[The organization of pre-clinical studies of bactericidal and wound healing effects of the impulse photoherapy device "Zarya"].

The purpose of the study is to determine therapeutic effectiveness of the pulsed high intensity optical irradiation device "Zarya" exemplified by treatment of model wounds in laboratory animals and to compare with traditional methods of wound treatment. The prototype of "Zarya" device was used whose operating principle was based on pulsed irradiation of affected areas with high intensity optical radiation in continuous spectrum generated by pulsed xenon lamp. The therapeutic effect of the "Zarya" device was compared with effectiveness of the certified medical ultraviolet irradiator based on low-pressure mercury lamp and also with known wound-healing and antibacterial medication Levomekol ointment. The mature male rats of Wistar line were used in the study. The animals were distributed to 4 groups: group 1 was irradiated by "Zarya" device, group 2 was irradiated by low-pressure mercury lamp, group 3 was treated with Levomekol ointment and group 4 was exposed to no exposure. The linear wound was modeled according to the standard method under ether anesthesia. The therapeutic procedures were applied daily during 7 days. The bactericidal effect was studied on the basis of smears from wound onto flora on the 2nd, 5th and 7th day. On the 8th day the animals were subjected to euthanasia. It was established that "Zarya" device application permits to reduce considerably both duration of therapeutic procedures and therapy course in general and also to achieve more pronounced bactericidal effect. The obtained data is supposed to be used for development of program of clinical trials.

In Vitro Effects of Sodium Nitroprusside and L-Nω-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) on Activity of Lysosomal Cysteine Proteinases and Lysosomal Membrane Permeability.

The direct effect of 5 mM L-NAME and 0.1 mM sodium nitroprusside on activity of lysosomal cysteine proteinases and permeability of lysosomal membrane was studied in vitro after 1, 2, and 4 h of incubation. Isolated from the liver of intact female rats lysosome suspensions were used. Both substances reduced total activity of cathepsin H and did not affect cathepsin B at all time intervals. L-NAME increased cathepsin L activity at all incubation times, while sodium nitroprusside increased activity of this enzyme after 2-h incubation and reduced it incubation after 4-h incubation. L-NAME demonstrated a membrane-destabilizing effect in in vitro experiments, while sodium nitroprusside on the contrary stabilized lysosomal membranes.

Age-Specific Peculiarities of Modulation of Blood Aldo-Keto Reductase Isoenzyme Spectrum.

The aldo-keto reductase spectrum of the blood was studied at different stages of ontogeny to elucidate the role of reduction pathway in utilization of the carbonyl products of free radical oxidation in modulation of organism sensitivity to the damaging effect of stress during ontogeny. The studies revealed the age-specific changes in aldo-keto reductase spectrum in the blood. An analogy of the aldo-keto reductase spectrum structure in animals of early maturity and in old rats was found. The appearance of age specificity of the aldo-keto reductase spectrum in the blood creates metabolic prerequisites for changes in the efficiency of utilization of carbonyl products of free radical oxidation via their reductive transformation.

[EXPRESSION OF GENES, WHICH CONTROL GLUCOSE METABOLISM, IN BLOOD CELLS OF THE OBESE BOYS WITH INSULIN RESISTANCE].

We studied the expression of genes, which responsible for glucose metabolism, in the blood of obese boys with and without of insulin resistance as well as in normal (control) individuals. It was shown that the expression level of PFKFB3 gene is increased, PFKFB1 and INSIG2--is decreased, but HK2 gene--significantly does not change in the blood cells of obese boys with normal insulin sensitivity as compared to control group. Insulin resistance in obese boys leads to up-regulation of INSIG2 gene expression as well as to down-regulation of PFKFB1, PFKFB3, and HK2 genes in the blood.cells as compared to obese patients with normal insulin sensitivity. Results of this study provide evidence that obesity affects the expression of the subset of glucose metabolism-related genes in the blood cells and that insulin resistance in obesity is associated with changes in the expression level of PFKFB1, PFKFB3, HK2, and INSIG2 genes, which contribute to the development of insulin resistance as well as glucose intolerance.

