Nevena Karanovic - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Nevena Karanovic

Research paper thumbnail of The Significance of Medical Waste Management in Health Protection of People and Environment

Safe medical waste management is of the special importance for the whole social community because... more Safe medical waste management is of the special importance for the whole social community because of the risks it poses, not only to the population, but to the environment as well,. Today, the medical waste is defined as the whole waste, dangerous or not dangerous, which is generated during the health care services in the diagnostics, prevention, healing and investigations in the field of human and veterinarian medicine. The development of health care technologies has changed the composition and quantity of waste. The Project named "Technical assistance in medical waste management", which was performed during 2008. by The Ministry of Health with the support of The European Union, is the significant step towards the sustainable medical waste management in the Republic of Serbia. Project made the conditions for the development of this important segment of protection of people and environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Clamping device for use in the complex stressing of plastic specimens

Polymer Mechanics, 1977

We take an algorithmic and computational approach to a basic problem in abstract algebra: determi... more We take an algorithmic and computational approach to a basic problem in abstract algebra: determining the correct generalization to dialgebras of a given variety of nonassociative algebras. We give a simplified statement of the KP algorithm introduced by Kolesnikov and Pozhidaev for extending polynomial identities for algebras to corresponding identities for dialgebras. We apply the KP algorithm to the defining identities for Jordan triple systems to obtain a new variety of nonassociative triple systems, called Jordan triple disystems. We give a generalized statement of the BSO algorithm introduced by Bremner and Sánchez-Ortega for extending multilinear operations in an associative algebra to corresponding operations in an associative dialgebra. We apply the BSO algorithm to the Jordan triple product and use computer algebra to verify that the polynomial identities satisfied by the resulting operations coincide with the results of the KP algorithm; this provides a large class of examples of Jordan triple disystems. We formulate a general conjecture expressed by a commutative diagram relating the output of the KP and BSO algorithms. We conclude by generalizing the Jordan triple product in a Jordan algebra to operations in a Jordan dialgebra; we use computer algebra to verify that resulting structures provide further examples of Jordan triple disystems. For this last result, we also provide an independent theoretical proof using Jordan structure theory.

Research paper thumbnail of The impacts of motivation, managers’ personal traits and management education on the performances of the public healthcare facilities

Vojnosanitetski pregled, 2016

Background/Aim. Exposed to increasing needs of users for better and faster services, more medicat... more Background/Aim. Exposed to increasing needs of users for better and faster services, more medications and innovative health technologies, managers of healthcare services in the public sector need motivation, permanent updating of information and constant personal development. The aim of this paper was to evaluate, on the basis of experienced healthcare managers, the impact of their motivation, selected character traits, managerial skills and formal education in management on healthcare facilities performances in the public sector. Methods. For the purposes of this study, 97 experienced managers from public hospitals and primary health centers in Serbia answered to 30 questions on the motivation of managers, essential skills for successful management and formal education in management in health facilities. The obtained data about their motivation, governing experience, personal skills and formal education in management were systematized and processed by the Statistical Package for So...

Research paper thumbnail of A New Class of the Anti-Ischemic Medicaments - Metabolic Cytoprotective of the Cardiomyocyte

Research paper thumbnail of Hospital mortality trend analysis of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction in the Belgrade area coronary care units

Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo, 2008

INTRODUCTION. Mortality in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) ranges from 4-24% and is de... more INTRODUCTION. Mortality in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) ranges from 4-24% and is dependent on the variety of patients? clinical characteristics (CC) that are present prior to and within the first hours of the onset of MI, affecting reliability of the diagnosis. The higher mortality rate of patients with STEMI should be associated with a higher rate of applied reperfusion therapy according to guidelines and randomized study results, which is in opposition to everyday hospital practice. OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to analyze the mortality of STEMI patients in relationship to their clinical characteristics at presentation, their age, sex, risk factors, prior coronary disease, and time interval from symptom onset to hospital presentation, complications and administered therapy. METHOD. The analysis involved patients treated in five coronary care units, four Belgrade Hospital Centres and the Belgrade Emergency Centre of the Clinical Centre of Serbia. Evaluated data...

