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To measure the extent of atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a disease duration of considerable length, and in age and sex matched individuals.Thirty-nine patients with RA (30 women, 9 men) with disease onset occurring between 1974 and 1978, and less than 65 years of age at the time of investigation, were enrolled together with 39 sex and age matched controls. Quantitative measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) and semiquantitative assessment of the presence of plaque were undertaken by B-mode ultrasound of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) and the common femoral artery on the right-hand side. Echo Doppler cardiography was performed with an Accuson Aspen. The results were related to disease activity variables and accumulated disease activity, to lipid levels [i.e., cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, triglycerides (TG)], to hemostatic factors [tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPAag), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF)], and to soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sE-selectin).Patients with RA had higher maximal and mean IMT values compared with controls. The difference concerning mean CCA-IMT reached statistical significance in patients with RA and correlated significantly with lipids (cholesterol, LDL, LDL/HDL ratio, TG) and tPAag. The prevalence of plaques, as well as of aortic cusp sclerosis, was higher in RA but only the difference in aortic cusp sclerosis was statistically significant. Patients with plaques had significantly higher levels of lipids (cholesterol, LDL, LDL/HDL ratio) than patients without plaques, while patients with cusp sclerosis had significantly higher cholesterol and TG levels. sICAM-1 was significantly higher both in patients with plaques and in those with aortic cusp sclerosis compared to patients without.Our results suggest an accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with RA that is related mainly to lipid levels.

Dipyridamole SPECT detects significant coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients without aortic stenosis. This study was done to establish normal 201Tl distribution limits in patients with aortic stenosis and to apply these normal limits to patients with aortic stenosis and angiographically significant CAD (or = 75% area reduction).Fifty-two patients (mean age 68 yr; mean valve area 0.67 cm2) were examined with 201Tl SPECT after dipyridamole infusion (0.56 mg/kg during 4 min). After tomographic reconstruction, basal, mid-ventricular and apical short-axis slices were selected. The highest activity in each six-degree segment was normalized to the maximal activity of each slice.Significant CAD was found in 24 patients. Five patients without CAD, but with localized hypokinesia or left bundle-branch block, were excluded from the reference group which finally consisted of 16 patients. Sensitivity for CAD was 88% when the lowest relative activity in each segment was used as the lower limit of normal. With -2 s.d. and -2.5 s.d. curves the sensitivity was 83% and 75%, respectively. Gender-specific limits were not used. Nonsignificant CAD was found in seven patients (75% stenoses).This study presents the normal distribution of 201Tl uptake for patients with aortic stenosis, using dipyridamole SPECT. The range method had the highest sensitivity for detection of significant CAD.

Viinamarjakasvatuse levimine jaheda kliimaga aladele on saanud võimalikuks tänu soodsa mikrokliimaga kasvupaikade valikule, külmakindlatele liikidevahelistele sortidele ning uutele kasvatustehnoloogiatele. Bakalaureusetöö eesmärgiks oli lähtuvalt kohalikest kasvatus-tingimustest selgitada välja Eestis avamaale sobivad viinapuude (Vitis) kasvatustehnoloogiad ja sordid. Sordivalikul avamaa tingimustesse on eelistatud varajase viljade valmimisajaga liikidevahelised sordid, mis on külma- ja haiguskindlad. Eestis tehtud katsete põhjal võib sorti `Hasanski Sladki` soovitada nii laua- kui ka veiniviinamarja tootmiseks avamaal. `Hasanski Sladki` marjade biokeemiline koostis jäi soovitatud küpsusnäitajate piiresse, vaid orgaaniliste hapete sisaldus ületas antud vahemikku. `Hasanski Sladki` on avamaa katsetes olnud täiesti haigus- ja külmakindel. Viinapuude kasvatustehnoloogiatest võib Eesti tingimustes soovitada madalatüvelist kujundusvormi, õisikute ja tarjade harvendamist ning sügisest lõikust. Kevadine lõikusaeg on otstarbekas piirkondades, kus esineb sageli hiliskevadisi öökülmi Viticulture on open ground in cool climate regions has been made possible thanks to choosing a favourable micro-climate growing locations, the new winter hardy hybrid grape cultivars and using innovative cultivation methods. The aim of this bachelor`s thesis according to local growing conditions was to find out suitable vines (Vitis) cultivation methods and cultivars for grape producing in open ground conditions. In cultivar selection it is advisable to prefer early fruit ripening hybrid grape cultivars, which are disease- and cold-resistant. The many tests showed, that `Hasanski Sladki` is suitable for wine- and table grape production on open ground. The biochemical composition of `Hasanski Sladki` grapes fits the recommended criteria for ripeness, only the content of titratable acids surpassed the recommended interval. In EMÜ experimental plantations `Hasanski Sladki` is always been disease- and cold-resistant. In Estonian conditions it is recommended: low cordon, inflorescence thinning, reduction of grape bunches and autumn pruning. Spring cane pruning is advisable in areas, where late spring night frosts appear.