The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in women, although lower than in men, increases dramatically after the menopause. Diabetes mellitus is a more powerful predictor of CHD risk and prognosis in women than in men. The aim of this study was to promote diet and physical activity (PA) regimen in order to decrease coronary risk in next years in postmenopausal women with impaired glucose tolerance. Methodological approach of this research is to compare data gathered trough prospective and retrospective analysis of anamnestic data, clinical research, diagnostic tests and biochemical parameters of 100 examinees, regarding the glycoregulation, lipid status, body mass indexes, incidence of hypertension, uric acid and fibrinogen level. The SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) assessment system is derived from a large dataset of prospective European studies and predicts any kind of fatal CVD events over a ten-year period. It was documented that the then year risk of fatal CVD exerted a shift toward the lower percent value in postmenopausal women after proposed diet/PA regimen. In pre-menopausal women the estimated ten year risk of fatal CVD by SCORE was shifted toward the level below 1%. The risk of 15% and above was not documented after diet/physical activity regimen. The prevalence of the atherogenic lipid markers at the beginning and the end of the assay decreased for all investigated lipid parameters in the group of pre-menopausal women what was more than in postmenopausal ones. Presented data indicate that dietary regimen and physical activity are crucial factors in CVD prevention throughout menopause and beyond. Behavioral changes aimed at decreasing food intake and increasing energy expenditure, should be implemented in pre-menopausal period of life.

The aim of our study was to establish the extent of influence of different psychotropic drugs to brain Beta-endorphins in experimental animals. The study was performed on albino Wistar rats (weight 250 g), treated with different psychoactive drugs. RIA technique was employed for quantification of brain beta-endorphins. Brain beta-endorphins were higher in experiment group treated with trazodone (929 pg/g +/- 44,43; X+/-SD), and dibenzepine (906,63 pg/g +/- 74,06), yet with lower brain content in rats treated with diazepam (841,55 pg/g +/- 68,47), compared to brain beta-endorphins content of control group treated with saline solution (0,95% NaCl) (873,5 pg/g +/- 44,89). Significant differences were obtained comparing brain beta-endorphins of trazodone vs. diazepam treated animals, with diazepam group having lower values (p<0,02). This study showed differences in changes of rat brain beta-endorphins contents when different psychoactive drugs are used. Therefore, we consider that beta-endorphins could be used for evaluation of effects of psychoactive drugs, as a useful parameter in therapy with these psycho-pharmaceuticals.

The aim of this study was to investigate expression of cyclin D1, bcl-2, p53, Ki-67 and HER-2 proteins in 14 cases of non-small cell lung cancer and to establish their correlation to classical clinico-pathological findings, and alleged prognostic value to estimate biological potential of tumor. Retrospective pilot study of the surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer biopsy specimen, paraffin embedded, used immunohistochemical method to demonstrate expression of cyclin D1, bcl-2, p53, Ki-67 and HER-2. Protein quantification was performed by the semi-quantitative method. Achieved results were correlated with classical clinico-pathological parameters, like tumor size, histological type, differentiation level, presence of vascular invasion and metastasis in regional lymph nodes. Out of 14 cases of non-small cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma was found in 7 patients, giant cell carcinoma in 3, adenocarcinoma in 2, and 1 case of pleomorphic and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Expression of cyclin D1 was not found, while expression of HER-2 and bcl-2 protein was established in one cases each. p53 expression was noted in 8 cases (57,1%). Statistically positive significant correlation (p<0,05) was found among: presence of lymphovascular invasion to tumor tissue and appearance of nodal metastasis; proliferation Ki-67 index and level of tumor differentiation, i.e. size of tumor. Other investigated parameters showed no significant statistically dependence. p53 expression was not correlated to any of the investigated parameters what might imply the possibility that there is an independent pathway of this protein expression. Negative expression of bcl-2 protein points out to possibility that it is not included into process of tumor apoptosis, as well as that proteins cyclin D1 and HER-2 are not included into processes of the tumor genesis. Since the proliferative activity of the tumor, measured by the expression of Ki-67, is correlated to the gradus and size of the tumor mass, Ki-67 protein can be of a prognostic value to determine biological potential of non-small cell lung cancer.

Retrospective study was conducted in surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in Clinical Hospital Center Zagreb in 2005. The aim of study was to create guidelines for empirical antibiotic therapy of sepsis in ICU for unknown causative agent based on antimicrobial susceptibility of causative bacteria. Thirty-two patients with severe sepsis were included in study and from medical records their clinical and microbiological data were analyzed. Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains isolated from the blood-culture was tested by disk diffusion method according to CLSI (Clinical Laboratory Standard Institution). We used APACHE II score to predict the severity of illness. Mann-Whitney test and chi2 test were used to test statistical significance difference between results. Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the predominant causative agent. Acinetobacter baumannii was displaying excellent susceptibility to ampicillin+sulbactam and carbapenems, whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa was showed good susceptibility on ceftazidim and carbapenems. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), third predominant causative agent exhibiting good susceptibility to vancomycin and linezolide. The recommended therapy is empirical antibiotic therapy and should cover all important pathogens.

