Plutonium and the risk of cancer. A comparative analysis of Pu-body burdens due to releases from nuclear plants (Chelyabinsk-65, Gomel area) and global fallout

Whether the same or distinct steroid sulphatases (STS) are involved in the hydrolysis of alkyl and aryl steroid sulphates remains controversial. We have examined the ability of a placental steroid sulphatase to hydrolyse oestrone sulphate and/or dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHA-S) by expressing the enzyme in COS-1 cells. Using either intact cells or broken cell preparations, the expressed sulphatase was found to hydrolyse both oestrone sulphate and DHA-S. The catalysis of oestrone sulphate and DHA-S by the expressed sulphatase was almost completely abolished by the steroid sulphatase inhibitor, oestrone-3-O-sulphamate. It is concluded that both alkyl and aryl steroid sulphates can be hydrolysed by the same steroid sulphatase.     

Thrombolytic therapy for venous thromboembolism. Utilization by practicing pulmonologists

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition for which thrombolytic therapy may be useful, although the appropriate setting, agent, and duration of therapy remain controversial. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) can cause substantial morbidity and can be complicated by PE. METHODS: A questionnaire was submitted to 100 randomly selected practicing pulmonary physicians in 10 southeastern states. We sought to determine how physicians use thrombolytic therapy in PE and DVT. Characteristics of physicians, such as practice setting and the number of cases of PE and DVT treated in the last 2 years, were obtained. Physicians were asked if they would strongly consider the use of these agents in a variety of PE or DVT scenarios. RESULTS: Responses were tabulated from 56 practicing pulmonary physicians. Thirty-eight (70%) of responding physicians were in private practice. Fifty-four percent of physicians had used thrombolytic agents for acute PE, while only 28% had used them for DVT. All physicians who responded favored treating massive PE associated with hypotension with thrombolytic therapy, and 73% would strongly consider this treatment for acute PE associated with severe hypoxemia. Agreement on treatment in other scenarios was less uniform. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary physicians strongly favored thrombolytic therapy for massive PE associated with hypotension in the absence of absolute contraindications. A majority favored their use in PE associated with severe hypoxemia in the absence of hypotension or in massive proximal DVT present less than 7 days. Further prospective, multicenter, randomized trials appear indicated. Examining crucial end points, such as mortality, may help to unify therapeutic strategies and further refine the guidelines for the use of these agents in venous thromboembolism.     

Friction of fuel-rod casings and spacers in the pile of VVER reactors

Frictional tests of fuel-rod casings and spacing cells are conducted in various conditions. The frictional coefficients are determined for different loads. The influence of factors such as vibration, the contact load, the sample speed, the atmosphere, and the temperature is considered.     

Seismic stability tests for models of fuel assemblies

A procedure and results of seismic stability tests of full-scale models for fuel assemblies of the water-water energetic reactor VVER-1000 are presented. In the course of tests, kinematic loading of fuel assembly supports has been carried out in accordance with accelerograms of the motion of fuel assembly supports during an earthquake, which was obtained by computational methods. Based on the results of measurements of the vibrational response of fuel assemblies, transfer characteristics between the response of fuel assemblies and applied action (support acceleration) are determined. The lack of a resonant response of fuel assemblies at seismic loads is found.     

Solubility of magnetite in hot nuclear power station water under reducing conditions

Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 225–227, March, 1988.     

The administration of peflocine (pefloxacin) in the treatment and prevention of surgical infections

The results of treatment of 23 patients with pefloxacin, administered because of the infectional complications in surgery development (1 group), and of 11 patients --for the infection development prophylaxis (2 group) were discussed. In the first group the recovery was noted in 83.3%, and significant improvement of condition--in 16.7% of patients. In the second group the infectional complications in postoperative period were absent.     

Evaluation of the hormonal status of patients with bronchial asthma by using various drug doses

Drug loads were used to diagnose impairments of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system in 209 patients with bronchial asthma. A thyroid-releasing hormone test made in patients with moderate bronchial asthma who were taking no corticosteroids (CS) demonstrated a high level of thyroid-stimulating hormone at min 60 of the agent administration, which was indicative of decreased hypothalamic function. In 67.8% of patients, the vasopressin test was positive and suggested that the pituitary preserved its functional capacities. The decreased secretion of hydrocortisone and its active forms was observed in patients with severe bronchial asthma when CS was used in the daily dose adequate to 10-15 mg of prednisolone for 5 years. The 20-day therapy with dexamethasone demonstrated that the agent reduced the synthesis of hydrocortisone to a greater extent than that of corticosterone. The administration of depot-synacthen 24 hours later elevated the content of all hydrocortisone fractions and biologically active corticosterone. Depot-synacthen exerted an active stimulating action on the adrenal cortex.     

Adhesion of staphylococci to polyurethane and hydrogel-coated polyurethane catheters assayed by an improved radiolabelling technique

Glutamate decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD65Ab) and beta-cell function were evaluated at and 3 years after diabetes onset in consecutive subjects over 15 years of age. At onset, 21/32 (66%) insulin-treated patients (mean age 43, range 16-79 years) had GAD65Ab; all GAD65Ab persisted 3 years later. At onset, 20/82 (24%) non-insulin-treated patients (mean age 56, range 20-79 years) had GAD65Ab. Of those with persistent GAD65Ab, 8 non-insulin-treated and 11 insulin-treated patients consented to follow-up glucose and glucagon stimulation tests. For non-insulin-treated patients, quantitative GAD65Ab index at onset correlated inversely with 1 + 3 min C-peptide response to glucose (r = -0.68, P < 0.05) and to glucagon (r = -0.79, P < 0.05) 3 years later. Those with high (> 0.50) initial GAD65Ab index had lower C-peptide (fasting, 1 + 3 min after glucose and after glucagon) 3 years later, versus those with low (< 0.50) initial GAD65Ab index (P < 0.05). In conclusion, not only did GAD65Ab presence predict future insulin dependence, but higher GAD65Ab levels may mark more rapid decline in beta-cell function in apparent non-insulin-dependent diabetes.