For a young researcher, the best way to improve his skills and develop his research capabilities is to work in established research laboratories where he is enabled to learn modern techniques and how to attack the scientific problems. Today, we have easy communications, including computers and the internet, but direct interactions with the most experienced scientists are the best way for young scientist to advance his research capabilities. Ulf Svante von Euler, Swedish pharmacologist and physiologist presents the best example that illustrates how interaction of a young researcher with established scientists develop his research capabilities and become a well-known scientist1.When Ulf was seventeen (1922), he came in Stockholm to study medicine. As a student, he became interested in research, and in 1926 he attended the Twelfth International Congress of Physiologists in Stockholm where he heard lectures by I. P. Pavlov, E. H. Starling and other great scientists of the time. He also observed a historic demonstration by Otto Loewi on the existence of Vagusstoff in the frog’s heart, which would stimulate his own interest and research on mediators of nerve transmission. Prior to this demonstration, Loewi had published several papers on the nature of this chemical substance that slowed the heart, but not all of his research contemporaries were convinced. However, a successful demonstration at the Congress (repeated eighteen times) convinced all critics. Von Euler recalled that these experiments inspired his enduring interest in neurohumoral transmission.Initially, von Euler was influenced by several well-known Swedish scientists: G. Liljestrand (pharmacologist/physiologist), R. Fåraeus (a hematologist) and H. Theorell (a biochemist, who received the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology in 1955). Ulf defended his doctoral dissertation in 1930 and became a professor of pharmacology. Then, he received a two-year scholarship for postdoctoral studies abroad that enabled him to improve his skills by working with several famous foreign researchers.The young Ulf von Euler made the most of this opportunity. He spent six months in Hampstead at Sir Henry Dale’s laboratory, two months in Birmingham with I. de Burgh Daly, eight months in Ghent with C. Heymans, and three months in Frankfurt with G. Embden. Later, in 1934, he returned to London for six months to work with A. Hill, primarily because Liljestrand advised him instead of pharmacology, rather to devote to physiology because at that time in Sweden this scientific discipline was more appreciated. Towards the end of 1937, he went back to Hampstead for five months to work again with Sir Henry Dale.

I first met Ulf Svante von Euler when he came to Belgrade, in 1968, to attend an international symposium on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Medical Faculty. I was at that time a graduate student at the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo, and a new researcher. I had finished medical school in Belgrade and had worked for two years as a physician in the northern part of Serbia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This paper provides a brief historical sketch of the science of biologically active peptides. It also offers the story of how Ervin G. Erdös, a pioneer in the study of metabolism of various peptides, influenced me through collaborations that span many years. I worked in Dr. Erdös's research laboratories in Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Chicago, and we shared research interests through visits across the Atlantic between the former Yugoslavia and the United States. Among other findings, we discovered angiotensin-converting enzyme in the retina, which opened up a new research direction for many scientists interested in serious ocular diseases. This tribute to my mentor paints a portrait of a man who, in addition to his dedication to science and his seminal discoveries about the metabolism of peptides, took the time to invest in training many young scientists. His fine personal qualities explain why all of those who worked with him hold him in such high regard.

When English became lingua franca, a significant change in the language of scientific publication in Central and Eastern European countries occurred; many journals instead of the local language, and German, French or Russian used English. The shift occurred due to the intention of both the journal editors and contributors to achieve international recognition and inclusion of the journal in prestigious international medical databases. As a consequence, publications in English are cited on average six times more frequently than those in German, Japanese or French. In the Northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H), three medical journals are published in English. However, these journals are not yet included in the Medline indexing base. In unenviable socio-economic state such as B&H, one cannot expect enough quality submissions to recognized journals. Gross domestic product per capita in 2012 in B&H, neighboring Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia was 9,545; 21,314; 13,020 and 27,474 US$, respectively. Thus gross domestic expenditure on research and development in 2009 of about 0.02%, 0.85%, 0.923% and 1.86% in these states clearly shows incapability of B&H to support adequately recognized scientific research. Temporarily, the main goal for the majority of the medical professionals is to keep health of patients in modest circumstances, and reproduce new generations of qualified practitioners. For that reason, there is a long way to reach the noble point of "the internationally recognized evaluation criteria" for assessing scientific accomplishments.

A conflict of interest exists when decisions made by a person or institution are affected by direct financial interests or by non-financial issues, such as personal relationships, business associations, and membership in political, national or other groups. These circumstances favor secondary interests over primary interests in medicine and can influence contributions to science and health. Regardless of individual life experiences and personal background, physicians and other health professionals should strive to remain conflict-free. This paper illustrates conflicts of interests in biomedical research and medical practice caused by financial and nonfinancial influences. It also assesses how medical journals, professional organizations, healthcare, and government examine these issues. Presented examples of potential conflicting interests are related to healthcare industry, psychiatry and psychology (e.g., 'enhanced interrogation techniques'), sports medicine, and in the publication process of biomedical journals (authors, editors and peer reviewers). In order to avoid potential conflicting interests, today majority of medical journals request from the authors to disclose any such interests in a written statement on a form prepared by the ICMJE on the journal. This disclosure includes payments for consulting, speaking, honoraria, research support, personal relationships, and institutional conflicts of intersts that may influence the work presented in the submitted manuscript. The editor will decide on potentially relevant conflicting interest in the disclosure and publish it.