[EXPERIMENTAL TESTING OF THE OPERATOR'S PERCEPTION OF SYMBOLIC INFORMATION ON THE HELMET-MOUNTED DISPLAY DEPENDING ON THE STRUCTURAL COMPLEXITY OF VISUAL ENVIRONMENT].

The experiments showed that pilot's perception of symbolic information on the helmet-mounted display (HMD) depends on type of HMD (mono- or binocular), and structural complexity of the background image. Complex background extends time and increases errors in perception, particularly when monocular HMD is used. In extremely complicated visual situations (symbolic information on a background intricately structured by supposition of a TV image on real visual environment) significantly increases time and lowers precision of symbols perception no matter what the HMD type.

[Activity of the enzymes which take part in aldehyde catabolism in the mitochondria of skeletal muscle in rats of different ages and its modulation during stress].

The purpose of this study was a comparative investigation of activity of enzymes, which take part in utilization of endogenous aldehydes in mitochondrial fraction of femoral muscle in intact and immobilized rats of different age. It has been shown that 12-months-old (adult) rats have high basal levels of NAD-aldehyde dehydrogenase, NADH-aldehyde reductase and glutathione transferase activity in mitochondrial fraction of femoral muscle. An increased of NAD-aldehyde dehydrogenase activity emerges during immobilization stress in adult rats. These changes contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of utilization of carbonyl products of free radical oxidation in mitochondria of skeletal muscle of 12-months-old rats during stress. Immobilization of old and pubertal rats, is accompanied by a certain arise in metabolic preconditions, leading to accumulation of endogenous aldehydes in mitochondria, and, as a result, to the injury of muscular fibers and an increase in manifestation of sarcopenia.

[Experimental studies of reliability of symbolic information perception from the aviation LCD panel].

Results of tachistiscopic experiments on reliability of symbol recognition on LCD panel as a function of screen definition (640 x 480, 800 x 600 and 1024 x 768 pixels), angular size of a picture element (10, 15, 20 and 30 angular min) and luminance contrast (LC) with the background (0.2 to 1.4 standard units) are presented. The obtained quantitative relations indicate significance of the above parameters for recognition reliability. Symbols with the size of 30 angular min and LC of 0.5 were recognizable irrespective of screen definition in the study. Recognition of symbols 20 and 15 angular min of size was much dependent on screen definition and LC of symbols. For symbols of size 10 angular min and LC ≥ 1.0 the recognition probability did not exceed 0.59-0.7.

[Evaluation of condition and factors affecting activity effectiveness and visual performance of pilots who use night vision goggles during the helicopter flights].

According to analysis of questionnaire authors revealed factors, which affect activity effectiveness, and visual performance of pilots who use night vision goggles during the helicopter flights. These are: difficulty of flight tasks, flying conditions, illusion of attitude. Authors gave possible ways to reduce an impact of these factors.

[Peculiarities of pilot's perception of flight information presented on on-board liquid crystal displays].

The article deals with results of experimental studies conducted on flight testing desk and covering peculiarities of pilot's perception of flight information presented on on-board liquid crystal display in dependence on changes speed and update rate of the screen. The authors determine frequency characteristics of information update rate, that achieve acceptable quality of the flight parameters perception in accordance with the changes speed. Vigorous maneuvering with high angular velocities of changed parameters of roll and pitch causes visual distortions that are connected with poor frequency of information update rate, deteriorate piloting quality and can cause flight unsafety.

[Spatial orientation of pilot using a cockpit exterior surveillance system].

Spatial orientation of pilots using a cockpit exterior surveillance system was tested in real nighttime helicopter flights. Major factors complicating adequate spatial orientation and provoking visual illusions in pilots are lack of information for spatial depth (relation) perception in two-dimensional TV images altering their position along the horizontal and vertical lines of trajectory and simultaneous piloting and target search-identification operations. Reliability of pilot's spatial orientation could be improved by displaying on the exterior imaging screen also relevant flight navigation parameters.