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The paper deals with an approach to the description of the age and temporal dynamics of cancer, based on the model describing the dynamics of the age of cancer as a second order phase transition. This approach is widely used for studying physical systems. This model of cancer development as second order phase transitions is in a good agreement with medical statistics. The cancer incidence dynamics is described only with two free parameters, easily verified according to statistics and well interpreted. The applicability of the second order phase transition model for description of a non-physical system defines the universal nature of the processes occurring during phase transitions.

Missions of unmanned spacecraft Foton-M2 (2005) and Foton-M3 (2007) of 16 and 12 days in duration, respectively, provided an opportunity to conduct the Russian/US experiments with snails (Helix lucorum and Helix aspera), newts (Pleurodeles waltli), geckos (Pachydactilus turneri) and microorganisms (Streptomyces lividans 66, E. coli and others). Besides, Foton-M3 carried a Russian experiment with Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Objectives of the space experiments were to study the micro-g effects on the living systems' behavior, structure and functioning, post-traumatic regeneration of bone and organs, stable inheritance of plasmid pIJ 702, and melanin pigment synthesis by streptomycets. The survey paper presents the major findings of a large team of investigators.

The paper contains consideration of the problem of compliance to treatment of arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease. Various aspects of compliance to treatment related to patients, physicians, special features of diseases and character of drug and nondrug recommendations.

Special geoinformation technologies (GIS), a new method for the pictorial data presentation as space-time ratios, have emerged in the past decade. The paper considers the theory of geoinformation analysis and the possibilities of applying GIS for tuberculosis monitoring. GIS may be effectively used in phthisiology only provided that the routine procedures for tuberculosis detection are practiced widely. GIS analysis may assist in detecting tuberculosis when contacts cannot be monitored in the usual fashion. Its results may be used to correct tuberculosis-controlling measures towards their point application. Extended studies can answer to what extent, the efficiency of tuberculosis-controlling measure will increase when they are used in the most possible tuberculosis transmission areas determined by the GIS techniques.

The paper considers in retrospective the criteria of radiation hazard during space flight, and approaches to safeguarding the radiation safety to crew members adopted in a sequence of Russian and US standards defining the space radiation limits. Based on comparison of the magnitudes of radiation risk in space flight, total radiation risk over lifetime, the risk of fatal cancer, and risk relation to age, the most meaningful and age-independent criterion has been chosen to set limits and admissible total doses over cosmonaut's career. Justification is given to the range of these doses that still ensures socially acceptable levels of health and performance by the end of space career. Impliable dose limits for critical tissues (blood-forming organs, skin, lenticular epithelium) in consequence of a single acute or continuous exposure for a month, a year or career are discussed.

The paper analyzes the standard legal and methodological assurance of the quality and safety of animal food raw materials and foodstuffs (meat, meat products, fish, shellfish, crayfish and their processing products) by the parasitic purity rates according the requirements under the Russian Federation's laws "On Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-Being of the Population", "On Protection of Consumer's Rights", "On Certification of Products and Services", those of SanPiN, such as 2.3.2.560-96 "Sanitary Requirements for the Quality and Safety of Food Raw Materials and Foodstuffs" and 3.2.569-96 "Prevention of Parasitic Diseases in the Russian Federation".

Many years' experience with complex supervision of the environmental radiation situation, the specific features of the population's physiological and health status after radiation accidents (the Chernobyl, Kyshtym and other accidents). The paper emphasized the necessity of having a knowledge of the specific features of the influence of a radiation factor (and its components) on establishing the radiation dose for the population due to the environmental peculiarities of the radiation background in different regions and abnormal zones of the Earth. The paper provides evidence for the need to apply an environmental and physiological approach to working out the standards of radiation doses for the inhabitants of post-accident polluted areas. To this end, a concept of the regional standard of exposure is proposed for different regions of the Earth with regard to the specific natural radiation background, technogenic and medical "additives" on making diagnostic and therapeutical efforts by using X-rays and radiation therapy. A new concept is offered to develop the life-support systems in the areas exposed to radiation contamination, whose main goal is to minimize radiation exposures with regard of data on each area-specific data on the regional standard of the pre-accident radiation background, technogenic background, medical additives and prediction of future radiation doses. Exposure of the population to radiation is minimized by reasonably operating its components and making special life regimens in the contaminated areas.

The paper provides evidence for the need of creating new social mechanisms of nation's health promotion as a factor that influences the stability and well-being of society. To accomplish these tasks, health should be regarded as a polysystem concept that includes 1) a developing human being as a source of nation's intellectual resources; 2) economy as a tool for social welfare; 3) ecology as a predictor of the influences of working conditions; and 4) social policy as a a mechanism of controlling the priorities of prevention and treatment. New principles of new management organizational forms for health protection have been developed to implement the stated theoretical points.

The paper discusses the approaches and scientific and organizational principles used in the development of some International research projects in the study of consequences of the Chernobyl accident, which are under way by Russia's Ministry of Science and Engineering Policy. Special attention is given to sociomedical aspects and the possibilities of defining an individual medical policy while working with the liquidators and the members of their families.

In accordance with the Soviet-American collaboration program on influenza and ARD, cooperative field studies were undertaken in 1975 in the USSR in order to test the field and laboratory methods for studies on influenza virus ecology. In the Rostov region of the USSR, virological and serological examinations of 321 birds of 25 species were carried out. Virological tests were performed with 678 biological specimens and in various serological tests 308 blood serum specimesn from wild birds were examined. Examinations of specimens of washings and organs of birds revealed no hemagglutinating agents. The paper presents the results of studies of avian blood serum specimens in the HI test, neuraminidase activity inhibition test and the immunodiffusion test.