Serum and tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was measured in 20 patients with lichen planus before and after therapy, and in 20 healthy individuals. Serum and tissue ACE activity was determined by spectrophotometric method using hippuryl-l-histidyl-l-leucine as a substrate. The enzyme activity is expressed in the following units: 1 U corresponds to 1 nmol of hippuric acid released by hydrolysis of hippuryl-l-histidyl-l-leucine per minute and one liter of serum or 50 mg tissue. Before therapy, serum ACE activity was significantly increased in patients with lichen planus (35.9 +/- 2.33 U/L) in comparison to healthy individuals (28.16 +/- 1.7 U/L). Tissue ACE activity was increased in patients with lichen planus (2.24 +/- 0.41 U/50 mg) in comparison to healthy individuals (1.86 +/- 0.16 U/50 mg), but the difference was not significant. After therapy, serum and tissue ACE activity decreased and no significant difference in ACE activity was found. The determination of serum ACE activity may be a good non-specific parameter for the assessment of therapeutic effects.

In order to study concentration of nitric oxide (NO) in the saliva of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), we measured the concentration of its stable metabolite nitrite (NO(2)-) in the saliva of these patients and healthy subjects. We analyzed saliva flow rate and salivary NO concentrations in 16 subjects with Parkinson's disease and in 16 healthy subjects. Concentration of nitrite was determined by colorimetric method using Griess reaction. Saliva flow rate was significantly lower in patients with Parkinson's disease (0.2+/-0.03 mL/min; X+/-SEM) than in healthy subjects. Salivary NO(2)-concentration was significantly lower (5.02+/-0.64) than in healthy individuals (22.39+/-1.24, p<0.0001).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of single-session sclerotherapy with mixture of alcohol and polidocanol and a subsequent injection of albendazole for devisceration of hydatid cysts in the spleen. Eight patients (four women and four men, average age 22.9+/-11.4 with hydatid cyst in the spleen were treated with 10 minutes time of exposure to mixture of ethanol 95% and polidocanol 1%. After that, 2 to 5 ml of albendazole was injected into the cyst cavity. Two patients had 2 cysts. At follow-up the patients were examined with clinical and biochemical examinations, ultrasonography, and serologic test for echinococcal antibody titres. The mean hospital stay was 2.5+/-0.93 days. During the follow-up period, mean cyst diameter decreased from 46+/-16.4 mm to 13.6+/-16.26 mm. In all ten cysts, a reduction of post procedural recolection of fluid over 40% was observed. Five cysts (50%) disappeared during the follow-up period. All cysts (5) smaller then 50 mm in diameter disappeared during follow-up period. After an initial rise, the echinococcal-antibody titres fell progressively and at the last follow-up were negative (< 1: 160) in 7 (88%) patients. No complications were observed, except for pain, fever and urticaria during the first 24-hours after the procedure. Sclerotherapy using only one session and 10 min time of exposure to the mixture of ethanol and polidocanol, and a subsequent injection of albendasole solution represents an effective treatment of hydatid cysts in the spleen. This procedure is even more efficacious for hydatid cyst with diametar smaller then 50 mm.

Proficiency in the anatomy of coronary arteries and their variations is significant for proper interpretation of the coronary angiographies, assessment of the complexity and result of the coronary insufficiency as well as surgical myocardium revascularization. The objective of this study is anatomy-radiology research of the methods of branching the main trunk of left coronary artery and to prove importance of the diagonal branch (ramus diagonalis) existence in the conditions of coronary insufficiency. In this study we have analyzed 100 coronary angiographies done at the Clinic for Heart Diseases and Rheumatism of the Clinic Center of University of Sarajevo and dissected 20 human hearts from the Institute of Anatomy. In our study we have come upon two methods of branching of main trunk of left coronary artery (bifurcation and trifurcation). By the method of the angiography we have found the bifurcation in 71% of cases while 65% of cases were proved by the dissection method. Trifurcation has been discovered in 29% of cases of analyzed angiographies i.e. 35% of cases of dissected hearts. We believe that third terminal branch of the left coronary artery should be marked as ramus diagonalis. This branch, including its anastomoses, presents important pattern of the collateral blood flow, which has special meaning, under conditions of coronary insufficiency.

Cerebral-vascular diseases present one of the leading problems of the modern mankind. They are followed by the risk of high mortality rate, and as such cause high level of disability with people who survive cerebral-vascular incident (stroke, apoplexy). Researches done so far proved that beginning, course and result of the cerebral-vascular diseases depend immensely of the possibility to establish collateral blood circulation and first of all on so called tertian level that is actually the circle of Willis. The circle of Willis, thanks to communicating segments, provide detour way to procure parts of the brain which, due to insufficiency, do not get enough quantity of blood. In this particular study by the analysis of 150 MRI patient's angiographies of the circle of Willis that had been processed at the Radiology Institute of the Clinic Center of University in Sarajevo, we tried to present the most common variations of the posterior segment of the circle of Willis with patients who did not have signs of the cerebral-vascular diseases. The analysis included two target groups (above 60 years old and younger than 34 years old) and both genders. By the analysis of the angiographies of the circle of Willis we reached following results: complete posterior configuration of the circle of Willis has been found with all patients in 54% of cases, but in some slightly higher percentage complete posterior configuration is noted with younger category of patients compared to elderly patients, and in some higher percentage with female compared to male patients. Out of variations that damage the posterior segment of the circle of Willis the first one, according to the frequency of occurring, is the variation of the type of unilateral fetal sort of posterior cerebral artery, and then the variation marked as unilateral aplasia or hypoplasia of the posterior communicating artery.

