[The application of antiadhesive means in prevention of peritoneal commissures].

The article presents our experience with using antiadhesive means "Seprafilm", "Interceed" and "Adept" in patients with abdominal adhesive disease. "Seprafilm" was applied in 18 patients, among them 13 underwent laparoscopic and 5 open adhesiolysis. Liquid antiadhesive barrier "Adept" was used in 53 patients (in 33--laparoscopically and in 20--by laparotomy). "Interceed" mesh was used in 16 patients in open adhesiolysis. The combination of laparoscopy and antiadhesive barrier allows receiving good results by minimization of the operative trauma and influencing the process of adhesion formation. During laparoscopic interventions the application of liquid antiadhesive means is technically more convenient.

The disruption of the rod-derived cone viability gene leads to photoreceptor dysfunction and susceptibility to oxidative stress.

Rod-derived cone viability factor (RdCVF) is a thioredoxin-like protein, which has therapeutic potential for rod-cone dystrophies such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Cone loss in rodent models of RP is effectively reduced by RdCVF treatment. In this study, we investigate the physiological role of RdCVF in the retina by analyzing the phenotype of the mouse lacking the RdCVF gene, Nxnl1. Although the mice do not show an obvious developmental defect, an age-related reduction of both cone and rod function and a delay in the dark-adaptation of the retina are recorded by electroretinogram (ERG). This functional change is accompanied by a 17% reduction in cone density and a 20% reduction in thickness of the outer nuclear layer. The transcriptome of the retina reveals early changes in the expression of genes involved in programmed cell death, stress-response and redox-signaling, which is followed by a generalized injury response with increased microglial activation, GFAP, FGF2 and lipid peroxidation levels. Furthermore, cones of the mice lacking Nxnl1 are more sensitive to oxidative stress with a reduction of 65% in the cone flicker ERG amplitude measured under hyperoxic conditions. We show here that the RdCVF gene, in addition to therapeutic properties, has an essential role in photoreceptor maintenance and resistance to retinal oxidative stress.

Study of taurine and tauret content in the compound eye of locust with light and dark adaptation.

Taurine as well as tauret (retinyliden taurine) levels were measured in locust Locusta migratoria compound eyes. HPLC measurements revealed relatively low taurine levels (1.9 +/- 0.16 mM) in dark-adapted eyes. Glutamate, aspartate and glycine levels were 2.0 +/- 0.2, 2.7 +/- 0.4 and 3.0 +/- 0.37 mM, respectively, while GABA was present only in trace amounts. After about 4 h of light adaptation at 1500-2000 lx, amino acid levels in the compound eye were as follows: taurine, 1.8 +/- 0.17 mM; glutamate, no change at 2.1 +/- 0.2 mM; aspartate sharply increased to 4.7 +/- 0.7 mM; glycine slightly decreased to 2.8 +/- 0.3 mM; and GABA trace levels. In the compound eye of locust Locusta migratoria, the existence of endogenous tauret in micro-molar range was established. In the dark, levels were several times higher compared with compound eye after light adaptation 1500 lx for 3 h, as estimated by TLC in combination with spectral measurements. Existence of tauret in compound eye is of special interest because in the compound eye, rhodopsin regeneration is based on photoregeneration.

[Lectin-enzyme assay as a method of estimation of immunoglobulins' glycosylation].

The mechanism of interaction of lectins with IgG molecules by the method of the lectin-enzyme assay has been described that allows to register a degree of human serum IgG molecules' glycosylation (mannosylation in case of lectin of Pisum sativum) in norm and at pathology. To detect an authentic difference in a glycosylation degree between control and pathological IgG, the wells of an ELISA plate were coated with an antibody in concentration of 1 microg/ml. Introducing alpha-D-mannose between the stages of incubation of immunoglobulin and lectin showed, that alpha-D-mannose inhibits the affinity of lectins for IgG. The preliminary incubation of lectin with IgG molecules stabilizes the activity of horseradish peroxidase, which labeled the lectins. Lectin-enzyme assay, in which Fab and Fc fragments of IgG were used, showed that lectin of Pisum sativum possesses a higher affinity for Fab regions. These findings and the glycosylation analysis of paraproteins and Bence-Jones proteins of multiple myeloma patients help to understand the details of interaction of immunoglobulins and lectins.

[Effect of a postsynaptic alpha2-adrenoreceptor antagonist beditin on the rat resistance to seizure and Ca(+)-level in the brain tissue]. / Vliianie antagonista postsinapticheskikh alpha2-adrenoretseptorov beditina na ustoichivost' krys k sudorozhnym vozdeistviiam i soderzhanie Ca(2+) v tkani mozga.

