[Ontogenetic forms of rheumatoid arthritis and behavioral type A.]

Disease onset and type A behavioral pattern (TABP) are important characteristics of the clinical manifestations of chronic diseases. The aim of this work is to study the prevalence and role of TABP in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the onset of the disease at different periods of ontogenesis. 82 patients were examined, which were divided into groups depending on the age of RA onset. The first group included patients with RA onset at reproductive age (from 18 to 44 years). The second group included patients with the onset of RA in the middle age (from 45 to 59 years). The third group consisted of patients with the onset of RA in old age (from 60 to 74 years). The fourth group consisted of patients with the onset of RA in old age (75 years and older). Diagnosis of TABP was carried out using a special questionnaire. The group with a debut in the reproductive period had the largest number of patients with RA of the 1st and 2nd line of relationship, as well as the highest incidence of TABP, which was associated with a greater expression of such personal qualities as ambition and hostility. This group had the highest number of ankylosis, as well as the highest frequency of systemic lesions. The second group demonstrated classic rheumatoid patterns. The third group with debut in old age had the most favorable clinical picture, incl. the lowest immunological activity in terms of the сirculating immune complexes (CICs) level, associated with the lowest severity of articular syndrome, with the lowest number of erosions and the frequency of systemic manifestations. The fourth group with a debut in old age demonstrated the highest inflammatory activity and specific immunological activity in terms of rheumatoid factor and CICs levels, as well as the highest clinical severity of the articular syndrome. Thus, the ontogenetic debut of RA determines its clinical and laboratory features and is associated with the presence and characteristics of TABP.

Chernobyl-related thyroid cancer in children of Belarus: a case-control study.

The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant on April 26, 1986, released approximately 2 EBq of 131I and other radioiodine isotopes that heavily contaminated southern Belarus. An increase in thyroid cancer reported in 1992 and attributed to the Chernobyl accident was challenged as possibly the result of intensive screening. We began a case-control study to test the hypothesis that the Chernobyl accident caused the increase in thyroid cancer. Records of childhood thyroid cancer in the national therapy centers in Minsk in 1992 yielded 107 individuals with confirmed pathology diagnoses and available for interview. Pathways to diagnosis were (1) routine endocrinological screening in 63, (2) presentation with enlarged or nodular thyroid in 25 and (3) an incidental finding in 19. Two sets of controls were chosen, one matched on pathway to diagnosis, the other representing the area of heavy fallout, both matched on age, sex and rural/urban residence in 1986. The 131I dose to the thyroid was estimated from ground deposition of 137Cs, ground deposition of 131I, a data bank of 1986 thyroid radiation measurements, questionnaires and interviews. Highly significant differences were observed between cases and controls (both sets) with respect to dose. The differences persisted within pathway to diagnosis, gender, age and year of diagnosis, and level of iodine in the soil, and were most marked in the southern portion of the Gomel region. The case-control comparisons indicate a strong relationship between thyroid cancer and estimated radiation dose from the Chernobyl accident.

[Hormonal and mediator correlations in type A personality as a risk factor in ischemic heart disease]. / Gormonal'no-mediatornye korreliaty povedencheskogo tipa A kak faktora riska ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa.

Adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion in 24-hour urine and blood ACTH levels were examined with respect to behavior types in young people in the course of adaptation to lasting psychoemotional and physical stress exposure. The individuals of behavioral type A showed significantly increased noradrenaline excretion with daily urine and serum ACTH levels.