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.

[A comparative evaluation of parenteral and oral preparations of gold and D-penicillamine in the treatment of rheumatoid nephropathy].

Analysis is made of the results of the treatment with parenteral (crysanol and myochrysine) and oral (ridaura) gold drugs as well as with small doses of D-penicillamine (DP) of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis with the signs of nephropathy. The latter ones were identified, respectively, in 18 out of 80 patients who began receiving treatment, in 17 out of 72, and in 16 out of 61 patients. The clinical, laboratory, instrumental and morphological manifestations of nephropathy are described and analysis of their dynamics under the treatment impact is provided.

[Roentgeno-morphological comparisons in rheumatoid arthritis based on data of a long-term prospective study].

During a prospective observation lasting 6 years 68 patients with rheumatic arthritis (RA) were repeatedly examined (up to 8 times) roentgenologically with parallel puncture biopsy of the synovial fluid of the knee joint made with an atraumatic needle, and numerical evaluation of markedness of 25 morphological signs of synovitis. A comparative analysis of the markedness of morphological signs of synovitis in relation to the degree and dynamics of destructive changes in the knee joint was made on the basis of the findings of 254 puncture biopsies and the same amount of roentgenograms. There is a close relationship between the activity of synovitis and the progress of destructive arthritis except for the morphological signs characterizing the reaction of hypersensitivity of an immediate type that may serve the purpose of prognostication of further articular destruction and of the choice of an early adequate therapy.

[A comparative evaluation of the efficacy and tolerance of gold and D-penicillamine preparations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. II. The effect on the morphological indices of rheumatoid synovitis].

Morphological signs of rheumatoid synovitis have been analysed on the basis of 130 puncture biopsies taken from 46 patients prior to the beginning and during parenteral therapy with auric preparations (crysanolom and myocrysin) and peroral administration of an auric preparation rhidaura and small doses of D-penicillamine. The most marked morphological effect was reached in 1.5 years.

[The healing of the bone erosions during therapy with gold preparations and D-penicillamine in rheumatoid arthritis patients].

The paper is concerned with the data obtained during 17-year prospective follow-up of over 500 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who received individualized treatment mainly with basic drugs. Cases of repair of bone erosions in small joints of the hands and feet are described as are cases of complete or partial repair of osteolysis in 8 patients with significant RA treated for a long time with parenteral or oral gold drugs, or D-penicillamine in different daily doses.

[Kidney involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Renal pathology was revealed in 284 out of 498 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) subjected to the 15 years' prospective controlled follow-up and given individualized pharmacotherapy. Biopsy specimens of the kidney were examined in 90 cases. Of these, in 14 patients, they were examined repeatedly.

[Glomerulonephritis in rheumatoid arthritis].

Results of a light optics morphological study of kidney biopsy material in 20 patients with rheumatoid glomerulonephritis supplemented by the data of immunofluorescent and electron microscopic diagnosis have been presented. All-round morphological investigation of biopsy material is the only proof for the presence of a renal lesion in 1/4 of the patients.

[Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of gold preparations and D-penicillamine and their tolerance in rheumatoid arthritis. I. The effect on the indicators of their activity and tolerance].

In the period of 5 years the authors observed 213 patients with RA. Of this number 80 patients got Au parenteral preparations and 61--D-penicillamin in the average daily dose of 450 mg. The efficacy of the drugs was assessed by its effect of the indices of the activity (quantitative assessment of clinical manifestations of vascular syndrome) which had been determined by the time of treatment and on the 3, 6, 12, and 18th month of subsequent therapy.

[The potentials of a peroral gold preparation (Ridaura) in treating rheumatoid arthritis based on prospective observation data].

Ridaura was given to 72 patients with true rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the period of 6 mos to 2 yrs. Patients with I-II degree of activity and II-III x-ray stage of RA prevailed. Extraarticular RA manifestations were detected in 79% of the patients.

[Amyloidosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

Of 467 patients followed-up for 15 yrs, rheumatoid arthritis was complicated by amyloidosis in 47 (10%). The relationship of amyloidosis development with a high or constantly moderate activity and expression of rheumatoid arthritis and its severity was brought to light. The results of biopsies of the mucosa, kidneys and liver, autopsy and clinical findings were analyzed and correlated.

[Clinico-morphological comparisons in variants of rheumatoid arthritis (based on the data of puncture biopsy of synovial membrane)].

Altogether 564 successive puncture biopsies withdrawn from patients with different versions of RA were subjected to morphological study with the aid of a statistical analysis of the intensity of 25 signs of synovitis evaluated according to the 5-score system. The differences in the structure of synovitis were recognized: predominance of the signs of the humoral immunity (particularly plasma cell infiltration) in patients with a mild (with a favourable evolution) version of RA and predominance of the signs of the cell-mediated immunity (macrophagal and T-lymphocyte infiltration, cytolysis, proliferation and mesenchymal transformation of fibroblasts) in a grave (incurable, invalidism-producing) version. The disease of medium gravity (running a progressive course but relatively eliminated by therapy) was characterized by the combination of and undulatory time course of the signs indicated.

[Chlorbutin, azathioprine, D-penicillamine and levamisole (decaris) in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. IV. Comparative evaluation of their effects on systemic (extra-articular) manifestations of the disease].

The authors studied and compared the action of chlorbutin, azathioprin, of large and mean doses of D-penicillamine and levamisole with that of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NAID) on rheumatoid arthritis systemic manifestations in 186 patients treated with these drugs for more than 3 months. It was shown that the basic drug compared very favourably with NAID. The cytostatics and levamisole were discovered to be highly efficacious.