Results of study of a combined focus of leptospirosis and hantavirus infection in the Primor'e territory

Survey of the circulation and spread of causative agents of the infection among wild rodents may predict the activation of an epizootic process and the aggravation of an epidemic situation. The status of a combined focus of leptospirosis and hantavirus infection in the Primorye Territory was studied. It was found that mixed infection may run in pocket mice (Phascogalinae) under natural conditions.     

Autopsy-based data on radionuclide concentrations in selected endocrine organs (Vitebsk region,Belarus)

Gamma spectometry was used to compare 137Cs levels in certain endocrine organs of victims of general and oncological diseases of different localizations. The radionuclide distribution in the thyroid, adrenals and pancreas was studied. Elevated concentrations were found in the endocrine system of cancer patients.     

Pet sensitivities in asthmatic children

A history of pet contact and/or apparent clinical sensitivity was obtained in 65 (55%) of 118 unselected asthmatic children. These 65 children were skin tested and their sera examined for specific IgE using the radioallergosorbent test. Those children who had apparent clinical sensitivities had larger skin test reactions and were more likely to have positive specific IgE results than those without apparent sensitivities. Positive skin tests were very common (80%), but the larger the skin test reaction (weal diameter greater than 4 mm diameter) the more likely was there to be a positive history or a positive specific IgE result. Hence a large skin test reaction can provide a helpful pointer to animal allergy of clinical importance. Commercially available animal extracts have limitations for diagnostic tests. A questionnaire survey of 150 day schools emphasized the potential opportunities for contact with animal allergens at school.     

Adrenocortical tumors: mitotic index and nuclear size as criteria for differential diagnosis and prognosis]

A comparative study of the mitotic index (MI) and karyometric indices in 15 adrenocortical tumors with clinical syndrome of hypercorticism allowed to distinguish between adenomas and carcinomas. Carcinomas with hypercorticoidism symptoms have common features with inactive carcinomas but are different by lower expression of malignancy criteria (polymorphism, atypia, necrotic foci, capsule and vessel invasion), higher MI, increasing deficiency of cell division and larger nuclear size of tumor cells. Such tumors may be included into the prognostic group of risk.