[Geriatria in the republic of Mari El, looking into the past, present and future.]

Population aging is the dominant demographic trend in the Republic of Mari El with the rapid growth of medical and social problems. This requires specific changes in the health care system and an increase in the effectiveness of medical care for the elderly, the most vulnerable category of the population.

[Dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system in prematurely aging patients].

Some facts from publications and own data of the authors about possibility to research the vegetative nervous system by the heart rhythm variability method, about change of regulating function of the vegetative nervous system in elderly and old people are given in the article. It is shown that changes of the heart rhythm variability indicators in people exposed to radiation have similar characteristics with those in people of natural ageing.

[Effect of thiamine and its antimetabolite oxythiamine on the proliferative activity of carcinosarcoma Walker 256 cells]. / Vliianie tiamina i ego antimetabolita oksitiamina na proliferatsiiu kletok kartsinosarkomy Uoker 256.

The microscopic studies of tumours from rats injected with thiamine at a dose of 20 mg/kg for 5 days have shown that sites of hemorrhages and necrosis are considerably more extensive than in tumours of control animals. Injections of the same doses of oxythiamine increase the rate of pathologic mitoses in tumour cells and decrease the tumour weight by 45%, limit the synthesis of thiamine diphosphate and inhibit the transketolase activity in tissues.

Influence of neuropeptides on the processes of higher nervous activity in primates. The action of cyclic analogs of enkephalins on the behavior of the lower monkeys.

The effect of two cyclic enkephalin analogs (IVS-43 and IVS-46) on the group and individual behavior of rhesus macaques and hamadryas baboons has been studied. A pronounced influence of IVS-46 on competitive and operant goal-directed behavior of the monkeys was identified.

[Delayed reactions of simians in a multiple-choice situation]. / Otsrochennye reaktsii u obez'ian v usloviiakh mnozhestvennogo vybora.

Delayed reactions were studied on six rhesus macaques and three chimpanzees by means of a modified multiple choice method. The data obtained showed that the initial capacity of short-term memory did not exceed the reproduction of two spatial discrete elements in macaques and of three elements of shimpanzees. It was found that successful operation with sets beyond the initial capacity of short-term memory did not exceed the reproduction of two spatial discrete elements in macaques and of three elements in shimpanzees. It was found that successful operation with sets beyond the initial capacity of short-term memory is due to secondary processes of formation of visual engrams and related motor stereotypes. The significance of extension of short-time memory capacity for the transition of higher animals from monodetermined reactions to active relations with their surroundings is discussed.

[Various analogues of the second-signal behavior in monkeys during their symbolic "description" of properties of planimetric figures]. / Nekotorye analogi vtorosignal'nogo povedeniia obezian pri simvolicheskom "opisanii" imi svoistv planimetricheskikh figur.

An attempt was made of experimental simulation of some components of the "second-signal" (verbal) behavior in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) under conditions of their "dialog" with a computer. Three monkeys were trained to perform manipulative actions on keyboard simulator to "describe" the properties of planimetric figures. For the period of research, the monkeys have learned to reproduce combinations of two symbols ("bigrams") that were used by them for a "description" up to 12 geometrical figures of various sizes. The data obtained indicate that rhesus monkeys are able not only to generalize the properties of a certain class of visual images at the perceptual level but also to use symbols for the description of these generalized properties.

[The comparative action of relanium and oxytocin on higher nervous activity in lower monkeys]. / Sravnitel'noe deistvie relaniuma i oksitotsina na vysshuiu nervnuiu deiatel'nost' nizshikh obez'ian.

Effects of relanium and oxytocin on higher nervous activity was studied in four rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and two baboons (Papio hamadryas). During observation of the animals in enclosure tranquilizing effect was seen only after relanium administration. Under the same conditions oxytocin practically did not change the general behaviour pattern of monkeys. However, steady behavioural transformations were observed under the conditions of competitive food-procuring behaviour and during the operant goal-directed reaction. Decreasing aggressiveness of dominants oxytocin in contrast to relanium had no negative effect upon their general motor activity and sensory perception. Differences in effects of the tranquilizer and the peptide were seen also at the unit activity level of the neurons. The first drug lowered the unit activity level and the degree of the functional connections in neuronal populations in a number of cortical structures. Administration of the second one led to selective shifts of the unit activity mainly in the frontal cortex of the monkeys.

