Determination of the smoke-plume heights and their dynamics with ground-based scanning lidar.

Lidar-data processing techniques are analyzed, which allow determining smoke-plume heights and their dynamics and can be helpful for the improvement of smoke dispersion and air quality models. The data processing algorithms considered in the paper are based on the analysis of two alternative characteristics related to the smoke dispersion process: the regularized intercept function, extracted directly from the recorded lidar signal, and the square-range corrected backscatter signal, obtained after determining and subtracting the constant offset in the recorded signal. The analysis is performed using experimental data of the scanning lidar obtained in the area of prescribed fires.

The combination of neuronavigation with transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment of opercular gliomas of the dominant brain hemisphere.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the application of transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with neuronavigation for preoperative mapping of the language area in neurosurgical interventions on the opercular area of the dominant hemisphere. METHODS: Five patients were operated upon gliomas in the opercular area. For localization of the speech area a transcranial magnetic stimulator MEDTRONIC-MagPro was used. BrainLAB-VectorVision Neuronavigation system was utilized for precise planning of the operative approach. RESULTS: Gross total resection was achieved in all patients. Three-month postoperative follow-up was done. Three of the patients had a transient postoperative motor aphasia which resolved within 1 month. CONCLUSION: This method is useful for preoperative localization of the speech area, as well as preoperative planning of the operative approach and intra-operative planning of the direction of brain retraction and operative corridor.

[Surgical treatment in cervical spondylosis].

The most common cause for progressive cord and nerve root deterioration is cervical spondylosis. Symptoms often develop insidiously and are characterized by neck stiffness, arm pain, hand numbness, weakness in the hands and legs, gait disturbances--recognized in the clinical practice as cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), cervical radiculopathy or both of them. The imaging diagnosis has to begin with plain radiographs of cervical spine, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a procedure of choice. Narrowing of the spinal canal caused by osteophytes, herniated disc, lig. flavum hypertrophy and myelomalacia are typical MRI signs. Eighty consecutive patients (46 men and 34 women) with documented CSM and/or radiculopathy have undergone surgery. The patients' age at surgery varied from 26 to 80 years (average 50 years). According to the predominant clinical symptoms 45 patients (34 men and 11 women) were with CSM, 35 patients (12 men and 23 women)--with radiculopathy. The clinical evaluation was obtained by the Nurick Scale. Seventy three patients (91%) underwent surgery via the anterior approach in different levels. The following surgical procedures were applied: discectomy and/or osteophytectomy followed by fusion with tricortical bone autograft or fibrocarbone cages, with or without anterior titan plate fixation. Decompressive laminectomy was performed in 7 (9%) patients. Postoperative functional outcome and follow up was achieved in 71 (89%) patients. In 64 (90%) of them was assessed progressive clinical improvement; without changes were 7 (10%) patients. No early or late complications, induced by surgical approach, bone grafts and implants were observed. Although the choice of surgical treatment in cervical spondylosis remains controversial, currently anterior decompression and fusion is appropriate for many cases. We are giving priority to the anterior approach on the basis of our current surgical results.

[Cervical disc prosthetics].

UNLABELLED: Studies, concerning the late results of operative treatment of cervical discal hernias with following fusion, display accelerated degeneration of adjacent intervertebral levels. Aiming at preserving the normal bio-mechanics of the operated level and improving the late postoperative results, functional disc prostheses were created. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors present three patients with symptomatic cervical spondylosis, where a new operative technique was used: discectomy with implantation of a cervical disc prosthesis - Bryan, Medtronic. Following the standard anterior discectomy and choosing a prosthesis with gravitational system the work instruments are calibrated. After the centre of the disc space has been determined, different profiled borrs are introduced consecutively for providing concavity of the disc surface of the vertebra, strictly corresponding to the shape of disc prosthesis. RESULTS: The results from the operative treatment at the three patients are encouraging: regression of the subjective complaints and neurological symptoms. The dynamic cervical spondilar X-rays show preserved volume of the movements at the operated level. CONCLUSION: The cervical discectomy with implantation of functional disc prosthesis is an alternative of the standard anterior discectomy with corporodesis in young patients.

[Associated severe head injury].

