An Individualized Approach to Skin Conductance Assessment during Execution of Tasks of Different Complexities.

Researchers use different approaches to analyze changes in skin conductance. At the same time, individual differences observed in both the initial values of skin conductance and response to stimuli do not allow comparing the responses of different subjects to the same impact. An individualized approach to the assessment of psycho-emotional stress has been developed using the real-time skin conductance index during continuous performance of a task with different levels of complexity. The participants, 18 second-year students at the actors' high school, performed a simple task (expressive reading aloud of a simple text) and a difficult task (expressive reading aloud of the text inverted 180°). During the task, the skin conductance in the participants was continuously recorded. We revealed a change in the parameters of skin conductivity depending on the complexity of the task, both in comparison with resting state (baseline) and with simple and complex stages of the study. However, the individual skin conduction curves in the subjects differed greatly. A method for assessing the individual differences in parameters of skin conductance was proposed based on ranking by categories of values during continuous performance of tasks with different levels of complexity. This method allows comparing the levels of cognitive load in participants with different initial levels of skin conductance due to transition from the absolute to relative values at time intervals that are important for the researcher.

Parameters of Cell Death and Proliferation of Prostate Cancer Cells with Altered Expression of Myosin 1C Isoforms.

Myosin 1C is a monomeric myosin motor with a truncated tail domain. Such motors are referred as slow "tension sensors." Three isoforms of myosin 1C differ in short N-termed amino acid sequences, the functional differences between isoforms have not been elucidated. Myosin 1C isoform A was described as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer, but its role in tumor transformation remains unknown. Based on data on the functions of myosin 1C, we hypothesized the potential role of myosin 1C isoforms in maintaining the tumor phenotype of prostate cancer cells. In our work, we showed that a decrease in the expression level of myosin 1C isoform C leads to an increase in the proliferative activity of prostate tumor cells.

Stabilometric Biofeedback Training in Cognitive and Affective Function Improvement. Contribution of the Russian Scientific School. Part II.

This review is the second part of the critical analysis of recent papers of Russian and other authors devoted to the study of the stabilometric parameters in postural control biofeedback training and rehabilitation, associated with psychological functions. The review presents the studies of postural control features in chronic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and depression. The leading role of Russian researchers in the development and application of stabilometric biofeedback in the training of optimal functioning, rehabilitation, and correction of neurological disorders is noted. The paradigm of stabilometric biofeedback training of the cognitive and affective functions is offered.

Psychophysiological Indicators of Postural Control. Contribution of the Russian Scientific School. Part I.

This article aimed to systematically review the published results of studies of psychophysiological mechanisms of posture maintenance and identify the key factors that influence the effectiveness of postural control. The recommendations of "Preferred Reporting Elements for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes" (PRISMA) were followed for the review. The results were classified, taking into account the target psychophysiological mechanisms and factors affecting postural control. The article presents the theoretical and empirical results of the Russian scientific school of research on the role of support afferentation in the sensorimotor mechanisms of cognitive and postural functions. Due to the limited number of randomized studies found, it was impossible to make meta-analytic comparisons, so the literature analysis was carried out only qualitatively. Meanwhile, our systematic review provides promising information about possible relationships between stabilometric and psychological indicators of postural control, which have theoretical significance and application in the correction and training of posture control. However, more thorough research is needed to overcome the methodological shortcomings that we have encountered in our qualitative analysis.

[EEG-parameters dynamic during relaxation (frequencies analysis)].

The aim of this study was to analyze the wide frequency range of EEG-parameters to estimate a possible functional importance of different EEG-components to reach the relaxation state. Sixty five subjects 17 to 20 years old were involved in the investigation. The relaxation session with monopolar EEG-registration and autonomic parameters recording was conducted to each subject. Significant changes in all analyzed EEG-bands were observed during relaxation. Two types of changes of EEG-coherence were distinguished by wakefulness-relaxation shift of state, and correlation of the type of dynamic with LF/HF ratio were discovered.

[Brain activity during different stages of the relaxation process].

A group of adults participated in experiment in which they were asked to reach relaxed state by using relaxation techniques (active relaxation) and to maintain this state without any technique (passive relaxation). Some changes of EEG-characteristics during relaxation were analyzed. This experiment includes four situations (different functional states): baselinel, active relaxation, passive relaxation, baseline2. EEG was recorded from 10 cortical leads: O1, O2, TPO (left and right), P3, P4, C3, C4, F3 and F4. A comparative EEG analysis was done for 10 frequency bands from 5 to 40 Hz. In each experimental situation we revealed general trends for EEG parameters and also some specific changes in EEG, which characterized brain organization during passive and active relaxed states.

[Description of rearrangement of distraction reclaim in the extension of the lower extremities and elimination of their deformity in patients with various etiology of shortening].

The data of X-ray and computed tomographic studies of a long tube distraction reclaim were analyzed in 80 patients who had limb shortening and deformity of varying etiology. The analysis has shown that during distraction there is a positive correlation between the increase in the connective-tissue interlayer area of a distraction reclaim and the overall increase in the area of the distraction reclaim (their ratio is not greater than 30% under the optimal elongation conditions). During fixation there is a decrease in the ratio of the area of a growth zone to the total area of a reclaim and in its total density with a parallel increase in the density of cortical laminae of a newly formed bone. Complete organotypic rearrangement comes to the end in the range of 1-3 years depending on the magnitude of pathomorphological and biomechanical changes and limb function.

[Rexetin in the therapy of depressive states].

Rexetin was used in the dosage of 20-60 mg daily during 6 weeks in the treatment of 25 patients with depression. An efficacy of the therapy was evaluated by the Hamilton scales for Depression (HAM-D) and anxiety (HAM-A) and Montgomery-Asberg Scale (MADRS). Patients were considered as responders if they demonstrated the reduction of scores by 50%. Twenty-three responders (92.0%) were divided into 3 groups: the first--with immediate therapeutic response during 1-2 weeks (n = 8; 34.8%); the second--with positive dynamics at the 3rd week of the treatment (n = 9; 39.1%); the third group--with favorable results at the end of 5-6 week of the therapy (n = 6; 26.1%). The clinical predictors of different therapeutic responses during short-term therapy were as follows: severity of depressive episode, hypotimia of modality (anxiety, anxiety-sorrow); vitalization of verbal/ nonverbal sorrow affect; presentation of autonomic (somatic) appearances of generalized anxiety disorder; ranks of typical depressive symptoms in subjective perception of patients; character of sleep disorders, presence of atypical depressive symptoms, in particular a disturbance of interpersonal relations due to elevated irritability; localization and extent of generalization of pathological body sensations; dominant content of obsessive anxiety; a type of affective triad; panic attacks, with- or without agoraphobia, concomitant to depressive disorder. In the total group of responders, there was a simultant (harmonic) reduction of the total score on the depression and anxiety scales (65.2%) and the anticipating anxiolytic or thymoanaleptic effect of the drug was observed less often (34.8%).