Background: There are a limited number of studies describing the impact of the menstrual cycle and postmenopause on the skin barrier function, and existing research data are conflicting. The aim of our research was to investigate the impact of the menstrual cycle and postmenopause on the epidermal barrier function and its main biophysical parameters—transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin hydration (SH).Materials and Methods: Eighty‐one female participants were included in the study, aged 18–65 years, of which 36 in the reproductive period (average age 27.06 ± 5.60 years) and 45 in postmenopause (average age 56.56 ± 4.37 years). TEWL and SH were measured during the ovulatory and mid‐luteal phases in participants in the reproductive period, and on two occasions, 7 days apart, in posmenopausal participants.Results: The mean TEWL value was significantly higher in the mid‐luteal phase (TEWL 2; 9.92 ± 1.37) compared to the ovulatory phase (TEWL 1; 8.87 ± 1.59). However, no significant difference in TEWL was observed between the two groups of participants. The mean SH value was significantly higher in the ovulatory phase (SH 1; 40.55 ± 7.80) compared to the mid‐luteal phase (SH 2; 36.27 ± 7.42). Moreover, SH in the ovulatory phase was significantly higher in comparison to the postmenopausal group (40.55:36.27; p = 0.009).Conclusion: Our study indicates a more functional epidermal barrier during the ovulatory phase, as evidenced by higher TEWL values and lower SH values compared to the mid‐luteal phase. However, the differences between the two participant groups remain intriguing, as no significant difference in TEWL was observed between them, despite significantly higher SH values in the ovulatory phase compared to the postmenopausal group.

Introduction: A sedentary lifestyle is one of the biggest health problems of the 21st century. The role of the trainer in motivating the sedentary individual is crucial. Also, there is a growing accessibility to gyms today, especially outdoor gyms, as a novel way to motivate people to train. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of regular combined indoor and outdoor physical activity on anthropometric and functional parameters and the adoption of a more active lifestyle. Methods: The study included 45 participants between 18 and 56 years of age. They underwent 12 weeks of resistance training, focusing on chest presses and leg presses. Height, weight, bioelectrical impedance, chest and leg press one-repetition maximums, push-up and curl-up counts, and sit and reach were measured both before and after the 12-week training program. Results: After 12 weeks of training, male participants showed a significant increase in the percentage of skeletal muscle mass (p<0.05) and a significant decrease in the fat mass percentage (p<0.05). Female participants experienced a significant reduction in the fat mass percentage (p<0.05). Both groups were able to significantly increase their one-repetition maximums for the chest press (p<0.05) and leg press (p<0.05). Push-up and curl-up counts increased significantly after 12 weeks of training in both sexes, as did flexibility in both sexes. A year after the study, 80% of all participants were still training with a combination of indoor and outdoor physical activities. Conclusions: After 12 weeks of training, the body composition of both female and male participants had changed significantly. Twelve weeks of resistance training significantly increased strength and flexibility in both male and female participants. A well-thought-out training plan seems to be the key factor in motivating a beginner trainee to adopt a more active lifestyle. Level of Evidence IV; Case series.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease. Aim: This study aimed to measure the utilization of drugs affecting bone structure and mineralization in Serbia from 2013 to 2016, and to compare this data with that from countries with well-developed pharmacotherapeutic practice, such as Finland, Norway, and Denmark. Methods: The utilization of drugs is estimated using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical/Defined Daily Dose (DDD) methodology. The amount of total drugs consumed has been expressed in the number of Defined Daily Dose on 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000 inhabitants/day). Results: In 2016, a total of 2.91 DDD/1000 inh/day of all drugs was used in Serbia of which 75.26% belonged to bisphosphonates, whereas they made 37.15% in Finland, 81.56% in Norway and 77.84% in Denmark of the total utilization of M05 drugs subclass. The most frequently used bisphosphonate in Serbia in 2013 was alendronic acid, while in 2016 it was ibandronic acid. In three compared countries the rate of utilization among bisphosphonates was the highest for alendronic acid. The level of other bisphosphonates' utilization in Serbia, as well as the utilization of strontium ranelate, is constantly low compared to other drugs. In comparison to other countries, the utilization of denosumab in Serbia is multiple folds lower, however with an upward trend. Conclusions: The utilization of drugs affecting bone structure and mineralization in the examined period in Serbia compared to Finland, Norway and Denmark is three to six fold lower. Furthermore, there is a difference between the structure of prescribed and consumed drugs.