In rats with a hemodynamic disorder caused by acute myocardial ischemia, preliminary administration of beditin in a dose of 25 mg/kg fully prevents a manifold increase in the level of 45Ca2+ in the cytosol of brain cells and leads to enhanced trapping and accumulation of labeled calcium in endoplasmic reticulum. With respect to calcium binding in endoplasmic reticulum, the action of beditin substantially differs from that of verapamil.

[Septal nuclei in the regulation of vago-sensitive neurons activity of the solitary nucleus in cats]. / Rol' septal'nykh iader v reguliatsii aktivnosti vagosensitivnykh neironov iadra solitarnogo trakta u koshek.

The descending influences of the septal nuclei (lateral nucleus--LSN and bed nucleus stria terminalis--BNST) on activity of viscero-sensory neurons of the nucleus of tractus solitarius (NTS) identified by stimulation of cervical part of the n. vagus were investigated in the cat anaesthetised by chloraloze-nembutal combination. It was found that out of 70 units recorded in the NTS area 50 were identified as those of primary and secondary input vagal neurons. Influence of single, paired and frequency stimulation on the septal structures was studied on these neurons. It was revealed that 30% (15 un) reacted by phase-specific response to the single stimulation of the septal nuclei. The latent period of initial excitation was in the range 5-25 ms. During the paired stimulation these neurons were not able to react to the second stimulus for the equal 10-300 ms. It was revealed that 34% (17 un) of the identified vagal neurons reacted by a tonic change of their spontaneous activity. The increase of frequency stimulation to 20 Hz evoked different changes of the rhythmical activity of the vagal neurons (increase, diminishing or inhibition). The study of interaction between central and peripheral signals in the solitary neurons induced blocking influence of descending septal discharge on the vagal test response. It is possible that the septal downward impulses reach the vago-sensitive solitary neurons indirectly through other structures of the limbic brain (amygdala, hypothalamus) and participate in modulation of the spontaneous activity of these neurons.

Recurrent neural network-based approach for early recognition of Alzheimer's disease in EEG.

OBJECTIVE: We explored the ability of specifically designed and trained recurrent neural networks (RNNs), combined with wavelet preprocessing, to discriminate between the electroencephalograms (EEGs) of patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their age-matched control subjects. METHODS: Twomin recordings of resting eyes-closed continuous EEGs (as well as their wavelet-filtered subbands) obtained from parieto-occipital channels of 10 early AD patients and 10 healthy controls were input into RNNs for training and testing purposes. The RNNs were chosen because they can implement extremely non-linear decision boundaries and possess memory of the state, which is crucial for the considered task. RESULTS: The best training/testing results were achieved using a 3-layer RNN on left parietal channel level 4 high-pass wavelet subbands. When trained on 3 AD and 3 control recordings, the resulting RNN tested well on all remaining controls and 5 out of 7 AD patients. This represented a significantly better than chance performance of about 80% sensitivity at 100% specificity. CONCLUSION: The suggested combined wavelet/RNN approach may be useful in analyzing long-term continuous EEGs for early recognition of AD. This approach should be extended on larger patient populations before its clinical diagnostic value can be established. Further lines of investigation might also require that EEGs be recorded from patients engaged in certain mental (cognitive) activities.

Taurine as a universal carrier of lipid soluble vitamins: a hypothesis.

In the literature taurine is characterized as a non-specific growth or blood clotting factor, an antioxidant, a membrane protector, or a regulator of calcium ion homeostasis, just as vitamins A, D, E, F, and K are similarly characterized. On the basis of recent finding concerning the relationship between taurine and the aldehyde of vitamin A-retinal (Petrosian and Haroutounian, 1988, 1998; Petrosian et al., 1996), as well as on the basis of data from the literature, we now suggest a hypothesis that taurine promotes the bioavailability of the lipid soluble vitamins A, D, E, K, and F, probably by forming different types of water soluble, easily hydrolyzable complexes. It is quite possible that the ability of taurine to convert lipids and lipid soluble substances into a water soluble state is the key to understanding the unusually wide diversity of biological phenomena associated with taurine. This form of delivery may be an additional, secondary mechanism for the transport of lipid soluble vitamins, which was probably acquired early in evolution, and remains extremely important for mammals and humans directly after birth for a variety of physiological functions such as: vision in normal and in emergency situations, rapid blood clotting, sperm eruption, and situations requiring a prompt consumption of lipid soluble vitamins characteristic of excitable systems. Clearly, the role of taurine in the physiology of the water insoluble vitamins remains an enigma and is worthy of further investigations.

