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Skeletal muscle is the most abundant of the human body’s tissues and it represents a substantial percentage of body mass. Its main function is contraction, which produces force for different types of movement. It also includes the contraction of skeletal muscles that enables locomotion, joint stabilization, posture maintenance and production of body heat. Overall, skeletal muscles play an important role … Preberite več >>

The object of this study was to determine reference levels of vitamin D and its metabolites in the sera of individuals with normal vitamin D metabolism. The measurements were done in compliance with the instructions for reference value determinations given by International Federation of Clinical Chemistry. The paper presents the nomenclature, physical and chemical properties, and physiology and pathologic physiology … Preberite več >>

Oxygen free radicals play an important role in many processes: they are involved in various phases of the inflammatory process and therefore take part in the defence of the organism. Yet their effects may be harmful or even fatal. The paper deals with the part of oxygen free radicals in postischemic reperfusion tissue damage and in the development of atherosclerotic … Preberite več >>

Oxygen free radicals are obligatory side product of the aerobic cell metabolism. In the first part of the paper their main characteristics and formation paths as well as the reactions they trigger in the biological systems are described. The second part deals with some common cell injuries caused by free radicals or their metabolites. The last part discusses the organism’s … Preberite več >>

Mechanically induced peripheral nerve lesions are among the commonest neurological disorders. Pressure neuropathies (due to acute compression) differ form entrapment neuropathies (due to chronic constriction, repeated pressure or angulation) in their pathophysiological mechanisms, histological characteristics, prognosis and principles of treatment. The commonest pressure neuropathies (Saturday night palsy, peroneal nerve compression, etc.) and entrapment neuropathies (such as carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital … Preberite več >>

Pathophysiological mechanisms of flaccid and spastic paralysis are presented. Characteristic features of flaccid paralysis described in the paper include decreased muscle strength, hypotonia or atonia, depressed or absent proprioceptive reflexes, and muscle wasting. Next, the author presents the following signs of spastic paralysis: decreased muscle strength associated with loss of subtle movements, muscle hypertonia, increased proprioceptive reflexes, decrease in or … Preberite več >>

Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressive, degenerative disorder of the substantia nigra of unknown etiology. The main pathomorphological finding in Parkinson’s disease is the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which results in deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the striatum. Parkinson’s disease is an akinetic-rigid syn­drome with the main clinical features of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia … Preberite več >>

The aim of the study was to determine: – whether in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) the duration of the QTc interval correlates with the echocardiographically determined left ventricular wall motion abnormality score (WMSI), – whether patients with AMI show a correlation between the duration of the QTc interval and frequency and complexity of ventricular ectopic activity, – whether … Preberite več >>