Post-radiation effect on the interhemispheric asymmetry in EEG and thermography characteristics

Complex analysis of EEG and thermographic parameters carried out in 10 healthy subjects and 34 patients, Chernobyl clean-up participants revealed a correlation between EEG and brain temperature changes in the baseline state and during mental arithmetic. During cognitive activity the maximal increase in the average EEG coherence and temperature shifts in healthy subjects were observed in the left frontotemporal and right parietotemporal areas. In patients changes in both parameters under study were most pronounced, the interhemispheric relations were impaired. The visual analysis revealed "flat" and "hypersynchronous" EEG types in patients. The dominant pathologic activity in the betal range indicative of mediobasal and oral brainstem lesions was characteristic of the flat EEG. This type of activity was observed in 60% of patients. In these cases, a general decrease in EEG coherence and temperature was most pronounced in the left hemisphere. The hypersynchronou EEG type (40% patients) was characterized by paroxysmal activity in the theta and alpha ranges suggesting diencephalic brain lesions. In these cases, EEG coherence and temperature were more variable; changes in the right hemisphere were significant, be it increase or decrease. Our complex approach to investigation of brain activity in different aspects seems to be promising in estimation of the brain functional state both in healthy persons and patients in remote terms after exposure to radiation. The specific hemispheric temperature changes revealed in Chernobyl patients especially during cognitive activity can be the sequels of postradiation disorders of vascular neuro-circulation. The EEG findings suggest subcortical disorders at different levels (diencephalic or brainstem) and functional failure of the right or left hemispheres in remote terms after exposure to radiation.     

Comparative Assessment of Essential and Toxic Metals in the Blood of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and Healthy Subjects

The present study deals with the comparative evaluation of essential and toxic metals in rheumatoid arthritis and healthy donors. Blood samples collected from rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy subjects were analysed for selected essential and toxic metals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Cr, Cd and Pb). The samples were digested in nitric acid and perchloric acid mixture, followed by quantification of the metals using atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean levels of Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn were significantly higher in the blood of healthy donors; however, elevated levels of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu and Pb were observed in blood of the patients. The correlation coefficients among the selected metals in the blood of arthritis patients were significantly different compared with the healthy counterparts. Multivariate cluster analysis revealed mutual apportionment of the essential and toxic metals in blood of the patients, whereas, in controls, the essential and toxic metals revealed diverse apportionment. Variations in the metal levels with gender, residence and smoking habits were also evaluated in both donor groups. Relative distribution, correlation and apportionment of the essential and toxic metals in the blood of the patients were significantly different than of controls.     

Wavelet-synchrony of Brain Evoked Responses during Listening to Naturalistic Stimuli in the Prognosis of Consciousness Recovery (Study 1: Wavelet-synchrony during Listening to Instrumental Music)

The features and prognostic value of wavelet-synchrony of evoked responses during the listening to realistic stimuli (music) were revealed in the study. Musical passages were selected according the patients’ preferences by their relations consultation. Wavelet-connections were calculated for each melody in the range from 0 to 1000 ms from stimuli. Total 22 examinees in 12 patients being in unconsciousness state were carried out. Resting state values of wavelet-connectivity were poorer in vegetative patients in comparison to healthy subjects regardless of consciousness recovery degree in future while wavelet-connections in mutism were higher in comparison to healthy subjects. Absolute value of wavelet-synchrony was lower than in norm. In patients with compete consciousness recovery in the future the maximal values of wavelet-synchrony were revealed in the temporal-occipital area while in patients who in the future have been revealed in the lesser degree the maximal values of wavelet-synchrony are shown in frontal-central areas. In chronic unconsciousness patients during the listening to instrumental music the maximal wavelet-connections values were determined in the right frontal area.     

Selenium status of the Australian population: effect of age, gender and cardiovascular disease

