Applicability of the single-layer flat-coil-oscillator technology-based vibration and vibro-acoustic sensors in medical and biological study of the cardiovascular system: Advantages and perspectives of the carotid pulse wave registration.

The possibility and feasibility of using the single-layer flat-coil-oscillator (SFCO) technology-based vibration and vibro-acoustic sensors in diagnostic devices and biomedical studies of the cardiovascular system are discussed in this paper. Using an example of recording pulse waves of left carotid artery and their analysis, the information content of the data recorded by these sensors in a number of cases is shown-assessment of age-related changes in the stiffness of the vascular wall, assessment of the dynamics of systolic volume, reflecting myocardial contractility, and rhythm disturbance (extra-systole and arrhythmia). These sensors are shown to be promising in recording heart sounds due to their high sensitivity. The possibility of assessing the dynamics of relaxation of the cardiovascular system after exercise (stress test) is shown. The advantages of using SFCO vibration and vibro-acoustic sensors are high sensitivity, ease of use, and no need to train specialists. These advantages open new perspectives for their implementation in mobile wearable "smart" devices for individual monitoring.

On the possibility of recording and studying human movement activity with seismic sensors of a new type: Advantages and prospects of the single-layer flat-coil-oscillator technology based sensors.

This paper presents main classes and varieties of sensors developed on the basis of the single-layer flat-coil-oscillator (SFCO) technology. The results of registration of human activity (steps and jumps) by seismic sensors based on this technology are presented and discussed in this paper. We applied some algorithms for digital processing of "RAW" data coming from vibrational seismic SFCO sensors, which made it possible to detect and mark out human steps and jumps from the background of natural ground vibrations. The unprecedented sensitivity of these sensors has been demonstrated, which, under favorable conditions (low natural ground vibrations), enables step-by-step registration of human activity at distances up to 350-370 m from the sensor installation point in the ground. The advantages of three-dimensional (3D) SFCO seismic sensors, which allow detecting human activity even with unfavorable environmental parameters and filtering features of the soil due to their anisotropy, have been demonstrated. The possibility of detecting soil features with new SFCO sensors is also shown. Possible applications of vibration seismic SFCO sensors in other areas are also discussed.

[A familial case of Kennedy's X-linked bulbospinal amyotrophy]. / Semeinyi sluchai X-stseplennoi bul'bospinal'noi amiotrofii Kennedi.

The authors describe 4 cases of Kennedy's medullo-spinal amyotrophy (BSA) which is a genetically determined disease with mutant gene inheritance by the recessive type with X chromosome cohesion. The disease largely shows up by the impairment of the nervous system in the form of BSA. However, the clinical picture is also marked by the derangement of the mesenchymal (Dupuytren's contracture) and endocrine systems (gynecomastia).

[Characteristics of representations of the auditory and somatosensory systems in the thalamus of the turtle: electrophysiologic study]. / Kharakteristika predstavitel'stv slukhovoi i somatosensornoi sistem v talamuse cherepakh: élektrofiziologicheskoe issledovanie.

Experiments with unanesthetized tubocurarine-immobilized turtles show that the auditory representation is localized in the n. reuniens which contains monomodal (auditory) and bimodal (auditory and somatosensory) units. The somatosensory system is represented wider, overlapping the auditory system projections in the lateral parts of n. reuniens. The focus of the somatosensory representation is localized in the n. ventralis where monomodal somatic units were recorded. A predominance of contralateral somatic projections is revealed as well. A range of optimal frequencies was 200-400 Hz. It is shown that the thalamic neurons have both wide and limited receptive fields to auditory and somatosensory stimulations.

Connections of the mesencephalic, thalamic and telencephalic auditory centers in turtles. Some structural bases for audiosomatic interrelations.

