Search

The paper is devoted to determination of α-emitting radionuclides of 238, 239 + 240Pu and 241Am in liver, lungs, muscular and bone tissues of the boars on the territory of the Belarusian part of the ChNPP exclusion zone. It is shown that the content of Pu and Am isotopes in boar organs and tissues decreases in the following order: liver > bone tissues > lungs ≥ muscular tissues. The results received allow evaluation of penetration of 238, 239 + 240Pu and 241Am through the biological chain "soil-ration-organs and tissues". It is calculated that 1.7% of a boar's ration falls on the soil getting into the stomach with food. Translocation and accumulation coefficients characterizing the transfer of radionuclides through the chain "soil-vegetation-organs and tissues" were calculated. The conclusion about accumulation of Pu in the boar's body is made.

Unlabelled: The study of the risk for adverse changes assumes and is considered in the study in terms of the revealing of exertion of systems, particularly due to lengthiness of the process of formation of the "state" of health in young people., Methods: sanitatary--hygienic practice, medical statistical with in-depth study of individual health., Results: There were obtained results in the field of physiology and hygiene. There were established with assigning the class working conditions actually affecting the levels of sanitation and hygiene, factors reflecting the factor load in educational institutions. There was revealed the general direction of the functional changes according to nosological forms, including in the comparison on different training profiles. The study of the morbidity rate, including the dynamics of individual health was supplemented with features of mechanisms of adaptation in students at different stages of the education. For students of radio engineering profile of training adaptation mechanisms were established at the level of exertion. The data of the paper are aimed at the improvement of the correction of the health status of students.

The paper deals with the improvement of teaching a biopsy-section course (BSC). The authors have analyzed the most frequent errors in the interaction of clinicians with a pathology service and summed up the experience of the Pathological Anatomy Department in practical work and teaching the BSC. The differentiated approach to teaching the BSC to resident students of different specialties is proposed.

Based on data collected from urban residents by questionnaire, the basic parameters of the genetic-demographic structure of populations of the three megalopolises, i.e., Moscow, Kharkov, and Minsk, have been calculated, including the migration coefficients and their dynamics in generations, the radius of the cities migration attraction, the parameters of marriage structure (the proportion ofinterethnic marriages, the level of intraethnic assortative mating, the marital distances), and the gene flow between the ethnic groups. It is shown that the representatives of the most numerous ethnic groups in each megalopolis have considerable amount of admixture. For Russians of Moscow, Ukrainians of Kharkov, and Belarusians of Minsk, the proportion of individuals whose ancestors were all born in the given city for at least three generations and belonged to the same nationality turned out to be very low (4.75% in Moscow, 1.83% in Kharkov, and 3.13% in Minsk). This finding questions the formation of a reference population in the megalopolis as a sampling of aboriginals of certain ethnic origins. In the paper, we justify principles of creating genetic databases for the population of the megalopolis taking into account the complexity and dynamism of its population structure.

Republican Research-and-Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of Belarus, Minsk The paper presents data on the molecular genetic characteristics of a new HIV-1 recombinant form. The study has shown that the virus is referred to as HIV-1 subtype B in terms of the gag gene and HIV-1 subtype A in terms of the pol and env genes. At the same time the new isolate is closer, in terms of the gag gene, to the HIV-1 DQ207943 strain isolated in Georgia, in terms of the pol gene, to the HIV-1 AF413987.1 strain isolated in Ukraine and, in terms of the env gene to the HIV-1 AY500393 strain isolated in Russia. Thus, the described new HIV-1 recombinant form has the following structure: BgagApolAenv. The gag, pol, and env gene sequences from the new unique HIV-1 recombinant form have been registered in the international database EMBL/Genbank/DDBJ under accession numbers FR775442.1, FN995656.1, and FR775443.1.

