Causes of recurrences of mitral stenosis

The authors present an analysis of the late results of closed mitral commissurotomy in 364 patients (maximum terms of observation--17 years). Main causes of recurrent mitral stenosis were recognized: activation of a rheumatic process (50%), nonspecific scarring processes (27%), inadequate commissurotomies (11.1%) and others (11.1%). The routine antirheumatic therapy (bicillin+salicylates) was found to be ineffective in prophylaxis against mitral restenoses. Recurrent mitral stenosis proved to occur more frequently in patients operated upon in young age (under 30).     

First case in Russia of coinfection of visceral leishmaniasis and HIV-infection

New clinical information systems use client-server software applications that require knowledge of personal computers, Microsoft Windows, and mouse control. Here, the authors describe a low-cost training method to supplement classroom teaching.     

Effect of polyene antibiotics on isolated dog kidney nuclei

Effect of amphotericin B and nistation on caryoplasmic proteins, nuclear membrane-bound chromatin (DNPm) and soluble DNP (DNP0) from dog kidney isolated nuclei is studied in vitro. The yield of caryoplasmic proteins from nuclei is found to be increased during incubation with amphotericin B and nistatin, the content of some fraction in caryoplasmic proteins being decreased while their qualitative composition being unchanged. It is found that the treatment of nuclei with amphotericin B contributes the association of DNP particles with nuclear membrane and the increase of protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratios in DNPm. No such effects are observed in the presence of nistatin. Both antibiotics do not affect protein/DNA and RNA/DNA ratios in DNP0 fraction. Polyene antibiotics are shown to change considerably the composition of acid soluble proteins in DNP0 and DNPm and in non-histone proteins in DNP0, and not to affect the content of lipids and their fatty acid composition in DNPm. The data obtained are of certain value for explanation of the mechanism of toxic effect of polyene antibiotics on animal cells.