[Cognitive impairment and social functioning in organic personality disorder due to epilepsy]. / Kognitivnye narusheniya i sotsial'noe funktsionirovanie pri organicheskom rasstroistve lichnosti vsledstvie epilepsii.

OBJECTIVE: To develop criteria for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment (CI) and to determine the degree of social functioning in organic personality disorder due to epilepsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six patients with epilepsy, aged 18 to 65 years, with disease duration of 11 to 20 years, were examined. The main research method is clinical-psychopathological. The Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was administered to assess the severity of CI. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale was used to assess social functioning. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The structure of organic personality disorder due to epilepsy is determined by a combination of CI and personality changes with a predominance of explosive (short temper, irritability, brutality, explosiveness) or defensive (passivity, suggestibility, vulnerability, suspiciousness, sensitivity, subordination) traits. CI includes impaired thinking, attention, and memory and is manifested by inertia, stiffness, toughness, rigidity, slowing down the pace of thought processes, as well as difficulty in concentrating, impaired direct and indirect memory. Three groups of patients with mild, moderate and severe CI are isolated. In the group with mild CI, thorough thinking with a slow pace and a decrease in the ability to learn new things, which was com. When assessing impairment of social functioning fa moderate and severe of maladaptation with impairments in all areas of activity is revealed in people with explosive personality characteristics and a mild degree - in people with defensive features. It has been shown that the analysis of cognitive impairment is critical in the diagnosis of organic personality disorder due to epilepsy.

[Dysphoric disorders in epilepsy]. / Disforicheskie rasstroistva pri epilepsii.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the differentiated clinical variants of dysphoric disorders in epilepsy based on their syndromal patterns, etiopathogenetic and dynamic characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty men (mean age 32.7 years, illness duration from 11 to 20 years) were examined using clinical/psychopathological methods. Data analysis was performed with Statistika-10 software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Dysphoric disorders in epilepsy were most frequent among affective disorders Paroxysmal, psychogenic and autochthonous dysphoric disorders were determined. Depending on the severity of one of the three axial affective components (anger, fear, melancholy): the explosive, phobic, depression, and moros-dysphoria were selected. According to the level of disorders, the dysphoric appearances were divided into simple, involving only affective symptoms, and complex, which contained, in addition to affective cerebroasthenic disorders, disorders of perception, thinking, consciousness, inclinations. Explosive psychogenic and paroxysmal dysphorias were most common. Psychogenic dysphoric reactions were most frequent in an isolated form in the clinical picture. Among combinations of dysphoric states, a combination of psychogenic and autochthonous dysphoric disorders occupied the leading place.

[Negative mental disorders in epilepsy]. / Negativnye psikhicheskie rasstroistva pri épilepsii.

Objective. To search for clinical features of negative mental disorders in epilepsy. Material and methods. We studied 78 patients, aged from 18 to 40 years,, including 43 patients diagnosed with epilepsy for the first time (main group) and 35 patients with the previous diagnosis of epilepsy (comparison group). Diagnosis was made according to ICD-10. Results. We observed a broad spectrum of persistent mental disorders, including negative disorders. Personality disorders and cognitive deficit were most significant negative disorders. Personality disorders included two opposite types: explosive-epileptoid features with paranoiac signs and defensive disorder. Inertia, slow mobility, slowness of the rate of thought processes, the domination of egocentric, perseverative, visual-image thinking were characteristic of thought disorders. Conclusion. The authors suggest the systematic of these disorders.

[Chronic schizophrenia-like psychoses in epilepsy].

Clinical peculiarities of interictal chronic epileptic psychoses were studied in 58 patients. The authors suggested a systematic of schizophrenia-like psychoses in epilepsy. Hallucinoses, paranoid, depressive, manic and catatonic psychotic states were described. The relationship between schizophrenia and epilepsy was discussed. It has been concluded that the character of personality changes plays a central role in the diagnostic of epileptic psychosis.

Complexes of (dG-dC)20 with Mn2+ ions: a study by vibrational circular dichroism and infrared absorption spectroscopy.

