop species. To determine the influence of plant breeding on peanut, this study was designed to assess allelic diversity changes among peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars of the runner market type using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. All runner‐type cultivars released to date were included with the exception of ten cultivars released in the 2000s. Thirty‐four SSR primer pairs amplified a total of 154 alleles. The results indicated that (i) at the gene level, allelic diversity has increased significantly through decades of breeding, (ii) at the population level, genetic diversity was at its lowest during the pre‐1980s time period and gradually increased in each subsequent decade, and (iii) most of the observed SSR variation occurred within, rather than among time periods. A principal coordinate analysis (PCO) clearly demonstrated increases in the variation present in each subsequent breeding decade, reaching its maximum in the 2000s. Therefore, it appears that runner‐type peanut breeders have been successful at developing improved peanut cultivars while increasing levels of diversity in the last three decades of breeding. In addition, genetic relationships among cultivars reported in this study might be of use for peanut breeders when selecting parents for establishment of breeding populations.
Modeling Demographics and Genetic Diversity in Ex Situ Collections during Seed Storage and Regeneration
Authors: Richards Christopher M. , Lockwood Dale R. , Volk Gayle M. , Walters Christina
Published: October 2010

Gene banks have a critical role in preserving genetic diversity for many conservation uses. A key challenge in this task is maintaining both the genetic integrity and the viability of a collection during regeneration and long‐term storage. In this study we examine the interacting effects of sampling and viability decline from seed aging on genetic diversity. To do this, we developed a model that simulates sampling during regeneration of individual genotypes using two commonly used but contrasting regeneration protocols. Critically, the model simulates a realistic nonlinear decline in viability across time, and the combined effects of sampling and mortality were evaluated for their effect on allelic diversity. In addition, the model was used to contrast the kinetics of allelic richness among rounds of regeneration in accessions with different heterozygosity levels (e.g., cultivars vs. wild) and different breeding systems (outcrossing vs. inbred). Results underscore a significant interaction between regeneration timing and regeneration size. Regeneration procedures should consider viability kinetics and intra‐accession diversity to best manage genetic erosion. These changes highlight the trade‐off faced by curators between the logistics of increasing regeneration sampling size and improving the technical procedures for seed storage and monitoring.
Estimating and Mapping the Direct Flood Fatality Rate for Flooding in Greater New Orleans Due To Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Boyd Ezra C
Published: October 2010

The unprecedented tragedy of Hurricane Katrina produced unprecedented data for studying the impacts of natural disasters. The current paper looks at one public health outcome of this event: direct flood deaths in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes of Louisiana. In particular, the risk of death for the flood‐exposed population is estimated, mapped, and discussed. Of the nearly 1,500 deaths that Louisiana officially counts as Katrina deaths, approximately 600 are determined to be associated with exposure to floodwaters. Additionally, it is estimated that approximately 63,000 persons were exposed to floodwaters. The ratio of flood deaths to flood‐exposed population, termed the flood fatality rate, provides an empirical measure of flood risk. Georeferenced datasets on both the flood deaths and the flood‐exposed population are developed, and then used to estimate and map the flood fatality rate. For the overall event, the flood fatality rate is estimated to be 7 11 deaths per 1,000 persons exposed, which is consistent with other coastal flood disasters. At the blockgroup level, the highest values of the flood fatality rate are observed in the Lower Ninth Ward, while comparatively lower values are observed in New Orleans East. A preliminary univariate regression model with water depth as the independent variable is presented, and applied to Hurricane Gustav, which impacted the region in August 2008.
Chronic Disease as an Evacuation Impediment: Using a Geographic Information System and 911 Call Data after Katrina to Determine Neighborhood Scale Health Vulnerability
Authors: Curtis Andrew
Published: October 2010

