Short-term prediction of a change in the total stock of Daursk suslik fleas in the Transbaikal natural focus of plague

Based on 20-year studies of changes in the total store of the imago of Daursk souslik fleas in the Transbaikal natural focus of plague and on observations of variations in some environmental factors, equations of the short-term prediction of the size of fleas have been constructed for each month (from May to September inclusive). The equations include from one to three predictors that significantly influence the dynamics in the abundance of exoparasites. A nonlinear regression analysis was used for statistical data processing. The results and reliability of short-term stepwise prediction of the size of souslik fleas in the Transbaikal natural focus of plague from 1978 to 1987 are retrospectively considered.     

Clinical trials update from the American Heart Association meeting: PROSPER,DIAL, home care monitoring trials,immune modulation therapy,COMPANION and anaemia in heart failure

This article continues a series of reports on research developments of particular interest to those involved in the management of patients with heart failure. Summaries of the following trials, reported at the 75th Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association held in Chicago, Illinois between 17th and 20th November 2002 are included: PROSPER; DIAL; home care monitoring trials; immune modulation therapy; COMPANION; and anaemia in heart failure.     

Atherosclerotic renovascular disease in chronic heart failure: should we intervene?

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is most commonly caused by atherosclerosis, which is also the most common cause of chronic heart failure (CHF). One-third of patients with CHF are reported to have significant renovascular disease. The presence of RAS confers a worse outcome in studies of hypertension and coronary disease, though data are lacking for patients with CHF. As the kidney is intricately involved in the fluid retention that occurs in CHF, an adverse effect of RAS on outcome would be expected. Presentations of RAS in CHF include flash pulmonary oedema, hypertension, worsening of CHF, and worsening renal function. RAS commonly progresses and may cause worsening of renal function in patients with CHF and previously stable renal function. A variety of investigations that can safely and accurately identify RAS in CHF are available, although none is recommended in current guidelines for the management of CHF. Treatment for RAS, whether for hypertension, for renal dysfunction, or for pulmonary oedema, is at the discretion of the physician due to the lack of adequate randomized controlled trials demonstrating the efficacy and safety of intervention. As it is not clear how RAS should be managed in CHF, screening cannot be advocated. Currently, a multicentre randomized outcome trial, which includes a cohort of patients with RAS and CHF, is in progress to provide answers in this area of uncertainty.     

Ueber die Verbreitung der Faserdegenerationen bei amyotrophischer Lateralsklerose mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Veränderungen im Grosshirn

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Synthesis and biological activity of 16α, 17α-dihydroxy-20-oxo-5α-pregnanes

Translated from Khimiko-farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 23, No. 9, pp. 1062–1067, September, 1989.     

Status of the processes of free-radical oxidation and the antioxidation system in patients with a severe course of hepatitis B]

Sixty patients with severe forms of acute viral hepatitis B (AVHB) without symptoms of acute hepatic encephalopathy (AHE) and 20 AVHB patients with such symptoms were examined for red blood cell and serum levels of dienic conjugates (DC), malonic dialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (RG), activity of superoxydismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase-1 (GP1), glutathione peroxidase-2 (GP2), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione transferase (GT). Elevated MDA and DC concentrations were found in grave AVHB, in coma and precoma DC reduced. MDA levels in precoma fell, in coma rose. The activity of SOD, GP1, GP2, GR and RG concentration were low, especially in AHE symptoms. GT and catalase activity proved high in severe AVHB with a trend to lowering in precoma and coma.