Chromosome variation and anomalous karyotypes in the red-backed mouse Clethrionomys rufocanus (Rodentia, Microtinae)

G-banding and C-banding of chromosomes were studied in populations of the red-backed mouse Clethrionomys rufocanus from 11 localities of eastern Russia. Intrapopulation polymorphism of autosome 3 caused by the deletion-duplication of the short-arm heterochromatin (2n = 56; NFa = 56-58) was demonstrated. The karyotype of Cl. rufocanus from continental populations and Sakhalin Island was shown to have a large subtelocentric chromosome of pair 3 (NFa = 58), whereas in the population from Kunashir Island, chromosomes of this pair were acrocentric (NFa = 56). One animal from the population of the Kedrovaya Pad' Reserve (Primorsk krai) had a pericentric inversion (acrocentric morphology) of the Y chromosome. In two animals, a female from the Ussuriiskii Reserve (Primorsk krai) and a male captured near the Tomari Settlement (Sakhalin Island), a pericentric inversion of one chromosome of pair 6 was found (NFa = 59). The inversion detected in the animal from the Sakhalin population was accompanied by the loss of the centromeric heterochromatin. In contrast, the inversion of the chromosome pair 6, which was found in the mouse from the Primorsk krai population, did not involve the loss of centromeric heterochromatin. Analysis of our results and data from the literature showed that the karyotype of Cl. rufocanus is not constant, as was thought earlier. The percentage of animals with abnormal karyotype (1.6%) was higher than in other groups of red-backed mice studied (0.12-0.7%).     

Low-flow membrane oxygenation of blood in patients with diffuse purulent peritonitis

Small-flow membranous oxygenation of the blood was used in 45 patients with peritonitis in the multiple organ failure phase. In ten cases blood oxygenation was combined with hemofiltration. MOCT 19-03 (Kvant Research and Production Unit) and Gambro FH hemofilters (Sweden) were employed. Combination of small-flow membranous oxygenation of the blood combined with hemofiltration appreciably improved the oxygen-transporting function of the blood in adult patients with the respiratory distress syndrome, which was due to mutual potentiation of the two methods' effects. Small-flow membraneous oxygenation alone improved cellular immunity and decreased the laboratory manifestations of endogenous intoxication due to biotransformation of toxic products.     

Response of the receptive fields of the lateral geniculate body to temporal changes in the area of a light stimulus

Neuronal responses of the cat LGB to light spots the area of which was changing in time with different speed, were studied. All the neurons responding to switching on and off of the test spot respond to changing in time of the spot area too. The on-neurons respond to enlargening of the area while the off-neurons - to its reducing. The on- and off-responses of these fields occurred at the moment of passing of the margin of reducing (growing) spot across a certain point of neuron's receptive field. This point changed when the speed of reducing (growing) of the test spot changed.     

Sensory Detection and Population Thresholds for Sodium Tripolyphosphate in Cooked Ground Turkey Patties

Sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) at levels of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5% by weight was added to ground turkey meat to determine if a flavor difference could be detected when STP was present. Detection thresholds for STP in ground turkey meat were determined for 30 female respondents. Two population thresholds were determined using information from the detection thresholds. Two-thirds of the respondents detected a difference between samples with no STP and those with 0.5% STP or less. STP added at less than 0.3% was undetected by more than 50% of the tested population.     

Immediate results of surgical treatment of gastric stump cancer

An immediate result of surgical treatment of gastric stump cancer in 68 patients is presented. The resectability rate was 23.5%. Lethality after radical operations was 18.7%, after symptomatic operations and exploratory laparotomy-9.6%. Gastric resection was performed, using the method developed in the clinic with wrapping the anastomosis, or gastric stump by a loop of the afferent intestine. In development of gastric stump cancer, local spreading of a tumor is not a reason to discard performance of radical operation.     

Multimodality treatment for retinoblastoma in children

A comprehensive programme was developed for the treatment of uni- and bilateral retinoblastoma in children with due regard to the disease stage by the TNM system. The use of the current sources of teletherapy and cyclic polychemotherapy expanded indications for organ-saving therapy at most common stages. Treatment by the program was performed in 202 patients, including 125 children with unilateral damage and 77 with bilateral damage. An attempt made treat 140 (75%) children at the first stage. More than 70% of cases were diagnosed as having disease stage T3 in one or two stage, while such patients underwent ocular enucleation. A complete or partial (more than 50%) tumor regression without signs of its progression for 2 years or more was achieved in 62% of cases. At the first stage of therapy, conservative therapy insignificantly affected the children's longevity in uncomplicated cases, which is particularly important in bilateral involvement, while this preserved the organ of vision in more than half the patients (62%). Five-year survival was 92 and 82% in unilateral retinoblastoma surgically treated and untreated, 83 and 84%, respectively. Adequate multimodality treatment brought about low incidence rates of recurrence and metastasis (10%) in conservative therapy and 7.7% among all patients.     

Immunogenetic aspects of pathogenesis, prognosis and treatment of the main forms of chronic pancreatitis

Immunogenetic examination comprising determination of erythrocyte antigens (ABO systems and resus-factor) and leukocytes (HLA system) using hemagglutination and compliment-dependent cytotoxicity, respectively, was performed for 138 patients with chronic recurrent pancreatitis, 52 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 456 healthy subjects. Analysis of relations between the above antigens, the disease risk, clinical and laboratory parameters, readings of ultrasound histogram and the efficacy of treatment helped discover not only provoking and protecting genes, but also some pathogenetic mechanisms involved in genetic predisposition. These findings may be used in the choice of treatment policy and to upgrade the significance of prognosis of principal forms of chronic pancreatitis.