[Structure and dynamics of occupational lung diseases in workers of Moscow region under longstanding 50 years of observation].

The article covers data on occupational morbidity in Moscow region over last 50 years. Stable number of newly diagnosed occupational diseases was seen up to first half of 1990s. Afterwards, steady decrease in occupational morbidity is seen with closure of major industrial enterprises. Among occupational pulmonary diseases, dust fibrosis (pneumoconiosis--44%) prevail. Tuberculosis complication of silicosis decreased, additional general somatic concomitants (arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, malignancies) are more frequent. Prevalence of occupational bronchial asthma has increased 16 times vs. that in 1976.

[Hand bones disorders in vibrational disease caused by local vibration should be considered as pathogenetic characteristic of the disease].

Opposite to the authors of the publication, that dystrophic changes in locomotory apparatus of hands and shoulders girdle could not be considered as vibration disease signs, the article authors believe that hand bone changes--tuberosity of distal finger bones, cystic transparency, local osteoporosis--could be pathogenetic signs of vibration disease, along with vascular and neurologic signs. The authors agree that periarthrosis, miofibrosis, if characterized properly through sanitary and hygienic regulations in new List of Occupational diseases, that will be put into practical medicine in the nearest future, could be considered as second occupational disease in the same patient.

[Life quality as an additional criterion to evaluate efficacy of treating vibration disease patients].

Studies covered as an additional criterion to evaluate efficiency of treating vibration disease patients. Studies covered life quality in 40 males having vibration disease during the treatment course. Before the treatment, all the examinees demonstrated decrease in all life quality parameters especially of "role physical functioning" (16.89 points), general health (38.39 points), role emotional functioning (39.64 points). After the treatment most the parameters reliably improved, besides physical and social functioning. The authors recommend SF-36 life quality questionnaire to evaluate treatment efficiency for occupational diseases.

[Value of new laser technologies in occupational diseases diagnostics].

The article deals with results of microhemodynamics assessment through new methods of noninvasive laser diagnostics--doppler flowmetry and spectrophotometry ("Spectrotest" device)--in vibration disease patients to verify origin of angiodystonic and angiospastic syndromes. The methods enable to define type of microcirculatory disorder, to evaluate quantity of revealed changes, to assess blood content of superficial tissues in fingers, blood oxygenation. Spastic type of microcirculation is indicative to include ACF inhibitors into treatment complex.

[A case of complication of system scleroderma with AL-amyloidosis].

The article describes a case of systemic scleroderma complicated by a severe nephrotic syndrome after seven years in a 46-year-old patient. Rectal mucosal biopsy and right renal biopsy were performed to clarify the origin of the nephrotic syndrome and because amyloidosis was suspected. Massive amyloid deposits were found in biopsy material, colored with Congo red and studied in normal and polarized light. After processing with guanidine and coloring with Congo red, the material was studied in normal and polarized light; amyloid deposits preserved their congophilia and double refraction during two hours of incubation, which is typical of AL-amyloidosis. The patient was directed to a specialized nephrological department for the treatment of AL-amyloidosis.

[X-ray densitometry and biochemical parameters of bone tissue metabolism in patients with vibration disease]. / Rentgenodensitometricheskie i biokhimicheskie pokazateli metabolizma kostnoi tkani u bol'nykh vibratsionnoi bolezn'iu.

To reveal systemic and local osteoporosis, the authors studied biochemical markers of bone metabolism in vibration disease patients. The vibration disease patients appeared to have the most frequent and marked osteoporosis in peripheral bones--hands (in 90% of cases) and forearms (in 66.7%). Prevalence of systemic osteoporosis and osteopenia reached 11.7 and 48.3% in the select respectively. According to biochemical markers, bone reconstruction state was characterized by moderately intensified bone resorption and diminished bone formation.