Effects of olfactory stimuli on students with different tones of the autonomic nervous system

The effect of olfactory stimuli was determined on students (men and women) with different tones of the autonomic nervous system under moderate psychoemotional stress conditions (before an academic test). It was found that the direction of changes in the heart rate variability values of students after olfactory stimulation is determined by the initial tone of the autonomic nervous system. The conclusion was made that olfactory stimuli may be used for correcting psychoemotional stress in students more efficiently if the tone of the autonomic nervous system is taken into consideration.     

Changes in parameters of tachography and heart rate variability in students differing in the level of psychoemotional stress and type of temperament during an academic test week

Female students were examined to evaluate the effect of a test week on the parameters of tachography and heart rate variability depending on their initial psychoemotional stress level and type of temperament. A test week was shown to be a rather weak stressor, which virtually did not affect the psychological status of the students. However, their autonomic status clearly changed during the test week. This was caused by activation of the sympathetic autonomic system and was observed in both the students with a favorable psychoemotional state and choleric and sanguine subjects.     

Clinical diagnosis, biochemical findings and MRI spectrum of peroxisomal disorders

Peroxisomal disorders are an important group of neurometabolic diseases. The clinical presentation is varied in terms of age of onset, severity, and different neurological symptoms. The clinical course spans from death in infancy, rapid functional decline, slow decline on long-term followup, to apparent stable course. Leukoencephalopathy and developmental anomalies are characteristic findings on cerebral MR imaging. From a diagnostic point of view the disorders can be clinically subdivided into four broad categories: (1) the Zellweger spectrum disorders and the peroxisomal ?-oxidation disorders, (2) the rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata spectrum disorders, (3) the X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy/adrenomyeloneuropathy complex and (4) the remaining disorders. This article discusses the role of MRI findings in the clinical approach of peroxisomal disorders with neurological disease. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Metabolic Functions and Biogenesis of peroxisomes in Health and Disease.     

Emotional Stress in Students during Examinations

The psychoemotional reactions of students caused by examinations were studied on the basis of a modern theory of emotions by means of a complex of modern psychophysiological methods. To study the role of probabilistic forecasting of results in the development of the psychoemotional state, each student was asked to predict his or her mark. Groups were formed based on the difference between the expectations and the actual mark. In general, examination-induced emotional stress in students was characterized by a complex of psychophysiological and autonomic changes depending on the probabilistic estimation of the mark, preparedness for the examination, and the result. The theoretic aspect of the study was related to the development of the concept of emotion genesis. The practical aspect included educational process optimization in order to improve the psychoemotional status of students.     

Compensatory Reserves of the Human Body and Population Health under Conditions of Exposure to Chronic Anthropogenic Factors and Prolonged Psychoemotional Stress

Long-term exposure to adverse factors of various origin and intensity is expected to cause a significant decrease in the compensatory reserves and adaptive capacity of the human body. These changes deteriorate the population health status in general. A quantitative method of evaluation of the decrease in the compensatory reserves and adaptive capacity, as well as the resistance to chronic exposure to extreme factors of various origin and intensity, was developed. This method is based on the concept of stress and programmable nonspecific physiological reactions of the human body put forward by H. Selye. Model analytical curves of the time-related decrease in the volume of compensatory reserves and the increase in the probability of development of adaptive disorders and failure of the adaptation process were calculated for the cases of long-term exposure to various stressors (the factors were applied individually or in combination). This method allowed the levels of population health risk induced by various factors to be compared to each other. This is of particular importance under conditions of the existing trend toward an increase in the intensity of anthropogenic stress factors against the background of long-term psychoemotional stress. Statistical data on changes in the rates of morbidity and mortality and the life expectancy of Russian people for the period 1960–2000 were analyzed. The levels of risk of the negative impact on population health induced by various stress factors (radiation, chemical environmental pollution, and long-term psychoemotional stress) were compared to each other.     

Interaction of psychoemotional state and activity of the immune system

As shown, there are direct and reverse functional connections between nervous and immune systems. Different shifts in psychoemotional reactivity induced by chronic stress or mental depression are accompanied with immunological disturbance, and on the contrary, disorders of immune state may be source of changes in mental functions. The pineal hormone melatonin, anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs simultaneously influences on the cerebral structures and immune system. These effects may be important part of specific psychopharmacological activity of the drugs.     

