Effect of a New Lithium Preparation on the Behavior of CBA/CaLac Mice in an Experimental Conflict Model.

The use of lithium drugs in clinical practice requires constant monitoring of lithium plasma concentration, because toxicity is sometimes observed at therapeutic concentrations of lithium. This is often associated with fluctuations of plasma concentration of lithium ions after intake of individual doses. Therefore, the use of a porous carrier providing a stable blood level of the drug is extremely promising and important for clinical practice. We studied activity of a new lithium drug (lithium complex) consisting of aluminum-silicon base and lithium citrate immobilized on its surface. Lithium carbonate served as the reference drug. It was shown that lithium carbonate and lithium complex exhibited no anxiolytic activity in the conflict model, but produced an antidepressant effect and improved exploratory behavior of animals.

[Efficiency of acupuncture and relaxation sessions in improvement of psychophysical state]. / The efficiency of acupuncture and relaxation sessions in improvement of psychophysical state (Éffektivnost' akupunktury i relaksatsii v korrektsii psikhofizicheskogo sostoianiia).

A study of the changes in psychophysical function of the human body before and after relaxation sessions and acupuncture application has been conducted. The impact of relaxation sessions on psychophysical performance was studied on a group of university students and postgraduates aged between 18 and 30 years old; the impact of an acupuncture session course - on a group of subjects of a broad age range between 14 and 72, as they underwent rehabilitation therapy for their supportive locomotive apparatus disorders. The recording techniques used included electroencephalography (EEG), psychomotor reaction recording, minute-long time span accuracy reproduction; TST technique (Tactile Solar Test) of meridian and microsystem examination The results of this study suggest that relaxation sessions contribute to the enhancement of neurodynamical performance and mental activity efficiency. After the acupuncture therapy, relaxation effect, and restored tactile sensation on the meridians and microsystems was noted. A conclusion has been made that relaxation sessions and acupuncture may be used to improve psychophysical function.

Effect of Lithium Preparations on Cerebral Electrophysiological Activity in Rats.

The study examined the effects of a novel neurotropic medication based on a lithium complex composed of lithium citrate, polymethylsiloxane, and aluminum oxide on electrophysiological parameters of the rat brain. In contrast to lithium carbonate (the reference drug), the novel preparation resulted in a wave-like dynamics of electrical activity in the visual cortex. Rhythmic photic stimulation of the rats treated with lithium carbonate resulted in appearance of the signs attesting to up-regulation of excitability of cerebral cortex in all examined ranges. In contrast, the complex lithium preparation diminished the delta power spectrum, which was the only affected frequency band. It is hypothesized that the complex lithium medication induces milder activation of the cerebral cortex in comparison with lithium carbonate. The novel medication composed of lithium citrate, aluminum oxide, and polymethylsiloxane, is characterized by greater efficacy and safety than the preparation based on inorganic lithium salt (lithium carbonate).

[Endurance and Fatigue Caused by Local Muscular Performance in Skilled Athletes].

It was the objective of this research to study the functional parameters of endurance and performance and the brain electrobiological activity during local antebrachial muscle work performance among skilled athletes and unfit people aged 18-23. We examined performance and the brain bioelectrical activity changes at local muscle work by means of an ergograph until fatigue. Our results suggested that local performance increased the spectral power of slow alpha- and theta waves as the fatigue set in, but these changes developed slower and were manifested later in the athletes than in the unfit people. Besides, tired athletes' EEGs showed alpha waves synchronization and only demonstrated a decrease in low- and high frequency beta waves indexes. Athletes show higher performance and lower fatigability if compared to unfit people during local performance, also proved by the EEG bioelectrical changes.

[The concentration of homocysteine in blood serum among indigene and outsider population of priamurye].

The study evaluated the concentration of homocysteine in the most numerous groups of indigene population of Priamurye (Even, Ultch, Nanai) as compared with adjacent to them outsider population. The technique of random sampling was applied to select 82 Even, 89 Ultch, 95 Nanai and for comparing the representatives of outsider male and female population in statistically comparable numbers. The concentration of homocysteine was determined with luminescence immunoassay using the analyzer immulite 1000 (Diagnostic Products Corporation, USA) and applying Siemens kits (USA). The mean population values of homocysteine were reliably lower among indigene males and females as compared with representatives of outsider population. The lowest values of homocysteine were established among Even males and females, dwelling on the shore of Sea of Okhotsk. Whereas no reliable differences in concentrations ofhomocysteine in blood serum were established among Ultch dwelling in downstream of Amur river and Nanai dwelling in middle course of Amur river 240 km from Khabarovsk.

