Introduction/Objective. Benign transient hyperphosphatasemia (BTH) is a pathogenetic insufficiently clear clinical entity that is mostly seen in infants and young children. The objective of this paper is to present our experience regarding the age of occurrence, the conditions of the discovery, and the length of duration of BTH in children. Methods. The study was realized on a sample of 18 children, nine boys and nine girls, aged 10?42 (21.06 ? 9.35) months with BTH. The diagnosis of BTH is based on the absence of bone and hepatobiliary diseases, and its spontaneous disappearance over the course of several months. Results. One patient was in the first year, 13 in the second, three in the third, and one in the fourth. Isolated high activity of serum alkaline phosphatase, which was 2.04?21.9 (8.05 ? 5.31) times above the upper reference value for the corresponding age, in 14 cases it was found during the acute diarrhea, and in four with acute rhinopharyngitis, of which in two complicated with otitis media. The cause of diarrhea in six cases was rotavirus, in two Campylobacter, and in one adenovirus, and otitis media in one case was caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, while in others, etiologic factors of infection were not identified. Spontaneous normalization of serum alkaline phosphatase activity was recorded between one and three months after the onset. Conclusion. BTH is a harmless biochemical disorder that spontaneously subsides within three months after initial observation. It is found randomly as a routine laboratory finding most often within the treatment of acute gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.

Background/Aim: In addition to well-established central effects, benzodiazepines, but also some other allosteric modulators of gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) receptor exhibit significant vascular effects. However, there are currently no elucidated mechanisms for manifested vasodilatory properties and very little is known about GABA gamma-amino-butyric acid function and GABAA receptor expression within peripheral blood vessels. Methods: In the present study, we demonstrated the vasorelaxant properties of diazepam, GABA and novel imidazobenzodiazepine amide ligands GL-II-73 and GLII-74, which are characterized as positive allosteric modulators of α5containing GABAA receptor. Using isometric organ bath system, we examined the vascular responses to phenylephrine, in the presence and absence of various ligands, in the rat thoracic aorta. Results: The observed significant and strong attenuation of the maximal contractile response of phenylephrine indicates a non-competitive antagonism of diazepam, GL-II-73 and GL-II-74 (p < 0.001), whereas GABA does not affect phenylephrine contraction. Since the strongest inhibitory effect was observed with compound GL-II-74, that, compared to other tested ligands, exhibited a higher potentiation at α5 GABAARs, it could be assumed that the α5 subunit plays a significant role in the structure of putatively present “vascular” GABAARs. Conclusion: This work emphasizes the importance of GABAARs research in the periphery and also points to the possibility of using α5 selective GABAAR modulators as potential therapeutic targets for novel vasodilators.

Assessment of historical buildings presents specific engineering task, considering the ways they were built and the materials, which were used. Many of them belong to cultural heritage and merit special care and protection. This concerns also the historical buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country is situated in seismic active region of South-East Europe and the majority of the historical buildings were made of stone-masonry. In the case of stronger earthquake motion such buildings could suffer heavy damages. The damages are sometimes cumulated through many years and many causes. Substantial damages were caused by recent war disaster, as well. The aim is to preserve and reveal their aesthetic and historical values and to use original materials and original way of construction, if possible. In most cases seismic assessment procedures result in the requirements for the strengthening or retrofit of the old masonry building structures. Design and construction procedures of repair and strengthening of two medieval stone masonry buildings are presented. Equilibrium between aesthetical and structural demands is discussed.