The level of anxiety and state of autonomic regulation depending on the predicted examination grades in students living under unfavorable environmental conditions

The examination situation evokes psychoemotional and autonomic reactions with different degrees of intensity depending on the predicted grades in first-year students living under unfavorable conditions of the middle Ob’ River basin. All the examined students (residents of the middle Ob’ River basin) were found to have a high or super high level of trait and state anxiety. The unfavorable emotional state was accompanied by different degrees of the strengthening of parasympathetic effects on cardiac activity and the tension of regulatory systems that were at a maximum in students who expected a C grade. Irrespective of the predicted result, the highest levels of anxiety and increase in the stress of regulatory systems were observed in female students.     

Nociceptive system response to repetitive painful stimuli during chronic psychoemotional stress in humans

Repeated nocigenic stimuli applied to the skin evoked a hyperalgesia in healthy subjects while in patients with neurasthenia which is a natural model of a chronic psychoemotional stress, they evoked a hyperalgesia accompanied by sensitization. The differences in the nociceptive system responses show particularities in reactivity (plasticity) of a wide dynamic range of the spinal neurons under chronic psychoemotional stress that is due to disorders in supraspinal descending modulation system of plasticity in the spinal nociceptive neurons.     

Effect of chronic stress during prepubertal period of life on development of inherited arterial hypertension

The immediate and long-lasting effects of environmental stress during prepubertal life on arterial blood pressure (AP) were studied in rats with inherited stress-induced arterial hypertension (ISIAH) and normotensive Wistar rats. Two models of chronic stress (the 21st-32nd postnatal days) were used: repeated handling and unpredictable stress of daily exposures to a variety of mild physical or psychoemotional stressors. Chronic prepubertal stress did not affect the basal or stress-induced AP levels in young or adult Wistar rats. In ISIAH rats, chronic stress during the early phase of hypertension development did not accelerate its formation and did not augment its manifestation in adults. Moreover, the basal AP was decreased in young and adult ISIAH rats exposed to prepubertal stress as compared to the age-matched controls. AP elevation under acute stress conditions was lower in young ISIAH rats exposed to unpredictable stress. No long-lasting effect of prepubertal stress on acute stress-induced AP elevation in adults was found. The conclusion was drawn that moderate physical and psychoemotional training at prehypertensive stage can positively affect the development of inherited arterial hypertension.     

关于新生儿缺血缺氧性脑病的研究进展

新生儿缺血缺氧性脑病(hypoxia-ischemia encephalopathy,HIE)是指围产期窒息导致脑的缺血缺氧性损害,临床出现一系列中枢神经系统异常的表现,部分患儿可留有不同程度的神经系统后遗症,如脑瘫、癫痫、认知和运动功能发育障碍等,至今仍是导致新生儿死亡以及神经发育障碍的一大原因。HIE的发病机制复杂,是一个多环节、多因素的病理生理过程。单一治疗措施很难彻底治愈,需多种治疗措施联合使用,才能取得更好疗效。HIE发病迅速,病情进展快,治疗过程中应积极把握治疗"时间窗"。临床上目前应用最广泛的治疗方法是亚低温结合其他对症治疗措施。新生儿HIE难以有效预防,及时正确评估新生儿出生时状态,尽早发现异常并进行治疗是改善HIE预后最有效的方法。本文就HIE的病因,诊断,治疗和预后等方面的进展进行介绍。     

Psychophysiological condition of first-year students with different levels of physical activity

The psychophysiological condition of first-year students (males) going or not going in for sport in the course of training was investigated. Baevskii’s method was used to determine the level of stress of regulatory mechanisms. The functional level of the nervous system, the stability of neural responses, and the level of functional abilities of the developed functional system were evaluated using the variation chronoreflexometric method. It was established that an improvement in the mental capacity parameters (increased mental capacity, reduction in the number of errors, an increase in the level of functional abilities, and shortening of the latent period of visuomotor response) was accompanied by an increase of stress of the body regulatory systems, which was more marked in individuals with a low level of physical activity. This fact indicates that physical activity reduces the cost of the adaptation of the body to permanently changing environmental conditions. The optimal human adaptive systemic reactions are ensured by the dynamic interaction of the functional systems forming complex correlations in the somatic, autonomic, motor, and psychoemotional spheres of the body’s activity.     

