Role of subchondral bone in the restoration of articular cartilage.

The role of subchondral bone in the restoration of the articular cartilage was determined in experiments on mongrel dogs subjected to gonarthrosis modeling followed by subchondral zone tunneling and introduction of bone marrow suspension into the canal. Light microscopy, computer histomorphometry, and electron probe microanalysis showed that stimulation of functional activity of chondrocytes was achieved via correction of homeostasis of the cartilage and subchondral bone and improvement of tissue trophic. Restoration of the microarchitecture of the subchondral bone and improving its vascularization after tunneling with the introduction of bone marrow suspension into the drill holes enhances chondrocyte metabolism and recovers their functionality.

[Method of customized analysis of tension deformities in fixed dental restorations].

The paper presents the technique for transporting CT and CAD 3D-modelling data in software for tension deformities analysis with the possibility for customizing physical properties of certain anatomical structures and constructive materials. The obtained data allowed performing analyzing of tension deformities of dental restorations in ANSYS software.

[Planning and performing surgical stage of dental implantation in difficult clinical cases based on computer modeling].

Clinical experience of preoperative computer modeling of dental implant intervention is described. By studying the ergonomics and the accuracy a proper stereolithography guide is selected. This method allows performing a complex preoperative virtual study of dental implants placement depending on future prosthodontics restoration in difficult clinical cases. Requires collaboration at the planning stage of prosthodontist, surgeon, radiologist, 3D-modeling specialists.

[Clinical opportunities of 3D-modeling for implant treatment planning for the patients with full or partly adentia in difficult anatomo-topographic conditions].

The message is about dental rehabilitation in difficult anatomo-topographic conditions of full adentia and high-grade atrophy of alveolar processes. The more high quality level decision of this problem using the methods of 3D-computer modeling during the diagnostic examination and planning of dental implantation is proposed.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improve tinnitus in normal hearing patients: a double-blind controlled, clinical and neuroimaging outcome study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tinnitus is a frequent disorder which is very difficult to treat and there is compelling evidence that tinnitus is associated with functional alterations in the central nervous system. Targeted modulation of tinnitus-related cortical activity has been proposed as a promising new treatment approach. We aimed to investigate both immediate and long-term effects of low frequency (1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with tinnitus and normal hearing. METHODS: Using a parallel design, 20 patients were randomized to receive either active or placebo stimulation over the left temporoparietal cortex for five consecutive days. Treatment results were assessed by using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory. Ethyl cysteinate dimmer-single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging was performed before and 14 days after rTMS. RESULTS: After active rTMS there was significant improvement of the tinnitus score as compared to sham rTMS for up to 6 months after stimulation. SPECT measurements demonstrated a reduction of metabolic activity in the inferior left temporal lobe after active rTMS. CONCLUSION: These results support the potential of rTMS as a new therapeutic tool for the treatment of chronic tinnitus, by demonstrating a significant reduction of tinnitus complaints over a period of at least 6 months and significant reduction of neural activity in the inferior temporal cortex, despite the stimulation applied on the superior temporal cortex.

1,3-Disubstituted benzazepines as novel, potent, selective neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor antagonists.

A novel series of potent and selective non-peptide neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y1 receptor antagonists, having benzazepine nuclei, have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated for activity. Chemical modification of the R(1) and R(3) substituents in structure 1 (Chart 1) yields several compounds that show high affinity for the Y1 receptor (K(i) values of less than 10 nM). SAR studies revealed that introduction of an isopropylurea group at R(1) and a 3-(benzo-condensed-urea) group, 3-(fluorophenylurea) group, or a 3-(N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)guanidine) group at R(3) in structure 1 afforded potent and subtype-selective NPY Y1 receptor antagonists. 3-(3-(Benzothiazol-6-yl)ureido)-1-N-(3-(N'-(3-isopropylureido++ +))benzyl )-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-1-benzazepin-2-one (21), which was one of the most potent derivatives, competitively inhibited specific [(125)I]peptide YY (PYY) binding to Y1 receptors in human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells (K(i) = 5.1 nM). 21 not only inhibited the Y1 receptor-mediated increase in cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration in SK-N-MC cells but also antagonized the Y1 receptor-mediated inhibitory effect of peptide YY on gastrin-induced histamine release in rat enterochromaffin-like cells. 21 showed no significant affinity in 17 receptor binding assays including Y2, Y4, and Y5 receptors.