The B-Z transition of the synthetic oligonucleotide, (dG-dC)20, induced by Mn2+ ions at room temperature, was investigated by absorption and Vibrational Circular Dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy in the range of 1800-800 cm(-1). Metal ion concentration was varied from 0 to 0.73 M Mn2+ (0 to 8.5 moles of Mn2+ per mole of oligonucleotide phosphate, [Mn]/[P]). While both types of spectra showed considerable changes as the Mn2+ concentrations were raised, differences between the two were often complementary in their expression and extent, those displayed by VCD being more clearly evident due to the inversion of the opposite helical sense from the right-handed to the left-handed conformation. The main phase of the transition occurred in the metal ion concentration between 0.8-1.1 [Mn]/[P]. Gradual changes that took place in the spectra were interpreted in terms of simultaneous processes that depended on metal ion concentration, namely B-Z transformation, binding of Mn2+ to phosphates and to nitrogen bases, and partial denaturation. Below approximately 0.6 [Mn]/[P], only a small portion of the oligonucleotide adopted the Z conformation within a 3 hour period, whereas conversion was completed in the same time interval for concentrations between 0.9-1.2 [Mn]/[P]. At [Mn]/[P] >1.7, complete transition to the Z-form took place immediately on adding Mn2+. Applying VCD spectroscopy in combination with conventional infrared absorption proved most useful for corroborating changes in the absorption spectra, and for detecting in an unique manner, not attainable by absorption methods, conformational changes that lead to the inversion of the helical sense of the oligonucleotide.

[Calorimetric study of the helix-coil transition in DNA during interaction with Cu2+ ions]. / Kalorimetricheskoe izuchenie perekhoda spiral'-klubok v DNK pri vzaimodeistvii s ionami Cu2+.

Using the method of differential scanning calorimetry, the DNA helix-coil transition was studied in solutions (10(-3) M Na+, 10(-3) M tris HCl, pH 7.0) containing divalent copper ions at relative metal ion concentrations (Mt2+/PDNA) ranging from 0.2 to 20. Dependences of the melting temperature and enthalpy on relative ion concentration were determined. An aggregation of Cu(2+) + DNA complexes in the range of average ion concentration was established. It is shown that the melting enthalpy of "units" increases with copper ion concentration. The data obtained were compared with values determined by UV-spectroscopy. Association constants for Cu2+ binding to DNA were defined by the ligand theory.

[Calorimetric study of Ca2+ and Mn2+ ions' effect on DNA helix-coil transition]. / Kalorimetricheskoe issledovanie vliianiia ionov Ca2+ i Mn2+ na perekhodspiral'-klubok v DNK.

Using the method of differential scanning calorimetry, the DNA helix-coil transition studied in solutions (10(-3) M Na+, 10(-3) M tris HCl, pH 7.0) containing divalent metal ions (Mn2+ and Ca2+) at relative metal ion concentrations (Me/PDNA) ranging from 0.2 to 20. Dependences of the melting temperature and enthalpy on the ion relative concentration were stated. The fine structure of melting curves in DNA+Me complexes was observed. The resolution degree of this structure was shown to increase in the range of moderate ion concentrations. The data obtained were compared with values determined by UV-spectroscopy. Association constants were defined for Mn2+ and Ca2+ binding to DNA by the ligand theory.

[Effect of low temperatures on molecular parameters of DNA]. / Izuchenie vliiania nizkikh temperatur na molekuliarnye parametry DNK.

Cryoconservation effects on macromolecular parameters of DNA from reproductive cells of fishes are studied as well as cryodamages of DNA in solutions under various freezing conditions, by the viscometry method. A dependence of the low temperature action on DNA concentration in solution and on the action duration is determined. It is stated as well that the nitrogen temperature action on the biopolymer solution results in the formation of both double- and single-stranded breaks. The cryoprotector (ethylenglycol 12%) added into the solution frozen prevents from the formation of double-stranded breaks and decreases the number of single-stranded ones. The long-term (0.5 year) keeping of the biopolymer solution at -196 degrees C both under the cryoprotector (20% 1.2-propanediol) protection and without the cryoprotector induces the significant number of single-stranded breaks. Mechanisms of cryodamages of DNA macromolecules in cells and under the nitrogen temperature action are discussed.

[Interaction of DNA with calcium ions by a vibrational spectroscopy]. / Izuchenie vzaimodeistviia DNK s ionami kal'tsiia metodom kolebatel'noi spektroskopii.

DNA complexes with Ca2+ ions formed in films at various relative humidities were studied by IR-spectroscopy for molar concentration ratio of calcium ions and DNA phosphate groups [Ca2+]/[P] = 0.4-20. It is shown that the transition of DNA complexed with Ca2+ ions into B-form occurs at higher average numbers (n) of water molecules absorbed per nucleotide: n > 18 at the ratio [Ca2+]/[P] = 10, n > 24 at [Ca2+]/[P] = 20 and n > 12 in the absence of Ca2+ ions. This shows stronger binding of water molecules in the hydrate shell of DNA-Ca2+ if compared with free DNA. The results confirm a model proposed earlier. Ca2+ ions interact with phosphate oxygens of DNA and with N(7) nitrogens of guanine forming chelated complexes.

