The possibility of preserving the causative agent of plague in soil in resting (nonculturable) form

The purpose of this study was to find criteria characteristic for patients in need of care and social services. The criteria should serve as a guideline for patients and staff to facilitate care planning before discharge. The sample consisted of 49 patients, born before 1925, in need of emergency inpatient treatment, admitted to medical- or orthopaedic wards. Data of the patient's self care needs were collected by interviews, assessment of self care status and need of treatment. The patients could be divided into three groups depending on type of discharge. Group A (n = 27) discharged home, group B (n = 7) discharged to geriatric clinic and group C (n = 15) discharged and in need of further care and social services. Criteria indicating the patients further assistance from the community were in group C (medical- and orthopaedic wards) deficit in daily living activities and locomotion. Group B had an increased need of support from the physiotherapist and the occupational therapist, in locomotion as well as daily living activities The physician's assessment showed that the criteria behind the decision "no further medical treatment appropriate" and "ready for discharge" were not related to medical impairment but to lack of self care, need of care, rehabilitation and social services.     

Management of patients with pyogenic complications of long bones open fractures

122 patients with purulent complications of open diaphyseal fractures of long bones were treated. Comparative analysis of different surgical methods for treatment of pyogenic complications has shown that the most effective method is one of active sanation of the area of inflammation with the use of combined drainage ensured successful and steady decrease of pyogenic process (follow-up up to 4 years, 89.7% of patients). The drainage provides stable fixation of bones fragments by dipped fixators until consolidation of the fracture. It also promotes repain of residual diaphyseal defects without application of complicated plastic methods.     

The biological compatibility of the new noble alloy Superpal for metal-ceramic dentures

Toxic characteristics of Superpal, a dental palladium-based alloy for cermet dentures, were studied in a chronic experiment on 20 rats to which it was subcutaneously implanted. Analysis of histological findings, blood biochemistry, mast cell degranulation test, summarization of subthreshold pulses, and the micronucleus test showed that Superpal alloy is biologically inert, nontoxic, exerts no sensitizing and mutagenic effects, and may be used for making cement dentures.     

The methodological aspects of experimental modelling and of assessing the hereditary sequelae of the irradiation of one and both parents

The paper summarises some methodological approaches which may be used in experimental modelling and study of hereditary radiation effects in mammals. These approaches are aimed to the elucidation of the possible specific character (aggravation) of radiation damage in the offspring determined by the participation of two exposed parents in conception. The main attention is drawn to the dependence of hereditary radiation effects yield on the stages of the cell cycle of the parent germ cells at the moment of exposure and to criteria of evaluation of radiation damage in the offspring during the ontogenetic development.     

Hyperexpression of the multiple drug resistance gene (MDR-1) in chronic myeloleukemia patients

AIM: To elucidate prognostic value of MDR-1 gene expression in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MDR-1 gene expression was studied by in situ hybridization in hemopoietic cells of 63 Ph-positive CML patients in different phases of the disease. The survival of the patients and duration of the chronic phase (CP) were evaluated using the Caplan-Meyer method. RESULTS: MDR-1-positive patients had a shorter survival (p < 0.01) and CP (p < 0.05) than negative ones. MDR-1 gene overexpression has no impact either on the survival or duration of AP and BP (p < 0.05). Moreover, the MDR-1 gene overexpression is not dependent either on the previous treatment or other prognostic markers. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of MDR-1 gene is an independent prognostic factor and an additional parameter to Sokal's scores.     

Depression with obsession of contrast content

Twenty depressed patients (according to ICD-10) with obsessions of contrast content (homicidophobia--4 patients, suicidophobia--12, other contrast obsessions--4 cases) were examined. The affective disorders belonged to polar areas of a depressive spectrum: anxious depressions (with a prevalence of manifestations of positive affectivity in the form of somatopsychic hyperstesia) and existential depressions (with domination of manifestations of negative affectivity in the form of alienation of the vital functions). In anxious depressions there were compulsive obsessions of contrast content (12 patients), while in existential ones impulsive obsessions (8 cases). Compulsive obsessions of contrast contents (fear of a lack of self-control pronounced in the form of the attacks of lissophobia) were formed at the height of an anxious-depressive affect. Impulsive obsessions of contrast contents (fear of self-damage with elements of an obsessive drive to its realization) were formed during depressive devitalization and were exceeded by suicidal ideas. Comorbidity of depressive and obsessive manifestations was realized by a peculiar type of interrelations with formation of "convergent" symptoms which reflected an increase of severity of depressive disorders.