Health status of persons with acute radiation sickness caused by Chernobyl AES accident

Chemical prophylaxis is known to reduce the venographic prevalence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee replacement (TKR), but it is uncertain whether this affects the incidence of symptoms. Further analysis depends on the basic epidemiology of thromboembolic symptoms. We therefore studied the pattern of such symptoms in a consecutive series of 1000 patients with primary TKR, with particular reference to risk factors and prophylaxis. We reviewed all the clinical records and contacted all the patients individually, noting risk factors, prophylaxis, symptomatic pulmonary embolus (PE) or DVT and its timing, death and its causes, and all complications. All the patients wore antiembolism stockings, 83% had regional anaesthesia and 33.9% had chemical prophylaxis. One patient died from PE on the day of surgery, having had no prophylaxis giving a rate of 0.1% (95% CI 0.003% to 0.56%). Symptomatic, radiologically confirmed thromboembolism (VTE) was common with a rate of 10.6% (95% CI 8.7% to 12.5%). There was a similar incidence of VTE in those with and without chemical prophylaxis (10.1% v 10.5%, RR 0.96, NS). VTE was more common in patients with risk factors (15.1% v 9.5%, RR 1.59, p = 0.02) and tended to occur earlier in this group (median day of onset 5 v 7, p = 0.01). Chemical prophylaxis did not reduce the frequency of symptomatic thromboembolism in either those with risk factors (RR 0.81, p = 0.5) or those without them (RR 0.94, p = 0.8). Haematoma or wound dehiscence was more common in those having chemical prophylaxis (11.9% v 6.9%; RR 1.73 95% CI 1.16 to 2.60). Readmission for symptomatic, radio-logically confirmed thromboembolism involved 1.1% of patients (95% CI 0.55% to 2.1%). Four patients were readmitted with proven non-fatal PE and six with proven DVT (the latest on day 40). Our results show that the main risk factor for thromboembolism was TKR itself; chemical prophylaxis did not reduce the incidence of symptomatic thromboembolism but gave an increased perception of side-effects. New prophylactic methods or combinations of methods are needed, with their efficacy compared by randomised controlled studies of both the clinical and the radiological effect.     

Rectosigmoid lipoma an unusual colonic lipoma. Case report and review of the literature

This is a case report of a male patient admitted with a huge rectosigmoid mass that had eroded into the lumen, causing persistent rectal bleeding. Special procedures such as double contrast Barium Enema, abdomino-pelvic CT-Scan and proctosigmoidoscopy addressed us to identify it as an intramural lipoma. Rectosigmoid lipoma with its differential diagnosis and surgical approach is reviewed together with the most pertinent literature.     

Thyroid gland and thyroid status in patients with chronic liver diseases

We have conducted a prospective study aimed to analyse contraceptive use among women seeking for legal abortion in the State University Hospital "Ma?chin dom"--Sofia. Our date demonstrate that the patients were well informed about the existing contraceptive methods. On the contrary the percentage of women-using contraception and especially those, using highly effective ones is relatively low. The patients claim the possible side effects of the high effective contraception as a reason against use.     

Use of dispersion analysis in the evaluation of the effects of immersion and individual differences on the variability of orthostatic reactions

With the use of dispersion analysis the variation of indices of central and peripheral hemodynamics in healthy volunteers stayed from 1 to 7 days under conditions of "dry" immersion (DI) was studied. Nine persons were investigated at rest, 5 individuals during orthostatic tests before and after dry immersion sessions. The central hemodynamic indices were calculated, the arterial pressure (AD) was measured by Korotkoff's method, indices of rheoencephalographic and rheoplethysmographic indices of lower leg were found. The significant differences of mean values of measured parameters before and after DI at rest were not revealed. Two-factor dispersion analysis of the orthostatic test data revealed the high levels of significance of influencing immersion and personality factors as well as their interaction on the variation of most indices. For excluding an individual uniformity there has been done an analysis of dynamics of indices according to their relative values which allowed one to isolate qualitative peculiarities of changes and distinctions between persons with different orthostatic tolerance even before orthostatic testing.     

