Hazard identification and risk characterization of bisphenols A, F and AF to aquatic organisms.

Production of bisphenol A (BPA) analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) has recently increased, due to clear evidence of adverse effects of BPA on humans and wildlife. Bisphenols (BPs) have already been released into aquatic environment without previous available information about potential adverse effects of BPs and their potential risk to aquatic ecosystems. In this study, lethal and sublethal effects of BPF and BPAF to bacteria, algae, crustacea and fish embryos were investigated and the results were compared to the adverse effects obtained for BPA.

[Drug-induced remission in the severe progressive variant of rheumatoid arthritis].

Analysis of the remission incidence and duration has been made in 71 patients with severe progressive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the 10-20-year follow-up period, with special attention paid to the role of the disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs). Remission occurred only in those patients who received permanent long-term systematic treatment with DMARDs. Such a therapeutic approach resulted in remission lasting from 5 to 11 years for 32% of the patients.

[Heart defects in rheumatoid arthritis patients (the results of a multiyear prospective clinico-echocardiographic study)].

The analysis of life-time diagnosis of valvular heart disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients has been made basing on a long-term clinico-echocardiographic investigation. Within 18-year follow-up valvular disease was revealed in 17 out of 214 RA patients (7.9%).

[The possibilities for a modifying influence of basic therapy on the long-term course of rheumatoid arthritis].

Analysis was made of the results of basic therapy carried out for 10-15 years in 71 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) bearing in mind the systematic nature of the treatment. The study included patients with the progressive disease variety and the onset of observation instituted within the first 5 years of RA. It is shown that only basic therapy carried out for many years and practically continuously during the observation period made it possible to control the disease.

[The potentials of colchicine in the combined therapy of secondary amyloidosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

The authors relate the results of prolonged treatment (up to 3.5 years) with colchicin of 22 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated by morphologically verified secondary amyloidosis of the kidneys and/or of the gingival, rectal and hepatic mucosae. Colchicin prescribed as the only slowly acting agent turned out effective in 5 out of 11 patients and in all the 11 patients given the drug in combination with basic therapy by cytostatics or, rarely, by gold drugs and D-penicillamine.