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The binary decay of U, Th, Pb and Au induced by 380 MeV K mesons has been studied by means of a polycarbonate plastic track detector makrofol. The range distributions of the produced fragments are discussed and some conclusions are derived on the ratio of the processes of fission and fragmentation. Also calculated mass and energy distributions of the fragments produced by the uranium fission are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: COVID-19 is the disease caused by an infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, previously known as 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) respiratory disease. World Health Organization (WHO) declared the official name as COVID-19 in February 2020 and in 11 th March 2020 declared COVID-19 as Global Pandemic. In June 6 th 2020, over 7 million cases registered in the world, recovered 3.4 million and death over 402.000., Aim: The aim of this study is to retreive published papers about COVID-19 infection deposited in PubMed data base and analyzed current results of investigations regarding morbidity and mortality rates as consequences of COVID-19 infection and opinions of experts about treatment of afected patients with COVID-19 who have Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)., Methods: It's used method of descriptive analysis of the published papers with described studies about Corona virus connected with CVDs., Results: After searching current scientific literature (on PubMed till today is deposited more than 1.000 papers about COVID-19 with consequences in almost every medical disciplines), we have acknowledged that till today not any Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) study in the world. Also, there are no unique proposed ways of treatments and drugs to protect patients, especially people over 65 years old, who are very risk group to be affected with COVID-19, including patients with CVDs. Vaccine against COVID-19 is already produced and being in phases of testing in praxis in treatment of COVID-19 at affected patients, but the opinions of experts and common people whole over the world about vaccination are full of controversis., Conclusion: Frequent hand washing, avoiding crowds and contact with sick people, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces can help prevent coronavirus infections are the main proposal of WHO experts in current Guidelines, artefacts stored on a web site. Those preventive measures at least can help to everybody, including also the patients who have evidenced CVDs in their histories of illness. Authors analyzed most important dilemmas about all aspects of CVDs, including etipathogenesis, treatment with current drugs and use of potential discovered vaccines against COVID-19 infection, described in scientific papers deposited in PubMed data base., Competing Interests: None declared., (© 2020 Vjekoslav Gerc, Izet Masic, Nizama Salihefendic, Muharem Zildzic.)

Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) opens new perspectives and possibilities not only in the treatment of resistant hypertension but also of other cardiometabolic diseases. In patients with hypertension, it has been demonstrated that activity of the sympathetic nervous system correlates with grade of hypertension. Decreasing sympathetic activity using RSD significantly reduces blood pressure in resistant hypertension. It is too early to say a definite opinion about appropriateness of this method in the treatment of resistant hypertension, because there are not great studies with huge number of the patients. After we get and evaluate these results through a longer span of time, only than we shall know what is the role of RSD in the treatment of resistant hypertension and other cardiometabolic conditions related to increased function of the sympathetic nervous system, such as heart failure, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, renal disease with microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria.

Introduction: Tight blood glucose control has become a therapeutical goal for anesthetic management for patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, especially if they are diabetic patients., Aim: This study was created to confirm the benefits of intraoperative GIK solution usage during coronary bypass operation of diabetic patients., Methods: Patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were randomized to receive GIK solution (GIK--study group) in the first 24 hours intraoperatively or to receive official Clinical protocol without GIK solution (non GIK - control group). The primary clinical outcome was the cardiac index (CI) since it represents the most sensitive measure of cardiac work in the immediate postoperative period, and the secondary clinical outcomes were the glycemic control, insulin consumption, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), potassium level and atrial fibrillation (AF) appearance., Results: One hundred diabetic patients, divided into two groups, were included in the study. The cardiac index did not show a significant difference, although the study group had CI with only minor variations than those of the controlled group, hence the reason we considered the study group as the more stable. The atrial fibrillation showed a difference between two groups, with 14 (28%) patients with postoperative AF in the control group compared with 3 (6%) patients with postoperative AF in the study group. As potassium values were stable in study group, we concluded that it can be one of the reasons for less postoperative AF in this group. The duration of MV showed a significant difference (0,003) between the two groups as well. In the study group the average MV time was 534,38 minutes, compared with the control group with 749,20 minutes. The average value of glucose was 11.1 mmol/l in the control group vs. 9.8 mmol/l in the study group. The study group had less insulin consumption in order to maintain target glycemia (p = 0.001). In the non GIK group average insulin consumption was 44 IJ per patient vs. 28.5 IJ in the GIK group., Conclusion: Intraoperative GIK solution given to diabetic patients with CABG operation provides more stable CI, shorter time of MV, more stable values of potassium which provides normal rhythm and less AF onset, less insulin to maintain target glycemia. All the above mentioned provides more stable intraoperative hemodynamic and better recovery of diabetic

