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. Before therapy, serum ACE activity was significantly increased in patients with lichen planus (35.9 +/- 2.33 U/L) in comparison to healthy individuals (28.16 +/- 1.7 U/L). Tissue ACE activity was increased in patients with lichen planus (2.24 +/- 0.41 U/50 mg) in comparison to healthy individuals (1.86 +/- 0.16 U/50 mg), but the difference was not significant. After therapy, serum and tissue ACE activity decreased and no significant difference in ACE activity was found. The determination of serum ACE activity may be a good non-specific parameter for the assessment of therapeutic effects.

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. Saliva flow rate was significantly lower in patients with Parkinson's disease (0.2+/-0.03 mL/min; X+/-SEM) than in healthy subjects. Salivary NO(2)-concentration was significantly lower (5.02+/-0.64) than in healthy individuals (22.39+/-1.24, p<0.0001).

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 1.8 kg to 2.3 kg, were utilised during our study. Another, also utilized, animal types were laboratory Rattus rats, species Wistar, albino type, females with body weight of about 232 g. All animals were from our own litter (Institute of Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine in Sarajevo). During the experiment, animal were properly situated in adequate cages and rooms, at the controlled temperature (22 +/- 2 degrees C), and in the air with normal humidity level. All animals took food and water ad libitum. Rabbits received anesthesia--intravenous pentobarbital sodium in a dose of 60 mg/kg, and then, hair from the upper side of the each rabbit ear was removed and burns were caused by a metal seal in the same manner as in rats. Rats were primarily anesthesied by intraperitoneal pentobarbital sodium in a dose of 35 mg/kg, and then, their hair was removed from the scapula zone (5 cm x 5 cm). Burns were caused by contact with a round metal seal, heated at 80 degrees C in a water bath, during the period of 14 seconds together with contact thermometer control. Round metal seal (radius: 2.5 cm; weight: 100 g; surface: 5 cm2) was just placed on the rat skin without any additional pressure. In order to maintain the microcirculation in the burn wound and to reduce the conversion of partial-thickness skin burns to the burns of the full-thickness skin, all burn wounds were immediately sunk in the 4 degrees C water. Subsequent to that procedure, all animals were individually situated in the proper cages, and left to rest for 4 hours with a constant cautious monitoring of the wound development and animal general state.

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. One group was treated with amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMYZOL) 75 mg/day as a representative of older antidepressants and the other with fluoxetine hydrochloride 60 mg/day (OXETIN) as a representative of newer antidepressants. Those drugs were administered by mouth two or three times-a-day in equally divided doses for at least 8 weeks. Favourable response was achieved in 70% of patients treated with amitriptyline hydrochloride and 60% of patients treated with fluoxetine hydrochloride. Amitriptyline hydrochloride was more effective in the treatment of acute PTSD symptoms (emotional numbing, startle reaction, nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, vulnerability, poor impulse control or irritability and explosiveness). Fluoxetine hydrochloride showed a greater efficacy in the treatment of chronic PTSD symptoms (avoidance and numbing symptoms, hyperarousal, nightmares and a feeling of guilt).

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. One of the most frequent reasons for break down is appearance of unpleasant side effects. In this study we followed up dynamics of the characteristic side effects of antidepressant therapy, with the major goal to assess their frequency and characteristics. The sample was all female patients taking antidepressant drugs in the Department of Psychiatry of Clinical Centre of University in Sarajevo. The treatment with antidepressants was efficient in most of the patients. A major advantage of SSRI over TCA was less pronounced side effects. The most intensive side effects of TCA (amitriptyline) were dry mouth, tremor and tachycardia while the most frequent side effects included blurred vision, tachycardia, dry mouth, tremor and sedation. Side effects of SSRI (fluoxetine/fluvoxamine) were mild, and the most frequent were nausea, tachycardia, swelling, dry mouth.

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. The main goal of this investigation was to determine the incidence and prevalence of the neuroleptic therapy acute side effects. The reason for this epidemiological investigation performing was the lack of knowledge of the exact neuroleptic therapy side effects incidence. Qualitative study on this problem has not been performed yet. Antipsychotic therapy side effects prevalence rate according to the literature data is ranging from 24% to 74%. Different prevalence rate is a consequence of different antipsychotic drug usage, different drug administration method and different side effects identification. On account of all these facts, we put the hypothesis on the correlation between the antipsychotic therapy and occurred side effects. Our experiment included all patients hospitalised from December 31st 1999 to January 31st 2000 in Intensive Care Unit of Biological Psychiatry Department of Psychiatric Clinic in Sarajevo. All patients were divided in three groups according to the applied therapy. All of them met ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia (F20-29). During our study the following examinations were performed: psychiatric interview, BRPS, scale of side effects, psychophysiological tests, general clinical impression, scale of appetite, carbon hydrate needs scale. Psychiatric and statistical evaluations were done as well. The evaluation of our examination is showing successful results in all groups of patients. The improvement of psychopathological symptoms was insignificant. Reported side effects were minimal with low incidence rate and relatively high prevalence rate. Statistical tests were calculated from the obtained data after what the null hypothesis was rejected. Consequently, an alternative hypothesis was confirmed and it indicated that the acute side effects incidence and prevalence were within the range of expectation. Intensity of the recorded side effects was moderate to mild. On the basis of the obtained data, it has been concluded that applied antipsychotic agents did not induce more psychophysiological function impairments in the treated patients. Psychophysiological functions remained in physiological range limits and their changes were not significant. Neuroleptic therapy side effects were minimal, meaning no toxic signs or therapy discontinuations were recorded.

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. There were students in the first generation, who completed the educational process from the first year program of studies. Due to circumstances of war this process at the Faculty was interrupted. On November 16, 1946, Medical Faculty in Sarajevo was reopened and since then it has been continuously working for 48 years, maintaining its educational, scientific and health activities. Former departments of the General Hospital in Sarajevo have grown into its clinical departments and during the period between 1947 until 1952, the majority of its institutes have been already constructed. The development of some of the clinics was however a little bit slower. Within the educational process we can separate four stages in the development of the Faculty: period from 1954 which has been characterized by a classical middle-european educational plan and program; from 1954-1956, the so-called "block system" of mono-course educational process; in the period 1956-1990, a five years study curriculum has been promoted with attempts to reform the educational process; from 1990 until today, the six-years study curriculum has been introduced, being in accordance with the plans and programs of European educational institutions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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. The mixture of vasodilators decreased the tonus and induced contractions. The single vasodilators increased tonus and induced spasm sometimes.