[Brucellosis in the Stavropol Territory: Results of 15-year follow-up of epidemiological and clinical features].

AIM: To analyze the epidemiological situation of brucellosis in the Stavropol Territory and to determine the specific features of its acute form. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The epidemiological situation of brucellosis in the Stavropol Region was retrospectively analyzed using the 2000-2014 official statistics of the Russian Federation and Stavropol Territory for brucellosis cases, individual documents of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Directorate in the Stavropol Territory and Russian Federation, and medical records of the Brucellosis Department, Stavropol Hospital Two. RESULTS: Brucellosis is a social problem in a group of focal zoonotic infections in the Russian Federation. In the North Caucasian Federal District, the largest number of new human brucellosis cases was notified in the Republic of Dagestan (59.3%) and Stavropol Territory (27.4%). The incidence of brucellosis in the Stavropol Territory was 5-10-fold higher than that in the Russian Federation as a whole. The true prevalence of brucellosis was 25% greater than the statistical data in terms of its clinical forms that were not included in official registration. Infection occurred in humans by contact with large and small cattle in 49.7% of cases. The disease mainly affected men (78.3%) and able-bodied people (67.7%); 78.5% of the patients seeking medical advice and as high as 79.9% of those being covered by serological examination of groups at risk for brucellosis were detected. There was a declining trend for the number of occupational brucellosis cases. At the same time, brucellosis accounted for 75% of the territory's total number of occupational diseases. In the past decade, brucellosis has exhibited a relatively benign course (91.3% for its moderate form), by predominantly involving the osteoarticular system (63%). Non-compliance with outpatient antibacterial therapy is one of the factors for brucellosis chronization. 28.2% of the patients who had undergone a complete therapy cycle developed chronic brucellosis less frequently (p < 0.005) than those who had stopped treatment for different reasons. CONCLUSION: Registration of brucellosis among humans is a result of the unfavorable epizootic situation of animal brucellosis. The highest incidence of brucellosis is observed in the northeastern areas of the Stavropol Territory, which border the Republic of Dagestan. The true prevalence of brucellosis greatly exceeds the official statistical data. Active detection of infection and timely diagnosis will be able to determine the real epidemic situation of brucellosis. Continuity of management and follow-up will provide a reduction in medical and social losses associated with this infection.

Excited flavin and pterin coenzyme molecules in evolution.

Excited flavin and pterin molecules are active in intermolecular energy transfer and in photocatalysis of redox reactions resulting in conservation of free energy. Flavin-containing pigments produced in models of the prebiotic environment are capable of converting photon energy into the energy of phosphoanhydride bonds of ATP. However, during evolution photochemical reactions involving excited FMN or FAD molecules failed to become participants of bioenergy transfer systems, but they appear in enzymes responsible for repair of UV-damaged DNA (DNA photolyases) and also in receptors of blue and UV-A light regulating vital functions of organisms. The families of these photoproteins (DNA-photolyases and cryptochromes, LOV-domain- and BLUF-domain-containing proteins) are different in the structure and in mechanisms of the photoprocesses. The excited flavin molecules are involved in photochemical processes in reaction centers of these photoproteins. In DNA photolyases and cryptochromes the excitation energy on the reaction center flavin is supplied from an antenna molecule that is bound with the same polypeptide. The role of antenna is played by MTHF or by 8-HDF in some DNA photolyases, i.e. also by molecules with known coenzyme functions in biocatalysis. Differences in the structure of chromophore-binding domains suggest an independent origin of the photoprotein families. The analysis of structure and properties of coenzyme molecules reveals some specific features that were significant in evolution for their being selected as chromophores in these proteins.

Ictal asystole with convulsive syncope mimicking secondary generalisation: a depth electrode study.

Ictal bradycardia is rare and its localising value is debated. Bradyarrhythmias are, however, important because of their potential connection to sudden death and ability to affect clinical seizure manifestations. Cerebral hypoperfusion induces loss of consciousness, at times with myoclonic jerks, whose clinical differentiation from a generalised convulsive seizure may prove difficult. Two invasive and five surface monitored seizures recorded over two years in a 51 year old woman with post-traumatic epilepsy characterised by seizure-triggered asystole were analysed. All seven seizures showed left temporal onset. Both intracranially recorded events started in the left anterior hippocampus/amygdala, spreading to the contralateral hippocampus in 35 and 25 seconds. Within 10 seconds an electrocardiogram showed asystole lasting 21 and 28 seconds, associated with suppression of recorded cerebral electrical activity, except a polyspike suppression pattern remaining in the hippocampi. Clinically, the patient, concomitantly with the cerebral suppression, developed myoclonic twitches of the limbs. A dual chamber cardiac pacemaker was implanted; at 11 months follow up, the patient has experienced only infrequent partial seizures, with none involving falls or shaking. Left temporal lobe seizures produced convulsive syncope initiated by ictal asystole. These observations suggest that intertemporal spread is necessary, though not sufficient, to produce bradycardia and asystole. Furthermore, pacemakers may decrease seizure severity, as well as potentially protect against malignant bradyarrhythmias.

[The use of barberry berries in human nutrition]. / Ispol'zovanie iagod barbarisa obyknovennogo v pitanii cheloveka.

The contents of carbohydrates, organic acids, some vitamin, poliphenolic compounds, pectin tannin, mineral elements, in berberis vulgaris are presented. Describle utilize berberis in traditional medicine and dietetica are also outlined.

[Effect of treatment with non-alcoholic beverages of patients with gastritis and hyposecretion]. / Otsenka effektivnosti primeneniia bezalkogol'nykh napitkov u bol'nykh gastritom s ponizhennoi sekretsiei.

A positive effect of use of non-alcoholic drink "Shirinskaia high-vitaminized treatment-board Water" in complex treatment of chronic gastritis with hyposecretion was revealed.

[Immunity of children in Kharkov against poliomyelitis]. / Sostoianie immuniteta detei protiv poliomielita v Khar'kove.

The study of the state of herd immunity among the children of Kharkov, carried out in 1980-1981, has revealed different immunity levels in children of different age. The conclusion has been made that the constant control of the state of immunity to 3 types of poliovirus is necessary, especially in infants and in school children, as well as in those not attending children's institutions.