[Functional state of the visual analyzer in the conditions of the use of traditional and LED light sources].

There was performed the experimental work on the study of the possibility of the application of LED lighting (LED light sources) in rail transport for traffic safety in related professions. Results of 4 series of studies involving 10 volunteers for the study and a comparative evaluation of the functional state of the visual analyzer, the general functional state and mental capacity under the performing the simulated operator activity in conditions of traditional light sources (incandescent, fluorescent lamp) and the new LED (LED lamp, LED panel) light sources have revealed changes in the negative direction. This was pronounced in a some decrease of functional stability to color discrimination between green and red cone signals, as well as an increase in response time in complex visual--motor response and significant reduction in readiness for emergency action of examinees.

[Cluster size polymorphism of active human ribosomal genes and simulation of the conditions of its stability through generations].

Based on selective silver nitrate staining of active ribosomal gene (AcRG) clusters in nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) of human metaphase chromosomes, a technique was developed earlier to estimate the AcRG dosage in individual genomes as a sum of arbitrary units (0-3) ascribed to the silver precipitate (AgNOR) on ten NORs. The AcRG dosage was considered to be an additive quantitative trait determined by five polymorphic autosomal loci (with for allelic forms for each locus). A database was created to contain the data on AcRG cluster variants for more than 1000 individual human genomes.

[Genetic markers of predisposition to infectious complications in neonatal infants with respiratory distress syndrome].

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is the commonest cause of death and morbidity of the newborn. A genetic risk for NRDS is currently recognized. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was an association of the polymorphisms of the SP-B, SP-D genes and the interleukins (IL)-1alpha, IL-10 genes with the development of infectious complications in neonatal infants with the respiratory distress syndrome.

[Monitoring in surgery and resuscitation: current state, problems, and trends].

General problems of medical monitoring are discussed using monitoring in anesthesiology and resuscitation as an example. The current state of this important problem of biomedical engineering and perspectives of its further development based on sophisticated medical methods of measurement of vitally important parameters of patient are analyzed. The main emphasis was placed on the problems of collaboration between physicians and engineers in the development of monitoring systems and optimal information support of physicians during the use of monitoring systems in surgery and resuscitation.

[Designing and manufacturing and supplying the instruments and equipment to medical facilities by ZAO "VNIIMP-VITA" RAMH in 2002 and 2003].

Outlined in the paper are some essential aspects related with the activity results of the All-Russia Research Institute for Medical Instrument-Making Ltd. of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, as of the leading Russian institution in the field of medical instrument-making. Data are described on a variety of already manufactured and on some new medical equipment items now in the process of designing.

[Lighting and technical elements of medical illuminators and the principles of minimal heating of the surgical field].

Schemes of lighting-and-technical elements of medical illuminators, manufactured by leading companies, are presented in the article. The values of the energy/light correlation are analyzed for different illumination sources; besides, the conditions of a minimal thermal inflow into tissues are described.

[New implanted electrodes for electric pacemakers].

Requirements applicable to as well as the construction of electrodes to stimulate the cardiac function are presented in the article. The importance of pacemakers at a wide range of heart diseases is demonstrated.

[State of the art and outlook for promoting Russian-made hemodialysis equipment with regeneration of dialyzing solution].

Radical improvements in the physiological features and self-sufficiency of hemodialysis equipment, an essential reduction of the volume of dialyzate contacting with patient's body and elimination of dependence of the equipment operation on the availability of a water-supply network can be ensured by applying a regime of circulation of a relatively small volume (3-5 l) of dialyzate through the regenerating device. The regeneration unit must eliminate the organic products of dialysis from the dialyzate and stabilize the ionic composition of the purified dialyzate according to the preset parameters. Modern methods and technical means for regenerating the used dialyzate are discussed; a regeneration unit, which ensures an electrochemical oxidation (in the used dialyzate) of nitrogen-containing organic metabolites with a subsequent sorption-type additional purification of electrochemically-processed dialyzate, is offered.

[An analysis of the prospects for elaboration and production of narcosis and respiratory equipment].