Research paper thumbnail of P3630 Aplication of carvedilol early after acute myocardial infarction prevents remodelling in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

Research paper thumbnail of Corporate social responsibility for public health – a new field for businesses to demonstrate the competitiveness

Research paper thumbnail of The significance of electrocardiogram in new guidelines for diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes

Research paper thumbnail of Improvement of pre-hospital services can influence the mortality reduction in coronary care units

Research paper thumbnail of Health care economics in Serbia: Current problems and changes

Vojnosanitetski pregled, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Implementation of the action plan for human resources in the health system of Serbia--facing inherited problems

Cahiers de sociologie et de démographie médicales

It is through an objective insight into the situation of the health system, in the period of a te... more It is through an objective insight into the situation of the health system, in the period of a ten-year isolation of the country, that the policy of planning staff has been defined. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia has produced an Action Plan for Human Resources for 2005-2010, after having performed the analysis of the situation. It is based on the evaluation of the health status of the inhabitants and its internal migrations. The Action Plan is focused on the efforts to meet international standards with respect to the building of human resources in the health sector. The consistent implementation of defined norms is an important issue for further development of the health system and the maintenance of its sustainability.

Research paper thumbnail of Coronary vasomotion one year after drug-eluting stent implantation: comparison of everolimus-eluting and paclitaxel-eluting coronary stents

Journal of cardiovascular translational research, 2014

First-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have been associated with impaired localized coronary ... more First-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have been associated with impaired localized coronary vasomotion and delayed endothelialization. We aimed to compare coronary vasomotion after implantation of a newer-generation everolimus-eluting stent (EES), with a first-generation paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES). Coronary vasomotion was studied in 19 patients with EES and 13 with PES. Vasomotor response was measured proximally and distally to the stent and in a remote vessel (reference segment). Quantitative coronary angiography was performed offline. Endothelium independent vasomotion did not differ significantly between the two groups. EES showed significant vasodilatation while PES showed vasoconstriction at both proximal (+4.5 ± 3.6 vs -4.2 ± 6.9, p < 0.001) and distal (+4.6 ± 7.9 vs -4.8 ± 9.3, p = 0.003) segments. The reference segment did not show any significant difference in vasodilatation between the two groups (+9.8 ± 6.4 vs +7.2 ± 5.2, p = 0.17). Endothelium-dependent vasom...

Research paper thumbnail of 9018 Improved staging using intraoperative ultrasound for mediastinal lymphadenectomy in NSCLC surgery

European Journal of Cancer Supplements, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of 643 Echocardiographic evaluation of the left ventricle functional disorders in patients with glomerulonephritis

European Journal of Echocardiography, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of 868 Longer longitudinal atrial dimensions and D-dimer might be a possible predictor of presence of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation

European Journal of Echocardiography, 2003

Blood stasis is the fundamental mechanism leading to thrombus formation in the venous system. Hom... more Blood stasis is the fundamental mechanism leading to thrombus formation in the venous system. Homocysteine also poses a significant risk for venous thrombosis through its endothelial toxic and prothrombotic properties. In the present study, we hypothesized that high homocysteine might be related with spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and thrombus formation in left atrial appendage (LAA). Methods: Sixty-one patients with ischemic stroke caused by nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were included into study. Total fasting plasma homocysteine levels were measured. All patients were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography for the presence of a left atrial appendage (LAA) spontaneous echo contrast ±thrombus, LAA minimum (LAA min) and maksimum areas (LAA max), LAA flow velocities, LAA wall velocities (by Tissue Doppler imaging). Homocysteine levels were compared between groups with or without LAA spontaneous echo contrast +/-thrombus. Results: Transesophageal echocardiography revealed LAA spontenous echo contrast+/-thrombus in 23 patients. LAA flow velocities(27±11 vs 49±13), LAA wall velocity (5.9 ±2.3 vs 12±9.6), were lower and LAA min (2.7±0.5 vs 1.6±0.3) and max areas (5.7±2.8 vs 3.5±2.4) greater in patients with SEC+/-thrombus. Mean homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with LAA SEC+/-thrombus (19.1 versus 13.4 micromol/L, P<0.001). Homocysteine levels were also corrleted with LAA min and max areas and LAA velocities (p<0.05). Conclusions: High plasma homocysteine is related with the presence of spontaneous echo contrast and or thrombus formation in the left tarial appendage. This finding further supports the thrombogenic role of high homocysteine in conditions associated with blood stasis. 866 Can left atrial appendage dimensions and contractility influence the type of cerebral ischemic event?

