[Influence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on hospital outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with acute coronary syndrome].

AIM: To evaluate the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on hospital outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort prospective study of the COPD effect on mortality and coronary microvascular obstruction (CMVO, no-reflow) development after PCI in ACS was carried out. 626 patients admitted in 2019-2020 were included, 418 (67%) - men, 208 (33%) - women. Median age - 63 [56; 70] years. Myocardial infarction with ST elevation identified in 308 patients (49%), CMVO - in 59 (9%) patients (criteria: blood flow <3 grade according to TIMI flow grade; perfusion <2 points according to Myocardial blush grade; ST segment resolution <70%). 13 (2.1%) patients died. Based on the questionnaire "Chronic Airways Diseases, A Guide for Primary Care Physicians, 2005", 2 groups of patients were identified: 197 (31%) with COPD (≥17 points) and 429 (69%) without COPD (<17 points). Groups were compared on unbalanced data (÷2 Pearson, Fisher exact test). The propensity score was calculated, and a two-way logistic regression analysis was performed. The data were balanced by the Kernel "weighting" method, logistic regression analysis was carried out using "weighting" coefficients. Results as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The conducted research allowed us to obtain the following results, depending on the type of analysis: 1) analysis of unbalanced data in patients with COPD: OR death 3.60 (1.16-11.12); p=0.03; OR CMVO 0.65 (0.35-1.22); p=0,18; 2) two-way analysis with propensity score: OR death 3.86 (1.09-13.74); p=0.04; OR CMVO 0.61 (0.31-1.19); p=0.15; 3) regression analysis with "weight" coefficients: OR death 12.49 (2.27-68.84); p=0.004; OR CMVO 0.63 (0.30-1.33); p=0.22. CONCLUSION: The presence of COPD in patients with ACS undergoing PCI increases mortality and does not affect the incidence of CMVO.

[Facet joint distraction as a risk factor for poor clinical outcomes in older patients after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.]

The search for literature sources in domestic and foreign databases showed the absence of works devoted to the study of the influence of the degree of distraction of the facet joints in elderly and senile patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). The purpose of the study was to study the effect of the degree of facet joint distraction on clinical outcomes in patients of the older age group who underwent ACDF. A single-center retrospective study included 47 elderly and senile patients who underwent ACDF for radiculopathy due to degenerative diseases of the cervical spine. A statistically significant correlation was found between the differences in the value of the interfacet distance and the severity of pain in the cervical spine according to VAS (p<0,01). Patients with X-ray semiotics of facet distraction more than 0,55 mm 12 months after the operation were significantly more likely to experience increased pain in the cervical spine according to VAS (p=0,028) and significantly limited daily activities due to pain in the neck NDI (p=0,043). The choice of indications for ACDF in patients of the older age group should be based on a rigorous analysis of facet distraction, cervical sagittal parameters in combination with the functional status of patients.

[Analysis of the effectiveness of various methods of rehabilitation of patients with subacromial impingement syndrome]. / Analiz effektivnosti primeneniya razlichnykh metodov reabilitatsii patsientov s subakromial'nym impindzhment-sindromom.

