[The characteristics of the pathogenic properties of new strains of viruses of the California encephalitis antigenic complex isolated in Arkhangelsk Province]. / Kharakteristika patogennykh svoistv novykh shtammov virusov antigennogo kompleksa kaliforniiskogo éntsefalita, izolirovannykh v Arkhangel'skoi oblasti.

Neurotropic properties of Leiv 12724 Ax and Leiv 13004 Ax strains were demonstrated by inoculation of green monkeys, Syrian hamsters and white mice using different routes. The strain Leiv 13004 Ax showed more marked pathogenicity for monkeys and rodents producing lesions in all parts of the brain: temporal, frontal, occipital, cerebellar, medulla oblongata and spinal cord where productive vasculitis, perivascular infiltrations, hemorrhages, and dystrophy of nerve cells were observed. In hamsters, the strains Leiv 13004 Ax and Leiv 12724 Ax inoculated subcutaneously produced latent infection with long-term virus carrier state.

[Clinico-morphological characteristics and working classification of kidney diseases in patients with systemic scleroderma]. / Kliniko-morfologicheskaia kharakteristika i rabochnaia klassifikatsiia porazheniia pochek u bol'nykh sistemnoi sklerodermiei.

Based on a study of 110 patients with systemic scleroderma (SSD) (74 had involved and 36 uninvolved kidneys) the authors provide the clinico-functional and morphological characteristics of renal lesions and the working classification of sclerodermic nephropathy (SN). The two basic variants of SN were recognized: acute and chronic. The latter one was subdivided into clinical, moderate and pronounced SN. A correlation was revealed between the functional (glomerular filtration lowering) and ultrastructural (reticulation of endotheliocytes and thickening of the basal membrane of the glomerular capillaries) signs evidencing derangement of the microcirculatory bed. Morphological examination of the kidneys disclosed alterations that mirror the complex pathogenesis of SSD: derangement of the microcirculatory bed, immunopathological disorders, activation of connective tissue components.

Eosinophilic fasciitis. Review and report of six cases.

Six patients with eosinophilic fasciitis are presented. This syndrome is characterized by indurative swellings of arms and legs, with rapidly progressing difficulties in extending elbows, wrists, and fingers, and often limited motion of shoulders and ankle joints. Pain when contracting muscles, and weakness of proximal muscles and hand grip are common features. The frequent occurrence of localized skin lesions has presented differential diagnostic difficulties to systemic sclerosis and to polymyositis. Visceral involvement and Raynaud's phenomena, however, are absent or mild. Blood eosinophilia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and unspecific signs of inflammation are found. Biopsy of muscle fascia gives characteristic histopathological findings of cell infiltrations (mostly mononuclear cells, frequently eosinophils) and vascular proliferation, in the middle layer of a thickened fascia. Skin changes are prevalent, but not conclusive for the diagnosis, and myositis in some patients might be difficult to distinguish from polymyositis. The importance of the clinical recognition of eosinophilic fasciitis and the inclusion of fascia in diagnostic muscle biopsies, is underlined.