[Characteristics of rat ceruloplasmin from the serum of animals, which received salts of silver with food].

Abiogenic Ag(I) ions have electronic structure, similar to Cu(I) ions and can compete with Cu(I) for binding sites of proteins which transport copper from extracellular media to sites of cuproenzyme formation in the cell. Rodents receiving Ag-salts with food develop extracellular deficiency of copper associated with ceruloplasmin (Cp, the major copper-transporting protein in blood serum of vertebrates). The present work focuses on the studies of biochemical and physicochemical properties of Cp, obtained from blood serum of rats, which received AgCl with food for 4 weeks (Ag-rats). Cp-fractions from blood serum of Ag-rats (Ag-Cp) were obtained by ion-exchange chromatography with stepped gradient of NaCl. Each fraction was tested for oxidase and ferroxidase activities by direct measurement of catalytic activity in the gel, and for specific activity in holo-Cp in oxidation of chromogenic substrate. Molecular mass, electrophoretic mobility and ratio of apo- and holo-forms in Ag-Cp fractions were evaluated by immunoblotting. Ag-Cp samples did not contain products of spontaneous partial proteolytic degradation, characteristic of holo-Cp samples. Fractions of Ag-Cp and holo-Cp (from blood serum of control rats) were compared by optical spectra, tertiary structure, susceptibility to thermal denaturation, and by atomic Cu and Ag content. Ag-Cp contained 1-2% Cp, which is similar by spectral and catalytic properties with holo-Cp. [Ag]:[Cu] ration in Ag-Cp samples was about 4:1. As evidenced by circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetric studies, the major apo-fraction of Ag-Cp lacked tertiary structure of native Cp and was significantly misfolded, which might explain its resistance to spontaneous partial proteolytic degradation.

[Measuring and decoding the capabilities of digital radiographic images]. / Izmeritel'nye i deshifrovochnye vozmozhnosti tsifrovogo rentgenovskogo izobrazheniia.

The paper deals with the theory and practice of digital X-ray diagnosis. The adverse factors of formation of a digital X-ray film are considered. They included geometric and dynamic blurrinesses, blurriness of an image receiver, and the contrast and dynamic range of digital image. Analysis of a great deal of clinical data shows the capacities of digital X-ray study to diagnose different forms of pulmonary tuberculosis and other thoracic diseases.

[Ways of enhancing the efficiency of tuberculosis-controlling measures and reducing their cost]. / Puti povysheniia éffektivnosti protivotuberkuleznykh meropriiatii i sokrashcheniia zatrat na ikh provedenie.

As of now, there are prerequisites for enhancing the efficiency of tuberculosis-controlling measures and for reducing their cost by utilizing material and personnel resources in priority areas. These include: to detect patients with tuberculosis by using current computer technologies, to apply digital X-ray plants, to recruit general practitioners for preventive measures against tuberculosis, to reduce the cost of treatment in patients with tuberculosis by decreasing hospital stay. Introduction of currently available procedures substantially lowers the cost of antituberculous aid and enhances its efficiency.

[Influence of the detection system of patients with tuberculosis on the efficiency of their treatment and on epidemiological indices]. / Vliianie sistemy aktivnogo vyiavleniia bol'nykh tuberkulezom na éffektivnost' ikh lecheniia i épidemiologicheskie pokazateli.

Detection of patients with tuberculosis through timely examinations of groups of patients at risk for this disease, which are formed on the basis of testing the population and creating its personal register, by using computer technologies, makes it possible to improve epidemiological indices and therapeutic effectiveness.

[Economical aspects of diagnosis of tuberculosis in groups at risk based on questionnaire screening]. / Ekonomicheskie aspekty vyiavleniia tuberkuleza v gruppakh riska, sformirovannykh na osnove anketnogo skrininga.

Social changes in Russia gave rise to appearance of new groups at risk to develop tuberculosis: refugees, homeless, migrants, etc. not covered by planned antituberculous measures. The design of a computer insurance policy base on regional population will promote quicker creation of risk groups, estimation of check-up frequency, saving of financial resources.

[Making up tuberculosis risk groups from decreed contingents]. / Formirovanie grupp riska po tuberkulezu iz dekretirovannykh kontingentov.

The paper provides materials to make up risk groups from decreed contingents by using the database developed and introduced in the Novomoskovsk district, as well as a programme for rapid determination of the risk of tuberculosis. This procedure reduces a scope of fluorographic surveys among the decreed contingents, as well as their expenditures by 60%. Moreover, it may be useful for professional choice in the employment of the decreed persons, which may promote a decrease in the incidence of tuberculosis among them.

[Organization of active patient detection with tuberculosis by using computer technologies]. / Organizatsiia vyiavleniia tuberkuleza na osnove komp'iuternykh tekhnologii.

The paper presents the authors' experience in introducing a new system for active detection of patients with tuberculosis by using the database (a computer-register of individuals aged above 15 years and a programme for rapid evaluatin of the individual risk for tuberculosis, which reduces the scope of fluorographic and other examinations of the population for tuberculosis.

[Experience in using a Renex-Fluoro digital fluorograph in tuberculosis control service in Novomoskovsk]. / Opyt ispol'zovaniia tsifrovogo fliuorografa "Reneks-fliuoro" v protivotuberkuleznoi sluzhbe Novomoskovska.

The paper outlines the design of a Russian Renex-Fluoro small-dose digital fluorograph and its operating principle. The capacities of digital fluorography in the diagnosis of different forms of pulmonary tuberculosis are considered. The data of a comparative statistical analysis of the diagnostic informative value of digital and film fluorography are given.