OBJECTIVE: Rarely do head and spinal cord injuries occur as isolated injuries. The associated injuries are well known. Multitraumatized patients are assessed and treated on a priority principle, based on the nature of injuries and stability of vital signs. Neurosurgeons are frequently faced with diagnosing and treating head injury in multitraumatized patients. The authors studied the incidence, diagnosis and treatment of patients with head injuries in cases with multiple trauma. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of 45 patients with severe head injuries in cases with multiple trauma. All patients were assessed after the GCS and GOS scoring system. All had CT scan. 32 patients were operated in our department. RESULTS: 29 patients died, 4 developed vegetative state and in 8 achieved a complete recovery. The highest rate of mortality was observed in patients with severe head injury, associated with pulmonary injury. CONCLUSIONS: Associated injuries constitute a serious problem with progressively increasing car accident traumatism. Being familiar with the assessment and management protocols for multitrauma patients gives neurosurgeons a better appreciation of the interrelationship in multisystem injury and an effective sequence of diagnostics and treatment of associated head injuries.

[Neurosurgical treatment of patients with parenchymal brain metastases from breast carcinoma].

UNLABELLED: Breast cancer in women is the most common source of parenchymal brain metastases and takes the second place in brain matastasing neoplasms. The goal of this publication is to analyse the patients with parenchymal brain metastases who have been operated in the Department of Neurosurgery in last 10 years and match the results with literature datum. MATERIAL: Analysis was made for 28 patients with parenchymal brain metastases from breast cancer who underwent neurosurgical operations in a 10-years period (1995-2004). All of them are female. The diagnosis was made according to neurological status, neuroimages and histological verification. Seven patients underwent image-guided metastasectomy. The postoperative complications were divided into neurological, regional and systemic. RESULTS: The clinical rate of patients with parenchymal brain metastases is 16%. Premenopausal age is predominating. Multiple and single metastases are equally. All of brain metastases are metachronous and parietal lobe is most often involved. The patients in prognostic class II of Gaspar classification are prevalent. Postoperative outcome in 25% is found to be poor. Seven image-guided craniotomy was made and two of them completed with one-staged bimetastasectomies. CONCLUSION: The breast cancer is a disease with frequent late and multiple recidivating brain metastases. Mean-effective methods such chemo- and radiotherapy make neurosurgery and especially image-guided neurosurgery the most effective treatment of cerebral lesions. One-staged image-guided metastasectomy may benefit patients with oligometastatic brain disease and good performance statuses.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in a working Bulgarian population.

UNLABELLED: Arterial hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke mortality. Few data exist on prevalence, awareness, and management of hypertension in Bulgaria, precluding development of potentially beneficial risk reduction initiatives. Between September 1996 and July 1997, an age-sex stratified sample of 847 male and 771 female employees (age 18-64 y) of the national transport industry resident in Sofia was recruited during their annual physical examination. A structured interview was conducted and resting blood pressure (BP) measured. Prevalence: Elevated BP (mean of two consecutive readings SBP > or = 140 mmHg and/or DBP > or = 90 mmHg) was observed among 24% of women and 58% of men (p < 0.001). Prevalence increased with age in both men and women. Awareness: Among 722 employees with elevated BP, 49% of women and 33% of men (p < 0.001) reported history of hypertension. Awareness increased with age. MANAGEMENT: Among 345 employees with history of hypertension, 37% of women and 36% of men (p > 0.05) reported taking antihypertensive treatment. The proportion under management increased with age. CONTROL: Normal BP was measured in only 6% of men and 7% of women taking antihypertensive medication (p > 0.05; no consistent trends by age). Elevated BP is widespread and hypertension is underdiagnosed and poorly controlled in this urban working-age Bulgarian population, especially among those under 40 y. This may contribute to the high rates of coronary heart disease and stroke incidence and mortality in Bulgaria.

[Effect of monensin (USA, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria) on fermentation of animal feed in an artificial rumen (Rusitec)]. / Efektívnost vplyvu monenzínu (USA, CSFR, Bulharsko) na fermentáciu krmnej dávky v umelom bachore (Rusitec).

