[Age changes of immunological, morphological and biochemical indices of male reproductive system].

The article analyzes the dependence of bactericidal activity of sperm--natural resistance factors controlling the survival of bacteria in the urogenital tract, on the age of men. These data are compared with the results of the standard (on the recommendations of the WHO) spermogram, reflecting reproductive health. Due to the fact that one of the main etiological agents of infectious disease groups in the male reproductive system in adulthood are Staphylococcus spp., we consider the level of bactericidal activity of sperm in resident and transient carriage of S. aureus and S. epidermidis.

[Side-effects of glucocorticosteroids in multiple sclerosis: a case report of a patient with global amnesia]. / Pobochnye éffekty terapii gliukokortikosteroidami pri rasseiannom skleroze: opisanie klinicheskogo sluchaia s global'noi amneziei

Pulse-doses of corticosteroids are actively used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis relapses. Short pulse-treatment is usually well-tolerated by patients though side-effects may be observed. We described a rare case of transient global amnesia after the pulse-treatment with corticosteroids. A complex examination excluded other causes of amnesia.

[Intracellular transmission of the cholinergic signal in the chick amnion].

The role of the system of deposited calcium in the mediation of contractile reactions to carbachol in an isolated amnion of 11-13 day old chicken embryo was studied. It was found that thapsigargin (2 microM, 20 min), an inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPases, decreases the tonic reaction to carbachol by 40 +/- 2%. In the presence of U73122 (5-10 microM, 10 min), a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C inhibitor, the rhythmic contractile reaction of the amnion to carbachol is blocked, whereas the tonic reactiondecreases to 47 +/- 9% of the initial one. Ryanodine (10 rM, 5 min) inhibits the spontaneous contractile activity of the amnion and decreases the tonic reaction to carbachol to 36 +/- 3% relative to control. In the presense of ryano- dine, nifedipine (0.05 microM) completely blocks the tonic reaction to carbachol. Thus, calcium mobilized from intracellular stores via inositol trisphosphate and ryanodine receptors is involved in realization of contractile reactions, mediated by M3 receptors, in the chick amnion.

[Asthenia, emotional disorders and quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis]. / Asteniia, émotsional'nye rasstroistva i kachestvo zhizni u patsientov s rasseiannym sklerozom.

Objective. The evaluation of the dynamics of asthenia, chronic fatigue syndrome, emotional disorders and quality of life of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to explore the possibility of using idebenon (noben) in treatment of these impairments. Material and methods. We studied 35 patients, 18 men and 17 women, with MS (mean age 36.4±8.86 years, mean disease duration 10.33±6.07 years); 83% of patients had remitting type and others - secondary progressive type. Along with neurological examination, we used the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS 21), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a quality of life questionnaire (EQ5D). Patients had marked asthenia and chronic fatigue at baseline. The old age of the patients and duration of MS and its severity according to EDSS predicted the higher levels of asthenia, chronic fatigue and anxiety with depression and lower quality of life on EQ5D. All patients received noben in dosage 90 mg daily (30 mg 3 times a day) during 6 months. Results and conclusion. Idebenon (noben) reduced the severity of chronic fatigue syndrome, asthenia and depression in MS patients. The dose used in the study may be regarded as the optimal dose that provides best efficacy with minimal side-effects.

[Quality of life of patients receiving long-term treatment with first-line disease-modifying drugs: results of a Russian multicenter study using MusiQoL].

Results of a multicenter study of health-related quality of life (QoL) measured with the MusiQoL in 534 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with glatimer acetate (GA) given in subcutaneous injections in dosage 20 mg daily during at least 12 months are presented. The data were compared to those of the multicenter study of 1420 patients treated with interferon-Β (44 mg three times a week). The influence of sex, age and MS duration on QoL was found. There was a significant improvement of QoL after 12 months of treatment with glatimer acetate. Positive changes in some MusiQoL domains were observed in patients treated with interferon-Β after 6 months.

[Evaluation of the content of harmful substances in the air of sewage treatment facilities of Astrakhan gas processing plant].

Despite the fact that the progress in regard to the degree of processing of natural gas and condensate in the Astrakhan gas processing plant is significant, necessary hygienic normalization of working environment on the part of the content of harmful substances in the air of working areas is still unable. Harmful substances were detected in the breathing zone of workers of sewage treatment plant almost constantly. In this connection there is a need in the further joint work hygienists, designers and manufacturers for the development and justification of new, more effective decisions - both on the part of as well technology as hardware design - with the purpose of improvement of working conditions.

[Assessment of the size of the thalamus as a method for the evaluation of the activity of neurodegenerative process after the treatment with cerebrolisin in young patients with multiple sclerosis].

The aim of the study was to describe the atrophy of the thalamus in young patients with active relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with cerebrolysin. Eighteen MS patients (mean age 20.10±0.45 years) with disease onset in childhood or adolescence were studied. Neurological examination using the EDSS, neuropsychological testing and MRI were used. At baseline, MRI revealed the hypotrophy of the thalamus that was not correlated with the performance on neuropsychological tests. After treatment with cerebrolysin, there was the decrease in the level of atrophy that suggested the neuroprotective effect of this drug. This effect was more prominent in younger patients with the high frequency of previous relapses.

[Teriflunomide is a new peroral disease-modifying drug for multiple sclerosis (a review)].

Teriflunomide is a once-daily, orally administered, disease-modifying drug. The review presents the data concerning the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics as well as results of clinical studies. Teriflunomide has received the regulatory approval in the USA, Argentina, Australia, South Korea, Chile and EU. The submission of a regulatory dossier is performed in Russia.

[Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis: open questions of differential diagnosis demonstrated by the example of a clinical case].

Clinical features and MRI-characteristics of two demyelinating diseases: acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are discussed. Despite the seeming obviousness of differential-diagnostic criteria, the individual course of disease can, in some cases, accomplishes the differential diagnosis specifically in cases of recurrent (monophasic) ADEM and the first episode of acute demyelination, resembling ADEM, in MS. A clinical case of MS with acute manifestation resembling ADEM is described.

[Efficacy and tolerability of long-term using of glatimer acetate (copaxone): a 10 year-study in the Moscow Municipal Multiple Sclerosis center].

Experience of 10-year administration of glatimer acetate (copaxone) in 74 patients with active remitting multiple sclerosis is summarized. The significant decrease in the frequency of exacerbations was seen over these ten years. Disease severity on the EDSS was stable and decreased only to the end of the 10-year period. The positive stable clinical dynamics did not depend on the disease severity at baseline. The drug was well-tolerated that allowed to control the course of multiple sclerosis: 64.8% of patients had no more than one exacerbation over 10 years and in 71.6% patients, the disease progression was absent or minimal (less than one score on EDSS). It has been concluded, that the long-term 10-year treatment with copaxone enables to control the development of disease in many patients.

[The comparative study of efficacy and tolerability of intramuscular introduction of beta-interferon-1a in adults and adolescents with remitting multiple sclerosis].

The experience of the treatment of patients with remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) with intramuscular introduction of beta-interferon-1a (avonex) is presented. Seventeen children and adolescents, aged from 11 to 18 years, and 55 adults, aged over 55 years, were treated for at least one-year period. Results revealed a significant reduction of exacerbations in both groups (from 1.35 to 0.06 in average in adolescents and from 0.86 to 0.17 in adults). The changes were accompanied by the stabilization of MS severity index: EDSS scores have decreased in 23.6% of adults and in 17.6% of adolescents. In both groups, good tolerability of the treatment was noted. There was a low probability of side-effects with the exception of increased frequency of a flu-like syndrome (47% cases) in patients younger than 18 years that demands special attention from children neurologists. The high efficacy and good tolerability and safety profile of beta-interferon-1a give grounds for administering this drug to children and adolescents with MS.

[Neurological manifestations of HIV-infection (review)].

Current data on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment principles of HIV are reviewed. The special attention is focused on affections of the nervous system (neuro-AIDS). Primary and secondary manifestations of these affections are described.

[Characteristics of industrial noise at the Astrakhan gas processing plant].

The level and nature of air pollution were studied in various objects of the Astrakhan gas processing plant. The necessity of introducing technical-hygienic, organizational, and medical measures to reduce the adverse effect of the noise on workers is warranted.

[The content of hazardous substances in the air of the central laboratory of the Astrakhan gas processing plant].

The degree and nature of air pollution were studied at the central laboratory of the Astrakhan gas processing plant. Priority pollutants were established and their sources indicated.

[Acute-phase proteins in the saliva of workers engaged in processing natural gas and condensate high in hydrogen sulfide].

The paper considers current methods for assessing the workers' health status. It shows it possible to identify increased quantities of acute-phase serum proteins upon exposure to the negative factors characteristic of the Astrakhan gas processing plant. A wider range of tests for acute-phase tissue and serum proteins is proposed to be included in order to gain a fuller insight into the influence of unfavorable industrial factors on man and to make monitoring that enables the existing health risks and the efficiency of preventive measures to be controlled.

[Similarities and differences in the effect of cocaine on alpha-adrenergic and muscarinic response].

Similarities and differences in the effect of cocaine on alpha-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors were shown in three experimental models. The postsynaptic stimulating effect of cocaine through activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors was found in a chicken embryo without innervation and in an innervated rat vas deferens. Cocaine caused an increase of the amount of activated alpha-adrenergic receptors and the appearance of an additional receptor pool and changed their dimerization level. Cocaine acts as an antagonist on muscarinic receptors of the chicken embryo. The inhibition of muscarinic receptors in the rat brain by cocaine leads to a decrease in the number of receptors and their partial monomerization. Thus, cocaine influences both the alpha-adrenergic response and the muscarinic response by its influence on receptors. Experiments on various objects have shown that cocaine activates the alpha-adrenergic response and inhibits the muscarinic response.

[The significance of extracellular Ca2+ in contractile responses in chick amnion].

Neurotransmitter receptors are formed during chick embryo development in the amnion, an avascular extraembryonic membrane devoid of innervation. Carbachol induces phasic and tonic contractions mediated by M3 cholinoceptors in an amniotic membrane strip isolated from 11-14-day-old chick embryo. The carbachol effect on the amnion contractile activity was studied in normal physiological salt solution, during depolarization by K+, exposure to nifedipine, and in calcium-free medium. Voltage-dependent and receptor-operated Ca2+ channels as well as calcium from intracellular stores are involved in the contractile response to carbachol. Phasic contractions of the amnion are mainly induced by calcium ions entering through voltage-dependent calcium channels, while tonic contractions are also maintained by receptor-operated channels. Ca(2+)-activated potassium channels can serve as a negative feedback factor in regulation of the amnion contractile responses.

[Diagnostic value of seminal bactericidal activity in bacteria carriers].

Seminal bactericidal activity (SBA) that is referred to as a factor of natural resistance and that controls bacterial survival in the male urogenital tract is an integral index of the congenital adaptive mechanisms of mucosal defense. The paper shows changes in SBA and other indices of the functional activity of the reproductive tract in male patients with different forms of bacteria carriage.