Age as only predictive factor for successful sperm recovery in patients with Klinefelter's syndrome.

The study was performed to determine factors affecting successful sperm retrieval by testicular sperm extraction in patients with nonmosaic Klinefelter's syndrome (KS). From May 2001 to February 2007, 27 azoospermic patients were diagnosed as having nonmosaic KS. All patients underwent sperm testicular extraction. Patient's age, testicular volume, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin B were assessed as predictive factors for successful sperm recovery. Of the 27 Klinefelter's patients examined, eight (29.6%) had successful sperm recovery. The comparisons of serum FSH, inhibin B and testicular volume between patients with and without successful sperm retrieval did not show any statistical significance. The patients with successful sperm recovery were significantly younger (28.6 +/- 3.11 years) than those with failed attempts (33.9 +/- 4.5 years, P = 0.002). The rate of positive sperm retrieval was significantly higher in patients younger than 32 years compared with patients older than 32 years (P = 0.01, chi-squared test). The study showed that clinical parameters such as FSH, inhibin B and testicular volume do not have predictive value for sperm recovery in patients with KS. The mean age of our patients with successful sperm recovery was significantly lower than that of men with unsuccessful results. Testicular sperm extraction or testicular sperm aspiration should be performed before the critical age of 32 years.

[Combined liver-kidney transplantation: indications and results]. / Transplantation foie-rein combinée: indications et résultats.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to report our experience concerning the indications and results for combined liver-kidney transplantation in our centre. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From July 1991 to October 2006, 26 patients underwent combined liver-kidney transplantation in our establishment. This group comprised 16 men and 10 women with a mean age of 50.1 years (range: 19 to 68 years). The main indications were as follows: hepatorenal polycystic disease, type I hyperoxaluria, cirrhosis associated with end-stage renal failure. RESULT: The median follow-up was 62.73 (+/-50.9) months. Only two patients of this series died, one at 70 months from gastric cancer, and the other at 89 months from cerebral metastases. Nine patients developed surgical complications (29%). Liver function was normal in the 24 surviving patients. Only one case of loss of renal graft was observed at 12 years and this patient is currently on dialysis. The mean creatinine level in these patients (apart from the dialysed patient) at the last follow-up visit was 120.3 (+/-30.43)micromol/l. CONCLUSION: Combined liver-kidney transplantation can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality and excellent long-term results.

Metrazol-induced petit mal: the role played by monoaminergic mechanisms and striatum.

Gradually accumulating subconvulsive doses of metrazol give rise to behavioral and electrographic effects close to petit mal epilepsy: slow negative waves and spike-wave complexes on EEG, frozen and myoclonic jerks. Intensification of monoaminergic transmission with apomorphine, DOPA or 5-hydroxytryptophan attenuates, but inhibition (chlorpromazine, haloperidol and p-chlorphenylalanine), on the contrary, increases the subconvulsive effect of the metrazol. Low frequency stimulation of the striatum potentiates, and lesion limits expressiveness of metrazol-induced petit mal. Bilateral electrolytic lesion of the striatum eliminates apomorphine, DOPA and haloperidol action, but slight changes the effects of chlorpromazine, 5-hydroxytryptophan and p-chlorphenylalanine.

[Participation of monoaminergic mechanisms and the striatum in the development of "petit mal" induced by corazole]. / Uchasti monoaminergicheskikh mekhanizmov I striatuma v razvitii "malogo épilepticheskogo pripadka" vyzyvaemogo korazolom.

In gradual cumulation of subconvulsive doses of corasole in mice there are certain changes of behaviour and electrographical signs which are close to "petit mal": slow negative waves and peak-wave complexes on the EEG, myoclonic jerks. An increase of monoaminergic transmission of apomorphine, DOPA, or 5--hydroxyhyptophane weakens the preconvulsive effect of corasol, while its inhibition by aminasine, haloperidol and p-chlorphenylalanine on the contrary increases it. A low frequency electric stimulation of the striatum potentiates the expressiveness of corasole "petit mal", while its destruction limits it. A bilateral destruction of the striatum eliminates the action of apomorphine, DOPA and haloperidol but only slightly changes the effect of aminazine, 5-hydroxytryptophane and p-chlorphenylalanine.

