Weight, pregnancy and oral contraceptives affect intravenous paracetamol clearance in young women.

Objectives: Because of the extensive variability in paracetamol clearance in young women, published data were pooled with newly collected observations in search of covariates of paracetamol pharmacokinetics (PK) within this specific population.

Subjects And Methods: PK estimates and clinical characteristics [pregnant, weight, exposure to oral contraceptives (OC)] in young women following IV loading dose (2 g paracetamol) were pooled, using a non-compartmental linear disposition model in individual time-concentration profiles. Data were reported by median and range.

An assessment of correlation between serum asymmetric dimethylarginine and glycated haemoglobin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Studies that investigated an association between asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have given discordant results. The aim of this study was to determine and compare serum ADMA concentration in patients with T2DM and healthy controls, and to assess correlation between ADMA and HbA1c in patients with T2DM. Serum ADMA concentration was determined by ELISA method with the use of ADMA ® - ELISA kit (DLD Diagnostics, Hamburg, Germany) and HbA1c levels were determined by an immunoturbidimetric method in 60 patients with T2DM and 60 healthy individuals matched for age and sex.

The impact of pregnancy on urinary ketorolac metabolites after single intravenous bolus.

Compared to female volunteers or postpartum, ketorolac clearance is higher at delivery. To explore the alterations that explain this higher clearance, urinary ketorolac metabolites collected at delivery (n = 40) were compared to female volunteers (unpaired, n = 8) or postpartum (paired, n = 8) following intravenous administration of 30 mg ketorolac tromethamine. A mean 38 (SD 9) % of the ketorolac dose was retrieved in 8-h urine collections.

Better stability of acenocoumarol compared to warfarin treatment in one-year observational, clinical study in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Aim: To evaluate differences in the treatment quality between often used oral anticoagulants, warfarin and acenocoumarol in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods: This was an observational, comparative, one-year clinical study, conducted in the Blood Transfusion Institute of Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. All patients who were using warfarin/ acenocoumarol and monitored were eligible.

Outpatient management of oral anticoagulation therapy in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

Due to heightened risk for thromboembolic complications, nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) presents an absolute indication for long-term oral anticoagulation therapy. This was an observational, analytical, randomised, one-year clinical study, conducted in the Blood Transfusion Institute Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. The aim of this study was to present the oral anticoagulation treatment in terms of International normalised ratio (INR) monitoring and warfarin/acenocoumarol dose titration in 117 patients with NVAF.

Serum and tissue angiotensin converting enzyme in patients with psoriasis.

Recent evidence suggests that the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is present in skin. The real value of the determination of ACE activity as a clinical-biochemistry test for the diagnosis of psoriasis has not been attained. Serum and tissue ACE were measured in 60 patients with psoriasis, 20 patients with lichen planus, 20 patients with seborrhoic dermatitis and in 20 healthy individuals.

Somatosensory evoked cerebral potentials (SSEP) in multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Neurological findings are the main criteria for making the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, including head and spine MRI, CSF findings and evoked potentials.

Objective: Investigate and observe correlation in SSEP especially wave P22 in group of healthy examiners, as well on those suffering multiple sclerosis. Present Evoked potentials clinical application benefits in Multiple sclerosis diagnostic procedures used in Neurological Clinic, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo.

[Pharmacodynamic properties of a combination of met-enkephalin and alpha 1-13 adrenocorticotropic hormone].

ENKORTEN is newly registered drug in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It consists of two peptide components: met-enkephalin and alpha 1-13-corticotropine (alpha-ACTH 1-13), previously called alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-like (alpha-MSH-like) Met-enkephalin and alpha-MSH exhibited cytoprotective effects individually and statistically significant additive effect was registered when both peptides were applied in combination on the model of ethanol induced gastric lesions in rats. Combination has immunomodulatory effects.

[Subacute toxicity study of combination of adrenocorticotropine 1-13 and met-enkephalin].

Purpose: Combination FAR4 consists from two peptide components: met-enkephalin and alpha adrenocorticotropine 1-13 (ACTH 1-13) named before as alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-like (alpha-MSH-like). Met-enkephalin and alpha-MSH exhibited cytoprotective effects individually and statistically significant additive effect was registered when both peptides were applied in combination on the model of ethanol induced gastric lesions in rats. We performed subacute toxicity study with subcutaneous application.

Serum C-reactive protein concentration and measures of adiposity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

We investigated serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) and measures of adiposity in 30 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (15 male, 15 female) and 30 age and sex-matched apparently healthy subjects. CRP concentration was determined by laser nephelometry (BN II Analyzer) and CardioPhase high-sensitivity CRP (DADE BEHRING) was used as reagent which consists of polystyrene particles coated with mouse monoclonal antibodies to CRP. Results have shown that serum CRP concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was statistically significantly higher compared to control group of healthy subjects (p<0,05).

