[Phospholipids and structural modification of tissues and cell membranes for adaptation in high altitude mountains].

The nature of the impact of physical factors of high altitudes (3200 m) on the lipids of tissues and membranes of animals was researched. It was established that the adaptation process in Wistar rats was followed by peroxide degradation and subsequent modification of the phospholipids' structure of tissues and microsomal membranes. Adaptive phospholipids reconstruction takes place in microsomal membranes in the tissues of the lungs, brain, liver and skeletal muscles. Together with this, the amount of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidic acid accumulates, indicating that the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4, 5 biphosphate to diacylglycerol and secondary messenger--inositol triphosphate, occurs. A decrease in temperature adaptation (+10 degrees C) leads to a more noticeable shift in peroxide oxidation of lipids, phospholipid structure in the tissues and membranes rather than adaptation in thermoneutral conditions (+30 degrees C). Modification of lipid composition of tissues and cell membranes in the highlands obviously increases the adaptive capabilities of cells of the whole body: physical performance and resistance to hypoxia increases in animals.

[Sternal osteosynthesis after cardiac surgery].

Sternal fixation with nickelide titanium staples with shape memory effect is considered to be a novel method of wound closure after cardiac operations. The study includes data of 140 patients and is devoted to the preliminary assessment of the use of the mentioned fixators with self-regulating compression. Osteosynthesis proved to be completely effective in 136 (97,1%) patients. The use of nitinol staples allows not only a secure sternal fixation with minimal risk of underlying structures' trauma, but decreases time of postoperative patients' rehabilitation after the major cardiac surgery.

[Oxidative homeostasis and functional parameters of rats at high altitudes with alpha-lipoic acid correction].

Oxidative and functional effects of alpha-lipoic acid (a-LA) were studied in the course of 45-day adaptation to high altitudes (3200 m in the Central Tien Shan, June - August). Comparison of a-LA with mildronate stated similarity of their antioxidant and membrane effects on the third (stable) phase of adaptation (day 45), as both substances demonstrated a distinct lyso-PL-limiting effect and did not change dramatically concentration of diene conjugates (primary products of lipid peroxidation) in brain tissue. a-LA surpassed mildronate in the rate of the compensating effect in respect of behavior disorders and anxiety in rats. Besides, the substances contributed equally to physical performance increment by the end of adaptation. The positive effect of a-LA on the functional characteristics was hand in hand with minimization of the consequences of oxidative stress. These experimental data imply that a-LA can be effective in controlling the long process of adaptation to high altitude conditions.

[Cardiac electrode as a cause of the chronic sternal ostheomyelitis].

Results of the diagnostic concept and treatment of 5 patients with the chronic sternal ostheomyelitis after the open cardiac surgery caused by the "forgotten" cardiac electrodes were analyzed in the article. The radiologic diagnostic criteria and necessity of the computed tomography, in particular, were stated.

[The diagnostic value of RNA oncomarkers in evaluation of malignant breast tumors].

The levels of the RNA oncomarkers, telomerase (hTERT), cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) and mammaglobin (MAM) have been investigated in capillary blood of female patients with mammary ductal carcinoma. The study revealed overexpression of all three factors in patients with this pathology. This overexpression was not found in healthy donors and female patients with mammary fibroadenoma. Levels of the RNA oncomarkers return to the normal level within 10 days after successful tumor resection. These results have been used for the development of diagnostic kits, which may be applicable for differential diagnostics, screening and postoperation monitoring of patients with malignant breast tumors

[Membrane and functional effects of vinpocetine and tocopherol in rats with experimental cerebral ischemia].

The membrane, antioxidant and functional effects of vinpocetine and a-tocopherol have been investigated under conditions of acute experimental cerebral ischemia in rats. Vinpocetine administration decreased accumulation of lysophospholipids in brain plasma membranes. Vinpocetine also blocked accumulation of conjugated dienes (CD). alpha-Tocopherol inhibited augmentation in CD content and did not reduce the level of lysophospholipids in brain plasma membranes. Functional consequences of membrane impairments were also detected in some behavioral tests and physical capabilities. Administration of both vinpocetine and alpha-tocopherol decreased manifestations of the altered parameters induced by cerebral ischemia and vinpocetine was more effective than alpha-tocopherol.

[Specific complaints and pain syndrome in nonspecific osteomyelitis of the spine].