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) plays a key role in the regulation of cardiovascular function, with angiotensin II being involved in hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic mechanism in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. A number of studies demonstrated that pharamacological modulation of the RAS, either with angiotensin converting (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), provides cardiovascular and renal protection. Blockade of the RAS, either with ACE inhibitors or ARBs, decreases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in high risk patients. ACE inhibitors as well as ARBs are drugs of choice in congestive heart failure, as well as in diabetic nephropathy. Especially, the combined RAS blockade with ACE inhibitors and ARBs was more effective than monotherapy in diabetic or non-diabetic nephropathy with proteinuria. However, this combined RAS blockade was not equally dominant in treatment of hypertension and was not recommended for widespread antihypertensive use.

Introduction: Atrial myxomas are the most frequent benign tumors of the heart. Left atrial myxomas are about 3-4 times more frequent then right. Clinical findings reveal atrioventricular obstruction symptoms and signs, symptoms and signs of peripheral arteries or pulmonary artery embolisation and/or nonspecific symptoms., Aim: Review of atrial myxomas diagnosed at the Clinic of Cardiology in 20 years period and analysis of clinical characteristics, transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE), transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE), and M-mod echophonographic findings., Methods: TTE is performed in all, but TEE in 16 patients. Simultaneous M-mod echophonocardiographic examination were performed in 11 patients, when optional equipment was applicable., Results: We found 24 atrial myxomas: 19 (79.2%) in left and 5 (20.810%) in right atrium. 21(87.5%) patients had some of the symptoms, but 3 (12.5%) were asymptomatic. TTE was performed in all patients, but we found 1 (2.4%) false negative result. TEE was performed in 14 (58.3%) patients. Echophonocardiographic recordings showed early diastolic tumor "plop" in 10 patients and unusual late diastolic tumor "plop" in one right atrial myxoma, which has not yet been described., Conclusions: TTE is a reliable method in diagnosis of atrial myxomas, but not in all cases, while TEE has been found as always reliable. Echophonocardiographic recording is useful for confirmation and understanding of auscultatory finding when applicable.

