This study was performed in order to investigate possible role of brain beta-endorphins as markers of antidepressive drugs therapy monitoring. Experiment was done using amitriptyline and trazodone as antidepressants. For quantification of brain beta-endorphins we used RIA technique. Our results showed significant decrease of brain beta-endorphins concentration in drug-pretreated animals, vs. those in of control group treated with 0,95% NaCl. The lower values were obtained in trazodone pre-treated animals. This study shows that use of psychoactive drugs have influence on brain beta-endorphins concentration. beta-endorphins could be of great importance, used as markers for evaluation of patient treatment.

The aim of our study was to establish the influence of antidepressive drugs on serum and brain beta-endorphins in experimental animals. Experiment was performed on albino Wistar rats. Antidepressant amitryptiline was used, and for quantification of sera and brain beta-endorphins RIA technique. Our results showed difference between sera and brain beta-endorphins concentration in amitryptiline pretreated animals, vs. those in serum and brain of control group treated with 0.95% NaCl. This study shows that use of psychoactive drugs have influence on sera and brain beta-endorphins concentration. Beta-endorphins could be of great importance, used as markers for evaluation of antidepressant drug effects.

Long term stress exposure results in somatisation symptoms appearance. Cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and muscle-bone symptoms arise because of intensified activity of autonomic nervous system caused by chronic stress. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between long term war stress exposure and appearance of somatisation. 40 students of health-care faculties in Sarajevo, of both sexes, were included in investigation and divided in two groups-somatisation and control. Somatisation group subjects (N=20) lived in B&H under war conditions, from 1992-1995. Control subjects (N=20) spent the same period outside B&H. For evaluation of somatisation symptoms we used SCL-90-R test. The obtained data were statistically evaluated using Student's t-test and chi2 test. Confidence level was set at p < 0.05. Our results showed statistically significant difference in somatisation level between somatisation and control subjects group. Different intensity of appearance of certain symptoms in male and female was established. The score of somatisation dimension between somatisation and control group showed statistically significant level (p < 0.0001). Study results confirmed correlation of chronic stress exposure (living in war environment) and somatisation symptom appearance. Individual organic systems had various level of symptom expression. The influence of sex on intensity of individual symptoms of somatisation is possible.

Some 25 years ago it was found that parts of CNS could produce strong analgesic response on little morphine quantities. Later studies proved the existence for dozen of morphine-like substances, called opioids, which are normally produced in the brain. The most important are endorphins, met- and leu-encephalin and dinorphin produced both in hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The aim of our study was to found whether and how strong produce of beta-endorphins is to be expected when psychotropic drugs are used. Trazodon as antidepressant was used, and RIA technique for quantification of sera beta-endorphins. The results showed significant difference in rat sera beta-endorphins between certain days of drug application. These studies showed that beta-endorphins could be of great importance, used as markers for evaluation of patient treatment and eventual abuse of psychotropic drugs.

Cardiovascular diseases are leading cause of morbidity in the world. Measurement of the level of biochemical markers in the serum is one of World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria in diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Non-specific clinical state of patients and insufficiently sensitive electrocardiographic (ECG) diagnostics, at patient's hospital admission time, point out the importance of biochemical markers in acute myocardial infarction diagnosis. Technology development and new diagnostic methods lead to the invention of highly sensitive and specific marker as myocardial damage evidence. Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) is specific marker for myocardial damage1. Its elevation in the serum within myocardial ischemia symptomatology is important in diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The aim of study was to explore the pattern of the changes in haematological and iron status parameters of acute coronary syndrome patients through period 1-7 day of hospital admission in order to define the type of anaemia. Methods: Forty-one patients (15 female and 26 male patients, aged 36-81years) of the Clinic for Heart Disease and Rheumatism, University Clinical Centre Sarajevo have been included in the cross-sectional study. Haematological and serum iron status parameters have measured on days 1 and 7 of hospital admission. A decrease in haemoglobin levels to <13g/dl in men and <12g/dl in women was notified as anaemia. Results: A significant reduction in red blood cells count, haemoglobin, haematocrit (p<0.01), iron, total iron binding capacity (p<0.05) and significant ferritin elevation (p<0.05) within period the 1-7 day were noted. Percent of anaemic patients on day 1 was 17.07 % with increase of number on day 7 (36.36%). Serum ferritin has been elevated with reduction of red blood cells count, mean cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (p<0.05); haemoglobin, haematocrit (p<0.01) at first 24 hours of admission in anaemic versus non-anaemic patients. Conclusion: Anaemic patients had significantly lower values of percent transferrin saturation (p<0.05), red blood cells count, haemoglobin, haematocrit (p<0.01) compared to non anaemic on day 7. A statistically significant negative correlations were obtained between serum iron and C-reactive protein; cardiac troponin I and total iron binding capacity (rho=-0.389, p<0.05; rho=0.331; p<0.05, respectively). Observed changes in laboratory parameters through period 1-7 day indicate inflammatory type of anaemia in acute coronary syndrome.