INTRODUCTION: Subacromial impingement syndrome is a common pathology that leads to a persistent decrease in the functioning of the affected limb and, as a consequence, a decrease in the quality of life and work ability of patients. According to various authors, the study of the effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation of this pathology is quite widely presented in the literature: surgical, including arthroscopic operations, rehabilitation using various factors of physical therapy, manual and other practices. However, the issue of assessing the effectiveness of movement therapy, both alone and in combination with other therapeutic methods, remains relevant. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic gymnastics procedures, both monotherapy and in combination with manual massage according to the therapeutic method and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome of the shoulder, in order to reduce pain and improve the function of the shoulder joint. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 70 patients whose age was 42.18±10.42 years. Patients were divided into two main groups: group 1 (n=34) and group 2 (n=36). All patients received a course of treatment, including 10 procedures of therapeutic exercises, with recommendations at the end of the course for continuation in the form of independent studies using the proven methodology. The duration of the course of therapeutic exercises (in the form of procedures with a physical therapy instructor and subsequent independent studies) was 30 days. Patients in group 2 were divided into three subgroups: subgroup 2A, in which PH procedures were combined with massage of the cervical-collar area and the upper limb area of the affected side; subgroup 2B, where PH gymnastics was carried out in combination with extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) procedures; subgroup 2C - a comprehensive program including LH procedures, manual massage and shock wave therapy. RESULTS: 3 months after the end of the course of rehabilitation measures, patients of all groups showed a significant improvement in scores on the ASES and VAS scales, but there were no reliably significant differences between the results of different groups. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that movement therapy is an effective method of rehabilitation for patients with subacromial impingement syndrome, and conducting complex programs in which PH is combined with other rehabilitation methods (massage, shock wave therapy) doesn't have statistically significant advantages over PH alone within a 3-month observation period.

BLEPHARITIS AND HELICOBACTER-ASSOCIATED GASTRODUODENAL DISEASES (REVIEW).

The aim of the study was to find the relationship between the inflammatory process on the eyelids (blepharitis) and Helicobascter pylori infection. The data of numerous studies are analyzed, which give grounds to suggest a possible pathogenetic or mediated role of H. pylori infection in the development and course of inflammatory eye diseases. Fundamental in these studies are the release of harmful compounds in the exhaled air of patients with H. pylori, such as ammonia, hydrogen nitrate and hydrogen cyanide, the restoration of impression cytology after H. Pylori eradication, the presence of H. pylori in the lacrimal fluid. In this regard, the authors conclude that there are three main possible pathogenetic mechanisms for the association between H. Pylori infection and blepharitis: chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress.

Excitation of high-intensity terahertz surface modes of plasma slab under action of p-polarized two-frequency laser radiation.

The excitation of the terahertz (THz) high-intensity surface modes when the two-frequency p-polarized laser radiation interacts with a plasma slab is studied. It was found that the significant amplification of the laser field in the plasma slab occurs when p-polarized laser radiation is incident at the angle of total reflection. It is shown that, under the action of laser radiation ponderomotive forces, the resonant excitation of the THz mode of the plasma slab occurs if the frequency difference of the laser fields coincides with the eigenfrequency of the surface mode. It is established that the giant increase in the energy flux density of the THz mode occurs when p-polarized laser radiation is incident at the angle of total reflection on the near-critical plasma slab with rare electron collisions if the conditions of resonant excitation are satisfied. It is shown that in this case the energy flux density of THz mode can significantly exceed the laser intensity.

[Ultrastructure of neointima of native and artificial elements of the blood circulatory system]. / Ul'trastruktura neointimy nativnykh i iskusstvennykh elementov sistemy krovoobrashcheniya.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the neointima structure in conduits for coronary bypass grafting, bioprosthetic heart valves, tissue-engineered vascular grafts, and metal stents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The objects of the study were the fragments of the human internal thoracic artery, experimental biodegradable vascular prostheses, leaflets of xenopericardial bioprostheses of heart valves, and fragments of stented vessels. Tissue samples were fixed in formalin and post-fixed in osmium tetroxide. After dehydration and epoxy resin embedding, the samples were ground and polished. Samples were counterstained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and visualized by means of backscattered scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Neointimal pattern in all samples was similar. Neointima was comprised of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, and the extracellular matrix. Endothelial cells showed significant diversity both between different elements of the circulatory system and within the same tissue, having either elongated or polygonal shape. Adhesion of leukocytes testified to the endothelial cell activation. In the absence of inflammation in the superficial layer of the neointima, the arrangement of smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix fibers was parallel to the endothelium. Clusters of foam cells were frequently detected around the neointimal layers with solid inclusions (metal stents or calcium deposits). Thickening of the neointima was accompanied by the presence of capillaries and capillary-like structures. CONCLUSION: Neointima formation is a typical response to the damage inflicted to the elements of the circulatory system. Neointima underwent a constant remodeling characterized by an altered cellular composition, macrophage invasion, neovascularization, and calcification.

