The use of narrative as a speech behaviour model

The authors of this paper view narrative as a way for a human to express his or her attitude to the world, finding its presence virtually in every aspect of human relations. Revealing the essence of a narrative approach, the authors refer to the works by J. Brockmeier, R. Harré, A. Schütz, J.F. Lyotard, J. Bruner who analyzed the essence of narrative in their studies. The structure, characteristics, forms and functions of narrative as a type of discursive reality are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to personal narrative as a way to reflect acquired experience. The authors underline the use of narrative techniques in many knowledge areas: psychology, sociology, linguistics, philosophy, and psychiatry. Analyzing pedagogical aspects of narrative, the authors mention the use of metaphors as a means of influencing the audience. The authors pay a special attention to the practicability of narrative teaching methods, namely a narrative game as one of the methods of active learning in an educational process.peer-reviewe

Endothelial function and endothelial nitric oxide synthase intron 4a/b polymorphism in primary hyperparathyroidism

Background and aim: Patients with symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (pHT) have increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) intron 4a/b polymorphism is associated with coronary artery disease and hypertension in various populations. Our aim is to evaluate endothelial function in patients with pHT during pre-operative hypercalcemic and postoperative normocalcemic periods and to determine whether intron 4a/b polymorphism of eNOS gene influences endothelial function. Subjects and Methods: Forty patients with pHT (age 48.48 +/- 11.64 yr) were examined pre-operatively and re-examined 5.8 +/- 1.9 months after parathyroidectomy. Forty-three healthy subjects (age 47.13 +/- 8.14 yr) were served as control group. Endothelial function was determined by flow-mediated dilation of brachial artery (FMD). eNOS4a/b polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Results: FMD was significantly lower in patients pre-operatively compared with controls (8.48 +/- 1.78% vs 19.49 +/- 2.34%, p2.47 mmol/l) and PTH concentrations (>7.75 pmol/l) were significant independent predictors of lower FMD (<16.7%). ENOS4a/b polymorphism did not enter in this model. Conclusion: Impaired endothelial function in patients with pHT improves after successful parathyroid surgery. No compelling data are evident to suggest that eNOS4a/b polymorphism modifies the endothelial function in patients with pHT. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 32: 611-616, 2009) (C) 2009, Editrice Kurti