Response to Weisz''s and Kappauf''s critiques of the Temple longitudinal study

Because of rapid technological advances in endoscopic instrumentation, electrosurgical polypectomy and electrocoagulation has become a reality in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Twenty gastric polyps and three duodenal polyps have been removed. Six additional hyperplastic gastric polyps were electrodesiccated. Nine gastric ulcers, four duodenal ulcers, one hemorrhagic gastritis, one gastric varix and three Mallory-Weiss tears were successfully electrocoagulated. One duodenal ulcer and one Mallory-Weiss tear was unsuccessfully electrocoagulated. No morbidity nor mortality occurred as a result of electrosurgical polypectomy or electrocoagulation.     

Treatment of auricular fibrillation after correction of rheumatic heart disease under extracorporeal circulation

Of 372 patients operated on for rheumatic valvular defects under extracorporeal circulation, 221 patients had chronic atrial fibrillation. In 41 patients, the duration of arrhythmia ranged from a few months to 2 years. Sinus rhythm was recovered in 22 patients, using quinidine and electric-impulse treatment, and 19 patients have maintained it continuously for many years. Factors contributing to stable and lasting sinus rhythm are an adequate correction of the defect, inactive rheumatic process, and the duration of atrial fibrillation not exceeding 1-2 years. The optimum time for sinus rhythm recovery is 2-6 months after surgery. Sinus rhythm recovery prior to surgical correction of the defect is not recommended.     

Possibilities of the use of oxymethacil as an antioxidant in the prevention of intoxication in industrial surroundings and ecologically unhealthy areas

Thorough clinical studies covering the workers engaged into chlorphenol production prove that prophylactic course of oxymethacyl results in long immune stimulation and antioxidant activity in the body. These properties make the medication essential for treatment and prophylaxis of intoxications of occupational and ecologic origin, as their underlying mechanisms are associated with prooxidant effects.     

Temporal relationships and IL-2 dependency of prolactin-induced lymphocyte proliferation

Recombinant preparations of human prolactin (hPRL) and interleukin 2 (hIL-2) as well as monoclonal antibodies to these growth factors were used to study the synergistic interaction of PRL and IL-2 in Nb2 rat lymphoma lactogen-dependent cells. It was shown that IL-2 stimulated Nb2 cell proliferation in lactogen-free culture medium. Experiments with short-term exposure to growth factor demonstrated that PRL was required only during the initial 12 h of incubation while IL-2 was mitogenic regardless of the time it was added. Antibody to IL-2 partially inhibited both PRL- and IL-2-induced proliferation whereas antibody to PRL significantly decreased PRL but not IL-2-induced proliferation. These findings suggest that the complete mitogenic effect of PRL on Nb2 cells requires stimulation of IL-2 production.     

Laparoscopic ultrasonography as compared with static or dynamic cholangiography at laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A prospective multicenter trial

We compared laparoscopic ultrasonography (LICU) with static (S) or dynamic (D) cholangiography (IOC) for assessment of duct anatomy an calculi in 209 patients. LICU visualized ducts in 88% compared with 93% for IOC (P = 0.046). Nineteen patients (9%) had stones: 17 were found by LICU (89%) and 10 (53%) by IOC (P = 0.032). Time to perform LICU (7 +/- 3 min) was less than IOC (13 +/- 6 min) (P < 0.0001). Time to perform SIOC (12 +/- 5 min) and DIOC (14 +/- 6 min) did not differ (P = 0.48), nor did these tests differ in accuracy. LICU provided useful anatomical information but IOC better defined anatomic anomalies. LICU required less time but was less reliable at defining anatomy and complete duct visualization. LICU was more sensitive for stones. SIOC and DIOC did not differ objectively. LICU and IOC are complementary.     

Asthenic disorders in burn disease

A total of 73 patients with burn disease were examined. The whole period of the disease was marked by a distinct asthenic symptomatology shown by predominance of physical asthenia, by stable and stereotypic mental disturbances. The asthenic disorders correlated with the somatic state of the patient. Such disorders were seen for a long period of time, and even after recovery. Apart from asthenic symptomatology, all the patients demonstrated disturbances in the intellectual sphere, and in intellectual-mnestic processes, which were also seen in the late periods of burn disease. The changes in the neurologic state were characterized by lesions of the cranial nerves, anizoreflexia of the hemitype, pathological reflexes in the hand and feet, vegetative-trophic disturbances indicating that all the patients who had extensive and deep burns developed encephalopathy.     

Carbohydrate adaptive substance for prophylaxis of immune disorders and correction of dysbacterioses

Effects of a new preparation, adaptokhit, on the intestinal microbiocenosis and some parameters of immune resistance were studied in Macaque rhesus during 13-day hypokinesia. Experimental animals were given adaptokhit as an alimentary supplement preventing dysbiotic consequences of the microecologic unbalance due to motor restraint. Results of the investigation showed certain distinctions in the intestinal microflora in the experimental and control animals as early as on day three of the experiment. Intestinal microflora of the experimental primates who daily consumed adaptokhit at 50 mg/kg of the body remained stable throughout the period of observation. In contrast, in their controls lactoflora was found to decrease in parallel to the growth of opportunistically pathogenic endobacteria including representatives of Proteus and Clostridia sp., and development of dysbacteriosis of categories II and III. Besides, in the experimental animals adaptokhit prevented decline in the proliferative activity of lymphocytes further into adaptation. Also, at the final stage of observation following canceling the preparation there were signs of normalization of the allergologic status of primates in the experimental group. Therefore, adaptokhit can be used as an alimentary supplement to strengthen the colony resistance of animals in extreme conditions.