The most significant discoveries in the area of heart failure are the recognition of natriuretic peptide system and its multiple effects on cardiac structure and function with special effect on its natriuretic and hemodynamic processes. First information’s that heart, beside its function as a mechanical pump also has an important endocrine functions, exists for over 50 years. Chemical structure of atrial natriuretic peptide has been identified in 1984. and four years later a brain natriuretic peptide has been discovered owning its name because it has been identified in pig brain. Primary site of brain natriuretic peptide synthesis in heart has been identified in 1991. Natriuretic peptides are neither neurohormones that influence body fluid homeostasis through natriuretic and diuretic effect; regulate vascular tone by decreasing angiotensine II level and they inhibit nor epinephrine synthesis and increase parasympathetic tone. They are natural antagonists of renin-angiotensine-aldosteron system, and they have a great role in inhibition of ventricular hypertrophy and remodeling, protective effects in endothelial dysfunction are important; they increase effects of nitrite oxide, inhibit lipid deposition in vascular wall and inhibit thrombocyte activation, regulate coagulation and fibrinolytic processes as well. Natriuretic peptides clinical use is in early evaluation of heart failure, prognostic stratification and detection of systolic and diastolic dysfunction of left ventricle, assessment of prognosis during patient monitoring period, differential diagnosis of dyspnea, treatment adjustment and dosage titration, assessment during hospital admittance and discharge and forecast and reduction of coronary events.

Introduction: There is currently absolute increase in number of amputation being performed for peripheral vascular disease. The reasons are aging of population, high incidence of diabetes, physical inactivity, air, water and food contamination and smoking. Surgeon is required to perform amputation at lowest possible level and to ensure primary wound healing because dehiscence very often lead to reamputation on more proximal level. Beside clinical judgment as a method for determination of level of amputation, there are bunch of different methods that are currently used as objective predictors of primary amputation stump healing. We use different angiographies (DSA, CTA, and MRA). Objective of this study is to determine wheatear aforementioned angiographies are superior to clinical judgment in determination of level of amputation. Patients and methods: There were 135 patients in the study from our clinic, amputated below knee in period May 2004 – June 2007. They were separated in two groups; group of patients where clinical judgment was used in determination of the level of amputation; and group where different methods of angiography were used for determination of the level of amputation. Since we originally assumed that diabetic patients would fare a lot worse, we decided to monitor diabetics separately, also divided to groups with «clinical judgment» and angiography. All patients in the groups were matched according to age, gender and comorbidities. Results: We measured following parameters: Operative mortality, secondary wound healing, and reamputations. As shown from the study, operative mortality was the greatest in group - diabetics «clinical judgment» - 10%, and overall operative mortality was greater in groups with clinical judgment – 3.7-10%: 2-26%. Failure of primary wound healing was also more frequent in groups with clinical judgment – 30-33%: 12-13%, as well as incidence of reamputation – 18-20%: 4-5%. Discussion: Statistically significant difference in measured parameters between groups clearly indicates that angiography is reliable method for determination of the level of amputation and that it is superior to clinical judgment. Also, based on results of world studies, that were estimating reliability of other methods of determination of amputation level, we could conclude that angiography is the most reliable.

The consequences of hard hearing disturbances on psychological restructures were signed when it all is about communication in social interactions, cognitive development and certain characteristics of personality. Certain psychological characteristics were analyzed at deaf by testing deaf and hearing ones. Testing sample (N=45) had been chosen randomly and there were both male and female 18 to 55 years old, with target to prove certain psychological characteristics of deaf in relation to social interactions. For that purpose has been created this measurement: “Estimation scale of psychological characteristics at deaf”, tipe of Likerts, which is consisted of 15 variables. The results of sub samples of tested ones on used variables have been described by descriptive and comparative analysis, but hypothesis about not existing statistical important differences between hearing and deaf tested ones in estimation of psychological characteristics at deaf has been tested by discriminative analyses. The results of survey point that there is no statisticaly important differences in estimation of psychological charakteristics at deaf, beteween two used samples in subject survey.

The taxonomical relationship between Salvia pratensis and S. bertolonii has been unclear for a long time. Salvia bertolonii has alternatively been considered a synonym, a subspecies, a problematic subspecies and a form of Salvia pratensis. However, both these two species are sometimes used in traditional medicine instead of sage (Salvia officinalis) or as an adulteration for the same drug. In order to confirm the status of S. bertolonii, together with the potential identification characteristics for differentiation from sage, both taxa were analyzed through the analysis of their essential oils, together with the micromorphological characteristics of the leaf surface and the anatomy and morphology of the leaves. The obtained results show that there are clear differences in the quantity of essential oil (0.073% for S. pratensis and 0.0016% for S. berolonii). The major compound in the essential oil of S. pratensis was E-caryophyllene (26.4%) while in S. berolonii essential oil caryophyllene oxide was the major component (35.1%). The micromorphological differences are also pronounced in the leaf indumentum (density and distribution of certain types of non-glandular and glandular trichomes). Clear distinction between the investigated Salvia species is also observed in the leaf anatomy (in S. pratensis leaves are thinner, palisade tissue is made of 1-2 layers of cells, and leaves of S. bertolonii are characterized by 2-3 layers of palisade tissue cells, and consequently thicker).

Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in a wide range of physiologic and pathophysiological processes. A major mediator of endothelial function, NO regulates vasodilatory and antithrombotic actions in the vasculature and plays a role in reproductive functions, bronchodilation, bone formation, memory, insulin sensitivity, and gastrointestinal relaxation. Impaired NO bioactivity is strongly associated with endothelial dysfunction. NO, an L-arginine derivative, also exerts a variety of renal and extrarenal physiological and pathophysiological effects. It seems that NO synthetic pathway could have a key role in mediating the complex hemodynamic and hemostatic disorders associated to the progression of renal disease. It remains unclear whether endogenous NO production is increased or decreased in patients with chronic renal failure. The objective of this study was to present the effect of different dialysis treatment on NO serum concentration in patients with chronic renal failure. Patients and Methods: To evaluate endogenous NO production in these patients we studied plasma NO2 and NO3 levels (determined with the Griess method) in patients who underwent regular continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis or repeated haemodialysis and in healthy subjects. The study included 51 patients suffering from chronic renal failure and 30 healthy subjects. Results: Our results show that patients with chronic renal failure had a significantly higher NO serum concentration than controls. These values did not differ between patients on haemodialysis and those on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. NO serum concentration did not differ between female and male independently of the patient’s treatment. Discussion and Conclusion: From obtained results we can concluded that uremia is associated with excessive systemic NO release independently of the patient’s treatment. Alter (increase) NO synthesis may help to explain some pathological changes seen in uraemia such as bleeding tendency, a well-known complication of uremia and hemodialysis hypotension.