[Spontaneous separation of secondary epiretinal membrane]. / Spontannoe otdelenie vtorichnoi épiretinal'noi membrany.

The article presents a rare clinical case of secondary epiretinal membrane (ERM) in a 67-years-old woman. The patient was diagnosed with ERM in the left eye after loss of vision complaints. One year prior to the visit the patient had underwent 2 sessions of laser photocoagulation for proliferative post-thrombotic retinopathy in the left eye. In the context of relatively high visual functions (decimal visual acuity of 0.7 at the time of the visit), observation strategy was carried out. The follow-up period was 2 years. According to optical coherence tomography data, progressive deformation of retinal profile and an increase in diffuse retinal edema up to 391 µm in the fovea were observed in the course of the year, while visual acuity decreased to 0.6. Spontaneous separation of ERM, an increase in visual acuity to 0.9 and a decrease in retinal thickness to 236 µm were found during the subsequent visit. The authors discuss the presumable mechanisms of secondary ERM formation and separation and the impact of such cases in the management of patients with ERM and relatively high visual acuity.

[Immunocompetence and reproductive characteristics of male Campbell dwarf hamsters selected for low and high humoral immune response to SRBC: testing the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis].

We selected Campbell dwarf hamsters (Phodopus campbelli Thomas, 1905) for low and high humoral immune response to the sheep red blood cells (SRBC) challenge in three generations (P, F1, F2). Non-specific innate immunity and acquired T-cell immunity, resting metabolic rate, testosterone, and cortisole hormone levels, reproductive characteristics, including maturation related morphological traits, and aggressive behavior were studied within sets of males:with low (LI) and high (HI) immune response to SRBC. We found no difference between LI and HI males in cutaneous response to injection of phytohemagglutinin, (DTH test for T-cell immunity), in activity of Peroxidase - Endogenous Hydrogen Peroxide System of Neutrophils , in the white blood count, in resting metabolic rate, in body mass and ano-genital distance at the age of two months, in the blood level of testosterone before and after recurrent immunization by SRBC and in the blood level of cortisole in response to the social stressor (10 min encounter in the neutral arena). At that, LI males had significantly higher basal level of blood cortisole, were less aggressive in response to stranger male and had smaller testosterone-dependent mid-ventral specific skin gland at the age of two months. Males of two groups did not differ in the initial mating success with intact young females (time since pair formation until first litter born), although females of LI males born fewer number of pups. In fact, our results do not support the Handicap Immunocompetence Hypothesis (Folstad, Karter, 1999) which is based on the assumption of trade-off between immunocompetence and reproductive effort.

[Resting metabolic rate, stress, testosterone, and induced immune response in "spring" and "fall" males of Campbell dwarf hamsters. Rearing under the long day conditions].

We have studied morphological and physiological traits of even-young males of Campbell dwarf hamsters (Phodopus campbelli Thomas, 1905) born at the end of summer ("fall males") and at the end of winter ("spring males") in a vivarium with constant 14-hour day length (14D:10N). After removal from parental cages at the age of one month, males were kept in isolation under the same light conditions. The results obained signify the statistical difference between "fall" and "spring" males in resting metabolic rate, morphological traits associated with sexual activity, some endocrine and immunologic characteristics. Spring males had higher resting metabolic rate, higher body mass in the middle of experiment, bigger testes, seminal vesicles, higher concentration of testosterone in blood and more intensive T-cell immune response to the intracutaneous injection of phytohemagglutinin. They did not differ significantly in basal level of blood cortisole and antibodies production in response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) antigen challenge, but possessed lower adrenocortical response to the social stressor and adrenocorticotropic hormone. GLM analysis showed that cortisol level in blood after 10 min encounter of males in the open arena, and resting metabolic rate were the only factors significantly influenced humoral immune response to SRBC. When intensity of T-cell immune response was considered as dependent variable, season turned out to be the only factor in the final model that caused a significant effect.

[Specific immunity and polymorphism of breeding plumage in pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) males (Aves: passeriformes)].

