[Short- and long-term results of various methods of reconstruction of carotid artery bifurcation].

AIM: comparative assessment of immediate and remote outcomes of various methods of reconstruction of the zone of bifurcation of the common carotid artery in stenotic lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: the authors carried out retrospective and prospective analysis of a total of 457 reconstructive operations on the bifurcation of the common carotid artery in 432 patients presenting with haemodynamically significant stenoses. Depending on the type of reconstruction of the carotid artery bifurcation, the patients were subdivided into four groups: group I - eversion carotid endarterectomy (CEA) - 157 (34.4%) operations, group II - CEA with xenopericardial patch plasty - 211 (46.2%) operations, group III- CEA with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) patch plasty - 61 (13.3%) operations, group IV - CEA with original autoarterial remodelling of the bifurcation of the common carotid artery - 28 (6.1%) operations. We evaluated both immediate and remote (from 6 month to 4 years) results of surgical treatment. RESULTS: clinical efficacy of carotid endarterectomy in prevention of ischaemic stroke in the remote period after surgery amounted to 97.8%. Strokes developed in 2.2% of cases. It was shown that after using a xenopericardium patch the incidence rate of the development of restenosis proved statistically significantly lower than after using a PTFE patch. It was confirmed that CAE with autoarterial remodelling of the common carotid artery bifurcation or eversion CEA are accompanied by a significantly lower incidence rate of restenosis development in remote terms of follow up as compared to the methods of CAE with xenopericardial or PTFE patches (p<0.01). It was determined that coronary revascularization carried out by indications as the first stage statistically significantly decreases the incidence rate of acute myocardial infarction both in the immediate and remote terms of follow up after CEA.

[Investigation of the content of carcinogenic compounds in commercial smoked fish].

The authors performed investigations of the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (n = 17) and their nitro derivatives (n = 5) in commercial cold and hot smoked herrings and greenlings. The level of benz(a)pyrene in all fish samples was found to be well below the current sanitary and hygienic limits. The concentration of N-nitrosoamines in cold smoked fish was slightly below that in hot smoked one. The content of nitro derivatives of PAH in fish is indicative of the low significance of these compounds in the total negative potential of smoked fish.

[Microbiological rationale for using whey on salting salmon caviar].

The paper provides a rationale for the use of whey to salt salmon fishes instead of traditional preservatives, including those exported from low industrial potential countries, which do not undergo comprehensive sanitary and hygienic tests. On the basis of the performed studies, the authors recommend to use whey to salt salmon caviar, which ensures the ecological purity of the product containing the minimum amount of preservatives and other substances that fail to affect its organoleptic properties.

[Experience with vascular biografts "KemAngioprotez" in reconstructive surgery of lower-limb major arteries].

Presented herein is the experience with the Russian-made vascular biografts "KemAngioprotez" in 149 patients suffering from atherosclerotic occlusions of the major arteries of the lower extremities and in one female patient with an injury to the superficial femoral artery. A total of 150 reconstructive operations were performed on all segments of the major arterial bed of the lower limbs. The early postoperative period was accompanied by 14 thromboses of the vascular biograft after femoropopliteal reconstruction. It was determined that the likelihood of thrombosis of the vascular biograft depended upon the type of the distal anastomosis, increasing in establishing an "end-to-side" distal anastomosis with the popliteal artery as compared with the "end-to-end" anastomosis technique. No cases of either aneurysmatic deformity, rupture of the vascular graft nor its infection in the early postoperative period were observed. The vascular biograft proved convenient and may therefore be successfully used to replace synthetic vascular grafts and autovenous transplants in reconstruction of the external iliac, femoral and popliteal arteries.

[The levels of mercury in fish industry].

Among a wide spectrum of heavy metals, mercury is one of the most toxic ones that have a negative effect. The studies of hydrocoles have ascertained a certain association of the fish content of mercury with the pollution of water spaces. The content of mercury in finished fish products can be reduced, by correctly choosing manufacturing operations.

[Impact of electromagnetic fields on a computer user].

An uncontrolled rise in computerization has generated a basically new dangerous source of electromagnetic fields, which, with combined deteriorating influence of personal computer-related overloads, acquires great importance and places stringent requirements. At the same time, the adverse impact of electromagnetic fields of video displays terminals (VDT) and personal computers (P') has not thoroughly been studied and therefore its assessment is quite ambiguous. Due to the fact that there are no valid experimental data on the existing problem, the authors show it necessary to give particular attention to the comprehensive assessment of negative factors, to provide a strict regulation of work on VDT and P', and to inform the population of this problem.

[Negative impact of video display terminals on the organs of vision].

The negative impact of video display terminals (VDT) on the visual system was examined in personal computer users. The most significant unfavorable aspects of VDT users' work, such as visual work intensity, the improper illumination of working places, the low quality of used computer machinery, as well as general nonobservance of the established standards are indicated. The paper shows it necessary to pay particular attention to the problem associated with the work of users with myopic refraction, with the strict hygienic regulations of VDT work, and with the use of preventive measures to prevent abnormalities of the organs of vision.

[Carcinogenic effects of the curing smoke]. / O kantserogennom vozdeistvii koptil'nogo dyma.