A Digital Electrocardiographic System for Assessing Myocardial Electrical Instability: Principles and Applications.

The aim of the study was to develop an ECG hardware and software system for monitoring electrical instability of the myocardium and to assess the diagnostic and prognostic capabilities of this setup in a cardiology clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Intecard 7.3 software and hardware system developed in this study makes it possible to measure fluctuations of the ECG amplitude-time parameters using the beat-to-beat mode. Intecard 7.3 evaluates a number of ECG markers that reflect electrical instability of the myocardium. Among them are the fragmented QRS complex, the spatial QRS-T angle, the T-wave alternans, the duration, and dispersion of the QT interval, the turbulence and acceleration/deceleration of the heart rhythm.Clinical trials of Intecard 7.3 were carried out with 734 patients with ischemic heart disease or cardiomyopathy and 112 healthy individuals. RESULTS: Intecard 7.3 reliably identifies fragmented QRS complexes by detecting short spikes of <25 ms in the ascending parts of the Q, R, and S waves. The QRS-T angle is determined from the reference amplitudes of the R and T waves in leads avF, V2, V5, and V6. Digital precision processing of the ECG signal improves its accuracy to microvolts and microseconds.The software was designed to measure the T-wave amplitude in each of 300-500 cardiobeats; T-wave alternans was estimated by the moving average method. In a typical cardiobeat, the QT dispersion was calculated based on 12 ECG leads. From the sequence of RR intervals, turbulence, and deceleration of the heart rhythm were determined.During the observation period of 5.0 [2.1; 5.9] years, 90 out of 734 patients (12.3%) experienced adverse cardiovascular events (ACVE). In this period, the myocardial electrical instability was recorded in patients with ACVE more frequently than in those without ACVE. Thus, the frequency of fragmented QRS was 72.2±4.7 vs 16.8±1.5% (p<0.01), the values of the QRS-T angle were 128 [55; 101] vs 80 [53; 121]° (p<0.001), the T-wave alternans - 36.9 [15.5; 62.1] vs 21.9 [10.2; 30.7] µV (p<0.005), the QT interval - 408 [383; 438] vs 376 [351; 400] ms (p<0.001), the QT dispersion - 76 [57; 96] vs 64 [50; 92] ms (p<0.005), respectively. In patients with ACVE, the threshold that triggers pathological rhythm turbulence was higher (>0%) than that in healthy controls (p<0.001); the deceleration of the heart rhythm was reduced from 19.2 [2.2; 38.0] to 8.8 [4.0; 16.8] ms (p<0.05).A personalized model for ACVE risk stratification has been developed. In this model, the area under the ROC curve was 0.856; sensitivity - 75%; specificity - 78%; predictive accuracy - 77%. CONCLUSION: Using the ECG markers of myocardial electrical instability, the Intecard 7.3 system allows one to predict life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death with an accuracy of 77%. The non-invasiveness, high productivity, and reasonable cost ensure the availability of this predictive technology in all levels of healthcare.

[Comparative study of vasa vasorum and neointima in conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie vasa vasorum i neointimy v konduitakh dlia koronarnogo shuntirovaniia.

