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PubMed1991

Cancer mortality in the USSR, 1986-88.

Mortality rates in the USSR for the major cancer sites have been computed for the period 1986-88 from official numbers of certified deaths and population estimates provided by the World Health Organization databank, and compared with rates for 26 other European countries. Among males, elevated mortality rates (age-adjusted, world standard) were observed for cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx (6.6/100,000), oesophagus (8.4/100,000) and larynx (6.8/100,000). Mortality from cancer of the stomach (38.4/100,000 males and 16.5/100,000 females, for a total of 87,000 deaths per year) was the highest in Europe. Likewise, overall lung cancer rates among males (61.0/100,000, for over 77,000 deaths per year) were among the highest in Europe, and showed substantial rises over the last 2 decades. Lung cancer mortality in females was comparatively low (6.9/100,000), and increased only moderately. Rates for cancers of the intestine (14.6/100,000 males and 10.6/100,000 females) and of the female breast (12.9/100,000) were comparatively low as compared to most other European countries, and those for prostatic cancer (5.9/100,000) were the lowest registered in Europe. In contrast, mortality for cancer of the uterus (9.7/100,000) was among the highest in Europe, probably due to high mortality from cervical cancer. Priorities for cancer control in the Soviet Union are thus reduction of consumption of tobacco and alcohol, which largely explain the high rates for lung and upper digestive and respiratory sites, improvements in diet composition and food storage to reduce the substantial excess of stomach cancer, and rational screening for cervical cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Incidence of cancer of the lung, stomach, breast, and cervix in the USSR: pattern and trends.

The most frequent fatal malignant tumors in the Soviet Union are cancers of the lung, stomach, breast, and cervix uteri. From incidence statistics and population estimates provided by the Department of Statistics of the Ministry of Health, age-adjusted incidence rates for the period 1971-87, using the World standard population, have been computed for the USSR as a whole and for each of the 15 Soviet republics. For six republics believed to have the highest quality of data and relatively homogeneous populations, time-trends are examined over the period. There is important geographical variation in the incidence of malignant tumors in the Soviet Union. The differences between high and low incidence areas are four-fold for cancer of the lung and stomach, three-fold for cancer of the breast and two-fold for cancer of the cervix. Overall in the six republics for which time-trends are examined, cancers of the lung and breast have increased, cancers of the stomach and cervix have decreased. There are some variations in specific age groups in some republics.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The effects of thermal biofeedback and autogenic training of cardiovascular reactivity: the joint USSR-USA Behavioral Hypertension Treatment Project.

Cardiovascular reactivity (heart rate, systolic, and diastolic BP) to mental arithmetic and cold pressor were measured before and after treatment as part of the cross-cultural (USSR and USA) evaluation of thermal biofeedback and autogenic training (in comparison with self-relaxation) as treatments for mild hypertension in unmedicated males. There were no statistically reliable decreases in cardiovascular reactivity from before to after treatment. However, downward shifts in basal levels of systolic and diastolic BP at post-treatment led treated patients to have lower stress-induced levels of BP.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Frequency of the F508 deletion in cystic fibrosis patients from the European part of the USSR.

The frequency of the F508 deletion (delta F508) has been analyzed in 189 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients from the European part of the USSR, viz. 127 northern Slavonians (Leningrad region), 30 southern Slavonians (the Ukraine), 10 central Slavonians (Moscow region), 14 Moldavians (Kishenev region) and 8 Lithuanians (Vilnius region). The distribution of CF+ chromosomes with and without delta F508 varied significantly in the different ethnic groups studied and correlated with the clinical manifestation of CF. The overall frequency of delta F508 in Slavonian patients is equal to 62.5%, approximately 90% of them being heterozygous or homozygous for this mutation. The frequency of the deletion among 99 Slavonian patients with severe disease manifestation (pancreatic insufficiency, PI) is equal to 67.5%, only 12 patients having pancreatic sufficiency (PS, 17.5%). The highest value of delta F508 (77.4%) is registered in PI/CF patients of the southern Slavonian group; it is much less frequent (about 57%) in relevant groups of Slavonians from the northern and central parts of the country. Unusually low frequencies (24% and 26%) of delta F508 are detected in a few samples of Lithuanian and Moldavian CF patients, respectively. All delta F508+CF-chromosomes of Slavonian origin are associated with haplotypes 2.2.2. defined by the restriction fragment length polymorphism sites KM19/PstI, CS.7/Hin6I and MP6d-9/MspI, although a high proportion (about 25%) of unknown mutations is associated with the same haplotype. Haplotype B (allele 1XV2c/TaqI; allele 2 KM19/PstI) accounts for 91% of delta F508+CF chromosomes. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis of a single origin and subsequent diffusion of this major CF mutation; however, its interpopulational dissemination in Eastern Europe does not follow the suggested south-east to north-west gradient in Western Europe. The significance of these data for prenatal diagnosis and carrier screening of CF mutations is briefly discussed.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis A antibodies, hepatitis B viral markers, and anti-hepatitis C antibodies among immigrants from the former USSR who arrived in Israel during 1990-1991.

