[Rheumatoid atlanto-axial dislocation: a surgical approach]. / Atlantoaksial'nye dislokatsii revmatoidnogo geneza: khirurgicheskaia taktika.

Pathological processes in the craniovertebral region (CVR) are usually accompanied by dislocation complications leading to gross neurological disorders. One of the diseases that affect the CVR and lead to atlanto-axial dislocation (AAD) is rheumatoid arthritis. Errors in the diagnosis of rheumatoid disease and in the choice of a treatment approach may cause adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To define the approach for surgical treatment of AAD associated with rheumatoid disease of the CVR, with allowance for the rigidity of deformity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five patients with rheumatoid AAD, 4 females and 1 male, aged 54 to 73 years underwent surgery. All dislocations were anterior ones. Three patients had mobile pannus-associated dislocation. In 2 cases, AAD was rigid and combined with odontoid invagination into the foramen magnum (FM). RESULTS: In all mobile AAD cases, decompression of the brainstem and restoration of the normal anatomical relationships in the CVR were achieved by dislocation correction and atlanto-axial fusion performed from the posterior approach, avoiding transoral interventions. In this case, spontaneous resorption of the pannus occurred within several months after surgery. In the postoperative period, all patients achieved significant regression of pain and neurological disorders. Complications in the form of wound infection developed in 1 case. CONCLUSION: A decision algorithm for choosing a surgical treatment option was based on the degree of deformity stability. Mobile AADs serve as an indication for indirect decompression using instrumental correction of dislocation and atlantoaxial fixation from the posterior approach. In the case of fixed AAD, posterior fixation is complemented by anterior decompression via the transoral approach.

[Polyadenylated RNA and mRNA export factors in extrachromosomal nuclear domains of vitellogenic oocytes of the insect Tenebrio molitor].

The nucleus ofvitellogenic oocytes of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, contains a karyosphere that consists of the condensed chromatin embedded in an extrachromosomal fibrogranular material. Numerous nuclear bodies located freely in the nucleoplasm are also observed. Amongst these bodies, counterparts of nuclear speckles (= interchromatin granule clusters, IGCs) can be identified by the presence of the marker protein SC35. Microinjections of fluorescently tagged methyloligoribonucleotide probes 2'-O-Me(U)22, complementary to poly(A) tails of RNAs, revealed poly(A)+ RNA in the vast majority of IGCs. We found that all T. molitor oocyte IGCs contain heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) core protein Al that localizes to IGCs in an RNA-dependent manner. The extrachromosomal material of the karyosphere and a part of nucleoplasmic IGCs also contain the adapter protein Aly that is known to provide a link between pre-mRNA splicing and mRNA export. The essential mRNA export factor/receptor NXF1 was observed to colocalize with Aly. In nucleoplasmic IGCs, NXF1 was found to localize in an RNA-dependent manner whereas it is RNA-independently located in the extrachromosomal material of the karyosphere. We believe our data suggest on a role of the nucleoplasmic IGCs in mRNA biogenesis and retention in a road to nuclear export.

[Treatment policy for craniovertebral spondylitis].

The paper summarizes the results of surgical treatment in 25 patients with atlantoaxial spondylitis, including 15 with spondylitis of tuberculous etiology and 10 with nonspecific etiology. Ten patients were found to have severe neurological disorder requiring application of skeletal traction behind the malar arches in 5 cases and that of a halo-apparatus to 2 cases in order to eliminate the occurred dislocation and to relieve neurological symptoms. According to the P. Denis concept adapted for the craniovertebral region, all the patients were divided into 3 groups in relation to the degree of anatomic and biomechanical changes. Group 1 patients received medical treatment with firm collar fixation. Group 2 patients with anterior pillar injury underwent transpharyngeal sanitation of an infectious focus and occipitospondylodesis. Decompressive stabilizing operations were performed in all the patients, which consisted of two stages: 1) occipitospondylodesis made, by using a titanium wire and No. 91/198 Simplex bone cement (Howmedica, United Kingdom); 2) transoral access with abscess cavity sanitation; removal of necrotic tissues; thrifty resections of bone tissue portions within the intact tissues; anterior stabilization of the affected portion with an autologous bone graft. Postoperatively, the cervical spine was fixed with a head holder for as long as 3-5 months (until there were clear X-ray signs of bony ankylosis (block) in the area of osteoplasty). Quaternary antituberculous therapy was compulsorily made for 6-9 months. The described procedure for surgical treatment of craniovertebral spondylitis could yield positive results in all cases, by abolishing neurological symptoms and forming bony ankylosis in the atlantoaxial area to restore the supporting capacity of the cervical spine.

[Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of hernias of thoracic intervertebral disks].

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out in 24 patients with thoracic osteochondrosis. The obtained MR images showed the high efficiency of this radiodiagnostic technique in solving the tasks of visualizing a degenerative-dystrophic lesion of the vertebral column. MRI allows one to solve a broad spectrum of specific problems facing a radiodiagnostician and a neurosurgeon on examining a patient with thoracic osteochondrosis. This study permits an objective assessment of the stage of herniation and the degree of spinal cord compression, determination of treatment policy, planning of a surgical intervention, assessment of the results of surgical treatment, timely detection of possible complications, and visualization of recurrent hernia.

Nonlinear absorption of intense femtosecond laser radiation in air.

A new mechanism of nonlinear absorption of intense femtosecond laser radiation in air in the intensity range I = 10(11)-10(12) W/cm(2) when the ionization is not important yet is experimentally observed and investigated. This absorption is much greater than for nanosecond pulses. A model of the nonlinear absorption based on the rotational excitation of molecules by linearly polarized ultrashort pulses through the interaction of an induced dipole moment with an electric field is developed. The observed nonlinear absorption of intense femtosecond laser radiation can play an important role in the process of propagation of such radiation in the atmosphere.

Does sucrose influence the properties of DMPC vesicles?

Small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction coupled with differential scanning calorimetry, and Raman spectroscopy were applied to investigate unilamellar (ULVs) and multilamellar (MLVs) dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) vesicles in aqueous sucrose solutions with sucrose concentrations from 0 to 60% w/w. In case of ULVs, the addition of sucrose decreases the polydispersity of vesicle population. A minimum value of polydispersity was found at 20% sucrose. For sucrose concentration from 0 to 35% oligolamellar vesicles in the ULV population have a minimum presence. Vesicles with 5-10% sucrose exhibit the best stability in time. For the case of MLVs, sucrose influences the temperature of the phase transitions, but the internal membrane structure remains unchanged.

[Atlantoaxial dislocation in spondylitis]. / Atlantoaksial'naia dislokatsiia pri spondilitakh.

The paper summarizes the outcomes of surgical treatment in 6 patients with nonspecific and tuberculous spondylitis of the craniovertebral area. These patients underwent decompressively stabilizing operations that consists of two steps: at first occipitospondylodesis was performed with a wire and protacryl then via transpharyngeal access with sanitation of the abscess cavity, by removing necrotic tissues--a saving resection of bony tissue sites within the healthy tissues, anterior stabilization of an affected part with an osseous autograft. The above procedure of surgical treatment along with bactericidal therapy yielded positive results by recovering spinal cord function, by forming a bony unit at the site of spinal inflammatory lesion.