[A role of progesterone and its metabolites in regulation functions of the brain]. / Rol' progesterona i ego metabolitov v reguliatsii funktsii golovnogo mozga.

The review presents literature data reflecting the nature and mechanism of the effect of progesterone and its metabolites on human and animal brain structures. Particular attention is paid to neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, anti-anxiety and sedative properties of this hormone, which determines the prospect of its use for the prevention and treatment of human neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, sleep disorders, and anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders, including premenstrual and climacteric syndromes.

[Eating disorders in psychiatric patients during treatment with second generation antipsychotics].

AIM: To identify the frequency and characteristics of eating disorders in patients with schizophrenia treated with second generation antipsychotics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A sample included 56 patients (48 women and 8 men, mean age 28 ± 4.5 years) with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Patients received risperidone, quetiapine and olanzapine. The study employed clinical-anamnestic, endocrinological methods and assessment of eating behavior with DEBQ (The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire). All of the patients had extra Body mass or obesity: extra Body mass of the 1st grade was found in 18 patients (BMI<30 kg/m²) and obesity grade 2-3 in 38 patients (BMI>30 kg/m²). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Authors identified different types of eating disorders: external, restrictive and emotiogenic as well as the relationship of their prevalence and severity with sex, drug, presence and grade of obesity. Based on these RESULTS: we developed recommendations for management of patients treated with second generation antipsychotics.

[Reproductive dysfunctions in female patients during therapy with atypical antipsychotics].

To specify interrelations between clinical and hormonal aspects of reproductive dysfunctions appearing during therapy with atypical antipsychotic agents (clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine), 131 female patients with paranoid schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder have been studied. Distinctive features of dynamics of prolactin as well as hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal hormones levels for each medication studied and correlations between hormone indices and clinical presentations of reproductive dysfunctions (galactorrhea, disturbances of menstrual cycle and libido) were found.

[Historical reference: giant multinuclear cells in tubercular granuloma].

By studying the background materials, the authors have analyzed N. I. Pirogov's works on the pathological anatomy of tuberculosis. They show the fallacy of the widespread statement on N. I. Pirogov's priority in describing one of the characteristic cell elements of tuberculous granulation tissue, namely multinuclear giant cells referred in the Russian literature to as Pirogov-Langhans cells.

[The blood serum albumin transport function in patients with acute and chronic leukemias]. / Transportnaia funktsiia al'bumina syvorotki krovi u bol'nykh ostrymi i khronicheskimi leikozami.

AIM: The study of changes in functional activity of albumin ligand centers in the course of accumulation of metabolic products in the blood of hematological patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood serum albumin transport function (TF) was investigated in 22 and 24 patients with acute and chronic leukemia, respectively. Lipid analyser AKL-01 and the kit "Zond-Albumin" ("Zond", Moscow) were employed to assess total albumin concentration (TAC), effective albumin concentration (EAC), albumin binding reserve (ABR), the toxicity index (TI). The control group consisted of 38 blood donors. The findings were processed with statistical techniques. RESULTS: In patients with manifest acute leukemia, ABR and TI decreased while TAC remained unchanged. Chronic leukemia patients had high EAC and close to control levels of ABR and TI. In terminal chronic leukemia ABR lowered, TI increased, TAC was high but EAC fell. In patients with chronic leukemia and acute leukemia remission changes in albumin TF was accompanied with growing TAC. CONCLUSION: A decline of albumin TF was found in patients with manifest acute leukemia and terminal chronic leukemia. In non-terminal chronic leukemia and in remission of acute leukemia albumin TF was normal.

[Hepatolienal syndrome in patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia and liver cirrhosis: similarities and differences of macrophagal function]. / Gepatolienarnyi sindrom u bol'nykh khronicheskim limfolekozom i tsirrozom pecheni: skhodstva i razlichiia makrofagal'noi funktsii.

Macrophagal function of the liver and spleen was studied using 99mTc dynamic scintigraphy in 31 patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) and 11 patients with hepatic cirrhosis (HC). Total accumulation of the radionuclide in the above patients took place with more active participation of the spleen and less active--of the liver. Macrophagal function of the spleen and the liver was activated in CLL patients, whereas hepatic cirrhosis was accompanied by enhanced splenic function and diminished capacity of the liver for phagocytosis. Mechanisms of such phenomena are discussed.

[The hydration of the blood and its components in patients with acute and chronic leukemias]. / Gidratatsiia krovi i ee komponentov u bol'nykh ostrymi i khronicheskimi leikozami.

Estimation of total, free and bound water in the whole blood, plasma and red cells of 54 patients with acute and chronic leukemia showed that patients with chronic leukemia had low levels of bound water though high levels of total and free water in the whole blood and red cells. With the progress of the disease to the terminal stage these changes become more pronounced. Plasma hydration in chronic leukemia manifested with a rise in the bound and total water, in the terminal stage bound water was reduced while free and total water increased. The above changes were not dependent on the form of chronic leukemia. Hydration of blood and its components in patients with the first attack of acute leukemia and in those in terminal stage of chronic leukemia seemed similar.

[Liver and spleen macrophages function in patients with chronic leukemia]. / Sostoianie makrofagal'noi funktsii pecheni i selezenki u bol'nykh khronicheskimi leikozami.

Macrophagal function of the liver and the spleen has been studied using dynamic scintigraphy in 46 patients with chronic lymphatic and myeloid leukemia. There was an increase in the share of the spleen in total accumulation of radionuclide, shortening of the time of its capture by the liver macrophages and an increase in the indices of hepatic and splenic clearance with the same total time of drug elimination from the blood. The above changes became more distinct with leukemia progression and seem to be more severe in chronic myeloid leukemia.

[Thermostat electronic circuit for vital microscopy]. / Elektronnaia skhema termostata dlia vital'noi mikroskopii.

To provide optimal temperature conditions needed for vital microscopy, an electronic circuit for the thermostat has been elaborated. This unit is designed to heat and maintain at a definite temperature level the table for manipulations and the microscope objective. Thermoresistor MMT-4 served as a temperature transducer.