Reduced H3 histamine receptor binding densities in the upper layers of motor cortex in rats prone to audiogenic convulsive seizures.

Fits of audiogenic seizures in rodents are considered as a model for generalized convulsive epilepsies in humans. The laminar distribution of the H3 histamine receptor binding densities was quantified in the motor cortex of two strains of rats with genetically determined generalized epilepsies, namely KM rats with audiogenic seizures only, and WAGRij rats with both audiogenic seizures and absence seizures. It was found that H3 histamine receptor binding densities in layer 2/3d of the primary and secondary motor cortices of the rats that experienced audiogenic seizure fits were significantly lower than in the cortices of control rats. Possible explanations are discussed.

Bistable behavior of the nitrogen impurity in SiC nanoclusters.

Nitrogen doped SiC nanoclusters of various shapes and polytype structures were modeled in the framework of density functional theory using the PBE0 hybrid functional. While in the bulk crystal NC impurity may be introduced in a large concentration and shows features of the conventional shallow effective-mass donor, in the nanocluster this defect can exist in two forms with sharply different electronic structures. The first one resembles the shallow donor confined in the nanocluster with a small and nearly isotropic lattice relaxation, and spin density spread over distant shells. The second form resembles a small bound polaron structure with a large and anisotropic lattice relaxation, which leads to a strong localization of the spin density on one of the nearest silicon atoms. Relative energies of these two states depend on the location of nitrogen in the lattice as well as on the shape and polytype structure of the nanocluster. The calculations show that the position of the impurity in the vicinity of the hexagonal double layers and cluster surface facilitates the formation of small-bound-polaron-like states. As follows from the calculations, the two impurity states can be experimentally distinguished by the values of the hyperfine and quadrupole coupling parameters that can be measured in magnetic resonance experiments. They are also characterized by rather different electronic absorption spectra. We have demonstrated that for negatively charged SiC nanoclusters the polaron-like impurity states can be formed even if they do not exist in neutral clusters. This provides a reason to believe that the nitrogen impurity occupying particular sites in SiC nanoclusters is an analog of the DX centers in the bulk crystal. In addition, the formation of the polaron-like states depends on the method of the surface passivation. In particular, the substitution of the Si-H surface bond with the Si-NH3 one facilitates a bistable behavior of the NC impurity located in the central part of the nanocluster. We have also shown that the effect of the self-purification manifests itself in different ways depending on the nanocluster shape and polytype structure.

[The effect of multichannel electrostimulation of neck nervous structures on the brain connectivity of patients with depressive disorders]. / Vliianie mnogokanal'noi élektrostimuliatsii nervnykh struktur shei na konnektivnost' golovnogo mozga u patsientov s depressivnym rasstroistvom.

AIM: To study neurophysiological processes during multichannel electrostimulation in patients with depressive disorder. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 6 patients with depressive disorder (F33). The technology noninvasive multichannel stimulation of neck neural struct SYMPATHOKOR-01 device. Clinical and psychometric methods, functional neuroimaging (fMRTP) and multichannel electroencephalography (EEG) were used to assess treatment effect. RESULTS: In all patients, fMRTP and EEG results show the disturbances of brain connectivity, which are correlated with the clinical state of the disease, before treatment. After five stimulation procedures, there is an increase in functional connection of the medial prefrontal cortex (according to rs-fMRI results) and an increase in the synchronization of various parts of the cortex (EEG results). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate the possibilities of multichannel electrical stimulation of the neck nervous structures to restore the intracerebral connections disturbed during depression due to the activation of neuroplasticity.

CONTENT OF CATECHOLAMINES IN BLOOD SERUM OF RATS UNDER FLUORIDE INTOXICATION.

