FERSMAN’S LIFE IN THE LIGHT OF GEMS (BY DOCUMENTS FROM THE ARCHIVE OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES)

The article presents the most important stages of Fersman’s biography. Alexander Evgenievich Fersman was a recognized expert in mineralogy, crystallography and geochemistry. In 1919, at the age of 35, Fersman became an academician of the Academy of Sciences. From 1926 to 1929 he was a vice-president of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Fersman’s personal fund is kept in the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Life choices and the fi professional success are shown on the basis of documents from the personal fund. Fersman crossed the path from a youthful interest in gems (morphology, structure, chemical composition) to the realization of his scientifi potential as the head of the major research projects. Fersman was awarded the Lenin Prize (1929), USSR State Prize (1942), Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1943) and Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society of London (1943). Particular attention is paid to the work of A.E. Fersman's assessment and attribution of precious stones from the Diamond Fund. Fersman led a special commission and carried out the mission with great enthusiasm. Having studied physicochemical properties of stones he provided the necessary information and reports. Also, he studied the historical and cultural context of jewelry making. Aft the commission completed its work, Fersman had a variety of documents on the history of gems. A.E. Fersman was pleased to share the results of his work. He was actively engaged in the popularization of scientifi knowledge. His books reveal the amazing world of gems and enable an examination of the evolution of the scientist's views. In addition to biographical information, unique visual documents are presented. Th are papers and photographs from the Fersman’s personal fund.

Academician G.N. Speransky (1873–1969) and Moscow School of Pediatricians. In mark of 50th anniversary of the scientist death day

The article presents the main milestones of the life and work of the academician G.N. Speransky, the scientific priorities of the scientist, and the scientific activities of some of his outstanding students. Since 1931, G.N. Speransky, the head of the Department of Pediatrics of the Central Institute for Advanced Medical Studies, is the author of more than 200 scientific papers on the development of the problems of physiology and pathology of early childhood, including the neonatal period. He scientifically substantiated methods of feeding, caring and raising children. G.N. Speransky, together with co-authors, was awarded the Lenin Prize for a series of works on the physiology and pathology of young children. A significant number of his works are devoted to neonatal sepsis, respiratory diseases, and acute gastrointestinal diseases. In 1922, G.N. Speransky organized journal “Pediatrics”, he was the editor for 47 years. G.N. Speransky was also the editor of the Pediatrics section of the 1st and 2nd editions of the Big Medical Encyclopedia, chairman of the All-Union Society of Pediatricians.

Fibrinolytics: from the thrombolysis to the processes of blood vessels growth and remodeling, neurogenesis, carcinogenesis and fibrosis

One of the most outstanding scientific achievements in the thrombolysis is the development and administration of fibrinolysin - the first Soviet drug that lyses blood clots. Intracoronary administration of fibrinolysin reduced the mortality of patients with myocardial infarction by almost 20%. For his work in this field Yevgeny Chazov was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1982. Over the next decades, under his leadership, the Cardiology Center established scientific and clinical laboratories that created new generations of drugs based on fibrinolytics for treating patients with myocardial infarction, restoration of blood flow in ischemic tissue, and also studying the mechanisms of remodeling of blood vessels involving the fibrinolysis system. It have been found new mechanisms of regulation of the navigation of blood vessels and nerves growth, tumor growth and its metastasis with the participation of the fibrinolysis system proteins. The review reports the role of the fibrinolysis system in the thrombolysis, blood vessels growth and remodeling, neurogenesis, carcinogenesis and fibrosis. The article is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of academician E.I. Chazov.

ACADEMICIAN ALEKSANDR FYODOROVICH TUR (ON THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THE TEACHER)

The article is dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Russian pediatrician, Academician Aleksandr Fyodorovich Tur and the 75th anniversary of the lifting the siege of Leningrad in the Great Patriotic War. Professor A.F. Tur directly participated in the organization of medical care for children in the besieged city of Leningrad, for 10 years he was the chief pediatrician of the city. The experience of the work of children’s polyclinics in Leningrad on the basis of a single pediatrician subsequently became the property of the whole country. A.F. Tur made a huge contribution to the protection of children of the besieged city, directed the Children’s Nutrition Board, proposed original methods for combating alimentary dystrophy, helped to create a system of rigorous provision of children with food, shelter, fuel, organization of the correct regime in shelters, and continuous monitoring of vaccinations for children. The Society of Pediatric Doctors headed by Prof. Yu.A. Mendeleva and A.F. Tur was one of the first to renew its meetings in the besieged Leningrad. The name of A.F. Tur is associated with the establishment of domestic dietetics, neonatology, pediatric hematology, pediatric endocrinology. Among his students, there are more than 110 candidates and 28 doctors of medical sciences. In peacetime, A.F. Tur was awarded two orders of Lenin, in 1970 he was awarded (jointly with G.N. Speranskii and Yu.F. Dombrovskaya) the title of the Laureate of the Lenin Prize “... for a series of works on the physiology and pathology of young children, contributing to a sharp decline in morbidity and mortality among them».

