EFFECT OF MELATONIN INJECTIONS ON THE GLUTATHIONE SYSTEM IN HEART TISSUE OF RATS UNDER EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES.

The aim was to determine the influence of melatonin on basal levels of glucose (BG), the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive compounds (TBCRC), reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, activities of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PhD) in the heart tissue of alloxan diabetic rats. Alloxan diabetes was evoked via intraperitoneal injection with a 5% solution of alloxan monohydrate in a dose of 170 mg/kg of body weight. There were 5 groups: 1) control group (n=8); 2) group with DM (BG level ≥ 8.0 mmol/l, n=8); 3) alloxan diabetic animals with DM which were injected with melatonin (n=8); 4) alloxan diabetic rats with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (BG level ≤ 6.9 mmol/l, n=8); 5) alloxan diabetic animals with IGT which were injected with melatonin (n=8). Melatonin ("Sigma", USA) was injected intraperitoneally in a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight at 8 a. m. daily over 7 days starting with a 5th 24-hour period after the alloxan injection. The level of TBCRC increases by 70% in the heart tissue of alloxan diabetic rats with DM compared with the control value, whereas the G-SH, the activity of GPx, G-6-PhD and GR decreased by 46%, 18%, 39% and 21% respectively. The introduction of melatonin to alloxan diabetic rats is conducive to a decrease in them of the level of BG, as well as - a stabilization of the indices of the body's antioxidant defense such as activities of GR, GPx, G-6-PhD, content of TBCRC and G-SH in rats' heart.

CHANGES OF PROTEINURIA AND ACID-REGULATING KIDNEY FUNCTION IN MATURE RATS WITH SLOW AND RAPID ACETYLATION TYPE UNDER CONDITIONS OF SUBACUTE CADMIUM-NITRATE INTOXICATION.

The experiments conducted on non-linear mature laboratory albino rats determined that under conditions of subacute cadmium-nitrate intoxication the indices of proteinuria and acid-regulating renal function depend on acetylation phenotype. Unlike rapid acetylators considerable increase of protein concentration in urine (192,8%, р<0,05) and standardized by glomerular filtration protein excretion (141,7%, р<0,05) are indicative of higher susceptibility of rats with slow acetylation type to nephrotoxic action of cadmium chloride and sodium nitrate. Lack of protein loss with urine and adaptive-compensative character of acid-regulating renal function changes directed to elimination of hydrogen ions excess from the body give evidence concerning less intensive damage of the nephron tubular portion in rats with rapid acetylation type, and at the same time do not exclude development of nephropathy. In order to confirm the significance of acetylation phenotype for assessment of susceptibility and degree of cadmium-nitrate damage of the kidneys the condition of other renal functions should be examined with analysis of biochemical criteria of nephrotoxicity, which is of an important practical value for the selection of appropriate pharmacotherapy.

[Diagnosis and correction of hemostasis disorder during surgeries for bile duct diseases].

The aim of the study was to reduce the frequency of hemorrhagic complications in the surgical treatment of patients for diseases of bile ducts. Hemostatic state before, immediately after and on the following day after the operation was controlled by the data of frequency piezoelectric thromboelastography. It is established, that the application of tranexamic acid to promote incidence of hemorrhagic complications are reduced by 38.65%.

Temporal and seasonal variations of radiocaesium content in some plants from the western part of Ukrainian Polesye.

We present measurements of (137)Cs contamination for some of the berry plants and medicinal herbs growing in the western part of Ukrainian Polesye during 1996-2009. Basing on the calculations of the aggregated transfer factors, we classified the medicinal herbs into five groups according to their ability for accumulation of (137)Cs: very weak (T(ag) < 10(-3)), weak (10(-3) < T(ag) < 10(-2)), moderate (10(-2) < T(ag) < 5 × 10(-2)), strong (5 × 10(-2) < T(ag) < 10(-1)) and very strong (T(ag) > 10(-1)). The (137)Cs concentrations in the berry plants significantly decreased during the time of our monitoring and the rate of this decrease was much higher than that typical of the corresponding soils. This is because with time the (137)Cs in the soil was becoming less accessible for uptake by plant roots due to its fixation on micaceous clay minerals. The seasonal variations of the (137)Cs concentrations in the vegetative and generative organs of the plants revealed a good interdependence between the seasonal peculiarities of (137)Cs accumulation by the organs and the features of their vegetation period.

