[Electroencephalographic markers of alexithymia in patients with moderate depression]. / Elektroentsefalograficheskie markery aleksitimii u bol'nykh depressiyami umerennoi stepeni tyazhesti.

OBJECTIVE: To search for electroencephalographic markers of alexithymia in patients with moderate depression. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-four right-handed inpatients (20 men and 44 women, mean age 29.3+10.7 years), were studied. The level of alexithymia was assessed by the Russian version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20-R). Patients were stratified into 4 groups by TAS-20-R scores. Two main groups of 22 patients each included people with high (>60 scores) and low (20-51 scores) levels of alexithymia. Control groups included 10 patients with 60-85 scores and 10 patients with 52-54 scores. Current methods of electroencephalographic analysis were used. RESULTS: Alexithymia in patients with moderate depression is characterized by a restructuring of the integrative activity of the brain detected by electroencephalography at rest. Patients with high alexithymia differ from those with low alexithymia by (1) lower values of the real part of the coherence between the frontal and anterior temporal leads of the left hemisphere in the band 28-30 Hz; (2) lower values of the imaginary part of coherence in the band 11-12 Hz between the posterior temporal and parietal as well as the posterior temporal and occipital cortical zones of the right hemisphere; (3) higher rates of the real part of the coherence between the right frontal and central leads in the frequency ranges 12-14 and 6-7 Hz; (4) large values of the imaginary part of the coherence between the left parietal and right posterior temporal cortex in the band 24-26 Hz; (5) higher values of the square of the coherence modulus between the left frontal and anterior temporal cortical zones in the band 17-18 Hz. CONCLUSION: Large cortical representations with involvement of theta, alpha, beta-1 and beta-2 rhythms can contribute to the pathogenesis of alexithymia.

[Depressive disorders in patients in remission of epilepsy].

Based on the complex study of 150 patients with different forms of epilepsy in the remission phase, we singled out a group of 68 (45.3%) patients with depressive disorders. Variants of depressive disorders and their EEG-characteristics were described. Depressive disorders were stratified by the causes, course and response to pharmacotherapy into following variants: depressive disorders caused by the epileptic process per se; organic depressive disorder and disorder of adaptation with depression and anxiety-depressive disorders. Functional neuroimaging methods suggest the involvement of both the limbic system and cortical structures, with the elevated activity of the left hemisphere, in the development of depression.

[Pantogam in the treatment of patients with organic brain lesions of different genesis].

We studied 35 patients with organic brain lesions caused by secondary brain harmful factors (group 1) and 33 patients with organic brain diseases of vascular genesis (group 2). Mean age of patients was 45.5±2.3 years. Asthenic, cerebroasthenic, psychoorganic syndromes in the combination with dissomnic, psychoautonomous, depressive, hypochondriac disorders predominated in the clinical picture of patients. Pantoham was prescribed in dose 1.0 g 3 times daily during 45 days. The effect of the drug on cognitive and mental disorders was found. The drug was most effective in patients of group 1. Pantoham was well-tolerated.

[Age-related aspects of paroxysmal mental disorders in the debut of epilepsy].

Seventy-four patients with paroxysmal mental disorders in the debut of epilepsy have been examined. To study an age-related aspect of these disorders, all patients have been stratified by age at debut of epilepsy into 3 subgroups (children, adolescence and adult age). Based on a key psychopathological syndrome, three types of simple and complex partial "psychiatric" seizures have been singled out. The higher is the age of debut, the higher are the variability of clinical presentations of psychopathological disorders and more complex clinical presentations of complex partial (psychomotor) attacks in the structure of simple partial seizures. In children aged 7-14 years and people older than 18 years, the simple partial "psychiatric" seizures as well as first manifestations of disease were seen more often than in adolescents. This type of debut was not observed in children younger than 7 years. The age curve of debut of epilepsy with complex partial seizures has two distinct peaks, at the children (up to 7 years) and adult ages. In the group older than 18 years, frequencies of psychomotor seizures and first disease manifestations are inversely correlated with age.

