[Problems in the system of state regulation of chemical safety].

In the paper the analysis of the problems of chemical safety abroad and in Russian Federation is presented, possible ways for their solutions, including the need for legal and scientific-methodical support for population health risk assessment are considered.

[Problems and ways of solutions to harmonize standards for air pollution].

In the article the basic problems of harmonization of domestic regulatory framework of air pollution with the WHO recommendations and normative values adopted in the EU, U.S. and other countries are considered. The important role of health risk analysis methodology in the process of harmonization of regulation and control of air quality has been pointed out. The necessity of radical changes in the structure and content of the basic normative document GN 2.1.6.1338-03 "maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of pollutants in the air of populated areas" has been shown. The algorithm of the procedure that justifies the new list of normative values in the air harmonized with international recommendations and standards of developed countries has been proposed.

[Characteristics of quantitative values of regional factors of exposure in the studied areas].

In the paper the results of a comparative evaluation of the Russian and the standard, recommended by US EPA, factors of population exposure in seven areas of different federal districts of Russia are presented. Concerning the adult population differences reach 3.5 times, for children (1-6 years) - 4.2 times. An example of the effect of regional differences and standard factors on levels of exposure and risk is considered. Promising areas for further research on regional factors to improve the accuracy and reliability of the forecast assessments of the risks to public health have been identified.

[Bases for the formation of an ultrasound diagnostic image of orbital tissue].

The paper touches upon the specific features of the structure of orbital formations, by considering their anatomic topography and biophysical properties. By studying the results of investigations of the morphological and biophysical studies of orbital tissues, the authors analyze their features and compare their relationships. These results unraveling each of the considered orbital anatomic elements from the acoustic profile ranges may be useful in understanding the nature of clinical changes, which will be able to interpret these or those diagnostic signs--guides and to trace their evolution. In addition, this approach can help interpret the texture of an ultrasound digital image of eye socket soft tissue and permit one to look at pathological clinical manifestations from the so-called biophysical essence. This will allow additional information to be gleaned, by analyzing the usual signs.

[Assessment of Moscow population health risk from exposure to ambient air suspended matter].

Ambient air pollution by suspended matter is an environmental factor that has the greatest influence on the health status of the majority of the Russian Federation's population. There is extensive epidemiological and clinical evidence suggesting that ambient air pollution by suspended matter and its fine-dispersed fractions PM10 and PM2.5 in particular, poses a serious threat to human health. The existing Russian single and average daily maximum permissible concentrations of suspended matter are not a high risk from this type of ambient air pollution and fail to assess human health damage in full measure. To reduce the concentrations of suspended matter and their action on man is currently the worldwide priority task whose performance will save much money. There is a need to change an air pollution monitoring system (continuous monitoring of fine suspended matter of PM10 and PM2.5), as well as to substantiate and introduce Russian hygienic standards for fine suspended matter (PM10 and PM2.5).

[Impact of short weather changes on the population's health risk from ambient air pollution].

The paper considers the negative impact of weather changes in combination with the altered quality of ambient air on the economic and social spheres of society and on the population's health. It describes experience in assessing a possible damage to the health of the Moscow population from exposure to elevated concentrations of ambient air pollutants (suspended matter, nitrogen and sulfur dioxides, carbon oxide). The results of assessment simulation of dissemination of chemicals contained in the emission from the Moscow heat-and-power objects under poor weather conditions are presented.

[Current problems in the assessment of health risks and damages from the influence of environmental factors].

In the past decade, a great number of risk assessment projects have been implemented; experience in using the risk-assessing methodology in sociohygienic monitoring, in the hygienic evaluation of a possible impact of new or rebuilt plants on human health, and in the estimation of natural and cost damages from the influence of environmental factors has been gained. Along with the legal aspects of using the risk-assessing methodology, there is a diversity of urgent and unsolved problems: a discrepancy between the hygienic standards and the risk-assessing criteria established in our country, recommended by international organizations, or used in the leading countries of the world; evaluation of exposures; availability of data on exposures in both individual regions and Russia as whole; development of methods for the assessment of damages and for the comparative assessment of risks, including such indices and their value terms as lost life years and life years with consideration of the severity of abnormalities.

[A methodological scheme for examination of the urban population, by making multilevel assessments of exposure to ambient air pollutants].

A novel methodological design comprising multilevel assessments of exposures of examinees to controlled ambient air pollution according to the data of route stations was developed to examine the population of large towns. The design was tested in 4 surveys of Moscow residents (apparently healthy and outpatients with a number of chronic diseases). The findings indicate the fundamental possibility of altering the traditional differential design of biomedical surveys of the population, by introducing more evidence-based regression analyses and dividing the contributions of individual chemicals to the observed changes in health indices.

Evolution of choroidal thickness over time and effect of early and sustained therapy in birdshot retinochoroiditis.