The relationship between the type of melanin-based plumage coloration and the strength of experimentally induced immune response was studied using as an example a pied flycatcher population from the Moscow Region. The plumage of pied flycatcher males exhibits the full spectrum of transitions from contrasting black-and-white to cryptic brownish, the latter being very similar to the coloration of females. In spite of numerous studies, the nature of this polymorphism still remains vague. Unlike many other avian species with monocyclic breeding, a considerable fraction of pied flycatchers combines two energy-consuming productive processes, breeding and molt. During the main experimental treatment we activated the humoral immunity of free-living males in chick-rearing period by injection of nonpathogenic multigenic antigen (sheep red blood cells, SRBC) and estimated the strength of the immune responses after repeated captures in 6-8 days. In addition, after each capture we estimated the numbers of leucocytes (WBC), heterophil to lymphocyte ratios (H/L) and measured night time basal metabolic rates (BMR). Non-molting males of different color types showed the same immune responses. Among molting birds, the strength of the immune response was significantly higher in pale males (morphs 4-7 by Drost's scale) than in bright males with rich melanin-based coloration (morphs 2-3). This difference resulted from two opposite processes. During molting, pale males heightened the antibody titer after immunization, while bright males tended to reduce the strength of immune response. Possibly such an asymmetry in immunocompetence at the first stage of molt reflects the different life strategies of pied flycatcher males - conspicuous birds less commonly combine breeding with molt than cryptic ones.

Candidate genes for colour and vision exhibit signals of selection across the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) breeding range.

The role of natural selection in shaping adaptive trait differentiation in natural populations has long been recognized. Determining its molecular basis, however, remains a challenge. Here, we search for signals of selection in candidate genes for colour and its perception in a passerine bird. Pied flycatcher plumage varies geographically in both its structural and pigment-based properties. Both characteristics appear to be shaped by selection. A single-locus outlier test revealed 2 of 14 loci to show significantly elevated signals of divergence. The first of these, the follistatin gene, is expressed in the developing feather bud and is found in pathways with genes that determine the structure of feathers and may thus be important in generating variation in structural colouration. The second is a gene potentially underlying the ability to detect this variation: SWS1 opsin. These two loci were most differentiated in two Spanish pied flycatcher populations, which are also among the populations that have the highest UV reflectance. The follistatin and SWS1 opsin genes thus provide strong candidates for future investigations on the molecular basis of adaptively significant traits and their co-evolution.

[Estimation of heritability and repeatability of resting metabolic rate in birds, with free-living pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca (Aves: Passeriformes) as an example].

Estimates of a trait heritability and repeatability can get at an idea of its usefulness for being an individual characteristic and its ability to change under selection pressure. Heritability and repeatability of energetic parameters still poorly studied in birds. The most important physiological characteristic of homoiotherms is resting metabolic rate (RMR), which, in the absence of productive processes, does not exceed basal metabolic rate (BMR). We estimated BMR repeatability in free-living pied flycatchers in Moscow Region (55 degrees 44' N, 36 degrees 51' E; 1992-2008) and Tomsk (56 degrees 20' N, 84 degrees 56' E; 2008-2009) populations over intervals from 40 days to 3 years. In Moscow Region population, BMR repeatability amounted to tau = 0.34 +/- 0.10 (n=80) if measured over 1 year interval, tau = 0.60 +/- 0.15 (n=19) if measured over 2 years interval, and tau = 0.85 +/- 0.13 (n=6) if measured over 3 years interval providing that consecutive BMR measurements were done in the same period of reproductive season. In Tomsk population, BMR repeatability, measured over 1 year interval, amounted to tau = 0.49 +/- 0.11 (n=50). Repeatability is a measure of a trait constancy and sets the upper limit of its heritability. To estimate RMR heritability, cross-fostering experiments have been conducted in 2003-2005 with flycatchers of Moscow Region population. RMR of chicks positively correlated with BMR of their biological fathers, whereas such correlation in metabolic rates between chicks and their foster fathers was absent. The RMR heritability estimate turned out to be h2 = 0.43 +/- 0.17 (n=210). The obtained estimates of heritability and repeatability of fundamental energetic traits are rather high for physiological features. This suggests the existence of a potential for direct selection on BMR and evolutionary stable diversity of avian populations with regard to basal metabolic rate.

[Prehospital thrombolytic therapy with tenecteplase in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction].

