[Immunological predictors of acute post-stroke period]. / Immunologicheskie prediktory techeniia ostrogo perioda insul'ta.

INTRODUCTION: At the present time, there is an increased interest in the search for biological predictors of the course and outcome of ischemic stroke (IS). Numerous studies have shown the relationship between neuroinflammation (in the brain) and systemic inflammatory response (in the blood). AIM: To study the relationship of inflammatory and autoimmune markers in blood serum of patients with acute ischemic stroke (on the 1st day) with the dynamics of the severity of neurological deficit (on the 1st and 10th day) and to assess the predictive ability of these indicators. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients in the acute period of IS (mean age 60±15.5 years) were examined. The severity of neurological deficit was assessed by ESS and NIHSS. The enzymatic activity of leukocyte elastase (LE), α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI), level of autoantibodies to S-100B and MBP in serum was determined. The control group consisted of 33 healthy subjects. Blood samples were carried out on the 1st day of the post-stroke period, the clinical examination was performed on the 1st and 10th day of observation. RESULTS: Depending on the dynamics of neurological symptoms by the 10th day of observation, two subgroups of patients were identified. The1st subgroup was characterized by the normalization of neurological deficit (n=10). In the 2nd group, the negative dynamics of neurological deficit/lack of any positive changes was observed (n=12). Both subgroups demonstrated the increase in the LE and α1-PI activity as compared to the control (p=0.0019, p=0.00079; p=0.038, p=0.00041, respectively). The highest LE activity was detected in the 1st subgroup (p=0.035). The high level of autoantibodies to MBP was also observed in the 1st subgroup as compared to the control and the 2nd group (p=0.047, p=0.03, respectively). The 2nd subgroup was characterized by a higher functional activity of acute phase protein α1-PI (p=0.04). Using regression analysis, a model for predicting the course of the early post-stroke period depending on the determined immunological parameters was developed. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the studied inflammatory and autoimmune markers may be possible predictors of the course of the early post-stroke period.

[The dynamics of markers of apoptosis in the acute period of ischemic stroke]. / Dinamika markerov apoptoza v ostrom periode ishemicheskogo insul'ta.

AIM: To study the dynamics of markers of apoptosis (Bcl-2, p53) in serum in the acute period of ischemic stroke (IS) in comparison to the severity of the neurological condition and the volume of infarct. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients (mean age 60.5±2.2 years) with the first ever carotid IS were examined within the first 24 hours. The comparison group consisted of 20 patients (mean age 58.7±2.1 years) with chronic cerebral insufficiency. Clinical and neurological dynamic examinations with assessment of neurological deficit using (NIHSS), CT/MRI of the brain; ELISA immunoassay of p53 and Bcl-2 in blood serum were carried out. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Significantly higher levels of p53 and of Bcl-2 were shown on the 3rd and 10th days in patients with IS compared to the control group (p<0.05). An increase in the content of p53 was positively correlated with the severity of neurological deficit (NIHSS≥10) on the first and third days of acute IS and with larger amounts of damage to the brain parenchyma according to the MRI study from the first day of IS and all subsequent days. High levels of Bcl-2 were positively correlated with the large volume of brain damage only on the 10th day of IS (p<0.045). The results confirm the active involvement of pro- and antiapoptotic processes in the formation of delayed neuronal death in the brain, which are important components of damaged brain tissue in IS.

[Corticosterone-induced changes in the inhibitory neurotransmission in hippocampal CA1 synapses depending on the activity of inhibitory synapses that express cannabinoid receptors]. / Vyzvannye kortikosteronom izmeneniia tormoznoi neirotransmissii v sinasakh zony SA1 gippokampa v zavisimosti ot aktivnosti ékspressiruiushchikh kannabinoidnye retseptory tormoznykh sinapsov.

AIM: To study an effect of corticosterone (100 nM) on spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSC) in pyramidal neurons of CA1 area and a role of inhibitory CB1-expressing synapses in the development of corticosterone-induced effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The experiments were performed on acute slices of the rat ventral hippocampus using whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The addition of corticosterone resulted in a small, but significant, increase in the frequency of sIPSCs during the first 10 minutes and then this parameter returned to the basal level. Corticosterone treatment resulted in a considerable decrease in the sIPSC amplitude 40 minutes after the beginning of treatment. The activation of CB1 receptors weakly affected sIPSC characteristics, however, the addition of corticosterone did not induce the rapid elevation in the sIPSC frequency, which occurred on the 10th minute in the control, as well as a decrease in the sIPSC amplitude, which was observed in the control on the 40th min after the beginning of corticosterone treatment. The data obtained suggest that both rapid and slow effects of corticosterone are associated with the activity of CB1-expressing inhibitory synapses of the hippocampus.

[Pathogenetic aspects of the development of acute focal cerebral ischemia]. / Patogeneticheskie aspekty formirovaniia ostroi fokal'noi ishemii golovnogo mozga.

Current concepts on the main mechanisms of brain damage in ischemic stroke are considered. Chemical regulation of physiological and pathological processes of maintaining cellular pool is supported by a multistep system that included compounds of different structure and complexity. A complex assessment and comparison of the processes taking place during the development of acute local cerebral ischemia (necrosis, apoptosis, autoimmune inflammatory reaction, neuroplasticity) can help in the objectification and prognosis of individual characteristics of the course and outcome of ischemic stroke. Understanding of the cascade of events that occur during the acute ischemic damage is critical for determining current and future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Corticosterone Induces Rapid Increase in the Amplitude of Inhibitory Response in Hippocampal Synapses with Asynchronous GABA Release.