[Dynamics of viral hepatitis A morbidity in Minsk].

The results of the analysis of hepatitis A morbidity during the period of 1996 - 2001, are presented. The cyclic character of this morbidity in its dynamics over the period of several years was noted with the maximum morbidity level reached in 2000. The monthly dynamics of hepatitis A morbidity reflected its seasonal character with the maximum increase in autumn and winter. The virological control of drinking water revealed its contamination in spring and summer, with no subsequent rise in morbidity. The control of sewage reflected the emergence of the virus in the city collector in accordance with the increased morbidity.

[A use of Magne-B6 in the treatment of anxiety-depressive states in patients with epilepsy]. / Primenenie preparata Magne-B6 dlia lecheniia trevozhno-depressivnykh sostoianii u bol'nykh épilepsiei.

Magne-B6 was used, together with anticonvulsive therapy, in the treatment of 25 patients with different forms of epilepsy. In all cases, psychiatric status of patients featured by depression, anxiety and some psychotic sighs. The drug was prescribed in the mean therapeutic dose during 28 days. Along with psychopathologic examination, a psychometric method, using self-rating scales for Zung anxiety and depression scale, SCL-90 and Global clinical impression (CGI) scale, was administered. Magne-B6 exerted a positive non-specific influence on patient's mental state, especially with regard to affective disorders. The positive effect of the drug emerged on 14th day of the treatment and achieved a statistically significant level to 28th day. The medication was more effective in asthenic and subdepressive syndromes, in encephalopathic syndrome the efficacy was lower. The drug was well tolerated and did not cause any side effects.

[Topamax monotherapy of partial epilepsy]. / Monoterapiia partsial'nykh form épilepsii topamaksom.

Thirty patients diagnosed with partial epilepsy (PE): 17 cases with cryptogenic PE, 11--with symptomatic PE and 2--with symptomatic generalized PE, have been switched to topamax monotherapy, in dosage 50-200 mg daily, for 3 months. A type of seizures--simple partial, complex partial and secondary generalized, was taken into account, when considering topamax efficacy. A complete elimination of seizures was achieved after 3 months treatment in 80% of the cases, the mostly pronounced effect being demonstrated for secondary generalized seizures. A decrease of seizures frequency was shown for all types, but in simple partial and secondary generalized seizures the effect emerged earlier (after 1 month of the treatment) comparing to complex partial seizures. Good tolerability of topamax was observed.

[Topamax in the treatment resistance partial epilepsy]. / Primenenie topamaksa pri lechenii rezistentnoi partsial'noi épilepsii.

Twenty-five epileptic patients, mean age 25.7 years, have been studied. Twenty-two of them were diagnosed with symptomatic partial epilepsy, 1--with criptogenic partial epilepsy and 2--with idiopathic partial epilepsy. Illness duration was estimated as follows: above 5 years--5 patients, above 10 years--10, above 20 years--4 and less than 5 years--6. Polymorphic seizures were detected in 56% of the cases and monomorphic ones, resistant to the previous traditional anticonvulsant therapy,--in 44%. Topamax was used as an add-on therapy to the previously prescribed anticonvulsants in initial dose of 25 mg daily, with a following continuous dose increase. The mean therapeutic dosage was 100 mg daily. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed during 3 months. Since 1 month of topamax adjunction to a treatment schedule, a mean frequency of all types of seizures was reduced. The best effect was found in the case of combination of simple partial and secondary generalized seizures. The medication was effective in 60-80% of the patients with strong resistance to traditional anticonvulsants. Topamax is concluded to be a highly effective antiepileptic medication, which gives new possibilities for a treatment of patients with partial epilepsy resistant to traditional drugs.

[Analysis of the antigenic properties of hemagglutinins of isolates of the influenza A virus (H1N1), isolated in 1986 in the Byelorussian SSR]. / Analiz antigennykh svoistv gemaggliutininov izoliatov virusa grippa A(H1N1), vydelennykh v 1986 v BSSR.