Aim: There are no previous data about the anti-inflammatory effects of hypolipemic agents, statins, in patients after aortocoronary bypass grafting. The aim of this study was to demonstrate effects of simvastatine on postoperative treatment, laboratory findings and pericardial effusion during postoperative period, in patients after aortocoronary bypass grafting procedures., Material and Methods: The study included 80 patients with coronary arterial disease divided in two groups. The study group included 40 patients with coronary ischemic disease subjected to surgical implantation of aortocoronary bypass graft who received standard cardio-surgical postoperative treatment supplemented with 40 mg of simvastatine per day, starting at 8 hours after the patient's extubation until postoperative 14th day. The control group included 40 patients after aortocoronary bypass grafting procedures with standard intensive postoperative treatment. Evaluation included demographic data, surgical reports, postoperative laboratory parameters and echocardiography findings, taken during two days monitoring of postoperative pericardial effusion. Statistical data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Parametric data were evaluated using Student T-test, while non-parametric data were processed using chi2 test and proportion analysis. Mann-Whitney U test was applied with CI of 95%, i.e., significance level p < 0.05., Results: No significant differences were found between the observed groups with regards to demographic data, number of the implanted aortocoronary bypasses and postoperative laboratory parameters. However, the differences in echocardiographically determined dimensions of postoperative pericardial effusions measured during two days of postoperative observation (between the 3rd and the 14th day postoperative) were significant (p < 0.037, p < 0.01)., Conclusion: In our study, statin therapy consisting of 40 mg/24 hrs was applied with no side effects and without interaction with the other postoperatively applied medications. Simvastatins, applied in the dosage of 40 mg/24 hrs, efficiently lead to significant reduction of postoperative pericardial effusions in postoperative period. In this limited group of patients, statins have exhibited good anti-inflammatory effects. Statins with standard therapy ought to be included in the early cardio-surgical postoperative period. Anti-inflammatory activities of statins should be further investigation on much larger patient sample. So far, there is no record of a large study of anti-inflammatory activities of hypolipemic agents that could waive the doubts into their effectiveness. It needs to be stressed that no large studies of anti-inflammatory activities of hypolipemic agents in cases of postoperative pericardial effusion were ever conducted.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a crucial role in development of hypertension, heart failure, as well as in the whole process of nephropathy, particularly of diabetic nephropathy, with or without proteinuria. Blockade of RAS plays the key role in the management of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors do not provide the full blockade of angiotensin II because it is produced through alternative pathways. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) also block the negative feedback of angiotensin II upon renin like ACE inhibitors, leading to a several fold increase in angiotensin II levels. Aliskiren is an orally-active, nonpeptidic, direct inhibitor of renin which simultaneously reduces angiotensin I, angiotensin II and plasma renin activity (PRA). This is the main point of action of aliskiren, making it completely different from ACE inhibitors and ARBs. Aliskiren introduces a new concept into the management of hypertension. However, the question concerning its real role in the management of heart failure and its place in the existing therapeutic schemes with ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers and antagonists of aldosterone receptor, will be answered by numerous ongoing studies and clinical trials. Aliskiren shows renoprotective and antiproteinuric effects similar to those of ACE inhibitors and ARBs. The available results demonstrate that aliskiren provides a new approach to the antagonism of the RAS, offering possibilities of a more efficacious and effective treatment of hypertension, heart failure and proteinuria in diabetic patient.

The aim of this trial was to examine the effects of antihypertensive fixed combination of lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide (Lopril H, Bosnalijek dd, Bosnia and Herzegovina) on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential arterial hypertension. We included 297 patients in our trial, aged 54.65+/-9.6 years, with treated or untreated hypertension and with high risk of cardiac events, in an opened trial of therapy based on lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide. Patients from five European countries were followed up for a period of 12 weeks. Duration of treatment was 12 weeks. We adjusted daily doses of lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide after every clinical examination and recorded adverse effects of drugs. In the beginning and after 12 weeks of treatment, 277 patients (93.2%) underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography and there were 186 patients evaluated for efficacy of treatment on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We recorded a regression of index mass LVH (168.56 vs 161.51 g/m2, P<0.0001), and regression was something more in women vs men. We recorded average reduction of left ventricular mass index for patients with LVH (N=186) by 7.05 g/m2 (4.18%) in all patients, by 6.73 g/m2 (3.93%) in men and 7.27 g/m2 (4,37%) in women. The proportion of patients who attained a regression of left ventricular mass tended to be greater in men (54.55% vs 53.21%). This research has proved regression of LVH in more than 53% patients after using fixed combination of lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide.

