[The influence of certain meteorological factors on mortality from complications of arterial hypertension].

The weather may influence the clinical course of many diseases. The objective of the present study was to evaluate effects of certain meteorological factors on the mortality rate associated with complications of arterial hypertension (cerebral stroke and myocardial infarction) in the city of Astrakhan during the period from 1983 to 2005. The analysis included 17,198 cases of death from cardiovascular disorders (CVD). An original software program was used for the purpose that made it possible to estimate the influence of meteorological factors (air temperature, velocity of wind and precipitation) on the mortality rate among subjects with and without AH. It was shown that mortality due to coronary heart disease (CHD) and cerebrovascular disease positively correlated with the air temperature and amount of precipitation but inversely correlated with the velocity of wind. Correlations between mortality from CVD and meteorological factors among subjects presenting with CHD, cerebrovascular disease, and AH were more pronounced and statistically significant compared with patients of the same groups without AH.

[Effect of active medium on sclera creep]. / Vliianie aktivnoí sredy na polzuchest' sklery glaza.

Irreversible stretching (creep) of the eye sclera, regarded as the cause of high myopia, has been studied experimentally. Both dramatic acceleration and appreciable deceleration of the bovine sclera creep have been observed in the presence of some enzymes. Connective tissue creep caused by static and cyclic mechanical stress (gravitation, blood pressure, etc.) can be associated with many age-specific and pathological changes. The authors believe that detection of appropriate creep inhibitors will make it possible to replace surgery with preventive therapy in ophthalmology and cosmetology.