TRANSECTION OF INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE IN THE RAT - NEUROANATOMICAL STUDY AND EXPERIMENTAL MODEL.

OBJECTIVE: Experimental lesions in the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) are used for the study of peripheral and central alterations. The objective of our study was to contribute to a more precise description of the approach to the IAN and creating a lesion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-six males of Wistar laboratory rats were used for the study. The animals were divided into three groups: control group (6 rats), experimental group (12 rats - a part of the bone above the mandibular canal was removed under general anaesthesia using extraoral approach, after exposing a part of the IAN, the nerve was excised in a length of 3 mm), and a sham group (8 rats - the nerve was only dissected but not transected). Persisting denervation was verified using surgical revision and histological and immunohistochemical analysis after the observation period (4 weeks). RESULTS: No evidence of re-innervation after 4 weeks. We found no statistically significant differences in mean weight gains between individual groups during the observation period. CONCLUSION: The described technique used in the study is one of the possible ways to create a nerve lesion at the site of the main trunk of the nerve. At the same time, the study provides a more precise description of the anatomical situation and approach to the IAN in the mandibular canal.

Multielemental Chemical Analysis of Elements in Mandibular Bone and Teeth in the Rat.

The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis of different distribution spaces of elements in the rat mandibular bone and teeth. We used six adult males of Wistar laboratory rats for the study. After killing the animals, we extracted the molars and removed incisor crowns. The mandibular bone was divided into four parts (mesial-central-distal-ridge). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the presence of 41 elements in the bone and tooth. Evidence of 14 elements was found in all samples (incisors-molarsbone). Generally, significant differences between the left and right side were found for K and Rb in the bone locations. As regards statistically significant differences in incisors-molars-bone locations, the elements for which these differences were found for all comparisons are listed as incisors versus individual molars, incisors versus bone locations, and individual molars versus bone locations: a) incisors-molars: Ba, Mn, Mo, Sr, Zn, K, Mg and Rb; b) incisors-bone: Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Zn and Ba; c) molars-bone: Mn, Mo, Na and Mg. Statistically significant differences were also found between molars for Fe, Mg, Mn, and Sr and between bone locations for Ba, Ca, Mn, Sr, K, Rb, Zn, Mo, Mg, and Na. The elements Cu, Ni and Co were without pronounced differences. Twenty-seven elements were below the detection limit. Our results indicate different distributions of some elements in the rat mandibular incisors-molars-bone. We assume that the knowledge of chemical element contents in the laboratory rat bone and teeth will prove useful in experimental research of both these hard tissues.

Multielemental Chemical Analysis of Elements in Mandibular Bone and Teeth in the Rat.

The original article was published in Folia Biologica (Praha) Volume 64, No. 3 (2018), 84-96.

Cerebral perfusion pressure and behavior monitoring in freely moving rats.

Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) is the net pressure gradient that drives oxygen delivery to cerebral tissue. It is the difference between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the intracranial pressure (ICP). As CPP is a calculated value, MAP and ICP must be measured simultaneously. In research models, anesthetized and acute monitoring is incapable of providing a realistic picture of the relationship between ICP and MAP under physiological and/or pathophysiological conditions. For long-term monitoring of both pressures, the principle of telemetry can be used. The aim of this study was to map changes in CPP and spontaneous behavior using continuous pressure monitoring and video recording for 7 days under physiological conditions (group C - 8 intact rats) and under altered brain microenvironment induced by brain edema (group WI - 8 rats after water intoxication) and neuroprotection with methylprednisolone - MP (group WI+MP - 8 rats with MP 100 mg/kg b.w. applicated intraperitoneally during WI). The mean CPP values in all three groups were in the range of 40-60 mm Hg. For each group of rats, the percentage of time that the rats spent during the 7 days in movement pattern A (standard movement stereotype) or B (atypical movement) was defined. Even at very low CPP values, the standard movement stereotype (A) clearly dominated over the atypical movement (B) in all rats. There was no significant difference between control and experimental groups. Chronic CPP values with correlated behavioral type may possibly answer the question of whether there is a specific, universal, optimal CPP at all.