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element and the clinical consequences of Se deficiency have been well-documented. Se is primarily obtained through the diet and recent studies have suggested that the level of Se in Australian foods is declining. Currently there is limited data on the Se status of the Australian population so the aim of this study was to determine the plasma concentration of Se and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), a well-established biomarker of Se status. Furthermore, the effect of gender, age and presence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was also examined. Blood plasma samples from healthy subjects (140 samples, mean age = 54 years; range, 20-86 years) and CVD patients (112 samples, mean age = 67 years; range, 40-87 years) were analysed for Se concentration and GSH-Px activity. The results revealed that the healthy Australian cohort had a mean plasma Se level of 100.2 +/- 1.3 microg Se/L and a mean GSH-Px activity of 108.8 +/- 1.7 U/L. Although the mean value for plasma Se reached the level required for optimal GSH-Px activity (i.e. 100 microg Se/L), 47% of the healthy individuals tested fell below this level. Further evaluation revealed that certain age groups were more at risk of a lowered Se status, in particular, the oldest age group of over 81 years (females = 97.6 +/- 6.1 microg Se/L; males = 89.4 +/- 3.8 microg Se/L). The difference in Se status between males and females was not found to be significant. The presence of CVD did not appear to influence Se status, with the exception of the over 81 age group, which showed a trend for a further decline in Se status with disease (plasma Se, 93.5 +/- 3.6 microg Se/L for healthy versus 88.2 +/- 5.3 microg Se/L for CVD; plasma GSH-Px, 98.3 +/- 3.9 U/L for healthy versus 87.0 +/- 6.5 U/L for CVD). These findings emphasise the importance of an adequate dietary intake of Se for the maintenance of a healthy ageing population, especially in terms of cardiovascular health.     

The effect of the stimulation of opioid receptors on lymphocyte functional activity in vivo

With the aid of lymphocytes' spontaneous adhesion test and the reaction of blast transformation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) the influence of met-enkephaline upon the functional activity of lymphocytes of healthy donors was studied in vitro. It was shown, that met-enkephaline stimulate lymphocyte spontaneous adhesion and the lymphocyte PHA-induced proliferative activity. The stimulating effects of met-enkephalin revealed in vitro were blocked by the opioid receptor blocker naloxone.     

Effects of smoking and tumor process on the contents of key proteins of apoptosis and activity of antioxidant enzymes in blood

The effects of smoking on the contents of the apoptosis markers Bcl-2 and p53 proteins in blood plasma; the activity of the antioxidant (AO) enzymes Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GP), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and catalase; and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in erythrocytes from healthy donors and cancer patients were studied. Two groups of donors were revealed among healthy smokers: one with high SOD and GP activities and high Bcl-2 protein levels and the other with lower Bcl-2 levels compared with those found in nonsmokers. In the group of cancer patients (both smokers and nonsmokers), significantly increased p53 protein levels and increased activity of GST were found. A negative correlation between MDA and GST in the group of smoking healthy donors and a positive correlation between MDA and p53 in cancer patients were found. The results suggest a relationship between the components of enzymatic defence and lipid peroxidation and the content of apoptosis regulator proteins in healthy smokers and cancer patients.     

Chemometric Evaluation of Elemental Imbalances in the Scalp Hair of Valvular Heart Disease Patients in Comparison with Healthy Donors

The present study deals with the plausible association between the trace elemental imbalances and the emergence of valvular heart disease (VHD). A total of 14 elements including Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr and Zn in the scalp hair of VHD patients and healthy donors were analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrophometry employing wet acid digestion methodology. Median levels of Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn and Sr in the scalp hair of patients were significantly higher compared to those of the healthy donors, while the median concentrations of K and Na were found to be considerably higher in the scalp hair of the healthy donors. In addition, substantially elevated Cu/Zn value in patients indicated the prevalence of inflammatory processes inside the body. The correlation coefficients among the elements in the hair of VHD patients were significantly diverse compared to those of the healthy donors. Multivariate statistical methods showed noticeably dissimilar apportionment of the elements in the two groups. Variations in the elemental levels were also observed with gender, habitat, dietary/smoking habits and occupations of both donor groups. Overall, the study revealed significant imbalances among the essential and toxic elements in the scalp hair of VHD patients compared to those of the healthy subjects.     

Effect of the functional state of the internal organs on the pharmacokinetics of benzylpenicillin in angina]

The levels of benzylpenicillin on its intramuscular administration in doses of 100000 or 200000 units, as well as the renal and hepatic functions and the antibiotic binding by the host protein components were studied in 44 angina patients and 29 healthy persons. The benzylpenicillin levels were always markedly higher in the angina cases than those in the healthy persons. The ratio of the free and protein bound fractions of the antibiotic in the above groups was practically the same. At the same time the amount of benzylpenicillin excreted with the urine was higher in the angina patients than in the healthy persons approximately by 2 times. The study of the function of the internal organs revealed a marked decrease in the daily diuresis in all the angina patients and microhematuria in the 1/4 of the cases. The impairment of the renal function was determined by the laboratory methods practically in all the patients. On the basis of the data obtained it was concluded that the increased benzylpenicillin levels in the angina cases were connected with a decreased capacity for inactivating this substance by the liver enzymatic systems due to the changed function of this organ. The fact of the increased antibiotics levels in the host is considered as a positive phenomenon providing inhibition of the disease causative agents resistant to usual concentrations of the drug.     

