Freezing and freeze-drying of strawberries with an additional effect of micro-vibrations.

Our research focuses on the formation of ice crystals and evaluating the structure of preserved frozen and freeze-dried strawberries. Strawberries were frozen in two ways. One-half of strawberries were frozen at - 30 °C under conditions of convective heat exchange. The other half of strawberries were frozen under the same conditions with an additional effect on the strawberries of micro-vibrations created in the air of the freezer according to a specific program. A digital frequency synthesizer that generates 250 W/m3 electromagnetic field rectangular pulse packets in the frequency bands of 2500-5000 kHz creates micro-vibrations. The microstructure of strawberries, the number of cells that have retained their structure and firmness were determined in frozen strawberries. The strawberries retained 25-30% of the cell structure of their total number during traditional freezing, and 65-70% of the cell structure when frozen under micro-vibration. The data of the penetration and shear stress showed that the strawberries frozen under micro-vibration conditions were 10-15% stronger. Then researched strawberries were vacuum freeze-dried. The primary drying temperature was 30 + 1 °C below zero and at the secondary drying the temperature was 38-40 °C. The microstructure and firmness of strawberries were researched in dried samples also. Freeze-dried strawberries frozen under micro-vibration had small and evenly distributed capillaries and their firmness was 8-10% higher than freeze-dried strawberries frozen by the traditional method. Thus, freezing strawberries with the additional effect of micro-vibration have a positive effect on the firmness of both frozen strawberries and freeze-dried strawberries.

[Class 1 and 2 HLA in coeliacia patients in Belarus].

Coeliacia is a genetically determined disease with pathogenesis underlain by altered activity of HLA genes. The aim of this work was to assess the HLA status of patients suffering coeliacia from Belarus. Typing of HLA classes 1 and 2 was undertaken in 25 patients. HLA class 1 and 2 genes were identified in 200 and 106 healthy subjects respectively that served as controls. 23 patients were found to have at least one classical risk allele (DQA1*05, DQD1*02, DQB1*302) and 11 proved homozygous for DQB1*02. Two patients had none of the risk alleles but carried DQB1*08, DQB1*05, A2, B7, B13, Cw6, Cw7, Bw4, and Bw6. The occurence of DQB1*03 (RR = 15.2, 95%; CI 5.47-42.21); DQB1*02 (RR = 12.2, 95%; CI 3.40-43.03); B8 (RR = 13.01, 95%; CI 5.19-32.76); Cw7 (RR = 4,5, 95%; CI 1,71-11,66) in patients with coeliacia was significantly higher than in controls. Moreover, a positive relationship was documented between the disease and A2-B13 haplotype (RR = 4.2, 95%; CI 1.44-12.19) and negative correlation between the disease and DQB1*0301, 0303 (RR = 0.2, 95%; CI 0.66-0.57). It is concluded that Belorussians suffering coeliacia exhibit typical immunogenetic characteristics inherent in this disease. More extensive studies are needed to elucidate its population-specific features.

[Polioxidonium in comprehensive therapy of recurrent herpetic stomatitis in children with allergic diseases].

In the study with participation of 96 children of 1-7 years age with recurrent herpetic stomatitis and allergic diseases therapeutic efficacy of Polioxidonium was investigated. Polioxidonium was used in combination with traditional methods and with He-Ne-laser irradiation. Local oral cavity immunity, indexes of cellular immunity (in the reaction of lymphocytes blast-transformation with phytohemagglutinin), indexes of humoral immunity (IgG and IgE) were studied, complement C(3)-component was determined. Polioxidonium in combination with traditional methods and with laser therapy for recurrent herpetic stomatitis treatment in children with allergic diseases influenced favourably upon clinical course of allergic diseases, let achieve stable remission, increased efficacy of their treatment, promoted immunological status and shorten the terms of medical rehabilitation.

[The distribution of HLA-system antigens in lung cancer patients]. / Raspredelenie antigenov sistemy HLA u bol'nykh rakom legkikh.

Data on 152 cases of lung cancer were studied in an attempt to identify relationship between immunogenetic markers of the HLA system, on the one hand, and histologic pattern of the disease and effectiveness of radiation treatment, on the other. Control group included 200 healthy blood donors. Eight A locus antigens and 16 B locus antigens were studied. In the entire group of patients, HLA-Aw19 antigen was observed less frequently as compared to controls. Similarly infrequent were haplotypes containing the antigen. The occurrence of HLA-B16 antigen was higher in the adenocarcinoma group. Resistance to treatment, particularly, in patients with small-cell histology was associated with the presence of HLA-B8 antigen. Possibility of tissue typing of antigens for diagnosis and prediction of response in lung cancer patients is discussed.

[Psychological characteristics of the physician]. / Psikhologicheskie osobennosti vracha.

As a result of psychological survey of professionally competent physicians with more than ten-year experience general distinguishing features of physicians were revealed--cordiality, communicativeness, kind disposition towards people, critical assessment of motives of other people, critical assessment of motives of other people, discretion, honesty. A physician is oriented towards success in his activity while being fully responsible for his actions. There are some peculiarities typical for personality of a therapist, surgeon and emergency care physician. The data obtained could be used for the purpose of improving public health as well as for the purpose of professional selection of applicants and subinterns.