The aim of the research was to determine in the experiment the content of catecholamines in serum of rats exposed to sodium fluoride. The studies were conducted on adult Wistar rats, subjected to oral exposure by means of a probe with aqueous solutions of sodium fluoride (SF) once daily, for 60 days at doses of 1/10, 1/100 and 1/1000 DL50, which correspondingly amounts to 20 mg/kg, 2 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg of body weight. Toxification of rats at a dose of 1/100 DL50 for 60 days and at a dose of 1/10 DL50 for 50 days was accompanied by an increase in blood levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine, indicating the hyperactivation of the mediator and hormonal parts of the sympathoadrenal system, and tension of the protective and adaptive reactions of the organism. Prolonged hypercatecholemia may become a pathogenic factor due to intensification of the quinidine route of oxidation of norepinephrine and epinephrine with the formation of reactive radicals and active forms of oxygen. Reduced serum content of catecholamines on the 60th day of oral administration at a dose of 1/10 DL50 reflects, on the one hand, a decrease in their tissue deposit, and, on the other, a decrease in the activity and reserve capacities of the sympathoadrenal system.

[The possibilities of neurostimulation (sympathetic correction) in the treatment of amnestic (Korsakoff's) psychosis]. / Vozmozhnosti neirostimuliatsii (simpatokorrektsii) v terapii amnesticheskogo (korsakovskogo) psikhoza.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive multichannel electrical stimulation (sympathetic correction) in patients with alcohol amnesic (Korsakoff's) psychosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-seven men, aged 33-48 years, with Korsakoff's (amnestic) psychosis were studied. The duration of disease varied from 12 to 24 month. The device of electrical stimulation of neck nerve structures was used for neuroelectrostimulation. Treatment included 15 sessions within 3 weeks. During this period, patients did not receive pharmacological therapy. The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used to determine changes in cognitive state of patients. Electroencephalography with qEEG analysis and spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) were carried out as well. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Positive effects of treatment were observed in all patients that suggested the high therapeutic potential of the neuroelectrostimulation method.

Comparison of nitrogen-vacancy complexes in diamond and cubic SiC: dose dependencies and spin-Hamiltonian parameters.

At present the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) complex in diamond is the most promising defect for application in the area of quantum computing. This provides a stimulus for an extensive search of other defects in semiconductors with similar properties. Recently it was shown that the NCVSi defect complex in SiC is perspectively appropriate for this goal as well. In the present work we perform comparative ab initio studies of NV complexes in diamond and 3C-SiC. We focus both on radiospectroscopic characterization of these defects and on the calculation of the equilibrium concentration of complexes in irradiated crystals. In particular a full set of spin-Hamiltonian parameters including g-tensors, hyperfine tensors and the spin-spin part of zero-field splitting constant Dss were calculated for both negative and neutral charge states as well as for excited quartet states of neutral complexes. Comparison of calculated values with the available experimental data and results of other calculations show good agreement, especially in the case when hybrid and meta-hybrid functionals were used. This makes the unambiguous identification of negative NV complexes in both materials possible. Our calculations reveal that the ground states of neutral complexes are a difficult case for both DFT calculations and experimental observations. This is caused by multi-determinantal behavior of wave function for such complexes, which leads to a large amount of spin contamination and to the broken symmetry solution which appeared for single Slater determinant DFT calculations. Based on the calculated minimum of free energy of neutral and negative complexes in SiC and diamond we obtained the equilibrium concentrations of these complexes depending on the vacancy concentration produced by irradiation. We show that in some dose regions both negative and neutral complexes coexist, while in other regions only one charge state prevails. Comparison of the calculated and experimental dose dependencies for diamond shows good qualitative agreement.

Detection and Characteristics of Rifampicin-Resistant Isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Genotyping and analysis the drug resistance of 59 isolates of M. tuberculosis obtained from patients living in Altai Territory were performed using a BACTEC MGIT 960 fluorometric system by means of VNTR typing (variable number tandem repeat), PCR-RFLP analysis, and sequence analysis. The occurrence frequency was highest for isolates of the Beijing family (n=30, 50.8%). Analysis of mutation spectrum in the rpoB gene associated with rifampicin resistance revealed the major mutation (codon 531 of the rpoB gene) in 93% samples, which allows us to use rapid test systems.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Clinical Isolate, Mycobacterium abscessus Strain NOV0213.

Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapid-growing species of nontuberculous mycobacteria that is frequently associated with opportunistic infections in humans. We determined the complete genome sequence of the M. abscessus strain NOV0213, which was isolated from a patient with tuberculosis-like disease and with various antibiotic resistances.

[Inventive activity of the Department of Metabolism Regulation of the Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of NAS of Ukraine].

The article is devoted to the inventive activity of the Department of Metabolism Regulation of the Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of NAS of Ukraine in the context of the history of its inception, development and the research activities of its founder, academician of NAS of Ukraine M. F. Guly as well as his students and followers. It briefly tells about practical achievements of M. F. Guly which were as significant, immense and diverse as his scientific accomplishments. The paper analyses in detail the practical results of scientific research of his students and followers aimed to solve practical problems of medicine, food-processing, agriculture, and which are essentially a continuation of the ideas and projects of M. F. Guly.

[A new method of treatment of Korsakoff's (amnestic) psychosis: neurostimulation-correction of the sympathetic nervous system]. / Novyi metod terapii korsakovskogo (amnesticheskogo) psikhoza: neirostimuliatsiia v vide simpatokorrektsii.

AIM: To provide a rationale for a new method of neurostimulation - correction of the sympathetic nervous system based on the evolution of the electrical stimulation of the brain as a component of neurorehabilitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Authors treated 16 patients with Korsakoff's (amnestic) psychosis using this method. RESULTS: Positive results were obtained in all patients. A typical case is described. CONCLUSION: The proposed method has a high therapeutic potential.

Multi-electrode neurostimulation system for treatment of cognitive impairments.

Peculiarities of neurostimulation organization by a multi-electrode system are considered. The system forms the spatially distributed field of current pulses that impact the nerve centers of the neck. An example is given for technical implementation of such a system in device SYMPATHOCOR and the method of its application: the dynamic correction of activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Results of its clinic application to treating the children with the attention deficit syndrome are given. It is shown that taking into account pathophysiological peculiarities of such a syndrome, it could be considered as a general model of cognitive impairments.

Mechanism of strain-influenced quantum well thickness reduction in GaN/AlN short-period superlattices.

We report on the mechanism of strain-influenced quantum well (QW) thickness reduction in GaN/AlN short-period superlattices grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Density functional theory was used to support the idea of a thermally activated exchange mechanism between Al adatoms and Ga surface atoms that is influenced by the strain state of the GaN QWs. These ab initio calculations support our experimentally observed reduction in QW thickness for different intrinsic strains.

[The activity of peroxidation of lipids in biologic samples of patients with recurrent diseases of upper respiratory tracts].

The parameters of peroxidation of lipids in blood and saliva were analyzed on sampling of 60 patients with recurrent diseases of upper respiratory tracts during period of remission. It is established that the content of primary and secondary products of peroxidation of neutral lipids in blood plasma is lower as compared with healthy persons. The content of end products of peroxidation of neutral lipids and products of oxidation of phospholipids in blood plasma is higher as compared with healthy persons. The characteristics of alterations of intermediates of peroxidation of lipids in various biologic samples depend on the localization of inflammatory process.

[Prediction of the outcome in patients with necrotic pancreatitis].

Treatment results were analyzed in 197 patients with pancreonecrosis. After admission to hospital their clinical course was predicted as non-severe according to APACHE II score (less than 8 points). It is estimated that body temperature lower than 36.6 degrees C, marked abdominal swelling, level of consciousness less that 15 points according to Glasgo scale, leukocytosis higher than 18.109, lymphopenia less than 18%, hypoproteinemia less than 60g/l and presence of portal hypertension are risk factors for lethal outcome in patients with predictable mild clinical course of necrotic pancreatitis. Authors suggest that patients with initially mild clinical course of pancreonecrosis in presence of risk factors must receive the same treatment as patients in poor state.

