[Psychological defense mechanism of elderly people having mild cognitive impairments.]

The article presents the results of psychological defense mechanism research of elderly persons group having mild cognitive impairments (51 persons). The leading defense mechanisms in this group were «reactive entity¼ and «denial¼. Reliable correlation between capacity of short-term memory, the MMSE test and «substitution¼, attention rate and «regression¼, leading psychological defense and indicators of anxiety, fear, depression and aggression of the studied group are found. The found correlation between defense tension and psychological parameters disclose features of intra personal adaptation of elderly persons having mild cognitive impairments. The received results can be used for psychological diagnostics and correction of emotional, personal and cognitive disorders of the elderly people.

[The brain structures functional activity and aggression patients' multiple sclerosis].

The article is devoted to investigation of unconscious aggression in patients with multiple sclerosis. We carried out comparison of the relative assessments of metabolism speed of glucose (according to positron emission tomography) and indicators of unconscious aggression (in the Hand test). It is shown that an increased tendency to open aggression (unconscious aggression) in patients with multiple sclerosis, is mainly linked with a reduction in the functioning of different departments of the frontal lobes of the brain on the left and with changes of the metabolism speed of glucose in the structures of the limbic system of the left and right hemisphere. With increasing of unconscious aggression we observed decrease of glucose metabolism speed in certain areas of the lower and middle frontal gyrus.

[The relationship between cognitive impairment and localization of white matter lesions in patients with multiple sclerosis]. / Sviaz' kognitivnykh narushenii s lokalizatsiei ochagov porazheniia belogo veshchestva golovnogo mozga u bol'nykh rasseiannym sklerozom.

Objective. To study a role of parenchymal white matter lesions and lesions of the white matter underlying the cortical grey matter in cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Material and methods. We examined 33 patients with clinically definite RRMS in clinical remission. Cognitive performance was assessed with neuropsychological and psychometric tests. MRI (1.5 tesla) was used to assess volume and localization of focal demyelination in the cerebral cortex. Results. The volume of juxtacortical brain lesions in the white matter had a negative effect on the correct performance on neuropsychological tests. The volume of parenchymal white matter lesions had a negative effect on the speed of task performance. Conclusion. The results suggest that MS patients had multiple cognitive impairments.

[The role of brain glucose metabolism in the development of cognitive dysfunctions in patients with remitting and secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis].

To study mechanisms of development of cognitive dysfunctions in multiple sclerosis (MS), brain glucose metabolism has been investigated using PET method. We have studied 61 patients with different types of MS course. Correlations between cognitive dysfunctions and regional glucose metabolic rate were revealed. The authors suggest that metabolic dysfunctions of the grey matter play the important role in the pathogenesis of cognitive disturbances in MS.

Characteristics of neurological and cognitive status in patients with multiple sclerosis in relation to the location and volumes of demyelination foci and the severity of brain atrophy.

A total of 65 patients with clinically significant diagnoses of remitting multiple sclerosis in the stage of remission were studied. Neurological status was investigated with assessment on the FS and EDSS scales, with neuropsychological testing, and MRI scans (1.5 T). The severity of brain atrophy (in terms of the parenchyma volume) and the total volume of foci on T2 images were assessed as proportions of intracerebral volume. The severity of neurological deficit depended on the volume of intratentorial focal lesions and the level of brain atrophy. Cognitive disorders were identified in 89% of patients, and the severity of these was associated with the level of atrophy and the volume of foci on T2 images in the dominant hemisphere.

Variants of personality maladaptation in patients with multiple sclerosis.

