Physical development of schoolchildren in Moscow and Kiev

Physical development was assessed in 2329 Moscow schoolchildren and 1433 Kiev ones aged 8 to 11 and 15 to 17 years. The Moscow and Kiev children aged 8 to 11 years did not differ in the basic anthropometric indices of physical development and force capacities. Gracilization processes were prevalent in the Kiev schoolchildren. Statistically significant differences were established in respiratory capacities: lung capacity was significantly higher in the Moscow children aged 8 to 10 years than in the Kiev ones of their age. Climatic and geographical features were found in the physical development of the Kiev teenagers: significantly higher chest circumference was observed in 15-16-year-old girls and 15-year-old boys than in the Moscow children of the same age. It is stated that the force capacities of the Kiev teenagers were significantly lower in all age-sex groups than in the Muscovites of the same age. It is proposed to activate preventive measures aimed at enhancing the functional capacities of the cardiorespiratory system primarily in the children living in Kiev.     

Experience with video-computer method of assessing the mental state with the help of "Vidicor" in a psychological survey of entrants in Suvorov Military School

The authors analyzed the use of two different survey methods (PPO and "Vidicor") of entrants of the St. Petersburg Suvorov Military School. It is shown that the methods of the final results do not contradict each other. The discrepancy between the results is 4,4%, but the method of "Vidicor" has several advantages: lower labor costs and psycho trauma of surveyed, most dynamic and effective, the possibility of creating an electronic database. This allows us to recommend it for use.     

Intravenous laser therapy in multimodal treatment of acute pneumonia

Such therapy has been administered to 70 patients with acute pneumonias. 25 patients on traditional therapy have made up the reference group. The effects of laser therapy on the clinical picture, status of the coagulation system cellular and plasma factors, fibrinolysis, and on the blood stream at the site of the pneumonic involvement have been examined in the patients with acute pneumonias in single tests and after a course of treatment. Intravenous laser therapy has had a favourable effect on the clinical course of acute pneumonias, accelerating the terms of pneumonia resolution and promoting and earlier and more complete restoration of the blood stream and normalization of the hemostasis, in contrast to routine therapy.     

Phytoadaptogen correction of clinical and immunobiological parameters in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Correction of hormonal, immune, interferon, and antioxidant status and genetic abnormalities with a complex phytoadaptogen leads to positive clinical effects in elderly patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. __________ Translated from Byulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 141, No. 5, pp. 555–558, May, 2006     

A tailored lifestyle intervention to reduce the cardiovascular disease risk of individuals with Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH): design of the PRO-FIT randomised controlled trial

Background  

Because of a high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in people with Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH), early prevention of cardiovascular disease is important for health gain and cost reduction. This project focuses on the development and evaluation of an innovative intervention aiming to reduce CVD risk by promoting a healthy lifestyle among people with FH.     

D-dimer in the diagnostic workup of suspected pulmonary thrombo-embolism at high altitude

Background

Pulmonary thrombo-embolism (PTE) is relatively common in high altitude areas where radiological diagnostic facilities are usually not available. So this study was undertaken to use the results of D-dimer assay to determine the need for imaging studies in patients suspected of having PTE at high altitude.

Methods

A total of 101 patients at an altitude of > 3,000 m suspected of having PTE were evacuated. D-dimer and imaging studies were carried out to confirm the diagnosis.

Results

A total of 101 patients suspected of having PTE underwent D-dimer level estimation and imaging studies for PTE. Sixty-eight of these had negative findings) on D-dimer assay. All these patients with negative findings on D-dimer assay had negative findings on pulmonary imaging studies also. So this test is very sensitive with very high negative predictive value (NPV). Whereas, 17 out of 33 patients positive for D-dimer, had positive findings on imaging studies, indicating a relatively less specific test.

Conclusion

Clinical assessment in combination with D-dimer assay can be used for timely differentiation of PTE from other conditions such as high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPO) especially at isolated high altitude areas/military posts, so that patients could be evacuated as early as possible by fastest means to save the precious lives and in hospital settings this test identifies patients to whom anticoagulant therapy should not be given or patients who should not be subjected to invasive imaging tests.Key Words: D-dimer test, PTE