The determination in saliva of IgA antibodies to Shigella ribosomes for the diagnosis of dysentery

The levels of antiribosomal antibodies to Shigella ribosomes in serum and saliva samples from 38 dysentery patients (15 S. sonnei cases and 23 S. flexneri cases), 14 patients with salmonellosis and 136 healthy adults were determined in ELISA with ribosomes from S. sonnei R-mutant used as solid-phase antigen. High levels of "normal" antiribosomal IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies were revealed in the sera of healthy persons while the level of salivary IgA antibodies was very low. In dysentery infection no increase in the levels of serum IgG and IgM antibodies and only a slight increase in the level of IgA antibodies were revealed. Local immune response was manifested by the early (on days 2-4 from the onset of infection) and significant augmentation (12- to 16-fold) of salivary antiribosomal IgA antibodies. An increase in the level of these antibodies was registered in 95-100% of dysentery patients but not in patients with salmonellosis, which made it possible to recommend the method for diagnosing shigellosis. Immune response to Shigella ribosomal antigens, in contrast to the response induced by Shigella O-antigen, is almost exclusively local.     

Estimation of localization and dipole moment of alpha- and theta-rhythm sources by cluster analysis in healthy subjects and schizophrenics

In 12 healthy subjects and 9 schizophrenic patients in the background conditions (with eyes closed) EEG was recorded from 16 standard derivations (10-20 system) during 3 min. The record underwent the spectral analysis detecting alpha- and theta-frequency bands. After the preliminary narrow band filtration for the main frequencies the sources of the spontaneous rhythms were localized. The data on localization for all healthy subjects and patients were summarized. The K-means clustering was used for identification of the sources clusters which were revealed in occipital and parietal lobes and limbic cortex for alpha-rhythm and also in frontal, temporal and parietal regions, limbic cortex and hippocampus for theta-rhythm. In schizophrenic patients in comparison with healthy subjects there was revealed significant increase of the numbers of dipole sources of alpha-rhythm in the clusters localized in limbic cortex and hippocampus. For theta-rhythm there was significant increase of the dipole moment of the sources in the clusters localized in the temporal and frontal cortices and hippocampus in patients in comparison with the norm.     

Frequency of detecting bacteria of the genera Citrobacter and Hafnia in different contingents of examined adults]

A study of the incidence of bacteria of the Citrobacter and Hafnia genus in adults permitted to establish a greater occurrence of the mentioned microbes in the patients with various acute intestinal diseases in comparison with the healthy ones. Bacteria of the Citrobacter and Hafnia genus were revealed in the patients with acute intestinal diseases of obscure etiology, which often were diagnosed as gastroenteritis, enteritis, etc. Bacteria of the Citrobacter and Hafnia genus were revealed in the dysentery patients. Results of studies carried out among various healthy groups of the population indicated no significant differences in respect to the carrier state of the Citrobacter and Hafnia bacteria both within each of the groups of the persons examined and between them. Further studies directed to the investigation of the etiological role of bacteria of the Citrobacter and Hafnia genus in the pathology of enteric disturbances are necessary.     

Segmental structure of the EEG alpha activity in adolescents with disorders of schizophrenic spectrum

The EEG records of 39 healthy adolescents and 45 age-matched schizophrenic patients were analyzed. The broad-band EEG spectral analysis and segmental analysis of the alpha-activity revealed significant differences between the groups. Schizophrenics differed in a decreased spectral power for the alpha2 and betal frequency bands and increased power for the delta and theta bands. Also, in schizophrenic adolescents, quasi-stationary alpha-rhythm segments were longer, and within-segmental EEG amplitudes were higher than in the healthy subjects; the amplitude variability and the steepness of transitions between neighbor segments were increased. The results of the EEG segmental analysis suggest a disintegration of local cortical neuronal ensembles in schizophrenia.     

