ABSTRACT
Following the first descriptions of narcolepsy with cataplexy by Westphal, Gelineau, and Fischer (1878-1880), Russian authors started to report on "narcolepsy cases" in 1894. It was, however, only in 1925 that Mankovsky reported a (postencephalitic) case, satisfying current diagnostic criteria for the disease. In the following 66 years (the last publication appeared in 1991), Russian authors including Davidenkov, Vein, and Yakhno made interesting contributions on the clinical features, neurophysiological correlates (e.g., sleep states and boundary dyscontrol), pathogenesis (e.g., hypothalamic origin), etiology (e.g., infectious, postvaccinal triggers, focal encephalitis), and treatment (e.g., use of sodium oxybate) of narcolepsy. Until recently, Pavlov's theory of narcolepsy as a "cortical excitatory-inhibitory phenomenon" strongly influenced the Russian view on the disease, contrasting with the current neurobiological insights acknowledged internationally. A Narcolepsy Network, including currently 10 member centers, was recently founded to promote knowledge, awareness, management, and research on this still poorly known disease in Russia.
Subject(s)
Cataplexy , Narcolepsy , Sodium Oxybate , Humans , Russia , SleepABSTRACT
Narcolepsy is a hardly known and obscure disease for Russian doctors while the first description and studying of the disease in Russia occurred almost simultaneously with the rest of the world. The contribution of Russian neurology in the studying of narcolepsy remains underestimated, especially in identifying the clinical features (A. Vein's 'narcoleptic pentad'), the concept of the pathogenesis (hypothalamic syndrome), the determination of provoking factors (postinfectious, postvaccinal reacions) and the use of effective medications (sodium oxybate).
Subject(s)
Narcolepsy , Humans , Narcolepsy/diagnosis , Narcolepsy/drug therapy , Russia , Sodium OxybateABSTRACT
A liposomal preparation with maximally possible content of incorporated geliomycin was obtained. Its cytotoxicity was studied in a culture of human embryonal diploid fibroblasts. Antiviral activity was studied on a model of cytomegaloviral infection in vitro by the capacity to plaque formation. Liposomal geliomycin was 10-fold less toxic for human cells than the solution of the antibiotic in DMSO and exhibited antiviral activity towards cytomegaloviral infection at a concentration of 0.042 microg/ml.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/toxicity , Benzopyrenes/administration & dosage , Benzopyrenes/toxicity , Cells, Cultured , Cytomegalovirus/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Humans , Liposomes , Viral Plaque AssaySubject(s)
Lipids/analysis , Placenta/analysis , Pre-Eclampsia/metabolism , Female , Humans , PregnancySubject(s)
Students , Child , Humans , Recreation , Russia , Seasons , Sleep , Television , Urban Population , WorkABSTRACT
By applying autoradiography with 3H-thymidine hepatocytes of young adult guinea pigs were found to enter the DNA-synthesis phase 25 hours after partial hepatectomy. Peaks of nuclei labeling were revealed 30, 45, and 60 hours after the operation. By calculating mitotic figures on squash preparations two waves of mitosis were found (in 40 and 55 hours) after hepatectomy. Cytophotometric study of DNA content showed practically all mononuclear and binuclear hepatocytes to contain diploid nuclei in 3 and 5 days after the operation. By the end of the 7th regeneration day there were revealed 6% mononuclear tetraploid cells. The percentage of binuclear cells during the period of regeneration under study decreased from 16 to 8%. A conclusion was drawn that the main cytologicalmechanism of the guinea pig liver regeneration was full-fledged mitosis ending by cell division.