Multiple drug effect analysis with confidence interval.

The development of mathematical models for determining antagonism, synergy or additivism for drug combinations is becoming increasingly important in medical research and medicine. This paper describes improvements in the Chou and Talalay method which provides for the first time confidence intervals for the combination index. The Monte Carlo technique was used to calculate the confidence intervals and to obtain the new parameters which are needed for the modified interaction diagnosis. This new method can be adapted to current as well as future formulae used to evaluate drug combinations. Programs written in Microsoft and Visual Basic were developed for use on commonly available personal computers which we call Combostat.

Expressed emotion and psychoeducational intervention for relatives of patients with schizophrenia: a randomized controlled study in Japan.

The benefit of single-family treatment (SFT) in addition to short educational sessions (SES) consisting of multiple-family treatment was investigated. The study design was a randomized controlled study. Subjects were 30 patients suffering from schizophrenia with at least one of their family members showing high expressed emotion (EE) in the Camberwell Family Interview. After the SES, the patients were randomly allocated to two groups: those who received routine individual outpatient treatment and those who received additional SFT and routine treatment. The two groups were followed for 9 months after discharge, and the relapse risks were compared. The relapse risk was lower in the SES+SFT group than in the SES group (23.1% vs. 35.3%). However, the difference was not significant. When high-EE families were classified into those with many critical comments (high-CC) or a high score of emotional overinvolvement (high-EOI), the relapse risk was 0% in the patients living with a high-CC family not only in the SES+SFT group but also in SES group. In the patients living with a high-EOI family, the relapse risk was lower in the SES+SFT group than in the SES group (42.9% vs. 60.0%). These findings suggest that high-EE families should receive at least SES, and additional SFT should be given to families with specific needs.

Synthesis and modification of a novel 1 beta-methyl carbapenem antibiotic, S-4661.

We describe an efficient method for introducing a sulfamoylamino group into the C-2' position of pyrrolidine using the Mitsunobu reaction. S-4661, its N-methyl analogues and stereoisomers were synthesized using this method and their structure-activity relationships were investigated.

Detection of nucleoprotein gene of Sendai virus in the lungs of rats by touchdown nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

The nucleoprotein (NP) gene of Sendai virus was detected by touchdown nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the lungs of a rat presented with respiratory illness and high serum ELISA titer to Sendai virus. This method seemed to be of value in controlling infection in laboratory rodents.

Ear and nose foreign body removal in children.

The removal of foreign bodies in children is very common in the otolaryngologist's daily routine. We present a prospective series of 187 cases of ear and nose foreign bodies removed from children aged 0-12 years old in a 6-month period--95 females (50.8%) and 92 males (49.2%); 78 children (41.71%) aged from 1 to 2 years, 66 (35.29%) from 3 to 5 years. There were 93 cases (49.73%) of ear foreign bodies, in which a bean was the most common (24.73%), and 94 cases (50.27%) of nose foreign bodies, in which sponge fragments predominated (36.17%). In 82 cases (45.85%), the removal was performed within the first 24 h after the foreign body insertion, and 86 (45.98%) of the patients had previous attempts to remove it. Thirteen cases with complications (external ear canal lacerations, tympanic membrane perforation) were observed in patients in whom these previous attempts had been made, but there were no sequelae. This corresponds to one of the largest reports of ear and nose foreign body removal in children in the literature; we conclude that younger children are more prone to insert foreign bodies, which are objects usually found at home. Complications may occur as a result of attempts to remove the foreign body without the help of specialised personnel or proper conditions.

