Biochemical markers of strophanthin arrhythmia

The increase of the concentration of fatty acids, the reduction in the concentration of serotonin, the lowering of the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and transketolase, and the development of compensated metabolic acidosis were discovered in the stage that preceded strophanthine arrhythmia. These characteristics may be recommended for a wider use on the clinical basis for predicting arrhythmias in the treatment of cardiac glycosides.     

Effect of hypoxemia on the erythropoietic activity of organs during perfusion

Hypoxemia (45-minute) influence in vivo on erythropoietic activity of the kidney, liver, spleen, and sternum was studied by normoxemic perfusion of the isolated organs. The erythropoietic activity proved to increase after 6-hour perfusion of the liver; this confirmed the participation of this organ in the extrarenal secretion of the erythropoietic factor.     

Choledocholithiasis after cholecystectomy

Concrements were found in the ducts of 172 patients subjected to secondary surgical interventions on bile ducts. The detailed analysis of the data failed to answer the question whether the stones could be formed immediately in the ducts without such conditions as a mechanical obstacle for the outflow of bile, the presence of foreign bodies and a big stump of the cystic duct. Such a formation of stones can take place in very few cases. The authors have shown that control cholangiography and especially choledochoscopy can reduce the danger to leave the stones in the ducts, but does not eliminate the danger completely. Nevertheless they think that now it is possible to lessen the indications for biliodigestive anastomoses in choledocholithiasis since the retained stones can be revealed within the first days after surgery and, as a rule, removed with instruments or by other methods using the drainage left in the ducts.     

The effects of monovacancies on the terrace width during sublimation from the (111) surface of a diamond-like crystal

Using the three-dimensional Monte Carlo model, the effect of monovacancies on the diffusion exchange between the steps on the (111) surface of a diamond-like crystal during sublimation was investigated. The critical terrace width L_cr (the distance from the step edge to the nearest stable vacancy islands) was determined as a function of the relationship between the energy of adatom formation at the smooth terrace E_n and the energy of adatom desorption from the terrace E_d with retention of the sum of these energies E_sub=E_n+E_d, which characterizes the sublimation of a substance. A well-pronounced maximum exists in the dependences L_cr(E_n) obtained. The formula is suggested which well describes the dependences L_cr(E_n) for various values of E_sub. The extrapolation of the dependence L_cr(E_n) to the value E_sub=4.2 eV, which is characteristic of Si, permits us to compare the model results with the experimental data of other authors. The explanation of a threefold increase in the terrace width, which is observed experimentally at about 1500 K, is suggested.     

Green lasers based on CdSe/ZnSe nanostructures pumped by electron beams with energies below 10 keV

We have studied the output characteristics of pulsed electron-beam-pumped green lasers based on ZnSe-containing quantum-sized structures with thin (20 nm thick) external ZnMgSSe confinement layers. Room-temperature lasing has been observed for electron beam energies above 3.7 keV. At a beam energy of 8–9 keV, the minimum threshold beam current density was 0.4–0.5 A/cm². The maximum laser output pulse energy was 2 W at a pumping electron beam energy of ～5 kW.     

Vion chemisorptive fibres — materials for protecting the environment from harmful substances

Conclusions Technology has been developed for the preparation of VION chemisorptive fibre containing chemically active groups, which are able to sorb substances of various chemical natures. The chemisorptive and mechanical properties of VION fibre do not change over the course of many sorption-regeneration cycles.As experience in operating industrial plants in a number of branch plants has shown, it is advisable to use chemisorptive fibrous materials as a filtering material for protection of the environment; these ensure a high rate and completeness of removal of harmful discharges as a result of their highly developed surface.Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 3, pp. 32–37, May–June, 1989.     

The effect of Opisthorchis on the manifestations of herpesvirus type 2 in an experiment and their possible participation in the mechanism of the occurrence of primary liver cancer

In a 4 month study, a group of 16 patients with stable renal graft function receiving triple immunosuppressive therapy including cyclosporin A (Cy A) were investigated for the levels of calcium, magnesium and zinc in erythrocytes. The patients were randomized to be converted to the new microemulsion formulation (Sandimmun Neoral) in a 1:1 fashion (n = 8) or to continue with the classical formulation (Sandimmun) (n = 8). The concentrations of creatinine, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium, magnesium and zinc were measured twice a month in blood plasma. The concentration of calcium, magnesium and zinc in erythrocytes was also measured. The concentration of magnesium in blood plasma and erythrocytes during the study showed no deviation from normal values. The level of zinc in erythrocytes was almost twice as high as in normal healthy controls and was not dependent on Cy A formulation. Calcium content in erythrocytes of patients receiving Sandimmun was 27.6% higher than in healthy persons. Conversion of the patients to Sandimmun Neoral normalized the calcium concentration in erythrocytes and caused a transient increase of calcium levels in blood plasma.