Research paper thumbnail of Predictive significance of residual ischemia proved by dobutamine stress: Echocardiography test in patients early after the first uncomplicated myocardial infarction

Vojnosanitetski pregled, 2004

Background. To evaluate the long-term prognostic value of dobutamine stress-echocardiography (ECG... more Background. To evaluate the long-term prognostic value of dobutamine stress-echocardiography (ECG) test for new coronary events (new episodes of angina pectoris, cardiac-related deaths, and reinfarctions) early after the first uncomplicated myocardial infarction. Methods. Dobutamine stress-echocardiography tests were performed in all of 104 patients 10-20 days after the first myocardial infarction. Patients were followed-up for 36 (29 ? 7) months. Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival curves were tested by Breslow test (Log Rank). Results. Two cardiac deaths (1.92%), nine nonfatal myocardial infarctions (8.65%), and three cases of recurrent angina pectoris (2.88%) occurred during the prospective follow-up. Cumulative survival curves showed that in patients with negative findings of dobutamine stress-echocardiography test, survival time without significant events was 35.31 months, while in the group with positive findings of dobutamine stress-echocardiography test it was 30.91 months (log...

Research paper thumbnail of Mentality and organisational changes are key to developing primary angioplasty

EuroIntervention, 2012

At the moment of signing the Stent for Life (SFL) Initiative on August 31st, 2009, it was shown t... more At the moment of signing the Stent for Life (SFL) Initiative on August 31st, 2009, it was shown that, in Serbia during 2008, 48% of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) did not receive any reperfusion and only 19% and 33% received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI) or hospital thrombolysis, respectively. However, during 2009, there was a trend towards a substantial increase in p-PCI procedures. This was the result of the commitment of cardiologists, the contract signed by the Health Insurance Fund (HIF) for remuneration of catheterisation laboratory (cathlab) staff for each p-PCI procedure (2005), and the provision of new cathlabs by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The number of PCI centres and trained cardiologists has been rising simultaneously. Direct mobile telephone contact with interventional cardiologists has facilitated the transport of patients directly to cathlabs (from 7.5% before 2009 to 34.2% in 2010 and 2011). Although the number of patients treated with p-PCI is increasing (2006 - 647 p-PCIs; 2007 - 1,248 p-PCIs; 2008 -1,794 p-PCIs; 2009 - 2,468 p-PCIs; 2010 - 3,216 and 2011 - 3,498 p-PCIs), the percentage of patients who are treated within 120 minutes of establishing a diagnosis (first medical contact) is still not satisfactory (38%).

Research paper thumbnail of Risk factors related to the failure of venous leg ulcers to heal with compression treatment

Journal of Vascular Surgery, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Differential Effects of Drug-Eluting Stents on Local Endothelium-Dependent Coronary Vasomotion

Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2008

The aim of our study was to compare coronary vasomotion after implantation of a second-generation... more The aim of our study was to compare coronary vasomotion after implantation of a second-generation biolimus A9-eluting stent (BES) and of a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES). Background Drug-eluting stents (DES) have been associated with impaired local coronary vasomotion, delayed endothelialization, and increased late thrombotic risk. New DES with different drugs, pharmacokinetics, and polymers have been developed. Methods Nineteen patients with a BES and 15 patients with a SES were studied 9 months after stent implantation. Endothelium-dependent and-independent coronary vasomotion were tested proximally and distally to the stent as well as at a reference segment during right atrial pacing at increasing heart rates. Quantitative coronary angiographic measurements were performed offline. Results Of the patients with BES, 2 showed vasoconstriction with increased heart rate and 17 showed vasodilatation. Of the patients with a SES, 9 showed vasoconstriction while 6 showed vasodilatation. The SES showed significant vasoconstriction at both the proximal (Ϫ2.3 Ϯ 10% vs. 7.9 Ϯ 10%) and the distal (Ϫ5.4 Ϯ 9% vs. 6.1 Ϯ 8%) segments to the stent compared with the BES (p ϭ 0.003 for proximal, p Ͻ 0.001 for distal segment). Endothelium-independent vasomotion after intracoronary nitrates did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (p ϭ NS for proximal and distal segment). Conclusions Unlike the case with the SES, endothelium-dependent vasomotion at adjacent stent segments seems to be preserved after BES implantation. This result may be explained by the different drug release kinetics, DES design, or characteristics of polymer used in the stent system.