Optimal zonal wavelet-based ECG data compression for a mobile telecardiology system.

A new integrated design approach for an optimal zonal wavelet-based ECG data compression (OZWC) method for a mobile telecardiology model is presented. The hybrid implementation issues of this wavelet method with a GSM-based mobile telecardiology system are also introduced. The performance of the mobile system with compressed ECG data segments selected from the MIT-BIH arrhythmia data base is evaluated in terms of bit error rate (BER), percent rms difference (PRD), and visual clinical inspection. The compression performance analysis of the OZWC is compared with another wavelet-based (Discrete Symmetric Wavelet Compression) approach. The optimal wavelet algorithm achieved a maximum compression ratio of 18: 1 with low PRD ratios. The mobile telemedical simulation results show the successful compressed ECG transmission at speeds of 100 (km/h) with BER rates of less than 10(-15), providing a 73% reduction in total mobile transmission time with clinically acceptable reconstruction of the received signals. This approach will provide a framework for the design and functionality issues of GSM-based wireless telemedicine systems with wavelet compression techniques and their future integration for the next generation of mobile telecardiology systems.

[Effect of beditine on the cerebral circulation and various metabolic parameters]. / Vliianie beditina na mozgovoe krovoobrashchenie i nekotorye drugie metabolicheskie pokazateli.

Beditin, or 2-(2-amino-4-thiazolyl)-1,4-benzodioxane hydrochloride, is a new benzodioxane derivative possessing antihypoxant and alpha 2-adrenoreceptor blocker properties. In contrast to idazoxan, a well-known alpha 2-adrenoreceptor blocker, beditin (3 mg/kg) significantly increases the circulation rate and decreases the blood vessel resistance in various brain structures of rats and cats without considerably changing their systemic hemodynamic indices. Upon a one-side ligation of the common carotid artery in rats, beditin prevented a sharp increase in the lactate dehydrogenase activity and a growth in the content of free ammonia in the brain, which are characteristic of the ischemic states. The ammonia-eliminating effect of beditin is related to an increase in the glutamate dehydrogenase activity in the reductive amination reaction.

[ES-IPO-97 treatment protocol for prognostically poor Ewing's sarcoma forms in children: results of implementation]. / Rezyl'taty provedeniia protokola ES-IPO-97 lecheniia detei s prognosticheski neblagopriiatnymi formami sarkomy Iuinga.

The paper shows the high efficiency and moderate toxicity of inductive treatment in children with Young sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors by ES-Ipo-97 protocol that includes alternate chemotherapy by the scheme: vincristine, 1.5 mg/m2/day, on days 1, 8, 15; adriamycin, 37.5 mg/m2/day, on days 1 and 2 as 24-hour infusion; cyclophosphanum, 2.1 g/m2/day, on days 1 and 2 (Block A); iphosphamide, 2.4 g/m2/day on days 1 to 5, etoposide, 100 mg/m2/day, on days 1-5 (Block B). It provides evidence for that this therapy is promising and awaits further developments.

Effects of osmotic and light stimulation on 3H-taurine efflux from isolated rod outer segments and synthesis of tauret in the frog retina.

After injection of 3H-taurine into eyeballs of frogs and maintenance for 3 h in darkness by a gentle shaking, an almost homogenous fraction of rod outer segments (ROS) was prepared. About a 22% decrease in tonicity caused by reducing NaCl in isotonic 225 mOsm normal solution caused a rapid increase in the rate coefficient of efflux of 3H-taurine from the ROS fraction. The peak level of increased efflux rate coefficient was 7-times higher than the basal isotonic level. This indicates that taurine could contribute essentially to the volume regulation, either via selective channels or a carrier transporter-mediated pathways. For further clarifying if taurine fluxes in the ROS are sensitive to the light, other experiments were performed. Neither light stimulation of dark-adapted ROSs fractions or dark stimulation of weakly illuminated ROSs revealed any detectable changes in the efflux rate coefficient of 3H-taurine. These results indicate that light-induced taurine efflux, if present in the ROS, must be small, compared with hypoosmotic induced efflux. Thus the question of light-induced release of taurine from ROS still remains to be clarified. In the second part of this study, using TLC (thin layer chromatography) in combination with 3H-taurine measurements we have tried to clarify whether frogs (Rana ridibunda) eye structures can synthesize tauret (retinylidenetaurine). In isolated retinal preparations almost no any noticeable radioactivity was detected compared with background level. The capability of the eye structures to synthesize tauret from 3H-taurine was revealed in the second whole eye injection experiment. About 0.3% of the total 3H-taurine pool taken up was converted into 3H-tauret in the dark-adapted frog retina. In the retina of frogs adapted to light compared with those which were dark adapted tauret quantities were remarkable lower--on average about half. These results are in agreement with our recent data obtained by HPLC, which indicate tauret levels several times higher in the dark-adapted frog retinae compared with those after long lasting light adaption. Taking into account these results one can conclude that the main structure able to synthesize 3H-tauret is probably pigment epithelium rather than retina.