The presynaptic mechanism of interaction of cholinesterase reactivator and muscarinic antagonists in the animal''s defence in organophosphate intoxication

Since the year 1987 to 1996 all kinds of thyroid surgeries were performed at the ENT Department. Altogether 604 patients underwent 655 surgeries. Total lobectomy or total thyroidectomy represented the most common procedures. Due to a gentle surgical technique, which we call "preparation", good results were achieved in the morbidity of laryngeal recurrent nerve (permanent palsy in 0.6%), and in perioperative or postoperative bleeding (0.3% of wound revisions, 0.5% of blood transfusions). Postoperative hypoparythyroidism was found in 4.7% patients. There is no correlation between postoperative hoarseness and laryngeal recurrent nerve palsy. Laryngeal endoscopy immediately after surgery is the most valuable diagnostic procedure.     

Correlation between the presence of cytotoxic anti-HL-A antibodies in the clinical course of hemolytic disease of the newborn infant due to anti-Rh (D) or immune anti-A/B erythrocyte antibodies

In a retrospective study the simultaneous influence of catotoxic HL-A antibodies on the clinical course of 60 cases of infants affected by Haemolytic disease on the Newborn due to anti Rh (D) or immune anti A/B antibodies, is shown. In all cases the treatment was by exange transfusion. In the group of infants in whose cord blood anti HL-A antibodies were found Exange transfusion had a weak efect so that it had to be repeated in 96 per cent of cases. In the group of infants in whose cord blood anti HL-S antibodies were not found, Exange transfusion was repeated only in one case, that is 2,7 per cent. In a group of Rh isommunised mothers whose children were affected by Haemolytic disease of the Newborn, antt HL-A antibodies were found in 61,7 per cent while 80,5 per cnet of the antibodies passed through the placente. In a group of ABO isoimmunised mothers cytotoxic HL-A antibodies were found in 42,3 per cent, while 45,4 per cent passed through the placente. A significant difference in the number of leucocytes, limphocytes, platelets, term of birth, level of bilirubin, amount of haemoglobin and Apgar Score was not found between the group of newborn who in their cord blood had, besides the already present isoimmunhaemagllutinines, cytotoxic HL-A antibodies and the group of infants with no cytotoxic anti HL-A antibodies, present. Cytotoxic HL-A antibodies in a way, react with the "unmasked" erythrocyte membrane, increasing haemolysis, so that the therapeutic effect of Exange transfusion was discriminated.     

The apolipoprotein B R3531C mutation. Characteristics of 24 subjects from 9 kindreds

Familial ligand-defective apolipoprotein B (apoB) is a group of disorders caused by mutations in the apoB gene. In this report the R3531C mutation is characterized further using a monoclonal antibody MB19/dynamic laser light scattering technique to measure ratios of Cys(3531) to normal low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. All six subjects studied showed a preferential accumulation of particles carrying the defective apoB allotype. We determined binding properties of LDL from R3531C heterozygotes by measurement of high-affinity binding to LDL receptors on fibroblasts and its ability promote growth of U937 cells. LDL from R3531C heterozygotes, compared to normal LDL, had 49.3% of the binding affinity and was 74% as effective in a U937 cell proliferation assay. To identify new probands, we screened 2570 subjects for the R3531C mutation. Nine probands were found with 15 affected relatives. Of the seven haplotypes we uncovered, two were novel, while five were identical to one initially reported as associated with Cys3531. Three silent mutations were detected also: T3540T, N3542N and T3552T. Analysis of lipid profiles of R3531C families showed, as with the R3500Q mutation, variable expression of the phenotype, modulated by environmental and other genetic factors. Both mutations tend to produce lower plasma levels of LDL in affected subjects than do defects of the LDL receptor (familial hypercholesterolemia, FH). This study shows that the Cys(3531) LDL particles are not only defective at binding to the LDL receptor, as determined by two separate methods, but that in all cases they accumulate preferentially compared to the normal allotype.-Pullinger, C. R., D. Gaffney, M. M. Gutierrez, M. J. Malloy, V. N. Schumaker, C. J. Packard, and J. P. Kane. Apolipoprotein B R3531C mutation: characteristics of 24 subjects from 9 kindreds. .