The complaints were studied and pain syndrome estimated in 125 patients with nonspecific osteomyelitis of the spine (NOS). Complex conservative treatment was given to 74 of the patients, on 51 patients radical-restorative operations on the spine were fulfilled. The investigation has revealed specific features of pain syndrome in acute and chronic forms of NOS, in operative and conservative treatment.

[Decision on the immunomodulating therapy in unspecific osteomyelitis of the spine].

Immunomodulating therapy was used in treatment of 54 patients with unspecific osteomyelitis of the spine (UOS). The age of the patients was from 15 through 76 years. The authors consider that immunocorrection should be included in the complex of obligatory measures of treatment of patients with purulent infections of the spine and is dependent on the type of immunological impairments. For its success it is necessary to determine the type and degree of immunity impairment. Since in most cases of UOS there is a disorder in the T-cell link of immunity, it is preferable to use cytomedins (T-activin, thymalin, thymogen etc) or cytokines (e.g. roncoleukin). In cases of an insufficient B-cell link the medicines of choice are licopid and myelopid.

[Activity of the messenger systems in the altitude chamber hypoxia]. / Aktivnost' messendzhernykh sistem pri barokamernoi gipoksii.

The activity of phosphoinositide and adenylate cyclase systems of second messengers in rat brain were investigated under altitude chamber treatment (6000 m x 24 hours). Selective suppression of each messenger system was achieved by pretreatment of rats with either lithium chloride or propranolol for 8 days. Consequences of this treatment and/or hypoxia were evaluated by orientation behavior and physical exercise test. Administration of LiCl caused reduction of phosphoinositide level; hypoxia (6000 m) caused further impairments in the second messenger content. The synergism between phosphoinositide and adenylatcyclase systems was demonstrated.

[Assessment of the immuological status in patients with nonspecific spinal osteomyelitis]. / K voprosu ob otsenke immunologicheskogo statusa u bol'nykh s nespetsificheskim osteomielitom pozvonochnika.

The authors describe results of the investigation of the immunological status of 54 patients with nonspecific osteomyelitis of the spine (NOS). The immunological status of NOS patients was shown to be substantially different in the acute and chronic phases of the disease. Cases with lower T-lymphocyte activity, with a dysfunction of the phagocytic activity of lymphocytes prevail in the acute phase. Patients with septic forms of NOS have a hyperergic systemic inflammatory response which is accompanied by functional defectiveness of T-lymphocytes and excessive stimulation of the humoral link. Patients with the chronic form of NOS as a rule have hypoergic systemic inflammatory response with the normal quantity of T-cells, non-completed phagocytosis and high activity of B-lymphocytes (CD20, CD25). So, the early immunological diagnosis of NOS allows prognosis of the disease course and a timely decision for the pathogenetical therapy.

Study of total lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity in pulmonary and mediastinal malignant and benign tumor tissue.

Total lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activity were studied in pulmonary and mediastinal malignant and benign neoplasms. In malignant tumors total lipid peroxidation increased and antioxidant activity decreased; the intensity of these shifts depended on histological characteristics and degree of malignancy: the most pronounced changes were observed in thymoma and adenocarcinoma tissues and minimum changes were found in bronchoalveolar carcinoma tissue.

[The study of the antioxidant enzymes in erythrocytes in lung diseases]. / Issledovanie anioksidantnykh fermentov v éritrotsitakh pri zabolevanii legkikh.

The activity of antioxidative enzymes Cu, Zn-superoxidedismutase (SOD) and catalase as well as content of glutathione and activity of its metabolism enzymes--glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GP) were studied in red blood cells of 82 patients: with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD, n = 26), chest osteomyelitis (n = 12), malignant (n = 21) and benign (n = 23) pulmonary lesions. Red blood cells from 26 donors served as a control. Enzymes of glutathione and catalase metabolism in the red cells inhibited their activity in all the above pulmonary diseases vs those of the controls: GR activity in COPD and chest osteomyelitis decreased by 40% and more, lung tumors--by 32-36%. GP activity--by 24-27%, 14-19%, respectively. Catalase activity in pulmonary diseases was suppressed by 38-45%. SOD activity in chest osteomyelitis and pulmonary tumors is lower by 37-40% while in COPD is higher by 36%. Activation of SOD in red cells in COPD may be regarded as a compensatory-adaptive response to excessive accumulation of free oxygen radicals in alveoli in COPD.