We carried out prehospital thrombolytic therapy (TLT) with tenecteplase in 24 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI) at the background of standard concomitant therapy with unfractionated heparin, aspirin, and clopidogrel and analyzed clinical course of MI, ECG dynamics, systolic left ventricular function according to echocardiography. In 20 patients coronary angiography was performed after TLT. Mean symptom - needle time was 113 min. In 14 patients (58%) TLT was carried out within 2 hours after appearance of symptoms. In 19 patients the course of disease was uncomplicated. Electrocardiographic criteria of effective reperfusion were registered in 14 patients (58%), angiographic criteria - in 13 patients (65% of subjected to angiography). Percutaneous intervention was performed in 18 patients (75%). Systolic left ventricular dysfunction was revealed in 5 patients (21%), aborted MI - in 4 patients. Significant correlation was found between aborted MI (r=0,38, p=0,034) and uncomplicated MI (r=0,40, p=0,027) and performance of TLT during first 2 hours. There were no hemorrhagic complications. Results of the study evidence for high efficacy of prehospital thrombolysis with tenecteplase and real possibility of its use under conditions of existing system of organization of urgent cardiological aid.

[Structural and functional aspects of variation of the breeding plumage ornamentation in the male Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca (Aves: passeriformes)].

Inter- and intraindividual variation of the breeding plumage ornamentation in male Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca from the Moscow province population (55 degrees 44' N 36 degrees 51' E) was studied using long-term data (1996-2005). Eumelanin prevailing colour type (CT) scored according to the seven-step Dorst scale (Dorst, 1936), age, and reproductive status during the current breeding season were analyzed as potential sources of variation of the white ornamentation on the forehead, the wings, and the tail in males. Male CT strongly varied, from almost black to cryptic brownish (2-7, average 4.4, N = 1403). On average CT became I1degree darker with age and tended to be stable after the age of two years. Initial and final CT strongly correlated (r = 0.76). Wing ornamentation and forehead patch (FP) were associated with both initial and final CT, whereas correlation between tail ornamentation and CT was observed only in aged males. Ornamentation was most variable in males with cryptic (pale) CT. Such males had, on average, less intense forehead and wing ornamentation than conspicuous males, compensating this difference by having more intense ornamentation next year. These data suggest the weakening of morphogenetic relations between prevailing colour and ornamentation in males with cryptic phenotype. The return rate (rate of conspicuous males returning to their previous nesting territory) was not related to the success of their previous breeding attempts. Among pale males, the return rate was higher in breeders than in non-breeders. The relation between FP shape and reproductive status was pronounced only in pale males. Among pale males, previous breeders and non-breeders displayed no difference in the degree of prevailing colour darkening next year. In conspicuous males, previous breeding led to the weakening of dorsal eumelanin pigmentation of the new plumage, which suggests the existence of tradeoffs between reproductive efforts and the development of rich eumelanin coloration. Among pale males, previous breeders displayed a higher rate of FP widening next year than previous non-breeders. Diffrerent patterns of relations between male ornamentation and reproductive experience suggest that the females can use plural clues to evaluate the quality of their potential mates.

[Clinical and cost effectiveness of nebulizer therapy in emergency care for acute bronchial asthma]. / Klinicheskaia i ékonomicheskai éffektivnost' nebulaizernoi terapii v usloviiakh okazaniia skoroi meditsinskoi pomoshchi bol'nym s obostreniem bronkhial'noi astmy.

AIM: To evaluate clinical and cost efficacy of urgent therapeutic measures for patients with acute bronchial asthma (BA) in a large industrial city. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 380 patients with moderate and severe BA in emergency state were observed. 222 of them got berodual solution provided by pneumatic nebuliser, moistened oxygen and corticosteroids. 158 patients received standard emergency care. Bronchopulmonary and cardiovascular systems were studied. RESULTS: The proposed therapy proved 1.6 and 2.6 times more effective in moderate and severe BA, respectively, than standard therapy. It made possible to reduce the treatment cost by 30%. An algorithm for emergency care for acute BA is designed. CONCLUSION: Differential emergency care is recommended for patients with acute bronchial asthma.

[The experience with berodual inhalation in emergency treatment of bronchial asthma]. / Opyt primeneniia ingaliatsii beroduala v neotlozhnoi terapii bronkhial'noi astmy.

Of 56 patients with bronchial asthma demanding emergency care 27 had moderate exacerbation (group 1) and 29--a severe one (group 2). All the patients inhaled berodual (B) solution with a compressive pneumatic nebuliser Medic-Aide. The relief of the attack was achieved for 20 minutes of the inhalation in 22 and 19 patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively. Inhalation monotherapy with B solutions using a compressive nebuliser provides control of moderate and severe attacks of bronchial asthma.