Correction on congenital heart defects under conditions of hypothermia without perfusion and non-inhalation anesthesia

The clinical and pathophysiological indices were determined in the operative and immediate postoperative periods in 221 patients with various congenital heart diseases, with consideration for the degree of preoperative disorders of hemodynamics. The operations were conducted under conditions of non-inhalation anesthesia and various-level hypothermal protection without perfusion, with exclusion of the heart from circulation for up to 52 minutes. The main complications developing in the operative and postoperative periods were determined. It is proved that the processes of metabolism and blood oxygen-transport function are interlinked in operations conducted under these conditions. It is also proved that the operations are safe and effective.     

Pulmonary aspergillosis and its treatment

The authors had 85 patients with various forms of bronchopulmonary aspergillosis under observation; 45 of them were treated by various types of operative interventions. Forty patients were given mycostats. The article describes the indications and contraindications for surgical treatment, the volume of the operative interventions, the postoperative complications and their management.     

Patellofemoral joint: kinematic MR imaging to assess tracking abnormalities

The patellofemoral joint was imaged with magnetic resonance (MR) in the axial plane while the knee was positioned from 0 degrees to 32 degrees of flexion (nine positions). These multiple sequential images obtained within the early phases of flexion of the knee were viewed in a "cine-loop" format, producing a kinematic study that clearly demonstrated the relationship of the patella to the trochlear groove. Four healthy subjects and one patient with known bilateral subluxing patellae were studied. The preliminary results suggest that kinematic MR imaging of the patellofemoral joint is potentially useful for the evaluation of patellar tracking abnormalities.     

Pathobiology of familial hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis

Many factors play a role in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. One of the leading risk factors for development of atherosclerosis is familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). FH is a genetic disease characterized by a deficiency, and/or mutation, of receptors for low density lipoprotein (LDL) on the plasmalemma of endothelial cells (EC), a high level of low density lipoprotein in the plasma, and early, spontaneous development of atherosclerosis and skin xanthoma. In this review we describe Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits, which represent such an animal model for human FH. This strain of the rabbits is characterized by a genetic deficiency or mutation of functional LDL receptors and develops severe atherosclerosis, which is pathologically similar to familial homozygous hyperlipidemic patients. The most completely characterized animal model is the Watanabe rabbit, a model of homozygous and heterozygous type IIa hypercholesterolemia related to an LDL receptor deficiency. Additional manipulation such as aortic injury in this rabbit model induces the development of atherosclerotic lesions that are structurally similar to those found in humans. Thus, this model of hypercholesterolemia fulfils the above criteria set, i.e. it is able to provide new insights for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and for testing new treatment strategies.     

Surgical management in complicated sigmoid cancer

The results of operative treatment of 242 patients aged from 30 to 85 years with complicated cancer of the sygmoid colon have been analyzed. It is shown that in the choice of the method for surgical intervention essential are the character of complications, peculiarities of tumor growth, as well as the stage of the disease and general condition of the patient. The removal of the tumor followed by forming of decompression colostomy, without restoration of bowel continuity results in achievement of better initial results. Resection of the tumor with one stage placement of the anastomosis is advisable as an elective procedure, after elimination of acute symptoms of complications and substantial preoperative preparation. The application of U-shaped terminolateral anastomosis allows to form a primary colonic anastomosis in acute bowel obstruction due to the tumor of the sygmoid colon.     

Hormonal and immunological status of children with thymus hyperplasia

The state of the adrenocortical system, cellular and humoral immunity was studied in 152 infants, suffering from thymomegaly, associated with virus-bacterial pneumonia. The results obtained allow one of to consider the hormonal and immunological state of the patients with thymomegaly to be inhibited and the adrenocortical hypofunction to be secondary. Therefore, the infants with thymomegaly should be separated into a special "risk" group, according to their immunodeficient states, respiratory allergies, acute and chronic adrenocortical deficiency.