Critical behaviour of optical birefringence near the normal-incommensurate phase transition in [N(CH3)4]2ZnCl4 crystals under the influence of hydrostatic pressure.

We have estimated the Ginzburg number G governing crossover from the asymptotic to the classical critical behaviour near the normal-incommensurate phase transition in [N(CH(3))(4)](2)ZnCl(4) (TMAZC) crystals and the dependence of G on the hydrostatic pressure (0.1-330 MPa), following from the experimental data for the optical birefringence and the quantitative analysis of temperature derivatives of the birefringence in the framework of the approximation of weak Gaussian fluctuations. The Ginzburg number found experimentally for TMAZC is G ∼ 8 × 10(-3) at the atmospheric pressure and a considerable part of it is assumed to refer to structural defects. It is shown that the G value for TMAZC decreases with increasing hydrostatic pressure and, based on analysis of the literature birefringence data for Cs(2)CdBr(4) and Cs(2)HgBr(4) crystals, this behaviour might be expected to be generally typical for all the A(2)BX(4) family. The results obtained are discussed using a phenomenological theory of second-order structural phase transitions. In particular, they provide a basis for estimating the limits of the asymptotic critical region in TMAZC and demonstrate that the major part of the incommensurate phase should belong to the crossover region.

Effect of naloxone therapy on depersonalization: a pilot study.

To test the hypothesis of the role for the opioid system in the pathogenesis of depersonalization, the effect of naloxone (an opioid receptor blocker) on the symptoms and corticosteroids secretion was studied in patients with depersonalization syndrome. Fourteen depersonalization patients were treated with naloxone: 11 patients received single doses (1.6 or 4 mg i.v.) and three others received multiple infusions, with the maximal dosage being 10 mg, and the effect of naloxone on symptom severity was determined. In eight patients, the cortisol, cortisone and corticosterone content in the blood plasma was determined prior to and after the 4 mg naloxone infusion. A reversed-phase microcolumn high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection was applied for assessment of glucocorticoids. In three of 14 patients, depersonalization symptoms disappeared entirely and seven patients showed a marked improvement. The therapeutic effect of naloxone provides evidence for the role of the endogenous opioid system in the pathogenesis of depersonalization.

Rectal sonography for diagnosing hematocolpometra. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Imperforate hymen is an uncommon defect. Ultrasound may be useful in diagnosing hematocolpos, which is a common complication of imperforate hymen. The rectal approach with the ultrasound probe is an excellent method in aiding the diagnosis when the transvaginal approach is not feasible. CASE: Imperforate hymen was suspected in an amenorrheic, 13-year-old girl who complained of cyclic lower abdominal pain. Her pubic hair and breast development were Tanner stage 3. Abdominal and pelvic examination confirmed a tender pelvic mass. A bluish, bulging hymen was noted. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a pelvic cystic mass. Rectal ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis of hematocolpometra. CONCLUSION: Transrectal sonography provides an excellent alternative to transvaginal ultrasound in cases where transvaginal ultrasound is not feasible or is impossible. The rectal approach is appropriate due to the close proximity to the pelvic organs and patient acceptance of the procedure.

Transvaginal sonographic measurement of cervical length. Evaluation of twin pregnancies.

Twin gestations continue to contribute significantly to perinatal morbidity and mortality. The increased perinatal risks associated with twin gestations are directly related to prematurity. Thus, further characterization of the risks of prematurity may yield useful information in managing these patients. We investigated transvaginal ultrasound measurement of the cervix throughout twin gestations and compared these findings to those in singleton pregnancies. Twenty-five patients with twin gestations underwent 53 cervical length measurements. As compared to cervical length in singleton pregnancies, that in twins was significantly shorter for matched gestational age groups.