A list of the carcinogenic substances contained in the fume used in the production of smoked fish and its products is presented. The level of benz(a)pyrene in the smoked foods generally corresponds to the international standards, but it is hundreds times higher in hot-smoked small fish. The cancer risk of smoked products may be reduced in the production of slightly smoked foods or when liquid-smoke devices are used.

[Hygienic assessment of components of smoking fume]. / Gigienicheskaia otsenka komponentov koptil'nogo dyma.

Analyzing the chemical composition of smoking fume has indicated that maximum allowable concentrations (MACs) have been established for 50 of 400 well-known compounds, working area MACs were standardized for 42 of the 50 compounds, the maximum single and daily average concentrations were standardized for 34 and 30 compounds, respectively. All standards were established for 25 compounds. Despite the fact that there a large list of MACs, it is difficult to calculate the objective hygienic risk of smoking smoke since 32 compounds are contained in traces. Hygienic assessment of fume discharges from the smoking chamber by taking into account their mass and MACs demonstrated that phenols, carbonyl compounds, acids, and benz(a)pyrene which should be used to work out the unified hygienic standard are of the greatest importance.

[Content of N-nitrosamines in smoked fish and canned food]. / Soderzhanie N-nitrozaminov v kopchenoi rybe i konservakh.

The composition and contents of major N-nitrosoamines (NA) in the edible part of herrings and rock trouts exposed to hot and cold smoking and in the Smoked fish in oil type cans were studied. Among NA, only N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) were detected in all samples. In the cold-smoked fish, the levels of NDMA and NDEA were higher than in the hot smoked fish and cans. Of all the samples, only those of cold smoked herrings and rock trouts had standardized NDMA concentration that was greater than the standard limitation and equal to 3.48 and 3.74 mukg/kg.

[Study of carcinogenic hazards of smoking kiln waste fumes]. / Issledovanie kantserogennoi opasnosti dymovykh vybrosov koptil'nykh kamer.

The disperse phase of waste fumes forming during cold and hot fish smoking was studied by distributing the particles into 6 fractions and determining benz(a)pyrene (BP) in them. The level of BP in less than 2.5 mu was shown to be 85% whether smoking was hot or cold. The levels of 17 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were measured in three-dimensional fractions of fume particles. In all the fractions, phenanthrene and fluoranthene were of priority in weight. The proportion of BP in the total levels of PAH in waste fumes of cold and hot smokers was 0.69 and 0.74%, respectively and the carcinogenic activity was 46.42 and 49.0%. The investigations demonstrated that the waste fumes of smokers did not contain the particles that are PAH carriers.

[Hygienic assessment of aerosol air pollution by smokehouse waste]. / Gigienicheskaia otsenka aérozol'nogo zagriazneniia vozdukha vybrosami koptil'nykh kamer.

The disperse phase of waste fumes forming during cold and hot fish smoking was studied by distributing the particles into 6 fractions, by determining phenols, acids, carbonyl compounds, and benz(a)pyrene (BP) in them, and by calculating the hazard index. In the waste fumes of cold smokers, the proportions of phenols, carbonyl compounds, and acid in the formation of the hazard index were shown to be 72.1 +/- 1.5, 19.6 +/- 1.3, and 5.9 +/- 0.3%, respectively. In the waste fumes of hot smokers, these figures were 67.3 +/- 1.1, 20.4 +/- 1.2, and 5.8 +/- 0.3%, i.e. the proportion of phenols in the formation of the hazard index was also prevalent. The hazard index for BP in the waste fumes of cold and hot smokers was 120.9 +/- 1.7 and 230.8 +/- 8.1, respectively, which amounts to 2.4 +/- 0.2 and 6.5 +/- 0.4% of the total hazard of smoke particles.

[Characterization of the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the cold- and hot-smoked fish]. / Kharakteristika soderzhaniia politsiklicheskikh aromaticheskikh uglevodorodov v rybe kholodnogo i goriachego kopcheniia.

The carcinogenic danger of the commercial smoked herring was assessed. The edible part of the smoked herring contains 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons whose bulk consists of phenanthrene, pyrene, floranthene, and benzo(b)fluoranthene. The content of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) in the cold and hot smoked herring are 189 and 291 ng/kg, respectively. It is lower than the present standard values. The proportion of carcinogenic danger of BP is 32% for cold smoked herring and 34% for hot smoked herring.

Plexiform malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor(MPNST) in infancy and childhood--a case report.

We present a congenital plexiform cellular tumor with high mitotic activities arising in the right thigh of a 3-days-old infant. This subcutaneous tumor measured 6.5 x 4.5 cm in diameter with multinodular, whitish, elastic cut surface. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of fascicles of closely packed uniform spindle cells with frequent nuclear palisadings. The most remarkable finding was frequent mitoses(4-5/10 HPF). The tumor cells were strongly positive for S-100 protein, myelin basic protein and vimentin, and weakly positive for Leu 7. On electron microscopic examination, the spindle cells were found to be surrounded by continuous basal lamina and had interlocking long cytoplasmic processes. Although the prognosis of this tumor is difficult to predict, aggressive behavior such as recurrences may be suggested, but it is less likely to be metastatic. Further accumulation of similar unusual cases may be helpful in evaluation of its biologic behavior.