The aim of this trial was to examine the efficacy and safety of antihypertensive fixed combination lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide (Lopril H, Bosnalijek dd) in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension. In our trial we included 297 patients, aged 54.65+/-9.6 years, with treated or untreated hypertension and with high risk of cardiac events, in an opened trial of therapy based on lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide. Upon the examination by physicians, patients were divided into three groups in accordance with European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Patients from five European countries were followed up for a period of 12 weeks. Duration of treatment was 12 weeks. We adjusted daily doses of lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide after every clinical examination and recorded adverse effects of drugs. After 12 weeks of treatment, 288 patients (96%) were evaluated for efficacy, tolerability and safety. In almost 81.5% patients with mild, moderate and severe hypertension, we recorded a reduction in blood pressure to approximately normal values SBP and DBP (140/90 mmHg). Drug-related side-effects occurred in 11 patients (3.66%). The most commonly reported adverse effects associated with lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide were cough (5) and dry mouth (5). This research has proved good efficacy of fixed combination lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide with more than 97% patients. Based on subjective estimation by patients: this drug improved quality of life in all cases.

Aim: To evaluate whether diabetic patients differ from non-diabetic patients when referred for coronary angiography and coronary revascularization procedures regarding previous history, indications for and findings at coronary angiography as well as medications., Patients and Methods: Data were prospectively collected on 100 patients referred for consideration of the coronary revascularization. All patients were divided into two groups: 50 diabetic patients with coronary angiography exams and second group of 50 non-diabetic patients also with coronary angiography exams. Data were evaluated statically with SPSS program. We used Leven's variance test with CI: 95% and significance level p < 0.05., Results: Our data were shown no differences in age or sex in the two groups. In diabetic patients group the left ventricle volumes were greater, and more often presented myocardial walls segmental abnormalities, as well as depressed myocardial function (EF < 40%). Coronary angiography exams in diabetic group had shown greater changes in left main, proximal part of all coronary arteries. Three vessel diseases were more often present in diabetic groupe., Conclusions: Number of bypass grafts were significantlly greater in diabetic groupe, what is expected because of differences in results already presented in our paper. Diabetes mellitus stayed metabolic syndrom which accelerated inflamatory, coagulation and atherotrombotic proccess as one of the main risk factors of the atherosclerosis of all vessels esspecially coronary arteries.

Since the publication of "The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure" (JNC 7) in 2003 and "2003 European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension" (ESH/ESC guidelines), no substantial improvement has been made in the control of hypertension. Maybe, publishing of new 2007 Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension will contribute to a more rational and purposeful management of hypertension. The question whether beta blockers will keep their place as the first-line therapy in the new guidelines has been opened. After 30 years of their use in clinical practice, beta blockers have again become the focus of great discussion and controversy. Namely, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), beta blockers, which were for more than 30 years the first-line therapy for the treatment of high blood pressure, and antihypertensive effects of which were well documented in large randomized placebo controlled studies, have lost the first-line therapy role. Yet the normalization of the blood pressure has been difficult in spite of using the nowadays available drugs. This makes the question of disposal of such drugs even more open and disputable. Taking this into account, the 2007 Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension have kept beta blockers as the first line therapy. Besides, the separate guidelines for treatment of arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, have been replaced by the new guidelines for management of the integrated cardiovascular risk. According to the Guidelines, the cardiovascular risk score should be applied in the everyday practice. Since cardiovascular risk factors multiply and interact with each other, moderate reduction in several factors will be more beneficial than major reduction in one. Much more than the 2003 ESH/ESC guidelines do, the new 2007 Guidelines emphasize the combined drug therapy using smaller dosages for simultaneous treatment of several cardiovascular risk factors as a replacement for separate management of hypertension alone. Also, there is a new goal of < 130/80 mm Hg for people with established cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease, diabetes, renal dysfunction, or proteinuria. However, the main benefits of antihypetensive therapy are due to lowering of blood pressure per se.

