Quality, value, accountability and information as transforming strategies for patient-centred care: a commentary from an international perspective.

The reviewed paper describes how one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the US has successfully transformed itself to provide 21st-century healthcare. Even though there are other examples of successful transformation of public health services, it is difficult for large, bureaucratic systems to change, and a substantial number of ministries of health or social security health systems in the developing world are run under the assumption that change is very difficult if not impossible to achieve. The VA has significant differences and more financial resources compared to most of the developing world public health institutions; but still, change is often not only about money, but also about strategic direction, commitment and leadership.

[Distribution of immunogenetic markers of erythrocyte systems in ischemic heart disease].

Distribution of 24 phenotypes of 6 red cell systems (ABO, Rh-Hr, MNSs, Duffy, Kell-Chellano, Kidd) has been studied for the first time in 275 coronary patients of Armenian nationality. Antigens ABO and MN were determined by hemagglutination, antigen Rho(D) by conglutination, antigens C, c, E, e, Fya, Fyb, Jka, Jkb, K and k by indirect Coombs reaction. Out of the 6 systems, only heterozygous phenotype Cc and homozygous phenotype Jk (a-b+) were positively associated with coronary heart disease.

[Pathomorphologic changes in experimental siderosis].

Experimental hypersiderosis was induced in rabbits by intravenous injection of iron-containing preparation Ferrum Leck. The resultant pronounced hemosiderosis was found in the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs and spleen. Dystrophic and necrotic processes arose in the liver, kidneys, heart.

[Autologous blood transfusion and the problem of "safe" blood].

A conception of "safe" blood has been proposed based on autohemotransfusions with the use of the methods of preparation of autologous blood, preoperative isovolemic hemodilution and intraoperative blood salvage. For the latter method special apparatus are needed, while the two former methods are easily performable without complex equipment and high expenses. The wide use of autohemotransfusions is considered as the most reasonable alternative under conditions of diminution of donor number, increased hazard of transmission of some infections through homologous blood transfusions.