[Comparison of patellar pain after total knee arthroplasty with conventional versus individual femoral rotational alignment]. / Srovnání výskytu patelární bolesti po aloplastice kolenního kloubu u konvencne nebo individuálne nastavené rotace femorální komponenty.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to find out whether the frequency and intensity of patellar pain can be affected by individual rotational alignment of the femoral component in total knee arthroplasty, as compared with the standard 3 degrees of external femoral rotation in conventional procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In randomly selected patients treated for knee osteoarthritis by total joint replacement between January 2007 and January 2011, the occurrence of patellar pain was assessed. The evaluated knees were allocated to two groups. Group 1 included 350 knee joints with conventional femoral rotational alignment, i.e., 3 degrees of external rotation. Group 2 comprised 380 knee joints with an individual rotational alignment of the femoral component based on the condylar twist angle. Post-operative anterior knee pain was assessed on the following scale: 1, no pain; 2, occasional mild pain; 3, moderate pain; 4, severe pain. RESULTS: In group 1, 312 knee joints were free from pain, 15 occasionally experienced mild pain, 15 had moderate and eight had severe pain. A total of 23 revision operations were performed for patellar pain at the anterior knee and pain around the patella refractory to non-steroidal anti-rheumatic and rehabilitation therapy. In group 2, there were 331 pain-free knees, 48 with occasional mild pain, one with moderate pain and no knee with severe pain. No revision surgery was required. One patient with moderate patellar pain underwent surgery for spinal canal stenosis; after that knee pain was only mild. The groups were compared, as to pain assessment results, using the test of equality of relative frequencies, i.e., score categories 1+2 versus 3+4 of 350 (group 1) equalled 23 (6.57%) were compared with 1 (0.26%) of 380 (group 2); the difference was significant (p < 0.001). Using the same test for comparison of the frequency of repeat operations, i.e., 23 (0.57%) of 350 (group 1) versus 0 (0%) of 380 (group 2), also gave a significant result (p = 0.001). DISCUSSION: Mild and occasional pain was recorded in both groups, suggesting that femoral component malrotation is not the only cause of patellar pain following total knee arthroplasty. A markedly lower incidence of moderate and severe pain and no need for revision surgery found in group 2 provides evidence that the use of individual rotational alignment of the femoral component is fully justified. CONCLUSIONS: An individual rotational alignment of the femoral component can significantly reduce the incidence of moderate to severe patellar pain or even need for revision surgery.

[Comparison and statistical evaluation of two methods of condylar twist angle measurement in total knee arthroplasty]. / Komparace a statistické zhodnocení dvou metod merení "condylar twist angle" u aloplastiky kolenního kloubu.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of this prospective randomised study was to compare and statistically analyse two methods of condylar twist angle (CTA) measurement in total knee arthroplasty in order to assess their applicability in routine practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 238 patients with 256 sites undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the period from January 2009 to May 2011. There were 93 men (nine with bilateral TKA) and 145 women (nine with bilateral TKA) with an average age of 69.3 years and a range of 47 to 88 years. The implants NexGen (Zimmer) and ADVANCE® Medial-Pivot Knee (Wright) were used. In each patient, CTA was measured before surgery by the radiologist on a multidetector CT SOMATOM 64 (Siemens) using the Yoshioki method. The other CTA measurement was made intra-operatively by the surgeon using our modification of the Hofmann method which involved the identification of a reference line for optimal rotational alignment of the femoral component. A STATISTICA 9.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. In addition to basic statistical data, selected data were presented in graphical forms as Box and Whisker's plots and histograms. Changes in CTA and differences between the groups were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Relationships among the variables were studied using Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed that the pre-operative CTA value obtained from CT scans was, on the average, higher by 0.5 degrees than the value from intra-operative measurement, as assessed at the level of significance p = 0.001 (signed- rank test). The intra-individual variability was lower than the inter-individual one (14.4% and 30.8%, respectively). This means that both methods are suitable for CTA measurement in the knee joint replacement procedures. Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.6, which is the value of medium strong correlation. The post-operative CTA assessed on CT scans was in the range of 0 to 2 degrees in 87.5% of the patients. Both the pre-operative and intra-operative CTA values were significantly higher in women than in men (Wilcoxon two-sample test). There was no statistical difference between the left and the right side. DISCUSSION: Malrotation of the femoral component is one of the causes leading to patellar subluxation and pain in the front part of the knee. The post-operative CTA value should be zero. Optimal rotational alignment of the femoral component varies with each patient; in our study it was found in the range of 0 to 7 degrees on the basis of CTA values. We do not recommend 7 degrees of external rotation to be exceeded because of the risk associated with balancing the flexion gaps; nor do we recommend to set internal rotation of the femoral component for the risk of patellar complications. The difference of 0.5 degree found in the CTA value between the two measuring methods can be explained by individual differences in the anatomy of the medial epicondylar region, and by the use of only selected whole numbers (0, 3, 5, 7) in intra-operative measurements. This difference does not play any role in routine surgical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The statistical evaluation of the results of CTA measurement with the two methods showed that both were equally suitable for routine total knee arthroplasty. The results of intra-operative CTA measurements are comparable with those obtained on CT scans; in addition, the intra-operative method is less expensive and eliminates exposure of the patient to radiation. CT-based CTA measurements are useful in the patients with chronic problems after TKA in whom femoral component malrotation needs to be either confirmed or ruled out.

