The Bulgarian Emergency Response System for dose assessment in the early stage of accidental releases to the atmosphere.

The Bulgarian Emergency Response System (BERS) is being developed in the Bulgarian National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology since 1994. BERS is based on numerical weather forecast meteorological information and a numerical long-range dispersion model accounting for the transport, dispersion, chemical and radioactive transformations of pollutants. In the present paper, the further development of this system for a mixture of radioactive gaseous and aerosol pollutants is described. The basic module for the BERS, the numerical dispersion model EMAP, is upgraded with a "dose calculation block". Two scenarios for hypothetical accidental atmospheric releases from two NPPs, one in Western, and the other in Eastern Europe, are numerically simulated. The effective doses from external irradiation, from air submersion and ground shinning, effective dose from inhalation and absorbed dose by thyroid gland formed by 37 different radionuclides, significant for the early stage of a nuclear accident, are calculated as dose fields for both case studies and discussed.

Can the confidence in long range atmospheric transport models be increased? The pan-european experience of ensemble.

Is atmospheric dispersion forecasting an important asset of the early-phase nuclear emergency response management? Is there a 'perfect atmospheric dispersion model'? Is there a way to make the results of dispersion models more reliable and trustworthy? While seeking to answer these questions the multi-model ensemble dispersion forecast system ENSEMBLE will be presented.

[The treatment of reflux esophagitis in patients with a Helicobacter infection of the gastric mucosa]. / Lechenie na refluksniia ezofagit pri patsienti s khelikobakterna infektsiia na stomashnata ligavitsa.

Among the pathogenetic mechanisms for the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease, Helicobacter pylori infection is indicated. The conclusions are absolutely opposite. The object of our work was to assume ex juvantibus to what extent the eradication of the Helicobacter pylori infection would accelerate the healing of patients with reflux oesophagitis and would reduce the number of relapses. To investigation were submitted 42 patients with reflux oesophagitis with confirmed Helicobacter pylori infection, classified according to Savary-Miller. A group of 22 patients was treated 10 days with triple drug combination of omeprazole, amoxillin and metronidazol with the purpose of eradication of the infection, after which they continued with ranitidin up to 30 days, and a second group of 20 patients treated only with ranitidine for 30 days. The subjective complaints, endoscopic finding and present infection were followed up. A considerably higher number of recovered patients after eradication of the Helicobacter infection was established and the number of relapses for the six-month period of observation was considerably reduced.

[The prevention of ulcer relapses in patients with an ulcerative anamnesis in clinical and endoscopic remission following the eradication of Helicobacter infection of the gastric mucosa]. / Predpazvane ot iazveni retsidivi na patsienti s iazvena anamneza v klinichna i endoskopska remisiia chrez eradikatsiia na khelikobakternata infektsiia na stomashnata ligavitsa.

The contemporary scientific consensus recommends treatment of the Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with history of peptic ulcer independently of the stage of activity. The object of the study was to confirm the necessity for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with duodenal peptic ulcer in stage of clinical and endoscopic remission. To investigation were submitted 55 patients divided into in two groups--30 patients treated with triple medicinal combination of metronidasol 2 x 20 mg, amoxycillin 2 x 1000 mg and metronidasol 3 x 500 mg for 7 days. The second group of 25 patients was without medicinal therapy. The observation continued for 12 months. The patients with eradicated Helicobacter pylori infection underwent significantly less relapses, while the quality of their life considerably improved.