This paper will add to the health and disasters literature by considering the spatial patterns of a factor not commonly associated with evacuation decisions, the existing chronic health burden of the population. 911 calls for the period from August 29 to September 8, 2005, were mapped using a Geographic Information System for 15 neighborhoods of New Orleans. For each neighborhood the total number of calls was reduced to unique residences, and any mention of a health‐related problem was recorded. By using single locations and then reinterpreting medical attributes as a percentage of all such locations, or as a percentage of those mentioning medical information, an approach is presented to spatially standardize knowledge from these data. The results show that a sizable portion of those who did not evacuate from Katrina before landfall were suffering from some ailment, especially chronic diseases commonly associated with the urban poor. Of particular note is the diabetes rate, with six different neighborhoods having approximately 10% of their 911 calls mentioning the disease. The paper concludes with suggestions as to how this research should progress, with fine spatial scale geographic analysis of health data becoming more common in understanding evacuation impediments and the post‐disaster landscape in general.
Shelter‐in‐Place versus Evacuation Decision Making: A Systematic Approach for Healthcare Facilities
Authors: Zaenger Dennis , Efrat Natasha , Riccio Robert R. , Sanders Kelly
Published: October 2010

There is little guidance to assist healthcare facility planners to make a shelter‐in‐place versus evacuation decision in response to a hurricane and associated flooding emergencies or wildfires. In such advance notice events, planning steps may be taken that factor in the calculated risk and predictability of the event, allowing planners greater opportunity to implement a systematic response. The authors completed a review of literature and determined that there is only guidance for actions after a decision has been made, but little to help facility administrators weigh their options. The authors conducted a series of structured interviews with community and hospital planners who have dealt with the decision to evacuate or shelter‐in‐place in the face of real events. Insights derived from these real‐event experiences are summarized, and proposed next steps for further research are outlined.
Understanding Public Response to Nuclear Power Plant Protective Actions
Authors: Walton Fotini , Wolshon Brian
Published: October 2010

Among the most important factors affecting the viability of alternative sheltering and evacuation strategies are the views and reactions of the public within the threat zone. If the general population does not believe that undertaking prescribed protective actions will make them safer, or if they do not see protective action messages as credible and practicable, then even the most technically sound plans can be rendered totally ineffective. To gain a deeper understanding of the views and potential reactions of the general public living within nuclear power plant (NPP) Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs) to protective action strategies, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission sponsored focus groups and a national telephone survey of the public living in EPZs. Data from the research can be used by NPP industry officials and emergency planners in developing appropriate protective action recommendations to radiological accidents. Findings of this research can also be extended to other similar types of emergencies or generalized to any emergency condition.
Management of Evacuee Ingress during Disasters: Identifying the Determinants of Local Government Capacity and Preparedness
Authors: Gerber Brian J.
Published: October 2010

Evacuations on a large scale are complex and difficult enterprises. While facilitating the egress, or removal, of people from a hazardous incident site is a major challenge, accommodating a wide range of evacuee needs as they temporarily shelter away from their homes is an equally significant challenge. However, the ingress dimension of evacuations is not as well studied nor understood as its more familiar counterpart. This paper addresses several basic questions about community capacity and preparedness for hosting large numbers of evacuees as the result of disaster incidents. Using evaluations made by local government officials, the analysis presented here indicates reported hosting capacity of evacuees on a large scale is related in part to aspects of the built environment and to geographic effects. Likewise, indicators of local government evacuation preparedness for evacuations generally and evacuation ingress specifically are related to aspects of community hazard vulnerability and administrative capacity. These findings provide a basis for future work investigating other critical dimensions of evacuation ingress management.
Primena novog fiskalnog aktivizma
Authors: Auerbach Alan
Published: October 2010

nema
Risk assessment of transitional economies by multivariate and multicriteria approaches
Authors: Tomic-Plazibat Neli , Aljinovic Zdravka , Pivac Snjezana
Published: October 2010

This article assesses country-risk of sixteen Central, Baltic and South-East European transition countries, for 2005 and 2007, using multivariate cluster analysis. It was aided by the appropriate ANOVA (analysis of variance) testing and the multicriteria PROMETHEE method. The combination of methods makes for more accurate and efficient country-risk assessment. Country risk classifications and ratings involve evaluating the performance of countries while considering their economic and socio-political characteristics. The purpose of the article is to classify, and then find the comparative position of each individual country in the group of analyzed countries, in order to find out to which extent development of market economy and democratic society has been achieved.
Random walk theory and exchange rate dynamics in transition economies
Authors: Gradojevic Nikola , Djakovic Vladimir , Andjelic Goran
Published: October 2010

