[PERIFOCAL TISSUE REACTIONS TO IMPLANTATION OF THE SAMPLES OF HYDROGEL MATERIAL BASED ON POLYACRYLAMIDE WITH THE ADDITION OF THE CELLULOSE (AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY)].

Tissue reactions to the grafting of samples of composite hydrogel based on polyacrylamide and cellulose of different origin (plant and bacterial) were studied in 48 laboratory outbred rats and 24 rabbits of chinchilla breed. The observations were carried out on Days 5, 14, 45 and 90 after placement of implants in the muscle, joint cavity, deep defects of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone. The study has revealed no migration and degradation of the samples. On Day 90, the signs of their biointegration (regardless of their nature) were detected in the muscles and in one case (the sample containing bacterial cellulose) in the cavity of the knee joint of the rat. The materials had good biocompatibility with muscle, cartilage and bone tissues, did not cause perifocal inflammation and effectively functioned as a prosthetic articular cartilage until the end of the study period.

[Social issues of medical outpatient care for elderly patients with chronic cardiac failure].

AIM: To assess efficacy of therapeutic medical education in the field of chronic cardiac failure (CCF) of social workers taking care of old persons on home nursing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 87 social workers filled in a special questionnaire before and after training in management of old persons with CCF. RESULTS: Initial knowledge of the social workers about CCF was insufficient, especially their education was poor in CCF symptoms, medication, diet, regime, hospital and outpatient treatment, possible assistance from social personnel. Therapeutic training improved medical knowledge of the social workers. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic education of social workers improves their knowledge about outpatient treatment of old patients with CCF and understanding of a social worker behavior with old CCF outpatients.

[Therapeutic education of social workers: first results].

For the improvement of compliance of old age patients to therapy of chronic heart failure (CHF) we carried out therapeutic training of social workers serving these patients at their homes. Efficacy of training was assessed by means of analysis of questionnaires given to 87 social workers before and after training sessions. It has been established that therapeutic education of social workers significantly elevates level of their awareness of the problems of CHF, promotes more correct understanding of their role in organization of care of old age patients with CHF and interaction with medical institutions.

Simultaneous determination of aceclofenac and diclofenac in human plasma by narrowbore HPLC using column-switching.

A fully automated narrowbore high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with column-switching was developed for the simultaneous determination of aceclofenac and diclofenac from human plasma samples. Plasma sample (100 microl) was directly introduced onto a Capcell Pak MF Ph-1 column (20 x 4 mm I.D.) where primary separation was occurred to remove proteins and concentrate target substances using acetonitrile potassium phosphate (pH 7, 0.1 M) (14:86, v/v). The drug molecules eluted from MF Ph-1 column were focused in an intermediate column (35 x 2 mm I.D.) by the valve switching step. The substances enriched in intermediate column were eluted and separated on the narrowbore phenyl hexyl column (100 x 2 mm I.D.) using acetonitrile-potassium phosphate (pH 7, 0.02M) (33:67, v/v) when the valve status was switched back to A position. The method showed excellent sensitivity (detection limit of 10 ng ml(-1)) with small volume of samples (100 microl), good precision and accuracy, and speed (total analysis time 17 min) without any loss in chromatographic efficiency. The response was linear (r2 > or = 0.999) over the concentration range of 50-10,000 ng ml(-1).

Lavandulylflavonoids: a new class of in vitro apoptogenic agents from Sophora flavescens.

The root of Sophora flavescens has been reported to possess antitumor activity in Sarcoma 180, lymphoid leukemia 1210 and melanotic melanoma. We have isolated four cytotoxic flavonoids with a lavandulyl side-chain at C8 and tested for their effects on human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells and human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells, in terms of inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. They showed potent antiproliferative effects with IC(50) values from 11.3 microM to 18.5 microM in HL60 cells and from 13.3 microM to 36. 2 microM in HepG2 cells. Treatment of HL-60 cells with the lavandulylflavonoids induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis was judged by the detection of DNA fragmentation by agarose gel electrophoresis and the degree of apoptosis was quantified by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. The hydration of C4"'C5"' double bond with or without C3 hydroxylation caused a complete loss of cytotoxicity. These results suggest that the lavandulyl side-chain is essential for the activity of the flavonoids isolated from S. flavescens which may be used as cancer chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agents.

Rapid microbore liquid chromatographic analysis of biphenyldimethyl dicarboxylate in human plasma with on-line column switching.

A fully automated method including microbore liquid chromatography and column switching was developed for the analysis of biphenyldimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) from human plasma samples. After direct injection of plasma samples (100 microl) into the system, deproteinization and analyte fractionation occurred on a Capcell Pak MF Ph-1 column (20x4 mm I.D.) and the DDB fraction was transferred from the MF Ph-1 column to an intermediate column (35x2 mm I.D.) using 15% acetonitrile in phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.0). The main separation was performed on a microbore C18 column (150x1.5 mm I.D.) using 45% acetonitrile in water. The method showed excellent sensitivity (detection limit of 5 ng/ml) and good precision (CV.< or =3.0%), and shortened total analysis time (20 min). In the concentration range of 5-200 ng/ml, the mean recovery was 90.7+/-1.8% and the response was linear (r2> or =0.999).

Antiproliferative effects of alkaloids from Sedum sarmentosum on murine and human hepatoma cell lines.

The whole plant of Sedum sarmentosum (SS) has been traditionally used for the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis in China and South Korea. Certain hepatitis virus causes acute and chronic hepatitis and induces hepatocellular carcinoma (HC). In the present study, we examined whether the crude alkaloid fraction (CAF) of SS had any anticancer effects on hepatoma cell lines. Murine hepatoma (BNL CL. 2) and human hepatoma (HepG2) cell lines were cultured in the presence of CAF of SS at various doses (50-150 microg/ml) for 24 or 48 h. CAF caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation without necrosis or apoptosis. Antiproliferative effects of CAF of SS were associated with an increase in the number of cells in the G1 phase of cell cycle. This study suggests that SS may improve survival of hepatoma patients via the inhibition of excessive growth of tumor cells.

Baicalein: an in vitro antigenotoxic compound from Scutellaria baicalensis.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an H2O extract of the root of Scutellaria baicalensis has furnished an in vitro antigenotoxic flavonoid, baicalein (1) and 2',5,5',7-tetrahydroxy-6',8-dimethoxyflavone (2). Compound 1 exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenicity in the Salmonella typhimurium bacterial mutation assay. In the chromosome aberration assay, compound 1, at a concentration of 5 microM, reduced the frequency of chromosome aberration induced by AFB1 but increased the clastogenic effect of AFB1 at a concentration of 50 microM.

[Use of siloxane films in the treatment of contracture of the knee joint]. / Primenenie siloksanovykh plenok pri lechenii kontraktur kolennogo sustava.

The siloxan film with programmed physiochemical characteristics possessing antimicrobial properties is proposed for the prevention of cicatrization in the knee joint area. Using this film as a pad after mobilizing operations on the knee joint has shown its high efficiency and considerably improved results of treatment.

[Reconstructive surgery in post-traumatic contractures of the knee joint]. / Rekonstruktivnye operatsii pri posttravmaticheskikh kontrakturakh kolennogo sustava.

214 patients with posttraumatic contractures of the knee joint were treated at the Leningrad Research Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in 1970-1985. In 67 patients the Thompson-Kaplan operation was performed. Since 1980 an operation worked out at the Institute has been made in 194 patients. Their treatment results were much better, especially in the patients with the most severe contractures of the knee joint which developed after diaphyseal and intraarticular fractures of the femur as well as after preceding osteomyelitis or purulent gonitis.