[Bioethics in the contemporary secular environment].

The aim of this study is to determine the preventive function of bioethics as an independent scientific discipline in terms of predicting the future of mankind, figuring the patterns of potential bioethical problems and other global challenges and dilemmas. Wide diversity of axiological issues, mental representations and principles of world vision, as well as various spiritual, ontological and existential concepts of solution of them, are described as the causes of different approaches to the problem of the future of mankind. In the article, along with theoretical questions, the negative spiritual and moral values, which influence the emergence of global problems of humankind (including the field of Biomedicine), are presented.

Parents and children: "surrogate" paradigm of modernity.

The article provides an overview of surrogate motherhood--one of many currently available forms of Assisted Reproductive Technologies for couples who find themselves unable to conceive a child on their own. Within the years of its existence surrogate motherhood managed to accumulate lots of bioethical problems, paradoxes, dilemmas and collisions. Author represents some of them.

[Comparative characteristics of various anesthetic methods during coronary artery bypass grafting CABG].

During the last 10 years increase in the number of surgical centers developing the practice of off-pump heart surgeries has been noticed. Our medical centre, where 140 CABG surgeries have been performed, is one of the like. Such surgeries demand multicomponent anesthetic manual able to provide adequate depth of anesthesia, hemodynamic stability, prevention of intraoperative myocardial ischemia, providing an early patient activation in a postoperative period.

[Resuscitational aspects of evolution of history of death teaching and interpretation of concept of death as bioethical category].

The aim of the research was to determine the role of resuscitation science and practice in development of new trends in thanatology; and to determine the significance of integrated interdisciplinary approach to notion "death" as "biological, medical, and bioethical" categories. The author discusses nine distinct concepts of death and concludes that only complex scientific approach can enrich the knowledge about the notion of death. The list of different aspects of interdisciplinary bioethical definition of notion "death" was developed.

[Concentration of beta endorphin in blood as a criterion of adequacy of general anesthesia].

Considering beta-endorphin as a sign of tension and adaptation, the changes in its level have been studied during operations and surgery in patients with congenital heart valve defects subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. The goal of the study was determination of beta-endorphin concentration for the assessment of general anesthesia adequacy. A step-by-step study of beta-endorphin blood concentration, central and peripheral hemodynamics, diuresis, changes in temperature taken in 3 spots, adrenalin, dopamine and noradrenaline blood levels has been performed in 12 patients aged 4 to 17 years.

[Angiotensin converting enzyme activity in atrial and cubital venous blood].

The relationship between the activities of the blood angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the site of the blood collection (radial artery, peripheral vein, left atrium) was examined in 15 patients with congenital heart diseases operated on with artificial circulation. No statistically significant differences in ACE activities in the blood from the vein, artery, or left atrium was detectable (p greater than 0.05).