This paper investigates the validity of the random walk theory in the Euro-Serbian dinar exchange rate market. We apply Andrew Lo and Archie MacKinlay's (1988) conventional variance ratio test and Jonathan Wright's (2000) non-parametric ranks and signs based variance ratio tests to the daily Euro/Serbian dinar exchange rate returns using the data from January 2005 - December 2008. Both types of variance ratio tests overwhelmingly reject the random walk hypothesis over the data span. To assess the robustness of our findings, we examine the forecasting performance of a non-linear, nonparametric model in the spirit of Francis Diebold and James Nason (1990) and find that it is able to significantly improve upon the random walk model, thus confirming the existence of foreign exchange market imperfections in a small transition economy such as Serbia. In the last part of the paper, we conduct a comparative study on how our results relate to those of other transition economies in the region.
The link between international supervision and banking crises
Authors: Rachdi Houssem
Published: October 2010

Theoretical and empirical contributions of some economists have shown that a financial liberalisation policy implemented in a less developed institutional environment enhances the proliferation of banking crises. This leads to the conclusion that failure at the level of banking governance plays a significant role in the emergence of crises. By using multivariate logit, our empirical study samples of 12 emerging countries to study the relationship between banking supervision and banking crises during the period 1980-2003. Our results show a negative and insignificant association between banking regulation and the probability of occurrence of banking crises. We find the likelihood of banking crises is greater in countries with poor banking supervision. In short, the condition required for a sound banking system is to reinforce banking supervision during financial liberalisation phases.
Illiquidity of frontier financial market: Case of Serbia
Authors: Zivkovic Bosko , Minovic Jelena
Published: October 2010

The paper explores illiquidity of the Serbian financial market for the period of 2005-2009. The financial market in Serbia is, by its type, a frontier market. We used daily data from the BELEXline index, as well as all stocks within this index in examined timeframe, provided by the Belgrade Stock Exchange. Results of this paper suggest that level of market liquidity is low and persistent in Serbia. Additionally, results confirm that time-varying illiquidity and its volatility is highly unstable in this market. This is the first paper that analyses liquidity issues in case of Serbia. It identifies different periods and shows that, in most cases, ups and downs in foreign investors' participation leads to dramatic falls and rises in market illiquidity and its volatility.
Euro crisis
Authors: Prokopijevic Miroslav
Published: October 2010

It is argued the current eurozone crisis is neither new nor surprising. Fiscal discipline in the eurozone was weak from its creation in 1999, but ongoing economic prosperity limited the damage. Economic recession deepened the impact of crisis on public finance and pushed some eurozone countries to the edge of bankruptcy. Options available now are costly and painful: foreign bailouts, cuts to expenditures, higher revenues and some combination of the three. They may be conducted both inside and outside the eurozone. If eurozone problems are not solved, financial markets may turn down the euro as a currency, possibly marking the beginning of Euro-disintegration.
The effects of matching a persuasive message to a recipient's self-concept on attitude change
Authors: Brankovic Marija , Zezelj Iris
Published: October 2010

The paper addresses the question of whether matching a persuasive message to a recipient's self-concept can enhance message processing. A large body of experiments within the Elaboration likelihood model proved that framing a message so as to be perceived as selfrelevant led to more careful argument scrutiny. In this research, we matched the messages with previously assessed need for cognition - tendency to engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive tasks. Two possible sources of motivation to process a persuasive message were hereby confronted: dispositional (cognitive style) and situational (matching). Results showed a significant attitude change, but the main hypothesis was not confirmed: matched messages did not produce more argument processing activity than the mismatched. Manipulations did not have any significant effects on message processing of the high need for cognition participants. Contrary to expectations, participants low in their need for cognition elaborated the message more carefully when it was mismatched, that is when the message addressed them as persons inclined to careful thinking. Results can be explained within the framework of self-affirmation theory, which argues that providing people with an opportunity to affirm their sense of selfworth makes them more open to persuasion attempts, as well as more objective. Results are discussed from a wider theoretical and empirical perspective of motivation.
The effects of attachment components on formal-operational thinking
Authors: Vukcevic Branimir
Published: October 2010