Great scientific discoveries rarely originate from small and poor countries. However, the lives and achievements of three Yugoslav scientists who were active in the biomedical sciences, Laza K. Lazarevic (1851-1891), Ivan Djaja (1884-1957), and Pavao Stern (1913-1976), serve as an example of success in this environment. These scientists, as well as the majority of other successful investigators in small and poor countries, were trained in foreign and developed countries and, upon return, were given the freedom to start a self-dependent research program. They overcame many obstacles, including wars and civil unrests, to contribute significantly to certain medical fields. It is interesting that although a Jew, Stern was allowed to work during the World War II in Zagreb, which became capital of the so-called Independent State of Croatia, a puppet state under German control. Perhaps his good name among pharmacologists helped him to keep position during this tough period. Nowadays, new technologies needed for biomedical research are rather expensive, and poor countries cannot afford to finance many scientists. Thus, selection of the most productive researchers is the challenge for those who finance scientific work.

Paper compares numbers of publications published in indexed journals by authors from two cities, Tuzla and Sombor, approximately the same size during half of XX century, in order to determine how a newly opened medical school influences scientific research. Today, in Sombor only Faculty of Pedagogy exists (a part of Novi Sad University). From 1977-1979. number of publications from both cities was very low (only 2-4). Thirty years later, from 2009-2014. number of papers from Tuzla increased many fold (65-98 papers/year), while from Sombor remained low (0-4 papers/year) over the same period. Factors contributing to this phenomenon include: university environment, participation of most medical doctors in postgraduate research programs, exchange programs with other medical schools, both local and abroad, and significant financial support for medical students and research grants. Sombor enjoys no such financial support, and various temporary stimuli have failed to influence research and publishing significantly. Sombor doctors continue to present their observations and data at various meetings, but do not submit manuscripts to medical journals. Furthermore, the Sombor hospital administration does not support participation of physicians in graduate programs or doctoral studies. The rising number of published papers in Tuzla indicates that a larger medical center or hospital may not only inspire original research but may also guide busy physicians through process of publishing their manuscripts in medical journals. In this paper, details of postgraduate education at Medical School Tuzla are elaborated, and the idea of opening medical school in Sombor, first mentioned in the 1960s, is reiterated.

Individuals are consanguineous if they are descended from a common ancestor no more remote than a great, great grandparent. The progeny of consanguineous parents are regarded as inbred. Within a particular society, the population structure and social customs determine the frequency of consanguineous mating; certain marriage requirements as set forth by the church and/or state, are designed to prevent very close mating. Inbreeding of domestic animals can preserve and fix desirable properties and eliminate unfavorable characteristics from livestock. Closely related animals may be mated to produce pure breeds of animals and select offspring of specific desirable types. However, because homozygote is less fit than heterozygote, inbreeding over a long period risks the loss of vigor in the offspring. Similarly, plants are inbred for improved characteristics, either by self-pollination or crossing with closely related plants. The situation in humans is far more complex. Genetic effects of inbreeding can be detected in the inbreed individual, in the form of gene doubling. Affected genes appear as a single line in each of the common ancestors but double in the progeny. In other words, modern genetic technology allows us to show how consanguinity reveals recessive inheritance and recessive traits. One means of reducing the accumulation of undesirable or potentially dangerous genetic material in human population is to prevent conception. Same sex marriage, legalized in some countries, does not produce children and is thus exempt from consanguinity restrictions. If same sex marriage became universally legal, mating among close cousins, or even brothers or sisters, uncle and nephew, and aunt and nice. A same sex marriage without the possibility of conception is the most efficient way to control reproduction, but this idea is not universally accepted. In the first place, only a small percentage of the population would likely be affected, since the heterosexual population is much larger than a homosexual one. Secondly, and more importantly, many people consider a homosexual relationship to be an unnatural, even evil. It thus becomes increasingly difficult to predict in which direction marriage will go.

Research on the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has contributed significantly to advances in understanding cardiovascular and renal homeostasis and to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This review offers a brief history of the RAS with an overview of its major components and their functions, as well as blockers of the RAS, their clinical usage and current research that targets various components of the RAS. Because angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) metabolizes two biologically active peptides, one in the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) and one in the RAS, it is the essential connection between the two systems. ACE releases very powerful hypertensive agent, angiotensin II and also inactivates strong hypotensive peptide, bradykinin. Inhibition of ACE thus has a dual effect, resulting in decreased angiotensin II and increased bradykinin. We described the KKS as well.