AIM: This study was undertaken to investigate the preoperative incidence and severity of intimal hypertrophy, as well as the level of blood supply of arterial and venous conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Segments of the internal thoracic artery and great saphenous vein (n=13) were harvested pairwise during coronary artery bypass grafting and were then visualized by scanning electron microscopy in back-scattered electrons. The analysis of the incidence and thickness of intimal hypertrophy, as well as the calculation of the number and the area of the vasa vasorum were performed using the programme ImageJ. RESULTS: Intimal hypertrophy was more characteristic for the great saphenous vein as compared with the internal thoracic artery (9/13 (69.2%) and 7/13 (55.8%), respectively), although this difference did not reach statistical significance. The maximal-to-minimal neointimal thickness ratio correlated with the percentage of stenosis (r=0.875, p<0.0001), the area (r=0.45, p=0.023) and the number (r=0.47, p=0.015) of the vasa vasorum in the conduits, thus confirming the hypothesis on possible participation of these vessels in the development of intimal hypertrophy, with the area of the vasa vasorum being greater in the vessels with >10% stenosis (p=0.051). The number of the vasa vasorum in the great saphenous vein exceeded that in the internal thoracic artery (p=0.0005), with this difference remaining significant after adjustment for the area of the adventitia (p=0.027). The number of the vasa vasorum per the percentage of stenosis in the great saphenous vein also exceeded that in the internal thoracic artery (p=0.039) and more strongly correlated with intimal hypertrophy in the great saphenous vein as compared with that in the internal thoracic artery (r=0.53 and r=0.27, respectively). CONCLUSION: Intimal hypertrophy correlates with the area and number of the vasa vasorum in conduits. The great saphenous vein is characterised by a larger number and higher density of the vasa vasorum as compared with the internal thoracic artery. The number of the vasa vasorum is correlated with stenosis of the great saphenous vein more closely than with stenosis of the internal thoracic artery. This may be suggestive of significant predisposition of the great saphenous vein to the onset of adventitial inflammation followed by the development of intimal hypertrophy.

Using an Artificial Neural Network to Predict Coronary Microvascular Obstruction (No-Reflow Phenomenon) during Percutaneous Coronary Interventions in Patients with Myocardial Infarction.

The aim of the study was to develop, evaluate, and validate an artificial neural network to predict coronary microvascular obstruction (CMVO) during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in patients with myocardial infarctions (MI) based on the parameters, which are routinely available in an operating room when choosing a surgical approach. Materials and Methods: 5621 patients with MI and emergency PCI were retrospectively selected from the database of the City Clinical Hospital No.13 (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia); among them, there were 3935 men (70%) and 1686 women (30%), their mean age was 61.5±10.8 years. CMVO was recorded in 201 (4%) patients (the blood flow in the infarction-related artery after PCI was less than 3 points according to TIMI flow grade). The following input parameters were assessed: age, gender, past history of coronary artery disease, previous revascularization, presence of ST-segment elevation, a class of acute heart failure, a fact of systemic thrombolytic therapy administration and its effectiveness, symptom-to-balloon time, severity of coronary thrombosis and atherosclerosis, the number of stents and the number of operated coronary arteries. The sampling was divided into a training group (n=4060), a testing group (n=717), and an independent validation group (n=844). Results: We developed an artificial neural network by a fully connected multilayer perception with forward signal propagation and two hidden layers (the area under the ROC curve - 0.69) to predict CMVO based on the subsampling for training and testing. The network model was tested on an independent subsampling (the area under the ROC curve - 0.64, negative predictive value - 97.4%, positive predictive value - 14.6%). Conclusion: The developed artificial neural network enables to use the parameters routinely available in an operating room when choosing a surgical approach and predict CMVO development during PCI in MI patients with accuracy sufficient for practical use.

Ultrafast Magneto-Optics in Nickel Magnetoplasmonic Crystals.

Here, we report on ultrafast all-optical modulation of the surface-plasmon (SP)-assisted transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect (TMOKE) and the reflectance in a one-dimensional nickel magnetoplasmonic crystal (MPC). A 50 fs nonresonant laser pump pulse with 7 mJ/cm2 fluence reduces the magnetization by 65%, which results in the suppression of TMOKE in the SP-resonant probe from 1.15% to 0.4%. The differential reflectance of SP-resonant probe achieves 5.5%. Besides this, it is shown that electron thermalization and relaxation in MPC are several times slower than those in the plane nickel.