In this work our aim is to examine how the components of attachment influence the thinking development of adolescents in familial context. We investigated the components of attachment: unresolved family traumatisation, the use of external security base, fear of loss of external security base, negative self concept, negative other concept, capacity for mentalisation, low control of anger. We used a revised Questionnaire for Assessment of Adult and Adolescent Attachment (in original: UPIPAV-R). Formal operations were tested by Bond's Logical Operations Test. We examined the cultural-pedagogical status of the family, the parental mediation characteristic for the development of formal operations, and family property as the aspects of familial context. The sample consisted of 200 pupils aged 14 to 19. According to the attachment theory, secure attachment provides the feel of security in environment exploration, which is the ground of personality development. We assumed that components of attachment contribute formal-operational thinking development and change the influence of familial cultural-supportive tools. The findings show us that the culturalpedagogical status of the family improves formal operations development and unresolved family traumatisation has negative influence. Capacity for mentalisation has a positive indirect effect on thinking development through the influence of the cultural-pedagogical status of the family. The low control of anger has a negative indirect effect on thinking development; it increases the influence of unresolved family traumatisation. Negative self concept has indirect effects on thinking development through increasing this negative influence of unresolved family traumatisation and decreasing the role of familial cultural-supportive tools.
The relationship between cognitive processing of affective verbal material and the basic personality structure
Authors: Orlic Ana
Published: October 2010

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive processing of affective verbal material and the basic personality structure. For the purposes of research a new experiment was created, where affective priming was measured in a lexical decision task. The term affective priming stands for facilitation in recognition of the stimuli that comes after the presentation of stimuli of the same valence. In this experiment, two words were presented on a screen in front of the subject (stimuli-prime and stimuli-target). Those two words were of the same or different affective valence, and the subject's were instructed to respond whether the second word on the screen had a meaning or not. The basic personality structure was defined by the 'Big five' model and the Disintegration model and measured by NEO PI-R and Delta 10 questionnaires. The results of the affective priming experiment indicated a strong effect of positive facilitation and much weaker effect off negative facilitation. Two significant functions were extracted by quasicanonical correlation analysis. The first function showed correlation between the effect of positive facilitation and all of the subscales of Neuroticism, Extraversion and Conscientiousness (NEO PI-R), as well as all sub dimensions of Disintegration (DELTA 10). The second one indicated to a correlation between the negative facilitation effect and some subscales of Neuroticism, Extraversion and Agreeableness (NEO PI-R), as well as all subscales of Disintegration (DELTA 10).
Subjective difficulties in young people related to extensive loud music listening
Authors: Budimcic Milenko , Ignjatovic Snezana , Zivic Ljubica
Published: October 2010

Introduction. For human ear, noise represents every undesirable and valueless sound. In disco clubs, as in some other places with loud music mostly attended by young people, the level of noise sometimes attains over 100 dB. As reported by numerous studies, a high noise level could induce subjective difficulties (ear buzzing, audition loss, vertigo and palpitations, anxiety, high blood pressure, decreased concentration, lowered memory storing). Objective. Assessment of subjective difficulties occurring in young people when staying in places with a high noise level (cafes, disco clubs, rock concerts), which can produce health problems, due to loud music, in association with demographic data, addictions and personal life style data. One of the goals is to find factors leading to subjective difficulties, which would be objectively studied in the second stage of the research and marked as early predictors of possible health problems. Methods. The study was conducted among 780 students of the Higher Healthcare School of Professional Studied in Belgrade. We used a questionnaire with 20 questions, divided into four categories: demographic data, case-history data, subjective problems and addictions of the subjects. In the statistical data processing we used the methods of descriptive and exploratory analysis, chi-square tests, correlation tests and Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio. Results. After listening loud music, 54.0% of examined subjects felt ear buzzing, and 4.6% had hearing damage. The habit of visiting places with loud music, mostly once a week in duration of 2-3 hours per visit had 80.4% of subjects. The presence of subjective complaints after listening of loud music was in association with loud music listening and disco clubs visits. The major reasons of the present subjective difficulties could be predicated by listening of loud music and club visits (r=0.918 and r=0.857). A relative risk for subjective difficulties presentation was 1.599. Conclusion. According to the results of our study, over half of children develop loud music-induced subjective problems involving ear buzzing and occasionally hearing loss.
Oral health status in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in relation to metabolic control of the disease
Authors: Stojanovic Nikola , Krunic Jelena , Cicmil Smiljka , Vukotic Olivera
Published: October 2010

