Effect of intravascular laser irradiation of blood on growth and metastasization of lymphosarcoma in rats

Research Institute of Oncology and Research Institute of Pharmacology, Tomsk Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. V. Vasil'ev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 106, No. 10, pp. 472–473, October, 1988.     

Diagnostic problems of autoimmune thyroiditis

The most informative diagnostic criteria of autoimmune thyroiditis were revealed. A kit of diagnostic tests were offered for each version of autoimmune thyroiditis. The lowest percentage of antibodies against thyroglobulin was demonstrated for the hyperthyroid hypertrophic version of autoimmune thyroiditis, while the highest for its atrophic pattern. Biopsy of the thyroid was found to be the most informative test for autoimmune thyroiditis, provided the result was positive. If the result of puncture biopsy is negative, it is desirable to apply a complex of tests depending on thyroid function and size.     

Status of the hypophysis-adrenal cortex system during treatment with glucocorticoids by the method of intermittent (every other day) administration

The authors discuss the advantages of the use of glucocorticoids in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, if the drugs are administered every other day. A total of 149 patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, endocrine ophthalmopathy, myasthenia and bronchial asthma were examined. Of these, 3 patients received glucocorticoids every other day, whereas the remainder took them every day. The former method consisted in the use of a single daily dose of glucocorticoids (20 to 80 mg) at 7 to 8 o'clock in the morning over 2 months to 5 years. The function of the pituitary-adrenal system was tested by the measurement of the blood content of ACTH, hydrocortisone and testosterone with the aid of a kit of standard tests. It was shown that glucocorticoids administered every other day did not produce any suppression of the pituitary-adrenal system in contrast to those who received prednisolone every day. The lack of the side effects in the form of exogenous hypercorticoidism can be explained by the anabolic action of steroid hormones produced by the reticular zone of the adrenal cortex. Examination of the blood serum content of testosterone in women who received glucocorticoids every other day has demonstrated that modulations in its secretion were similar to those in the content of ACTH and hydrocortisone. Thus, the stimulating hormonal therapy with glucocorticoids administered every other day appears more physiological as compared to the daily schedule.     

Effects of low level radiation from the Chernobyl accident in a population with iodine deficiency

To determine the effects of low dose radiation from ¹³¹I and ¹³⁷Cs resulting from the Chernobyl disaster on the expression of endemic goiter in children, we studied children in regions with and without evidence of radiocontamination but comparable iodine insufficiency. We included 89 children in the study (radiocontaminated) region (SR) and 116 in the control region (CR) because they were either fetuses, infants, or pre-adolescents at the time of exposure. We evaluated thyroid dimensions by clinical examination and ultrasound; thyroid function by hormonal levels, and thyroglobulin measurement; histology of the thyroid by fine needle aspiration; and thyroid autoimmunity. SR subjects had 5 times the frequency of thyroid enlargement as those from CR, greatest in the younger patients. There were no instances of clinically apparent thyroid dysfunction. Antithyroid microsomal and antithyroglobulin antibodies were present in a markedly greater percentage of SR subjects. Fine needle biopsy demonstrated greater cellular proliferation in samples from SR. Conclusions We have demonstrated findings of autoimmune thyroid disease at markedly increased frequency in a population of children with poor iodine nutriture who were exposed to low level radiation, compared to a more iodine deficient population not so exposed. These results suggest that low level radiation may induce thyroid gland changes in children who have inadequate iodine intake nutriture and reinforce the importance of adequate dietary iodine. Received: 14 June 1996 / Accepted in revised form: 20 June 1997     

Catastrophic payments for health care in Asia

Out-of-pocket (OOP) payments are the principal means of financing health care throughout much of Asia. We estimate the magnitude and distribution of OOP payments for health care in fourteen countries and territories accounting for 81% of the Asian population. We focus on payments that are catastrophic, in the sense of severely disrupting household living standards, and approximate such payments by those absorbing a large fraction of household resources. Bangladesh, China, India, Nepal and Vietnam rely most heavily on OOP financing and have the highest incidence of catastrophic payments. Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia stand out as low to middle income countries that have constrained both the OOP share of health financing and the catastrophic impact of direct payments. In most low/middle-income countries, the better-off are more likely to spend a large fraction of total household resources on health care. This may reflect the inability of the poorest of the poor to divert resources from other basic needs and possibly the protection of the poor from user charges offered in some countries. But in China, Kyrgyz and Vietnam, where there are no exemptions of the poor from charges, they are as, or even more, likely to incur catastrophic payments.