[Interleukin-6 in endemic goiter patients in the south Ural region].

The cytokine and thyroid status was studied in patients with endemic goiter (EG) depending on thyroid function. IL-6 correlated with free T3 levels (a negative relationship) in hyperthyroidism, with IL-2 and IFN-gamma levels in EG patients with euthyroidism, and with IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-8, IL-10, and IFN-gamma in hypothyroidism. The EG patients with high IL-6 levels showed positive relationships to IL-2 and thyroid peroxidase antibodies and a negative relationship to free T3. In these patients, IL-6 acted to stimulate the secretion of antithyroid antibodies, which is a risk of autoimmune thyroiditis.

[The thyroid status in the healthy population of the South-Urals region].

The aim of the investigation was to study the parameters of the thyroid and antithyroid status in the healthy population of different age, living under the conditions of mild iodine deficiency and trace element imbalance in the South Urals (Orenburg). The serum levels of total and free triiodothyronine, total and free thyroxin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and antithyroid antibodies were determined and the compensation index and the sensitivity index of thyroid cells to TSH were calculated in 458 apparently healthy individuals aged 7-40 years. TSH levels varied from 0.27 to 3.97 IU/l, amounting to 1.41 +/- 0.03 IU/l. The patients with TSH levels of 0.27 to 0.5 IU/l were found to have a lower compensation index and a higher sensitivity index for thyrocytes to TSH, suggesting the hyperproduction of thyroid hormones in response to low TSH stimulation. The decreased sensitivity index in patients with a TSH level of 2.0 to 4.0 IU/l is a borderline condition. These patients may further develop thyroid hyperplasia if iodine deficiency is not corrected and other strumogenic factors are not used. Higher free T3 levels and decreased compensation index were detected in 83% of the apparently healthy individuals with increased antithyroid antibodies to thyroid peroxidase, which is indicative of the thyroid hyperproduction of T3 and the risk factor of autoimmune diseases.

[A comparison of problem solving by extrapolation before and after removal of the archicortex and Wulst in cows]. / Sravnenie resheniia zadachi na ékstrapoliatsiiu do i posle udaleniia staroi kory i Wulst u voron

The change in the capacity for extrapolation was studied in crows after ablation of Wulst and the archicortex. After the ablation of the archicortex, the solution of the extrapolation problem does not change. After the ablation of Wulst, the number of "refusals" to solve increases, the number of correct responses diminishes, although it remains significantly higher than the number of errors. It is assumed that the archicortex and Wulst play no decisive part in the process of solving problems involving extrapolation; yet Wulst apparently controls the achievement of the final reaction, by-passing the screen.