Abstract Background The Roma ethnic group is the largest and most marginalized minority in Europe, believed to be vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections. Aim The purpose of the study was to investigate frequency and characteristics of gonorrhea and syphilis among the Roma population in Belgrade. Methods Data from the City Institute for Skin and Venereal Diseases to which all gonorrhea and syphilis cases are referred were analyzed. Results During the period of 2010–2014 sexually transmitted infections were more frequent among Roma than in rest of Belgrade population. Average percentages of Roma among all reported subjects with syphilis and those with gonorrhea were 9.6% and 13.5%, respectively, while the percentage of Roma in the total Belgrade population was about 1.6%. Roma with syphilis and gonorrhea were more frequently men (75%), most frequently aged 20–29 years (43.4%), never married (64.5%), with elementary school or less (59.2%), unemployed (80.3%), and heterosexual (89.5%). Among Roma 10.5% were sex workers and 68.4% did not know the source of their infection. Significant differences between Roma cases and other cases in Belgrade in all characteristics observed were in agreement with differences between Roma population and the total population of Serbia. Conclusion The present study confirmed the vulnerability of the Roma population to sexually transmitted infections.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis. Aim: To estimate the frequency of MetS in patients with symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic disease, and to compare clinical, biochemical and ultrasonographic characteristics of patients with and without MetS. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study of 657 consecutive patients (412 males) with symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic disease. Carotid atherosclerosis was estimated by high resolution B-mode ultrasonography. National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) M criteria were used for estimation of MetS. Results: Metabolic syndrome was present in 55.6% of studied patients. Among patients with metabolic syndrome there was a significantly higher proportion of women, and mean values ofbody weight, body mass index, waist circumference, percentage of body fat, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol and glucose were significantly higher. Mean values of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and alcohol consumption were significantly lower in patients with MetS. No differences between patients with or without MetS, were observed for age, smoking, mean values of low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high sensitive C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, and for degree of carotidstenosis or severity of clinical manifestations. Conclusion: Half of these patients with carotid stenosis have features of the metabolic syndrome.

Antecedentes: El síndrome metabólico se asocia a un mayor riesgo de ateroesclerosis carotídea. Objetivo: Evaluar la frecuencia de síndrome metabólico en pacientes con ateroesclerosis carotídea sintomática y comparar las características clínicas, bioquímicas y ultrasonográficas en pacientes con y sin síndrome metabólico. Material y método: Estudio transversal de 657 pacientes consecutivos (412 varones) con ateroesclerosis carotídea sintomática. El síndrome metabólico fue diagnosticado de acuerdo a los criterios del National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) III. la ateroesclerosis carotídea se investigó mediante ultrasonografía de alta resolución modo B. Resultados: Se diagnosticó síndrome metabólico en 55.6% de los pacientes estudiados. Entre los sujetos portadores del síndrome había una mayor proporción de mujeres y el peso, índice de masa corporal, circunferencia de cintura, porcentaje de grasa corporal, presión arterial sistólica y diastólica y niveles séricos de triglicéridos, colesterol total y glicemia fueron mayores. los valores promedio de colesterol HDI y de consumo de alcohol fueron significativamente menores en los pacientes con síndrome metabólico. los pacientes con el síndrome consumían menos alcohol y tenían niveles de colesterol HDI más bajos. No se encontraron diferencias entre sujetos con y sin síndrome metabólico en edad, tabaquismo, lipoproteínas de baja densidad, proteína C reactiva ultrasensible, fibrinógeno, grado de estenosis carotídea o severidad de sus manifestaciones clínicas. Conclusiones: la mitad de estos pacientes con estenosis carotídea tiene un síndrome metabólico.