YOUR EPOCH IS NOT FOR TRYING. IT’S FOR LIVING AND FOR DYING…

The article is devoted to biographies of three Russian physicians of the Silver Age (a period in the History of Russian culture between 1890 and 1917). They made early, significant and internationally recognized contribution into medical science and became eponymous, although social disasters of the twentieth century caused deep impact on their subsequent lives and careers, so their role was shadowed from global medical community. The article analyzes biographies and academic achievements of A-F.K. Siewert (aka: Zivert, Ziwert, von Siewert) (1872–1922), known for first description of the hereditary dyskinesia of cilia (as a triad of: situs inversus of the viscera, abnormal frontal sinuses producing sinusitis and bronchiectasis); S.S. Abramov (1875–1951), discoverer of primary idiopathic myocarditis, and N.I. Taratynov (1887–1919), who was the first in description of a local form of histiocytosis X (solitary eosinophilic granuloma) and predicted the eosinophilic origin of Charcot-Leyden crystals. The contribution of these scientists into Medicine is reviewed in context of historical epoch, on background of their different individual social choices and the fate of their families. Besides their eponymous descriptions, other medical priorities of these scholars are analyzed. Some previously unpublished materials from their family archives are presented, which witness for possible existence of unknown prototype for the main hero of ‘Doctor Zhivago’ novel by B. L. Pasternak and for probable priorities of doctor Zivert – in active diastole concept, or doctor Abramov – in description of dilated cardiomyopathy. The factors facilitating rapid development of theoretical and practical Medicine in imperial Russia of late XIX – early XX centuries are discussed. The conclusion of the author is that in any epoch, even the most cruel and unfavorable one, the creative activity is a way to social immortality (19 figs, 68 refs)

YOUR EPOCH IS NOT FOR TRYING. IT’S FOR LIVING AND FOR DYING…

The article is devoted to biographies of three Russian physicians of the Silver Age (a period in the History of Russian culture between 1890 and 1917). They made early, significant and internationally recognized contribution into medical science and became eponymous, although social disasters of the twentieth century caused deep impact on their subsequent lives and careers, so their role was shadowed from global medical community. The article analyzes biographies and academic achievements of A-F.K. Siewert (aka: Zivert, Ziwert, von Siewert) (1872–1922), known for first description of the hereditary dyskinesia of cilia (as a triad of: situs inversus of the viscera, abnormal frontal sinuses producing sinusitis and bronchiectasis); S.S. Abramov (1875–1951), discoverer of primary idiopathic myocarditis, and N.I. Taratynov (1887–1919), who was the first in description of a local form of histiocytosis X (solitary eosinophilic granuloma) and predicted the eosinophilic origin of Charcot-Leyden crystals. The contribution of these scientists into Medicine is reviewed in context of historical epoch, on background of their different individual social choices and the fate of their families. Besides their eponymous descriptions, other medical priorities of these scholars are analyzed. Some previously unpublished materials from their family archives are presented, which witness for possible existence of unknown prototype for the main hero of ‘Doctor Zhivago’ novel by B. L. Pasternak and for probable priorities of doctor Zivert – in active diastole concept, or doctor Abramov – in description of dilated cardiomyopathy. The factors facilitating rapid development of theoretical and practical Medicine in imperial Russia of late XIX – early XX centuries are discussed. The conclusion of the author is that in any epoch, even the most cruel and unfavorable one, the creative activity is a way to social immortality (19 figs, 68 refs)

FROM PHYSIOLOGY OF DISEASE TO SYSTEMIC PATHOBIOLOGY: HISTORY AND CURRENT TRENDS IN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

A paper describes the main events and periods in the history of Pathophysiology as a curriculum element and research area. The national schools of Pathophysiology in Russia, continental Europe, Asia and British-North American world are compared, their history discussed. The evolution of Pathophysiology towards Systemic Pathobiology, its crisis and perspectives are evaluated. The priority of Russian clinical and experimental researchers of late XIX century in foundation of Translational Medicine is supported. The necessity in combined programmes of Pathobiology for current education of medical researchers from biological and medical backgrounds is discussed. The experience of innovative teaching/learning of Pathophysiology at Saint Petersburg State University and Zagreb University is analyzed

Investigation of the long-term toxic effect of nanoparticles of different physical-chemical characteristics

The purpose of this work is to study the effect of metal and oxide nanoparticles on some ecological and functional groups in the soil-plant-animal system to form the stability limits of organisms. Nanoparticles of cobalt, iron, zinc, copper, copper oxide, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sized 20–80 nm were studied. The concentration range was 0.01–1,000 g of nanoparticles per ton of seeds or soil. Objects suitable for biotesting and environmental monitoring were selected: earthworms (Lumbricina), rats (white outbred) and Wistar rats. It was previously found that nanoparticles of the studied metals up to a concentration of 100 g t -1 of seeds, unlike oxides, practically do not affect bacterial populations. The use of indicators of biochemical and cytomorphologic reactions of invertebrates seems promising because worms are able to bind pollutants and reduce their penetration into plants. They are also an indicator of soil biotesting for metal contamination. Reactivity and toxic effects of nanoparticles (NPs) in natural conditions depend both on the type of soil and on the size and concentration of nanoparticles. With sizes (NPs) of up to 20 nm (depending on the type of soil and physicochemical characteristics), NPs are much more reactive and reduce the survival of microorganisms. Small nanoparticles (less than 20 nm) are characterized by a large interface. Such nano-objects exhibit high physical-chemical activity and are safe only at very low concentrations. The specifics of the environmental impact of oxide NPs compared to metal NPs was revealed. It was associated with accumulation of oxides in living systems and the peculiarities of changes in the morph physiological, histological and reproductive parameters of organisms and morphological and biochemical parameters of animals. Oxide nanoparticles accumulate in a living organism, exhibit toxic properties, lower the activity of enzymes and hormones and are transferred along trophic chains, which is not typical for metal nanoparticles

Facilitating Decision Support in Hospital Emergency Departments: A Process Orientd Perspective

Information systems exist for emergency departments (EDIS’), but even the most sophisticated ones concentrate on relatively simple coordination, resource allocation and documentation aspects of emergency department operations. There is little emphasis on management of the treatment process or optimization of resource use because definitive models do not exist for patient treatment processes. This paper outlines the identification of emergency department treatment processes and discusses how this treatment process perspective assists in framing optimization of resource utilisation, clinical decision making, training and emergency department layout