Role of the lungs in the regulation of the generation of active oxygen forms by leukocytes under normal and pathological conditions

Studies conducted in the clinic (in patients with cardiac diseases) and experiments (performed on intact dogs) by means of the hemiluminescent method and the nitroblue tetrazolium test showed that the lungs, in distinction to other organs (heart and others), have a stimulating effect on the generation of active oxygen forms (AOF) by the leukocytes. In this way the lungs may probably play a double role in the organism: potentiate its defence (by intensifying the microbicidal activity of the phagocytes) and facilitate damage (by secretion of AOF by the phagocytes beyond them--into the tissues); the resultant effect depends on the balance of these two types of action. In carcinoma of the lung the stimulating effect of its involved lobe (part) on the leukocytes diminishes.     

Phaeohyphomycosis of the skin caused by Scytalidium lignicola (the first case of a clinical observation in the USSR)

The authors made a short review of literature on phaeohyphomycosis and described the first case of this disease in the USSR. It was diagnosed on the basis of mycological investigation. This type of investigation was recommended for patients at risk of developing opportunistic infections.     

Changes in the lesser circulation vessels in chronic nonspecific lung diseases

Clinicomorphological study of the pulmonary circulation vessels was performed in 20 patients with bronchiectatic disease without right ventricle hypertrophy and in 14 patients with chronic bronchitis complicated with pulmonary heart. Pathology data of persons dying from diseases other than vitium cordis and lung diseases were used as control. Morphological signs of pulmonary hypertension are found in all cases of chronic nonspecific lung diseases. The most pronounced changes develop in the vascular segment starting from arterioles and up to the arteries of muscle type with the diameter of 400 microns. The dependence of the pulmonary arteries changes on the type of lung disease is established. Pathological changes in the walls of the pulmonary circulation vessels, in parallel with pronounced compensatory alterations, are found in cases complicated with pulmonary heart.     

Surgical treatment of extraperitoneal rectal and perineal injuries

The aim of this study was to analyse the results of the treatment of extraperitoneal rectal and perineal injuries for 153 patients. All the patients were examined according to the scheme. Therapeutic-diagnostic algorithm was developed for perineal, anal, rectal injuries. Wide opening and drainage of the wound was used. The method allows to avoid colostomy and its subsequent operative closing in extraperitoneal injury of the rectum. The method of surgical treatment is recommended in extraperitoneal rectal and perineal injuries.     

A case of lepromatous leprosy

The paper describes a case of lepromatous lepra diagnosed from the skin biopsy specimen taken in a 23-year-old male patient. It provides histologic signs that are beneficial for correct diagnosis. Emphasis is placed upon the necessity for staining by the Ziehl-Neelsen method to detect microorganisms in infiltrative and granulomatous skin lesions.     

Evaluation of the functional state of the myocardium before and after drug therapy of thyrotoxicosis

Thirty-five patients with grave and medium-grave thyrotoxicosis were subjected to a quantitative analysis of the initial and end part of the ventricular complex of the ECG before and after specific drug therapy. The data obtained were compared with the radionuclide data on the cardiovascular system, the blood content of T3 and T4 and amount of potassium in the body. At the height of the disease the patients manifested a decrease in the output fraction of the left ventricle, stroke volume, minute volume, coefficient of circulation effectiveness, the deceleration of the lung blood flow and a rise of the total peripheral resistance to the blood flow as compared to normal. The treatment brought about a significant reduction of the area of the QRS complex and ST-T segment, as compared to the findings obtained during the acute period, mainly in the II, III, AVR, AVF and V5 leads of the ECG. A direct correlation was established between the blood content of T3 and the area of the ST-T segment in the II, III, AVR and AVF leads. It has been found that intracellular concentration of potassium may have an effect on the ECG changes revealed in the patients.