Introduction. Decreased salivary flow is frequently associated with numerous diseases such as diabetes mellitus and may lead to numerous oral diseases. The aim of this study was to compare salivary flow rate and oral health status in type 2 diabetics and healthy controls. Material and methods. The study involved 90 patients, divided into the three groups: 30 with well controlled (HbA1c<9%), 30 will poorly controlled (HbA1c?9%) diabetes and 30 healthy subjects. The following clinical parameters were determined: decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT); plaque index (PI), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and clinical attachment level (CAL). Culture of Candida spp. specimens were obtained from tongue dorsum and inoculated into Sabouraud Dextrose Agar. Saliva was collected using ?a spit technique?. Results. Highest mean of unstimulated salivary flow was in healthy subjects; however significant difference between groups was not observed. Stimulated salivary flow results indicate significant reduction in diabetics as well as significant relation between metabolic control and salivary flow. Unstimulated and stimulated salivary flows were negatively and significantly correlated with periodontal parameters and DMFT. Conclusion. The present findings indicate that decreased salivary flow rate could have a significant impact on oral health status in type 2 diabetics.

Introduction/Objective. Malocclusions are one of the most frequent disorders in dentistry, and pose a risk for the onset of caries and periodontal diseases. Fixed orthodontic treatment solves the problem of malocclusions; however, it requires simultaneous cooperation of the patients, parents, and dentists involved. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of fixed orthodontic therapy on the Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. bacteria in saliva, the pH value, and buffering capacity of saliva. Methods. The research was carried out at the Faculty of Medicine in Foca, Department of Dentistry. The study included 100 respondents, aged 13 to 17 years. The respondents were divided into two groups: the study group (respondents wearing fixed braces) and the control group (respondents not subjected to fixed braces therapy). Saliva samples were taken from the respondents four, 12, and 18 weeks after the start of the orthodontic therapy. The study used the bacteria caries risk test (CRT) and CRT buffer (Ivoclar Vivadent). Results. The study showed an increased number of bacteria in saliva of the respondents during all three follow-up periods (χ2 test, p = 0.001). The largest numbers of the Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. bacteria were found in week 12 of the therapy. Saliva pH value and buffering capacity of saliva increased statistically significantly in week 12 of the therapy (χ2 test, p = 0.001). Conclusion. Oral conditions in patients changed during the fixed orthodontic therapy: the number of bacteria increased, the pH value and buffering capacity of saliva changed. It was necessary to use preventive measures in order to avoid complications during the fixed orthodontic appliances therapy.

Many of medicaments used historically in root canal treatment have been shown to be cytotoxic. Paraformaldehid agents (such as Toxavit and Depulpin) are used to devitalize inflamed pulp when local anesthesia is ineffective. The misuse of pulp devitalizing agents may cause damage to gingiva and alveolar bone. This case report demonstrates complications arising after application of paraformaldehyde containing paste, necrosis of the gingiva and alveolar cortical bone, which resulted in great loss of supporting bone. Surgical intervention was required wherein necrotic bone was removed and bone defect was filled with xenograft of bovine origin. After three months endodontic treatment was performed. After the treatment, the patient?s complaints were resolved. The use of paraformaldehyde-based agents during endodontic therapy requires special caution.

Background: It is clear that in developed countries more women die annually from ovarian cancer than from all other gynecologic malignancies combined. Objective: The aim of this article is to analyze current possibilities and propose adequate measures which can help the development of effective screening methods/assays for the early detection of epithelial ovarian cancer. Results and Discussion: This article updates the status of ovarian cancer screening and addresses most relevant studies published during the last five years. The developments that followed the review are best summarized in reference to the screening tests, target populations and newly published trials. The possible role of 3D ultrasound technology, especially 3D power Doppler imaging, in early and accurate detection of ovarian malignancy is discussed. We described our new ovarian cancer screening trial, which started in January 2001. Improvements in ultrasound technology such as 3D volume acquisition and 3D power Doppler imaging may have clinical utility in a more reliable identification of an abnormal ovarian vascularity and architecture. 3D volume acquisition allows for careful evaluation of the internal surfaces of cyst walls for excrescences otherwise not appreciated by 2D ultrasound. Conclusion: While the addition of 3D power Doppler provides a new tool for measuring the quality of ovarian tumor angiogenesis, improving accurate diagnosis of ovarian malignancies, its clinical value for the early detection of ovarian carcinoma has yet to be determined.