Anatrophic nephrolithotomy (ANL) in the selected cases represents the method of choice in the treatment of staghorn calculi. We evaluated postoperative outcome of patients subjected to standard ANL that received 10 mg of Verapamil immediately before declamping renal artery, due to prevention of reperfusion injury. From 2002 to 2005, 18 nephrolithotomies were performed on 15 patients, in the Urology Clinic, University of Sarajevo Clinics Centre. Preoperative evaluation included intravenous urography and radionuclide renal scans which had been repeated 6 months after the operations. 10 males and 5 females were operated with mean age of 45 years. Urography and renal scans showed severe calyceal distortion and infundibular stenosis in 83% cases, complicated with ureteropelvic junction obstruction in 55% cases. Chronic kidney failure was present in 60% patients. Mean operative time was 150 minutes, with mean cold ischemia time of 61 minutes and mean blood loss of 300ml. There were five minor postoperative complications. Residual small calculi were found in 3 patients. Kidney function was stabilized in the patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, which was proved by radio nuclide imaging. ANL improved by using calcium channel blockers as a protective factor for reperfusion injury proved to be a good treatment choice with a low level of complications and noticeable stabilization and improvement of kidneys function.

The aim of this research was to determine the incidence, risk factors and perinatal outcome of the macrosomic infants (birth weight > or = 4000 g). The retrospective research was performed using a case-control study conducted at Mostar Clinical Hospital. Total of 379 women gave singleton term births to macrosomic newborn in the period from January 1st, 2004 to December 31st, 2005 (observed group). Another 379 singleton normal birthweight term newborns (birth weight < 4000 g, but not small for gestational age), of the same maternal parity and age, who were delivered in the same period, formed the control group. The incidence of macrosomic births was 13, 1%. In the study group, significantly higher number of cases of postdatism (> 42 weeks of gestation) (P<0,001), maternal obesity (prepregnancy BMI> 26 kg/m2) (P<0,001), gestational diabetes mellitus (P=0,033), hypertension (P=0,025) and male infant (P<0,001) were observed. Cesarean delivery (P<0,001), intrapartal complications (cephalopelvic disproportion P<0.001, perineal trauma P=0,042) and newborn birth trauma (clavicular fracture P=0,038, brachial palsy P=0,021) occurred significantly more often in the macrosomic group. There was only one fetal death in the macrosomic group. In the control group there were no cases of perinatal deaths. To conclude, it is important to emphasize the significance of proper diagnosis of fetal macrosomia and management of macrosomic birth, since we have seen a growing number of macrosomic births during the last decades, and have faced a problem of increased risks of adverse perinatal outcome.

Hexagon TB is intended for the rapid diagnostics of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a contagious and epidemic disease. According to the data published by WHO, 3-4 millions of patients are diagnosed with this disease annually. In 2004, 107 new cases were discovered in the area of Tuzla Municipality. Annual incidence of this disease is 62,9 per 100 000 inhabitants in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 28,9 in Slovenia; 33,2 in FYRM; 48,5 in Croatia; 41,8 in Serbia and Montenegro. Western European countries have a rather low rate of the disease--5-10 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. Efficiency of Hexagon TB examination method was tested on 100 patients. The subjects were patients with clinical symptoms of active TBC infection, persons who were in contact with TBC patients and persons earlier cured of TBC. All the subjects were tested with Hexagon TB, and the results were compared against lungs X-rays and sputum test for BK and LOW. Hexagon TB is intended for rapid, qualitative detection of IgG, IgA, IgM antibodies against M. tuberculosis and mycobacterium in human serum, plasma or whole blood as an aid in the early diagnostics of tuberculosis infections for professional use. Hexagon TB was positive in 11 of the examined patients. 10 patients had changes suggesting TBC. 1 patient was directly positive for BK and 3 patients were positive for LOW. Of all the examined patients, 3 were positive for all tests positive. According to our results, Hexagon TB has significant importance in practice of rapid TBC diagnostics compared to lungs X-ray and examination of sputum for BK and LOW.

In our investigation,we used short-time model of myocardial infarction of rats induced by high dose of isoproterenol (ISP). We investigated cardiac troponin T blood level (cTnT) and histological characteristics of rat myocardium. ISP, single, intraperitoneal dose 250 mg/kg was given to male, adult, Wistar rats (n=12). Rats were distributed depending on their body weight in subgroups: ISP I (BW 260-280g) and ISP II (BW 250-400g).Control group (n=9) was treated with intraperitoneal dose of 0,95% NaCl. Cardiac TnT was measured by electrochemiluminiscence (ECLA) sandwich immunoassay in rat serum 4 hours after ISP application. Rats' hearts were dissected and examined by qualitative histological method (HE). Statistical significance was set at 0,05. There was significant difference in cTnT of ISP II (p=0,0001) vs. control and ISP I (p<0,05) vs. control. Significant difference was between ISP I and ISP II subgroups (p<0.001). The accent of histological changes of myocardium was on nuclei of cell. Cells showed acidophilic changes and nuclei disappearance as signs of coagulative necrosis development. Extensivity of histological changes were different between ISP I and ISP II subgroup. Used dose of ISP induced development of myocardial necrosis in rats. Subendocardial portion of myocardium was more vulnerability than subepicardial portion. Rats of ISP II had more extensive histological changes than these in ISP I. Administered doses of ISP enabled cTnT utilization as a marker of myocardial necrosis.