Genital infections in girls with type 1 diabetes

The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between genital infections (frequency, etiology, clinical presentation) among girls with type 1 diabetes and some factors as age of the girls, duration and metabolic control of diabetes. Forty-three girls with type 1 diabetes and twelve healthy girls for controls were involved in the study. Methods used are: genital tract inspection, direct microscopy and cultures from genital discharge and urine. Glycaemic control in the diabetic girls was assessed by measuring total glycosylated haemoglobin. The results show vulvovaginal candidiasis in 27 (62.8%) in diabetic girls versus 2 (16.6%) in controls (p < 0.01). There was clear prevalence of non-albicans Candida species. Concomitant infection with bacterial pathogens were proved in only 6 (13.9%) of diabetic girls and 1 (8.5%) of the controls. The clinical presentation of genital candidiasis was vulvovaginitis and most of the affected diabetic girls (88.9%) were in puberty period. There was no relation between duration and metabolic control of diabetes and genital infections.     

Ecology and evolution of influenza viruses in Russia (1979-2002)

The research results on ecology and evolution of influenza A viruses, which has been conducted by the Center of Ecology and Evolution of influenza Viruses of Ivanovsky's Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, for more than 30 years, are summarized in the paper. A gene pool of influenza A viruses circulating in Russia's territory was defined. Foci of influenza A viruses were detected in natural biocenosis. Issues conditioned by the population interrelations of influenza viruses, i.e. between the populations of wild and home animals and the populations of people, are also under discussion.     

Invasion-free respiratory monitoring in thoracal surgery of oncology patients

The results of intraoperative monitoring in thoracal surgery of 375 oncology patients with lung cancer were analyzed. The dynamic parameters of ventilation and blood gas composition were investigated in patients with uncomplicated anesthetic management and with complicated adequate ventilation. The diagnostic value of the above parameters is defined for optimizing the respiratory support in surgery for lung cancer.     

Flow cytometric determination of neutrophil respiratory burst activity in workers exposed to formaldehyde

Aim The aim of the study was to investigate neutrophil respiratory burst activity (NRBA) in workers who were occupationally exposed to formaldehyde.Methods NRBA, spontaneous and stimulated with E. coli, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), was studied by means of quantitative flow cytometric determination in 29 workers who were occupationally exposed to formaldehyde; 21 healthy subjects, not exposed to formaldehyde, served as controls. All subjects underwent clinical assessment, including a review of a summary of their medical history and a physical examination. Routine haematological tests were performed.Results A statistically significant predominance of subjective symptoms and objective clinical findings of chronic upper respiratory tract inflammation, as well as decreased resistance to infections, was observed in the 29 workers exposed to formaldehyde, compared with the controls (²=9.28, P=0.02). No statistically significant difference in the spontaneous and stimulated NRBA between the exposed workers and the control group was observed. The spontaneous NRBA (percentage oxidizing cells) was significantly lower in the group of exposed workers with upper respiratory tract findings and frequent and long-lasting infectious inflammatory relapses (median and range 0.45 (0.02–2.03), mean values 0.65±0.74) than in the healthy controls (median and range 1.35 (0.07–8.69), mean values 2.42±2.47; P<0.05), and in the group of exposed workers with rare and short, acute, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract or without any inflammations (median and range 1.00 (0.02–8.67), mean values 1.67±2.08; P<0.05). A significant negative correlation between the duration of occupational exposure to formaldehyde and erythrocyte count and haematocrit was found.Conclusions The observed decrease of spontaneous NRBA in workers with a history and clinical findings of frequent and long-lasting relapses of chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory tract could be due to formaldehyde exposure and individual susceptibility. The results obtained suggest that functional changes in polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes could serve as an early indicator of an impact of formaldehyde on NRBA. The applied method might be used for identifying groups at increased toxicological risk.     

Degenerative Changes and Cell Death in Long-Living Homo- and Heterotopic Transplants from Embryonic Germ Layers of Rat Neocortex

Morphological study of allotransplants of rat embryonic neocortex 14-18 months after transplantation into the neocortex, lateral cerebral ventricle, and sciatic nerve of adult animals revealed death of nerve and glial cells in the delayed postoperation period independently on the site of transplantation. After heterotopic transplantation the count of degenerated neurons was 2 times higher that after homotopic transplantation. In heterotopic transplants a considerable number of grafted neurons underwent reversible and irreversible degenerative changes accompanied by their premature aging. Neuronal death is probably determined by insufficiency of trophic influence from afferent structures and target tissues. We hypothesized that antiapoptotic preparations can be used for prevention of transplanted cell death. It was also found that degeneration of neurons was associated with impaired vascularization of transplants and pronounced immune reaction of the recipient in late posttransplantation period. Transplantation of embryonic brain structures can serve as a model system in studies concerning involutive and pathological processes in the central nervous system and in the search for factors improving survival of neurons.     

Average and high myopia in pregnant women at delivery

A total of 315 pregnant women were under observation: 290 (92.1%) of women with myopia made up the main group, and 25 (7.9%), which had no extragenital pathologies or any pregnancy complications, were in the control group. It was for the first time that an algorithm of pregnancy and delivery monitoring for myopic patients was worked out: the algorithm comprises ophthalmologic examinations including rheoophthalmography carried out during the delivery. The specific features of the ocular hemodynamics and intraocular pressure as well as their dependence on the parameters of central hemodynamics and volumetric cerebral blood velocity at all stages of spontaneous delivery were studied. The role of prolonged epidural anesthesia, as a method normalizing the hemodynamics of the ciliary tract, was defined to optimize the delivery by women with average and high myopia. The above stated makes it possible to prevent possible complications (in the organ of vision) in patients with average and high myopia and to decrease the frequency of operative delivery from 21.8% to 1.3%.     

Use of pyelo-cystic anastomosis in ureteral obliteration after kidney transplantation

Reconstruction of the urinary tract because of ureteral stricture after kidney transplantation is a serious problem. In development of obliteration of the recipient's ureter near anastomosis and in the absence of own ureters reconstruction is made by pyelocystoanastomosis. A case is reported of a successful use of this method in reconstruction of the urinary tract. Preoperative preparation includes transcutaneous nephrostomy. Sometimes Boary flap is used. The arising reflux had insignificant effect on the transplant's function.