Electrolyte composition of rat skeletal muscles after hypokinesia

It has been suggested that the electrolyte composition of rat skeletal muscles may change after the exposure to hypokinesia (diminished muscular activity). Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the concentration levels of ions of Na, K, Ca and Mg in muscle tissue and the endogenous media of 135 rats weighing 140-160 g during the readaptation period (RP) of 30 days and after a 96 days exposure to hypokinesia (HK). The animals were divided into two groups. The 1st group (70 rats) was subjected to "pure" HK, that is, without the use of any preventive measures, and the 2nd group (65 rats) was placed under usual conditions and served as control. For the simulation of the hypokinetic effect, the 1st group of rats were kept in small individual cages made of plexiglass. The concentration levels of ions of Na, K, Ca and Mg were determined in muscle tissue and the endogenous media of rats by the method of atom-absorption spectrophotometry. Blood plasma ion composition changed significantly. Tissular fluid content and the tissular concentrations of Na, K, Ca and Mg in muscles also changed significantly during the readaptation period. It was concluded that the concentration levels of ions of Na, K, Ca and Mg in connective tissues, as well as endogenous medium of rats evidently changed significantly during the readaptation period and after the exposure to hypokinesia.     

Dynamics of thyroid cancer incidence in Russia following the Chernobyl accident.

This paper presents an analysis of thyroid cancer incidence in the territories of Russia most contaminated after the Chernobyl accident. In the work, data on incidence in the Bryansk, Kaluga, Orel and Tula regions (5298000 persons) are used. Altogether, 2599 cases of thyroid cancer are considered from 1982 to 1995. Of them, 143 cases were among the population who were children and adolescents at the time of the accident in 1986. The work uses the approach based on comparison of distributions of thyroid cancer cases by age at diagnosis and age at exposure. It has been shown that since 1991 the age structure of the incidence has changed significantly with a growing proportion of cases among children and adolescents. The change in the structure occurred due to the radiation factor, specifically as a result of exposure of thyroid to incorporated 131I. It has been shown that the standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of thyroid cancer among children who were 0-4 years at exposure in 1991-6 was 6 to 10 times higher than among adults. On the average, SIR for children and adolescents at the time of exposure is about three times higher than in adults.     

Eye Coordination and Vestibular Testing in Electroconvulsive Therapy

Nine depressive patients were examined before bilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), immediately after ECT, and 2 days later with saccadic, pursuit tracking, and Hallpike caloric vestibular tests. Before ECT, all tests showed normal results. Immediately after ECT, the saccadic test displayed dysmetria of the fast eye movements in six of nine patients. The pursuit tracking test showed decreased gain of the slow eye movements with compensatory saccades in seven of nine patients. These findings were for both directions in the horizontal plane. In the caloric vestibular test, the changes were not significant. Two days after ECT, the eye coordination and vestibular testing showed normal function. We conclude that the eye coordination and vestibular function disturbances induced by ECT are transient.     

The formation and developmental outlook of medical rehabilitation in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

In medical service system of AF RF rehabilitation means combination of medical, military and professional, social and economic and pedagogical measures directed to recovery of health, fighting efficiency (ability to work) which were disturbed or lost by servicemen because of disease or trauma. In the article the main landmarks of rehabilitation development in Russian military medicine are pointed out, today's state of system on the whole and stages in particular is analyzed, perspectives of development are determined. The authors have noted considerable contribution made by Central Military Clinical Hospital N 6 to development of medical rehabilitation. Arsenal of modern rehabilitation and restorative measures is indicated. Methodological principles of rehabilitation conduction are shown. The main ways in further improvement of medical rehabilitation are development of its specialization, rise in economic and social efficiency of rehabilitation measures at the expense of significant unloading of hospital urgent beds and decrease in periods of patient return to military service who will be ready to perform their duties in whole volume. Introduction of modern methodological and organizational principles of medical rehabilitation into the practice of medical support of the Armed Forces' personnel will contribute to achievement of success in this area.