The study was conducted on 50 cadavers (32 male and 18 female, aged 15-53 years; mean 34; SD 11) with intact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), without diagnosed gonarthrosis of the knee joint. The following anatomical parameters of the ACL were measured: the length of anteromedial and posterolateral bundle, the mean length and the width of the ligament, the length and width of tibial insertion, the length and width of femoral insertion. The intercondylar width was measured at the level of popliteal groove. The width of male intercondylar notch (22 mm) was statistically significantly greater (P < 0.05) than the width of female intercondylar notch (18 mm). The width of the male ACL (12 mm) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than the width of the female ACL (10 mm). The length of the male ACL femoral insertion (14 mm) was statistically significantly greater (P < 0.05) than in the female ACL femoral insertion (12 mm). Accordingly, with greater width of intercondylar notch, men have wider ACL than women. ACL width is in positive correlation with the male intercondylar notch width but it is not in correlation with the female intercondylar notch width. The width of male intercondylar notch correlates with the length and width of ACL femoral insertion. Taking into account the length and width of femoral insertion in examined cadaver knees, double bundle reconstruction would theoretically be possible in 76% of cases.

Purpose It has been demonstrated that the semitendinosus tendon can regenerate after being harvested in its whole length and thickness for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Ultrasound studies and guided biopsies of the regenerated tendon have shown compatibility and resembling features of the normal tendon. The question is if this neo-tendon is biologically and functionally adequate for re-use? Methods Two randomised groups of 150 volunteers were followed up for two years after harvesting the semitendinosus only (25) or the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons (25) in ACL reconstruction. The patients were followed up with clinical and ultrasound examinations, biopsies and histological tests. Surgical exploration was done in three patients for macroscopic verification. The injected arteries of four lower limbs were dissected and the tendon's arterial supplies were examined. Results Seventy-two percent of the cases showed regeneration of the semitendinosus tendons. The neotendons were inserted mostly below the knee joint (83.3 %) where they had fused with the gracilis tendon, and above the joint (60 %) when the gracilis was harvested as well. The isokinetic strength of the hamstrings and quadriceps was not significantly diminished on the operated side. A macroscopic and histological analysis of the regenerated tendons demonstrates close resemblance to normal anatomy, with focal areas of fibrosis. In one patient the regenerated tendon was used for medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction. Conclusion The semitendinosus muscle can recover and the tendon has great potential to regenerate after harvesting for ACL reconstruction. Our data suggest that the regenerated tendons could be used for iterative ligament reconstruction.

Investigations were carried out on 55 monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops, Macaca fascicularis) hearts by stereomicroscopic dissection and measurements. Latex-injected specimens and corrosion casts showed that, as in humans, the hearts were usually (in 98.2% of the cases) supplied by two coronary arteries (CAs) -the left (LCA) and the right coronary artery (RCA), and occasionally (in 1.8% of the cases) also by a third one (TCA). Furthermore, the orifice of the TCA was situated in the right aortic sinus at the same level as the RCA and 0.2 mm in front of it. The LCA and the RCA originated from the corresponding aortic sinuses and the external diameter of the LCA was greater [average: 1.65 ± 0.39 (SD) mm] than that of the RCA [average 0.94 ± 0.15 (SD) mm] and the TCA (0.8 mm). The LCA orifice was more often above (76.3%) than below the free edge of the left aortic valve leaflet. The longitudinal axis of the aortic root and of the initial part of the LCA formed an angle of 45-120° (average: 52°). The orifice of the RCA was usually above (82.3%) the free edge of the right aortic valve leaflet, and less frequently below it (17.7%). The longitudinal axis of the aortic root and of the initial part of the RCA formed an angle of 70-150° (average: 103°). The resemblance of monkey CAs to their human counterparts make them a suitable model for experimental studies on coronary circulation.

The data about the incidence and risk factors for surgical site infections (SSIs) following total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in middle-income countries are still scant. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and risk factors associated with 30-day SSIs following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The study was conducted at the Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Clinical Center of Serbia (CCS) in Belgrade, from May 2016 to April 2018. All patients undergoing THA or TKA were followed throughout hospitalization until day 30 after discharge. Of the 1073 admitted patients, 459 had THA and 230 had TKA. The incidence rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) among the patients who underwent THA was 5.4%, which is 3.8 per 1000 postoperative patient-days, while the rate among those who had TKA was 4.8%, i.e., 3.4 per 1000 postoperative patient-days. Out of the 36 SSIs, 15 were deep and 21 were superficial incisional ones. Among the variables examined, the independent risk factors for SSIs after THA were the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score > 2 (RR = 3.17; 95% CI—1.26–8.02), smoking (RR = 3.14; 95% CI—1.26–7.82) and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) (RR = 6.09; 95% CI—2.35–15.77), and after TKA, only PVD (RR = 3.87; 95% CI—1.09–13.76) was the risk factor. Incidence rates of SSIs after arthroplasty are higher compared to reports from developed countries. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance infection prevention and control measures with strict control of modifiable risk factors.

Toxoplasmosis is a globally distributed parasitic zoonosis, affecting approximately one third of the human population. Epidemiological studies on toxoplasmosis conducted in Serbia so far have been focused on women of childbearing age, without a clear insight into the prevalence in the general population. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a representative sample of the healthy adult population consisting of 1095 blood donors of both genders to establish the prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection. Data on the demographic and clinical characteristics of all study participants, as well as on their lifestyle habits, were collected by means of a questionnaire. The overall prevalence of infection was 20.5% (224/1095) and the avidity of the specific IgG antibodies detected was high in a vast majority of the seropositive donors (98.2%). Interestingly, the remaining 1.8% of the specific IgG positive samples were of borderline avidity (4/224), in complete absence of specific IgM. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that independent risk factors included age (from OR (95% CI) 1.9 (1.13–3.28) in the 30–39 age group, to 6.8 (3.27–14.24) in the age group of >60 years), suburban living (OR (95% CI) 2.2 (1.43–3.34)) and contact with soil (OR (95% CI) 1.4 (1.01–1.94)). This first large-scale study on toxoplasmosis in the general population in Serbia shows the lowest prevalence ever reported in this country. Moreover, the novel perspective on risk factors provides an updated basis for future prevention programs.