[Prenatal risk factors of birth defects in newborn of plain areas of Chernovitskii region].

To study the prevalence of birth defects in newborns plain areas of Chernivtsi region, and highlights the most prominent risk factors for their development.

[Ophthalmic hypertension and glaucoma: mechanisms of development (a theoretical and clinical study)].

Ophthalmic hypertension and primary open-angle glaucoma are stages of the same process aimed at creating comfortable conditions for accommodation apparatus performance in anatomically poor eyes. Ophthalmic hypertension is a compensatory reaction to decreased ciliary muscle performance. It is induced by increased blood flow to the anterior eye segment, which improves metabolism in the ciliary body and enhances its performance capacity. Aqueous humor hyperproduction elevates pressure, without causing the eye to stretch due to the compensatory consolidation of a scleral capsule. The above processes fail to damage visual functions in 2/3 patients with ophthalmic hypertension. There is depletion of the body's compensatory capacities and ophthalmic hypertension progresses to glaucoma in a third of patients (this seems to be genetically determined). At the stage of glaucoma, a reverse compensatory reaction (eye ischemization and scleral sprain) is engaged to make accommodation apparatus performance easier. However, a third of patients gets into the vicious circle and loses their vision.

[Circadian changes of the density of melatonin receptors 1A in the neurons of the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the rat hypothalamus under conditions of diverse functional activiity of the pineal gland].

An immunohistochemical study of the density of melatonin receptors 1A in the neurons of the rat suprachiasmatic nuclei with diverse functional activity of the pineal gland has been carried out. The density of melatonin receptors 1A under conditions of the physiological function of the pineal gland was characterized by clear-cut diurnal variations. Simultaneously, a dysfunction of the gland results in their marked disturbance. In case of a hypofunction of the pineal body the density of the structures was reliably lower than in case of hyperfunction. It has been demonstrated that in case of a suppressed activity of the pineal body the maximum number of melatonin receptors 1A in the neurons of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei shifts from 02.00 a.m. to 02.00 p.m. and constitutes 0.35+/-0.012 conventional units (c.u.) of density, whereas a larger index is noticed at 20 hours making up 0.43+/-0.015 c.u. of density when the gland is activated.

[The chronobiological conception of the development of acute myocardial infarction].

The subjects, 1048 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), were examined in order to study the chronobiological periodicity of acute coronary catastrophes. The study established that the probability of AMI was the lowest on Sundays and Saturdays, equally higher on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, lower on Tuesdays, and the highest on Fridays. Analysis of circannian AMI incidence demonstrates that its probability decreases in September and increases in February, March, May, and June. In August and November, the incidence of different AMI forms differs: transmural forms prevail in August, while large-focal ones prevail in November.

Polarization-correlation mapping of biological tissue coherent images.

We investigate the statistical polarization parameters of biological tissue histological section images with different morphological structure. First we outline the results of polarization coordinate mapping and analysis of the statistics of the first to fourth orders of biological tissue image polarization azimuth and ellipticities. Second, we study the statistics of the first to fourth orders of coordinate distributions of the complex degree of mutual polarization (CDMP) of biological tissue images. Finally, we consider the diagnostic possibilities of investigating 2-D distributions of CDMP of images that correspond to physiologically normal and degeneratively and/or dystrophycally changed biological tissues that are being analyzed.

[Functional organization of a photoperiodic brain system]. / Funktsional'naia organizatsiia fotoperiodicheskoi sistemy golovnogo mozga.

The neurofunctional system, which receives a photoperiod, is a photoperiodic brain system. As a part of chronoperiodic system of organism it is involved in perception and transfer of information about the main external Zeitgeber to the peripheral tissues. Such role of photoperiodic system allows it not only synchronize the chronorhythms of different somatic and visceral functions, but also realize the coordination and the modulation of adaptation mechanisms to the stressors influence. The present review is focused on the ways of conduction of photoperiodic information, role of suprachiasmatic nuclei of hypothalamus in endogenous oscillation of chronorhythms and pineal gland as a neuroendocrinal transducer; and also on characteristics of circadian and circannual parts of photoperiodic system. Special attention is given to vegetative part of photoperiodic system and melatonin--"the hormone of dark". It is supposed that adenosine, one of the humoral elements of photoperiodic system, is involved in transfer of duration of the light part of photoperiod. Due to presented data we have come to the conclusion that septohippocampal system is one of the center for saving photoperiodic information.

[Pathogenetic role of prostanoids in disorders of sodium reabsorption during development of acute renal insufficiency]. / Patohenetychne znachennia prostanoïdiv u porushenni reabsorbtsiï ioniv natriiu za umov rozvytku hostroï nyrkovoï nedostatnosti.