New HPLC evidence on endogenous tauret in retina and pigment epithelium.

This investigation was improve the separation for tauret (retinylidene taurine) and to compare its content in the retina under dark and light adaptation. To prevent tauret hydrolysis, retinal samples were quickly frozen and lyophilized. Methanol extracts of dried retina and pigment epithelium from both dark- or light-adapted frogs, Rana ridibunda, were injected onto HPLC. Synthetic standard tauret appeared at 4.7 min after the solvent front. At the same time, an endogenous substance was eluted from the mixed retinal and pigment epithelial samples. The UV spectra of this endogenous compound matched with the spectra of synthetic tauret obtained under identical conditions, with lambda(max) = 446 nm at peak. We conclude that the HPLC system used permitted full separation of tauret from the methanol extracts of the retina and pigment epithelium. TLC and further HPLC analysis have shown that tauret quantities were several times higher in the retina and pigment epithelium of the frogs adapted to dark compared with those light-adapted (about 4 h under 1000 1x illumination). Tauret based vitamin A transport is probably involved in other systems as well, where along with its other known beneficial effects taurine probably is necessary to facilitate vitamin A transport.

Immunological characterization of anti-endothelial cell antibodies induced by cytomegalovirus infection.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that the levels of anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) determined by an enzyme immunoassay are elevated during cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in cardiac and renal transplant recipients. In a separate study, high levels of AECA are associated with higher frequency of humoral allograft rejection (AR), chronic AR and lower 2 year allograft survival in cardiac transplant recipients. These results suggests that high levels of AECA produced during CMV infection may have a pathogenic role or be a risk factor for humoral AR, chronic AR and decreased allograft survival. Here we examined the reactivity of AECA against endothelial cells and other tissues to further characterize AECA induced by CMV infection. METHODS: Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis/Western blot analysis was performed. RESULTS: The number and intensity of bands reactive with human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) increased during and after CMV infection. AECA(+) plasma reacted with multiple antigens expressed not only on endothelial cells but also on human fibroblasts, keratinocytes, platelets (PLs), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), Raji cells and THP-1 cells. Each individual's AECA(+) plasma showed different patterns of reactivity against these cells, whereas each plasma showed similar patterns of reactivity against ECs, PLs or peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from different individuals. AECA(+) plasma also showed a similar pattern of reactivity against HUVECs pretreated with/without interferon-gamma/tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The reactivity of preabsorbed sera with PLs significantly decreased against most reactive antigens expressed on PLs and other cell types. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Antibodies induced by CMV infection are not specific to endothelial cells and appear to react with multiple cell types, (2) AECA (+) plasma react with multiple antigens expressed on various cell types that are primarily constitutively expressed on these cells and are not individual specific, (3) CMV-induced antibodies in AECA (+) plasma are primarily autoantibodies. These results suggest that the elevated AECA levels seen in CMV-infected transplant recipients may represent a polyclonal activation of humoral immune responses induced by CMV, which is of uncertain pathogenic significance.

[Neuron mechanisms of the regulation of bulbar vagosolitary activity by structures of basolateral amygdala nuclei in cats]. / Neironnaia organizatsiia mekhanizmov reguliatsii aktivnosti bul'barnykh vagosolitarnykh neironov strukturami bazolateral'nykh iader amigdaly u koshek.

Neuronal reactivity to single stimuli applied to both the peripheral nerves and the cortex, was the same in the cat solitary tract nucleus. The 1-20 Hz stimulation frequency rendered the reactivity either tonic in character or with reduced firing rate. A high degree of convergence (80.2%) on baso-lateral nuclei neurons was established, as well as a significant cortico-fugal effect (71%) on the viscero-sensory units of these nuclei. Single shocks and tetanic stimulation of the baso-lateral amygdala evoked mostly phasic responses of the primary as well as secondary vagal neurons. Feed-back mechanisms of the amygdaloid control of the bulbar viscero-sensory units are discussed.