The influence of examination stress on psychophysiological characteristics and heart rate in students

With the aim to assess the influence of pre-examination psychoemotional stress on the level of centralization of the heart rate control, mathematical analysis of ECG of students was performed in normal condition (a common day of academic semester), before, and after an examination. The ECG was recorded and processed with the help of IBM-486 PC. R-R cardiointevalograms were processed by the method of variational pulsometry after Baevsky. Common quantitative heart rate indices were studied. The level of anxiety of students was assessed by Spilberger, and subjective estimations of general condition, activity and mood were obtained from the respective questionnaire. Three types of heart rate reactions on the examination stress were revealed. The reactions depended on the individual typological characteristics and the state of autonomic nervous system.     

Demonstration of viral proteins and RNA in hypothalamus of mice infected by canine distemper virus]

There are a number of reports suggesting that neurological disorders may be due to infectious agents, such as viruses. In order to study the role of viruses on cellular plasticity in the central nervous system, we established a model of virus infection in the mouse. Inoculation of mouse with canine distemper virus (CDV) led to an acute encephalitis, late neurological disorders and an obesity syndrome. To analyse the role of viral replication on the development of this syndrome we studied the cerebral distribution of viral products during the course of infection. Viral proteins and RNA accumulated in mouse brain from the 9th day to the 6th week post-inoculation, particularly in hypothalamus, a cerebral structure implicated in obesity. Such selective viral tropism may explain some of the unexpected features of viral-induced disorders.     

The effect of psychoemotional state on Lewis lung carcinoma metastasis

The effect of a depression-like status formed by chronic stress on development of Lewis lung carcinoma metastases in C57Bl/6J mice was investigated. Two types of acute stress (restraint and social stress) were used for comparison. The depression-like status was induced by eight-week exposure to repeated but unpredictable stressors (chronic mild stress model) and was assessed in the forced swim test. Tumor cells were inoculated an hour after the onset of social stressor or immediately after physical or chronic stressor impacts. The number of metastases was counted 17 days after the inoculation. The results indicate that chronic mild stress provokes the development of a depression-like state in mice and causes a twofold increase in the number of metastases in the lungs, while both types of acute stress have no such effects. Thus, a depression-like psychoemotional status of animals enhances the metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma.     

Peculiarities of behavior of offspring of rats-ambidexters surviving vital stress

Psychogenic trauma inflicted to mothers (Wistar rats) during pregnancy is more tragic for establishment of psychoemotional functions in offspring than in the rat pups whose mothers survived prior to pregnancy the stress connected with threat of life. The “antenatal stress” causes in the one-month-old offspring the depression-like behavior, while the stress one month prior to impregnation—the increased anxiety. Disturbances of the integral behavior in the test “open field” can be caused both by the acute psychogenic trauma of mothers and by its delayed consequences. The sharp impoverishment of behavior and the more pronounced psychoemotional disturbances are realized in female individuals regardless of the terms of action. In the male offspring the vital stress during their mothers’ pregnancy produces the rougher behavioral disturbances, than stress prior to impregnation.     

Integrated evaluation of the influence of a northern environment on human metabolism and physiological and psychoemotional states

A socially uniform group of apparently healthy people aged 30–59 years who live in cities of the European North (62°N) was examined. During the course of a year, blood metabolites, parameters of functioning of the cardiovascular system, the psychoemotional state, and actual nutrition were studied monthly. An optimal state of metabolism and physiological systems was found in May and December, whereas, during the winter-spring and autumn-winter periods, the maintenance of energy homeostasis was subjected to stress. Analysis of the data obtained helped to evaluate the key aspects in the adaptation of the body to seasonal changes in environmental factors: the role of anaerobic and aerobic oxidative processes in the maintenance of temperature homeostasis and the relationship between metabolic changes and cardiovascular system functioning and the psychoemotional state.     

Neurologic complications of cardiac transplantation.

