The survey was conducted in various towns and villages of the North Black Sea coast in the period April-June 2015, using face-to-face interview technique consistently applied in similar studies (5,6), with random selection of respondents.

The interest in phytotherapy in Bulgaria has a longstanding tradition. This ethnobotanical study aims to investigate the attitude of the local population of the North Black Sea coast area towards the use of plant-based products compared to conventional medications and to report the impact of various demographic indicators on it. The survey was conducted in the period April-June 2015 in various urban and rural areas, using face-toface interviews technique with random demographic selection of respondents, men and women of different social status and age. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used for assessment of the impact of demographics on respondents' answers. Maximum positive attitude has been declared by the highest percentage of respondents-33.51 percent. Negative responses score a minimum of 0.54 percent. Demographics analysis presents moderate impact of age only. The percentage of respondents with a score of 10 is significantly higher for those aged over 41, compared to the ones under the age of 40. Results vary in terms of '0' evaluation. Highest values were observed in the age groups of 41-50 and over 70. The majority of interviewees-75.68 percent, prefer combination therapy; 29.19 percent rely only on herbal remedies, and 12.97% indicate both answers. The population of the North Black Sea coast area demonstrates a positive attitude towards the use of medicinal plants and herbal remedy treatment. A clear case position has been defined: 100 percent use of medicinal plants for prophylactic purposes, treatment-use of herbal remedies in combination with medications.

The present study aimed to assess the relationship between the results from a quantitative dermatoglyphic analysis of the finger ridge count and the predisposition for developing breast cancer. The fingerprints of 82 breast carcinoma female patients diagnosed by histological and mammographic investigations were obtained and compared to 60 female controls from Northeastеrn Bulgaria. The fingerprints were obtained by classical ink method. The finger ridge count was determined by the method of Cummins and Midlo. The total finger ridge count (TFRC) showed statistically significant difference between the patients and the controls on the first and second finger of the right hand and on the second and third finger of the left hand. Due to statistically significant differences of TFRC on some of the fingers, we discovered differences in the descending formulas in the two observed groups. Descending formulas on the fingers of the breast carcinoma patients compared with the controls on the left hand were respectively 2>4>1>5>3 vs 2>1>4>5>3, and on the right hand 1>2>4>3>5 vs 4>1>3>2>5, respectively. Statistical significance was examined by SPSS 18.0 software. Our data indicated that a dermatoglyphic analysis could be utilized as a fast inexpensive supportive screening tool for the early diagnostics of breast cancer.

This study is part of a broader ethnobotanical research conducted in the area of the North Black Sea Coast in the period April -June 2015, using face-toface interviews technique. The respondents were 185 randomly selected local people.The aim of this study was to determine the most popular herbs, along with data collection of their respective common names, useful plant parts and ethnobotanical uses. In addition to the above, we aimed to ascertain the so called Grandma's herbs -the most popular herbs the knowledge for which is based on the oral tradition of verbal transmission, i.e. by word of mouth through successive generations.Out of 103 plant species belonging to 54 families included in the survey, 83 species were native to Bulgaria, and 20 species -foreign plants. The survey data was completed for 79 plant species endemic to Bulgaria.Sound knowledge of herbs and their ethnobotanical use among local population of the North Black Sea Coast was determined based on the research data.Top 26 most popular Bulgarian medicinal plants were respectively defined as Grandma's herbs.

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