[Role of neuropeptides in the pathogenesis of pain syndrome in autonomic and sensory polyneuropathy of occupational etiology and their role in the therapeutic action of laser acupuncture]. / Rol neiropeptidov v geneze bolevogo syndroma pri vegetosensornoi polinevropatii professionalnoi étiologii i ikh uchastie v mekha- nizme terapevticheskogo deistviia lazernoi akupunktury.

Biochemical studies of opiate system in patients with occupational diseases showed the role of the central pain regulating system inducing the pain syndrome in autonomic and sensory polyneuropathy caused by occupational factors. Increased production of the pain-reducing endogenic neuropeptides such as endorphin and leucine enkephalin was found one of the He-Ne laser acting principles which restore the pain adaptation in human. A repeated course of laser therapy would normalize the content of both neuropeptides. Blood levels of neuropeptides may serve for evaluating the pain syndrome and estimating of laser therapy effects.

[Metabolic status in workers engaged in the production of cobalt-containing powder compositions of hard alloys]. / Sostoianie metabolizma u rabochikh proizvodstva kobal'tsoderzhashchikh poroshkovykh kompozitsii tverdykh splavov.

A wide-range complex of biochemical techniques was used to study metabolic processes in workers exposed to cobalt and ethanol. In practically healthy workers were found laboratory manifestations of hepato-biliary irritations, hyperpermeability of the hepatocytes' cytoplasmic membrane, cholestasis syndrome, initial manifestations of muscular dystrophy and minor signs of atherosclerosis risks. The biochemical shifts were like those in alcoholism cases. It was suggested that, under the existing technological conditions of cobalt-containing hard-facing alloys' powder processing, the action of ethanol increased the toxic effect of cobalt.

[A biochemical assessment of the glucocorticoid function of the adrenal cortex in patients with occupational bronchial asthma and asthmatic bronchitis]. / Biokhimicheskaia otsenka gliukokortikoidnoi funktsii kory nadpochechnikov u bol'nykh professional'noi bronkhial'noi astmoi i astmaticheskim bronkhitom.

The article contains a study of the basal level and the circadian rhythm of the hydrocortisone secretion in patients with occupational bronchial asthma and asthmatic bronchitis. Relationships were established between the hydrocortisone secretion levels and severity of the clinical course. Circadian rythm disorders resulted into double hydrocortisone secretion increases at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. Hydrocortisone secretion circadian rhythm data should be taken into account in the development of individual therapies.

[Biochemical evaluation of metabolic disorders in the tissues of the locomotor system in patients with occupational diseases caused by physical stress]. / Biokhimicheskaia otsenka metabolicheskikh rasstroistv v tkaniiakh oporno-dvigatel'nogoapparata u bol'nykh professional'nymi zabolevaniiami ot fizicheskogo perenapriazheniia.

A group of patients with occupational disease and female sewing-machine operators were medically examined with a broad set of biochemical techniques aimed at the detection of metabolic disorders in the locomotor system tissues. Noninflammatory dystrophic changes were found. The muscular component was dominating in comparison with the osseous one in the genesis of the degenerative dystrophic processes, which manifested in the clinical course. Laboratory manifestations were revealed related to the lowered energy supply and oxygenation of the skeleton muscles in patients with neuromuscular and osteo-muscular++ syndromes. The metabolic disorders were diagnosed at the early stages of myalgia.

[Cobalt-induced cardiomyopathy in workers engaged in the manufacture of hard alloys]. / Kobal'tovaia kardiomiopatiia u rabochikh, zaniatykh na proizvodstve tverdykh splavov.

Four male patients aged 32 to 42 years were followed up. The clinical picture of the disease was typical of dilated (congestive) cardiomyopathy with a subacute onset, development of pronounced heart failure; all the patients were found to have exudate pericarditis. All the men were of the same occupation; they worked at the hard alloy works at a bay of wet grinding in ethanol of metallic Co and hard alloy carbides. The content of Co in the air of the working premises exceeded the MAC and amounted to 7.8-10 mg/m3. Besides, 47 workers of the same occupation (90% of the number of persons engaged in making up powdered compositions of hard alloys) were examined in addition. 16 persons showed the signs of alcoholization, including 9 (out of 11) working at a bay of wet grinding. During the recent 20 years, no cases of respiratory occupational diseases were recorded at the bay. The cardiotoxic properties of Co manifest themselves after the preceding toxic exposures, among which the leading part is played by alcohol. Of the 4 patients, 3 developed the disease in the presence of alcoholism, in 1 patient, it was coupled with tuberculous intoxication. Marked tendency towards polycythemia and increase of the content of hemoglobin was a frequently occurring manifestation of Co action on the workers (rather than a sign of intoxication).

[Functional state and development of diseases of the locomotor system in seamstresses in relation to their work characteristics and degree of physical exertion of the hand muscles]. / Funktsional'noe sostoianie i razvitie zabolevanii oporno- dvigatel'nogo apparata u shvei v zavisimosti ot osobennostei ikh truda i velichiny fizicheskoi nagruzki na myshtsy ruk.

Physiological and clinical on-the-spot studies were performed of the labour conditions in 3 groups of female sewing-machine operators (respectively, engaged in making women's dresses, men's suits and men's coats). The analysis performed revealed different degrees of physical load and fatigue in the operators depending on the occupational peculiarities. Specific features of the peripheral nervous system and locomotor system disorders were studied in details, along with the causal relationships underlying the degree of physical load and fatiguability, overstrain development and cumulation. The results of the study were used as a basis for setting Health-Related regulations for sewing-machine operators.

[Prevalence of arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease and their risk factors in geologists in various regions of the USSR]. / Rasprostranennost; arterial'noi gipertonii, ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa i faktorov ikh riska u lits geologicheskikh professii v razlichnykh regionakh strany.

The authors presented the results of an epidemiological survey conducted simultaneously for the first time among persons of geological professions in order to reveal the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) and coronary heart disease (CHD) with account of labor intensity, climatic and geographic factors. Altogether 1041 men were examined in 4 regions: in Vorkuta (a trans-polar region), Ukhta (a northern region), Chita and the Central region. The highest AH prevalence was detected in Vorkuta (27.4%), the lowest--in the Central region; the highest CHD prevalence was noted in Ukhta, the lowest--in Vorkuta. As for labor intensity, persons whose work was characterized by psychologic stress, suffered from AH and CHD more frequently. Significant differences in the prevalence of these diseases were revealed among managers and employees.