Introduction. As a systemic disease, diabetes mellitus may lead to several complications affecting both the quality and the length of life. While periodontal disease is one of the major oral health problems in patients with diabetes, reports of an increased risk of dental caries among diabetics are controversial. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate oral health status in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in relation to metabolic control of the disease. Methods. The study included 47 randomly sampled diabetics patients, divided into two groups; those with poorly controlled diabetes (glycosylated haemoglobin - HbA1c ?9%) and those with better controlled diabetes (HbA1c<9%). All patients completed a questionnaire about their medical and oral health. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) and plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded. Results. The patients with poorly controlled diabetes had a significantly higher number of tooth caries compared to those with better controlled diabetes (6.5?4.3 vs. 4.3?2.9; p<0.05). Of periodontal parameters, only PPD was significantly higher in the patients with poorly controlled diabetes than in those with better controlled diabetes (5.8?0.9 vs. 5.2?0.8; p<0.05). DMFT index, PI, PPD and CAL exhibited positive correlation only with patients' age. Conclusion. The study indicates that there is a relationship between poor control of diabetes and caries, and periodontal disease.
Surgical treatment of ishemic mitral regurgitation: Repair, replacement or revascularization alone?
Authors: Vranes Mile , Velinovic Milos , Kocica Mladen , Mikic Aleksandar , Putnik Svetozar , Djukic Petar , Djordjevic Aleksandar
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Treatment of ischemic mitral regurgitation in patients that require revascularization of myocardium is still debatable. Objective. The aim of this study was to compare three surgical approaches: valve repair and revascularization; valve replacement and revascularization, and revascularization alone. Methods. In 2006 and 2007 at the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, 1,040 patients with coronary disease underwent surgery. Forty-three patients (4.3%) had also mitral insufficiency 3-4+. The patients were examined clinically, echocardiographically and haemodynamically. In group I there were 14 (32.3%) patients, in group II 16 (37.2%) patients and in group III 3 (30.5%) patients. Ninetythree per cent of patients were classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV, and three (7%) patients had congestive heart weakness with ejection fraction ?30%. The decision as to surgical procedure was made by the surgeon. Postoperatively, patients were checked clinically and echocardiographically after 3, 6 and 12 months. The follow-up period was approximately 15 months (8-20). Results. Hospital mortality for the whole group was 6.9% (3 patients). In group I mortality was 14.2% (2 patients), in group II 6.25% and in group III there was no mortality. Long term results, up to 15 months, showed 100% survival in groups I and II, and in group III one patient died (7.7%). Conclusion. Short term results up to 30 days were best in group III, but longer term results were better in groups I and II.
Do bacterial vaginosis and chlamydial infection affect serum cytokine level?
Authors: Bogavac Mirjana , Brkic Snezana , Simin Natasa , Grujic Zorica , Bozin Biljana
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Serbia is the country with extremely low birth rate and a relatively high percentage of preterm deliveries (8%). With this in mind, discovering new diagnostic methods that could be used for the prediction of preterm delivery is of great importance. In this study we tried to determine whether bacterial vaginosis and chlamydial infection could provoke preterm delivery by activation of systemic cytokine network. Objective. The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1?, IL-8, IFN-?, IL-6 and TNF-?) in pregnant women with symptoms of preterm delivery and to make correlation between these parameters and the presence of bacterial vaginosis or chlamydial infection. Method. In the serum of 35 pregnant women, which were divided in groups according to the presence or absence of bacterial vaginosis and chlamydial infection, commercial ELISA tests for proinflammatory cytokines were performed. Results. The serum level of IFN-? was significantly increased in pregnant women having chlamydial infection, as well as the level of IL-1? in women with bacterial vaginosis. The levels of TNF-?, IL-6 and IL-8 were not significantly different between the investigated groups. Conclusion. The preliminary results obtained in this research point out the possibility that not only intrauterine or systemic infections, but also bacterial vaginosis and chlamydial infection can cause a partial activation of systemic cytokine network and contribute to the occurrence of preterm delivery.
Moral judgment of alcohol addicts
Authors: Mladenovic Ivica , Dimitrijevic Ivan , Lecic-Tosevski Dusica
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Alcoholism could represent an important factor of crime and different forms of abuse of family members (physical and emotional) exist in many alcohol-addict cases, as well as characteristics of immoral behaviour. Objective. The objective of our study was to determine the predominating forms in moral judgment of alcohol addicts, and to examine whether there was any statistically significant difference in moral judgment between alcohol addicted persons and non-alcoholics from general population. Methods. The sample consisted of 62 subjects, divided into a study (alcoholics) and a control group (non-alcoholics from general population). The following instruments were used: social-demographic data, AUDIT, MMPI-201, cybernetic battery of IQ tests (KOG-3) and the TMR moral reasoning test. Results. Mature forms of moral judgment prevailed in both group of subjects, alcohol addicted persons and non-alcoholics. Regarding mature forms of moral judgment (driven by emotions and cognitive) non-alcoholics from the general population had higher scores, but the difference was not statistically significant. Regarding socially adapted and egocentric orientation alcohol addicted persons had higher scores. However, only regarding intuitive-irrational orientation there was a statistically significant difference in the level of moral judgment (p<0.05) between alcoholics and non-alcoholics, in favour of the alcoholics. Conclusion. Moral judgment is not a category differing alcohol addicted persons from those who are not. Nevertheless, the potential destructivity of alcoholism is reflected in lower scores regarding mature orientations in moral judgment.
SWOT analysis: The analytical method in the process of planning and its application in the development of orthopaedic hospital department
Authors: Terzic Zorica , Vukasinovic Zoran , Bjegovic-Mikanovic Vesna , Jovanovic Vesna , Janicic Radmila
Published: October 2010

