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A representative sample of male and female Chukotka natives aged 25-6 years (362 persons) has been surveyed using the cross-sectional epidemiological method. The results have been compared with the data obtained when surveying a representative sample of the non-organised population of the same age in Novosibirsk (n = 2071 persons). The mean age was 43 years. The total count of white blood cells (WBC) in peripheral blood of Chukotka natives was lower than the corresponding values of that index in the inhabitants of Novosibirsk, the 10-90% range of white blood counts being 3.0-7.0 10(9)/l in natives and 4.0-9.0 10(9)/l in residents of Novosibirsk. A significant incidence of leukopenias (<4.0 10(9)/l) has been detected, being 30% in the population of Chukotka, 24% in men and 35% in women. Modification in White Blood Cells differentials (leukogram) has been found in native Chukotka people, particularly relative and absolute lymphocytopenia.

Previous studies have established a seasonal variation in stroke occurrence, but none have assessed the influence of inclement weather conditions on stroke incidence in a general population of Russia. We performed a stroke population-based study in the Oktiabrsky District of Novosibirsk, Siberia, Russia. Included in the analysis were 1929 patients with their first occurrence of ischemic stroke (IS), 215 patients with their first occurrence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and 64 patients with their first occurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH): all patients were aged between 25 and 74 years. The cumulative daily occurrence of total strokes and stroke subtypes was evaluated in relation to aggregated daily mean values of ambient temperature, relative humidity and air pressure by means of Poisson regression analysis to estimate the rate ratio (RR) with corresponding confidence interval (CI) and to identify the weather parameters of most importance. In a multivariate analysis, with adjustment for the effects of season, solar and geomagnetic activity, and age of the patients, low ambient temperature (RR 1.32; 95% CI 1.05-1.66) and mean value of air pressure (RR 0.986; 95% CI 0.972-0.999) were important predictors of IS occurrence, while mild ambient temperature (RR 1.52; 95% CI 1. 04-2.22) was an important predictor of ICH occurrence. No relationship between SAH occurrence and any one of the weather parameters studied was revealed. There was no interaction between any meteorological variables that was statistically significant. Inclement weather conditions are associated with the occurrence of IS and ICH in Siberia, Russia. Among the meteorological parameters studied, low ambient temperature and mean air pressure are the most important predictors of IS occurrence, whereas the occurrence of ICH is associated with mild ambient temperature. There is no association between any one of the weather parameters studied and the occurrence of SAH.

Objective: To determine first-ever stroke incidence, 30-day case-fatality rates, and frequency of various risk factors among patients with stroke in Novosibirsk, Russia, during 1992., Design: A population-based study of an administratively defined district of Novosibirsk was conducted to identify residents with a first-ever stroke that occurred between Jan. 1, 1992, and Dec. 31, 1992., Material and Methods: For case ascertainment, mortality statistics, death certificates, hospital registrations, outpatient clinical data, and all ambulance calls for the study area were reviewed. Patients with stroke or suspected stroke were examined and interviewed by a cerebrovascular neurologist, and the type of stroke was determined., Results: During the 12-month study period, 366 patients with first-ever stroke were registered. A diagnosis of cerebral infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage was confirmed by computed tomography or autopsy in 42% of cases. The diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage was established by cerebrospinal fluid examination in all 14 cases. The age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rate for stroke was 232 per 100,000. The distribution of incidence cases by diagnostic category was as follows: cerebral infarction, 87.7%; intracerebral hemorrhage, 8.5%; and subarachnoid hemorrhage, 3.8%. The overall 30-day case-fatality rate for stroke was 22.4%. Hypertension, angina pectoris, and cigarette smoking were the most frequent risk factors in patients with stroke in Novosibirsk., Conclusion: The incidence rate of first-ever stroke in Novosibirsk, Russia, is one of the highest in the world, but the 30-day case-fatality rates are similar to those in other populations.

Objective: Drinking patterns and flushing response were investigated among indigenous natives of Chukotka, Siberia (162 women, 139 men). The quantification of drinking behavior could be used for comparison with other northern peoples and as a baseline for future intervention., Method: Interviews, physical examinations and blood tests were performed in the Chukotka region of Siberia., Results: 28% of the men and 4.5% of the women drank at least once per week. High doses per typical drinking occasion, which averaged 177.6 g of pure alcohol in men and 74.3 g in women, were reported; 10.3% of the men and 25.5% of the women reported that they experienced facial flushing after drinking. In most cases more than 20 g of alcohol was necessary to induce flushing, and two-thirds of the flushers were able to continue drinking after flushing began. No significant relationship between flushing and frequency and quantity of drinking and the prevalence of alcohol-related symptoms was found. There was a significant association between flushing by women and reports by them of their parent's flushing., Conclusions: Flushing by Chukotka natives and its relationship to drinking behavior is different from Oriental ALDH2-deficient flushing.

A study of iron deficiency states (IDS) in Chukotkan native women aged 20-59 years revealed a relatively high prevalence of 36.4%. The prevalence of anemia was 5.6%. Some risk factors of IDS have been defined including frequent deliveries, prolonged lactation and also some peculiarities in the nutrition of these women.

Objective: To study the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) among 0- to 14-yr-old children of the district of Novosibirsk, in western Siberia, Russia, from 1983 to 1989., Research Design and Methods: Data were collected with methods recommended by the Diabetes Epidemiology Research International Group., Results: The average yearly incidence among males and females was 4.7 (95% confidence interval 3.9-5.8) and 4.4 (95% confidence interval 3.6-5.4) per 100,000 people, respectively. The incidence of IDDM among children living in the city of Novosibirsk was significantly higher than in children living in the surrounding counties of the district, 5.7/100,000 (95% confidence interval 4.8-6.8) versus 3.6/100,000 (95% confidence interval 2.9-4.5)., Conclusions: The incidence of childhood IDDM among Russians in Siberia is low. This is the first publication of internationally comparable data on the occurrence of childhood IDDM in the Russian population.

Epidemiological studies of nutrition and the prevalence of ischemic heart disease risk factors were carried out comparing native Markovskaya populations living in the tundra and coastal areas. There was lower prevalence of IHD risk factors among 30-59 year old males in coastal villages than in a comparable population residing in the tundra. This finding can be partially explained by analysis of the diets of both regions. Although the coastal natives' diet was higher in calories and fats than tundra inhabitants'; it was rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, the main source of which was sea-animal meat.