[Necrotic pancreatitis: treatment results].

The results of treatment of 310 patients with necrotic pancreatitis were analyzed to establish the efficacy of modern therapy strategy, defined on the 9th Russian congress of surgeons. Current treatment approaches were most effective in patients with severe forms of the pancreatitis. Demonstrated, that treatment protocol of patients with pancreonecrosis, who showed more then 8 points by APACHE II scale, should include pancreotropic antibiotic of broad spectrum, antisecretory drugs and early enteral nutrition. Patients with less then 8 points by APACHE II scale did not required the mandatory implementation of all the referred measurements.

[Effectiveness of applications of early enteric nutrition in patients with pancreonecrosis].

The results of treatment of 90 patients with necrotic pancreatitis were analyzed with the aim to establish the efficacy of early enteric nutrition compared to parenteral nutrition. It was revealed that inclusion in the program of nutritive support of early enteric nutrition increased the probability of survival and decreased the postoperative lethality, frequency and severity of suppurative complication in these patients, improved the clinical and laboratory manifestations of the disease on 7-15 day from the beginning of the treatment.

[Interferon alpha-2b in the complex therapy of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis concurrent with bronchoobstructive syndrome].

Interferon alpha-2b was tested for its effect on therapeutic effectiveness in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with bronchoobstructive syndrome and signs of secondary immunodeficiency. The patients were randomized to 2 groups. The study group (n=35) received rectal interferon alpha-2b, 3 million IU, on chemotherapy days (twice weekly). The total duration of a course of immunochemothery was 4 months or more. The control group (n=35) did not take the immunomodulator. The use of interferon contributed to the normalization of T-cell immunological parameters in 60.6% of the patients and functional parameters in 35.7% and could achieve closure of decay cavities (the only cavity or one of the cavities) in 90.6% of cases (in the control group, these were in 33.3, 20, and 64.3%, respectively).

[An association of the reduction in the count of T1 cells in the peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with the lower monocytic expression of costimulatory CD80 molecules].

The percentage of T1 lymphocytes in the presence of the unchanged content of T2 cells were shown to be decreased in the peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis as compared with apparently healthy donors. In addition, the patients were found to have a significantly reduced quantity of CD80-expressing monocytes, the relative quantities of Th1 and Tc1 cells were directly related to the count of CD80+ monocytes. It is suggested that decreased CD80+ cells is a cause of ineffective antigen presentation that results in a systemic reduction in the count of CD4+ and CD8+ cells producing T1 cytokines and in impairment of an effective specific T1 response.

[The clinicobiological status of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis concurrent with chronic hepatitis B and/or C].

Examination was made in 155 patients, including 60 patients were diagnosed as having hepatitis, hepatic lesion being first detected by a screening survey for markers of hepatitis. The antipyrine test was carried out. Patients with slow and rapid hydroxylation were identified. No changes were found in the biotransformation functions of the liver in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis 6 months after intravenous intermittent chemotherapy twice a week from the beginning of therapy; however, there was inhibition of the activity of monooxygenases and a two-fold increase in the number of patients with slow hydroxylation among patients with concomitant chronic hepatitis B and/or C. The best results of chemotherapy were found in tuberculous patients with slow hydroxylation: they less frequently underwent surgical interventions since decay cavities were therapeutically closed.

Barium dithionate as an EPR dosemeter.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry is growing in popularity and this success has encouraged the search for other dosimetric materials. Previous studies of gamma-irradiated barium dithionate (BaS(2)O(6) x 2H(2)O) have shown promise for its use as a radiation dosemeter. This work studies in greater detail several essential attributes of the system. Special attention has been directed to the study of EPR response dependences on microwave power, irradiation temperature, minimum detectable dose and post-irradiation stability.