Introduction. SWOT analysis is a managerial tool used to evaluate internal and external environment through strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Objective. The aim was to demonstrate the application of the SWOT analysis on the example of the Department for Paediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology at the Institute of Orthopaedic Surgery 'Banjica' in Belgrade. Methods. Qualitative research was conducted during December 2008 at the Department for Paediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the Institute of Orthopaedic Surgery 'Banjica' by applying the focus group technique. Participants were members of the medical staff and patients. In the first phase of the focus group brainstorming was applied to collect the factors of internal and external environment, and to identify strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, respectively. In the second phase the nominal group technique was applied in order to reduce the list of factors. The factors were assessed according to their influence on the Department. Factors ranked by the three point Likert scale from 3 (highest impact) to 1 (lowest impact). Results. The most important strengths of the Department are competent and skilled staff, high quality of services, average hospital bed utilization, the Department providing the educational basis of the School of Medicine, satisfied patients, pleasant setting, and additional working hours. The weaknesses are: poor spatial organization, personnel unmotivated to refresh knowledge, lack of specifically trained personnel, inadequate sanitary facilities, and uncovered services by the Insurance Fund, long average hospital stay, and low economic status of patients. The opportunities are: legislative regulations, formed paediatric traumatology service at the City level, good regional position of the Institute, and extension of referral areas. The threats are: absent Department autonomy in the personnel policy of the Institute, competitions within the Institute, impossibility to increase the Department capacities, inadequate nutrition, low opportunities for expert training of the personnel, outdated equipment, and presence of informal payments. Conclusion. SWOT analysis is a frequently used managerial instrument, which enables the systematic approach in decision making process.
Improvement of teamwork in health care through interprofessional education
Authors: Simin Dragana , Milutinovic Dragana , Brestovacki Branislava , Andrijevic Ilija , Cigic Tomislav
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Collaboration, within and between healthcare teams, facilitates effective healthcare. Internationally, the development of interprofessional education, as a means to facilitate more effective teamwork in health care, has been recognized for over forty years. Objective. The aim of this paper is to evaluate students' attitudes toward the influence of interprofessional education on improvement of collaboration and teamwork. Methods. The research was conducted by interviewing students at the Medical Faculty in Novi Sad in the form of cross-sectional study. The study sample included students from two undergraduate programmes: School of Nursing (n=52) and Integrated Studies of Medicine (n=53). Students admitted to the research had to be exposed to clinical experience. The instrument used in this study was the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS). Results. As many as 93.3% of students indicated that basics of teamwork skills should be obtained prior to graduation, whereas 96.2% considered that interprofessional education would enable them to improve mutual trust and respect. The majority of interviewees indicated that patients would ultimately benefit if healthcare students worked together to solve patient problems. Multivariate procedures MANOVA p<0.05 and discriminative analysis p<0.05 of students' attitudes toward teamwork and collaboration showed significant differences between the students of medicine and nursing. Conclusion. The students of the Integrated Studies of Medicine and School of Nursing had a positive attitude toward the influence of interprofessional education on the improvement of collaboration and teamwork.
Abdominal aorta coarctation: The first three case reports in our literature
Authors: Gajin Predrag , Tanaskovic Slobodan , Nenezic Dragoslav , Ilijevski Nenad , Radak Djordje
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Congenital coarctation of the thoracic aorta at the ligamentum arteriosum or the aortic arch is well recognized. But a much less common variety (0.5-2.0%) of aortic coarctation is located in the distal thoracic aorta or abdominal aorta or both and is often called 'middle aortic syndrome' or 'midaortic dysplastic syndrome'. This represents serious pathological condition and indicates multidisciplinary therapy approach. Outline of Cases. From 1996 to 2007, at the Vascular Surgery Clinic of the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases 'Dedinje', Belgrade, three patients were treated due to abdominal aorta coarctation, two females aged 55 and 50 and a 4-year-old child. The patients were treated surgically (by-pass with a prosthetic graft and patch angioplasty) and endovascular-percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with and without a stent. The follow-up period was 3-70 months. In the 50-year-old patient, angiography showed severe narrowing of the suprarenal segment of the abdominal aorta. Thoraco-abdominal bypass with a 16 mm dacronic tubular graft was performed. In the 4-year-old patient angiography also showed a suprarenal aorta narrowing. In the first act patch angioplasty was performed and after PTA of the visceral arteries was done on several occasions. In the 55-year-old patient, after diagnostic angiography, infrarenal aorta coarctation was registered. PTA was performed with stent placement. All patients were asymptomatic on control check-ups. Conclusion. Abdominal coarctation is a pathological disease which is seldom found in vascular surgery. Angiography is of major importance for setting the diagnosis and for the control of the results of surgical and nonsurgical treatment. The combination of surgical and endovascular treatment in our patients showed very good results in the studied period.