Angiotensin converting enzyme activity and nitric oxide level in serum patients with dehydration.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and nitric oxide (NO) have been suggested to be involved in the regulation of fluid homeostasis. In the present investigation, ACE activity and NO levels were determined in serum of 20 patients (10 men and 10 women) with dehydration caused by gastroenterocolitis and 20 healthy individuals (10 men and 10 women). Serum and tissue ACE activity was determined by spectrophotometric method using hippuryl-l-histidyl-l-leucine (Hip-His-Leu) as a substrate.

Nitric oxide in serum and renal tissue during compensatory renal hypertrophy in rats.

Nitric oxide (NO) level in serum and renal tissue has been examined in 15 male Wistar rats, body weight 200-250 g, 7 days after unilateral nephrectomy. All rats were ether-anaesthetized and the kidneys were removed by dorsolateral approach. NO concentration in serum and renal tissue was determined by classic colorimetric Griess reaction.

Models of treatment with antipsychotics of the schizophrenic patients.

The aim of this study were to determine which antipsychotic are currently in use, to establish which doses are administrated to patients, to find out is there a practice of proscribing simultaneously more then one antipsychotic drug, to determine whether antipsychotic are proscribed in divided doses, to establish whether there is, besides antipsychotics, treatment with other medicaments (co-administration), especially with antiparkinsonics. The research (study) is epidemiological-clinical prospective, descriptive and analytical and it was conducted at University hospitals in Sarajevo, Tuzla and Mostar. Criteria for inclusion, non-inclusion and exclusion from the study were precisely defined as a mean for formation of sample.

Topical treatment of standardised burns with herbal remedies in model rats.

Experimental studies of burns require the use of different animal models. The aim of this work was to establish experimental model of thermal injuries and to evaluate the effects of topical agents on healing of the burn wounds. Forty female Wistar rats were randomly classified in 4 groups and isolated for 2 weeks before the onset of experiment.

Antihypertensive treatment in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Arterial hypertension is a common finding in patients with end stage renal disease (80% patients are hypertensive). Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in haemodialysis. The present study was performed to asses' successful treatment in hypertensive chronic haemodialysis patients by ultra filtration only and ultra filtration combined with medics.

Significantly reduced salivary nitric oxide synthesis in patients with Parkinson's disease.

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.

Serum and tissue angiotensin converting enzyme in patients with lichen planus.

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.

Animal model of thermal injuries.

Experimental studies of burns require the use of different animal models with the aim to imitate and reproduce pathophysiological conditions. The aim of this work was to establish experimental model of thermal injury. New Zealand rabbits, weighted from 1.

Therapeutic effects of two antidepressant agents in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder characterised by an acute emotional response to a traumatic event or situation involving severe environmental stress (natural disasters, wars, epidemics, rape, assaults, physical torture, catastrophic illness or accident), which may be identified in cognitive, affective or sensory motor activities. The objective was to perform a pilot clinical trial designed to compare the effects of older (tricyclic) and newer "second-generation" (selective inhibitors of serotonin uptake) antidepressants in the treatment of PTSD. A total of 20 hospitalised chronic military combat Bosnian veterans with PTSD symptoms were randomly assigned into two groups of 10 patients each.

Frequency of the antipsychotic therapy acute side effects in the treatment of acute psychosis.

Antipsychotic drugs produce a wide spectrum of physiological actions. Some of these effects differ among the various classes of antipsychotics. This medications have indications in the treatment of acute psychotic disorders.

Frequency and characteristics of side effects associated with antidepressant drugs.

Depression is among the most common of chronic health problems. WHO report predicts that depression will be the leading cause of disability in the industrial world by the year 2020. To be successful, treatment for the patients suffering from depression must be continued until complete recovery, but most patients do not stay on their antidepressant medication long enough.

[On the occasion of 50 years of the Medical School in Sarajevo].

This year it has been 50 years since the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo was founded. Half a century in existence of a scientific and educational institution represents a period which is sufficient to make a serious retrospective, but also to make a serious analysis and projections for the future. Medical Faculty in Sarajevo was therefore been opened in 1944.

[The effect of vasodilators on isolated smooth muscle].

Bencyclane (Fludilat), Metamizol (Novalgetol) and Xanthinol nicotinate (Complamin) and their combination were considered as relaxators of smooth muscle. The smooth muscles were isolated from stomach, urinary bladder, oesophagus, vas deferens and aorta of rats. The electrical stimulations induced contractions.