The goal of this study was to assess the susceptibility of the sub-population of over 500,000 immigrants from the former USSR who came to Israel during 1989-94 to HAV infection, and to provide military physicians with estimates of the prevalence of HBV and HCV carriage in this sub-population. 987 males aged 17-49 and 195 females aged 17-19, reporting to military recruitment offices between December 1991 and March 1992 were tested. Anti-HAV, anti-HBV antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were detected by using standard enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests, and anti-HCV antibodies by a second-generation EIA and confirmed by a third-generation INNO-LIA test. It was found that in the 17-19-year age-group the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies was 37%, anti-HBV was 12.8%, HBsAg was 3.0% and anti-HCV 1.3%. All markers were higher among males. The prevalence of anti-HAV and anti-HBs antibodies increased with age among males. That of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies increased with age overall. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, HAV and HBV seropositivity were significantly associated with the mother's education and republic of origin. It was concluded that the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies is similar to that among the local population, which should not be considered at a higher risk of infection during military service. On the other hand, the higher prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies in this sub-population should heighten the awareness of the possibility of chronic liver pathology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Do polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) deposits still occur in internal organs at the turn of the millennium? Observations on three patients from the former USSR].

PVP had been used as a plasma expander following the end of world war II up to relatively recently but after its intracellular storage became known, it was withdrawn from use. Nevertheless, it was used as a retarding agent for subcutaneous and intramuscular administration of drugs until the 1980s and as a consequence pseudotumors have been observed. Three patients from the former USSR are described with PVP storage in the gastric and duodenal mucosa as well as in lymph nodes. The reason for the administration in these patients and the substances applied remain obscure. It is known that PVP infusions are still performed in Taiwan and that it was also injected intraarticularly as an artificial joint lubricant in Russia in the early 1990s. Because cells with intracytoplasmic deposits of PVP can be misdiagnosed as tumor cells and for reasons of general health - "la maladie polyvinylique" [1] may develop - it is still necessary to retain knowledge of the histology of cellular PVP storage.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Organization of obstetric services in USSR.

The principles on which the organization of Obstetric Services in the USSR is based are presented. The main types and functions of curative and preventive establishments which are related to the system of maternity and child protection and deliver obstetric care in the country are listed. The organizational structure of obstetric services, system of advanced training of doctors, the administrative machinery which directs the obstetric services, the development of scientific research in this field and feeding of results into practice are discussed.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1994

Mortality from malignancies of the hematopoietic and lymphatic tissues among personnel of the first nuclear plant in the USSR.

This paper reports results from the study of mortality from malignancies of the hematopoietic and lymphatic system among personnel of the first nuclear reactor and processing plant in the USSR. Two registers have been set up. They include all personnel of the atomic reactor (register A) and of the radiochemical processing plant (register B). The operation of these installations started in 1948, and two cohorts were formed; cohort I includes those who started employment between 1948 and 1953, cohort II those who started employment from 1954 to 1958. The predominant contribution to the occupational exposure was from external gamma-radiation. Adverse radiation situations prevailed during the first years at both facilities, and this resulted in substantial exposures of the personnel. Significant increases of the total cancer mortality rates and the proportion of malignancies of the haematopoietic and the lymphatic system were seen in the internal comparison only in cohort I of male workers from facility B. In the same cohort there was a statistically significant excess of the standardized mortality rates from malignancies of the haematopoietic and the lymphatic system over the population rates in the Soviet Union. Our estimate for the excess relative leukemia risk is 1.45/Gy, which is 2.7 times less than the relative excess risk of 3.92/Gy that was observed for the A-bomb survivors over age 20 ATB (Shimizu et al. 1987).

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1993

Microbial culture collections in Russia and the former USSR--the current situation and future prospects.