PurposeTo follow choroidal thickness (ChT) over time in birdshot retinochoroiditis (BRC) using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) and study the effect of early and sustained treatment on ChT.Patients and methodsEighteen patients were included and EDI-OCT measurements of ChT were analyzed retrospectively in five groups of patients with follow-up times ranging from 1 year to ≥15 years. The OCT images were evaluated and ChT was calculated under the foveola and 1500 µm temporal, nasal, superior, and inferior to the foveola. To assess the effect of treatment, 13 patients with a disease duration ≥10 years were divided into two groups depending on their treatment status: early and sustained therapy vs insufficient, late, or no treatment. ChT was compared in these two groups along with the number of typical fundus BRC lesions.ResultsThe ChT decreased (r=-0.41, P=0.0018) over the disease duration, which ranged from <1 year to ≥15 years. In patients with a disease duration ≥10 years, a significant difference in ChT was noted between adequately and undertreated patients (288.3±76.9 µm vs 161.4±39.2 µm; P=0.004). At the last follow-up, in the group with insufficient therapy 10 of 11 eyes presented typical fundus BRC lesions vs 2 of 13 eyes in the treated group (P≤0.0006, F-test).ConclusionsChoroidal thickness decreases significantly over time in BRC. If undertreated, patients show thinner choroids compared with adequately treated individuals and present significantly more BRC lesions.

[The principles, criteria, and methods of evaluation of health hazards associated with short-term exposure to chemical atmospheric air pollutants].

The authors discuss the basic concepts of a system developed to evaluate health hazards associated with short-term exposure of different population groups to inhaled chemicals, including exposure that takes place in emergency situations. The article contains examples of acute exposition profiles for the most wide-spread air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, developed using quantitative values of short-term exposure risk criteria.

[Evaluation of the immunogenic and reactogenic properties of vaccine "Euvax B" in persons aged 16-18 years in different geographical zones of Russia].

The comparative evaluation of the reactogenic and immunogenic properties of vaccine "Euvax B" in adolescents aged 16-18 years was carried out in factory housing estate Lvovsky, the Podolsk district, the Moscow region, and in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District (AD): in towns Salekhard, Noyabrsk, Muravlenko, in housing estate Tarko-Sale. The evaluation demonstrated that the use of this vaccine in a dose of 20 mg/ml produced no postvaccinal complications and the frequency of postvaccinal reactions was insignificant. Postvaccinal anti-HBs were detected, on the average, in protective concentrations in 98.4 +/- 1.8% of the vaccines (99.0 +/- 1.9% in the Moscow region, 97.7 +/- 3.2% in the Yamalo-Nenets AD). In most of the vaccinated adolescents high concentrations of postvacinal anti-HBs were detected: in 51.4 +/- 9.7% of the vaccinees in the Moscow region and in 89.7 +/- 6.4% in the Yamalo-Nenets AD they exceeded 1,000 I.U./lit. The conclusion was made that in the territories located in subarctic latitudes vaccinal prophylaxis against hepatitis B was safe and highly effective and have no limitations connected with the conditions of the Far North.

Changes in biochemical and physiological indices in animals produced by the combined effect of benz [a] pyrene and phenol.

Early energy changes in lungs, liver, and kidneys during the introduction of a benz a pyrene and phenol (as the possible carcinogen activator) were studied. It was observed that 10 days after a single instance introduction of 5 mg benz a pyrene per 0.9% NaCl (60 rats), oxidative phosphorylation in the lungs and livers is disturbed in the test rats, accompanied by a reduction of adenine nucleotides in these tissues. It is assumed that at this stage, the detoxication of benz a pyrene is intensified by free oxidation systems and by the respiratory chain of mitochondria. A chronic 3-month exposure to benz a pyrene and phenol (150 rats, each 5 mg of benz a pyrene per month intratracheally and 0.4 mg/m3 of phenol round-the-clock) results in greater disturbances of the energy exchange in the lungs, liver and kidneys. Benz a pyrene and phenol, individually and in combination, inhibit oxidative phosphorylation in the lungs. This significantly decreases the content of adenine nucleotides in this tissue. Activation of anaerobic glycolysis (twofold) and of aerobic glycolysis (eightfold) does not make up for the energy insufficiency in the tissue. The effect of benz a pyrene and phenol in the liver also results in suppressing oxidative phosphorylation and in the activation of glycolysis (anaerobic 2.5 times, the aerobic 3.7 times). Changes in the bioenergy of the kidneys are not as great. Phenol in its combined effect with benz[a]pyrene intensifies the effect of the latter, as shown primarily to the greater activation of anaerobic and aerobic glycolysis in the lungs and livers of test rats. The observed disturbances as concern the weight dynamics of the animals (weight loss in test rats), vitamin metabolism (their decrease in the organs in in urine) and hemopoiesis of red blood cells (erythropenia) attest to the toxic effect of benz a pyrene phenol on the organism, which is greater in the case of the combined action of the studied agents. No changes were discerned in the morphology of white blood cells.

