[The application of invasive and non-invasive reflexotherapeutic methods for the improvement of tolerance to the influence of seasonal meteorological factors and correction of bronchial asthma].

The present study included 94 patients presenting with bronchial asthma (BA) who underwent the controlled treatment during one year. The treatment consisted of basal anti-asthmatic therapy in combination with acupuncture reflexotherapy or a complex of non-invasive reflexotherapeutic methods (CNIRTM) designed to increase the effectiveness of correction of asthma, to improve the clinical status of the patients, to decrease by more than two-fold the frequency of unstable episodes of the disease showing the well-apparent seasonal dependence, and to diminish the consumption of pharmaceuticals (reduction of the mean daily dose of prednisolone by 31% and 37% in comparison with its 79% increase in the patients receiving the standard treatment). Moreover, it was shown that the achievement of clinical and preventive effect of the application of non-pharmacological methods may be associated with the activation of the mechanisms of adaptation to the stress factors (such as correction of the cortisol blood level and parameters of the immune status, etc.) and the increase of the patient's tolerance to their influence.

Function of myocardial contraction and relaxation in essential hypertension in dynamics of acupuncture therapy.

Forty-nine patients with initial stages of essential hypertension (EH) were investigated using phase systole analysis and echocardiography during acupuncture (reflexotherapy) treatment. It was established that even at the initial stages of EH increasing of myocardial mass and the disturbances of contractile and diastolic activity of myocardium take place. As a result of acupuncture a stable hypotensive effect, improvement or normalization of contractile function and diastolic values, a decrease of energy loss, reversal of myocardial hypertrophy were achieved. It is the decrease of sympathetic influences on the circulation system that plays an important part in the onset of these positive changes.

Modern aspects of hygienic standardization of ship noise.

The basic aims of hygienic standardization of the long-term round-the-clock action of ship noise on the sailors include protection of health, prolonged professional activity, prevention of interference and provision of comfort conditions of rest. Neuro-emotional stress in the work of sailors aboard a ship has been another reason for starting the ship noise standardization. As a result of long-term hygienic, clinical, physiological, experimental and natural studies, there were established the hygienic significance of noise and vibration parameters, a combined increased effect of noise and work strain, as well as that of pitching and rolling, and also the potent combined effect of vibration and noise. During a 3-month voyage the cumulative effect of noise was identified and the physiological significance of acoustic comfort of post-watch rest was ascertained. The relation of sailors' health to ship acoustic conditions was determined. The obtained results served as a scientific motivation for a number of Soviet legislative documents. Unification of physiological and hygienic criteria and methods of assessment of noise and vibration effects meets the interests of protection of seamen's health in CMEA countries.