BACKGROUND AND AIM Drugs used chronically by patients with diseases of the cardiovascular system (group C of the ATC classification) may act on adrenergic receptors and/or certain ion channels, which gives them the potential to interact with the action of local dental anesthetics. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of systemically administered chronic cardiovascular medication (oral route) on the efficacy of intraoral local anesthesia in patients with diseases of the cardiovascular system. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a prospective cohort study which analyzed the efficacy of local terminal anesthesia (onset of anesthesia, duration anesthetized area) in the upper jaw of 70 patients: 40 patients on medication for cardiovascular system disorders and 30 patients who were not using these drugs (the control group). The following cardiovascular drugs were used: beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, vasodilatators, diuretics, angiotensin receptor blockers, antiarrhythmics, statins and alfa blockers. RESULTS The onset of anesthesia on the vestibular side was faster in those taking cardiovascular drugs (40.50±19.87 s) than the control patients (58.93±31.07 s; P = 0.004) and duration of anesthesia on this side was shorter. Although the difference was not significant, it was evident that on vestibular and palatal side the anesthetized area was more rapidly reduced in the patients taking cardiovascular drugs. The duration of cardiovascular therapy also had a significant impact on the anesthetized area. CONCLUSION Drugs acting on cardiovascular system may influence the effect of local anesthetics used in dentistry, possibly through interaction with autonomic receptors and ion channels.

Mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a recently described low-grade malignant tumor of the salivary glands, biologically and morphologically equivalent to secretory breast carcinoma. We give a brief overview of this new entity, including morphological, immunohistochemical, molecular-genetic, clinical, epidemiologic features, differential diagnosis, and outcome results.

Abstract Prevalence of cognitive disorders is high in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) is used for detecting and evaluation of cognitive disorder degree in this patient population. In examined patient population, only 5 (12.5%) of them had normal cognitive function (MoCA ≥26). Mild cognitive impairment (MoCA 18-26) was found in 65.9% (29) patients, while moderate cognitive disorder (MoCA 10-17) was detected in 6 (21.6%) patients. Major cognitive disorder wasn’t detected in examined population. Statistically significant correlation was not established between laboratory parameters and overall MoCA score. Statistically significant correlation, however, was established between MoCA item that evaluates space and time orientation and intermediate secondary hyperparathyroidism and space and time orientation and severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. Hemodynamic instability during hemodialysis and silent ischemia of the brain are increasing risk of appearance of cognitive disorders in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Aim To evaluate animpact of eight dimensions of self-rated health measured by the SF-36 questionnaire on visits to family physicians among people older than 65. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in family medicine outpatient departments of the Public Institution Primary Health Care Center of Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study included 200 respondents divided into two age groups:18-65 (n=100) and older than 65 (n=100). The SF-36 questionnaire for self-assessment of health status and a questionnaire for the evaluation of socio-demographic characteristics of respondents and health care utilization were used. Results In the group of respondents aged 18-65 the dimension that was related to physical functioning was assessed as best(79.1±25.6), while the dimension concerning the vitality was assessed as the worst (56.1±19.9). In the group of respondents older than 65 the dimension related to social functioning was assessed as best (65.4±24.9), and the dimensions related to general health was assessed as worst (47.7±20.4). Family physicians were visited by significantly more respondents older than 65 than those from the age group 18-65 (94% vs.74%) (p= 0.000). Scores on the scales of general health (p=0.021) and social functioning (p=0.024) in respondents older than 65 had a significant impact on visits to family physicians. Conclusion Poor self-rated general health and better social functioning are important predictors of visiting family physicians by elderly persons.

Based on a new family of NiII cubane-like clusters, this work addresses current challenges in synthesis, analysis and dynamics of single-molecule-magnet (SMM) systems. Investigation of various synthetic routes and desorption-sorption processes yielded series of isomorphous compounds: [Ni4L4(CH3OH)4]·xsolv, [Ni4L4(CH3OH)4] and [Ni4L4]. In order to analyze these deceivingly simple materials, several analytical and quantum mechanical methods had to be used. This revealed materials with mixed lattice solvents, statistical disorder of the solvent, and disordered [Ni4L4] cores, what offered an insight into risks of the self-assembly process and interconversion dynamics of the investigated NiII family. These findings also allowed structural-magnetic relationships to be established, and the outcomes were exploited in two turns: in first, effect of the coordinated and lattice solvent on the magnetic properties was examined, and in second, magnetic properties were used to facilitate crystal structure determination.