A classical pp-wave is a four-dimensional Lorentzian spacetime which admits a nonvanishing parallel spinor field; here the connection is assumed to be Levi-Civita. We generalize this definition to metric compatible spacetimes with torsion and describe basic properties of such spacetimes. We use our generalized pp-waves for constructing new explicit vacuum solutions of quadratic metric-affine gravity.

A compared, 12 week, placebo controlled study, with fixed dose, outpatient study of patients diagnosed with panic disorder with and without agoraphobia according to ICD-10, was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sertraline and alprazolam. The study included 40 patients, divided in two groups. We evaluated number of ICD-10-defined panic attacks, agoraphobia and anticipatory anxiety. All patients were aged 18 year and older and were randomized to either sertraline or alprazolam. Sertraline applied in fixed doses of 20 mg/day and alprazolam in doses 1-1,5 mg/day significantly reduced the frequency of panic attacks in panic disorder patients, reduced symptoms of agoraphobia and anticipatory anxiety.

Sore shoulder or shoulder region is frequently encountered in general population. According to reference data prevalence ranges between 15 and 20% in 40-45 age group. A weak bone support enables extensive excursions of this joint and simultaneously reduces its stability. We analyzed successfulness of sore shoulder treatment in a sample of 1115 patients treated in the Center for physical medicine and rehabilitation between 1996 and 2004. All the patients reported to the Center either in acute phase or in the phase of chronic state exacerbation, with limited function that was graded on the scale 0 to 5. Type and kind of sore shoulder cause was determined by clinical examination and, where needed, by X-ray. Of the total number of cases, 33 patients did not report for follow up examination, 166 patients were forwarded to other physical therapy centers for treatment so the final analysis included 916 patients (82%) whose treatment success was evaluated on the scale 0 to 5. In 659 (58%) patients the inflammation of musculus biceps long tendon was identified as a cause of sore shoulder. The least frequent cause was the blow syndrome (impingement)--20 (2%). In 666 patients (73%) the problem was resolved by local instillation of depo corticosteroids (Betamethason 7 mg) so the physical treatment was not required.

Gentamicin is still widely used in clinical practice in spite of its renal toxicity. The role of nitric oxide (NO) in that process is not completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma level of NO and the histopathological changes of kidney in acute tubular necrosis (ATN) induced by gentamicin in rats. Study was carried out in Albino-Wistar rats, both sexes (n=16), average body weight 200-250 g. divided in two equal groups: control and gentamicin group. The control group was injected with 0.9% NaCl i.p. and gentamicin group was injected with gentamicin in the dose of 80 mg/kg/day i.p. in a period of 5 consecutive days. NO plasma level was determined by the production of nitrates and nitrites using classical colorimetrical Griess reaction. Kidney specimens were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain. Semiquantitative histological analysis was used for the evaluation of the level of kidney damage. Both, the plasma NO level and the level of kidney damage were statistically higher in rats with gentamicin-induced ATN in comparison to the control group. In spite of that the correlation between plasma NO level and the level of kidney damage was not found. The rise of plasma level NO in gentamicin induced ATN in rats could possibly indicate on the role of NO in renal damage caused by gentamicin.

In this paper we have reviewed the position of desmopressin in the treatment of diabetes insipidus. Desmopressin is a synthetic analog of vasopressin, with more pronounced antidiuretic effect. It is treatment of choice in substitution therapy of diabetes insipidus. Its application before sleeping time can reduce nocturnal enuresis, so it has a place in the treatment of enuresis nocturna. Antidiuretic effect of desmopressin is the result of agonistic effect on V2 receptors in the renal tubules. The efficacy and safety of desmopressin in mentioned indications was confirmed in clinical studies.