The experiments were carried out on 36 male rats with an acute renal insufficiency--sublimate-induced nephropathy. An increased amount of both tromboxan A2, and prostaglandine F2a has been shown to play a pathogenic role in the disorders of the main energy-dependent process in kidney--reabsorbtion of sodium ions. The negative correlative relation between the concentration of sodium ions in plasma and an increased amount of prostaglandine E2 in a kidney papilla can be explained by the hyperfunction of the interstitial cells of a kidney papilla and with a natriuretic effect of prostaglandine E2 at the level of collective tubules.

[Methods of urine analysis for creatinine after long period of storage]. / Metodika opredeliniia creatitinina v moche posle ee dlitel'nogo khraneniia.

Our investigations showed that n-cresol (4-methylphenol) stabilized urine and preserves urinal creatinine as long as for 50-d storage at room temperature. This antimicrobial biochemical stabilizer is the core of a novel method of delayed creatinine quantification in urine. It can be useful in metabolic investigations of cosmonauts and nuclear submarine crews, members of alpine, desert, deep-water, Arctic and Antarctic expeditions and in many other cases when samples cannot be analyzed immediately.

[The mechanisms of the GABA-ergic regulation of beta-endorphin levels in the hypothalamic structures of prenatally stressed male rats]. / Mekhanizmy HAMK-erhichnoï rehuliatsi rivniv beta-endorfinu v strukturakh hipotalamusa prenatal'no stressovanykh samtsiv shchuriv.

The effect of GABA receptors agonists on the stress-induced beta-endorphin levels in the preoptic area and mediobasal hypothalamus of the intact and prenatally stressed male albino rats was studied. It has been found out that stimulation of GABAa-receptor complex by means of the muscimol leads to increasing of beta-endorphin levels in the preoptic area and mediobasal hypothalamus of the control animals. GABAb receptor activation by means of the baclofen decreases opioids level in the mediobasal hypothalamus. Prenatal stress eliminates stimulant effect of the muscimol on beta-endorphin levels in the investigated brain structures and leads to the opioid level decreasing after baclofen influence in preoptic area.

[The use of antimicrobial stabilizers in biochemical research]. / Primenenie antimikrobnykh stabilizatorov v biokhimicheskikh issledovaniiakh.

The ability of highly active antimicrobial biochemical stabilizers to sustain samples (T = 4 degrees C to 8 degrees C) till biochemical analysis in 20-50 days was tested. A new generation of delayed biochemical assays with the use of these stabilizers can be invoked in metabolic studies of cosmonauts and aviators, personnel of atomic submarines, pole explorers and other occupational groups.

[The role on non-adrenergic regulation in the reaction of the rat pineal body to acute hypoxia and epithalamine administration]. / Rol' neadrenergicheskoi reguliatsii v reaktsii shishkovidnogo tela krys na ostruiu gipoksiiu i vvedenie épitalamina.

The influence of co-administration of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (inhibitor of catecholamine synthesis) and alpha-(+) beta-adrenergic antagonists under conditions of acute hypobaric hypoxia or pretreatment with epithalamin on cyclic nucleotide content in the pineal gland of juvenile male albino rats was investigated. Acute hypoxia was accompanied by increase of pineal level of cyclic nucleotides and administration of adrenoreceptor antagonists attenuated this effect. Pretreatment of animals with adrenoreceptor antagonists did not influence the effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia on pineal cyclic nucleotide content. This suggests involvement of non-adrenergic mechanisms into augmentation of pineal cyclic nucleotide level. Administration of epithalamin caused an increase of pineal cGMP. Administration of epithalamin to rats pretreated with adrenoreceptor antagonists increased pineal cGMP and to a lesser extent cAMP content. The latter suggests that epithalamin effect was not mediated via sympathetic innervation. It is concluded that non-adrenergic innervation and humoral regulatory mechanisms are obviously involved into activation of pineal gland under conditions of acute stress.

[Chronobiological characteristics of renal function under conditions of T4- and T3-hyperthyreosis]. / Khronobiologicheskie osobennosti funktsii pochek v usloviiakh T4- i T3-gipertireoza.

Hyperthyreosis in rats after 10 days of injecting T4 at the dose of 100 mg/kg of the body mass modified the chronostructure of renal functions by decreasing rhythms of the urinal pH mesor, and elevating rhythms of creatinine and protein excretion mesors, and the mesor and the amplitude of sodiuresis rhythms. Temporal readjustment of renal functions reflects peculiarities of the body adaptation to T4-induced hyperthyreosis. Injections of T3 (20 mg/kg of the body mass) during 10 days do not lead to any significant changes in the biorhythmic properties of the renal functions.

Effect of melatonin on cyclic nucleotide content and intensity of lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus and habenula of rats exposed to acute hypoxia.

Single intraperitoneal injection of melatonin in a dose of 1 mg/kg prevented accumulation of cGMP and intensification of lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus and habenula of rats exposed to acute hypobaric hypoxia (12,000 m). Changes in habenular content of cGMP suggest that melatonin prevents hypoxia-induced activation of heme-oxygenase.