[Preconvulsive state and hyperfunction of the striatum (clinico-experimental findings)]. / Predsudorozhnoe sostoianie i giperfunktsiia striatuma (kliniko-éksperimental'nye dannye)

The paper is concerned with a clinico-experimental study of the influence of intesified activity in the neostriatum on the EEG indices which may appear during the introduction of increased doses of corazol. In 10 cases with different forms of parkinsonism there was a much easier appearance of clinical and EEG manifestations of convulsive activity, than in normals. In experiments on rats preconvulsive effects were exerted by such neuroleptics as haloperidol unlike apomorphine, possessing opposite properties.

[The role of the caudate nucleus in the development of convulsive discharges]. / O roli khvostatogo iadra v vozniknovenii sudorozhnykh razriadov

A single or rhythmical (1-3/sec) stimulation of the caudate nucleus in unrestrained rats facilitated formation of slow negative waves and the spike-wave complexes in the EEG of the sensory-motor cortex and contralateral neostriatum, as well as development of behavioral disturbances due to subseisure doses of pentylentetrazol. During the low-frequency stimulation of the caudate nucleus or after its cessation, when giving the convulsant drug, regular potentials of the spike-wave type or a general seizure may occur. The caudate nucleus is supposed to be able to participate in the petit mal seizure mechanisms because of its syndhronizing influences on the cortex.

[Electrophysiologic study of hippocampo-hypothalamic connections in rabbits]. / Elektrofiziologicheskoe issledovanie gippokampo-gipotalamicheskikh sviazei u krolikov.

Using the evoked potentials (EP) studies have been made on functional connections of different fields (CA1, CA3) of the dorsal hippocamp with phylogenetically different parts of the hypothalamus in rabbits. It was shown that during stimulation of both the field CA1 and the field CA3 of the hippocamp, the EP are widely present in nuclear structures of the posterior hypothalamus (supramammilary area, the posterior hypothalamic area, mammilary bodies). In the anterior hypothalamus (area preoptic medialis), the EP were recorded only during stimulation of the field CA1 in the dorsal hippocamp.

[Role of ultrasonography in the primary diagnosis of lymphomas].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic value of ultrasonography and its capabilities in evaluating the involvement of abdominal organs and peripheral lymph nodes, in analyzing the morphological subtypes in lymphomas, in choose the lymph node that is most informative for a histological study. SUBJECT AND METHODS: 193 patients with lymphomas, including 85 (44%) with lymphogranulomatosis and 108 (56%) with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas who had been treated at the clinical units of the Prof. R.O. Eolyan Hematology Center, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, in 2006-2009 were examined. Their ultrasound examination was made using Aloka SSD500 apparatuses with 3.5--and 5.0 MHz convex transducers, a Medison SA6000 probe with a 7.0 MHz C3-7ED linear transducer and a 3.5 MHz HL5-9ED convex transducer, an Acuson probe with a 7.0 MHz linear transducer and a 3.5 MHz convex transducer, by applying polyposition gray-scale scanning (B mode) and real-time color Doppler flow mapping. RESULTS: The patients with lymphomas were clinically characterized; data on the nature and extent of the involvements of different anatomic groups of lymph nodes, organs, and systems (spleen, liver, thyroid, etc.) are given. CONCLUSION: B-mode ultrasonography is an essential component of a comprehensive diagnostic examination in patients with lymphomas. It is important to detect primary lesion foci and to estimate their distribution and extent in the nodal and extranodal organs and systems, mediastinum in the ultrasound diagnosis of lymphomas.

Double-hadron leptoproduction in the nuclear medium.

The first measurements of double-hadron production in deep-inelastic scattering within the nuclear medium were made with the HERMES spectrometer at DESY HERA using a 27.6 GeV positron beam. By comparing data for deuterium, nitrogen, krypton, and xenon nuclei, the influence of the nuclear medium on the ratio of double-hadron to single-hadron yields was investigated. Nuclear effects on the additional hadron are clearly observed, but with little or no difference among nitrogen, krypton, or xenon, and with smaller magnitude than effects seen on previously measured single-hadron multiplicities. The data are compared with models based on partonic energy loss or prehadronic scattering and with a model based on a purely absorptive treatment of the final-state interactions. Thus, the double-hadron ratio provides an additional tool for studying modifications of hadronization in nuclear matter.

Single-spin asymmetries in semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering on a transversely polarized hydrogen target.

