[Microflora of laryngeal mucosa in the healthy subjects and the patients presenting with non-specific post-intubation laryngeal granuloma].

This comparative study was designed to determine the qualitative and quantitative composition of microflora of laryngeal mucosa in the healthy subjects and the patients presenting with non-specific post-intubation laryngeal granuloma. The secondary objective was to measure the sensitivity of the isolated microorganisms to antibiotic therapy. The quantitative characteristic and the species composition of the microbial associations in laryngeal mucosa were investigated in 40 healthy subjects and 72 patients presenting with non-specific post-intubation laryngeal granuloma. The mean age of the participants of the study varied from 31 to 69 years. The total microbial population density in the healthy subjects was 2.672±614 CFU/ml compared with 21.514±2.382 CFU/ml in the patients. The healthy subjects were found to carry streptococci in 87.5% of the cases, staphylococci and neisseria in 60.0% and 42.5% of the cases respectively. As many as 77.8%, 83.3%, and 90.3% of the patients with non-specific post-intubation laryngeal granuloma were carriers of these microorganism respectively. The dominant microorganisms in the mucous membrane of the larynx in these patients were N. flavescence (17.6%), S. aureus (9.01%), S. pneumonia (7.3%), and S. pyogenes (6.0%).The staphylococci isolated from the mucous membrane of the larynx of the patients presenting with non-specific post-intubation laryngeal granuloma exhibited the highest sensitivity to cephalosporin antibiotics (cefuroxime, cefprome or ceftriaxone) and fluoroquinolone (levofloxacin) antibiotics (100, 100, 91.7 and 96.7% respectively).

An experimental comparison of the K- and L-Auger electron spectra generated in the decays of 140Nd and 111In.

The low-energy electron spectra generated in the decay of 140Nd have been measured using a combined electrostatic spectrometer adjusted to the 4, 7, and 35 eV instrumental resolution. In order to estimate the therapeutic potential of low-energy electrons associated with the decay of 140Nd, similar experiments have been performed with 111In. Relative Auger electron intensity ratios per decay are: 111In(K-Auger)/140Nd(K-Auger)=1.47(12), 111In(L-Auger) /140Nd(L-Auger)=1.1(4), and 111In(L-Auger [2.8-7 keV])/140Nd(L-Auger [2.8-7 keV])=0.24(11). The obtained K-Auger group intensity ratios have been compared with results of calculations. The good agreement found for the experimental and estimated values indicates that such information can be also derived using available nuclear and atomic data. The relative intensity of L-Auger electrons emitted within the 2.8-7 keV interval is higher for 140Nd by a factor of about 4 compared to 111In. As the L-Auger emission is dominating relative to that of the K-Auger group, this implicates that any potential endotherapeutic strategy using 140Nd-labelled targeting vectors requires a maximum accumulation of the endoradiotherapeutical close to the cell nucleus or the DNA of the tumour cell.

[Ultracaine anesthesia in submucous resection of the nasal septum]. / Anesteziia ul'trakainom pri podslizistoi rezektsii peregorodki nosa.

Ultracaine anesthesia in submucous resection of the nasal septum was performed in 18 patients 17 to 42 years of age. Ultracaine anesthesia in submucous resection of the nasal septum is characterized by a good analgetic effect; absence of toxic, vegetative and other side effects; a good anematizing effect; a quick action of the anesthetic; long-term anesthesia in the operative field; reduced duration of the operation; small quantity of the anesthetic providing total anesthesia. Ultracaine is recommended as an optimal anesthetic in local anesthesia in submucous resection of the nasal septum.

Feasibility of photoelectron sources with sharp lines of stable energy between 20 and 80 keV.

Photo-absorption of γ-rays in thin Al, Co, Ti, and Mo convertors was examined with the aim to produce quasi monoenergetic photoelectrons having an energy spread of 0.5-4.7eV about mean kinetic energies at discrete values between 18632 and 80321eV. The photoelectron rates were estimated for commercial photon sources of (241)Am, (119m)Sn, (125m)Te and (109)Cd with activities of 0.55-3.7GBq. Photoelectrons ejected by (241)Am γ- and X-rays from Co convertors were measured with two different electron spectrometers and obtained energy spectra were compared with Monte Carlo predictions.

Improved methods of measurement and analysis of conversion electron and beta-particle spectra

A general statistical test of the stability of measurement conditions was demonstrated on the beta-spectra of 241Pu cumulated during four years. The alpha- and gamma-ray spectroscopy indicated stability of the 241Pu source. Monte Carlo modelling of individual collision events clarified the role of electron scattering and energy losses within a radioactive source down to energies of several hundreds of eV. The impact ionization by beta-particles of carbon and oxygen atoms in a surface contamination layer on the 241Pu and 63Ni sources was observed.