Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy in Russia: National Register, the Effect of One-Year Usage.

Patients with severe muscular spasticity still represent the most complex and resistant to therapy group of neuro-rehabilitation patients. In a few years, in Russia, intrathecal baclofen therapy has appeared to be the most effective method for such spasticity. For the first time the authors developed and implemented in clinical practice "Prospective register to treat spastic states using intrathecal baclofen therapy in Russian Federation" aimed at therapy classification of spastic patients: to reveal management characteristics, assess treatment outcomes and frequency of occurrence of adverse events that will finally help specify the need for the method employment in real clinical practice. The article presents the findings of a one-year usage of Register, which enabled to make a preliminary evaluation of intrathecal baclofen therapy in Russia.

A descriptive study on the functioning profile of patients with spinal cord injury in a rehabilitation center in Russia.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: (1) To use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) profile to assess the functioning of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) admitted to a rehabilitation center; (2) To determine the role of the ICF in the operation of a rehabilitation center in Russia. SETTING: This study was conducted in the Federal center for disability rehabilitation in Novokuznetsk, Russia. METHODS: Eighty-one patients with SCI (59 men and 22 women; 31 with cervical, 41 with thoracic and 9 with lumbar level of injury) were included in the study. We determined the odds ratios of more pronounced impairments in ICF categories according to the duration of SCI and degree of neurological deficit. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 34.9±11.1 years, men/women ratio was 2.7:1 and the median of time from injury was 2.5 (1.5-6) years. On the basis of American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), most patients had AIS A (N=31, 38.3%). Patients with tetraplegia and AIS A or AIS B were at risk for more significant impairments in b620 'urination functions' and b640 'sexual functions'. Patients with paraplegia and AIS A or AIS B were at risk for more significant impairments in b735 'muscle tone functions'. CONCLUSION: Using the ICF, we were able to describe the range and extent of functioning problems experienced by patients with SCI who were admitted in our rehabilitation center. Moreover, the use of the ICF improved the interaction between specialists.

[Device for measuring microconcentrations of indicator dyes in the blood]. / Pribor dlia izmereniia mikrokontsentratsii krasitelei-indikatorov v krovi.

A device operating on the principle of spectrophotometry that allows it by using an auricular sensor to continually record changes in the microconcentration (up to 1 mg/1) of dyes-indicators (ueviridin, cardiogrin, indigocarmin) that are introduced in the human blood circulation system for the purpose of diagnosing affections of the liver, kidneys and heart, is described.