Maternal HLA class II alleles predispose to pregnancy losses in Danish women with recurrent spontaneous abortions and their female relatives

A meta-analysis was performed on the results of a number of investigations of concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid, serum, or urine of acute and chronic schizophrenic patients. Only those studies were chosen in which some degree of age and gender matching were achieved and in which the comparison subjects were healthy normal volunteers. Fisher's procedure and a weighted Liptak method revealed no significant differences between normal subjects and schizophrenic patients, indicating that disturbances of serotonergic turnover do not, in general or essentially, contribute to the etiology of schizophrenia.     

Hirsutism in the United Arab Emirates: a hospital study

In a study of 102 women (Arabs and Asians) with hirsutism, polycystic ovary syndrome was diagnosed in 93 patients (91%) including 26 cases with hirsutism and regular menstrual periods. In more than half of the cases the diagnosis was made on the basis of transabdominal ultrasonography, which was the single test with the highest yield. Luteinising hormone hyperresponsiveness to gonadotropin-releasing hormone was positive in only seven of 50 patients tested. Late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency was identified in two cases, thus forming a prevalence of 8% in those who underwent adrenocorticotropin stimulation. In one case, polycystic ovary syndrome was an associated condition. In this study of a population of women with hirsutism and regular menses, the majority had polycystic ovaries. It is suggested that the term 'idiopathic or racial' hirsutism should not be applied unless a thorough evaluation has failed to reveal a diagnosable underlying disorder.     

The role of detrusor hypoxia in the pathogenesis of urination disorders in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

The system is designed for the long-term monitoring of critical patients with acute abdominal abnormalities at the intensive care and resuscitation units. It ensures input and long-term storage of history, anthropometric, and clinical data and laboratory and instrumental findings. The system allows a physician to have both primary information on the patient and results from examinations of the patient's circulation, respiration, and acid-base balance. The patient's major homeostatic systems were studied by using the original algorithms developed by means of mathematical statistic methods and an expert approach. Conclusions are produced on the display screen and printer in textual and graphic forms. Presenting all qualitative information as linear trends and polar diagrams makes it possible to contract data for visual control. The system evaluates the patient's status through prediction of odds ratio of good and poor prognoses.     

The Hydrachnidae water mites of southwestern Siberia in relation to their participation in arbovirus circulation

The phenomenon of Hydrachnidae association with the tick-borne encephalitic viruses complex has been found out during the study of the role of the Hydrachnidae in the arboviruses circulation. We investigated the fauna, studied the quantity variation and trophic relations of these arthropods and blood-sucking Diptera. It was revealed no trophic relations between blood-sucking Diptera and mite species, where TBE strains were isolated from. On the basis of faunistic and virological study we suppose, that Hydroacarinae got an infection with the virus in the nymphal and imago stages, as well as larvae of mosquitos. Authors also note, that trophic relations between blood-sucking Diptera and chiggers (Trombidiidae) may be important in the arboviruses ecology.     

Ratio of starting raw material and fluorinating agent in the process of purifying silica-containing raw material

The influence of NH₄HF₂ fluorinating agent on the yield of ammonium hexafluorosilicate intermediate product and amorphous silica in the fine purification of silica-containing raw material by the fluoride technology has been studied. Mixtures with different fluorinating agent contents were investigated by synchronous thermal analysis. The determination of the phases of intermediate products at various ratios of starting silica-containing raw material and NH₄HF₂ was carried out by the X-ray phase analysis method. The optimal ratio of components for the preparation of ammonium hexafluorosilicate and amorphous silica with maximal yield and purity level of the final products was determined.