Sex ratios of children of Russian pesticide producers exposed to dioxin

We investigated the sex ratio of children of pesticide workers who produced the biocide trichlorophenol and the herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid from 1961 to 1988 in the city of Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia. We measured exposure of the two related cohorts to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other dioxins by analyzing 84 blood samples, which produced median TCDD toxic equivalents blood lipid values of 240 ng/kg, which are more than 30 times higher than background or normal exposure from the region. The sex ratio (fraction male) of the combined cohort of 227 children from 150 male and 48 female workers was 0.40, significantly lower (z-test for proportions = 3.21; p < 0.001) than those for the city of Ufa (0.512) and elsewhere worldwide. When we analyzed the sex ratio of the children according to maternal or paternal exposure, we observed a decrease in the number of boys (ratio 0.38) for fathers and a normal number (ratio 0.51) for the mothers. Human exposure of these pesticide producers to high levels of dioxins is associated with the birth of more girls, but only for paternal exposures.     

The choice of the extent of the operation in patients with thyroid cancer

The results of 676 radical operations for thyroid cancer are discussed. The choice of procedure was determined by tumor histology which was assessed using trephine biopsy. Extracapsular hemithyroidectomy was the basic procedure (420 out of 676 cases) used for the treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer affecting one lobe only. No fatalities were registered. Bilateral surgery was associated with paralysis of n. laryngeus in 1.5% of cases and with the nerve injury in 5.1%. With unilateral surgery, the parameter was 2.8%. The unilateral procedure offered the advantage of sparing the intact lobe which assured a decrease in thyrotropin and lower rates of relapse, hypothyrosis, hypoparathyroidism and paresis of n. laryngeus. Five-, ten- and twenty-year cumulative survival rates were 91.8, 87.8 and 71.6% whereas corrected rates--94, 93.6 and 92.9%, respectively.     

Serum concentrations of trace elements and microcirculation during laser therapy for pneumonia

The impact of laser therapy in the multimodality treatment for pneumonia on the serum levels of trace elements and microcirculation was studied. A total of 105 patients with pneumonia were examined. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) 68 patients received laser therapy and 2) 37 patients took drug therapy alone. There was a more substantial reduction in the permeability of cellular membranes, a significant increase in the serum levels of iron and chromium, better circulation at the expense of a vascular component. The above changes highly correlated with laboratory data and external respiratory function parameters.     

Experience in the use of streptodecase in the treatment of intraocular hemorrhage]

Addition of streptodecase to combined therapy of intraocular hemorrhages, mainly of vascular origin, in 37 patients improved the treatment efficacy. This manifested by a noticeable improvement of the vision acuity and by a more marked and complete resorption of the hemorrhages. The results were better if the drug was administered in the earliest periods of the disease. Local allergic reactions, seen in 27% of patients, were the most frequent side effect of streptodecase therapy.     

An expert consulting system for the epidemiologic physician

The questions relating to the practical use of the automated expert system for diagnostics, the type of the epidemiological process and giving recommendations for carrying out single purpose prophylactic and antiepidemic measures has been considered herein. The peculiarities of use of the present system with micro-computer has been described.