This article provides an overview of the microbial culture collections currently in existence in Russia and, to a lesser extent, in other countries within the former USSR territory, with the emphasis on biotechnologically relevant, nonmedical collections. The influence of both past constraints and those resulting from the recent political and economic restructuring is discussed in terms of the efforts that need to be made to secure the future of the collections as valuable national and international resources. Details of the current framework are provided to enable the reader to establish contact with appropriate establishments.

Bacteria↗
PubMed1991

Initial experiences with surgical treatment of deep burns at a USSR children's burn unit.

Thirty-eight consecutive children with deep burns who underwent early burn wound excision and grafting are reported from the 6th Surgical Department and the All-Union Pediatric Burn Center, Children's Hospital no.9, Moscow, USSR. Early excision represents a radical departure from previously employed expectant treatment. Infection rate fell from 25-48 per cent to 15 per cent. Two children died during a time period when, based on prior experience, seven to eight children would have been expected to succumb. With additional experience with this technique, results should improve even further.

Burn Units↗
PubMed1996

Variation of allozyme loci in populations of Drosophila melanogaster from the former USSR.

Variation of eight allozyme loci, Acph, Adh, Est-6, Est-C, alpha-Gpdh, Idh (NADP-dependent), 6-Pgd and Pgm, was studied in 20 populations of Drosophila melanogaster from the territory of the former USSR, including Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Adh exhibited weak regression on latitude, longitude, and also on the temperature of the hottest calendar month in these localities. For seven other loci, no regular geographical pattern was found. Nei's coefficient of gene differentiation (GST) ranged from 0.010 (6-Pgd, statistically nonsignificant) to 0.178 (Idh) and was on average 0.058. The average Nei's genetic distance (D) between the populations was 0.011. It is suggested that this fairly low level of interpopulation differentiation for the examined loci except Idh may be explained by extensive gene flow in combination with natural selection.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

A perspective on environmental health in the USSR: research and practice.

Under the auspices of the US-USSR agreement for cooperative research in environmental health, Soviet methods for setting and enforcing standards for environmental pollutants were observed. Since all industry is government owned, the Soviet government is the principal polluter of the environment, the regulator of environmental degradation, and supporter of research on environmental quality control. The Sanitary Epidemiological Service, a subdivision of the Ministry of Health, coordinates the activities of many of the research institutes involved in environmental research as well as a large network of Sanepid Stations for maintaining and controlling environmental quality at the local level. The Soviet Union's distinctive view of a pollutant standard has greatly influenced the environmental research that is undertaken. The centralized absolute power of the government to enforce pollution abatement has led to some improvements in environmental quality.

Air Pollution↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A survey using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of aflatoxins in domestic and imported foods in the USSR.

A survey of the occurrence of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2 in Soviet domestic and imported cereals and nuts (totalling 4532 samples) collected in 1985-87, showed that 26.9% of imported peanuts, 2.2% of corn and 28.3% of cotton seeds were contaminated by aflatoxins at levels exceeding the maximum tolerated level established in the USSR (5 micrograms/kg for aflatoxin B1 in foodstuffs of all types excluding baby foods); maximum concentrations were 3650, 600 and 153 micrograms/kg, respectively. A highly sensitive normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed. The detection limit was 0.1 microgram/kg and the coefficients of variation were 11% and 8.5% at contamination levels 10 and 100 micrograms/kg of aflatoxin B1, respectively.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Study of rimantadine in the USSR: a review of the literature.

The results of basic-science and clinical studies performed in the USSR with the drug rimantadine are summarized. In the investigations cited, the therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of rimantadine against infection with influenza virus was tested, and rimantadine was shown to be clinically efficacious and free of toxicity, both in studies with volunteers and in persons with natural disease during epidemics of influenza. Administration of 50 mg of the drug for 15-30 days was effective for prevention of influenza, and administration, early in the course of illness, of dosage of 150 mg per day for three to five days resulted in a favorable clinical response. The combination of immunization and chemoprophylaxis was shown to be highly effective for the prevention of influenza.

Adamantane↗
PubMed2005

Out-of-home placement of children with intellectual disability: Israeli-born parents vs. new immigrants from the ex-USSR.