Statins are utilised in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, due to their efficacy at lowering lipid levels. However, statins may also prevent atherosclerosis disease by non-lipid or pleiotropic effects, for example, improving endothelial function by promoting the production of NO. By increasing NO production, statins may interfere with atherosclerosis lesion developement, stabilise plaque, inhibit platlet aggregation, improve blood flow and protect against ischaemia. Therofore, the ability of statins to improve endothelial function through the release of NO may partialy account for their beneficial effects at reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events. Other pleiotropic effects of statins, i.e. immunomedulatory, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antiendothelin effects, also contribute to the reduction of the incidence of major cardiovascular events. Statins have become the basic drugs in high risk cardiovascular patients with hypercholesterolemia. The ATP III update recommends an optional therapeutic target of LDL-C < 1,8 mmol/L in very high risk patients: those with acute coronary syndrome or those with CHD plus diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, multiple-risk factors, or a poorly controlled risk factor. Studies have demonstrated benefit from lipid lowering irrispective of initial LDL-C levels, including those with average levels at baseline.

Once contraindicated, beta-blockers have become, along with ACE inhibitors, diuretics and agiotensin II receptor blockers, an established, evidence-based, recommended treatment concept in chronic heart failure. The increased activation of the adrenergic system and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in heart failure syndrome provides the rationale for the use of beta-blockers in patients with heart failure influencing upon the most important pathological changes in the condition. Long term treatment with beta blockers additive to an ACE inhibitor and diuretic results in normalization of left ventricular function and EF. The long term treatment of heart failure using beta blockers reduces morbidity and mortality from this condition.

Actual transitional moment in Bosnia and Herzegovina has the significant health implication. Several population surveys conducted in the past 10 years period showed the rather high prevalence of main cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension. It was proof that cardiovascular risk factors are preventable. Hence, development and establishment of a model of integrated management of hypertension in actual moment in BIH is necessities due to relatively high level of prevalence of hypertension and limited financial resources in health sector. This paper shows a possible model a model of integrated management of hypertension at population level with active participation of actors from three managerial levels--strategic, tactical and operational.

The American guidelines for management of hypertension (JNC 7) and the European guidelines (2003 ESH/ESC) communicate some new moments and attitudes in the treatment of the condition. According to JNC 7, in patients belonging to the prehypertension category (systolic bp 120-139, diastolic bp 80-89), life style modifications are prescribed. The second and third degrees of hypertension have been merged (degree 2). The drugs of choice for majority of the patients, according to INC 7, are thiazide diuretics, alone or in combination with other drugs. The European guidelines have, more or less, preserved the old classification of hypertension. According to the European guidelines, the assessment of global cardiovascular risk is one of the more important factors in making the decision when to begin the therapy of hypertension. In line with the European guidelines, it is not so important which drug will be applied at the beginning of therapy because, in time, most of the patients will be receiving two or three drugs.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), respectively venous thromboembolism (VIE), are relatively frequent diseases. Appropriate management of PE includes risk stratification, preventive and primary therapy. Appearance of the disease ranges from mild to severe, and rapid and accurate risk stratification is extremely important. So appropriate management can range from prevention of recurent PE with anticoagulant therapy alone in low risk patients, to clot disolution or embolectomy in high risk patients. Preventive therapy prevents recurent VTE including anticoagulant therapy with heparin (low molecular weight heparin-LWM or unfr actional UFH), direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI) or oral anticoagulants. Primary therapy includes thrombolitic therapy or embolectomy (catheter or surgical). Prevention DVT and VTE includes mechanical and pharmacological measures in internal medicine, in general, cancer and orthopedics surgery.

Unlabelled: Precondition to prevention and control of morbidity and mortality of myocardial ischemia--coronary disease, is its good diagnostic. Goal of this study is to asses diagnostic significance of positive trademill stress test in diagnosis of coronary disease., Material and Methods: we analyzed 120 patients with markedly positive classic trademill stress test using Bruce protocol in the year 2003. In all cases, positive stress test was followed by selective angiography, using standard technique with multiple sections. Blood vessel narrowing of more than 50% was chosen as the criteria for positive angiographie finding. With the help of coronary angiography, it was found that 62 (51.7%) of patients has stenosis of less than 50% or normal angiographic finding. 58 (48.3%) of patients had stenosis of more than 50%. Of that number, 24 (41.4%) had one-vessel coronary disease, 12 (20.7%) two-vessel coronary disease, and 10 (34.5%) three-vessel coronary disease. 2 patients (3.4%) had stenosis of the trunk of left coronary artery. Results of this study show that the sensitivity of trademill stress-test is less than optimal, and should be supplemented by other non-invasive techniques (such as myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, radionuclide ventriculography and stress echocardiography) in diagnostics of coronary disease.

