[Computer morphometry of peripheral blood lymphocytes in elderly patients with chronic pyelonephritis.]

The aim of the study was to investigate the peculiarities of morphometric parameters of peripheral blood lymphocytes in chronic pyelonephritis in elderly patients in comparison with young and middle-aged patients. A total of 81 patients with chronic pyelonephritis in the exacerbation phase were examined. All patients were divided into three age groups according to WHO recommendations: the 1st - 42patients of young age (18-44 years); the 2nd - 17 patients of middle age (45-59 years); the 3rd - 22 elderly patients (60-74 years). Computer morphometry of lymphocytes was performed in all examined patients. In elderly patients with chronic pyelonephritis the size and сytoplasmic-nuclear ratio of lymphocytes increase. This indicates the preservation of lymphocyte defense responses at this age. In male patients with chronic pyelonephritis in the 1st and 2nd age groups the size of lymphocytes increases, and in female patients - decreases. The сytoplasmic-nuclear ratio increases in males of these age groups, while it remains unchanged or decreases in females. Indirect indications of reduced immunity in young and middle-aged women with chronic inflammation in the kidneys have been obtained.

[Morphological and functional changes in small mammals exposed to technogenic pressure]. / Morfofunktsional'nye izmeneniia v organizme melkikh mlekopitaiushchikh v usloviiakh tekhnogennogo pressa.

The effect of technogenic pressure on the weight indices of major endocrine glands responsible for adaptation to adverse environmental conditions was studied in murine rodents. The data obtained in technogenic and natural ecosystems were compared. Using the method of morphophysiological indicators, it was shown that exposure to heavy pollution (emissions from lead and zinc smelters) caused a significant increase in the adrenal index of non-reproductive animals (0.45-0.56 mg/g, compared to 0.15-0.33 mg/g in the norm); conversely, the liver index decreased to 0.39-0.49 mg/g (below the lower limit of the norm). The simultaneous increase in the adrenal index and decrease in the liver index of rodents in autumn are indicative of exhaustion, which leads to an energy breakdown and mass mortality. The core of the population in the next spring consists of juveniles coming from the neighboring biotopes with more favorable conditions. Thus, under the effect of technogenic pressure, a temporary population of small mammals is formed every year.