[Median eminence of the hypothalamus in hypophysectomized rats: its structure and ultrastructure]. / Sredinnoe vozvyshenie gipotalamusa gipofizéktomirovannykh krys: struktura i ul'trastruktura.

The median eminence of the hypothalamus of intact and hypophysectomized rats has been studied by means of light and electron microscopy. Paraldehyde-fuchsin (PAF)-positive material is revealed in the external zone of the median eminence in 2-5 days after the operation. The PAF-positive material is also accumulated in the neurosecretory fibres localized around subependymal blood vessels. A2 fibres containing granules of 100-150 nm in diameter and B type fibres with granules up to 100 nm in diameter are seen in the external zone of the median eminence in intact rats. Besides, A1 fibres with granules of 120-200 nm in diameter are found near hypophyseal portal vessels in hypophysectomized animals. All type terminals make contact with blood vessels in the subependymal zone of the median eminence of hypophysectomized rats. It is suggested that terminals of the neurosecretory fibres of types A2 and B permanently make contact with the primary portal capillaries in the external zone of the median eminence, while A1 fibres ingrow in the median eminence in the course of postoperative reparation.

Ultrastructure of the sturgeon neurohypophysis. / O nekotorykh osobennostiakh ul'trastruktury neirogipofiza osetra

Three types of nerve fibres and their terminals have been revealed in the sturgeon neurohypophysis. Peptidergic A1 and A2 type fibres contain granules 120--200 and 100--160 nm in diameter, resp. Monoaminergic B type fibres have granules 80-100 nm in diameter. Terminals of A2 type predominate in the sturgeon neurohypophysis, A1 and B type terminals are a rarer occurrence. Different stages of exocytosis of the neurosecretory granule content were seen in the A1 and A2 type terminals. It is suggested that neurosecretory granules are the carriers of arginine-8-vasotocin and oxytocin-like polypeptide in A2 and A1 fibres, resp.

[Ultrastructure of the neurosecretory cells of the anterior commissural nucleus of the hypothalamus in rats]. / Ul'trastruktura neirosekretornykh kletok perednekomissural'nogo iadra gipotalamusa krys.

The ultrastructure of neurosecretory cells of the anterior commissural nucleus of rat hypothalamus is similar to that of the supraoptic nucleus and of the "magnocellular" part of the paraventricular nucleus. The only difference is a less expressed granular endoplasmatic reticulum and a smaller diameter of elementary neurosecretory granules (80-150 nm in diameter). Such elementary granules are characteristic of neurosecretory terminals located in the external zone of the median eminence. It is suggested that neurosecretory cells of the anterior commissural nucleus project to this neurohemal region.

[Age-related dynamics of the response of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal neurosecretory system in rats to a change in corticoid levels of the blood]. / Vozrastnaia dinamika reaktsii gipotalamo-gipofizarnoi neirosekretornoi sistemy krys na izmenenie urovnia kortikoidov v krovi.

Hypothalamic vasopressin- and corticoliberinergic neurosecretory cells are able to change their activity after true or shame adrenalectomy in respect to the level of corticoids even in 10-day old rats. Vasopressin and corticoliberin accumulate in the nerve fiber terminals of the median eminence external zone a few days after surgery in young rats as opposed to the accumulation within 2-3 weeks usually observed in adults. The underdifferentiation of neurovascular relations in the neurohaemal area seems to be the reason for [areactivity] of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system in young rats.

[The effect of serotonin on the hypothalamic structures that participate in the regulation of the hypophyseal-adrenal cortex system]. / Vliianie serotonina na gipotalamicheskie struktury, uchastvuiushchie v reguliatsii gipofizarno-adrenokortikal'noi sistemy.

The activation of the 11-hydroxycorticosteroids secretion by 5-hydroxytryptophan was confirmed in intact rats as well as in those with isolated mediobasal hypothalamus. Deafferentation of the medial basal hypothalamus did not prevent an increase of corticoliberin and vasopressin content in the external median eminence after adrenalectomy and led to an opposite response after 5-hydroxytryptophan injection in these rats. The activation of the vasopressinergic cells and increase of portal vessels' lumen occurred under the 5-hydroxytryptophan effect, particularly in rats subjected to deafferentation combined with adrenalectomy.