[Levels of various components of the classical and alternative pathways of complement activation in diabetes mellitus patients]. / Soderzhanie nekotorykh komponentov klassicheskogo i al'ternativnogo puti aktivatsii sistemy komplementa u bol'nykh sakahrnym diabetom.

The state of the complement system was studied in 91 patients with insulin dependent and in 47 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes. A study was made of the quantity of hemolytically effective molecules of some components C2, C4, C3, C5 of classic and factors B and D of alternative pathway of activation. Complement components were studied for control in 51 healthy blood donors. Antigens B8 and B18 of the HLA-histocompatibility system were studied in parallel in 24 patients and 21 donors. A significantly raised level of components C3 and C4, factors B and D was revealed in the patients with insulin dependent diabetes as compared to the controls (p less than 0.05). In non-insulin dependent diabetes C4, factors B and D were significantly raised and the level of C5 was lowered (p less than 0.05). In the patients with insulin dependent diabetes having antigens B18 the level of C3 was raised and the level of C4 was lowered as compared to the controls. The level of factors B and D was also lower than that in the diabetic patients. An analysis of the content of the complement components in 31 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy indicated a decrease in the levels of components C3 and C5 and an increase in the content of C4 (p less than 0.001) as compared to the normal. Diabetes was accompanied by considerable variations as compared to normal values characterizing the state of the complement system and reflecting, to a certain extent, the main features of the pathogenesis of disease.

[Antigenic polymorphism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]. / Antigennyi polimorfizm pri amiotroficheskom bokovom skleroze.

HLA-antigen distribution in 93 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis did not differ from that in the control group. Yet, there were significant differences in antigen levels both between different variants of the disease and as compared to the control values.

[Features of the distribution of HLA antigens in patients with neurologic manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis]. / Osobennosti raspredeleniia antigenov HLA u bol'nykh s nevrologicheskimi proiavleniiami poiasnichnogo osteokhondroza.

Examinations of the HLA antigens (A and B loci) distribution in patients with neurologic manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis (NMLO) has revealed a statistically more rare incidence of A11 antigens and a more frequent one, of B7 and B18 ones. A different distribution of the antigens in cases with the major clinical forms of lumbar osteochondrosis was noted. Patients with discogenic lumbosacral radiculitis differed from normal subjects by the same antigens as all NMLO patients. For patients with lumbar ischialgia increased concentrations of B7 and B18 antigens were characteristic, whereas in radicular ischialgias A11 and B15 antigens were less incident and B40 one, more incident. The findings confirm the polygenic nature of hereditary predisposition to NMLO.

[Features of the distribution of HLA-antigens among patients with endogenous psychoses]. / Osobennosti raspredeleniia HLA-antigenov u bol'nykh éndogennymi psikhozami.

Distribution of HLA antigens of A and B loci was studied in 200 schizophrenics, 77 patients with manic-depressive psychosis of different forms, and in 350 healthy individuals. The findings included a significant elevation in the levels of the B7 antigen in both groups of patients, of antigen B12 in individuals with paroxysmal schizophrenia as well as a decrease in the concentrations of antigen B35 in recurrent schizophrenia. Patients with monopolar manic-depressive psychosis showed increased content of antigen B14 and decreased levels of antigen B5. The data obtained confirm heterogeneity of endogenic psychoses with regard to this sign.

[HLA antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus patients]. / Antigeny sistemy HLA u bol'nykh sistemnoi krasnoi volchankoi.

A study was made of the rate of HLA system antigens in 75 patients with different clinical versions and immuno-pathological manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A total of 350 normal subjects comprised the control group. During SLE, a high rate of DNW3, B8 and AI antigens was revealed. Associative relations were established between individual clinical syndromes of SLE and immuno-pathological manifestations of the disease and definite antigens of the HLA system. The results of typing HLA system antigens can be used as additional criteria of SLE diagnosis, disease prediction, and choice of adequate therapy schemes.

[Clinical course, diagnosis and surgical treatment of congenital aortic stenosis]. / Klinika, diagnostika i khirurgicheskie lechnie vrozhdennogo stenoza ust'ia aorty

In 39 patients aged from 2 1/2 to 35 years the results of surgical treatment of congenital aortic stenosis are analyzed. Electro-, phonocardiographic and roentgenological findings along with those obtained through catheterization of the left cardiac chambers prior to surgery are described in detail. All these patients were divided into 3 groups, depending upon extent of deranged hemodynamics. The 1st group included 10 persons with a moderate aortic stenosis. The systolic gradient between the left ventricle and the aorta did not exceed in them 30 mm Hg. The 2nd group counted 20 patients with a well-marked aortic stenosis and a systolic pressure gradient between 30 and 80 mm HG. The 3d group embraced 9 patients with an acute aortic stenosis. Here the systolic gradient was in excess of 80 mm Hg. Surgery was performed in 35 patients under a moderate hypothermia and with extracorporeal circulation. Thirteen (33.3 per cent) patients died during surgery and in the post-operative period.