Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional capacity of the liver based on the activity of specific enzymes and bilirubin in serum and also to investigate the influence of mechanical and toxic effects of Fasciola hepatica on the structures of the blood vessels and biliary tract in the sheep liver. Methods Blood samples and liver of 63 indigenous sheep of Pramenka breed, slaughtered in the period from March to December 2009 were used. Based on parasitological findings in the liver, all animals were divided into two groups: control (n = 34) and infected group (n = 29). For investigation and description of pathological changes in sheep liver, naturally infected with F. hepatica, corrosion cast technique was used. Results Biochemical analysis of tested parameters showed a significant elevation (P≤0.05) of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) in infected sheep group comparing with the control group. No significant differences were observed for activity of aspartate aminotranferase (AST) between groups. Vascular and biliary systems of the liver were found to be affected. Conclusion Results of biochemical analysis are consistent with pathological findings and measuring of tested parameters could be used in early diagnosis of sheep fasciolosis and to test the effectiveness of anthelmintic therapy. Corrosion cast technique is very useful for investigation of pathological changes and neoangiogenesis of vascular and biliary system in sheep liver, caused by mechanical and toxic effects of F. hepatica.

The most significant individual prognostic factor for those suffering from NSCLC is cancer invasion of regional lymph nodes, which depends on pathomorphological characteristics of the primary disease. Cellular and histological atopy of the changed tissue means good predispositions for an early lymph invasion and lymphonodular metastasizing. The aim of the paper: a standard statistical analysis which includes frequency of the degree of malignant change differentiation, metastasizing in stages N1 and N2 and the statistical dependence of the mentioned variables. Patients and methods: a retrospective analysis covered 331 patients who underwent a surgical procedure after they had been diagnosed with NSCLC and it was also based on the definite pathohistological postresectional results which included the above mentioned characteristics in a descriptive manner. Results: the average age of the total number of patients was 62.69 ± 7.47. Males were more numerous than females (4.7:1). There was a significant statistic correlation between the development of the disease and the age (ch 2 test = 493.65; p< 0.05), as well as a significant difference of age in relation to gender (p< 0.05). G2 stage of the disease was the most frequent, with participation of 58.00%, and there was a significant statistical correlation between developing the disease and the level of differentiation ( ch 2 test= 248.13; p<0.05). The invasion of the node N1 was 44.61% and of N2 4.53%. There was a statistically significant correlation between N1 and N2 metastases and the level of differentiation of cancer (ch 2 test =24.74; p=0.00 vs. ch 2 test = 16.37; p=0.01). Conclusion: the domination of G2 stage and statistically significant correlation between the levels of differentiation and regional lymphonodular invasion.