Adsorption of flexible polyelectrolytes on charged surfaces.

Adsorption of weakly charged polyelectrolyte (PE) chains from dilute solution on an oppositely charged surface is studied using the self-consistent mean-field approach. The structure of the adsorbed polymer layer and its excess charge are analyzed in the most important asymptotic and intermediate regimes both analytically and numerically. Different regimes of surface charge compensation by PE chains including partial and full charge inversion are identified and discussed in terms of physical parameters like the magnitude of specific short-range interactions of PE segments with the surface, solvent quality and ionic strength. The effect of excluded-volume monomer interactions is considered quantitatively both in the marginally good and poor solvent regimes.

[Diagnosis of mixed tick-borne encephalitis and tick-borne borreliosis in the early stages of the disease].

The paper describes a method of prognosis for the possible development of mixed tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis based on a comparison of clinical manifestations of the disease and results of laboratory tests.

Self-organization in the flow of complex fluids (colloid and polymer systems). Part 2: Theoretical models.

Flow induced transitions in complex fluids are usually accompanied by changes in the internal media structure and the flow symmetry. In this review paper, we discuss the theoretical models and approaches that have been used for the analysis of different types of flow instabilities and flow patterns. The main attention is focused on the basic fluid models which reveal vortex and banding flow structures at high shear rates. The Oldroyd-B fluid is one of such models. The Reynolds and the Weissenberg (or Deborah) numbers are the parameters governing its flow behavior. For this model, the secondary flow patterns arising in viscometric flows of different geometries at the bifurcation point are described. Complex fluids which are able to exist in multiple states can form coexisting bands of different structures with different rheological properties and flowing with different shear rates at the same shear stress. Shear banding is typical for fluids demonstrating non-monotonous flow curves described by such models as the diffusive Johnson-Segalman fluid model, for example. Recent progress in exploring this phenomenon is discussed.

[Surgical strategy for the liver injury and developed abdominal complications].

The authors have analyzed results of treatment of 641 patients with the liver injury: blunt injury--209, penetrating--432. Surgical strategy depends on the condition of the patient on admission, severity of the liver injury and combined trauma. Suturing the rupture (wound) of the liver was the method of choice in the I-II degrees of the liver injury. If it was impossible to achieve hemostasis in the bottom of the wound in the III-IV degrees of the liver injury, package with gauze drain (7) and ligation of the hepatic artery (3) were used. Resection of the liver was performed in 22 patients. In the postoperative period the main complications were: peritonitis (22), subphrenic abscesses (13), hemobilia (7), subhepatic abscesses (6) and liver abscesses (5). Embolization of the hepatic artery branches was preferable in hemobilia. The mortality rate in blunt injuries of the liver was 28.2%, gunshot wounds--27.6% and knife injury--4%.

Shape transformations of protein-like copolymer globules.

Shapes of globules formed by amphiphilic multi-block-copolymers in a selective solvent are considered theoretically. We focus on copolymers consisting mostly of insoluble H-units forming large core surrounded by a shell of soluble P-blocks. It is shown that the globule becomes non-spherical when the effective shell tension is low enough. The resultant shape depends on the shell bending energy: it is prolate if this energy is larger than the elastic energy of the core, and oblate in the opposite case. The central result is the prediction of the formation of a surface pattern of fingers accompanying or even preempting the shape transition mentioned above. We elucidate and discuss the following finger morphologies: 1) nearly spherical knob; 2) a necklace of spherical beads extending away from the surface; 3) mostly cylindrical fingers; 4) large thorn-like fingers. The first 3 morphologies develop at equilibrium as the shell area increases (or, equivalently, the shell tension decreases). Considering the relevant kinetical aspects we show that formation of fingers is a nucleation and growth process, and that the energy of their equilibrium nucleation is likely to be high. Therefore, the finger formation may be delayed, and may actually occur in the regime where the plain spherical surface is metastable. It is the last morphology (thorn-like fingers) that characterizes the metastable regimes when the finger formation is controlled by a high activation energy. The universal features of the above predictions inviting experimental tests are discussed.

[The clinical features of the acute period of mixed infection of tick-borne encephalitis and Ixodes tick-borne borreliosis in children].

The paper presents the results of a study of 176 cases of mixed infection of tick-borne encephalitis and Ixodes tick-borne borreliosis in children in the Kuznetsk coal fields. The mixed infection presented as meningeal, meningoencephalitic, and feverish forms. Mixed infection is characterized by a severe course and it is not attended by the symptoms that are characteristic for monoinfections, which requires the immunological verification of their diagnosis. Unlike tick-borne encephalitis, the meningeal and meningoencephalitic forms of the mixed infection are marked by the great magnitude and duration of a temperature reaction and overall cerebral and focal manifestations. The outcome is characterized by the formation of symptoms of chronic tick-borne encephalitis in 25% of the cases of the meningoencephalitic form of the mixed infection.

