INTRODUCTION Impaired cardiac function is frequently present in patients on maintenance haemodialysis. AIM To assess the left ventricular diastolic function in patients on haemodialysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used 2D and pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography to evaluate the left ventricular diastolic function in 40 patients on haemodialysis and compared those to healthy controls. RESULTS Majority of Doppler parameters were changed in patients on haemodialysis. Diastolic dysfunction was present in 77.5% patients. In comparison to the healthy controls haemodialysis patients showed significant increase in peak velocity of late diastolic filling, (A wave, 76.82 +/- 23.76 cm/s vs. 58.46 +/- 9.65 cm/s p < 0.001) and reduction in the E/A ratio (1.00 +/- 0.26 vs. 1.26 +/- 0.31 p < 0.001). CONCLUSION There was significant impairment in left ventricular diastolic function in patients on haemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION The activation of PI-3 kinase/AKT/PKB signal transduction pathway has implicated in the cell growth regulation and proliferation. AIM To determine a role of PI-3 kinase/AKT/PKB signal transduction pathway in the kidney of Angiotensin II-induced hypertensive rats. METHODS NZW (New Zealand White) rats have been infused by Angiotensin II using osmotic minipump for six days (n = 8). Control group was untreated rats (n = 6). PI-3 inase and AKT/PKB activities were measured in the presence or absence of different inhibitors. RESULTS Angiotensin II elevated mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) to 182 +/- 2 mm Hg (p < 0.001) vs untreated control rats (95 +/- 3 mm Hg). Ras-GTPase and PI-3 Kinase activities were elevated in angiotensin II-treated group. Ras inhibitors FPT III and BMS/191563 attenuated MABP to 122 +/- 2 and 127 +/- 4 mm Hg (p < 0.05) and abolished Ras-GTPase and PI-3 Kinase activities. AKT/PKB activity followed the PI-3 kinase activity. CONCLUSION PI-3 kinase/AKT/PKB signal transduction pathway in the kidney is activated and mediates Angiotesin II-induced hypertension.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is dominant finding in patients with chronic renal failure. In our work we have analysed the interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall in thirty patients on chronic hemodialysis, using an echocardiography. Increased thickness of interventricular septum and left ventricular posterior wall were found in 70% patients. We have also confirmed correlation between these parameters and value of systolic arterial blood pressure. Echocardiography is very useful and powerful method for the assessment of morphological cardiac disorders in patients on hemodialysis.

Many cardiac functional disorders are developed in chronic renal failure. The aim of our work was the echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular functional parameters in patients on haemodialysis. We observed that left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic volume and stroke volume significantly decreased after haemodialysis. Left ventricular ejection fraction increased after haemodialysis, but not significantly. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly after haemodialysis while heart rate increased significantly. During the haemodialysis, many haemodynamic changes are observed. Analysis of cardiac functional status is essential before the haemodialysis starts.