The correlation of changes of the optic nerve diameter in the acute retrobulbar neuritis with the brain changes in multiple sclerosis

The aim of this paper is to compare diameter of healthy and affected optic nerve determined by ultrasound with brain lesions in acute retrobulbar neuritis in patients with multiple sclerosis. In this prospective study 20 patients with multiple sclerosis and acute retrobulbar neuritis were examined. Optic nerve diameter was measured by ultrasound. Brain lesions were detected by magnetic resonance. Correlation between demyelinating lesions of the brain in multiple sclerosis and optic nerve diameter was tested by Kruskal-Wallis test. Significant difference in diameter between healthy and affected optic nerve in acute retrobulbar neuritis was found. Demyelinating brain changes examined by magnetic resonance revealed periventricular lesions, subcortical lesions and lesions in corpus callosum. There is statistically significant correlation between optic nerve diameter and number of brain lesions in multiple sclerosis, p < 0.05. Diameter of optic nerve in retrobulbar neuritis measured by ultrasound correlates with brain lesions detected by magnetic resonance in multiple sclerosis.     

Comparative study of the gamma-rhythm in the norm, pre-examination stress and patients with the first depressive episode

The work gives the results of comparative analysis of gamma-rhythm (30-40 Hz) spectral power and synchronization indices in the healthy subjects both in normal situation and before the examination with that of depressive patients with the first episode, in the rest condition and during cognitive tests performance. It is demonstrated that gamma-rhythm spectral power in frontal and temporal areas of depressive patients was significantly higher than that in the norm. In stressful situation the number of differences of healthy subjects from depressive patients decreased in the rest condition and in Kraepelin test. Spatial imagination revealed more significant differences between depressive patients and healthy subjects both in normal and in stressful situations. Gamma-rhythm synchronization level was the same in healthy subjects both in the rest condition and during the tests performance, but in stressful situation it increased in the latter situation as well as in depressive patients. Thus, in the most cases stressful situation decreases the differences of EEG indices between healthy subjects and depressive patients both in the rest condition (by spectral power) and during the tests performance (by both indices). This may point out stress as the "trigger" of depression.     

Molecular analysis of the luminal- and mucosal-associated intestinal microbiota in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

Alterations in the intestinal microbiota have been suggested as an etiological factor in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study used a molecular fingerprinting technique to compare the composition and biodiversity of the microbiota within fecal and mucosal niches between patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS (D-IBS) and healthy controls. Terminal-restriction fragment (T-RF) length polymorphism (T-RFLP) fingerprinting of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was used to perform microbial community composition analyses on fecal and mucosal samples from patients with D-IBS (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 21). Molecular fingerprinting of the microbiota from fecal and colonic mucosal samples revealed differences in the contribution of T-RFs to the microbiota between D-IBS patients and healthy controls. Further analysis revealed a significantly lower (1.2-fold) biodiversity of microbes within fecal samples from D-IBS patients than healthy controls (P = 0.008). No difference in biodiversity in mucosal samples was detected between D-IBS patients and healthy controls. Multivariate analysis of T-RFLP profiles demonstrated distinct microbial communities between luminal and mucosal niches in all samples. Our findings of compositional differences in the luminal- and mucosal-associated microbiota between D-IBS patients and healthy controls and diminished microbial biodiversity in D-IBS fecal samples further support the hypothesis that alterations in the intestinal microbiota may have an etiological role in the pathogenesis of D-IBS and suggest that luminal and mucosal niches need to be investigated.     

Gene analysis of the N-terminal region of the estrogen receptor alpha in preeclampsia

Alterations in the NH(2)-terminal region of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) gene expressed in placental bed tissue may be implicated in the development of preeclampsia, the pathogenesis of which involves the spiral arteries. Therefore, mutations and polymorphisms on exons 1 and 2 of the gene encoding ERalpha were studied. Placental bed biopsies were taken from 20 healthy, normotensive pregnant women and 16 preeclamptic patients. DNA was extracted from the tissue and exon 1 and exon 2 were amplified by PCR prior to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis or to single stranded conformational polymorphism analysis. In exon 1, a codon 10 polymorphism, either homozygous for the wild type gene, homozygous for the mutant type gene, or heterozygous, was revealed in both patients and healthy individuals. A codon 87 polymorphism, homozygous for the wild type gene, was detected in both groups. No mutations or polymorphisms were found in exon 2. The allele distribution for either codon 10 or 87 between patients and healthy individuals showed no significant differences. In conclusion, genetic alterations in the NH(2)-terminal region of the ERalpha molecule are not correlated with preeclampsia.     