[The characteristics of lipid spectrum of blood serum in native and alien population in Amur region].

The study was organized to establish the distinctive characteristics of lipid metabolism among the most numerous ethnic groups of native population in Amur region (Nanay, Ultch, Even) as compared with alien population. The technique of random sample was applied to examine 297 Even, 792 Ultch and 1274 Nanay (83.4%, 83.5% and 77.5% of total residing population accordingly, aged from 30 to 70 years and older). All examined persons were tested on whole cholesterol, triglycerides and cholesterol high-density lipoproteins in blood serum. The content of cholesterol high-density lipoproteins was calculated in mmol/l according the W. Friedwold equation. The examined group of alien population statistically did not differ. In all natives the indicators of lipid spectrum were more favorable on the average as compared with alien population. The differences were detected in native and alien population of Amur region concerning the lipid spectrum of blood. The levels of whole cholesterol, triglycerides and cholesterol high-density lipoproteins are reliably lower in males and females of Even and Nanay than in alien population residing next to them. This kind of difference concerning whole cholesterol and triglycerides is present among Ultch and Nanay as compared with alien males. The level of cholesterol high-density lipoproteins is lower in Ultchan females as compared with alien females. The level of cholesterol high-density lipoproteins is higher in all groups of native population than in alien populations.

[Photoactivated analogues of the initiating substrates of RNA polymerase II based on arylazide derivatives of NTP gamma-amidophosphate: synthesis and chemical and photochemical reactions of functional groups].

Photoactivatable derivatives Ar-NH-(CH2)n-NHpppB (where Ar = p-azidophenyl (A1), 5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyl (A2), or 4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoyl (A3) group; B = Ado or Guo; n = 2, 3, or 4) were synthesized. The phosphoroamidate bond stability was found to depend on the structure of both the heterocyclic and the photoactivatable groups. The derivative with A3, Ado, and n=3 is hydrolyzed with regeneration of aryl azide and ATP, whereas the other derivatives are stable in aqueous solutions. The photoanalogues with A1 and A2, B = Ado, and n = 2 or 4 were found to behave as initiating substrates toward the RNA polymerase II from Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the conditions of specific transcription initiation and control of the adenovirus late promoter. The photolysis of N-(4-azidophenyl)-1,4-diaminobutane and N-(5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyl)-1,3-diaminopropane, two functional fragments of the photoaffinity reagents, in aqueous solutions was established to result in the formation of p-benzoquinone diimine and p-nitro-N-arylhydroxylamine derivatives, respectively. The arylhydroxylamine derivatives undergo a number of transformations in aqueous solution leading to nitroso derivatives. We concluded that it is these nitroso derivatives (products of nitrene transformation, rather than the nitrene itself) that may modify proteins with reagents containing p-nitrophenylazide fragment.

Photoanalogues of the initiation substrates of the RNA polymerase II, 5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyl derivatives of the ATP gamma-amidophosphate: the possible photoinduced degradation of the functional group to an N-arylhydroxylamine.

Photoanlogues of the initiation substrates of the RNA polymerase II, N3ArNH(CH2)(n)NHpppA where N3Ar is 5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyl group (n = 2 or 4) were synthesized, allowing the preparation of photoreactive oligonucleotides in situ by RNA polymerase II for application as photolabels. Photolysis of p-nitro-substituted aromatic azide in aqueous medium was investigated. Using the azoxy-coupling reaction it was possible to determine whether a nitrene or p-nitrophenyl hydroxylamine azoxy compound is the trappable intermediate that is generated at ambient temperature in aqueous solution.

Long-lived reactive intermediate photogenerated from N-(5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyl)-N'-(D-biotinyl)-1,2-diaminoethane as an affinity reagent to streptavidin.

Irradiation of a complex between N-(5-azido-2-nitrobenzoyl)-N'-(D-biotinyl)-1,2-diaminoethane (I) and streptavidin with light of 313 nm led to the covalent attachment of the photobiotin analogue I to the protein. Streptavidin could also be labelled in the dark with prephotolyzed I. These results indicate that a long-lived reactive intermediate was formed upon irradiation. Moreover, after cleavage of labelled streptavidin with proteinase K this intermediate appears to be covalently attached to the same peptide as the one obtained by direct photoaffinity labelling. An iminosulfurane II derived from the reaction of biotin sulfur atom with aryl nitrene is responsible for the dark-labelling reaction. The photoproduct II converts in an aqueous solution almost completely into N-(5-amino-2-nitrobenzoyl)-N'-(D-(S-oxo)biotinyl)-1,2-diaminoethane (the half-life of II is 10 days).