Mitochondrial metabolism - neglected link of cancer transformation and treatment.

Physical processes in living cells were not taken into consideration among the essentials of biological activity, regardless of the fact that they establish a state far from thermodynamic equilibrium. In biological system chemical energy is transformed into the work of physical forces for various biological functions. The energy transformation pathway is very likely connected with generation of the endogenous electrodynamic field as suggested by experimentally proved electrodynamic activity of biological systems connected with mitochondrial and microtubule functions. Besides production of ATP and GTP (adenosine and guanosine triphosphate) mitochondria form a proton space charge layer, strong static electric field, and water ordering around them in cytosol - that are necessary conditions for generation of coherent electrodynamic field by microtubules. Electrodynamic forces are of a long-range nature in comparison with bond and cohesive forces. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to disturbances of the electromagnetic field; its power and coherence may be diminished, and frequency spectrum altered. Consequently, defective electrodynamic interaction forces between cancer and healthy cells may result in local invasion of cancer cells. Further deformation of interaction forces connected with experimentally disclosed spatial disarrangement of the cytoskeleton and disordered electrodynamic field condition metastatic process. Cancer therapeutic strategy targeting mitochondria may restore normal physiological functions of mitochondria and open the apoptotic pathway. Apoptosis of too much damaged cancer cells was observed. Considerable experience with DCA (dichloroacetate) cancer treatment in humans was accumulated. Clinical trials should assess DCA therapeutic potential and collect data for development of novel more effective drugs for mitochondrial restoration of various cancers.

Determination of brain water content by dry/wet weight measurement for the detection of experimental brain edema.

Brain edema is a fatal pathological state in which brain volume increases as a result of abnormal accumulation of fluid within the brain parenchyma. A key attribute of experimentally induced brain edema - increased brain water content (BWC) - needs to be verified. Various methods are used for this purpose: specific gravimetric technique, electron microscopic examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dry/wet weight measurement. In this study, the cohort of 40 rats was divided into one control group (CG) and four experimental groups with 8 rats in each group. The procedure for determining BWC using dry/wet weight measurement was initiated 24 h after the completion of edema induction by the water intoxication method (WI group); after the intraperitoneal administration of Methylprednisolone (MP) together with distilled water during edema induction (WI+MP group); 30 min after osmotic blood brain barrier disruption (BBBd group); after injection of MP via the internal carotid artery immediately after BBBd (BBBd + MP group). While induction of brain edema (WI, BBBd) resulted in significantly higher BWC, there was no increase in BWC in the MP groups (WI+MP, BBBd+MP), suggesting a neuroprotective effect of MP in the development of brain edema.

High-frequency electric field and radiation characteristics of cellular microtubule network.

Microtubules are important structures in the cytoskeleton, which organizes the cell. Since microtubules are electrically polar, certain microtubule normal vibration modes efficiently generate oscillating electric field. This oscillating field may be important for the intracellular organization and intercellular interaction. There are experiments which indicate electrodynamic activity of variety of cells in the frequency region from kHz to GHz, expecting the microtubules to be the source of this activity. In this paper, results from the calculation of intensity of electric field and of radiated electromagnetic power from the whole cellular microtubule network are presented. The subunits of microtubule (tubulin heterodimers) are approximated by elementary electric dipoles. Mechanical oscillation of microtubule is represented by the spatial function which modulates the dipole moment of subunits. The field around oscillating microtubules is calculated as a vector superposition of contributions from all modulated elementary electric dipoles which comprise the cellular microtubule network. The electromagnetic radiation and field characteristics of the whole cellular microtubule network have not been theoretically analyzed before. For the perspective experimental studies, the results indicate that macroscopic detection system (antenna) is not suitable for measurement of cellular electrodynamic activity in the radiofrequency region since the radiation rate from single cells is very low (lower than 10⁻²° W). Low noise nanoscopic detection methods with high spatial resolution which enable measurement in the cell vicinity are desirable in order to measure cellular electrodynamic activity reliably.