The paper analyzes a 994 nucleotide fragment of the NS1/VP1u region junction of 84 parvovirus B19 samples obtained from the sera of erythema infectiosum patients in Belarus in 2006. All the strains belong to genotype 1 as defined by Servant et al. (2002) and form two major clusters within this genotype (1A and 1B) with a clearly distinct geographic distribution. Cluster 1A mainly included B19 strains from Minsk where an outbreak of erythema infectiosum was observed during sample collection. Cluster 1B comprises parvovirus B19 strains obtained from sporadic cases in different parts of the country. The nucleotide variability within cluster 1B (1.1%) was almost two times higher than that within cluster 1A (0.6%). The comparison of the Belarus strains with all parvovirus B19 sequences from the GenBank revealed 22 unique nucleotide substitutions in the new strains, 18 (81.8%) of which were nonsynonymous. A high percentage of parvovirus B19 IgM positive sera were also PCR positive (94.0%; n = 63/67) indicating that both methods are suitable for diagnosis of the infection.

The paper presents the results of our research in the trends of lung cancer incidence in the Republic of Belarus over 38 years. The number of newly diagnosed cases increased 4-fold in men (1046--1970, 4193--1996; 3710--2007) and doubled in women (277--1970, 555--2007). Lung cancer incidence in men grew significantly in 1970-1996 (28.7 +/- 1.8% per ten thousand and 28.7 +/- 1.8% per ten thousand, respectively) and stabilized later at 72.5 +/- 2.2% per ten thousand. The growth was higher in rural males than in urban residents, aged 60-79 years. A decline has been registered from the late 1990s until now (61.2 +/- 2.0% per ten thousand). A slow growth in standard incidence rates occurred in women (1970-1987). Actually, they have not changed ever since and are 4.7 +/- 5.6% per ten thousand now.

In the Republic of Belarus, one representative of the genus Corynosoma - C. strumosum (Rudolphi, 1802) that is a causative agent of corynosomosis and that is of medical value is parasitic on animals. In Belarus, this proboscis worm has been encountered only in European and American minks. The author of the paper found this helminth in 2 of the 50 examined American minks in Byelorussian Polesye in 1980-2001. In this region, there were no C. strumosum larvae in fishes (1394 fishes of 21 species were studied). It is noted that the American mink plays a dominant role in the circulation of invasion and the attention of medical workers ofBelarus is drawn to the existing risk of human infection with the pathogen of Corynosomosis.

The present paper analyzes trends in tuberculosis mortality rates in relation to suicide rates in Belarus from 19970 to 2005, by applying the time-series test. The analysis suggests the close association between the two time series in the period of 1984 to 1996. The findings support the idea that the rate of tuberculosis mortality can be considered as an indicator of psychosocial distress.

The paper presents the results of epidemiological and clinical studies of the peaks of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha region in 1993-2001. The findings confirm the concept worked out by Byelorussian researchers on nosological differences in the western and eastern subtypes of TBE.

Described in the paper are study results of some immunobiological properties of 5 field isolates of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), obtained in Russia and Byelorussia in 1998-2001. According to the research work, the PRRSV isolates with different immunobiological properties have been circulating in the territories of Russia and Byelorussia. Three of the 4 examined virus isolates were found to be pathogenic and 1 avirulent to pigs.

The attributive death rates due to ambient air pollution were estimated in the urban areas of Byelarus. Estimation used the data of daily atmospheric contamination monitoring made by the Main Hydrometereology Committee of Byelarus in 15 towns from 1990 to 1999. To establish a dose-response relationship, the results of the well-known investigations by Dockery were used, which covering prospective cohort studies in 6 towns of the USA, have demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between atmospheric pollution and mortality rates. In Byelarus, about 7.5 thousand premature deaths or 6% of the total annual death rates may be induced by atmospheric pollution. Possible factors that influence the accuracy of estimates are discussed in the paper.