[The effect of melatonin on photoperiod changes in the glutathione system of the brain under acute hypoxia]. / Vplyv melatoninu na fotoperiodychni zminy systemy hlutationu mozku za hostroï hipoksiï.

The effect of acute hypobaric hypoxia against on the background of single-shot melatonin administration on the activity of glutathione ferments system (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and the contents of reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde in the supernatant of juvenile male of white rats forebrain was investigated under three conditions of lighting--natural conditions of lighting in the spring-summer period of year, constant illumination and constant darkness during the one week. The constant illumination enhanced the lipid peroxidation with simultaneous decreasing in the activity of glutathione peroxidase in control animals. The constant illumination enhanced the lipid peroxidation with simultaneous decrease in the activity of glutathione peroxidase in control animals. The constant darkness reduced the intensity of free-radical oxidation improving the antioxidant neuron protection. The melatonin decreased the contents of malondialdehyde, raised the activity of glutathione enzyme system and eliminated the negative influence of constant illumination on forebrain antioxidant system in intact animals. The acute hypoxia resulted in the increase of lipid peroxidation and reduced the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which were most expressed in constant light conditions. The melatonin administration before of 30 minutes of acute hypoxia modeling reduced the intensity of oxidizing stress, which was generated by acute hypoxia.

[Effect of melatonin and epithalamin on activity of marker enzymes in the cell membrane in the forebrain of rats under acute hypoxia]. / Vplyv melatoninu ta epitalaminu na aktyvnist' markernykh fermentiv plazmatychnykh membran klityn peredn'oho mozku shchuriv za umov hostroï hipoksiï.

The effects of a single-shot intraperitoneally administration of melatonin in a dose of 1 mg per kg body weight and epithalamin in a dose of 2.5 mg per kg body weight on the activities of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase were investigated in the forebrain of juvenile male white rats under the acute hypobaric hypoxia. The melatonin and epithalamin administration against the background of acute hypoxia prevented an acute hypoxia inducing decrease in the activity of Na+, K(+)-ATPase as well as increased in the activity of 5'-nucleotidase. Such effects of pineal hormones can promote antihypoxic protection of neurons.

[Seasonal changes in the triiodothyronine level of the blood evoked by ultraviolet irradiation in vitro]. / Sezonnye izmeneniia urovnia triiodtironina v krovi, vyzvannye ul'trafioletovym oblucheniem in vitro.

Ultraviolet irradiation (lambda = 254 nm) of the whole blood of juvenile bulls in vitro results in a plasmatic T3 increase dependent on the time of exposure. Dynamics of the growth of hormone content because of UV varies with season. No negative correlation between plasmatic T3 and T4 in irradiated and non-irradiated blood samples was stated. Hence, increased T3 levels in blood after UV irradiation in vitro is a consequence of the output of erythrocyte-deposited hormone rather than photoactivation of the T4 to T3 conversion.

[The effect of radiation factors on cerebrovascular diseases in the region of northern Bukovina]. / Vplyv radiatsiïnykh chynnykiv na tserebrovaskuliarni zakhvoriuvannia v rehioni Pivnichnoï Bukovyny.

Correlation was studied between indices for prevalence and incidence of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) and level of radioactive contamination in the region of northern Bukovina. As far as CVD formation, prevalence, and incidence rate is concerned, long-term exposure to small doses of ionizing radiation (cesium and strontium) makes for augmentation or lowering of CVD levels depending on their form, age, and place of residence of those having become victims of the Chernobyl accident.

[Ability of erythrocytes to deposit thyroid hormones: regulatory role of physico-chemical factors in vitro]. / Sposobnost' éritrotsitov deponirovat' tireoidnye gormony: reguliatornaia rol' fiziko-khimicheskikh faktorov in vitro.

Data obtained suggest the existence of regulation mechanism controlling parameters of thyroid status, that does not require any modification of thyroid gland secretory function. The realisation of this mechanism can involve hormone-depositing function of blood erythrocytes, which is sensitive to a) change of regional or systemic pH and b) change of hematocrit. Results of the present study indicate that mammalian erythrocytes are able to bind considerable quantities of T3 and T4 and, T3 binding is preferable.

[Material for external assessment of quality of glucose analysis]. / Material dlia osushchestvleniia vneshnei otsenki kachestva issledovanii gliukozy.

9,10-bismethyltriphenylphosphoniumanthracene iodide (BPA) in concentrations 1.25-3.75 mmole/liter stabilizes blood serum and preserves glucose in it for 990 days at 4-8 degrees C. For preparing reference material, 200 ml human or animal serum is added to 800 ml 3.125 mM BPA solution, mixed, exposed for 24 h at 4-8 degrees C, centrifuged, the resultant preparation is stored at the same temperature and used as reference material for assessing the quality of glucose measurements by o-toluidine method at biochemical laboratories. The reference material is fit for tests for at least 990 days.