Experiments were performed on cultured slices of rat ventral hippocampus. Using extracellular stimulation and patch clamp recording from pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area, we studied characteristics of GABAergic synapse formed on these neurons by cholecystokinin-expressing interneurons. This synapse was characterized by asynchronous release of GABA and depolarization-induced suppression of inhibitory response. It was observed that administration of corticosterone increased the amplitude of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents in 5 minutes, but the paired ratio did not significantly change. Obtained data reflect that corticosterone can induce rapid genome-independent effects on inhibitory neurotransmission in one of hippocampal synapses.

[Comparative analysis of the influence of various factors in different combinations on the ionic homeostasis of a cell].

The ionic homeostasis is one of the most sensitive tests for the evaluation of functional state of a cell. The agents, which promote elevation of ionic homeostasis, as well as those, which suppress it, are well known. The goal of the present work was tracing the possibilities for altering ionic homeostasis into one or another direction, as a result of combined influence of some agents: ionizing radiation at a dose of 0.1 Gy, EMF with frequency of 45 Hz, 2.0 mT, in one case, and addition to this combination of the homeopathic remedy--stimulated phosphoric acid, at different dilutions. The following data have been obtained: combination of ionizing radiation of 0.1 Gy increased effect against the effect of its constituents, while addition of phosphoric acid at dilution of 10(-14) increased effect even further. In the other series of experiments, combination of ionizing radiation of 0.5 Gy and EMF was used in the same conditions; as a result, the sum effect decreased against its constituents, while addition of highly diluted (10(-200)) phosphoric acid practically arrested this effect. It is concluded that effect of a combined influence depends on a dose of the constituents.

[Influences of some homeopathic preparations on ionic homeostasis at different dilutions].

Considerable number of the investigations are dedicated to the study of the influences of the various agents on ionic homeostasis of the cell. However, there are actually no works related to the impact on these indices of homeopathic preparations (HP). In the present work influence of HP - stimulated phosphoric acid (PA), at low dilutions (10(-14) and 10(-42)) and non-stimulated PA, at high dilutions (10(-200) and 10(-400)), on transmembrane transport of Na+, K+, Ca2+, and enzymes - Na,K-ATPase and Ca-ATPase - was investigated. Experiments were carried out by means of ion-selective electrodes, in order to measure concentration of ions in the Ringer solution. Results have shown that HP at low dilution always stimulated observed indices, while HP at high dilution - suppressed these indices. Therefore, driving force of HP increases with dilution, because number of hydrate complexes increases and so does velocity of information transmission, which is responsible for different effects.

[Influence of some homeopathic preparations on tumor cells].

The goal of the study was the assessment of action of homeopathic preparations on ionic homeostasis in the cells of Ehrlich carcinoma (CEC). Continuous recording of Na(+), K(+), and Ca(2+) with selective electrodes in the Ringer solution was used as a main method. Activity of the enzymes controlling transmembrane transport of ions was monitored as well. It was shown that homeopathic preparation - stimulated phosphoric acid (PA), at low dilutions (10(-14) and 10(-42)), stimulates ionic transport and Na,K-ATPase in CEC. Non-stimulated PA, at dilutions of 10(-200) and 10(-400), contrariwise, hampers these indices. It is concluded that structuring of preparation increases with increased number of dilutions and, respectively "concentration of information field" increases as well. Transfer of information from initial substance occurs probably in a course of dilution. Such is the concept of some of the homeopathics.

[Influence of electromagnetic radiation of different ranges on the transmembrane transport of Na+, K+, and Ca2+ ions in normal and tumor cells].

The problem of planetary pollution is one of the most pressing ones. In the present work it was determined to assess functional state of a cell according to criterion of transport of Na(+), K(+), and Ca(2+) ions subjected to irradiation with electromagnetic fields (EMF) of different frequency ranges. Recording of the ions' concentration was made with the ion-selective electrodes immersed into the Ringer solution. The ion transport was studied in the fibroblasts of the mice. Influences of the EMF in the range of 20 to 100 Hz and different inductances were assessed. It was found that the frequencies below 45 Hz and above 60 Hz, at inductance of 2,0 mT induced stimulation of transmembrane transport of Na(+), K(+), and Ca(2+) ions. According to some electrophysiologists, this effect must be due to the fact that the frequency below 45 Hz generates potentials too slowly. Therefore an adaptation to this process does occur, while at the higher frequencies velocity of stimulation is so high that the cellular membrane cannot react and, as a result, the effect similar to the first variant is observed.

[Influence of some low doses of ionizing radiation on the transmembrane transport of sodium, potassium and calcium ions in normal and tumor cells in experiment].

Problem of treatment of various malignant tumors is one of the most acute ones in contemporary medicine. In evaluation of treatment efficiency it is important to implement the sensitive tests, which allow precise determination of treatment agent, specifically that of ionizing irradiation. One of such sensitive indices is the rate of transmembrane transport of Na(+), K(+), and Ca(2+), as well as enzymes controlling this transport. In the present work characteristics of transport of these ions and enzymes were assessed during low dose (0,05 and 0,1 Gy) irradiation, which attracts increased attention nowadays. Recording of the ions' concentration was performed with the ion-selective electrodes. The cells of Erlich carcinoma were studied. It was found that irradiation with doses of 0,05 and 0,1 Gy, unlike dose of 0,5 Gy, exerted a stimulating effect on the ion transport. The same is true in regard of enzymes, which control transport of ions, especially those involved in Ca(2+) transport. The mechanism of this effect is unclear as yet.