Research paper thumbnail of Designing external healthcare assessment and improvement systems in Serbia

Journal of Management & Marketing in Healthcare, 2011

This paper is a summary of a current European Union (EU)-funded project (1.5 M EUR, June 2009–Apr... more This paper is a summary of a current European Union (EU)-funded project (1.5 M EUR, June 2009–April 2011) from the IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance) 2007 programme, as part of the EU&#x27;s assistance to healthcare in Serbia. The project&#x27;s main objective is to ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Significance of Medical Waste Management in Health Protection of People and Environment

Safe medical waste management is of the special importance for the whole social community because... more Safe medical waste management is of the special importance for the whole social community because of the risks it poses, not only to the population, but to the environment as well,. Today, the medical waste is defined as the whole waste, dangerous or not dangerous, which is generated during the health care services in the diagnostics, prevention, healing and investigations in the field of human and veterinarian medicine. The development of health care technologies has changed the composition and quantity of waste. The Project named "Technical assistance in medical waste management", which was performed during 2008. by The Ministry of Health with the support of The European Union, is the significant step towards the sustainable medical waste management in the Republic of Serbia. Project made the conditions for the development of this important segment of protection of people and environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Clamping device for use in the complex stressing of plastic specimens

Polymer Mechanics, 1977

We take an algorithmic and computational approach to a basic problem in abstract algebra: determi... more We take an algorithmic and computational approach to a basic problem in abstract algebra: determining the correct generalization to dialgebras of a given variety of nonassociative algebras. We give a simplified statement of the KP algorithm introduced by Kolesnikov and Pozhidaev for extending polynomial identities for algebras to corresponding identities for dialgebras. We apply the KP algorithm to the defining identities for Jordan triple systems to obtain a new variety of nonassociative triple systems, called Jordan triple disystems. We give a generalized statement of the BSO algorithm introduced by Bremner and Sánchez-Ortega for extending multilinear operations in an associative algebra to corresponding operations in an associative dialgebra. We apply the BSO algorithm to the Jordan triple product and use computer algebra to verify that the polynomial identities satisfied by the resulting operations coincide with the results of the KP algorithm; this provides a large class of examples of Jordan triple disystems. We formulate a general conjecture expressed by a commutative diagram relating the output of the KP and BSO algorithms. We conclude by generalizing the Jordan triple product in a Jordan algebra to operations in a Jordan dialgebra; we use computer algebra to verify that resulting structures provide further examples of Jordan triple disystems. For this last result, we also provide an independent theoretical proof using Jordan structure theory.

Research paper thumbnail of The impacts of motivation, managers’ personal traits and management education on the performances of the public healthcare facilities

Vojnosanitetski pregled, 2016

Background/Aim. Exposed to increasing needs of users for better and faster services, more medicat... more Background/Aim. Exposed to increasing needs of users for better and faster services, more medications and innovative health technologies, managers of healthcare services in the public sector need motivation, permanent updating of information and constant personal development. The aim of this paper was to evaluate, on the basis of experienced healthcare managers, the impact of their motivation, selected character traits, managerial skills and formal education in management on healthcare facilities performances in the public sector. Methods. For the purposes of this study, 97 experienced managers from public hospitals and primary health centers in Serbia answered to 30 questions on the motivation of managers, essential skills for successful management and formal education in management in health facilities. The obtained data about their motivation, governing experience, personal skills and formal education in management were systematized and processed by the Statistical Package for So...

Research paper thumbnail of A New Class of the Anti-Ischemic Medicaments - Metabolic Cytoprotective of the Cardiomyocyte

Research paper thumbnail of Hospital mortality trend analysis of patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction in the Belgrade area coronary care units

Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo, 2008

INTRODUCTION. Mortality in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) ranges from 4-24% and is de... more INTRODUCTION. Mortality in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) ranges from 4-24% and is dependent on the variety of patients? clinical characteristics (CC) that are present prior to and within the first hours of the onset of MI, affecting reliability of the diagnosis. The higher mortality rate of patients with STEMI should be associated with a higher rate of applied reperfusion therapy according to guidelines and randomized study results, which is in opposition to everyday hospital practice. OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to analyze the mortality of STEMI patients in relationship to their clinical characteristics at presentation, their age, sex, risk factors, prior coronary disease, and time interval from symptom onset to hospital presentation, complications and administered therapy. METHOD. The analysis involved patients treated in five coronary care units, four Belgrade Hospital Centres and the Belgrade Emergency Centre of the Clinical Centre of Serbia. Evaluated data...