The aim of my study was to investigate the consequences of early institutional rearing on the mental health of a sample of children aged 8-12 years. This study was conducted between the 15111 May and the 15111 June 2003 in two institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These institutions were chosen because they share the same care model. A sample of 30 children completed structured questionnaires, which had been translated from English. These were the Child Behaviour Check List-form for parents, TRF- for teachers and YSRF for youngster. I also used my own socio-demographic questionnaire, which measured other characteristics of the sample. The control group was 60 children who attended the elementary schools in Tuzla. Our research confirmed that early deprivation in an institution has a negative effect on behaviour in every day’s life. The lack of parental authority and family protection, together with suffered personal losses among close relatives, contribute to trauma of institutionalized children and diminish their invulnerability. Institutionalized children lean towards apathy, which can be a sign of emotional stress they are submitted to and point towards significant sources of deprivation in every day’s life. Mental health problems are much more represented among children in institutions. Our research confirmed that young children from institutions are a vulnerable group of people and emphasizes the need for equalization of the Bosnian care model to the European standards.

Molecular typization and subtypization of leukemia by RT-PCR, is important due to monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD), during and after treatement of patients with acute leukemia In our experiments of PCR optimization, we used BIO-RAD procedure for multiplex RT-PCR screening and split-out PCR for leukemia subtypization. This method is adapted or optimized for Perkin Elmer Gene Amp 9600 thermal cycler and Qiagen HotStar Taq DNA polymera.se as well. According to manufacturer instructions, using of some other PCR engines require optimization of corresponding PCR parameters. We used Perkin Elmer 2400 thermal cycler and Hot Star Taq DNA polymera.se. Total RNA was extracted from whole blood specimens, obtained from Clinics of haematology-KCU Sarajevo, taken from patients with acute leukemia, transferred to cDNA, and amplificated in PE 2400. Detection of PCR products is performed by 1,5% agarose gel electrophoresis. Obtained optimal PCR parameters were: annealing temperature -65°C, number of cycles for both, first round PCR amplification and nested PCR amplification was 30, final concertation of MgCl in reaction mixture was 3,28 mM. Instead recommended amount of cDNA (5 µl) and Hot Star Taq DNA polymera.se (0,4 µl) we used amounts of 10 µl and 1 µl By using of this optimized PCR protocol we detected genetic aberration inv(16)(p 13; q22) and by using of split out PCR, subtype G(192 bp electrophoretic band)(CBFB / M YH11 fusion genes).

Increased level of cyclosporine in whole blood leads to different severe adverse reactions causing disturbance in function of kidney as well as liver, central nervous system, increased blood pressure, gingival hipertrophy. Low doses of cyclosporine lead to HVGR (host versus graft reaction). Cyclosporine level in whole blood does not depend upon dose only. So the level of cyclosporine has to be determined regularly to avoid either severe adverse reactions of the drug or HVGR. In the present study we analysed cyclosporine levels in 15 patients after kidney transplantation. Cyclosporine levels were determined by fluorescence polarization immuno assay, and the monoclonal whole blood was carried out by analizer ABBOT - TDX. In these patients the cyclosporine level determinants were performed six times during three months. In intervals of 15 days, at the exactly same time, we followed the parameters determining the kidney and liver functions : creatinin, ALT(Alanin aminotranssferasis), AST(Aspartat aminotranssferasis), serum concentrations of bilirubin, and ultrasound diagnostics of kidney and liver). The results of our study have shown that frequent monitoring of cyclosporine concentrations in whole blood in patients with transplanted kidney is extremely important It is the way how to maintain the cyclosporine levels in whole blood in the recommended interval between 100 and 300 ng/ml. By doing it the adverse drug reactions of cyclosporine in our study were reduced to a minimal level.

The endogenous opiate receptor antagonist (naloxone, NAL) and alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonist (dihydroergotoxine, DHETX) were infused separately or simultaneously in dogs to determine their effects in hemonhagic shock. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram, respiratory rate, haematocrit and plasma protein concentration were measured during sustained posthemorrhagic hypotension (180 min, 40 mmHg) in 22 dogs. Animals were divided into four groups: DHETX-treated (n=6), NAL-treated (n=5), DHETX+NAL-treated (n=5), and SAL (saline)-treated (control group, n=6). The treatment was performed before bleeding. After 3 hours of posthemorrhagic hypotension, ali shed blood was returned to the dogs, and animals passed through a postretrasfusion period for 60 min. The animals which survived experimental procedure were observed in next 24 hours. Under the present experimental conditions, prophylactic administration of DHETX had better effects on preservation of parameters measured and survival of dogs than NAL, while DHETX+NAL treatment had the worst effects (no one dog survived).