[Results of surgical treatment of glaucoma using sinustrabeculectomy modified for drainage of anterior chamber and suprachoroidal space by autosclera]. / Rezul'taty khirurgicheskogo lecheniya glaukomy metodom sinustrabekulektomii s drenirovaniem perednei kamery i suprakhorioidal'nogo prostranstva autoskleroi.

In order to achieve a persistent hypotensive effect in primary open-angle glaucoma, a modification of the sinustrabeculectomy operation - modified sinustrabeculectomy with basal iridectomy combined with deep sclerectomy involving drainage of the anterior chamber and suprachoroidal space have been developed at the Department of Eye Diseases of the People's Friendship University of Russia. PURPOSE: Development of a new method of surgical treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma based on sinustrabeculectomy with basal iridectomy in combination with deep sclerectomy involving drainage of the anterior chamber and suprachoroidal space by autosclera, and evaluation of the surgical outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study analyses the results of surgical treatment of 19 patients (19 eyes) with glaucoma, who underwent sinustrabeculectomy with basal iridectomy in combination with deep sclerectomy and drainage of the anterior chamber and suprachoroidal space. RESULTS: The level of intraocular pressure (IOP) on the first day after surgery decreased from 14 mm Hg to 17.5 mm Hg in the late postoperative period (after 12 months), IOP of 18 patients had normalized and stabilized (IOP averaged 17.0±1.8 mm Hg); in 1 case there was an increase in IOP level, for which hypotensive therapy was prescribed (ß-blockers). CONCLUSION: Modified sinustrabeculectomy with basal iridectomy in combination with deep sclerectomy and drainage of the anterior chamber and suprachoroidal space by autosclera helps achieve a persistent hypotensive effect and does not require the use of donor material.

Interhemispheric Asymmetry and Personality Traits of Brain-Computer Interface Users in Hand Movement Imagination.

Personality traits of users can affect the success in controlling brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and the activity of right and left brain structures may differ depending on personality traits. Earlier, it was not known, how the success of BCI control with different personality traits is associated with interhemispheric asymmetry. In this work, the dependence of the success of imagination of movements, estimated by the success of recognition of EEG signals during imagination of hand movements compared to rest state, on the user's personal characteristics was studied. It is shown that in single control of BCI by naive subjects, recognition success in imagining right-hand (RH) movements was higher in expressive sensitive extroverts, and in imagining left-hand movements (LH) it was higher in practical, reserved, skeptical, and not very sociable persons. It is suggested that this phenomenon may be based on interhemispheric differences in dopamine level and in the way of encoding movement information.

The Reference Values of Hair Content of Trace Elements in Dairy Cows of Holstein Breed.

The objective of this study was to assess trace element content in hair of Holstein dairy cows bred in the Leningrad Region of Russia and to calculate the site-specific reference intervals. Hair content of arsenic, boron, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, mercury, iodine, lithium, manganese, lead, selenium, silicon, tin, strontium, vanadium, and zinc in 148 cows during first (n = 50), second (n = 48), and third (n = 50) lactation periods of life was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Dietary intake of trace elements corresponded to the adequate values according to national and international recommendations. Comparative analysis did not reveal any significant differences in hair content of main essential elements on the animals depending on the number of lactation. At the same time, the first-lactation cows had significantly (P < 0.05) lower concentration of lead in hair as compared to the third-lactation cows and a higher level of mercury as compared to the second-lactation cows. The reference intervals and 90% confidence intervals for the lower and upper limits were calculated in agreement with the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standard Guidelines.