An experiment was made with the Rumen Simulation Technique (Rusitec) in which the fermentation of a mixed ration of hay (12.8 g/d) and bruised barley (3.2 g/d) was compared with the fermentation of the same diet in the presence of 5 mg monensin/d from the USA, CSFR and Bulgaria. The fermentation of the mixed ration was significantly affected by all three kinds of monensin. The digestibility of dry matter (DM) in the rations declined in the presence of monensin from 48% to 40% (tab. I). The digestibility of detergent fibre, cellulose and hemicellulose also declined in the presence of monensin (tab. I). The production of methane decreased (-70%) and CO2 production dropped too, but this decrease could be accounted for by the changes in the production of volatile fatty acids and redistribution of metabolic hydrogen (tab. I). Monensin decreased the production of total volatile fatty acids (-21%), the production of acetic (-35%), n-butyric, n-valeric and isovaleric acids (tab. II) and increased the production of propionic acid (+60%). The production, utilization and recovery of metabolic hydrogen were significantly increased in the presence of all three kinds of monensin (tab. IV). The end products of fermentation were affected by an addition of monensin to the mixed ration. All three kinds of monensin increased energic efficiency of volatile fatty acids, decreased adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) production, the amounts of fermented hexose, organic matter fermented and utilization of glucose (tab. III).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Comparative study of apramycin-resistant microorganisms isolated from man and animals]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie apramitsinustoichivykh mikroorganizmov, vydelennykh ot cheloveka i zhivotnykh.

Apramycin-modifying strains isolated from pigs with coli bacteriosis, from humans and hospital environment were studied comparatively. Production of enzymes modifying the aminoglycoside was estimated with the radioactive cofactor procedure. E. coli isolates from the animals were phenotypically resistant to apramycin and a number of other aminoglycosides. They produced acetyltransferase AAC(3)IV, phosphotransferase APH(3')(5"), APH(3") and other enzymes. Resistance of the strains to gentamicin was also conditioned by AAC(3)IV since these strains did not produce AAD(2") and AAC(6'). In the resistant strains of E. coli and their transconjugates there were detected plasmids with a relative molecular weight of 60-80 MD. Some of the belonged to the compatibility group I1, the others belonged to the compatibility group H1. Strains of S. marcescens, K. pneumoniae. K. oxytoca and S. aureus isolated from humans and hospital environment were sensitive to apramycin. Only isolates of P. aeruginosa were resistant to this antibiotic. However, all the isolates produced AAC(3)IV. Some of them additionally produced AAC(6'), an enzyme modifying amikacin, kanamycin and other antibiotics and not acetylating apramycin. Almost all the strains produced kanamycin- and streptomycin phosphotransferases. Possible coselection of strains resistant to apramycin and gentamicin using one of these aminoglycosides is discussed.

[Incidence of echinococcosis in animals]. / Razprostranenie na ekhinokokozata po zhivotnite.

Studies were carried out on echinococcosis in animals, making use of the results obtained with investigations carried out throughout this country. A great number of definitive and intermediate hosts were studied. A considerable drop of the percent of infected animals was recorded over the 1966-1984 period both with the definitive and the intermediate hosts. Data is presented on the territorial spread of hydatid echinococcosis. Enumerated are the factors that bear an influence on this process. The demonstration of the high incidence of the disease as well as of the rising number of dogs substantiates the view that the epizootic status is still unfavourable, which is also due to some other factors.

[Intravital diagnosis of intestinal echinococcosis in dogs under field conditions]. / Prizhiznena diagnostika na chrevnata ekhinokokoza u kuchetata pri polevi usloviia.

Studies were carried out with regard to the diagnosis of intestinal echinococcosis in dogs as the definitive host when still alive, under field conditions. Effective worming and macrohelminthoscopy in such conditions resulted in 52.36 per cent effect. The value found for the average percent of the overall effect of treatment was close to the real values found for the helminthologic status of intestinal echinococcosis. The method employed minimized the epidemiologic and epizootiologic hazards. It was shown to be economically effective and readily applicable.

[Isolation of Escherichia coli O 157 from pigs with diarrhea]. / Izolirane na Escherchia coli O 157 ot praseta s diariia.

Biochemical and serologic studies were carried out with Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs affected with diarrhea. A total of 161 were investigated, 13 (8.01 per cent) of which were found to belong to serogroup O 157. Almost all strains proved beta-hemolytic, enterotoxigenic, and K 88-positive. The strains of this serogroup were found for the first time in this country in swine colibacteriosis.

[Case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in tropical snakes]. / Sluchai na infektsiia s Pseudomonas aeruginosa pri tropicheski zmii.

