The paper deals with estimating radiation risks of non-cancer diseases of the circulatory system among the Chernobyl emergency workers based on data from the Russian National Medical and Dosimetric Registry. The results for the cohort of 61,017 people observed between 1986 and 2000 are discussed. These are essentially updated results for the similar cohort that was studied by authors earlier in 1986-1996. Newly discovered is the statistically significant dose risk of ischemic heart disease [ERR Gy = 0.41, 95% CI = (0.05; 0.78)]. Confirmation is provided for the existence of significant dose risks for essential hypertension [ERR Gy = 0.36, 95% CI = (0.005; 0.71)] and cerebrovascular diseases [ERR Gy = 0.45, 95% CI = (0.11; 0.80)]. In 1996-2000, the assessed ERR Gy for cerebrovascular diseases was 0.22 with 95% CI = (-0.15; 0.58). Special consideration is given to cerebrovascular diseases in the cohort of 29,003 emergency workers who arrived in the Chernobyl zone during the first year after the accident. The statistically significant heterogeneity of the dose risk of cerebrovascular diseases is shown as a function of the duration of stay in the Chernobyl zone: ERR Gy = 0.89 for durations of less than 6 wk, and ERR Gy = 0.39 on average. The at-risk group with respect to cerebrovascular diseases are those who received external radiation doses greater than 150 mGy in less than 6 wk [RR = 1.18, 95% CI = (1.00; 1.40)]. For doses above 150 mGy, the statistically significant risk of cerebrovascular diseases as a function of averaged dose rate (mean daily dose) was observed: ERR per 100 mGy d = 2.17 with 95% CI = (0.64; 3.69). The duration of stay within the Chernobyl zone itself, regardless of the dose factor, had little influence on cerebrovascular disease morbidity: ERR wk = -0.002, with 95% CI = (-0.004; -0.001). The radiation risks in this large-scale cohort study were not adjusted for recognized risk factors such as excessive weight, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, alcohol consumption, and others.

The work is concerned with assessment of radiation risks for non-cancer disease among the Chernobyl liquidators from 1986 to 1996. As of 1 January 1999, the Russian National Medical and Dosimetric Registry contains medical and dosimetric data for 174,000 liquidators. The cohort of 68,309 liquidators for whom best verified medical data are available is discussed. The dose dependency of incidence of non-cancer diseases was estimated by the cohort method and using the software package Epicure. For some classes of non-cancer diseases among liquidators, statistically significant estimates of radiation risk were derived for the first time. The highest excess relative risk per 1 Gy was found for cerebrovascular diseases; ERR Gy(-1)=1.17 at the 95% confidence interval (0.45; 1.88).

BACKGROUND: Erysipelas is a common infectious skin disease. A typical feature of erysipelas, especially on the lower limbs, is the tendency to reoccur and the study aimed to define the comorbidities associated with it. AIM: We aimed to investigate systemic and local comorbidities in patients diagnosed with erysipelas on the lower limbs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospectively-prospective, population-based cohort study which included all patients diagnosed with erysipelas on the lower limbs, during two years. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with first episode and patients with recurrent erysipelas. These two groups were compared, with particular emphasis on systemic and local comorbidities. RESULTS: The study included 313 patients, of which 187 with the first episode of erysipelas and 126 with a recurrent. Regarding the analyzed systemic risk factors, the recurrent erysipelas was significantly associated with obesity (p < 0.0001), insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (p = 0.0015), history of malignant disease (p = 0.02) and tonsillectomy (p = 0.000001). For a p-value < 0.0001, significantly more frequent finding of peripheral arterial occlusive disease, chronic oedema/lymphoedema, fungal infections of the affected leg and chronic ulcer was confirmed in recurrent erysipelas. Neuropathy had 23% of the recurrent cases and 8.6% in patients without recurrence, and the difference was found to be significant for p = 0.0003. The only dissection of the lymph nodes was found more frequently in recurrent erysipelas (p = 0.017), but no associations with other analysed local surgery on the affected leg. Patients with recurrent erysipelas had ipsilateral coexisting dermatitis p = 0.00003 significantly more frequent. Minor trauma often preceded the first episode of erysipelas p = 0.005. CONCLUSION: Identification and treatment of modifiable risk factors are expected to reduce the risk of a subsequent episode of erysipelas on the lower limbs

Поступила в редакцию 23.10.2017 г.; после доработки 08.10.2018 г.; принята в печать 30.11.2018 г.

A c. 9720-year historyof a mountain lake-mire complex on the Shufan Plateau (southern Primorye, Russian Far East) is based on a multi-proxy study of peat deposits. The chronology is based on eight radiocarbon dates in addition to two dated tephra horizons. The sediment contains eight cryptotephra layers attributable to Baitoushan, a volcano on the Korea/China border. Pollen, diatom and botanical macrofossil analyses indicate climate fluctuations during the Holocene and a compositional response of biodiverse mountain forests to changes in temperature and humidity. Widespread, diverse broadleaf-dominated forest marked awarm Early Holocene (~9500-9280 cal. a BP). Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) rose to dominance in the Middle Holocene (afterc. 7630 cal. a BP). Evergreen conifers, fir (Abies) in particular, became widespread after 2.9 ka BP and show a positive response to the Little Ice Age cooling. Over the c. 10 000-year record, moisture appears largely controlled by gradually declining intensity of the summer monsoon, trending from moist conditions in the Early Holocene to cooler and drier conditions in the Late Holocene with shorterterm hydrological changes superimposed. Peat composition indicates significant changes in mire vegetation, and diatom assemblages indicate four stages of inundation and three dry stages in the basin, probably controlled by precipitation changes. The initial importance of atmospheric precipitation shifted over time to a greater input from groundwater. During a long episode in the Late Holocene the basin may have dried out. Forest fires occurred during much of the Middle and Late Holocene, and their prominence, as marked by macro-charcoal, is related to changes in humidity. Human activities mark the past few centuries. Medieval fires were probably anthropogenic, and there is evidence of agricultural impact on the landscape during the Jin Empire settlement period 900-700 years ago and of more recent forest exploitation, particularly a reduction in conifer taxa.