Spontaneous remission in diffuse large cell lymphoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous remission in solid malignancies has been documented. However, spontaneous remission in aggressive diffuse large b cell lymphoma is exceedingly rare. Previous reports of lymphoma remission suggest that not yet fully characterized tumor-intrinsic and microenvironment mechanisms cooperate with spontaneous regression. CASE DESCRIPTION: Here, we report the case of an 88-year-old white woman with diffuse large b cell lymphoma (follicular lymphoma transformed) who achieved morphologic spontaneous remission 3 months after her diagnostic core biopsy. We examined 16 similar cases of diffuse large b cell lymphoma suggesting that spontaneous remission is preferentially observed in elderly patients soon after their biopsy microtrauma, especially if malignancies are Epstein-Barr virus driven and activated B-cell type. CONCLUSION: Our case and reported analysis highlight that anti-tumor adaptive T cell responses are potentially augmented in a subset of patients leading to lymphoma regression. In these patients, it is possible that "primed" innate anti-tumor T cell immunity is enhanced in immunogenic lymphoma subtypes after tissue biopsy. Our case and analysis not only reinforce the role of innate T cell anticancer immunity, but also originates potential proof of concept for investigation of unexplored pathways that could favorably impact T cell therapy.

[Post-stroke rehabilitation training with a brain-computer interface: a clinical and neuropsychological study]. / Interfeis mozg-komp'iuter v postinsul'tnoi reabilitatsii: kliniko-neiropsikhologicheskoe issledovanie.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of BCI-supported mental practice and to reveal specific cognitive impairment which determine mental practice ineffectiveness and inability to perform MI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-five hemiplegic patients after first-time stroke (median age 54. 0 [44.0; 61.0], time from onset 6.0 [3.0; 13.0] month) were randomized into two groups - BCI and sham-controlled. Severity of arm paresis was measured by Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery after Stroke (FMA) and Action Research Arm Test (ARAT). Twelve patients from the BCI group were examined using neuropsychological testing. After assessment, patients were trained to imagine kinesthetically a movement under control of BCI with the feedback presented via an exoskeleton. Patients underwent 12 training sessions lasting up to 30 min. In the end of the study, the scores on movement scales, electroencephalographic results obtained during training sessions were analyzed and compared to the results of neuropsychological testing. RESULTS: Evaluation of the UL clinical assessments indicated that both groups improved on ARAT and FMA (sections A-D, H, I) but only the BCI group showed an improvement in the ARAT's grasp score (p=0.012), pinch score (p=0.012), gross movement score (p=0,002). The significant correlation was revealed between particular neuropsychological tests (Taylor Figure test, choice reaction test, Head test) and online accuracy rate. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that adding BCI control to exoskeleton-assisted physical therapy can improve post-stroke rehabilitation outcomes. Neuropsychological testing can be used for screening before mental practice admission and promote personalized rehabilitation.

[Combination treatment for cataract and glaucoma]. / Kombinirovannye metody lecheniia pri sochetanii katarakty i glaukomy.

AIM: To develop a new combination treatment for cataract and glaucoma that would involve drainage of the suprachoroidal space with an autoscleral flap and to assess the outcomes of patients who underwent combined phacoemulsification and non-penetrating deep sclerectomy with suprachoroidal drainage with an autoscleral flap. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have studied the results of combination surgical treatment of cataract and glaucoma performed in 34 patients (34 eyes), notably phacoemulsification and non-penetrating deep sclerectomy with suprachoroidal drainage. RESULTS: In the early postoperative period, visual acuity ranged from 0.5 to 0.7 and was consistent with retinal changes. Particularly, in 7 cases (21%) visual acuity was 0.5, in 16 cases (47%) - 0.6, and in 11 cases (32%) - 0.7. The intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased to an average of 17.2±2.4 mmHg. At 6 months, the IOP remained within statistically normal limits (16.0±1.8 mmHg) in all cases. Visual acuity ranged from 0.5 to 0.7. In the late postoperative period (after 1 year), 32 patients were normotonic (their IOP averaged 16.0±2.3 mmHg) and 2 patients developed elevated IOP and, thus, were prescribed antihypertensive therapy (ß-blockers). CONCLUSION: Non-penetrating deep sclerectomy with suprachoroidal drainage ensures the IOP reduction's stability and does not require the use of donor material.