THE ‘FATHERS OF THE SOVIET PEDIATRICS’: YU.F. DOMBROVSKAYA AND A.F. TUR

This article, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Society of Children’s Doctors of Russia, presents short biographical reviews of the most prominent Russian pediatricians: Yu.F. Dombrovskaya (1891-1976) and A.F. Tur (1894-1974), the academicians of the Academy of Medical Science of the USSR, Honoured scientists of the Russian Federation, laureates of the Lenin Prize in 1970. Their high professionalism and achievements in scientific and clinical pediatrics, exceptional personalities and their special style of communication with colleagues, pediatric patients and their parents were reasons for these pediatricians gained the highest respect in medical circles. Both of them took part in all congresses of pediatricians that were held in their lifetime and presented major papers at most of them. A.F. Tur was elected the president of the Society of Children’s Doctors of the Russian Federation in 1957, and Yu.F. Dombrovskaya was elected the president of the Board of the Society of Children’s Doctors of the USSR in 1962. Under the chairmanship of Yu.F. Dombrovskaya there were held three congresses of the Society of Children’s Doctors of the USSR, A.F. Tur was elected the chairman at four congresses of the Society of Children’s Doctors of the Russian Federation. Between the congresses, a number of conferences and meetings were held (pan-Soviet-Union, pan-Russian-Federation, regional, municipal). The activities of both Societies of Children’s Doctors - of the USSR and the Russian Federation - have contributed a lot to the improvement of qualifications of pediatricians, clinical and prophylactic activities, specific medical aid to children, using a wide range of new technologies in theory and practice of pediatrics, positive changes in health indexes of children.

Anniversary of the editor-in-chief of the journal “Vestnik RKhB Dvizheniya Zashchita”, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Lenin Prize Laureate 1991, retired Colonel General Stanislav Veniaminovich Petrov, 1989–1991. Head of the Chemical Forces of the USSR, 1992–2001 Head of the RHB Defense Troops

A brief history of the life and exploit of the editor-in-chief of the journal “Bulletin of the Russian Army of the Chemical Forces of Defense”, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Lenin Prize Laureate 1991, retired Colonel-General Stanislav Veniaminovich Petrov. In 1989-1991 Head of the USSR Chemical Forces, 1992–2001 The chief of the troops of the Russian Chemical Defense Tank. His merits to the USSR and Russia are described.

Contribution of professor S.A. Reinberg (1897–1966) in domestic medicine. On the 120th anniversary of birthday

The article presents the main milestones in the life and work of Professor Samuel Aronovich Reinberg (1897–1966). Little-known facts from the life of the scientist are noted. It is noted that in 1930–1943 he headed the Department of radiology of the Leningrad Institute of advanced medical training. In 1927, he founded the world's first Department of pediatric radiology at the Leningrad Institute of maternal and infant protection and led it until 1939.the article shows that in 1943–1950, the Director of the Moscow x-ray Institute and at the same time headed the Department of radiology of CIU (until 1966). S.A. Reinberg is the author of 410 works published in 13 languages, including 25 manuals, textbooks and monographs, mainly on the problems of clinical radiology. The main work of S.A. Reinberg is analyzed – the monograph “X-ray Diagnostics of bone and joint diseases”, which was published in 4 editions, was awarded the Lenin prize. S.A. Reinberg developed the problem of violation of bronchial patency. He has a priority in the study of the history of the organization and development of radiological service in the USSR, as well as in the development of lifetime radiography in humans and the opening of the sphincter apparatus of the fallopian tubes. Noted that he was one of the founders of the all-Union and all-Russian scientific society of roentgenologists and radiologists, Chairman of the Moscow scientific society of roentgenologists and radiologists, program speaker at the all-Union Congress of roentgenologists and radiologists starting from the 2nd Congress in 1924 the Editor of the editorial Department of “Radiology” 2nd edition BME. Analyzes the pedagogical activity of Professor S.A. Reinberg. The work noted that he was awarded the order of the Red Banner of Labor, Red Star, “Badge of Honor” and a number of medals of the USSR.

Vladimir Nikolaevich Shamov – the founder of the neurosurgical service of the Russian Federation (to the 135th anniversary of the birth)

The article describes the life path of V. N. Shamov – the largest scientist and talented surgeon, doctor of medicine, professor, honored scientist of the USSR and the RSFSR, a full member of the USSR AMS, winner of the Lenin prize, lieutenant general of the medical service.