Diagnostic dilemmas of multislice CT angiography in the evaluation of the degree of common carotid artery stenosis
Authors: Nenezic Dragoslav , Tanaskovic Slobodan , Gajin Predrag , Ilijevski Nenad , Vucurevic Goran
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Multislice CT angiography (CTA) is a noninvasive and quick technique to image carotid artery stenosis, as well as intracerebral vasculature. Modern multidetector CTA produces images with a high resolution of, not only the contrast-filled lumen, but also of the vessel wall and the surrounding soft tissues. Multiple studies have verified the ability of CTA to provide an accurate representation of the degree of carotid stenosis in comparison to digital subtraction angiography, both for moderate and high-grade stenosis. Because of its fast and accurate vessel imaging, CT angiography is increasingly used in the assessment of carotid artery stenosis. Case Outline. A 37-year-old female patient was admitted at the Vascular Surgery Clinic of the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases 'Dedinje', Belgrade, for angiography and endovascular procedure of a high-grade stenosis of the left common carotid artery based on Multislice CT findings brought by the patient. She complained of problems which we considered to be the result of cerebral circulation ischemia. After detailed diagnostic procedures, we concluded that no pathological lesions could be verified either on the left common carotid artery or other supraaortic branches. Therefore, the patient was discharged for further neurological examinations. Conclusion. Although Multislice CTA has many advantages over classical angiography, its validity should be taken with reserve, especially in younger patients.
Kiss-induced severe anaphylactic reactions
Authors: Atanaskovic-Markovic Marina , Zivanovic Mirjana , Gavrovic-Jankulovic Marija , Cirkovic-Velickovic Tanja , Djuric Vojislav , Sankovic-Babic Snezana , Nestorovic Branimir
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Ingestion is the principal route for food allergens to trigger allergic reaction in atopic persons. However, in some highly sensitive patients severe symptoms may develop upon skin contact and by inhalation. The clinical spectrum ranges from mild facial urticaria and angioedema to life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. Outline of Cases. We describe cases of severe anaphylactic reactions by skin contact, induced by kissing in five children with prior history of severe anaphylaxis caused by food ingestion. These cases were found to have the medical history of IgE mediated food allergy, a very high total and specific serum IgE level and very strong family history of allergy. Conclusion. The presence of tiny particles of food on the kisser's lips was sufficient to trigger an anaphylactic reaction in sensitized children with prior history of severe allergic reaction caused by ingestion of food. Allergic reaction provoked with food allergens by skin contact can be a risk factor for generalized reactions. Therefore, extreme care has to be taken in avoiding kissing allergic children after eating foods to which they are highly allergic. Considering that kissing can be a cause of severe danger for the food allergic patient, such persons should inform their partners about the risk factor for causing their food hypersensitivity.
Lesion of the femoral nerve caused by a hydatid cyst of the right psoas muscle
Authors: Bilanovic Dragoljub , Zdravkovic Darko , Randjelovic Tomislav , Toskovic Borislav , Gacic Jasna
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Hydatidosis is a human disease caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus. All organs in the human body may be affected by hydatid disease, but excluding liver and lungs, all other organs are considered as uncommon locations. Hydatid disease located in the psoas muscle is uncommon. Case Outline. The authors present a 36-year-old male living in endemic areas of Serbia, admitted due to pain and weakness of the right thigh and weight loss. Duration of symptoms was one year. CT and MRI revealed a big cystic mass (20 cm long) in the right psoas muscle. Neurological investigation showed a loss of function of the right femoral nerve. Serology for Echinococcosis was negative. Surgery was indicated and performed by median laparotomy. Total excision of the cyst was done. Pathohystology confirmed the nature of the cyst. Three years after operation the patient was without any signs of disease relapse. Conclusion. Echinococcal disease of the psoas has been very rarely reported, sometimes associated with paraspinal disease and often with vertebral involvement. Cystic or complex retroperitoneal tumour, pyogenic abscess of the psoas and even tuberculosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Treatment of choice is surgery. The greatest danger for the patient is dissemination and anaphylactic reaction. Also, compression of adjacent organs may produce significant morbidity.
Acute intermittent porphyria in the puerperium
Authors: Sparic Radmila , Berisavac Ivana , Arsenijevic Ljubica , Berisavac Milica , Dokic Milan , Savic Olivera , Ilic-Mostic Tatjana , Kadija Sasa
Published: October 2010