Introduction: The occurrence of U-wave in electrocardiogram appears after T-wave. It is period of the greatest excitability of the myocardium in heart electrical activity usually of the some direction as its own T-wave. AIM OF THE WORK ANALYSE: U-wave with ischaemia and dysfunction of the myocardium in exercise test., Material and Methods: The prospective study has been done for 51 patients. Electrocardiogram, exercise test vas made for all patients and immediately after test, echocardiography with Doppler and colour-Doppler. In the analysis of dysfunction of the left chamber these important parameters were followed: METS; decrease of blood pressure, devaluation of ST-segment, U-wave, heart rate, dyspnea, sweating and paleness., Results: Positive U-wave was noticed in 51%, negative in 24% examinees. Sensitivity of U-wave on the base of the breakdown of segmental vall motion in echocardiography (ischaemia) is 66.67% with false negative resists of 33.33%. Systolic dysfunction with influential parameters correlates in the best way with decrease of blood pressure and regressive coefficient is 66.93, but the weabest correlation is with U-wave (0.53). Correlative coefficient for U-wave in systolic function is 0.263. Regressive coefficient with influential parameters in diastolic dysfunction is 3.34, correlative coefficient is 0.108., Conclusions: U-wave in registered at rest after exercise test when heart rate is equal or below 95 in a minute. Registration of U-wave is an additional parameter in diagnostics of ischaemia and dysfunction of the myocardium of the left chamber (small influence).

Management of hypertension, at the beginning of the new millennium, persists in being a difficult, demanding and responsible task. Beta blockers and diuretics reduce mortality, stroke and coronary disease in patients suffering from arterial hypertension. Newer antihypertensive drugs which block the renin angiotensin system, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), may have additional benefits in high-risk individuals with normal blood pressure. The additional benefit has been confirmed in LIFE and ANBP2 studies. In HOPE study, application of the ACE inhibitors in high-risk patients with "normal" BP values resulted in reduction of major cardiovascular events. Problem of adherence to therapy also continues to be one of the most important problems in management of hypertension. The success of antihypertensive management is directly proportional to the adherence to therapy. The new European guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension and JNC 7 recommendations offer a rational and effective approach to management of hypertension. These two documents contain a series of new attitudes, and reminded of some old and opened some new questions.

CVD are on the first place among death causes in the world. The half of all death at middle age persons is CVD causality, the most often because of ischaemic heart diseases, and there are a few clinic forms: acute coronary syndrome, stabile pectoral angina, variant pectoral angina, syndrome x, and silent myocardial ischemia. Toward definition ACS include clinical manifestation causality of myocardial ischemia due of atherosclerotic plague rupture. ACS include: non-stable pectoral angina non-Q infarction, Q myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Consequence of plague rupture is occlusive thrombus which produces typical ST elevation on ECG after that appearance Q-in ECG with blood markers elevation (Troponin I, T, CK and CK-MB). There are sometimes non-typical ST elevation on ECG with blood markers elevation and chest pain. On that way becomes non-Q infarction. Smaller thrombus make non stable pectoral angina and appearance of ST depression on ECG without blood markers elevation. Sometimes sudden cardiac death is the first sign of coronary disease in the diagnostic management coronary disease due of: clinical symptom of chest pain, ECG (with or without ST elevation) and appearance appsence biochemical blood markers (at myocardial necrosis troponins are present in blood during 14 days, CK-MB is present 3 days). Sometimes echocardiography examination is helpful in estimate of regional kinetic disorders. European society of cardiologists made guidelines for management od ACS without ST elevation and guidelines management of acute myocardial infarction with ST elevation.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT), venous thromboembolism (VTE) respectively, are relatively frequent diseases. Despite progress in early detection and treatment, the rates of mortality and recurrent PE, remain high. Clinical findings include oligosymptomatic conditions with unexplained chest discomfort or shortness of breath that cannot be recognized as PE, but also and massive embolism with hemodynamic colapse and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The time from the first symptoms, till PE diagnosis is the most important for prognosis. Diagnostic methods include non imaging methods as plasma d-dimer Elisa, electrocardiogram, and many imaging methods from roentgenography, echocardiography, lung scanning, spiral chest computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging to pulmonary angiography as "the gold standard" for PE diagnosis. It is recommended integrated diagnostic approach and various algorithms according to medical equipment and staff skill of a hospital.