Health effects as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant occurred in 1986 are considered in the paper. Wrong prognosis of the health effects with respect to mortality and morbidity among the population exposed to low radiation doses is shown. Proven increase in thyroid cancer cases among people who were children aged from 0 to 18 at the time of the accident is shown. Linear relationship between thyroid cancer cases and dose to thyroid ranged from 0.2 to 4.0 Gy is considered. An additional absolute risk of thyroid cancer in children varies in the range 1.9-2.6 cases per 10(4) person-year Gy. During the fifteen years following the accident no cases of acute and chronic radiation sickness have been revealed because the population living in contaminated areas received low radiation doses. Also, exposures to low radiation doses did not result in excess of malignant tumors among population. In some cases the outcomes of acute radiation sickness were as follows: radiation damages to the skin, cancer cataracts, development of oncopathology.

Prognosis for children treated according to the BFM-90m protocol (Berlin-Frankfurt-Munster Group) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) improved significantly as compared with previous modalities. Methotrexate was used in the dose of 1,000 mg/m2, 36 h. The paper presents the 10-year results for this modification. Patients aged 0-15 years were treated at hematological hospitals of Moscow, other Russian towns and in Minsk, Belarus, (July 5, 1990-November 11, 2000). BFM-90m treatment was given to 682 children out of 1,326 with primary diagnosis of ALL; a comparative trial of the MB-91 protocol hed been carried out at the same clinics since 1991. During 10 years, recurrence-free survival was 72% while overall survival--77%. Toxicity of side-effects was tolerable. The BFM-90m treatment showed significantly better results in both countries.

The paper presents the results of a study of age- and sex-specific features of physical development in schoolchildren aged 8 to 13 years who reside in the rural areas exposed to radioisotopes. Changes in their body weight, height, and weight-height ratio are analyzed.

The paper presents the detection rates of active and inactive bronchial tuberculosis in patients with different clinical forms of respiratory tuberculosis in 1988-1989 (90 patients) and 1996-1997 (384 patients), comparatively characterizes the clinical forms of bronchial tuberculosis. There was a substantial increase in the detection rates of postprimary active and inactive bronchial tuberculosis.

The paper analyzes the prevalence of tuberculous infection among special cohorts of penitentiaries in the past decade. The incidence of tuberculosis in prisons in 1997 was 28.3 greater than that in the general population, which negatively affects the whole epidemiological situation. The optimal methods of its detection, treatment, and prevention among the convicts in the Republic of Byelarus are substantiated.

The paper analyzes the drug-resistant causative agent of tuberculosis. The bacterial isolation rates were studied among the cohorts registered at tuberculosis control facilities in the Republic of Byelarus in 1997. The epidemiological significance of patients isolating polyresistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains is shown.

The paper shows that in 1986-1995 a radiation area polluted with radionuclides at 15 qi/km2 was marked by 4.9-fold (from 3.9 to 19.1%) and 4.3-fold (from 2.2 to 9.4%) increases in infections with seat worms and lamblia, respectively. The infection rates for other helminthic species in 1995 do not greatly differ from those in 1986. In the area polluted with chemicals there was a steady-state decrease in the rates for intestinal parasites.

The paper gives data on the spread of tuberculous infection in Byelarus. More preventive measures are shown to improve major epidemic indices, by stabilizing the situation primarily among children and adolescents. The epidemiological situation remains to be alarming among the contingents of the boarding facilities of the Ministry of Social Welfare and convicts at reformatories.

The paper presents the results of implementation of the first stage of WHO programme concerning consequences of the Chernobyl accident in terms of influence of radiation on mental health of children whose mothers were exposed to radiation. 4210 children born in the period from April 26, 1986 to February 1, 1987 in Byelorussia, Ukraine, Russia in contaminated and non-polluted (control) regions. In radiation-contaminated regions there was higher frequency of mental retardation and other mental disorders as well as deterioration of both mental and physic health of their parents. A preliminary character of the data obtained is emphasized as well as the necessity of more detailed follow-up of these groups.

The paper is concerned with analysis of strategy of the regulation of radiation exposure of the population and the practical use of the levels of intervention in different phases after the Chernobyl accident. The author represents data on the levels of whole-body irradiation of the population in the areas under strict control, and dose exposure of the thyroid in children and adults. Mean individual and collective doses of whole-body irradiation over the period of 1986-1989 and predictable dose exposures were assessed. Some data on probable pathology of radiation genesis in the population in affect on 1990 were considered.

