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There is a paucity of empirical research on the use of non-pharmacological interventions to both treat and curb the spread of Alzheimer's disease (AD) across the globe. This paper examines the biochemical and clinical outlook and the social implications of the condition in relation to psychological aspects that may indicate a direction for further interventions. There is a scarcity of research on the effectiveness of using various psychological aspects of AD, a disease characterized by a process of transition from health and independence to a dependent state with a progressive loss of memory and functional skills. The paper investigates the biochemical and psychological aspects of AD and their significance for improving quality of life for patients with this disease. Psychological interventions based on, among other factors, biochemical studies, are conducted to improve the emotional wellbeing of AD patients and may assist in slowing down the progression of the disease. To date, however, no effective methods of AD treatment have been established.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) may develop as a consequence of silent or symptomatic but unrecognized and not treated thromboembolic events, however, its course is little known. A prospective study with once a year evaluation of survival, Doppler-derived systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PASP), functional NYHA class, and exercise tolerance in a group of 26 newly diagnosed CTEPH patients aging 37 to 82 years with mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) ranging from 21 to 86 mmHg was undertaken. None of patients underwent pulmonary endarterectomy (10 patients had distal embolism, 4 patients had proximal embolism and MPAP < 30 mmHg, 12 patients with proximal embolism and MPAP>30mmHg did not accept risk of surgery). After starting anticoagulation, the 3-year survival in 13 patients with baseline MPAP < 33mmHg was 100%. In these patients PASP decreased < 40 mmHg after 1,2 and 3 year in seven, nine and in all but one patient, respectively. NYHA class improved in 12 patients and trend to increase number of METS during exercise test (p = 0.09) was found. The survival rate for 13 patients with MPAP > 33 mmHg was respectively 77%, 62% and 46%. 3 patients with MPAP > 69 mmHg died before 1 year of follow-up. In summary, patients with newly diagnosed CTEPH preceded by silent or unrecognized thromboembolic events, with MPAP > 33mmHg should be promptly operated whereas patients with MPAP < 33 mmHg, can be initially treated by anticoagulation alone and should be followed regularly with echocardiography, assessment of NYHA class and exercise tolerance.

The presence of melatonin and the enzymes (transcripts and activities) involved in its synthesis, i.e. arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT), was investigated in the eggs and early embryos of Japanese quail at Hamburger-Hamilton stages 1-10. Melatonin was present in the egg yolk (approximately 70 pg/g) and albumen (approximately 20 pg/g). The average content of melatonin was approximately 416 pg/egg. AA-NAT and HIOMT transcripts were present in the oocytes, blastoderms, and ovarian follicles. AA-NAT-like and HIOMT activities were detected in quail egg yolk. The activity of AA-NAT in yolk was comparable with that found in the pineal gland when calculated per milligram of yolk or pineal gland, but was significantly lower when re-calculated per milligram of protein in the yolk or pineal gland. AA-NAT-like activity was also identified in the ovarian follicles. Low HIOMT activity was detected in yolk, but not in the ovarian follicle. Both enzymes were essentially absent from early embryos although some residual activities, probably of yolk origin, were present in the stage 1 embryo. Melatonin and all the constituents needed for its synthesis (serotonin, AA-NAT and HIOMT activities) are contained within the avian yolk and could be used by the embryo from the very beginning of its development. The role of extrapineal melatonin in early avian development may be in protecting the embryo from the action of free radicals formed during intensive embryonic metabolism and/or it may participate (together with serotonin) in a 'diffuse neuroendocrine system' acting at early developmental stages, before differentiation of the nervous system.

The IgG, IgA and IgM levels in the serum of 23 patients with maxillofacial bacterial infections were determined. The high IgG level noted on admission further increased in the serum of 14 patients with acute inflammation and decreased in the serum of 10 patients with a chronic course. The level of IgM in the serum of patients with acute inflammation was higher than in the patients with chronic inflammation and decreased in both groups on the 7th day of treatment. The IgA level was high on admission in both groups and fell on the 7th day of treatment. Our results suggest that analysis of the serum level of IgG, IgA and IgM may be of diagnostic and prognostic value in the treatment of maxillofacial bacterial inflammation.

Analysis of bacteriological examination results in 46 children with submandibular lymph nodes inflammation has been presented in the paper. The examinations have been carried out from the point of view of observation of bacterial flora variation and its drug--resistance. The analysis of examination results has revealed existence of strains such as: S. aureus, S. albus, S. epidermidis. The attention has been called to the necessity of bacterial flora examinations considering substantial changes in the frequency of particular strains occurrence and their drug resistance.