[Identification of a fragment of ceruloplasmin, interacting with copper-transporting Menkes ATPase]. / Identifikatsiia uchastka tseruloplazmina, vzaimodeistvuiushchego s med'transportnoi ATP-azoi Menkesa.

The interaction was studied of ceruloplasmin (Cp, EC 1.16.3.1), a copper-containing plasma protein, with two synthetic peptides P15 and P16 whose structures correlate with those of the noncytosolic regions of the copper transfer P1 type ATPase (ATP7A), apparently encoded by the Menkes disease gene (Atp7a). Pentadecapeptide P15 and hexadecapeptide P16 were synthesized using the solid phase method. They correspond to fragments of two extracellular loops ATP7A, of which one loop is apparently involved in the copper ion transfer (P16) whereas the other is not (P15). The protein footprinting showed that P16 binds to a fragment of the ceruloplasmin domain 6. Kinetics of the ceruloplasmin-P16 binding was studied by affinity chromatography on P16 immobilized on a macroporous disk, and the Kd value (1.5 x 10(-6) M) of this interaction was determined. The ATP7A involvement in the copper ion transfer to nonhepatocyte cells is discussed.

[The role of the yolk sac in copper metabolism during rat embryogenesis]. / Rol' zheltochhogo meshka v metabolisme medi v c'mbriogeneze krys.

Using the immunoblotting method, the synthesis of two copper-transporting P1-type ATPases, ATP7A (a candidate for the product of the Menkes disease gene) and ATP7B (presumed product of the Wilson disease gene), in the yolk sac cells of rat embryos at days 11 and 20 of embryogenesis was demonstrated. Concomitantly, yolk sac cells produce ceruloplasmin, a soluble copper-transporting glycoprotein, a proportion of which in secreted proteins progressively diminishes, attaining 5.2% at day 11 and 3.1% at day 20 of development. At different stages of embryogenesis, yolk sac cells synthesize two molecular forms of [14]C-ceruloplasmin, one of which is secreted towards the embryo, whereas the other, towards the decidual membrane. Two forms of ceruloplasmin secreted in polar directions differ in the rate of secretion. The role of the yolk sac as a key organ controlling the delivery and secretion of copper in the embryo during the postimplantation period is discussed.

[A comparative study of the transport dynamics of the peptide moiety of the milk ceruloplasmin molecule in the body of rats with embryonic and adult types of copper metabolism]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie dinamiki peremeshcheniia peptidnoi chasti molekuly tseruloplazmina moloka v organizme krys pri émbrional'nom i vzroslom tipakh metabolizma medi.

In chase experiments, we followed the distribution of [125I]-ceruloplasmin prepared from human breast milk orally administered to young rats. Experiments were conducted using six-day-old rat pups (the embryonic type of copper metabolism) or 35-day-old ones (the adult type of copper metabolism). Using the technique of rocket immunoelectrophoresis, we have demonstrated that in six-day-old rats [125I]-ceruloplasmin was transferred from the gastrointestinal tract to the bloodstream and could be detected there over a period of 4 h. In 35-day-old rats, milk ceruloplasmin was digested in the upper part of the intestinal tract. The dynamic aspects of the distribution of labeled milk ceruloplasmin in the body of six-day old rats over a period of 4 h point out that, under the conditions of embryonic copper metabolism, it can serve as a transporter of copper ions to extrahepatic organs. We discuss the role of milk ceruloplasmin in copper metabolism in mammals during the neonatal period.

[Membrane-bound sialoglycoproteins of the rat liver as affected by the combined action of benz(a)pyrene and sulfur dioxide]. / Membranosviazannye sialoglikoproteidy pecheni krys pri sochetannom deistvii benz(a)pirena i sernistogo gaza.

Simultaneous effect of benz(a)pyrene and sulphurous gas was accompanied by distinct alteration in metabolism of sialoglycoproteins in liver tissue; at the time N-acetylneuraminic acid was redistributed in liver subcellular organelles (mitochondria, lysosomes and endoplasmic reticulum) as well as cytochromes P-450 and b5 were induced in liver microsomes. The alterations observed appear to play a definite role in manifestation of the unfavourable effect in combined action of the carcinogen and chemical contaminations of environments.

[Laser cell analyzer]. / Lazernyi analizator kletok.

A laser blood cell counter is developed. A measuring method is based on detecting the light dissipated on particles within the angle range of 20 to 40 degrees. The selected geometry of an optical system provides a high signal level at the power of a laser source 3 mW and small overall dimensions of the counter.