The organization of auditory projections at the mesencephalic, thalamic and telencephalic brain levels was studied utilizing the method of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) transport in two species of the turtle--Emys orbicularis and Testudo horsfieldi. It was shown that the torus semicircularis receives bilateral afferents from the brain stem auditory centers. They arise predominantly from the contralateral cochlear nuclei, the ipsilateral superior olive, the dorsal and ventral nuclei of the lateral lemniscus and from the symmetrical torus semicircularis. These connections appear to be reciprocal. After the enzyme injections correspondingly into the torus semicircularis and n. reuniens anterograde and retrograde HRP transports show that the central nucleus of the torus semicircularis projects to n. reuniens throughout its rostro-caudal extent mainly ipsilaterally. In turn, n. reuniens projects to the medioventral part of the dorsal ventricular ridge. A following common principle of the organization of the auditory system was revealed at the three brain levels explored. Auditory relay centers occupy the most medial positions at every level (n. centralis of the torus semicircularis, n. reuniens, the medioventral part of the dorsal ventricular ridge). Immediately lateral to them are somatic centers (correspondingly, n. intercollicularis, n. ventralis, the central part of the dorsal ventricular ridge). These together with the auditory centers form united functional complexes at every level. In these complexes auditory and somatic projections overlap, thus constituting a basis for the interaction between auditory and somatic afferent inputs. Mesencephalic and thalamic auditory centers were shown to receive direct somatic (cervical spinal) projections and non-direct from the underlying somatic center as well as from the adjacent somatic center at the same level (n. intercollicularis in the mesencephalon, n. ventralis in the thalamus). Somatic centers in the complexes described get no direct auditory projections. Auditory impulses however can enter them via two pathways: along neuron axons from the neighbouring auditory center reaching the adjacent somatic center and along somatic neuron dendrites which pass into the adjacent auditory center. The morphological basis for the auditory-somatic interactions primarily in the auditory center and also in the somatic center was demonstrated in Golgi-like HRP labeled and Golgi-impregnated neurons of these centers. The organization of the auditory-somatic projections at the three brain levels in turtles in to a degree comparable to the auditory system in mammals which is structured according to the core-belt principle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Connections of the thalamic and telencephalic centers of the auditory system in turtles]. / Sviazi talamicheskogo i teléntsefal'nogo tsentrov slukhovoi sistemy cherepakh.

In the turtles Emys orbicularis and Testudo horsfieldi connections of the thalamic (n. reuniens) and telencephalic (medio-ventral part of the dorsal ventricular edge--DVE) centers of the auditory system have been revealed by means of the retrograde and anterograde horseradish peroxidase (HP) transport method. At a local HP administration into the n. reuniens, the labelled neurons are detected bilaterally in the midbrain: in the auditory center (n. centralis of the torus) and predominantly in the somatic nucleus (n. intercollicularis); in the thalamus--ipsilaterally among the marked fibers of the dorsal peduncle of the forebrain lateral bundle, in the anterior and posterior parts of the suprapeduncular nucleus, in the nucleus of the ventral supraoptic chiasm. The HP anterograde transport is followed in the thalamic n. anterior and n. ventralis, in the forebrain lateral bundle as far as the medial part of the DVE. When HP is injected into the DVE auditory zone, retrogradely labelled neurons are revealed ipsilaterally along the whole pathway of the auditory center (n. reuniens), as well as in the n. anterior and n. ventralis, in the posterior part of the suprapeduncular nucleus, in the posterior commissure nucleus, in the caudal nucleus. Most of these thalamic nuclei are connected with the somatosensory system. The principle of the structural-functional organization of the auditory system in reptiles is discussed; it ensures the interaction between the auditory and somatic impulses making a necessary base for the audition-controlled behaviour.

[Electrophysiologic characteristics of representations of the auditory and somatosensory systems in the turtle midbrain]. / Elektrofiziologicheskaia kharakteristika predstavitel'stv slukhovoi i somatosensornoi sistem v srednem mozge cherepakh.

Experiments with unanesthetized tubocurarine-immobilized turtles show that the auditory representation is localized in the medio-dorsal part of tegmentum, torus semicircularis, which contains monomodal (auditory) and bimodal (auditory and somatosensory) units. The somatosensory system is wider represented, overlapping the auditory system in the medial parts of tegmentum. The focus of auditory representation is localized in lateral parts of the dorsal tegmentum (n. intercollicularis) where monomodal somatic units were recorded. The predominance of contralateral somatic projections is revealed. Frequency-threshold curves based on threshold of evoked potentials were V-shaped but flattened. Range of perceived frequencies was equal to 40-6000 Hz, range of optimal frequencies was 100-400 Hz. Auditory mesencephalic cells may be attributed to three types of discharge patterns: phasic, sustained and burst firing. Tuning to a single optimal frequency was typical of phasic cells but most of cells with sustained firing were sensitive to two or even three frequencies.