Background: In this study, we used intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Rather than emphasizing its use for safety purposes, our goal was to evaluate how neurophysiological parameters change during surgery and their correlation with clinical findings. Methods: This study included 30 patients who underwent ACDF. Detailed neurological examination was performed together with manual muscle testing (MMT), the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire. During surgery, somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPs), motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), and spontaneous electromyography were registered. Results: There were statistically significant difference in the latency and amplitude of SSEPs of the right median nerve. Regarding the left median nerve, there was a statistically significant difference in amplitude, but not in latency. Differences were also observed in the amplitudes of right and left tibial nerve SSEPs, though no significant differences were found in their latencies. No statistically significant difference was found in the threshold values required to elicit MEPs between the beginning and end of the surgery. Additionally, we found a statistically significant positive correlation between the latency of the left and right median nerve and the left tibial nerve with somatosensory impairment. There was also a significant negative correlation between the amplitude of both tibial nerves and somatosensory impairment, and their latency showed a significant negative correlation with pain level before surgery. We found statistically significant decreases in NDI and pain level values one month after surgery. Conclusions: The results show significant changes in SSEPs and a correlation between clinical and neurophysiological findings and emphasize the importance of using MEPs to assess the condition of the motor system. Additionally, there was a general improvement in the patients’ condition, as assessed by NDI and pain scores. This study identifies critical surgical phases to consider in the absence of real-time neuromonitoring feedback and emphasizes that clinical observations may not fully reflect the condition of neurological structures in patients with myelopathy, which is crucial when deciding on timely surgery.

Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem. Adherence to national guidelines is one of the key factors necessary for the rational use of antibiotics. Aim: The aim of the study was to examine characteristics of antibiotic prescribing practice in primary health care in Novi Sad. Method: The analysis was designed as a descriptive, cross-sectional study based on the data obtained from the health institution Cvejić Pharmacy. The guidelines available to physicians at the time of prescribing were used to assess the compliance of the prescribed antibiotics with the guidelines. Additionally, the most frequently dispensed antibiotics for all diagnoses were recorded and results were expressed as a percentage of frequency of analyzed antibiotic prescriptions. Results: The study has shown that antibiotic prescriptions make 5.48% of all prescriptions (719 out of 13115), 513 (71.35%) of which were established by national guidelines, and 206 (28.65%) for less frequent diagnoses which was not included in national guidelines. In the study sample, 297 (65.42%) terapeutical regimes had adequate terapeutical dosage. The most commonly prescribed antibiotic groups were: macrolides (35.18%), penicillins (28.68%) and cephalosporins (14.60%). Conclusions: Irrational prescribing and dispensing of antibiotics is both national and global problem. It is necessary to pay close attention to antibiotics prescribing and dispensing. The focus should be on national guidelines and their extension.

Rotator cuff calcific tendinitis (RCCT) is an acute or chronic painful condition due to the presence of calcific deposits inside or around the tendons of the rotator cuff. Effective treatment of RCCT is crucial for restoring shoulder function, alleviating pain, and enhancing the patient’s quality of life. The treatment of RCCT is mainly divided into surgical and non-surgical treatment. Conservative treatment has been regarded as the first-line therapy, but the effectiveness of these treatments is still not well-established. When conservative treatment fails, invasive treatment, either minimally invasive or surgical, is usually indicated. Nowadays, low-dose radiotherapy has been used for the treatment of various benign conditions, including calcific tendinitis. We presented a 56-year-old female patient with intense pain and limited mobility of her left shoulder. X-rays and ultrasound of the left shoulder showed a massive oval calcification along the greater part of the m. supraspinatus measuring 41x8mm. The patient was first treated with diclopram, peranton gel, and rest. After that, it was decided to try low-dose radiotherapy. It was performed on the Vitalbeam radiotherapy platform with a conformal technique in doses of Gy 8 and 10 fractions. After the last fraction, the pain gradually disappeared and mobility was regained. The ultrasonography control 2 months after the last session showed the total disappearance of the calcification. The use of low-dose radiotherapy for benign conditions is a topic of ongoing debate in the medical community. In this case, low-dose radiotherapy proved to be an adequate method of choice without accompanying side effects, resulting in complete healing and improvement of quality of life.