[Evaluation of the capacities of neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring in reconstructive surgery on the vertebral column]. / Otsenka vozmozhnostei neirofiziologicheskogo intraoperatsionnogo monitoringa pri rekonstruktivno-vosstanovitel'nykh operatsiiakh na pozvonochnike.

AIM: To evaluate the capacities of neurosurgical intraoperative monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) in reconstructive operations on the vertebral column. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Center of Spinal Surgery examined 30 patients treated in February to July 2001. According to the diagnosis, the distribution was as follows: degenerative diseases of the vertebral column (80%), its tumors (10%), injury (7%), and inflammatory diseases (3%). Of them, 13 (43.3%) patients underwent anterolateral decompression of the dural sac of roots, 17 (56.7%) had traditional decompression of the dural sac and roots from the posterior access. The study was carried out on an 8-channel electrophysiological Viking-IV system (Nicolet, USA). Intraoperative SSEP monitoring was made by the routine procedure. The amplitude and latent time of subcortical peaks (P31) were determined at surgery. Intraoperative SSEPs were classified as defined with the American Electroencephalographic Society. The changes in the basic parameters of SSEP were also divided into transient (under 30 minutes) and permanent (above 30 minutes). RESULTS: True positive responses (significant changes in intraoperative SSEPs and the presence of postoperative neurological disorders) were 3.3% (1 patient); false positive ones (significant changes in intraoperative SSEPs without postoperative neurological disorders) were 23.3% (7 patients). False negative responses (normal intraoperative SSEPs and the presence of postoperative neurological disorders) were absent. The findings indicate that new postoperative neurological disorders should not be expected in patients with the clinical picture of mild neurological disorders if they have transient changes in the basic parameters of SSEPs that last at least 30 minutes. At the same time a risk group includes patients with severe neurological disorders since in these patients, compensatory capacities are primarily decreased and intraoperative exposures may result in early spinal circulatory decompensation. More frequent (every 10 minutes) recording of intraoperative SSEPs is also recommended for this group of patients is complicated surgical manipulations. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring yields additional information for surgeons during an operation. 2. During intraoperative monitoring of SSEPs, it is necessary to assess any changes in the latter as true and to immediately find possible causes of these changes. 3. In patients with revealed spondylogenic spinal circulatory disorders and severe neurological disorders, even short-term changes in SSEPs should be assessed with particular carefulness before surgery.

Activity of glutathione-metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes in malignant and benign tumors of human lungs.

We measured the content of glutathione and activity of glutathione-metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase in samples obtained from 52 patients with malignant lung tumors and 20 patients with benign lung tumors. The content of glutathione and activity of glutathione-metabolizing enzymes underwent similar changes, but these changes were most pronounced in malignant tumors. Antioxidant enzyme activity changed insignificantly in benign tumors, but significantly decreased in malignant tumors (squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma). The severity of changes in malignant tumors depended on the degree of malignancy. Most pronounced changes were observed in adenocarcinoma, which often metastasizes and is resistant to chemotherapy. These changes were least pronounced in bronchoalveolar carcinoma sensitive to chemotherapy.

[1318 nm YAG-ND laser in surgery of lung metastases]. / Neodimovyi YAG-lazer s dlinoi volny 1318 nm v khirurgii metastazov legkikh.

YAG laser with 1318 nm wave was used in the treatment of 23 patients with peripheral lesions of the lungs, 7 of them had multiple lung metastases. Advantage of YAG laser over electric knife was demonstrated. In diagnosis of lung metastases it is necessary to consider not only results of computed tomography but also ones of intraoperative palpation that requires a wide surgical approach for hand manipulation in the pleural cavity. This method permits one to detect more metastases. Lateral thoracotomy with or without rib resection creates optimal conditions for use of YAG laser in surgery of multiple lung metastases.

Effect of panangin on activity of messengers systems in hypertrophied rat myocardium.

The balance between the two major second messenger systems in hypertrophied myocardium was studied in rats receiving panangin for 16 days. Panangin producing stimulating and polarizing effects on cardiomyocyte membrane improved electrophysiological characteristics of hypertrophied myocardium (electrical stability, duration of supernormal excitability period, and action potential), activated the phosphoinositide exchange, and inhibited the adenylate cyclase system. The panangin-induced change in membrane potentials was accompanied by a pronounced inositol response, i.e. a decrease in the content of membrane polyphosphoinositides (phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate) in the brain. It was concluded that function of ion channels depends on activity of phosphoinositide- and adenylate cyclase second messengers systems.