Results Of Noninvasive Studies Research Articles

A multifactorial impact on respiratory morbidity in people of reproductive age and effectiveness of natopherine- and andropherine-containing odorants regarding a non-specific resistance of the nasal mucosa and lowered morbidity of respiratory infections

Prevention of respiratory infections during epidemic periods is an important task of modern health care in Russia and worldwide. One of such approach may rely on use of volatile substances capable of activating nonspecific resistance of the nasal mucosa. Long-term application of synthetic analogues of female pheromones to young males leads to lowered morbidity of respiratory diseases, increased levels of secretory immunoglobulins, as well as decrease peripheral blood of eosinophilia levels in subjects with allergic diseases. Based on this, the aim of the study was set to study an impact of anamnesis factors and indicators reflecting the functioning of nasal mucosal immunity, its nonspecific resistance, on emerging frequent respiratory morbidity; as well as to evaluate effectiveness of natopherine- and andropherine-containing odorants regarding dynamics of such indicators and to reduce incidence of respiratory infections in young subjects. Materials and methods. There were examined 46 apparently healthy boys and girls aged 18 to 22 years. The frequency of respiratory morbidity, anamnesis factors, and the results of non-invasive studies (cytokine concentrations in the nasopharyngeal aspirate and rhinocytograms). Within 30 days, all young subjects were applied to the nasolabial fold synthetic analogues of male (andropherine) and female (natopherine) pheromones (andropherine for young female, natopherine for young male). A re-examination with the above mentioned studies was carried out on day 14 and day 30 of the study. The incidence of respiratory infections was reassessed one year after the onset. Results. The study showed identified a number of predictors and protectors of frequent and long-term respiratory morbidity in young subjects. The predictors of this condition were presented by catamnestics markers of allergic anomalies of the constitution, behavioral factors (smoking), as well as immune indicators of allergy (IL-4) and mucociliary clearance deficiency. A monthly course of odorant applications on the skin of the nasolabial fold using synthetic analogues of male and female pheromones (steranes) has a positive effect both on the nonspecific resistance of the nasal mucosa as well as on the immune parameters. After a month of using steranes, the nasal mucosa is completely decontaminated from coccal microorganisms, and over the next 12 months, the frequency of respiratory infections decreases. This indicates about a prominent clinical effect of the odorants applied.

Restenosis after coronary angioplasty.

Coronary angioplasty is used to treat coronary disease in many patients. Indications for angioplasty have expanded since it was first performed, mainly as a result of improvement in equipment and techniques. One problem with coronary angioplasty is the phenomenon of renarrowing of the treated coronary lesion, a process called restenosis. The events that constitute restenosis appear to be a universal response to the arterial wall injury of angioplasty. They are currently characterized as follows: platelet adhesion and aggregation on the damaged endothelium and within deep splits into the tunica media; release of platelet-derived growth factors; inflammation of the mechanically injured medial zone; transformation of smooth muscle cells of the tunica media after their activation by several of the growth-promoting substances; migration and proliferation of transformed smooth muscle cells, with secretion of copious amounts of extracellular matrix material; and, finally, termination of the growth process with regrowth of endothelium over the injured area. A decade of research work has helped identify clinical correlates of restenosis after coronary angioplasty procedures. This work is hindered by lack of a uniform angiographic definition of restenosis. In addition, much of the information has come from small studies, with incomplete follow-up and retrospective orientation. Nevertheless, some data are available. Patient-related correlates include male gender, unstable angina, diabetes, and continued smoking after angioplasty. Lesion-related correlates include multilesional and multivessel procedures, higher postangioplasty residual stenosis, proximal vessel location, location in the left anterior descending artery, location in a vein graft, long lesions, and total occlusions. The only consistent procedure-related correlate has been incorrect sizing of the angioplasty balloon to the treated artery. For the purposes of individual patient care, clinical correlates are not helpful. No group of variables has been found to be associated with complete freedom from restenosis, and no group is completely predictive of restenosis. All patients undergoing angioplasty procedures require some follow-up through subsequent months and years. Symptom status and the results of noninvasive studies have been investigated for purposes of follow-up. Symptoms are virtually useless by themselves for predicting restenosis or its absence. When symptom status is combined with exercise thallium 201 scintigraphy performed 4 to 6 months after an angioplasty procedure, the two factors are less than ideal but have a negative predictive value of more than 90%. This means that more than 90% of patients who have neither symptoms nor evidence of ischemia by thallium 201 scintigraphy will not have angiographic restenosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Noninvasive vascular studies: A comparison with arteriography and surgical findings in the upper extremity

Noninvasive vascular studies of the upper extremity were compared with the accepted standards of arteriography and surgical exploration. Results of noninvasive vascular studies and 40 arteriograms in 37 patients revealed agreement in 95% of the cases. Further comparison between results of noninvasive studies and surgical findings in 17 patients revealed a correlation of 100%. Thus, findings from our noninvasive vascular studies agreed with arteriographic and surgical findings with respect to the type, location, and extent of disease in 97% of patients studied. We conclude that noninvasive studies of the upper extremity are accurate, safe, reproducible, inexpensive, and well tolerated by patients. Noninvasive vascular studies also provide information on vascular dynamics that is not available from routine arteriography.