Research paper thumbnail of P3630 Aplication of carvedilol early after acute myocardial infarction prevents remodelling in patients with left ventricular dysfunction

Research paper thumbnail of Corporate social responsibility for public health – a new field for businesses to demonstrate the competitiveness

Research paper thumbnail of The significance of electrocardiogram in new guidelines for diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes

Research paper thumbnail of Improvement of pre-hospital services can influence the mortality reduction in coronary care units

Research paper thumbnail of Health care economics in Serbia: Current problems and changes

Vojnosanitetski pregled, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Implementation of the action plan for human resources in the health system of Serbia--facing inherited problems

Cahiers de sociologie et de démographie médicales

It is through an objective insight into the situation of the health system, in the period of a te... more It is through an objective insight into the situation of the health system, in the period of a ten-year isolation of the country, that the policy of planning staff has been defined. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia has produced an Action Plan for Human Resources for 2005-2010, after having performed the analysis of the situation. It is based on the evaluation of the health status of the inhabitants and its internal migrations. The Action Plan is focused on the efforts to meet international standards with respect to the building of human resources in the health sector. The consistent implementation of defined norms is an important issue for further development of the health system and the maintenance of its sustainability.

Research paper thumbnail of Coronary vasomotion one year after drug-eluting stent implantation: comparison of everolimus-eluting and paclitaxel-eluting coronary stents

Journal of cardiovascular translational research, 2014

First-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have been associated with impaired localized coronary ... more First-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have been associated with impaired localized coronary vasomotion and delayed endothelialization. We aimed to compare coronary vasomotion after implantation of a newer-generation everolimus-eluting stent (EES), with a first-generation paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES). Coronary vasomotion was studied in 19 patients with EES and 13 with PES. Vasomotor response was measured proximally and distally to the stent and in a remote vessel (reference segment). Quantitative coronary angiography was performed offline. Endothelium independent vasomotion did not differ significantly between the two groups. EES showed significant vasodilatation while PES showed vasoconstriction at both proximal (+4.5 ± 3.6 vs -4.2 ± 6.9, p < 0.001) and distal (+4.6 ± 7.9 vs -4.8 ± 9.3, p = 0.003) segments. The reference segment did not show any significant difference in vasodilatation between the two groups (+9.8 ± 6.4 vs +7.2 ± 5.2, p = 0.17). Endothelium-dependent vasom...

Research paper thumbnail of 9018 Improved staging using intraoperative ultrasound for mediastinal lymphadenectomy in NSCLC surgery

European Journal of Cancer Supplements, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of 643 Echocardiographic evaluation of the left ventricle functional disorders in patients with glomerulonephritis

European Journal of Echocardiography, 1999

Research paper thumbnail of 868 Longer longitudinal atrial dimensions and D-dimer might be a possible predictor of presence of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation

European Journal of Echocardiography, 2003

Blood stasis is the fundamental mechanism leading to thrombus formation in the venous system. Hom... more Blood stasis is the fundamental mechanism leading to thrombus formation in the venous system. Homocysteine also poses a significant risk for venous thrombosis through its endothelial toxic and prothrombotic properties. In the present study, we hypothesized that high homocysteine might be related with spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and thrombus formation in left atrial appendage (LAA). Methods: Sixty-one patients with ischemic stroke caused by nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were included into study. Total fasting plasma homocysteine levels were measured. All patients were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography for the presence of a left atrial appendage (LAA) spontaneous echo contrast ±thrombus, LAA minimum (LAA min) and maksimum areas (LAA max), LAA flow velocities, LAA wall velocities (by Tissue Doppler imaging). Homocysteine levels were compared between groups with or without LAA spontaneous echo contrast +/-thrombus. Results: Transesophageal echocardiography revealed LAA spontenous echo contrast+/-thrombus in 23 patients. LAA flow velocities(27±11 vs 49±13), LAA wall velocity (5.9 ±2.3 vs 12±9.6), were lower and LAA min (2.7±0.5 vs 1.6±0.3) and max areas (5.7±2.8 vs 3.5±2.4) greater in patients with SEC+/-thrombus. Mean homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with LAA SEC+/-thrombus (19.1 versus 13.4 micromol/L, P<0.001). Homocysteine levels were also corrleted with LAA min and max areas and LAA velocities (p<0.05). Conclusions: High plasma homocysteine is related with the presence of spontaneous echo contrast and or thrombus formation in the left tarial appendage. This finding further supports the thrombogenic role of high homocysteine in conditions associated with blood stasis. 866 Can left atrial appendage dimensions and contractility influence the type of cerebral ischemic event?