The authors summed up their 20-year experience in the clinical use of a linear accelerator of electrons and a Siemens betatron (42 MeV) in the Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology, Ministry of Health of the Byelorussian SSR. Comparative advantages and shortcomings of both accelerators and the results of their technical modifications were considered. A section in the paper, devoted to the clinical aspects of tumor therapy, is concerned with the description of a number of methods of irradiation with various types of therapeutic beams, energies, field sizes, directions, various regimens of dose fractionation in time and irradiated volume. Long-term results of radiotherapy with accelerators were assessed and compared with the results of gamma-beam therapy on cobalt units. A conclusion was made that by 1991-2000 the Republic would need 10 medical accelerators.

Standard filter paper discs were used to determine the sensitivity of 943 strains of E. coli isolated in 1970-1974 from patients' purulent-inflammatory foci with respect to benzylpenicillin, streptomycin, levomycetin, tetracycline, erythromycin and monomycin. An increase in the specific weight of the cultures resistant to the 6 drugs from 4.7 +/- 1.7 per cent in 1970 to 16.0 +/- 2.6 per cent in 1974 was observed. Strains resistant to 5--6 antibiotis were more often isolated from the urine (64.6 per cent) and the wound content (48.9 per cent) and rarer from the abdominal cavity exudate (23.1 per cent), bile (28.0 per cent) and sputum (30.1 per cent). Most often certain combinations of resistance to benzylpenicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and erythromycin were found in the E. coli strains tested.

Resistance of 2345 strains of plasmocoagulating staphylococci isolated from purulent inflammatory foci of surgical patients was studied with respect to the widely used antibiotics by the method of standard paper discs in 1970--1975. It was noted that the cultures resistant to erythromycin and monomycin were more frequent, i.e. from 24.2 +/- 2.5 to 51.4 +/- 3.4 per cent and from 1.0 +/- 0.6 to 28.0 +/- 2.1 per cent respectively, p less than 0.001 in both cases, while the percentage of the strains resistant to benzylpenicillin and tetracycline steadily increased, i.e. from 69.9 +/- 2.4 to 47.0 +/- 2.3 per cent and from 72.8 +/- 2.4 to 28.4 +/- 2.1 per cent respectively, p less than 0.001 in both cases. The number of the resistant cultures to streptomycin and levomycetin slightly changed and was relatively high (about 50 per cent and more). Direct correlation (mean and pronounced) between the amount of levomycetin, tetracycline, erythromycin or monomycin used per citizen of Minsk and the frequency of the strains isolated from the patients to these drugs was noted.

The paper comprises the description of properties of three mutant forms of glucoso-6-phosphate dehydrogenase characterized according the WHO program. Preparations of the enzymes were isolated from erythrocytes of patients with G6PD deficiency from three unrelated to one another Ashkenasi families coming from the Ukraine and from Byelorussia. Two new variants of G6PD hitherto never described in the literature were discovered. These variants were designated as "Kirovograd" and "Zhitomir" after the towns the probands came from. The properties of purified enzymes revealed by the methods of the WHO program were as follows: the variant "Kirovograd" has a normal electrophoretic mobility in tris and TEB buffers and 98% of the normal in phosphate buffer. KM for G6P is 6,54; KM for NADP--2,19. It is characterized by a reduced thermostability and by an acute peak of activity at pH 8,5. The variant "Zhitomir" has 90-98% of the normal electrophoretic mobility in TEB buffer and 78-84% in phosphate buffer. KM for G6P is 5,4-8,3. KM for NADP is 1,4-3,1; with deoxyG6P is 50% and with deaminoNADP is 35%. It is also characterized with a reduced thermostability, while the curve of the dependence of its activity on pH has two peaks. Both variants are perfectly inactive with erythrocytes and thus should be assigned to the second group of the mutants variants of G6PD. The comparison of these variants to other variants encountered in the same national group revealed that they resemble certain quantitative variations.