Tanja Lukovac

Mrs. Tanja Lukovac

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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22 April 2024 in Children
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Journal Article
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TLTanja Lukovac
Tanja Lukovac
OHOlivera Aleksić Hil
Olivera Aleksić Hil
MPMilka Popović
Milka Popović
VJVitomir Jovanović
Vitomir Jovanović
TSTatjana Savic
Tatjana Savic
DPDragan Pavlović
Dragan Pavlović
The current diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is based on history, clinical observation, and behavioral tests. There is a high demand to find biomarkers for the diagnosis of ADHD. The aim of this study is to analyze the serum profiles of several biomarkers, including homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B12, vitamin D, ferritin, and iron, in a cohort of 133 male subjects (6.5–12.5 years), including 67 individuals with an ADHD diagnosis based on DSM-V criteria and 66 age-matched healthy boys (healthy controls, HC). Assessments for ADHD included the Iowa Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale (CPRS) and the ADHDT test, as well as cognitive assessments using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and the TROG-2 language comprehension test. Hcy and iron were quantified using spectrophotometry, while vitamin B12 and total 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were determined using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and ferritin was measured using a particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. The results showed significantly increased Hcy levels and decreased vitamin B12 levels in ADHD patients compared to HCs. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that Hcy is a potential prognostic indicator for ADHD. These results suggest that elevated homocysteine and decreased vitamin B12 may serve as markers for the diagnosis and prognosis of ADHD.

26 February 2024 in BMC Neurology
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Journal Article
Open access
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TLTanja Lukovac
Tanja Lukovac
OHOlivera Aleksić Hil
Olivera Aleksić Hil
MPMilka Popović
Milka Popović
TSTatjana Savić
Tatjana Savić
APAleksandra M. Pavlović
Aleksandra M. Pavlović
DPDragan Pavlović
Dragan Pavlović
Background: Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder, its aetiology remains unclear. We aimed to establish a relationship between ADHD diagnosis and serum levels of glucose, free thyroxine (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in primary school aged boys. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled 133 participants aged 6.5–12.5 years, 67 of whom met DSM-5 criteria for ADHD and 66 healthy age-matched boys. The ADHDT test (ADHDT) was used to assess ADHD symptoms and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Revised was used to exclude participants with cognitive deficits. The ADHD participants were tested using the Iowa Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale. Results: The ADHD participants had lower glucose levels, higher TSH values, and significantly lower FT4 values than the control group. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that TSH is a parameter that is 2.7% more likely to occur in the ADHD group. We found a significant correlation between the TSH level and the symptoms of hyperactivity (r = 0.318, p = 0.009) and impulsivity (r = 0.275, p = 0.024) as well as between the glucose level and the symptoms of hyperactivity (r = 0.312, p = 0.010). Conclusions: Certain ADHD symptoms may correlate with certain hormonal patterns. Our results suggest that the likelihood of suffering from ADHD was lower when FT4 levels were elevated. One biochemical parameter that was significantly and independently associated with the diagnosis of ADHD was the serum TSH level. Trial registration: On June 26, 2018, at its VI session in 2018, the Ethics Committee of the Institute for Mental Health in Belgrade, Serbia, has considered and unanimously approved the conduct of the research, under the number 1704/1.

2 March 2025 in Children
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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TLTanja Lukovac
Tanja Lukovac
VJVitomir Jovanović
Vitomir Jovanović
SPSvetlana Petronijevic
Svetlana Petronijevic
JRJovana Radović
Jovana Radović
NDNeda Milošević Dedakin
Neda Milošević Dedakin
DPDragan Pavlović
Dragan Pavlović
Background/Objectives: Dyslexia, a prevalent reading disorder, substantially affects children’s educational and social development. Early diagnosis is essential for timely intervention; however, Serbia lacks a standardized instrument for assessing dyslexia in primary school children. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and predictive validity of the Dyslexia Screening Test-Junior (DST-J), which was adapted for the Serbian language and cultural context. Methods: The study sample comprised 647 children from the general population, aged 6 years and 6 months to 11 years and 5 months, along with 30 children of comparable age exhibiting reading difficulties. The assessment of validity was based on the at-risk quotient, predictive validity, and test–retest reliability. Results: Significant differences in at-risk quotient (ARQ) scores were found between children with and without dyslexia (t = 14.90, p < 0.001), with boys, particularly those aged 9.6 to 10.5 years, having higher risk scores than girls. Internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s α = 0.704), and construct validity was confirmed by correlations with external measures, which explained 44% of the variance (R2 = 0.44; p < 0.01). Predictive validity was high for key subtests such as rapid naming and phonemic segmentation, reaching maximum accuracy (sensitivity and specificity = 1). Conclusions: The findings indicate that the adapted DST-J is effective in identifying dyslexia risk among Serbian primary school children. The innovation of this study lies in the cultural adaptation of the DST-J, with future research directed towards refining this instrument and exploring additional diagnostic criteria to enhance its accuracy and inclusivity.