Introduction. Acute intermittent porphyria emerges as a result of partial defect of porphobilinogen deaminase and is manifested by repeated episodes of somatic, psychiatric and neurological disorders. The disease is conducted via the autosomaldominant gene of variable penetration, so most of the carriers never experience seizures. Timely making of diagnosis, screening of blood relatives of the patient and education of patients on avoidance of provoking factors are the key to adequate treatment. Case Outline. A 23-year-old patient having born the third child was hospitalized due to pains in the abdomen and convulsive seizures nine days after the vaginal delivery. At admittance, she suffered a generalized convulsive seizure of clonic-tonic type. The patient immediately underwent a complete clinical, laboratory, bacteriological and ultrasound examination. Bearing in mind the fact that the patient had several convulsive seizures even after the given neurological therapy, haem-arginate was introduced into therapy during four days. The administration of haem-arginate led to the normalization of blood pressure, pulse and bowel function. The administration of haem-arginate led to the normalization of blood pressure, pulse and bowel function. The patient was treated by a team of doctors, in the intensive care ward, with the use of medicaments, which are allowed in the case of acute porphyria. Sixteen days after the admittance, with clean neurological status and gynaecological and ultra-sound findings, she was released for ambulatory treatment. Conclusion. The presented case exhibits the gravity of making a diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria in puerperium and the necessity of multi-disciplinary approach in treating this disease. Acute intermittent porphyria should be considered in cases of ambiguous abdominal pain, as well as in patients having abdominal pains followed by neuro-psychiatric disorders.