[The modern approaches to the restoration of postural balance in the patients suffering from the consequences of an acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA)].

BACKGROUND: the most frequent and severe consequences of an acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA) are locomotor and coordination disorders which significantly increase the risk of falling in a static position and when walking. The methods used for the rehabilitation of the affected patients are designed in the first place to enable the patients to acquire the skills necessary for maintaining the static balance. The modern equipment allows to carry out coordination training in the static position and also during walking. AIM: The objective of the present study was to evaluate, based on the results of our original research, the feasibility and effectiveness of the application of the «Balance tutor¼ system developed for the restoration of static and dynamic balance in the framework of the combined rehabilitation treatment of the patients suffering from impaired postural balance as a consequence of acute cerebrovascular accident (CVA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 56 patients presenting with impaired postural balance following CVA were available for the examination. All of them underwent functional testing to assess the static and dynamic balance, walking abilities, and the risk of falling down including the study with the use of computer-assisted stabilometry. RESULTS: The study has demonstrated that the inclusion of the «Balance tutor¼ system for the restoration of the static and dynamic balance in the combined rehabilitative treatment of the patients having postural balance disorders after the CVA reduces the risk of fall for a walking patient, improves his (her) static and dynamic balance, increases the patient's ability to move without exterior help. The patients comprising the main study group were found to experience a decrease of statokinesiogram space in the «eyes are open¼ position (p = 0.0576, the Mann-Whitney U test) as well as a reliable decrease of the statokinesiogram space in the «eyes are closed¼ position (p=0.0063, the Mann-Whitney U test). Similar changes occurred in speed of pressure center relocation. By the end of the rehabilitation course, the patients of the main group exhibited a reliable enhancement in the dynamic balance rates estimated with the use of the Berg Balance Scale (p=0.028, Tukey's criterion), an increase in stability based at the Tinneti scale, p=0.0291; Tukey's criterion), and a decrease of the risk of falling during walk assessed with the application of Dynamic Gait Index scale (p = 0.0001, Tukey's criterion). DISCUSSION: The results of the present study with the inclusion of the «Balance tutor¼ system in the program of combined rehabilitation of the patients suffering from the consequences of CVA in the form of the postural balance impairment give evidence of the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach. There is reason to believe that its application is likely to reduce the risk of falling down and to improve characteristics of static and dynamic balance. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of the «Balance tutor¼ system in the program of combined rehabilitation of the patients suffering from the consequences of CVA in the form of the postural balance impairment is both feasible and effective.

[The use of a program of therapeutic physical exercises for the correction of the functional state of the cardiorespiratory system of adolescents residing in a megapolis].

The objective of this work was to study the influence of corrective and health-improving exercises on the functional characteristics of the cardiorespiratory system of adolescents residing in a megapolis before they developed any pathology. The health status of the children (n = 1760) was monitored using the "Health Navigator" technology; special attention was given to the initial state of the cardiorespiratory system and its dependence on the environmental factor. The proposed program of special corrective respiratory exercises in combination with physical endurance exercises was shown to improve the adaptive responsiveness of the cardiorespiratory system and correct the initial level vasoregulation.

[Effect of modulator of the signal transmission from opioid receptor to sodium channels on hypothalamus self-stimulation]. / Vliianie moduliatora peredachi signalov ot opioidnogo retseptora k natrievym kanalam na samostimuliatsiiu gipotalamusa.

We investigated effects of different doses of a new preparation comenic acid as a modulator of the transmission of signals from an opioid receptor to slow sodium channels on the hypothalamic rewarding system in male Wistar rats. Comenic acid has been shown to inhibit the reaction of the hypothalamic self-stimulation (SS) in a dose-dependent fashion with the strongest effect at doses of 28.8-30 mg/kg. We observed a decrease in the rate of lever-pressings, induced by the threshold for SS current intensity, and an increase in the threshold for the response of SS, or its cessation. The similar suppressing effect of the preparation was found at its repeated injections. Thus, those results showed that comenic acid failed in both activation of the rewarding system of the lateral hypothalamus and adaptation to it.

[Projections of the dorsal raphe nucleus and midbrain central gray substance to the cat limbic system]. / Proektsii dorsal'nogo iadra shva i tsentral'nogo serogo veshchestva srednego mozga na limbicheskie struktury u koshki.

Morphological organization of connections of ventro-lateral (nociceptive) and dorso-lateral (analgetic) midbrain central gray (vl SGC and dl SGC), as well as of dorsal raphe nucleus (analgetic zone, Rd), with different limbic structures, responsible for the formation of various emotional states, was studied in 26 cats. The methods of electrical destruction of brain areas were used that were followed by the light and electron microscopic study of degenerating fibers and synapses. Heterogeneity of connections of above mentioned formations with different limbic structures was demonstrated. Connections Rd and dl SGC with upstream limbic structures were found to be very similar in their organization and expression. Connections of vl SGC with the same structures were significantly different. It is suggested that similar (antinociceptive) function of dl SGC and Rd has determined the likeness of their connections. This, in combination with the heterogeneity of SGC in conduction of the pain and analgesia, supports the identification of two brain systems: nociceptive, conducting pain sensitivity, and antinociceptive, inhibiting its conduction. The nociceptive system includes the following structures: vl SGC, posterior and lateral hypothalamic nuclei, preoptic area. In the antinociceptive system two subsystems could be distinguished: midbrain units of these subsystems are localized in different structures (Rd and dl SGC), while the upstream ones are found in the same hypothalamic nuclei--ventromedial, dorsomedial, paraventricular. As far as septum, amigdala, hippocampus and cingular cortex are concerned, it was found impossible to refer them to any of these systems--either nociceptive or antinociceptive--basing solely on the findings of morphological studies because of approximately similar representation of axons of neurons in vl SGC, dl SGC, Rd in these structures.

[Activity of proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors during proliferation of P-815 mastocytoma cell proliferation in vitro]. / Aktivnost' proteoliticheskikh fermentov i ikh ingibitorov v protsesse proliferatsii kletok mastotsitomy P-815 vitro.

Proliferation of mastocytoma P-815 cells in vitro was accompanied by a rise in cathepsin D, elastase- and trypsin-like proteinase activity during 6 hours of culturing and a decline by hour 24. Yet alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor activity was inversely proportional to proteinase concentration. Antiproliferative action of actinomycin D disrupted phase variation of proteinase activity and, consequently, the level of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor rose after 6 hours of cell culturing while that of alpha 2-macroglobulin--after 48 hr. Antiproliferative effect of actinomycin D was eliminated by reduced inhibitor level brought about under the influence of exogenous trypsin. When trypsin was added cathepsin D activity reached its peak 6 hr later while that of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor declined. That effect and the actomycin D-proteinase inhibitor mechanism were retained when trypsin and actomycin D were present together. It is suggested that cathepsin D and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor activity plays a key role in realizing the proliferative potential of mastocytoma P-815 cells.