The influenza epidemic occurring in Minsk in the autumn of 1986 was caused by at least two drift variants of influenza A virus (H1N1 subtype) differing in two antigenic determinants of hemagglutinin from the viruses isolated in previous years (A/USSR/90/77, A/Dunedin/6/83). One of the epidemic drift variants was found to be identical in the antigenic properties of hemagglutinin with the reference A/Taiwan/1/86 virus.

[Immunologic analysis of the antigenic properties of neuraminidase from drift-variants of influenza virus B]. / Immunologicheskii analiz antigennykh svoistv neiraminidazy dreif-variantov virusa grippa B.

The antigenic features of neuraminidases of several drift variants of influenza B virus were studied by enzyme immunoassay using antiserum to influenza B/USSR/100/83 virus neuraminidase isolated by pronase. Studies using immunosorption and competitive solid-phase enzyme immunoassay showed the presence in the antineuraminidase serum of at least two antibody subpopulations capable to inhibiting the activity of the enzyme and interacting with neuraminidase antigenic determinants: one detecting the antigenic determinant common for B/100/83 and B/Lee/40 viruses, and the other characterizing the antigenic determinant inherent in neuraminidase of B/100/83 virus and enzymes of drift variants isolated in 1970-1986 and lacking in the enzyme of B/Lee/40 virus.

[Identification of the antigenic components of the host cell in isolated glycoproteins of the influenza virus]. / Identifikatsiia antigennykh komponentov kletki khoziaina v izolirovannykh glikoproteidakh virusa grippa.

Immunological analysis performed by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay and complement fixation test revealed the presence of host cell antigenic components in purified intact influenza virions and isolated hemagglutinins and glycoproteins. Three antigens inherent to chick embryo cells were identified in virus preparations: the species-specific antigen, heterogenetic Forssman antigen, and one similar to human group A antigen. Antisera to purified whole-virion influenza vaccines, to glycoproteins and to hemagglutinin isolated from them were found to contain antibody populations which were conducive to broad cross reactions between them and heterotypic virus antigens. To avoid erroneous results, these antibody populations must be removed from the sera by pre-adsorption with host cell antigens.

[A new approach to the diagnosis of epilepsy]. / Novyi podkhod k diagnostike épilepsii.

Clinical and biochemical investigation was performed in 49 patients with epilepsy of different etiology and clinical course, 10 patients with nonepileptic forms of neurologic and psychic disorders and 50 normal subjects. An additional blood serum protein fraction was found in epileptic patients as compared with the normals using the electrophoretic investigation on the acetate-cellulose plates and devices produced by Hélène France company. Additional biochemical study is suggested as a diagnostic tool in epilepsy.

[Procedures of the physician in relation to persons with a hereditary history at risk of epilepsy]. / O taktike vracha v otnoshenii lits a nasledstvennoi otiagoshchennost'iu épilepsiei.

Studied were 150 children born to epileptic parents. Clinical investigation and long-lasting follow-up resulted in singling out the groups of children with psychoneurological disorders, normals and a group at risk of epilepsy. The latter was analysed in detail and the neurologist's tactics with respect to every group was elaborated.

[Detection and identification of host cell antigens in the composition of influenza B virus]. / Vyiavlenie i identifikatsiia antigenov kletki khoziaina v sostave virusa grippa B.

Two heterogeneous antigens, Forssman antigen and an antigen similar to human group A antigen, were detected by enzyme-immunoassay in cells of normal chick embryo CAMN and MDCK culture (dog kidney). Both these antigens were associated with purified influenza B virus preparations reproduced in these cultures since the variants under study actively reacted with antibodies both to Forssman antigen and to human A antigen. Serological differences between the variants grown in different cell systems were due to the presence in their composition of the species-specific cell component typical either of chick embryo tissues or MDCK cultures, since the viruses of chicken origin contained the specific cell antigen CAMN, whereas the same viruses grown in MDCK did not contain it but had the specific activity for dog kidney cells. The virus-specific activity of the variants under study showed no significant differences in relation to host cells.