The role of taurine in osmotic, mechanical, and chemical protection of the retinal rod outer segments.

The ability of the photoreceptor cell to resist osmotic stress was examined by incubating isolated frog retina in medium of varying osmolality. An electron microscopic analysis of the rod outer segment following a severe hypoosmotic insult revealed connections between adjacent disks and between disk rims and the plasma membrane, which presumably provide mechanical stability to the rod outer segment. One surprising result was the extent of the damage incurred by the electrical signaling pathway of the photoreceptor cells subjected to a 50 mOsm insult; only the distal P111 component of the ERG remained unaffected. Thus, the rod outer segment is particularly resistant to osmotic-induced injury, presumably because of the effective osmoregulatory actions of taurine. Incubation of retina with tauret, retinylidentaurine, uncovered rose-like hexagonal structures on the surface of the rod outer segment. These structures purportedly consist of connections between disk rims and the plasma membrane of the rod outer segments. Based on the influence of tauret, it is likely that the calcium dependence of these channels is selective for retinoids. These data are discussed relative to taurine's role in the process of rhodopsin regeneration and in the protection of the rod outer segments against osmotic, mechanical and light induced damage.

Effects of taurine and light on retinal GABA content and the efflux of 14C-GABA and 14C-aspartate from frog retina.

GABA content of isolated, dark adapted frog retina was found to be 3.15 +/- 0.28 mM. After 30 minutes of exposure to intense light (200 lx), retinal GABA levels increased about 70%. Interestingly, incubation of dark adapted retina for 30 minutes with medium containing 0.4 mM taurine also led to a 70% increase in GABA levels. Since the light-induced elevation in GABA content was reduced over 50% by a simultaneous injection of 0.02 mM strychinine, it is likely that the light-induced GABA change is partly mediated by the release of taurine from the retina seen after light exposure. However, incubation of isolated retina with medium containing increasing concentrations of taurine (1, 2 and 20 mM), caused a progressive rise in 14C-GABA efflux from retina that was preloaded with 2.2 microM GABA and exposed to dim light (0.05 lx). It was also shown that taurine (1 and 5 mM) dramatically reduced 14C-aspartate efflux from retina preloaded with radioactive aspartate and exposed to dim light conditions. By comparison, intense light stimulation (40 lx) reduced basal 14C-aspartate efflux while dark exposure increased 14C-aspartate loss from the isolated retina. We found that taurine depressed the b-wave signal of frog retina, with the maximum effect occurring at a concentration of 1 mM. Addition of strychnine (0.4 mM) reversed the taurine effect on the b-wave, indicating that taurine receptors must be present in the inner retina. By contrast, taurine (0.1-20 mM) had no effect on the P111 component of the ERG initiated by either aspartate or cobalt. However, taurine exerted a modest depressant activity on P111 initiated by glutamate. The significance of these data relative to the putative neurotransmitter function of taurine in the inner retina is discussed.

Cytomegalovirus infection induces anti-endothelial cell antibodies in cardiac and renal allograft recipients.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represents a significant morbidity factor for transplant recipients. CMV infection has an association with the development of allograft rejection (AR) through graft endothelial cell (EC) damage, but the mechanisms are not yet clear. There are few reports addressing the role of humoral immunity in vascular EC injury mediated by CMV infection whereas many reports are available regarding the mechanism(s) of CMV-associated allograft EC injury mediated by cellular immunity. Here we examine the incidence of CMV infection in 40 cardiac and 25 renal allograft recipients using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. We also monitored sera for the development of anti-EC antibodies (AECA) using an ELISA with human umbilical vein ECs as targets, and IL-2 levels using an ELISA. AECA levels (immunoglobulin-G and immunoglobulin-M) were significantly elevated in allograft recipients who demonstrated CMV-PCR positivity when compared with the CMV-PCR negative group (IgG: 23.1 +/- 16.4 vs 4.7 +/- 4.5, p < 0.0001; IgM: 47.0 +/- 53.6 vs 7.0 +/- 11.2, p < 0.0001). Serum AECA (IgG and IgM) levels increased one to four weeks after CMV DNA was detected and elevated AECA levels persisted for at least one to two months, and sometimes for several months. Elevated AECA levels correlated well with serum IL-2 levels. These results suggest that CMV infection is associated with an increased humoral immune response to EC antigens, which may be a risk factor for vascular rejection, chronic rejection and decreased allograft survival.