[Structural and physicochemical characteristics of DNA from animal tissue subjected to chronic irradiation in the Chernobyl area]. / Strukturnye i fiziko-khimicheskie kharakteristiki DNK iz tkanei zhivotnykh, podvergavshikhsia dlitel'nomu khronicheskomu oblucheniiu v zone chernobylia.

The properties of animal DNAs exposed to prolonged irradiation in the Chernobyl zone, have been studied by the methods of viscometry, thermal denaturation, IR-spectroscopy, and electrophoresis. High content of low-molecular fractions have been observed in the preparations of DNA from liver and spleen, their quantities increasing with age and generation of animals. This effect is especially strong in DNA from liver. Low-molecular fraction of DNA is shown to be enriched with G-C pairs and to consist of the following four fractions: 1) approximately 500 base pairs (B.p.), 2) approximately 1.5 divided by 2 thousand B.p., 3) approximately 4 divided by 5 thousand B.p. and 4) a mixture of approximately 20 thousand B.p. fragments. Further, it has been observed that the DNA preparations from the tissues of experimental animals contain about ten times higher contents of Fe, Zn, Se and other elements as compared to the control preparations.

[Study of the interaction of DNA with copper ions using IR- and Raman spectroscopy]. / Izuchenie metodami IK- i Ramanovskoi spektroskopii vzaimodeistviia DNK s ionami medi.

DNA with Cu2+ ions in solution and films is studied by IR and Raman spectroscopy at different relative humidities (R.H. = 51 divided by 98%). DNA complexed with Cu2+ ions is shown to transit to the double-helix conformation, passing A-form, the water content per nucleotide (n) being essentially larger: 12 for Cu2+/P = 0.4 (n = 8 for DNA without ions). Cu2+ decrease the biopolymer hydration at R.H. 50-76% interactions with Cu2+ are stated to depend on the hydration degree of macromolecules. The analysis of the absorption band shifts of Raman spectra evidences the changes in the base torsion angle around the glycoside bond to the values characteristic of the syn-conformation and the interaction both with phosphates and nitrogen bases.

[Interaction of DNA with divalent metal ions]. / Izuchenie vzaimodeistviia DNK s ionami dvukhvalentnykh metallov.

The interaction between the native DNA macromolecules and Ca2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ ions in solutions of low ionic strength (10(-3) M Na+) is studied using the methods of differential UV spectroscopy and CD spectroscopy. It is shown that the transition metal ions Mn2+ exercise binding to the nitrogen bases of DNA at concentrations approximately 5 x 10(-6) M and form chelates with guanine of N7-Me(2+)-O6 type. Only at high concentrations in solution (5 x 10(-3) M) do Ca2+ ions interact with the nitrogen bases of native DNA. In the process of binding to Ca2+ and Mn2+ the DNA conformation experiences some changes under which the secondary structure of the biopolymer is within the B-form family. The DNA transition to the new conformation is revealed by its binding to Cu2+ ions.

Studies of formation of bivalent copper complexes with native and denatured DNA.

The formation of Cu2+ complexes with native and denatured DNA is studied by the methods of differential UV spectroscopy, CD spectroscopy, and viscometry. On ion binding to the bases of native DNA the latter transforms into a new conformation. This transition is accompanied with a sharp increase in UV absorption and a decrease in the intrinsic viscosity though the high degree of helicity persists. Possible sites of Cu2+ ion binding on DNA of various conformations are found along with corresponding constants of complex formation.

[Changing characteristic viscosity of DNA interacting with Cu2+ and Mn2+ ions]. / Izuchenie izmeneniia kharakteristicheskoi viazkosti DNK pri vzaimodeistvii s ionami Cu2+ i Mn2+.

The interaction of DNA with Cu2+ and Mn2+ ions in low ionic strength solutions (10(-3) M NaCl) has been studied by the viscosimetry method. The DNA characteristic viscosity [eta] decreases sharply at low ion concentrations (addition of 10(-5) M Cu2+ leads to [eta] reduction by a factor of 1.4) and attains certain saturation at high concentrations, the saturation magnitude slightly depending on the ion type. The reduction is much lower in solutions containing bivalent ions, in concentration 2 X 10(-2) M NaCl. The experimental data for bivalent and monovalent (Na+) ions have been compared. The results are discussed in terms of equilibrium ion-DNA binding and compared with the Fixman theory. It is discussed if ion binding constants can be determined by visosimetry. It is shown that the cause of the viscosity reduction with time observed by some authors may be the action of DNAases activated by metal ions.