[New strain-specific determinants in the hemagglutinins of influenza B viruses isolated in 1983-1984]. / Novye shtammospetsificheskie determinanty v gemaggliutininakh virusov grippa B, izolirovannykh v 1983-1984 gg.

A comparative study of sensitivity to inhibitors and antigenic composition of hemagglutinins of influenza B virus strains isolated in the epidemic season of 1983-1984 and those circulating in 1940-1981 was carried out. The method of selective adsorption of highly active rabbit and rat sera demonstrated that hemagglutinins of contemporary influenza B viruses had both common cross-reacting determinants with previously circulating variants and qualitatively different, strain-specific ones. Among the variants isolated in 1983-1984, three subgroups of viruses were detected with different strain-specific hemagglutinin determinants.

[Neurotic states in children with epileptic parents]. / Nevroticheskie sostoianiia u detei, roditeli kotorykh stradaiut épilepsiei.

On the basis of neurological, encephalographic and clinico-anamnestic examinations of 106 children with a family history of epilepsy the authors have specified a group of children (n = 38) suffering from different neurotic disorders which included neurotic ticks, sleep disturbances, affective-shock reactions and signs of asthenization. The role of familial factors in the formation of neurotic states of children is emphasized. The authors consider the time during which the child was exposed to psychotraumatic circumstances and the relationship between the severity of epileptic process in parents and the development of neurotic disorders in their progeny. A conclusion has been made that the disease of the parents can exert both direct and indirect influence on the nervous system of the child, this leading to the development of different neurotic states. The prophylaxis of neurotic disturbances in children should include the creation of healthy psychic atmosphere in families where one of the parents suffers from epilepsy.

[Characteristics of the biological and antigenic properties of reference strains of the influenza B virus at various periods of isolation]. / Kharakteristika biologicheskikh i antigennykh svoistv étalonnykh shtammov virusa grippa B razlichnykh periodov vydeleniia.

The results of a comparative analysis of biological and antigenic properties of reference influenza B virus strains, B/Lee/40, B/Singapore/222/79, and B/USSR/100/83, are presented. The most marked changes were found in the antigenic properties of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. Hemagglutinins of the strains under study were found to have both common antigens and qualitatively different strain-specific determinants. The degree of intensity of immunity to the challenge B/Singapore/222/79 Pm+ virus corresponded to the intensity of antigenic relationship in the strains under study.

[Detection and identification of the influenza virus in nasopharyngeal washings by solid-phase radioimmunological analysis]. / Obnaruzhenie i identifikatsiia virusa grippa v nosoglotochnykh smyvakh metodom tverdofazovogo radioimmunologicheskogo analiza.

In the period of epidemic rise of the morbidity level in 1983-1984, 207 specimens of nasopharyngeal washings from patients with influenza were analysed by solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Test sera containing a wide range of antihemagglutinating antibodies to different drift variants of influenza type A and type B viruses were used as diagnostic ones. The results indicate the predominance of influenza B infection (18.4%). Influenza A accounted for 14.5%, 9.2% of it being subtype H1N1. Noteworthy is a considerable portion (23.2%) of mixed influenza A and B infection. The results of this study are compared with analysis of paired sera from the same patients by the HI test.

[Neuropsychiatric disorders in children whose relatives have epilepsy]. / Nervno-psikhicheskie rasstroistva u detei, roditeli kotorykh stradaiut épilepsiei.

Using clinical electro-encephalic and experimental psychological methods, 75 children born to epileptic parents were examined. The clinical picture of epilepsy in children was found to correlate with the severity and duration of the disease in the parents. In the majority of children the onset of the disease was characterized by non-convulsive paroxysms. The main course of disadaptation of the children to the environment, which hindered their learning in school was mental change expressed in the form of intellectual, emotional and characterological disorders.