The blockade of the renin-angiotensin system in the heart failure using ACE inhibitors, based on numerous clinical studies, demonstrated significant decrease in morbidity and mortality in the patients. Discovery of angiotensin II receptor antagonists brought about a new possibility of blockade of the rennin-angiotensin system. The blockade of the renin-angiotensin system with angiotensin II receptor antagonists should have been more effective and comprehensive than that induced by ACE inhibitors. However, the first studies with angiotensin II receptor antagonists in heart failure did not confirm that the antagonists are superior in reducing mortality and hospitalization in patients with heart failure when compared with ACE inhibitors. For the time being, the ACE inhibitors remain the current therapy of choice in treating heart failure. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists are a reasonable alternative in patients who cannot be treated with ACE inhibitors because of adverse effects. Clinical studies currently under way with angiotensin II receptor antagonists may alter these conclusions.

Recently, both researchers and clinicians have focused their attention to the blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Their efforts resulted in discovery of ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors proved to be effective antihypertensive drugs. However, their excellent antihypertensive efficacy has been limited by frequent occurrence of adverse effects, among which cough occupies a prominent place. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists could completely block RAS, having significantly less adverse effects than ACE inhibitors. Clinical studies have demonstrated that angiotensin II receptor antagonists are equally effective in the treatment of hypertension as diuretics, beta blockers, calcium antagonists and ACE inhibitors. Also the studies showed angiotensin II receptor antagonists to have an additional advantage, i.e. the frequency of their adverse effects matches that of placebo. All today available angiotensin II receptor antagonists--losartan, valsartan, irbesartan, candesartan, eprosartan, and telmisartan--equally lower both systolic and diastolic pressure. This new class of drugs can be used as monotherapy or can be combined with other antihypertensive drugs, especially with diuretics. Trials now underway will demonstrate whether angiotensin II receptor antagonists can prevent target-organ damage and reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Background: Because ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is not available everywhere, the objective of the study was to determine whether nurse-measured blood pressure could be an acceptable substitute to ABPM., Methods: We analyzed the data of 2385 consecutive patients referred to our hypertension clinic for the performance of ABPM. Before ambulatory monitoring was performed, a nurse-measured BP was obtained three times using a Y-tube connecting the sphygmomanometer and the recorder. We compared the mean value of the three nurse-measured blood pressures with that of the 12h daytime ambulatory monitoring, considered as the reference., Results: The difference between the nurse-measured and the ambulatory blood pressure was small but statistically significant, indicating that nurse-measured blood pressure tends to overestimate both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The difference between the nurse blood pressure and ABPM was greater among treated hypertensive patients than untreated patients. To diagnose hypertension, defined as a blood pressure of over 140/90mmHg by ABPM, the positive predictive value of the nurse blood pressure was 0.81 and the negative predictive value 0.63. However, these predictive values could be improved with less stringent cut-off values of blood pressure. Thus, for a diastolic blood pressure above 100mmHg, the positive predictive value of nurse blood pressure was 0.55 and the negative predictive value 0.91. These figures were relatively similar for previously treated and untreated patients., Conclusion: Nurse blood pressure is less accurate than ABPM in diagnosing hypertension, defined as a blood pressure of over 140/90mmHg. It could, however, be an acceptable substitute, especially to exclude people who do not need to be treated, in situations where lower resources require a less rigorous definition of hypertension.

