Objective: In recent years regional anesthesia has gained great popularity. However, like any other medical procedure, the regional anesthesia carries certain risk of unintended intraneural injection and consequential neurological complications. Studies in animals have suggested that intraneural application of local anesthetics may cause mechanical injury. Previous studies, however, have used small animal models and clinically irrelevant injection speed or equipment. In this study we used equipment and injection methods in common clinical use to study the consequences and pressure dynamics of intraneural injection. Our hypothesis is that an intraneural injection is heralded by higher injection pressure and leads to neurologic impairment in pigs. Materials and Methods: Ten pigs of mixed breed (21-26 kg, 4-6 months old) were studied. After general anesthesia, the sciatic nerves (n = 20) were exposed bilaterally. Under direct vision, a 25-gauge insulated nerve block needle was placed either intraneurally (n = 10) or perineurally (n = 10), and 4 ml of preservative-free lidocaine 2% was injected using an automated infusion pump (15 ml/min). Injection pressure data were acquired using an in-line manometer coupled to a computer via an analog-to-digital conversion board. After injection, the animals were awakened and subjected to serial neurologic examinations during next 7 days. Results: All perineural injections resulted in injection pressures below 40 kPa. In contrast, intraneural injections resulted in significantly higher peak pressures (P 140 k Pa. Conclusion: High injection pressure (>140 kPa) predicts intraneural injection and consequential neurologic deficit. As long as the injection pressure is low, injection into poorly compliant tissue can be avoided and neurological complication can be prevented.

Introduction: Willis arterial circle (circulus arteriosus cerebri Willisi) is the most important part of the collateral circulatory system of the brain. It functions in normal and pathological situations such as valvular mechanism and thus allows optimal blood supply of all parts of the brain tissue, which reduces the risk of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke. The main pre-requisite for the normal function of the circle is its completeness and the lack of hypoplastic vessels. Materials and Methods: In this research, we used 100 angiograms of carotid system shown by serial angiography by Seldinger taken from the archives of the Department of Radiology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo. For morphometric analysis of blood vessels, we used specially designed software program ELLIPSE (ViDiTo, Zoltan Tomoris, Kosice, Slovak Republic, tomori@saske.sk. In this way, it was possible to more easily store and analyze angiograms that were used for morphometric analysis. Results: In our study, larger diameters of blood vessels in Willis circle were observed in the younger subjects compared to older except the diameter of the internal carotid artery, which was about 0.2 to 0.3 mm larger in the older subjects. In both age groups among males, we recorded larger diameters of the internal carotid artery and segment before the circle of the posterior cerebral artery in relation to the female population, while the rear communicating artery in females was 0.1 mm wider in diameter compared to men in category of younger respondents.

With the metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus increase in the recent decade, the importance of early detection of insulin resistance is essential. However, a simple method is not currently available for precise measurements. Therefore the aim of this study was to elucidate the association of HbA 1c with metabolic syndrome as a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors. The study population consisted of 45 subjects with metabolic syndrome and 45 free of metabolic syndrome (control group).Total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, HbA 1c , body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured in both groups. HbA 1c levels are found much more in MS group than the control group, 8,7% and 6,2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of HbA 1c is significantly higher in metabolic syndrome patients, 86,7% and 46,67%, respectively. Additionally, subjects with metabolic syndrome exhibited significantly higher blood glucose, triglyceride, systolic/diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol. Our results suggest that HbA 1c may be a marker for metabolic syndrome and may identify in a certain degree insulin resistance subjects.

In this paper fuzzy logic principles are used to control the level and temperature of water in fish eggs breading tank. The control task aims to keep the water level and the water temperature in a tank within certain ranges, the temperature due to Newton’s law of cooling would drop down, and to keep it within limits, hot water is added, and cold water is drained. Sensors for temperature and level are used to give fuzzy input to the fuzzy controller which outputs the amount of opening in the two control valves.