[Ultrastructure of the neurohypophysis in the lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis L]. / Ul'trastruktura neirogipofiza u minogi Lampetra fluviatilis L

Three distinct zones are observed in the neurohypophysis (Nh) of adult lampreys: ependymal (tanycyte), fiber and neurovascular. The ependymal zone consists of a single layer of tanycyte perikarya. Their basal processes pass via the fiber zone and form vascular "endfeet" on the connective tissue layer, separating Nh and the meta-adenohypophysis. Few funnel-shaped protrusions of the recessus infundibuli lined with tanycytes penetrates deeply in Nh. Pituicytes are rare. Peptidergic A1 and A2 fibers and their terminals contain granules of 1600-3400 and 1200-2200 A in diameter respectively. Monoaminergic B type fibers have granules of 800-1000 A in diameter. Percentage of the A1 fibers is the lowest. Nerve terminals and tanycyte vascular "endfeet" make contact with the unusually thick (up to 3000 A) outer basement membrane. The latter is about 1 mu thick in sites where in invaginates deeply in Nh. Single short fragments of the inner basement membrane are seen. Sometimes peptidergic A1 and A2 nerve terminals are separated from the third ventricle or its protrusions only by a thin layer of tanycyte cytoplasm. Peptide neurohormones are probably released in the cerebro-spinal fluid in these sites. The possibility of peptide neurohormone and monoamine be discharged into the common circulation and their diffusion through the the connective tissue layer into the meta-adenohypophysis is discussed.

[Central pseudocancerous form of bronchopulmonary tuberculosis simulating cancer]. / Tsentral'naia psevdoopukholevaia forma bronkholegochnogo tuberkuleza, simuliruiushchego rak.

Pathomorphism of tuberculosis results in an increased frequency of forms simulating bronchial carcinoma. A specific bronchopulmonary lesion involving atelectasis of the upper lobe is reported. Since it occurs in middle-aged female patients and develops mostly in the left lung, the lesion should be regarded as a specific pseudotumorous form of pulmonary tuberculosis.

[Relationship between the spawning process and quantitative ultrastructural analysis of the neurosecretory elements of the neurohypophysis of female Acipenser güldenstädti sturgeon]. / Kolichestvennyi ul'trastrukturnyi analiz neirosekretornyk élementov neirogipofiza samok osetra Acipenser guldenstadti v sviazi s protsessom neresta.

Quantitative studies have been made on functional condition of neurosecretory terminals in the neurohypophysis of sturgeon females during upstream migration, soon after spawning and 3 or more weeks after the latter. Electronmicroscopically, within each of the 3 types if neurosecretory terminals (A1, A2, B) certain forms were distinguished which correspond to separate phases of the secretory cycle; relative amounts of these forms were determined. Functional correlation in the activity of peptide- (A1, A2) and monoaminergic (B) terminals was observed which reveals itself in synchronous increase of the activity of peptidergic and the decrease in the activity of monoaminergic terminals immediately after spawning. At later stages, inactivation of all the 3 types of terminals takes place. Functional significance of this correlation is discussed in relation to double (peptide- and adrenergic) control of the activity of visceral organs during realization of protective and adaptive reactions of the organism under such natural stress conditions, as spawning.

[The effect of vasotocin, mesotocin and adrenaline on the interrenal gland in the frog Rana temporaria under in-vitro conditions]. / Vliianie vazototsina, mezototsina i adrenalina na interrenalovuiu zhelezu liagushki Rana temporaria v usloviiakh in vitro.

Morphometric studies indicate that vasotocin increases the activity of the adrenal gland in frogs, whereas mesotocin and epinephrine do not essentially affect it. Combination of epinephrine with nonapeptides in cultural medium showed that the former may abolish the effect of vasotocin on the adrenal gland.