Nicotine influences the motor performance of immature rats in two different sensorimotor tasks.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of nicotine on motor performance of immature (12-day-old) rats. We used two sensorimotor tasks (surface righting response and negative geotaxis test) to evaluate the influence of nicotine on animal's motor activity in course of 24 hours. Animals were treated intraperitoneally with two different nicotine doses (0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg) and tested in four sessions (1 minute, 10 minutes, 1 hour and 24 hours after the injection). We concluded that nicotine significantly influences the motor behaviour in 12-day-old rats and this effect is dose dependent.

Effect of methylprednisolone on experimental brain edema in rats - own experience reviewed.

Brain edema - a frequently fatal pathological state in which brain volume increases resulting in intracranial pressure elevation - can result from almost any insult to the brain, including traumatic brain injury. For many years, the objective of experimental studies was to find a method to prevent the development of brain edema at the onset. From this perspective, the use of methylprednisolone (MP) appears promising. High molecular MP (MW>50 kDa) can be incorporated into the brain - in the conditions of the experimental model - either by osmotic blood-brain barrier disruption (BBBd) or during the induction of cellular edema by water intoxication (WI) - a condition that increases the BBB permeability. The time window for administration of the MP should be at the earliest stages of edema. The neuroprotective effect of MP on the permeability of cytoplasmatic membranes of neuronal populations was proved. MP was administrated in three alternative ways: intraperitoneally during the induction of cytotoxic edema or immediately after finishing cytotoxic edema induction in a dose of 100 mg/kg b.w.; into the internal carotid artery within 2 h after finishing cytotoxic edema induction in a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w.; into internal carotid artery 10 min after edema induction by BBBd in a dose of 50 mg/kg b.w.

[Radiographic measurements in total knee arthroplasty and their role in clinical practice]. / Radiologická merení u aloplastiky kolenního kloubu a jejich význam pro praxi.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to present the use of digital sciagraphy and computed tomography for pre- and post-operative measurements in total knee arthroplasty. The authors were interested, in the first place, in the optimal adjustment of femoral component rotation and a valgus angle if extra-articular deformities of the femur and/or the tibia were present. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Digital sciagraphic examination was carried out on an AXIOM ARISTOS (Siemens) apparatus using the software designed by us. In group 1 comprising 269 knee joints, in a standing and weight-bearing position with lower extremity neutral rotation, the valgus angle was measured and the entry point for the intramedullary rod of a femoral cutting block was deter- mined. Subsequently, the mechanical axis and extra-articular deformities of the femur and/or the tibia were found and the patella position in 30-degree flexion of the knee joint was assessed on axial images. Based on radiographic evaluation, relevant treatment for different types of disorders, including extra-articular deformity, was proposed. In group 2 consisting of 204 knee joints, the values of a condylar twist angle were measured on axial sections, using a Siemens Somatom Sensation 64 CT Scaner.The method of condylar twist angle measurement was developed and the values for men and women were obtained. RESULTS: In group 1, the mean values obtained for valgus knee deformity were: valgus angle, 5.4°; median, 5.5°; modus, 6.0°. Those for varus knee deformity were: valgus angle, 7.2°; median, 7.0; modus, 7.0. A normal knee joint alignment (mechanical axis of 0° to 5°) had the respective mean values of 6°; 6.0° and 6.0°. This group showed 76 extra-articular deformities (33.9 %). In group 2, for women the mean ± SD value of the condylar twist angle was 5.25° ± 1.68; and median and modus values were 5.0° and 4.0 °, respectively. For men, the respective values were 4.69° ± 1.33; 4.0° and 4.0°. DISCUSSION: The mean values of valgus angle and CTA found in this study are in agreement with the literature data. In the pre-operative planning it is necessary to take extra-articular deformities in consideration, to respect the entry point for the intra- medullary rod and to take a compromise solution for adjustment of the valgus angle of the femur and for tibial deformities. Also, in severe valgus and varus deformities of the knee, the maintenance of a neutral mechanical axis should be strictly observed. The optimal adjustment of femoral component rotation is individual and depends on the type of deformity and femoro-patellar joint pathology. The external rotation of a femoral component should be set in the range of 0° to 7°. CONCLUSIONS: Digital sciagraphy with suitable software and computed tomography contribute to radiographic measurements before and after total knee arthroplasty. They facilitate an accurate and quick measurement together with data storage. On examination in a standing weight-bearing position it is necessary to keep standard lower extremity neutral rotation. Computed tomography is recommended when more severe valgus and varus deformities and/or femoro-patellar pathology are present. The results of radiographic measurement analysis will allow the surgeon to plan the operative strategy and select a suitable type of implant.

