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Many factors have been proposed to influence oral infection with yeast. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of oral yeasts in oral lichen planus (OLP) patients and control subjects, and to perform a multiple logistic regression analysis to identify factors that influence oral Candida infection in OLP patients. In this cross-sectional study, 90 new patients with OLP and 90 sex- and age-matched control subjects with no mucosal lesions were interviewed about their health status, use of medication, and smoking and alcohol habits. Swab and unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected and salivary pH was measured. A positive Candida culture was more prevalent among OLP patients (48.9%) than among control subjects (26.7%). Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated species in both groups. By logistic regression analysis, unstimulated whole salivary flow rates of 0.11-0.24 ml min(-1) (OR = 5.90) and 0.25-0.32 ml min(-1) (OR = 3.51) and benzodiazepine anxiolytics intake (OR = 8.30) were independently associated with the presence of Candida among OLP patients. Age, denture wearing, levels of dentition, decreased salivary pH, antihypertensive drugs, and alcohol consumption were not associated with oral Candida infection in OLP patients. The results indicate that data on benzodiazepine anxiolytics intake and evaluation of unstimulated whole salivary flow rate should be considered as part of the clinical evaluation to identify OLP patients at risk for Candida infection.

AimTo analyze the epidemiological data for pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, during the season of 2009/2010 and to assess whether including severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) hospitalization data to the surveillance system gives a more complete picture of the impact of influenza during the pandemic.MethodsFrom September 2009 to September 2010, the Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina conducted sentinel surveillance of influenza-like illnesses and acute respiratory infections in all hospitalized patients with SARI and virological surveillance of population of Vojvodina according to the European Centers for Disease Control technical document.ResultsThe pandemic influenza outbreak in the province started in October 2009 (week 44) in students who had returned from a school-organized trip to Prague, Bratislava, and Vienna. The highest incidence rate was 1090 per 100 000 inhabitants, found in the week 50. The most affected age group were children 5-14 years old. A total of 1591 patients with severe illness were admitted to regional hospitals, with a case fatality rate of 2%, representing a hospitalization rate of 78.3 per 100 000 inhabitants and a mortality rate of 1.6 per 100 000. Most frequently hospitalized were 15-19 years old patients, male patients, and patients with pneumonia (P < 0.001). The highest case fatality rate was found among patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (P < 0.001). Nasal/throat swabs were obtained for polymerase chain reaction test from 315 hospitalized patients and 20 non-hospitalized patients, and 145 (46%) and 15 (75%) specimens, respectively, tested positive on A(H1N1)v.ConclusionSentinel influenza-like illness and SARI surveillance, both followed with virological surveillance, seem to be the optimal method to monitor the full scope of the influenza pandemic (from mild to severe influenza) in Vojvodina.

The aim of this study was to determine morphological and functional changes of the elbow extensor muscles in response to a 12-week self-perceived maximal resistance training (MRT). Twenty-one healthy sedentary young men were engaged in elbow extensor training using isoacceleration dynamometry for 12 weeks with a frequency of five sessions per week (five sets of ten maximal voluntarily contractions, 1-min rest period between each set). Prior to, at 6 weeks and after the training, a series of cross-sectional magnetic resonance images of the upper arm were obtained and muscle volumes were calculated. Maximal and endurance strength increased (P<0.01) by 15% and 45% at 6 weeks, and by 29% and 70% after 12 weeks compared with baseline values, while fatigue rate of the elbow extensors decreased by 67%. The volume of triceps brachii increased in both arms (P<0.01) by 4% at 6 weeks, and by 8% after 12 weeks compared with baseline values (right arm--from 487.4 ± 72.8 cm³ to 505.8 ± 72.3 cm³ after 6 weeks and 525.3 ± 73.7 cm³ after 12 weeks; left arm--from 475.3 ± 79.1 cm³ to 493.2 ± 72.7 cm³ after 6 weeks and 511.3 ± 77.0 cm³ after 12 weeks). A high correlation was found between maximal muscle strength and muscle volume prior (r² = 0.62) and after (r² = 0.69) the training (P≤0.05). A self-perceived MRT resulted in an increase in maximal and endurance strength. Morphological adaptation changes of triceps brachii as a result of 12-week specific strength training can explain only up to 26% of strength gain.

High prevalence of overweight and obesity is a significant public health problem among Serbian adults. Efforts are needed to effectively promote daily physical activity and healthy eating through progressive modifications in lifestyle and the creation of supportive environments.