Computer modeling of the neural network recognizing the contrasts on the image

Computer modeling of the neuron network offered in [1] is discussed. Organization and feature of modeling are described, as well as the changes, which are introduced in the network during researches. Results of modeling are present.     

Diagnostic value of the reaction of morphological dissociation of clotted blood (RMDCB) in nonspecific pneumonias and lung cancer

The authors studied separate parameters of the reaction of morphological dissociation of clotted blood in 97 patients, 83 of them suffering chronic nonspecific pneumonia and 14--lung cancer. Such RMDCB tests as the amount of the third fraction of blood coagulation (TFCB), the time of TFCB sediment formation and "the prognostic index" are found to be of certain diagnostic value, and along with other laboratory tests and clinical symptoms these allowed a differentiation between chronic nonspecific pneumonia and lung cancer.     

A comparative study of passive haemagglutination methods for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen in routine hospital practice

Two passive haemagglutination methods for detecting HBsAg were compared. In general, the method using turkey erythrocytes was found preferable to the method employing sheep cells since it is more rapid and more sensitive, and less frequently gave rise to false positive reactions with sera from staff, blood donors, and patients not receiving haemodialysis. The turkey cell test gives rise to more false positive screen tests than the sheep cell test when monitoring renal dialysis patients since approximately 10% of the sera of these patients were found to contain turkey cell agglutinins, but this presents no particular difficulty if the recommended absorption procedures are used.     

Activated coagulation time (ACT) of whole blood in normal dogs

The activated coagulation time (ACT) test is technically simple, inexpensive, and commercially available and provides a rapid, accurate assessment of canine whole blood clotting time. The medium ACT for 72 normal dogs ranging in age from 6 monhts to 11 years was 75 seconds, with a range of from less than 60 seconds to 125 seconds and a mean of 77.5 seconds. Significant difference in the ACT due to sex or age of the animals tested was not found.     

Physiologic regeneration of corneal epithelium following exposure to constant magnetic fields of super-high intensity]

The mitotic index of mouse corneal epithelium was studied during and after 0.5-- 24 hours exposures to 9.9-39.4 kilooersteds constant magnetic fields. It was shown that 0.5, 1 and 3 hours exposures to a 39.4 kilooersteds constant magnetic field inhibited the mitotic activity whereas 8 and 24 hours exposures caused its stimulation. The value and rate of mitotic index alterations decrease with a decrease of field strength. No changes were found in the frequency of aberrant mitoses or in the number of cells per one field of microscopic vison.     

Bird breeder's hypersensitivity pneumonitis: progress studies of lung function after cessation of exposure to the provoking antigen

Lung function and immunologic studies have been performed in 9 patients with bird breeder's hypersensitivity pneumonitis at the time of diagnosis and at intervals from 8 to 30 months after they ceased exposure to the provoking antigen. All 9 patients had evidence of small airway obstruction at the time of diagnosis. Complete recovery of lung function occurred in 4 patients. The other 5 all had evidence of interstitial damage; 3 of them had progressive increase in the degree of airway obstruction, and one had progressive loss of elastic recoil. The patients were nonsmokers, and these progressive changes could not be explained by occult exposure to antigen because the tests of immunologic sensitivity to relevant avian antigens became negative. Neither the nature or degree of lung function abnormality nor the form of clinical presentation was related to the development of residual damage. The period of exposure to antigen after symptoms developed and the age of the patient appeared to be the most important factors determining recovery of lung function.     

Baseball implant. A method of secondary insertion of an intraorbital implant

A surgical technique for secondary emplacement of an orbital implant is described in which a spherical implant encased in a scleral homograft is placed in the orbit through a transconjuctival incision and sutured to the superior part of the periosteum.     

Engineering a pharmacologically superior form of leptin for the treatment of obesity

Leptin plays a central role in the homeostasis of body weight through its regulatory effects on appetite and energy expenditure, yet in trials as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of obesity in humans it has been disappointing. The poor clinical efficacy of leptin results from its short circulating half-life, low potency and poor solubility, necessitating large and frequent doses to obtain even modest clinical benefit. Engineered Fc-leptin immunofusins, consisting of the Fc fragment of an immunoglobulin gamma chain followed by leptin, exhibit improved pharmacological properties with very consistent and potent biological activities. Furthermore, in extending the circulating half-life of the protein in vivo from a few minutes for leptin to many hours for Fc-leptin, these proteins have the potential to reduce drastically the dosage and frequency of administration required to obtain clinical benefit. The results of this study show that the engineered leptin immunofusins described here have significantly enhanced pharmacological properties in comparison with the recombinant leptin that was used in clinical trials. As such, they could represent an important step towards a therapeutically superior form of leptin if the disappointing performance of leptin in early clinical trials was due to its poor pharmacological properties rather than any conceptual weakness in the strategy of using leptin for the treatment of obesity and its related disorders.