Anemia is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and contributes to cardiovascular alterations. Recent findings suggest that B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a sensitive biomarker for left ventricular dysfunction, but relationship between hemoglobin and BNP in CKD patients is unclear. Hemoglobin, plasma BNP and serum creatinine levels were measured in 49 patients with CKD (without heart failure), divided in two groups according to the hemoglobin status (cut-off point 110 g/L). All patients underwent echocardiography in order to assess left ventricular (LV) morphology and function. The results showed that in the group of patients with hemoglobin levels under 110 g/L BNP levels were significantly elevated (p < 0.001), as well as left ventricular mass index (p < 0.001). Systolic and diastolic LV function were significantly better in patients with hemoglobin levels above 110 g/L (p < 0.001). Hemoglobin levels were inversely related to BNP values (r = -0.451, p < 0.001). Significantly negative correlation between BNP level and creatinine clearance (p = 0.009), and significantly positive correlation between BNP level and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were established. A similar but positive relationship was observed between hemoglobin levels and creatinine clearance (p < 0.01). We established statistically significant negative correlation between hemoglobin levels and LVMI (r = -0.564, p < 0.001). In conclusion, BNP and hemoglobin levels depend on the renal function. Anemia may contribute to elevated BNP levels in CKD patients, and may represent an important confounder of the relationship between BNP and cardiac alteration in these patients.

To compute approximately an integral (1)∫0mφm(x)f(x)dx, where φm(⋅) is cardinal B-spline, we used composite rectangular rule. We proved that, on the “quasi uniform” mesh, the used formula has, conditionally speaking, algebraic degree of exactness m−1. Under additional assumptions, algebraic degree of exactness is m.

History of Pharmacy Museum at the Faculty of Pharmacy University of Belgrade was founded in Belgrade in 1952, thanks to many pharmacists and historians, but especially to Mr Andrija Mirković (Mpharm). His precious private collection of antiquities, which he donated to the Faculty of Pharmacy in Belgrade, subsequently a basic one for the Museum foundation, included apothecary vessels, apparatuses, manuscripts and books dated back to the XVI century. Furthermore, there were included many other antiquities, books and manuscripts from pharmacies on the territory of former Yugoslavia, mostly from Serbia, so the entire Museum collection comprises various apothecary vessels: 700 ceramic, wooden, glass, porcelain and halide glass jars, as well as the XIX century exhibits from Pravitelstvena Apoteka (the first state-owned pharmacy in Serbia, which operated between 1836-1859). The Museum collection of accessories and vessels is completed with a library and precious archive materials. The library itself includes the original manuscripts as well as the colour offprint of some manuscripts, and printed works; mostly scientific books, textbooks, journals and pharmacopoeias with drug tax lists. Some printed books dating back to the Late Middle Ages are very rare and precious, such as Curio's Medicina Salernitana (1612) and the Ruel's version of Dioscorides' De materia medica. This entire collection is considered a unique one in Serbia for its variety and greatness, representing a precious source for studying the History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Ethics (as a subject was included into the Faculty's curriculum since 1952 and cancelled recently in 2008).