The evolution of homocysteine (Hcy) changes after acute myocardial infarction is still not elucidated. Serum Hcy concentration has been shown to increase between acute and convalescent period after myocardial infarction and stroke. Also a decrease in serum Hcy during acute phase was observed. It is still not clear whether the Hcy is a culprit or an innocent bystander in cardiovascular diseases. Addressing the discrepancies in Hcy changes in patients with acute myocardial infarction might give insight in Hcy role in cardiovascular diseases and offer implications both for the clinical interpretation and patients risk stratification. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum Hcy concentration changes during early post myocardial infarction. The study included 55 patients with AMI from the Clinics for Heart Diseases and Rheumatism at University of Sarajevo Clinics Centre. For Hcy analysis blood was collected on day 2 and 5 after the AMI onset. Serum Hcy concentration was determined quantitatively with fluorescent polarisation immunoassay on AxSYM system. Cluster analysis revealed two groups of AMI patients with different trends of serum Hcy changes. Increase in serum Hcy concentration was observed in 33 (60,0%) patients (AMI 1 group), while in 22 (40,0%) patients a decrease was observed (AMI 2 group). On day 2, patients in AMI 2 group had significantly higher mean Hcy concentration compared to AMI 1 group of patients (15,27+/-0,96 and 11,59+/-0,61 micromol/L p<0,05). On day 5, no significant difference in mean Hcy level between AMI 1 and AMI 2 group of patients was observed (14,86+/-1,1 vs. 12,75+/-0,74 micromol/L respectively). Significant differences between AMI 1 and AMI 2 patients were observed in VLDLC levels and CK-MB activity on day 2. Patients in AMI 1 group had significant increase in platelets count from day 2 to day 5 (230,1+/-11,6 vs. 244,2+/-11,0; p<0,05). Our study of serial Hcy changes in patients with AMI revealed two different patterns of Hcy changes in early post infarction period which might reflect two distinct populations of AMI patients. Although further research is necessary, possible explanation for the observed findings could be a different genetic background, vitamin and oxidative status of patients with AMI.

The study was designed with the main intent to assess and explain the differences between athlete's heart syndrome and the heart of healthy non-athletes, and to distinguish between physiological and pathological heart condition. Prolonged athletic training causes changes in heart that are termed "athlete's heart syndrome". Athlete's heart diagnosis and related issues are a great challenge due to complementary morphological, functional and electro-physiological changes that may indicate both physiological and pathological condition. The study included 150 subjects, of those 100 were active athletes and 50 were in control group. The study protocol included one clinical examination, one electrocardiogram and one echocardiograph for each subject. Average age was 20,51+/-8,51 in the athletes and 21,48+/-2,53 in control group. Significantly higher average left ventricle (LV) mass (401,23 g vs. 143,23 g) and LV mass index (196,05 g/m2 vs. 83,98 g/m2) was found in the athletes (p<0,05). The study showed increased mass and wall thickness with usual inner dimensions of athlete's heart. Systolic and diastolic function of athlete's heart is normal. Athlete's heart with these features is a healthy heart.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases; drugs that reduce blood pressure and simultaneously improve or reverse endothelian dysfunction, as nebivolol, may be advantageous in terms of cardiovascular protection. The objective of this study is to show the anti-hypertensive efficacy and safety of nebivolol (5 mg once a day) given to patients with arterial hypertension for 3 months. It should also provide information about drug's influence on laboratory tests--fasting blood glucose and serum cholesterol, triglyceride and creatinine concentrations. Six centers--Tuzla, Sarajevo, Mostar, Bihac, Zenica and Banja Luka participated in this prospective study with follow-up period of 3 months that included 3 visits. The study group consisted of 328 hypertensic patients. Results showed a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate at the end of the study. Fasting blood glucose level and serum cholesterol, triglyceride and creatinine changed significantly during the study, with lower levels of all the tests. Nebivolol seems to be free from some of the problems that generally accompany not only the classical beta- blockers but sometimes also newer classes of antihypertensive drugs. With its high anti-hypertensive efficiency and safety, and presence of statically significant difference in laboratory tests and beneficial effects, absence of adverse interaction with glucose and lipid metabolism, patients treated with Nebivolol may show an optimal adherence to therapy.