Morphofunctional characteristics of alveolar macrophages under the effect of a toxic factor

The work was conducted on Wistar rats who had received orally the xenobiotic hexachlorocyclohexane (HClCH) in different doses. The sizes of the alveolar macrophages and type II pneumocytes as well as the parameters of macrophage phagocytosis were studies. Administration of HClCH in subtoxic doses not exceeding the pesticide residues in the food in the first two months stimulated synthesis of the surfactant and its phagocytosis by the alveolar macrophages; further administration of the primer led to exhaustion of the cell function. A toxic HClCH dose induced synchronous stimulation of the functional interaction of the alveolar macrophages and type II pneumocytes by the end of the second month. Synthesis of the surfactant and its phagocytosis were stabilized in the period of the after-effect of the drug.     

Stress echocardiography in localization of coronary atherosclerosis and assessment of it severity

193 patients with coronary heart disease were examined to study potentialities of noninvasive diagnosis of coronary artery lesions, their location and severity using transesophageal echocardiography in combination with transesophageal stimulation. This method of stress-test proved highly sensitive (89%) and specific (84%) in noninvasive diagnosis of both location of coronary atherosclerosis and its severity (stenosis, subtotal stenosis, occlusion) and extension.     

Secretory immunoglobulin A in the blood sera of healthy and ill persons

Sera of healthy and sick persons were tested for the presence of secretory IgA (SIgA) and free secretory component (SC) SIgA was present in the blood of healthy persons in low concentrations (1.07 mg/100 mg), and free SC was absent. Infectious and somatic diseases, in which damage of the epithelial covering of the gastrointestinal and respriatory tracts was possible, were accompanied by increased blood SIgA content. There was also noted a distinct relationship between the blood SIgA concentration and the severity of infectious diseases and pneumonia supervention. In these cases the SIgA level proved to rise.     

Coordination of arm movement during locomotion in Ophiuroidea

Ophiura Amphipholis kochii Lütken can move with any one of five arms directed forwards; therefore, each arm performs various functions during locomotion. The arm amputated together with the adjoining part of the central nervous ring is capable of complicated behaviour, particularly, of locomotion. Transection of the central nervous ring results in disturbances of the arms coordination. Experiments with amputation of a part of the arms showed that afferent signals from arms are important for determination of the leading arm and mode of locomotion. The experimental data suggest that each arm has an autonomous nervous centre, and coordinated activity of all arms is acheaved by an interaction of the nervous centres. The interaction results in function distribution among the arms and in synchronization of arm movements. The leading arm prevails, since the influences exerting by its centre determine activity of adjacent centres.     

Re-operations after formerly performed suturing of the "silent" perforative duodenal ulcer

After the "silent" perforative duodenal ulcer closure the gap till the complications would occur, which need reoperation, by two times more than such period of time in patients with typical ulcer anamnesis, preceding the perforation. The reoperation causes are the recurrence (in 50.6% of observations), newly occurred ulcer (in 26.9%) or nonhealing of already existing (in 22.5%) duodenal ulcer. The reoperation method of choice is gastric resection according to Billroth-I in combination with truncal vagotomy in case of hypersecretory syndrome.     

Psychophysiological support for the professional activities of servicemen

Optimal solution of the personnel replenishment problem, the necessity of training and education process improvement in the training centers and schools, the outcome of social, psychological and medical measures greatly depend on the overall physical and mental health state of the servicemen and their professional training quality. On the basis of their long standing experience the authors discuss the traits of the psychophysiological maintenance of the military professional activities of servicemen, in particular--the methodology and theory of professional psychological selection, the importance of body functional indications for the estimation of the fighting capabilities of military units. They examine some prospects for the psychophysiological expertise in the promotion procedures of commanding officers and make a suggestion that psychophysiological maintenance in the Armed Forces would increase its combat capabilities and help to avoid some negative effects in military groups.     

Patterns in the shaping and realization of individual experience

This article describes the methodological approach of systemic psychology. In the framework of this approach a wide range of experimental data is analyzed: results of neuronal recordings in vitro and in awake normal and pathological animals learning to perform and performing both complex instrumental and simple behavioral acts. Another block of analyzed data is based on the experiments with human subjects that learn and perform the tasks of categorization of words and operator tasks, subjects, performing group game activity and answering the questionnaires of psychodiagnostic methods. As a result of this analysis, the system psychology approach is used to describe qualitatively and quantitatively the formation and realization of individual experience.     

Diagnosis and treatment of nephroptosis in flying personnel

Fifty human subjects of flying personnel and 25 human subjects of ground personnel suffered from nephroptosis mean age of which was 28.7 +/- 0.9 years have been under study. Dynamics observation of flying personnel for a period of 1-8 years revealed that the persons suffered from nephroptosis of the 1st stage are capable of performing the flying activity without limitations and need such observation and performance of the appropriate treatment- and--prophylactic measures. With the nephroptosis of stage II (27 pilots), the early operative treatment for eliminating the nephroptosis is indicated. The post-operative supervision of such patients is mastered. The nephropexy has been performed in 24 pilots; more recently, 23 persons were allowed to perform flying activities without restrictions, there were no nephroptosis recurrences. In the patients group of ground servicing personnel (26 persons) there have effectively been performed 20 nephropexies. Thus, it has been possible to overcome the nephroptosis and to improve the functional state of the kidneys. The operative treatment results allow one to recommend the early operative treatment of the stage II nephroptosis in the flying personnel even in the absence of the complicated nephroptosis and pronounced disorder of the kidney function.     

Biomechanical problems of the maxillodental system in children

The biomechanical regularities of the function of anatomic blocks of the maxillodental system were studied using mathematical simulation and mathematical models. The biological concept of the structure and biomechanics of human masticatory system is presented. Methods of rapid diagnosis, based on the anthropometric characteristics of the face, and a mathematical model of the function of the maxillodental system intended for the orthodontic treatment of maxillodental abnormalities in children have been developed.     

Lipid peroxidation in thyroid tissue of people with diffuse toxic goiter

BACKGROUND: A growing number of dependent elderly people is cared for at home by family members. However, long-term caregiving may become an intolerable strain for some families and lead to failure of family care. The aim of the study was to examine if level of physical and mental disability of the patient influences the extent of perceived caregiver burden representing risk factor for negative outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: 128 elderly patients with disability and dependency (37 men, 91 women, average age 79.9 +/- 6.9 yrs) and 128 their primary caregivers, mostly family members (28.9% men, 71.1% women) were evaluated. Functional status of care recipient was assessed by means of Barthel ADL Index (mean = 70.9 +/- 26.5), IADL Test (mean = 31.4 +/- 23.5) and Mini-Mental State Exam, MMSE (mean = 20.4 +/- 6.5). Average score of Caregiver Burden Interview (CBI) was 34.7 +/- 18.8. According to CBI, 40.6% of caregivers were found under high or even extremely hig level of stress. Level of perceived burden correlated significantly with physical and mental disability level, in decreasing order for IADL, ADL and MMSE (rs = 0.582-0.708, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver burden of family caregivers is significantly related to the level of functioning and cognitive impairment of care recipient, particularly to his/her ability to perform instrumental activities. Functional decline of elderly patient represents a risk factor which contributes to negative caregiving outcome and institutional placement.