[Changes in relevant attitudes of nurses after one year of working with Balint groups]. / Promjene u relevantnim stavovima medicinskih sestara nakon godinu dana rada u Balintovim grupama.

The present study was carried out in the Popovaca Psychiatric Hospital and the examinees were nurses (N = 44) allocated to educative work in Balint groups. Authors discuss if any change may occur in the attitude towards some relevant notions during the one-year educative work in Balint groups. A graphic form of semantic differential was used as the measuring instrument. The findings of this study suggest that during the educational process the attitude towards notions "education", "doctor" and "myself" becomes more negative. The attitude towards the notion "patient" remains unchanged.

Excretion of metabolites of biogenic amines in patients with irradiated brain tumours.

The metabolities of biogenic amines were determined in the 24-hour urine samples of patients submitted to surgical removal of a malignant brain tumour and subsequently to telecobalt therapy of the corresponding head region. A significant increase in the excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), vanillinmandelic acid (VMA) as well as of free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) during the period of irradiation was found. This increase is presumably the result of radiation induced release of their parent amines from the brain; in the case of VMA the secondary response of the peripheral sympathetic system might occur.