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 Some previously unpublished materials from their family archives are presented, which witness for possible existence of unknown prototype for the main hero of ‘Doctor Zhivago’ novel by B.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

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

HYPERVENTILATION HYPOCAPNIA AS THE LEONARDO DA VINCI’S SYNDROME

The paper in early history of pulmonary medicine deals with studies of hypocapnia as a result of hyperventilation. Hyperventilation hypocapnia provokes respiratory alkalosis, subsequent ion changes in blood may cause disorders of myocardium conductivity and excitability resulted in arrhythmiae and even heart failure. Besides, hypocapnia limits the cerebral circulation which may be manifested in euphoria and even loss of consciousness. It is dangerous component of high altitude disease. Earliest medical descriptions of hyperventilation hypocapnia and its cardiac consequences are traditionally related with publications by an American physician of XIX age J.M. Da Costa and British doctor A.B.R. Myers. There exists a generally accepted eponym of "Da Costa syndrome". Hereby the authors for the first time coin data that disorders related to hyperventilation were described more than 360 years prior to Da Costa - by an Italian polymath of Renaissance epoch Leonardo da Vinci and suggest new eponym of "Leonardo da Vinci\u27s syndrome". The article also briefly analyzes the medical studies of Leonardo da Vinci and his early contribution into Human Anatomy and Thyroidology