Magnesium and posthypoxic changes of nitrergic population in rat hippocampus.

We used NADPH-diaphorase staining to study effects of magnesium pre-treatment during long-lasting hypoxia on the brain structure of rats. NADPH-diaphorase is an enzyme co-localized in neurons with NO-synthase that is responsible for NO synthesis. NO participates in hypoxic-ischaemic injury of the brain. Hypoxia was induced in consecutive days from the 2nd till the 11th day of postnatal life in a hypobaric chamber (for 8 hours per day). Magnesium was administered before each hypoxia exposition. At the age of 12 days, the animals were transcardially perfused with 4% buffered neutral paraformaldehyde under the deep thiopental anaesthesia. Cryostat sections were stained to identify NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons that were then quantified in five hippocampal regions. In comparison to the control animals, intermittent hypoxia brought about higher density of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in all studied areas of the hippocampal structure: in CA1 and CA3 areas of the hippocampus and in hilus, in the dorsal and ventral blades of the dentate gyrus. Magnesium pre-treatment during hypoxia reduced number of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons in all studied areas.

Effect of methylprednisolone on experimental brain edema in magnetic resonance imaging.

Magnetic resonance imaging has been used for evaluating of a brain edema in experimental animals to assess cytotoxic and vasogenic edema by the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and T2 imaging. This paper brings information about the effectiveness of methylprednisolone (MP) on experimental brain edema. A total of 24 rats were divided into three groups of 8 animals each. Rats with cytotoxic/intracellular brain edema induced by water intoxication were assigned to the group WI. These rats also served as the additional control group CG when measured before the induction of edema. A third group (WIMP) was intraperitoneally administered with methylprednisolone 100 mg/kg during water intoxication treatment. The group WI+MP was injected with methylprednisolone 50 mg/kg into the carotid artery within two hours after the water intoxication treatment. We evaluated the results in four groups. Two control groups (CG, WI) and two experimental groups (WIMP, WI+MP). Rats were subjected to MR scanning 24 h after edema induction. We observed significantly increased ADC values in group WI in both evaluated areas - cortex and hippocampus, which proved the occurrence of experimental vasogenic edema, while ADC values in groups WIMP and WI+MP were not increased, indicating that the experimental edema was not developed and thus confirming the protective effect of MP.

Structure assembly regularities in vapour-deposited gold-fullerene mixture films.

Self-assembly is an attractive phenomenon that, with proper handling, can enable the production of sophisticated hybrid nanostructures with sub-nm-scale precision. The importance of this phenomenon is particularly notable in the fabrication of metal-organic nanomaterials as promising substances for spintronic devices. The exploitation of self-assembly in nanofabrication requires a comprehension of atomic processes creating hybrid nanostructures. Here, we focus on the self-assembly processes in the vapour-deposited Au x C60 mixture films, revealing the exciting quantum plasmon effects. Through a systematic characterization of the Au x C60 films carried out using structure-sensitive techniques, we have established correlations between the film nanostructure and the Au concentration, x. The analysis of these correlations designates the Au intercalation into the C60 lattice and the Au clustering as the basic processes of the nanostructure self-assembly in the mixture films, the efficiency of which strongly depends on x. The evaluation of this dependence for the Au x C60 composite nanostructures formed in a certain composition interval allows us to control the size of the Au clusters and the intercluster spacing by adjusting the Au concentration only. This study represents the self-assembled Au x C60 mixtures as quantum materials with electronic functions tuneable by the Au concentration in the depositing mixture.

Horizontal cells of the primate retina: cone specificity without spectral opponency.