[The effect of neuropeptides on the processes of higher nervous activity in primates. The action of cyclic analogs of enkephalins on the behavior of lower monkeys]. / Vliianie neiropeptidov na protsessy vysshei nervnoi deiatel'nosti u primatov. Deistvie tsiklicheskikh analogov énkefalinov na povedenie nizshikh obez'ian.

The influence of 2 cyclic enkephaline analogues (IVS-43 and IVS-46) on group and individual behaviour of rhesus and baboon monkeys was studied. The effect of IVS-46 on competitive and operant goal-directed behaviour of the monkeys was expressed. Possible mechanisms of functional reorganization of the higher nervous activity of primates under the influence of neuropeptides are discussed.

[The action of Essentiale and its combination with cordiamine and vitamin E on the processes of xenobiotic biotransformation and lipid peroxidation and on liver structure in rats with cholestasis]. / Deistvie essentsiale, ego kombinatsii s kordiaminom i vitaminom E na protsessy biotransformatsii ksenobiotikov, perekisnogo okisleniia lipidov i struktury pecheni krys s kholestazom.

Intensive regeneration of cholangia and cholangioles, fibrosis, microglobular cirrhosis, vacuolar and granular dystrophy, and necrosis of hepatocytes were found in the liver of rats 36 days after ligation of the common bile duct. Lipid peroxidation was activated, the activity of the mono-oxidase system was inhibited in maintained function of glucuro- and glutathione transferase. Essentiale (per os in starch mucilage, 1 ml/kg. for 35 days) increased the activity of cytosol glutathione-S-transferase and normalized the decreased blood plasma antioxidant activity. Combination of essentiale with cordiamin (nikethamide) and viatmin E (50 mg/kg for 35 days) considerably activated the mono-oxigenase, glucoro- and glutathione transferase systems of the liver: the free-radical processes became less intense. The structure of the liver improves insignificantly in both methods of treatment.

[Importance of insulin- and thiamine-dependent processes in regulating lipid metabolism in the rat liver]. / Znachenie insulin- i tiaminzavisimykh protsessov v reguliatsii lipidnogo obmena v pecheni krys.

Lipid metabolism in liver tissue, adipocyte sizes and dynamics of body mass alteration were studied after administration of insulin, hydroxythiamine both and their mixtures into rats. In presence of insulin content of triglycerides as well as the rate of 6-3H-glucose incorporation into total lipids, fatty acids, phospholipids and triglycerides was increased in liver tissue. Administration of hydroxythiamine both into intact animals and into the rats treated with insulin led to decrease in content of fatty acids in liver tissue, triglycerides in liver tissue and blood serum as well as to lowering in the rate of 6-3H-glucose incorporation into fatty acids and triglycerides of liver tissue. Insulin activated and hydroxythiamine inhibited the liver tissue acetyl-CoA-carboxylase. Among other factors inhibition of lipogenesis appears to be the most important for decrease in the size of adipocytes and in body mass of the animals treated with hydroxythiamine.

[A comparative physiological study of the generalization function in primates]. / Sravnitel'no-fiziologicheskoe izuchenie funktsii obobshcheniia u primatov.

Fundamental rules of the generalization function formation and development were formulated on the basis of comparative analysis of visual discrimination, summarizing and abstraction in the representatives of various primate subfamilies. It was established that monkeys and apes (Macaca mulatta, Cebus apella, Pan troglodytes) learning to define such abstract characteristic as relative size of visual pictures of natural and geometrical objects were able to use previously remembered rules elaborated under the solving of other visual tasks. Learning processes were realized more affectively, if the pictures of natural objects were represented to the monkeys. The comparison of generalization processes in monkeys and apes revealed multilevel organisation of the processes in apes. The latter showed high level of ability to operate with abstract ideas elaborated previously in the course of the experiments.

[Morphological characteristics of cellular elements in the focus of posttraumatic inflammation in thiamine deficiency]. / Morfologicheskie osobennosti kletochnykh élementov v ochage posttravmaticheskogo vospaleniia pri defitsite tiamina.