The narcosis-and-respiratory equipment (NRE) is one of the most important categories of equipment in health care. The article contains analytical data on the structure of NRE and sales statistics; a classification of the methods of ventilation support is presented, the appearance of NRE types, developed by ZAO "VNIIMP-VITA" and serially manufactured, is described.

[Equipment for electrostimulation of the nervous and muscular systems: investigations, design, and application].

The paper considers the history, the state-of-the-art, and prospects for development of electrostimulation and appropriate equipment. The results of Russian studies and developments in this field are presented.

[Polymorphism of glutathione-S transferase M1 gene in patients with generalized forms of surgical infection].

Polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) locus was analyzed with PCR in patients with generalized forms of surgical infection (n = 47) and in healthy donors (n = 80). Reliable difference was revealed in distribution of zero genotype between patients with sepsis and septic shock (chi 2 = 8.37; p = 0.

[Medical engineering computer technologies of testing cognitive functions in children].

Studies of higher mental functions in children are shown to present great difficulties in many parameters. Analysis has provided a number of requirements for medical devices and complexes and principles of their construction. Based on these data, the authors have developed and put computer test systems into practice, their advantages being shown.

[Medical engineering technologies of diagnosis and correction of higher mental functions in children and adolescents].

This is an introductory article for this issue of the journal prepared on the basis of the proceedings of the Scientific-and-Practical Conference on Problems in Instrumental Evaluation of Higher Mental Functions and Dysfunctions in Children and Adolescents by using computer-aided test systems (medical engineering technologies developed at the turn of millennia). The paper deals with the analysis of the themes of the conference, its composition, and issues examined.

[Methods of nondrug prevention of diminished work capacity and impaired health in railway workers].

The paper deals with the physiological assessment of some biologically active food additives (BAFA). The authors formulate principles in selecting BAFA to prevent fatigability and premorbidity associated with safe railway traffic.

[Organization of a medical occupational rehabilitation system for locomotive team workers].

The paper deals with the setting up of a system for early diagnosis of premorbidity and for medical professional rehabilitation of locomotive teams. Non-drug preventive measures are shown to have a high rehabilitative effect.

[Problems in establishing special pensions for locomotive team workers].

The paper deals with a physiological rationale for fixing pensions for locomotive-drivers within the ranges of age and length of service. The study is based on the fact that the nature and conditions of their work accelerate their ageing and decrease their working capacity.

[Significance of hereditary factors in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in children with infections].

In order to elucidate the contribution of hereditary factor (dose of ribosome genes) to the realization of organ dysfunction syndromes in children with surgical infection, the total size of silver nitrate-stained nucleoli-forming regions (Ag-NFR) of acrocentric chromosomes in karyotypes was assessed in 22 patients aged from 14 months to 12 years, 17 of these with appendicular peritonitis, 4 with destructive pneumonia, and 1 with acute hematogenic osteomyelitis. Pyoseptic diseases involved no organ dysfunction in 10 patients, and in 12, multiple organ dysfunction was diagnosed. Our findings indicate that the carriers of low-copy variants of ribosome genes are characterized by hereditary predisposition to lowered individual resistance of the organism.

[The protective signalization of human vital functions: methodology, concept, devices].

The paper describes a basically new approach to solving the most pressing sociomedical approach, i.e. timely rendering a medical aid when acute vital dysfunctions suddenly occur in real daily life.

[Medical-technological equipment of nonphysician monitoring of health status].

Extrahospital monitoring of the body's status is an effective method for health promotion of man and the general population. The paper presents medical engineering rationale for the software of health monitoring under different conditions, identifies three base-line configurations of these complexes: for use in health institutions: for that in the institutions lacking permanent medical staff; for individual and familial use.

[Present-day achievements and trends in the design of devices and apparatuses in research and practical medicine].

The paper considers the present-day achievements and trends in the design of devices and apparatuses for practical medicine, researches, and clinical studies by groups of devices and apparatuses that provide the use of the most effective therapeutical and diagnostic procedures by using the latest achievements in different fields of engineering sciences and technologies. Some common approaches, techniques, and decisions employed in the design of the present-day medical equipment are identified.