The chromatic dimensions of human color vision have a neural basis in the retina. Ganglion cells, the output neurons of the retina, exhibit spectral opponency; they are excited by some wavelengths and inhibited by others. The hypothesis that the opponent circuitry emerges from selective connections between horizontal cell interneurons and cone photoreceptors sensitive to long, middle, and short wavelengths (L-, M-, and S-cones) was tested by physiologically and anatomically characterizing cone connections of horizontal cell mosaics in macaque monkeys. H1 horizontal cells received input only from L- and M-cones, whereas H2 horizontal cells received a strong input from S-cones and a weaker input from L- and M-cones. All cone inputs were the same sign, and both horizontal cell types lacked opponency. Despite cone type selectivity, the horizontal cell cannot be the locus of an opponent transformation in primates, including humans.

The negative phonon confinement effect in nanoscopic sodium nitrite.

A nanocomposite of porous glass and a NaNO(2) ferroelectric (channels of approximately 7 nm diameter) was studied using infrared reflectivity, THz transmission and Raman spectroscopy as a function of temperature in the range of 300-500 K, including the ferroelectric transition. From the infrared and THz response the effective dielectric function was calculated and compared with the dielectric functions calculated from the Bruggeman and Lichtenecker models of the effective medium, using the known data on the polar phonon modes of the NaNO(2) single crystals. The results show good qualitative agreement, indicating that the stiffening of the effective modes is due to local depolarization fields on the glass-ferroelectric interfaces. The nonpolar Raman modes show no substantial modification compared to those of the bulk NaNO(2). Some signatures of the ferroelectric transition were even seen. The results indicate that the intrinsic size effect (phonon confinement) is negligible in this nanocomposite.

Biophysical cancer transformation pathway.

Coherent vibration states in biological systems excited in nonlinear electrically polar structures by metabolic energy supply were postulated by H. Fröhlich. Fröhlich's requirements for coherent vibrations and generation of electromagnetic field are satisfied by microtubules whose subunits are electric dipoles. Static electric field around mitochondria and "wasted energy" efflux from them provide nonlinear conditions and coherent excitation. Numerical models are used for analysis of coherent vibration states. A hypothesis is presented that dysfunction of mitochondria (i.e., extinction of the zones of the static electric field and of the efflux of "wasted energy") and disintegration of the cytoskeleton on the pathway of cancer transformation result in disturbances of coherence of the cellular electrically polar oscillations and of the generated electromagnetic field with consequences in cellular organization and interactions between cells. Local invasion, detachment, and metastasis of cancer cells are subsequent events of disturbed electromagnetic interactions.

Cell-mediated immunity in cervical cancer evolution.

Cell-mediated immunity (CMI) response to different antigens was examined in healthy women, in patients with cervical precancerous lesions, and in patients with cervical cancer. Cervical lesions were diagnosed by cytological (PAP) smears, from examination by colposcopy, and from "punch" biopsy material by histology. CMI response is related to specific processes in healthy and cancer cells. CMI was investigated by leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay using specific antigen (prepared from cervical carcinoma tissue) and non specific antigen (prepared from blood of mice infected by LDH--lactate dehydrogenase--virus). The CMI responses of healthy women and cancer patients to the antigens used are different: the majority of T lymphocytes display adherence and non adherence, respectively (but the CMI responses elicited by the antigens are not equal and small quantitative differences are observed). Regardless of the CIN (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) grades, CMI responses correspond either to healthy women or to cervical carcinoma patients (at about similar ratio of cases in all the CIN groups). Effect of non specific antigen suggests that cervical carcinoma transformation may be connected with reduction of mitochondrial activity similar to processes in LDH virus infection.

Loss of body weight is accompanying cellular brain edema induced by water intoxication in the rat.

Induction of cellular cerebral edema (CE) was achieved by a standard method of water intoxication which consisted of fractionated intraperitoneal administration of distilled water (DW) together with the injection of desmopressin (DP). Using metabolic cage, fluid and food balance was studied in two groups of eight animals: group C - control; group CE - cellular edema induced by water intoxication. For each rat the intake (food pellets and water) and excretion (solid excrements and urine) were recorded for 48 h together with the initial and final body weight. CE animals consumed significantly less food, drank less water and eliminated the smallest amount of excrements. The induction of cellular cerebral edema was accompanied with a significant loss of body weight (representing on average 13 % of the initial values) mainly due to a reduction of food intake. This phenomenon has not yet been reported.