[Role of heat-shock proteins in cardioprotection of patients operated on for ischemic heart disease]. / Rol' belka teplovogo shoka v kardioprotektsii u bol'nykh, operirovannykh po povodu ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa.

Major stress protein HSP72 is known to participate in protecting cells and organisms against harmful factors including ischemia, trauma etc. Under study was the level of HSP72 in the myocardium of 32 patients with coronary disease operated in Military-medical academy. HSP72 was detected in probes of the right atria before and after pre-cardiopulmonary bypass in all cases induction of HSP72 was observed in 40% of patients, and directly correlated with the time of cardiopulmonary bypass and standing of the disease. The cardioprotective effect of the elevated pre-operational level of HSP72 was shown to be proportionate to the lower activity of cardiospecific enzymes, creatine phosphokinase (CK-MB). It is suggested that HSP72 is involved in the mechanism of cardioprotection during cardiopulmonary bypass.

[Coronary-active bovine heart proteins induce relaxation in the rabbit aorta]. / Koronaroaktivnye belki serdtsa byka vyzyvaiut relaksatsiiu aorty krolika.

Seven cardioactive polypeptides have been identified in the precardiac and auricular regions of the bovine heart. Those polypeptides were studied for their action on the function of isolated preparations of the vessel. It has been found that compounds isolated from the precardiac region induce different (20-55%) relaxation of smooth muscles in a strip of the aorta of rabbit. The possibility of formation of endogenic cardioactive compounds in model experiments imitating processing is studied. The data obtained permit assuming and alternatively explaining existence of multiple forms of the mentioned compounds as a result of partial proteolytic splitting of larger molecules.

[Detection and identification of new cardioactive proteins in cattle heart]. / Obnaruzhenie i identifikatsiia v serdtse byka novykh kardioaktivnykh belkov.

Seven cardioactive polypeptides were identified in precardiac and auricular regions of bovine heart. Procedures used for purification of the polypeptides involved extraction of water-soluble proteins, fractionation by ammonium sulfate, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, chromatography and rechromatography on DEAE cellulose. Some physico-chemical and biological properties were studied; amino acid composition, N-terminal amino acids, molecular mass and the effects on coronary blood vessels. The data obtained suggest that multiple forms of these proteins may exist either as a result of partial hydrolysis of large molecules or due to processing of precursors.

[Immunoglobulin levels in endometrial secretion in patients with chronic endometritis]. / Soderzhanie immunoglobulinov v éndometrial'nom sekrete u bol'nykh khronicheskim éndometritom.

Immunoglobulin levels have been assayed in endometrial secretions from 30 patients with chronic, 25 patients with acute endometritis and 15 normal women. Concentrations of IgG, IgA and, especially, IgM were high in patients with chronic endometritis as compared with the normal women and patients with acute endometritis. These findings suggest that immunoglobulin studies may be used as a diagnostic and predictive test.

[Clinico-hysteroscopic characteristics of chronic endometritis]. / Kliniko-gisteroskopicheskie osobennosti khronicheskogo éndometrita.

Clinical presentations of chronic endometritis have been compared with hysteroscopic findings in 60 women of reproductive age. Clinical and hysteroscopic data were indicative of a close correlation of gross endometrial abnormalities with certain symptoms of chronic endometritis and of severity and pattern of mucosal lesions of the corpus mucosa. Elucidation of clinical and hysteroscopic features of chronic endometritis permits a differential approach to the management of these patients.

[Echomorphological comparisons in chronic diseases of the liver]. / Ekhomorfologicheskie sopostavleniia pri khronicheskikh zabolevaniiakh pecheni.

Altogether 139 patients with liver diseases were examined by ultrasonography. Of these, 42 patients suffered from liver cirrhosis, 27 from chronic active hepatitis, 62 from chronic persistent hepatitis, and 8 from liver steatosis. The ultrasonography data were compared with the data of the morphological study of liver biopsy specimens and with the level of hydroxyprolinemia as a characteristic of the development of the connective tissue in the liver. It was established that pronounced acoustic heterogeneity of liver tissue was typical for liver cirrhosis and fatty dystrophy of the liver and that the distinctive sign of liver cirrhosis might be poor visibility of the posterior contour of the liver. In chronic active hepatitis, the focal structures in the portal fissure were detectable in 50 percent of the cases. In chronic persistent hepatitis, the liver appeared acoustically homogeneous. It is concluded that the connective tissue, fatty infiltration of hepatocytes, and round-cell inflammatory infiltration of the liver tissue that is pronounced as to the spreading and intensity may be an object of visualization during ultrasonography.