Right-lateralization of the visual word form area after left-hemisphere perinatal stroke.

In literate adults, an area along the left posterior fusiform gyrus that is often referred to as the "visual word form area" (VWFA) responds particularly strongly to written characters compared to other visually similar stimuli. Theoretical accounts differ in whether they attribute the strong left-lateralization of the VWFA to a left-hemisphere bias towards visual features used in script, to competition of visual word form processing with that of other visual stimuli processed in the same general cortical territory (especially faces), or to the well-established left-lateralization of the language system.Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to test the last hypothesis by investigating lateralization of the VWFA in participants (male and female) who have right-hemisphere language due to a large left-hemisphere perinatal stroke.

[Management forms to improve early diagnosis and prophylaxis of occupational diseases in workers of major chemical enterprise].

Cooperation of occupational therapists with local authorities and with Sanitary and epidemiologic supervision establishments results in definite positive changes in diagnosis and primary prophylaxis of occupational diseases, improves quality of medical examinations. Prevention of occupational diseases results from contract system in hiring for hazardous work conditions. The job contract should invariably include a medical part that definitely settle rights and duties associated with health preservation.

[Bronchial and pulmonary diseases in workers exposed to irritant gases].

Individuals working in atmosphere of relatively medium (up to 3 MACs) levels of irritant gases demonstrate 1.7 times higher incidence of chronic bronchitis vs. general population does.

[Acute pneumonias in those working with chemical substances that irritate the respiratory tract].

A study was performed of acute pneumonia (AP) morbidity among the workers exposed to respiratory irritation inducing chemical substances, which revealed a marked AP prevalence in these professional groups. A qualitative analysis of the AP cases severity helped to establish some peculiarities of the disease course in workers exposed to minor concentrations of the chemical substances, which should be taken into account in diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and out-patient observation.