A total of 34 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) aged 14-52 years, with disease onset at age 24.3 +/- 7.5 years, were studied. Disease severity on the Kurtzke scale (EDSS) was 3.6 +/- 1.7 points. Seven patients were in exacerbation of MS and 27 were in remission. Personality characteristics in terms of MS-associated maladaptation were studied using a modified MMPI (the SMPT method). Neurotic, psychotic, and mixed types of maladaptation were identified. Measures of brain metabolic activity were simultaneously determined (in terms of the rate of glucose utilization) by positron emission tomography (PET). Data were obtained on the relationship between the activity of metabolic processes in the frontal, temporal-parietal, and limbic areas of the cerebral cortex and different variants of personality maladaptation and, respectively, with different personality profiles in the SMPT.

[A psychological study of patients with multiple sclerosis].

The article is devoted to the study of psychological characteristics in patients with multiple sclerosis and their role in treatment and rehabilitation. The polymorphic fluctuating psychological disorders (cognitive and personality disorders, neuropsychological symptoms and inadequate "internal picture of disease") were found. The characteristics of unconscious psychic activity were specified. It was supposed that not only psychological factors but also functional state of the brain underlie the peculiarity of psychological disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis. The interdependence of psychological and cerebral factors influences the interference between clinical and psychological presentations in patients and must be taken into consideration in the treatment and rehabilitation of multiple sclerosis.

[The variants of personality maladaptation in patients with multiple sclerosis].

Thirty-four patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), aged 14-52 years, age-at-disease-onset 24,3 +/- 7,5 years, have been studied. Disease severity score measured with the Kurtzke scale (EDSS) was 3,6 +/- 1,7. Seven patients were at the exacerbation stage, 27--in remission. Personality features in context of its maladaptation were studied using a modified version of MMPI. Neurotic, psychotic and mixed types of maladaptation have been singled out. The positron emission tomography indices of metabolic brain activity by glucose metabolism rate were concurrently determined. Data on the complementarity of metabolic processes activity in frontal, temporal-parietal and limbic cortical areas with different variants of personality maladaptation and different MMPI personality profiles were obtained.

[Psychophysiological approaches to assessing patients with painful and painless forms of ischemic heart disease]. / Psikhofiziologicheskie podkhody k otsenke bol'nykh s bolevoi i bezbolevoi formoi IBS.

By the results of bicycle ergometry test 28 coronary heart disease (CHD) patients were divided into 2 groups: with a pronounced anginal syndrome (group 1) and coronary insufficiency evident on ECG (group 2). Vegetative and psychophysiological parameters obtained in the examinees (heart rate, arterial pressure, pain threshold, personality profile) demonstrated that increased pain sensitivity, anxiety, predisposition to neurotic reactions were more typical for patients of group 1. Therapeutic response was achieved after psychophysiological correction by means of creation and activation of artificial stable functional connections of the brain.

[The use of a method of developing and activating artificial stable functional feedbacks of the 2d type for treating patients with paresthesia of the oral mucosa]. / Primenenie metoda formirovaniia i aktivatsii artifitsial'nykh stabil'nykh funktsional'nykh sviazei vtorogo vida dlia lecheniia bol'nykh paresteziiami slizistoi obolochki polosti rta.

A novel technique was applied to treat oral mucosa paresthesia: formation and activation of artificial stable functional connections within the human brain. The method is based upon the activation and impulse stimulation of the brain. The results of treatment suggest high efficacy of the technique leading to prompt disintegration and reduction of the disease.

[Clinico-physiological and biochemical aspects of artificial stable functional connections in the human brain]. / Kliniko-fiziologicheskie i biokhimicheskie aspekty artifitsial'nykh stabil'nykh funktsional'nykh sviazei mozga cheloveka.

The paper presents the results of clinico-physiological and biochemical studies of artificial functional connections (ASFC-1) of the human brain, formed in parkinsonians in the process of treatment by means of implanted electrodes. Medical activation of ASFC-1 is shown to have an optimizing influence on the mechanisms of intracentral regulation and connected with the latter other brain systems, such influence being reflected in the dynamics of clinical effects and vegetative-humoral activities. It is shown that ASFC-1 may be used for treatment and diagnostic aims in patients with prolonged diseases of the nervous system.