We have evaluated the efficacy of SR 49059, a new orally active and specific vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist (arginine-vasopressin [AVP]), in the blockade of the vascular effects of exogenous AVP in healthy subjects. In preliminary experiments, two procedures to measure the V1 vascular effects of AVP were assessed. First, the AVP-induced changes in skin blood flow were investigated by the injection of increasing doses of AVP intradermally, with or without a previous local vasodilation with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). In a second protocol, AVP was infused intra-arterially, and the changes in radial artery diameter and blood flow were measured. The intradermal injection of AVP caused significant decreases in skin blood flow, and the use of CGRP increased the sensitivity of the method by a factor of 10(2) to 10(3). AVP infused intra-arterially caused dose-dependent decreases in the radial artery diameter and blood flow. In the main study, the potency and efficacy of SR 49059 to block the AVP-induced changes in skin blood flow were assessed in 12 healthy men with a double-blind, triple crossover study design. The subjects were randomized to receive a placebo orally and 30 mg and 300 mg of the antagonist at a 1-week interval. The subjects were then further randomized to evaluate the efficacy of the same doses of the antagonist to block the vasoconstriction of the radial artery induced by an intra-arterial infusion of AVP. SR 49059 inhibits, dose-dependently and significantly, the AVP-induced changes in skin blood flow, with a peak effect occurring between 2 and 6 hours after injection. In addition, the 300-mg dose of SR 49059 completely blocked the vasoconstriction of the radial artery induced by AVP. In conclusion, skin blood-flow measurement, after intradermal injection of AVP on a skin area vasodilated with CGRP, is an effective method to investigate the V1 vascular effect of AVP in humans. SR 49059 is a potent and specific antagonist of V1 receptors, which blocks the AVP-induced vasoconstriction.

A few years ago, a new and simple method has been proposed to help guiding the investigation of microhematuria. This method which consists in quantifying the percentage of deformed polymorphous erythrocytes in the urinary sediment using phase contrast microscopy allows to distinguish glomerular from non-glomerular erythrocytes. In this paper, we have reviewed the recent literature concerning this approach and have discussed the conclusions according to our own experience based on the analysis of 147 patients presenting with microhematuria. Our results demonstrate that this technique is still limited by the difficulty to obtain well-defined cut-off values which effectively differentiate renal from urologic diseases. Thus, only extreme results showing either the total absence or the presence of a very high percentage of dismorphic erythrocytes appear to be helpful for the physician. Despite the introduction of this new method, many patients with microhematuria are insufficiently investigated.

Prazosin which is a selective alfa-1 blocking drug has a very good antihypertensive effect. Its hemorheological effects were studied in 20 patients with essential hypertension (I and II degree according to WHO classification). After 6 weeks of the therapy with prazosin, hematocrit and viscosity of the whole blood and plasma were significantly reduced, because of hemodilution, while aggregability of erythrocyte and "Tk" values were not significantly reduced. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen, ADP and adrenaline, showed a decrease after the treatment. Assuming the hemorheological effects not to be crucial in choosing an antihypertensive agent, we must not, however, neglect them, especially in patients with compromised hemorheological profile, and we should take advantage of the positive hemorheological effect of prazosin, particularly in a long antihypertensive treatment.

The socio-demographic factors (sex, age, social status and professional qualification), side effects of antihypertensive drugs and the therapeutic effects were compared with patient compliance in a group of 387 hypertensive patients. The results showed that the sociodemographic factors and presence of side effects had no significant influence upon patient compliance. Unlike these factors, therapeutic effects had a significant impact upon patient compliance.