PURPOSE To investigate quality of life in prostate cancer patients after radical retropubic prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS 401 men who underwent radical prostatectomy between January 1995 and September 1999 at our clinic were asked for information concerning daily life activities, overall satisfaction, voiding ability and sexual activity in standardized questionnaire. RESULTS The average follow-up was 36 months, 72 % (n = 289) of our patients replied. In 53 (18%) of the men who replied to our questionnaire, the nerve-sparing technique had been used. At the time our patients were questioned, 202 (70%) did not use any pads, and 211 (73%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the outcome. Of these patients 98% would undergo a radical prostatectomy again. 13% (n = 37) of our patients reported limited satisfaction, 14% (n = 41) were not satisfied with their postoperative status. However, 69% of this latter group would nevertheless decide to have a radical prostatectomy again. Of the patients who underwent the nerve-sparing technique, 68% (n = 36) reported sufficient erections for sexual intercourse, four of them under medication with sildenafil. Patients who underwent the nerve-sparing technique reported better results in daily life activities, general health status, IPSS-score and continence. While age at the time of radical prostatectomy did not influence life quality, we found substantial correlation with the postoperative tumor stage. CONCLUSIONS Our results underline the importance of early prostate cancer detection, not only regarding a lower recurrence rate, but also because of a better postoperative quality of life.

Coumarin and its derivatives are reactive compounds, suitable for many syntheses. They are used as anticoagulants, antibacterial, animistic compounds. The interest in coumarins has increased because it was found that they reduce the HIV virus activity. The synthesis of 4-arylaminocoumarin derivatives from 4-hydroxycoumarin, has been carried out, and their antimycotic effects were tested. In the QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) QSPR (quantitative structure-property-activity relationship) study we have used physicochemical properties and topological indices (Balaban index J(G), Wiener index W(G), information-theoretical index I(G), and valence connectivity index (G), to predict bioactivity of the newly synthesized coumarin compounds. By using methods of molecular modelling, the relationships between structure, properties and activity of coumarin compounds have been investigated. The best QSPR models were obtained using valence connectivity index or combination indices. According Rekker's method the best correlation of calculated values log P, has been obtained with the model based on the inhibition zone (I) 4-arylaminocoumarin derivatives expressed in mm. The results obtained in this study enable further synthesis of new coumarin derivatives and predict their biological activity and properties.

Cardiovascular diseases are leading cause of morbidity in the world. Measurement of the level of biochemical markers in the serum is one of World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria in diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Non-specific clinical state of patients and insufficiently sensitive electrocardiographic (ECG) diagnostics, at patient's hospital admission time, point out the importance of biochemical markers in acute myocardial infarction diagnosis. Technology development and new diagnostic methods lead to the invention of highly sensitive and specific marker as myocardial damage evidence. Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) is specific marker for myocardial damage1. Its elevation in the serum within myocardial ischemia symptomatology is important in diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

Polytrauma with significant lesion of peripheral nerves is a specific war injury. It is also one of the most delicate problems in rehabilitation treatment because it requires a close cooperation with surgeon and timely surgical interventions. Based on our experience, the best results in the treatment of injured persons with lesion of peripheral nerves have been accomplished after the surgical treatment. Results in the neurolysis were better than those accomplished in neurorrhaphy. Total of 436 patients with lesion of peripheral nerves were recorded and 56 patients with plexus lesion. Out of this number, 78 patients (about 15%) had surgical treatment (41 neurorrhaphy and 37 neurolysis). Due to lack of adequate ENMG diagnostics, the objective valorisation of treatment outcome was not possible.