Research paper thumbnail of Predictive significance of residual ischemia proved by dobutamine stress: Echocardiography test in patients early after the first uncomplicated myocardial infarction

Vojnosanitetski pregled, 2004

Background. To evaluate the long-term prognostic value of dobutamine stress-echocardiography (ECG... more Background. To evaluate the long-term prognostic value of dobutamine stress-echocardiography (ECG) test for new coronary events (new episodes of angina pectoris, cardiac-related deaths, and reinfarctions) early after the first uncomplicated myocardial infarction. Methods. Dobutamine stress-echocardiography tests were performed in all of 104 patients 10-20 days after the first myocardial infarction. Patients were followed-up for 36 (29 ? 7) months. Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival curves were tested by Breslow test (Log Rank). Results. Two cardiac deaths (1.92%), nine nonfatal myocardial infarctions (8.65%), and three cases of recurrent angina pectoris (2.88%) occurred during the prospective follow-up. Cumulative survival curves showed that in patients with negative findings of dobutamine stress-echocardiography test, survival time without significant events was 35.31 months, while in the group with positive findings of dobutamine stress-echocardiography test it was 30.91 months (log...

Research paper thumbnail of Mentality and organisational changes are key to developing primary angioplasty

EuroIntervention, 2012

At the moment of signing the Stent for Life (SFL) Initiative on August 31st, 2009, it was shown t... more At the moment of signing the Stent for Life (SFL) Initiative on August 31st, 2009, it was shown that, in Serbia during 2008, 48% of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) did not receive any reperfusion and only 19% and 33% received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (p-PCI) or hospital thrombolysis, respectively. However, during 2009, there was a trend towards a substantial increase in p-PCI procedures. This was the result of the commitment of cardiologists, the contract signed by the Health Insurance Fund (HIF) for remuneration of catheterisation laboratory (cathlab) staff for each p-PCI procedure (2005), and the provision of new cathlabs by the Ministry of Health (MOH). The number of PCI centres and trained cardiologists has been rising simultaneously. Direct mobile telephone contact with interventional cardiologists has facilitated the transport of patients directly to cathlabs (from 7.5% before 2009 to 34.2% in 2010 and 2011). Although the number of patients treated with p-PCI is increasing (2006 - 647 p-PCIs; 2007 - 1,248 p-PCIs; 2008 -1,794 p-PCIs; 2009 - 2,468 p-PCIs; 2010 - 3,216 and 2011 - 3,498 p-PCIs), the percentage of patients who are treated within 120 minutes of establishing a diagnosis (first medical contact) is still not satisfactory (38%).

Research paper thumbnail of Risk factors related to the failure of venous leg ulcers to heal with compression treatment

Journal of Vascular Surgery, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Differential Effects of Drug-Eluting Stents on Local Endothelium-Dependent Coronary Vasomotion

Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2008

The aim of our study was to compare coronary vasomotion after implantation of a second-generation... more The aim of our study was to compare coronary vasomotion after implantation of a second-generation biolimus A9-eluting stent (BES) and of a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES). Background Drug-eluting stents (DES) have been associated with impaired local coronary vasomotion, delayed endothelialization, and increased late thrombotic risk. New DES with different drugs, pharmacokinetics, and polymers have been developed. Methods Nineteen patients with a BES and 15 patients with a SES were studied 9 months after stent implantation. Endothelium-dependent and-independent coronary vasomotion were tested proximally and distally to the stent as well as at a reference segment during right atrial pacing at increasing heart rates. Quantitative coronary angiographic measurements were performed offline. Results Of the patients with BES, 2 showed vasoconstriction with increased heart rate and 17 showed vasodilatation. Of the patients with a SES, 9 showed vasoconstriction while 6 showed vasodilatation. The SES showed significant vasoconstriction at both the proximal (Ϫ2.3 Ϯ 10% vs. 7.9 Ϯ 10%) and the distal (Ϫ5.4 Ϯ 9% vs. 6.1 Ϯ 8%) segments to the stent compared with the BES (p ϭ 0.003 for proximal, p Ͻ 0.001 for distal segment). Endothelium-independent vasomotion after intracoronary nitrates did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (p ϭ NS for proximal and distal segment). Conclusions Unlike the case with the SES, endothelium-dependent vasomotion at adjacent stent segments seems to be preserved after BES implantation. This result may be explained by the different drug release kinetics, DES design, or characteristics of polymer used in the stent system.

Research paper thumbnail of Designing external healthcare assessment and improvement systems in Serbia

Journal of Management & Marketing in Healthcare, 2011

This paper is a summary of a current European Union (EU)-funded project (1.5 M EUR, June 2009–Apr... more This paper is a summary of a current European Union (EU)-funded project (1.5 M EUR, June 2009–April 2011) from the IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance) 2007 programme, as part of the EU&#x27;s assistance to healthcare in Serbia. The project&#x27;s main objective is to ...