[Unbalanced nutrition is a universal factor in the occurrence of visceral diseases].

Nutrition is one of the most important determinants of human health. The investigation has determined the pattern of actual nutrition of the Samara Region, its influence on the occurrence of cardiovascular, endocrine, urogenital, and musculoskeletal, and digestive diseases. Emphasis is placed on unbalanced diets excluding meat, by increasing the consumption of bread and cereals, which is a universal factor for the development of visceral diseases. Balanced nutrition using full-value natural products in the optimum ratio is a major condition for health preservation and a means for prevention of the development of various diseases.

[The use of flavolignans of "Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn." to create a new fat product--fortified butter].

The results of study on substantiating the possibilities of the use of flavolignans of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. with a purpose to create a new fat product--butter fortified by an "Liguid extract Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn." are being discussed. Slowdown of peroxidation process is revealed in fortified butter in comparison with ordinary butter. With the help of spectrometry method higher content of flavolignans was deteeted in fortified butter (converting to silibin--the main component of "Liguid Exstract Silybum marianum (L) Gaertn"), what allows to speak about increase of its potential therapeutic effect.

[Systems of measures targeted at reducing health risk factors for the population]. / Sistema meropriiatii po snizheniiu riskov zdorov'iu naseleniia.

Center for State Sanitary Epidemiological Surveillance in the Samara region developed, tried, and introduced a system of administrative, legal, and economic decisions aimed at reduction of the effects of unfavorable environmental factors on population health. The main directions of the system is reorganization of the structure and administration of sociohygienic monitoring, norm-setting approach, organization of work in accordance with the state order, introduction of a system for evaluating the activities of the Center in cities and regions, optimization of staff, development and introduction of minimum social standards of activity, and realization of goal-oriented complex programs providing sanitary and epidemiological well-being.

Electrophysiological and pharmacological characteristics of two types of spike-wave discharges in WAG/Rij rats.

Rats of the WAG/Rij strain are commonly seen as a genetic model for generalised absence epilepsy in man. Interestingly, generalised absence epilepsy shows, in addition to the fully generalised spike-wave discharges, a second type of spike-wave discharge, which lasts for a shorter time, has a lower frequency, and a lower incidence. The originally described distinction between the two types of spike-wave discharges was mainly based on the shape, polarity and duration of the discharges. In the present study other characteristics such as the spatial and temporal distribution of the spike and wave components of the two discharges and frequency spectra were found to differ between the two types. In addition, a reciprocal regulation of the two types of spike-wave discharges by drugs affecting the dopaminergic system (haloperidol and apomorphine) was observed. The results convincingly demonstrate the difference between the two phenomena and warrant the search for neurobiological mechanisms underlying both types of spike-wave discharges.

[The hygienic conditions in children's and teenagers' institutions]. / Gigienicheskie usloviia v detskikh i podrostkovykh uchrezhdeniiakh.

The leading risk factors in children and teenagers at the educational establishments of Samara Province can be considered to be unfavourable changes that determine the teaching conditions: impairments in an educational process, school routine, dietary deficiencies, nonobservance of sanitary and hygienic requirements for water supply and sewer system, aerothermal and light conditions, for the equipment of workshops and school furniture. With the participation of sanitary surveillance bodies, Samara Province has been introducing (in 1998-1999) a comprehensive assessment of a risk.

[The mapping of spike-wave discharges in WAG/Rij rats (a genetic strain of absence epilepsy)]. / Kartirovanie razriadov pik-volna u krys linii WAG/Rij (geneticheskaia liniia absence-épilepsii).

The electrical activity of different cortical areas was recorded in 37 WAG/Rij rats under conditions of chronic experiment. The typical for absence epilepsy spike-wave discharges occur in EEG of all the animals of the strain. The average amplitude distribution maps were constructed based on the recording of two main components of the spike-wave discharge. The most frequently occurring discharges of 5-9 s in duration were taken for map construction. Separate maps were constructed for the beginning and for the end a discharge. It was shown that at the beginning of a discharge the maximum of spike amplitude was localized in the frontal cortical area in the site of localization of the eye, vibrissa and chewing movement centers. At the same time, the wave was better pronounced in the occipital cortical areas. At the end of a discharge spike amplitude diminished and the cortical square over which it was manifested was cut down. On the contrary, at the end of a discharge were amplitude increased and the area of its distinct recording spread to the frontal cortical areas. The wave amplitude maximum was observed over the cortical areas 17. The obtained evidence suggest the relatively independent spatio-temporal dynamics of the two main components of the spike-wave discharge complex.