Although the policy of deinstitutionalization encourages parents to raise a child with development disability at home, professionals are becoming increasingly aware of these parents' care-giving roles. Immigrant parents from the ex-USSR who have children with developmental disabilities are potential clients for placement, but to date, the tendency in Israel to out-of-home placement by immigrant parents, compared with Israeli-born parents, has not been studied. The placement variables were examined as a function of place of birth, emotional stress and social support. The sample was 100 parents who have children aged 6-21 years with mild to moderate mental retardation (according to the American Association on Mental Retardation definition) who live at home. Fifty parents were immigrants (arrived in Israel after 1990) and 50 were Israeli-born. They live in the region of Haifa and the north of Israel. The following measurements were carried out: (1) Demographic Questionnaire for data such as place of birth, age, socioeconomic status, etc., (2) Questionnaire of Resources and Stress, (3) Family Support Scale and (4) Out-of-Home Placement Questionnaire. The results showed that parents' readiness to apply for out-of-home placement proved to be related to their stress level and child's age, regardless of their origin (immigrants or Israeli-born) and regardless of social support resources. The older the children with mental retardation and the higher the stress levels felt by their parents, the higher was these parents' potential to apply for out-of-home placement. Immigrant parents tended to report a significantly higher level of stress than Israeli-born parents. No difference was found in the social support resources available to both research groups. Immigrant parents' stress level was higher as the child's mental retardation level was more moderate and their time in Israel was longer. Stress level among Israeli-born parents was higher among those who were religious, were of lower socioeconomic status and/or when, in addition to the mental retardation, the child suffered from other medical problems. In conclusion, families with children with mental retardation should be referred to services in an integrative way, regardless of the origin of the children's parents. Professionals must increase their own awareness of parents' level of stress and its impact on their readiness to apply for out-of-home placement. Recommendations for practical work and for future researches are made.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diabetes education in the USSR: how to begin?

To determine patients' attitudes towards diabetes education in the Soviet Union, a questionnaire was distributed throughout the country. From 10,000 completed forms, returned from all regions of the USSR, 2000 were analysed in detail. Responders represented all age and social groups, but patients with shorter duration of diabetes, and women, responded more readily. More than 41% of patients were unaware of the type of diabetes they had, the actual proportions of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes among respondents being 31 and 63%. Rates of chronic complications derived from patients' answers suggest a high rate of underestimation by local physicians. Only 17% of Type 1 and 8% of Type 2 diabetic patients believed that they knew enough about diabetes, and 99.9% of all respondents wanted to learn more about their disease. Independently of the type of diabetes and educational level, patients would accept the information on diabetes from periodicals (63-68%), television (48-63%), booklets for patients (29-31%), as well as attending diabetes courses or classes (30-38%). They expressed preference for teaching conducted by physicians (74-85%) rather than nurses (1-4%). The main areas of interest for Type 1 diabetic patients were technical devices, (artificial pancreas and insulin pumps (85%] and late diabetic complications (78%), and for patients with Type 2 diabetes late complications (84%) and diet (72%). Some respondents (20-25%) expected the use of herbs and other 'non-traditional' methods to be effective in treatment and curing of diabetes. The least requested topics were acute complications (18-34%) and metabolic self-monitoring (0.025%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1978

Psychiatry as ideology in the USSR.

This paper was given as a talk at the Venice Biennale on 9 December 1977. It was part of a symposium on "The Freedom of Science--Problems of Science of Scientists in Eastern Europe". Dr Bloch details some of the problems of psychiatry and its vulnerability to improper use and thus the dilemmas which must ensue in day to day practice. He looks at psychiatry in the USSR and the system within which Soviet psychiatrists must work. The Communist Party and career advancement for psychiatrists would appear to be closely related and it is suggested that, in all probability, the majority of psychiatrists are as perturbed at the misuse of their profession as their Western colleagues, but act compliantly out of fear. Severe punishments have been imposed on those psychiatrists who have dared to speak out against the régime and the system as operated. Dr Bloch concludes by urging Western psychiatrists to do all they can to help their Soviet colleagues to initiate a return to an independent and automous psychiatric profession.

Communism↗
PubMed1989

Development of genetic research in the USSR.

Two periods of the development of genetic research in the USSR with reference to its current trends of plant and animal genetics, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics are reviewed. A short list of priority areas is established: the maintenance and use of unique gene pools of plants and animals; the domestication of animals and cultivation of new plants; the development of programmes for mathematical treatment of genetic data banks. It is suggested to consider them within the framework of international projects. The idea is to promote the collaborative efforts of scientists on an international scale.

Academies and Institutes↗