[The study of adaptation syndrome in mixed-infection of tick-borne encephalitis and borreliosis in children]. / Nekotorye aspekty izucheniia adaptatsionnogo sindroma pri sochetannoi infektsii kleshchevogo éntsefalita i borrelioza u detei.

Twenty two children with mixed-infection of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and ixodic tick borreliosis (ITB) were studied. Blood hydrocortisone level was changed in 94.5% of the cases. The most significant activation of hydrocortisone secretion in combination with the most pronounced and prolonged general brain manifestations, was detected in infants. Blood hydrocortisone level correlated with clinical symptoms of combined TBE and ITB infections. Along with higher hydrocortisone level, down-regulation of production of antibodies both to B. burgdorferi and to TBE virus was specific for all children studied.

[Clinical characteristics of the endogenous intoxication syndrome in Russian tick-born encephalitis]. / Klinicheskaia kharakteristika sindroma énndogennoi intoksikatsii pri kleshchevom éntsefalite.

The paper characterizes the clinical and laboratory indices of the endogenous intoxication syndrome (EIS) in 173 patients with acute Russian tick-borne encephalitis. In its feverish form, EIS is characterized by the general intoxication syndrome and a slight increase in the luciferase index (LI). In its meningeal form, EIS is accompanied by overall cerebral symptoms, cardiovascular, respiratory and hepatic detoxifying dysfunctions, which are manifested by increases in both the intoxication leukocyte index of (ILI) and LI. In its focal form, EIS is characterized by the signs of multiorgan failure with the most pronounced alterations in the laboratory indices of endotoxemia (LID and LI).

Theory of gel electrophoresis of DNA: orientational effects.

Some aspects of the reptation model of gel electrophoresis of DNA, with emphasis on the orientational effects, are considered. A master equation for the reptational dynamics with the end boundary conditions is proposed. Based on this equation, the orientation and dynamics of the persistent-chain are investigated. In particular, the role of trap conformations for this chain, which essentially reduce the chain mobility, was analyzed. A transient orientation of the chain during pulsed field gel electrophoresis is also discussed.

[Dispensarization of chronic tick-borne encephalitis patients]. / Dispanserizatsiia bol'nykh khronicheskim kleshchevym éntsefalitom.

Sixty patients with chronic tick-borne encephalitis underwent dispensarization. The author reports on his experience in the organization of dispensarization and the techniques of formulating the diagnosis with indications of the clinical form, of the neurological syndrome and also of the disease stage and the type of its progression. A proposal is made to identify groups to be placed under dispensarization, and to determine the frequency of patients' examinations in relation to the severity of the neurological syndrome. A treatment regimen is described varying with the clinical form and the stage of the disease. A conclusion is drawn as to a favourable influence of dispensarization on the disease course and outcome in patients with chronic tick-borne encephalitis.

[Comparative characteristics of encephalitis with hyperkinetic syndromes]. / Sravnitel'naia kharakteristika éntsefalitov s giperkineticheskim sindromom.

On the basis of analyzing the clinical and laboratory (electro- and pneumoencephalographic data, results of immunological and psychological tests) findings in 27 patients suffering from encephalitis of various etiology accompanied with the hyperkinetic syndrome, criteria for diagnostic differentiation of tick-borne and other forms of encephalitis are offered. The results obtained allow one to distinguish with sufficient confidence between chronic tick-borne encephalitis and encephalitis of other etiology. The criteria being offered can be used for deciding on the treatment scheme and for forecasting the disease outcome.

[Acid-base equilibrium in patients with tick-borne encephalitis and similar diseases]. / Kislotno-shchelochnoe ravnovesie u bol'nykh kleshchevym éntsefalitom i skhodnymi s nim zabolevaniiami.

The study is concerned with the acid-base balance in 92 patients with tick-borne encephalitis, tick-borne fever and meningitis of an obscure etiology. In many cases there was a shift in the direction of a metabolic acidosis, which was most vividly expressed in the meningitic form of tick-borne encephalitis. Some of the patients were treated by sodium bicarbonate which exerted a positive effect. The degree of changed indices of the acid-base balance and the time of their appearance helps in the diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis correct evaluation of the severity of the condition and timely prescription of correction therapy.