The influence of vitamin B1-deficiency on the ultrastructure of the cellular elements in the focus of aseptic inflammation in the skeletal muscles was studied in white mice, 2 and 3 days after the infliction of a mechanical trauma. Food B1-hypovitaminosis was induced by keeping the animals on a thiamine-deficient ration during 30 days. Oxythiamine hypovitaminosis was simulated by subcutaneous injections of vitamin B1 antimetabolite--oxythiamine, in a dose of 10 mg/kg, every 12 h, during 10 days. Both types of hypovitaminosis induced similar reactions of the cellular elements. The volume fraction of lysosomes and phagosomes in the macrophage cytoplasma decreased, the volume density of mitochondria increased, differentiation of fibroblasts was delayed. No significant changes were detected in the ultrastructure of neutrophilic granulocytes, eosinophils and lymphocytes. Decrease of macrophage phagocytic activity is one of the main factors in the mechanism of delay of necrotic mass resorption and inhibition of the following development of reparative processes.

[Alkaline phosphatase and transketolase activity during immunogenesis in the lymphoid organs of rats with vitamin B1 deficiency caused by oxythiamine]. / Aktivnsot' shchelochnoi fosfatazy i transketolazy v limfoidnykh organakh krys s nedostatochnost'iu vitamina B1, vyzvannoi oksitiaminom, pri immunogeneze.

A study was made of the effect of different doses of hydroxythiamine on activity of alkaline phosphatase and transketolase in rat spleen and thymus during primary and secondary administration of human gamma-globulin. Immunization of rats significantly raised alkaline phosphatase activity in both organs. Administration of a large single dose of hydroxythiamine (400 mg/kg bw) reduced transketolase activity in the thymus and spleen in both immunized and non-immunized animals and did not change alkaline phosphatase activity in these organs.

[Posttraumatic regeneration of the skeletal muscles in certain forms of hypovitaminosis B1]. / Posttravmaticheskaia regeneratsiia skeletnykh myshts pri nekotorykh formakh gipovitaminoza B1.

Light microscopy was employed to study the development of posttraumatic aseptic inflammation and subsequent regeneration in the affected musculus soleus in different patterns of hypovitaminosis B1. Alimentary deficiency of thiamine entailed pronounced retardation of the post-traumatic inflammation. The growth of macrophage density and formation of the pool of the regenerating cells were also retarded. On day 21 the regeneration pool showed an elevated content of the connective tissue. During long-term administration of oxythiamine in a dose of 10 mg/kg with a 12-hour interval, the development of the inflammatory response was marked by similar alterations, but the formation of muscle fibers and connective tissue proceeded more uniformly. A single administration of oxythiamine in a dose of 200 mg/kg did not bring about any substantial impairment of the early stages of regeneration. The alterations observed can be associated with different degree of inhibition of the activity of TDF-containing enzymes and derangement of the function of the nervous system.

[Effect of essential phospholipids on the structural and metabolic changes in the rat liver in experimental alcoholic intoxication]. / Vliianie éssentsial'nykh fosfolipidov na strukturnye i metabolicheskie izmeneniia v pecheni krys pri éksperimental'nom alkogol'nom porazhenii.

The paper deals with studies into the mechanism of hepatoprotective action of essential phospholipids (EP) in chronic alcohol intoxication. EPs reduce the count of hepatocytes with hypotopic and fatty dystrophic signs, normalize hepatic triglycerides. The EP antioxidative effect found is associated with vitamin E admixture in the preparation. EPs reduce the level of cAMP and the activity of adenylate cyclase. The activity of cAMP-dependent protein kinase becomes normal only with high doses of EP (300 mg/kg). It is suggested that the hepatoprotective effect of EP may be manifested through normalization of the cAMP-dependent transduction of a signal, resulting in stabilization of hepatic metabolic processes.

[Antioxidant and cerebroprotective action of N-,S-chinazolone derivative under rat brain ischemia].

Under modelling of brain ischemia in rats the antioxidant and cerebroprotective action of new N-,S-chinazolone derivative--compound NC-224 has been established. The compensation of pathobiochemical abnormalities in the system "LPO-antioxidant protection" is observed, indicators of carbohydrate metabolism and energy-supply, and morpho-functional status of brain cells are improved under administration of the compound NC-224. Administration of the compound NC-224 to rats promoted a decrease of the lethality index and signs of neurological deficiency.