Microbiologic and morphologic studies were carried out with there tropical snakes (two Boa constrictor and one Pithon molurus) that contracted the disease and died. Pseudomonas aeroginosa was the only organism isolated from the affected portions of the oral cavity and the lung. It was found that all strains of the species isolated were sensitive to gentamycin, tobramycin, and polymixin B. Up to their death two of the animals were treated with tobramycin with no curative effect whatever. The morphologic lesions were confined to the oral cavity, the lung, and the skin only. Histologically, there were necrotic stomatitis and necrotic exudative pneumonia, diffuse fibrinoid degeneration of the connective tissue within all viscera, deposition of fibrinoid in the walls of the myocardial blood vessels, hyaline droplet degeneration of the hepatocytes and the kidney epithelium, and focal infiltrations of pseudoeosinophile leukocytes in the spleen. It is believed that due to the irreversible injuries of the internal parenchymal organs all treatment in the advanced stages of the disease was ineffective even with the use of antibiotics to which the etiologic agent was strongly susceptible.

[Phosphatase activity of Pasteurella multocida strains isolated from poultry and mammals]. / Fosfataznata aktivnost na shtamove Pasteurella multocida, izolirani ot ptitsi i bozainitsi.

The qualitative test of Berber et al. was employed to determine the phosphatase activity of Pasteurella multocida strains from birds and mammals (cattle, pigs, and rabbits). Only eight out of a total of 50 Pasteurella strains isolated from birds (34 from cases of acute cholera, 12 - of atypic cholera and 4 - from oedema of the wattles ) proved positive (4 isolated from cases of acute cholera, and 4 isolated from cases of atypic cholera). The remaining 42 strains did not show phosphatase activity. A total of 96 P. multocida strains (37 from cattle, 27 from pigs, and 32 from rabbits) were studied. Positive phosphatase activity were shown to have 32 of the strains isolated from cattle, 26 of those isolated from pigs, and 29 of those from rabbits. In terms of percent 42 (84%) of the investigated strains isolated from birds were negative, and 16% were positive for phosphatase activity. Ninety-six as cited above, were the strains isolated from mammals, of which 90.6% were positive, and 9.4% were negative for phosphatase activity. The phosphatase activity of the Psateurella multocida strains may effectively be used to divide the strains purely biologically - as such isolated from mammals and such isolated from birds. The exceptions observed are likely to be due to migration of Pasteurella organisms from birds to mammals, and vice versa. The phosphatase activity is not shown to correlate with the pathogenicity of the respective strains for albino mice.

[Effect of salinomycin on lambs for fattening]. / Vliianie na salinomitsina vurkhu agneta za ugoiavane.

When applied to male Trakiiska tunkorounna lambs of initial weight 18.6 kg in the course of 90 days at concentrations of 6 g, 12 g, and 24 g per ton of forage slinomycin brought about a rise of liveweight and average weight gain in the treated animals (for the weight gain 12.2, 16.7, and 19.4 per cent, respectively, as against the controls). The conversion rate (intake per kilogram of weight gain) was by 9.7, 16.6, and 22.2 per cent, respectively, higher. The intake of forage progressively dropped when offering higher concentration of the antibiotic, particularly during the second half of the experimental period. Highest was the effect of adding 24 g salinomycin to a ton of forage. Salinomycin induced no essential changes in the slaughter indices and in the content of cyanocobalamin in the meat. However, cyancobalamin was found to be at a higher level in the liver.

[Serological studies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophages]. / Serologichni prouchvaniia na bakteriofagi Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Investigated were 11 phages isolated from lysogenic strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Based on the results of the neutralization test the phages were divided into 3 clearly distinguished groups. The first group embraced phages P28 and C18, the second one--phages 5118, 05, 14, and 141, and the third one--phages 159 and 32. Bacteriophages 10, 12, and 149 produced slightly manifested (23 to 43 per cent) neutralization with P28 and 5118 sera. High-titer and specific antiphage sera were obtained.

[Method of determining the biochemical behavior of clostridia]. / Metod za opredeliane na biokhimichnite otnasianiia na niakoi klostridii.

A fast and readily applicable method is suggested for the determination of the biochemical reactions of the spore producing anaerobic organisms. A pepton coloid medium with the addition of 0.15 per cent agar-agar was used as a basic nutrient medium. The cultivation of bacteria did not require any special conditions. Reading of the results was carried out with the addition of 0.1 per cent phenol red after 48 hours of incubation of the cultures. This method showed a number of advantages over the methods used so far.