Single-spin asymmetries for semi-inclusive electroproduction of charged pions in deep-inelastic scattering of positrons are measured for the first time with transverse target polarization. The asymmetry depends on the azimuthal angles of both the pion (phi) and the target spin axis (phi(S)) about the virtual-photon direction and relative to the lepton scattering plane. The extracted Fourier component sin((phi+phi(S))(pi)(UT) is a signal of the previously unmeasured quark transversity distribution, in conjunction with the Collins fragmentation function, also unknown. The component sin((phi-phi(S)(pi)(UT) arises from a correlation between the transverse polarization of the target nucleon and the intrinsic transverse momentum of quarks, as represented by the previously unmeasured Sivers distribution function. Evidence for both signals is observed, but the Sivers asymmetry may be affected by exclusive vector meson production.

Measurement of the tensor structure function b1 of the deuteron.

The Hermes experiment has investigated the tensor spin structure of the deuteron using the 27.6 GeV/c positron beam of DESY HERA. The use of a tensor-polarized deuteron gas target with only a negligible residual vector polarization enabled the first measurement of the tensor asymmetry A(d)zz and the tensor structure function b(d)1 for average values of the Bjorken variable 0.01< <0.45 and of the negative of the squared four-momentum transfer 0.5 GeV2 < <5 GeV2. The quantities A(d)zz and b(d)1 are found to be nonzero. The rise of b(d)1 for decreasing values of x can be interpreted to originate from the same mechanism that leads to nuclear shadowing in unpolarized scattering.

[Effect of striatectomy on the course of corazole seizures in rats]. / Vliianie striatéktomii na techenie korazolovykh sudorog u krys

Behaviouristic and EEG-manifestations of pentylentetrazol convulsions were studied in unrestrained rats with preliminarily destroyed striatum. The operation caused no significant disturbance of the appearance of the spike-wave activity, but sharply inhibited provocation of myoclonic and their change into tonico-clonic convulsions. Besides, there was an increase in the threshold, the duration and the severity of the attack; an epileptic status was even observed in 50% of these rats. Striatectomy eliminated the action of catecholaminergic agents (apomorphine, DOPA, haloperidol, chlorpromazine) on the thresholds of myclonic jerks and the attack.

[Role of the striatum in the influence of serotoninergic substances on the course of corazole seizures in rats]. / O roli striatuma vo vliianii serotoninergicheskikh veshchestv na techenie korazolovykh sudorog u krys

The effect of 5-oxytryptophane (5-OT) and of parachlor-phenylalanine (pCPA) on the behaviouristic EEG manifestations of metrazol convulsions in electrostimulation and destruction of the striatum was studied. The effect of the preparations on the myoclonia and the spike-wave rhythm caused by metrazol did not largely depend on the functional condition of the corpus striatum. The capacity of 5-OT to facilitate, and of pCPA to aggravate the course of generalized convulsions and of the postconvulsive state became enhanced in stimulation and was eliminated after the destruction of the striatum.

[Effect of catecholaminergic substances on the proconvulsive properties of the caudate nucleus]. / Vliianie katekholaminergicheskikh sredstv na prokonvul'sivnye svoistva khvostatogo iadra

In the freely moving rats stimulants of catecholaminergic tramission (DOPA, apomorphine, d,1-amphetamine, and also their combination with disulfiram) reduced the proconvulsive properties of the caudate nucleus. Under the effect of these substances there occurred a shortening of the cortical electroencephalographic response to a single stimulation of the nucleus in the animals given subconvulsive doses of pentaxylenetetrazol and a reduction of the extent of the spike-wave rhythm induced by the repeated caudate stimuli. On the contrary, inhibitors of catecholaminergic transmission (chlorpromazine, haloperidol, alpha-methyltyrosine and disulfiram) intensified the proconvulsive effect of the caudate nucleus.

[Effect of corazole on the functional activity of the caudate nucleus]. / Vliianie korazola na funktsional'nuiu aktivnost' khvostatogo iadra

In chronic experiments with freely moving cats the action of diverse metrazol doses on the d,1-amphetamine-induced stereotype behaviour and the arrest reaction following low frequency stimulation of the caudate nucleus was studied. After injections of metrazol (20--30 mg/kg, i.c.) myoclonic seizure jerks and decreased locomotion occurred. This state was accompanied by depression of the stereotype behaviour and lowered arrest reaction threshold. It is suggested that some behavioural and the EEG metrazol-induced changes may come as a result of the caudate nucleus activation.