The lack of effect of bupropion HCL (Wellbatrin) on the secretion of growth hormone and prolactin in humans

The effect of bupropion HCL (Wellbatrin), a new anti-depressant, on the secretion of GH and PRL in healthy male subjects and male hyperprolactinaemic patients was studied. The study was a randomised double-blind test in which 6 subjects and 6 patients who had been treated with neuroleptics were each, in accordance with the random plan, treated once with placebo and once with 200 mg bupropion p.o.. After administration of the test substance, blood was drawn to measure bupropion, GH and PRL up to 240 minutes thereafter. Neither in the healthy men nor in the patients could a specific effect of bupropion on the secretion of GH be shown in comparison to placebo although bupropion in all subjects and patients was well reabsorbed. As opposed to the results of Stern et al. (5), no change in the secretion of PRL was measured in either the healthy subjects or the hyperprolactinaemic patients. In addition, no change in the TRH-induced stimulation of PRL could be measured. The results of the present study offer no positive contribution towards an explanation of the mechanism of bupropion.     

The Prevalence and Magnitude of Impaired Cutaneous Sensation across the Hand in the Chronic Period Post-Stroke

Sensation is commonly impaired immediately post-stroke but little is known about the long-term changes in cutaneous sensation that have the capacity to adversely impact independence and motor-function. We investigated cutaneous sensory thresholds across the hand in the chronic post-stroke period. Cutaneous sensation was assessed in 42 community-dwelling stroke patients and compared to 36 healthy subjects. Sensation was tested with calibrated monofilaments at 6 sites on the hand that covered the median, ulnar and radial innervation territories and included both glabrous (hairless) and hairy skin. The motor-function of stroke patients was assessed with the Wolf Motor Function Test and the upper-limb motor Fugl-Meyer Assessment. Impaired cutaneous sensation was defined as monofilament thresholds >3 SD above the mean of healthy subjects and good sensation was ≤3 SD. Cutaneous sensation was impaired for 33% of patients and was 40–84% worse on the more-affected side compared to healthy subjects depending on the site (p<0.05). When the stroke patient data were pooled cutaneous sensation fell within the healthy range, although ∼1/3 of patients were classified with impaired sensation. Classification by motor-function revealed low levels of impaired sensation. The magnitude of sensory loss was only apparent when the sensory-function of stroke patients was classified as good or impaired. Sensation was most impaired on the dorsum of the hand where age-related changes in monofilament thresholds are minimal in healthy subjects. Although patients with both high and low motor-function had poor cutaneous sensation, overall patients with low motor-function had poorer cutaneous sensation than those with higher motor-function, and relationships were found between motor impairments and sensation at the fingertip and palm. These results emphasize the importance of identifying the presence and magnitude of cutaneous sensory impairments in the chronic period after stroke.     

The peculiarities of polymorphism of XPD and XRCC1 repair genes in cells of Down and Ehlers-Danlo syndrome patients characterized by increased radiosensitivity

Codon 312 and 751 polymorphisms ofXPD gene and codon 399 polymorphism of XRCC1 gene of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with Down syndrome (DS) (46 individuals), Ehlers-Danlo syndrome (EDS) (47 individuals) and in a group of healthy donors (control) (40 individuals) have been studied. Frequency of XPD genotype (G312G) coding for the most effectively functioning form of XPD protein was lower in patients with DS (26%) than in a group of healthy donors (42.5%) (p = 0.035), whereas no significant differences with the control were revealed for this codon in patients with EDS. No patients with XPD genotype (C751C) (p = 0.036) were revealed in a group of EDS patients, while this genotype was found in 16% of a group of healthy donors and in 17% of patients with DS. The trend of XRCC1 genotype frequency reduction (A399A) (p = 0.085) in EDS patients (3.9%) compared with the group of healthy donors (13.5%) and DS patients (13.3%) has been obtained. These data show that polymorphisms of the excision repair genes under study are accompanied by an elevated individual radio sensitivity in patients with DS. Genes investigated (their polymorphic variants) did not participate in the mechanisms for radio sensitive phenotype formation in EDS patients.     

胃转流术对2型糖尿病患者近期肠道菌群的影响

目的研究2型糖尿病患者行胃转流术前后肠道菌群是否发生变化。方法收集30例2型糖尿病患者术前和术后粪便,测肠道菌群,以25例健康志愿者的粪便为对照组。结果 2型糖尿病患者的肠杆菌较健康人增多,双歧杆菌较正常人减少,胃转流术后双歧杆菌增加,肠杆菌减少。结论 2型糖尿病患者出现肠道菌群失调,胃转流术后控制了血糖,双歧杆菌数量增加。