Hormonal profiles and follicular growth in cycles with imminent ovarian hyperstimulation.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a common and serious complication of human menopausal gonadotrophin/human chorionic gonadotrophin treatment. We evaluated the changes in the pituitary and ovarian hormone profiles and ultrasonographic follicular regression in 12 patients in whom human menopausal gonadotrophin was discontinued due to 'imminent' ovarian hyperstimulation. Following discontinuation, three distinct periods were observed: (i) days 1-2, the levels of oestradiol, testosterone and prolactin, and the total number of follicles continued to rise; (ii) days 3-6, the levels of oestradiol, testosterone and prolactin declined sharply and the total number of follicles was reduced significantly, while the large and medium sized follicles continued to increase. Levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone gradually declined to reach their lowest levels by days 5-6 and then increased. (iii) Thereafter the number of follicles and steroid output declined to early follicular phase levels. We conclude that discontinuation of human menopausal gonadotrophin and withholding human chorionic gonadotrophin in cycles with laboratory signs of 'imminent' ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, allows regression of the ovarian ultrasonographic finding and prevents the development of clinical symptoms. However, if rescue of the cycle is attempted, human chorionic gonadotrophin should be given during the first 4 days after discontinuation of stimulation.

Evaluation of fetal sonographic measurements in the first trimester by transvaginal sonography.

To assess the reliability of early biometric measurements in pregnancy, transvaginal sonography was performed in 92 pregnancies in the first trimester in a cross-sectional fashion. Measurements included crown-to-rump length (CRL), biparietal diameter (BPD), head and abdominal circumference (HC and AC), and femur length (FL). Stepwise regression analysis of the gestational age was performed. CRL maintained the highest correlation with gestational age (r = 0.99, p less than 0.001). BPD, HC, AC also correlated well. FL showed a less strong correlation with gestational age (r = 0.76, p less than 0.001). CRL remains the standard for early sonography measurements.

Antenatal ultrasonic diagnosis of dyssegmental dysplasia: a case report.

Sonographic prenatal diagnosis and management of a pregnancy complicated by dyssegmental dysplasia of the Silverman-Handmaker type are presented. This is a documented case of this type of short-limbed dwarfism presenting in a family of Hispanic-American ancestry.

Effect of mitral valve prosthetic surgery on the outcome of a growth-retarded fetus. A case report.

Mitral valve prosthetic surgery was performed at 29 weeks' gestation in a woman who had reoperation for a thrombotic mitral valve prosthesis and pulmonary edema. Concomitant severe preeclampsia was also present. During operation fetal bradycardia developed and the fetus died. Because the findings differ from those previously reported with regard to normal pregnancies, their implications are discussed.

Standardized measurement of amniotic fluid volume by correlation of sonography with dye dilution technique.

Amniotic fluid volume was measured in two ways in 23 subjects admitted for interruption of pregnancy at gestational ages 16-24 weeks. The amniotic fluid volume calculated from sonographic measurements was plotted against the "true" amniotic fluid volume obtained by a dye dilution technique. Linear regression analysis showed a good correlation between the two methods (r = 0.815; P less than .001) and yielded a factor that may be used on a general basis to derive the true amniotic fluid volume from the value obtained by sonography. This approach thus offers a standardized procedure for amniotic fluid volume estimation in the second trimester based on the technical simplicity of ultrasonography with the relative accuracy of the dye dilution technique.

Transvaginal sonographic measurement of fetal kidneys in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Fetal renal size late in the first trimester of pregnancy was evaluated by transvaginal ultrasonography in 50 patients not at risk for congenital kidney disease and whose pregnancies resulted in a normal outcome. Both kidneys were reliably identified in all patients scanned at 12 weeks, 13 weeks, and 14 weeks, menstrual age. Kidney diameter measurements obtained in this study are presented for reference in evaluating patients in late first trimester whose fetuses are at risk for kidney abnormalities.

Vaginal ultrasonographic assessment of cervical length changes during normal pregnancy.

We measured the cervical length of 166 normal, gravid patients between 8 and 37 weeks' gestation by vaginal ultrasonography. Patients were assigned to one of five groups according to gestational age at the time of the measurements. Cervical length was longest (48 mm) in group 3 (20 to 25 weeks) and significantly longer than that of groups 1 (8 to 13 weeks), 2 (14 to 19 weeks), and 5 (32 to 37 weeks). The use of vaginal ultrasonography to assess cervical length eliminates some technical problems encountered with abdominal ultrasonography. Nomogram of cervical length throughout pregnancy was established. This may aid in early diagnosis and management of preterm labor and cervical incompetence.

Successful outcome of pregnancy following complete removal of uterine septum during cesarean section.

Two cases are described where a malformed uterus was the reason for either repeated abortions or premature deliveries resulting in fetal loss. In both cases the removal of the septum during cesarean section resulted in uneventful postoperative courses, and subsequently in successful pregnancies and births of healthy infants to both women.