[Biomechanical Analysis of Posture and Movement Coordination in Standing Human During Trunk Bending in the Sagittal Plane].

In most motor acts to achieve a behavioral goal requires coordination of posture and movement. In this paper, such coordination is studied by the example of human trunk bending in. the sagittal plane. Such movements are difficult to study because both components of this motor act (main - bending per se, and "accessory" - posture aimed on equilibrium. maintenance) involve massive movements of body segments, which complicates separation of these components. Their separation is based on the modem ideas about the special features of the posture component as compared with the main component. It is shown that the main and posture components correspond to the move- ments along eigenvectors of the dynamic equation. These movements are unique because they demonstrate at the same time "kinematic" as well as "dynamic" synergies. They were called there- fore "natural synergies". The coordination of natural synergies is investigated in human during standing on the wide and narrow supports. It is shown that the experimentally observed coordination is close to optimal, providing minimum movement of the center of pressure. This ensures the center of pressure Position keeping inside the support area that is necessary for equilibrium maintenance.

[Analysis of Heteroplasmy in the Major Noncoding Region of Mitochondrial DNA in the Blood and Atherosclerotic Plaques of Carotid Arteries].

For identification of somatic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, the mtDNA major noncoding region (D-loop) sequence in blood samples and carotid atherosclerosis plaques from patients with atherosclerosis was analyzed. Five point heteroplasmic positions were observed in 4 of 23 individuals (17%). Only in two cases could heteroplasmy have resulted from somatic mutation, whereas three heteroplasmic positions were found in both vascular tissue and blood. In addition, length heteroplasmy in a polycytosine stretches was registered at nucleotide positions 303-315 in 16 individuals, and also in the 16184-16193 region--in four patients. The results suggest that somatic mtDNA mutations can occur during atherosclerosis, but some heteroplasmic mutations may appear in all tissues, possibly being inherited.

[The Changes in the Hemodynamic Activity of the Brain during Moroe Imagery Training with the Use of Brain-Computer Interface].

With the use of functional MRI (fMRI), we studied the changes in brain hemodynamic activity of healthy subjects during motor imagery training with the use brain-computer interface (BCI), which is based on the recognition of EEG patterns of imagined movements. ANOVA dispersion analysis showed there are 14 areas of the brain where statistically sgnificant changes were registered. Detailed analysis of the activity in these areas before and after training (Student's and Mann-Whitney tests) reduced the amount of areas with significantly changed activity to five; these are Brodmann areas 44 and 45, insula, middle frontal gyrus, and anterior cingulate gyrus. We suggest that these changes are caused by the formation of memory traces of those brain activity patterns which are most accurately recognized by BCI classifiers as correspondent with limb movements. We also observed a tendency of increase in the activity of motor imagery after training. The hemodynamic activity in all these 14 areas during real movements was either approximatly the same or significantly higher than during motor imagery; activity during imagined leg movements was higher that that during imagined arm movements, except for the areas of representation of arms.

[Arm Motor Function Recovery during Rehabilitation with the Use of Hand Exoskeleton Controlled by Brain-Computer Interface: a Patient with Severe Brain Damage].

We studied the dynamics of motor function recovery in a patient with severe brain damage in the course of neurorehabilitation using hand exoskeleton controlled by brain-computer interface. For estimating the motor function of paretic arm, we used the biomechanical analysis of movements registered during the course of rehabilitation. After 15 weekly sessions of hand exoskeleton control, the following results were obtained: a) the velocity profile of goal-directed movements of paretic hand became bell-shaped, b) the patient began to extend and abduct the hand which was flexed and adducted in the beginning of rehabilitation, and c) the patient began to supinate the forearm which was pronated in the beginning of rehabilitation. The first result is an evidence of the general improvement of the quality of motor control, while the second and third results prove that the spasticity of paretic arm has decreased.