Between 1984 and 1989, orthotopic cardiac transplantations were done in 90 patients from 10 to 65 years of age for end-stage, refractory congestive cardiomyopathy. Two patients had had ischemic strokes 5 months and 18 years, respectively, before transplantation. Six patients (7%) suffered acute neurologic events perioperatively. Three patients suffered cerebral infarctions. In 1 case this occurred 10 days before transplantation--probably as a result of systemic hypoperfusion--with the placement of ventricular assist devices. Two others suffered infarctions 5 and 21 days, respectively, after transplantation, each of probable embolic origin. Two patients had an acute intracerebral hemorrhage 21 and 36 days, respectively, after transplantation; both were located within the basal ganglia and subcortical regions. Both patients had moderate to severe hypertension, and in 1, renal failure and a coagulopathy developed before hemorrhage. Tremor, seizures, and an altered level of consciousness developed in 1 patient as an apparent toxic reaction to cyclosporine treatment. Only 1 patient died as a result of the neurologic complication--of an acute intracerebral hemorrhage. Three patients recovered fully, 2 partially. Only the case of drug toxicity could be directly attributed to the transplantation procedure itself. We conclude that the risk of an acute neurologic insult with orthotopic cardiac transplantation is low but may result from drug toxicity, cerebral ischemia, or hemorrhagic mechanisms.     

Modifying effects of neurotropin on post-radiation disorders of neuromediator processes in the autonomic function regulation centers

In experiments on Wistar rats, it was shown that 6 months after exposure to ionizing radiation (X-radiation 0.5 Gy and intraperitoneal 131I 6.5 mCu/kg) the hypothyroid state was accompanied by changes in inhibitory and excitatory mediation that are characteristic of chronic radiation stress in cerebral structures responsible for regulation of autonomic and animal functions and a relative deficiency of the hypothalamopituitary-adrenocortical axis. Application of therapeutic doses of neurotropin 3 months after radiation levelled the pattern of chronic radiation stress and diencephalic disorders that underlie disturbances of some systemic functions of the organism.     

Neuroprotective effect of pioglitazone on acute phase changes induced by partial global cerebral ischemia in mice

Present study was carried out to investigate the possible neuroprotective effect of pioglitazone, an antidiabetic agent, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist on acute phase changes in mice model of cerebral ischemia induced by Bilateral Common Carotid artery Occlusion (BCCAO). BCCAO model was used to induce partial global cerebral ischemia. BCCAO induced significant brain infarct size and edema in saline treated control group along with high increase in oxidative stress showed by increase lipid peroxidation and decreased levels of antioxidants like superoxide superoxide dismutage, catalase, glutathione peroxidase. Pioglitazone (20 mg/kg, orally) administration showed neuroprotective effects by reducing cerebral infarct size significantly as compared to control group. Postischemic seizure susceptibility was also reduced as number of positive responders decreased to a significant number. Brain edema was subsided to a significant level. Pioglitazone reduced the plasma TNF-alpha levels as compared to ischemia group significantly. Pioglitazone treatment also improved all the antioxidants levels showing activity against oxidative stress induced by BCCAO. Pioglitazone showed neuroprotection against ischemic insult suggesting the role of PPARgamma agonist in neuroprotective agents.     

Interactive effects of task difficulty and personality on mood and heart rate variability

Susceptibility to stress would presumably be different from person to person and be affected by the cause of the given stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactive effects of task difficulty and subject's personality on mood and autonomic nervous function when stress was induced experimentally by tasks involving 3 degrees of difficulty: easy (Task A), difficult but controllable (Task B), and very difficult and uncontrollable (Task C). Twelve healthy female subjects volunteered for the experiment. We assessed their personalities using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) questionnaire. Mood states were evaluated by a profile of mood states and a frontal alpha laterality ratio (FALR). Autonomic nervous function was estimated by a spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Repeated measures analysis of variance applied to two groups (low- and high-) divided by a median split of MMPI clinical scales, revealed significant interactions of time course x task difficulty x Hs (hypochondriasis) in FALR and time course x task difficulty x Pt (psychasthenia) in a low-frequency component and in a high-frequency component of HRV, and in FALR. The differences between low- and high-Hs, and low- and high-Pt were more obvious in Task B session. High-Hs group, whose members tend to place overemphasis on existing physical disorders, showed more negative FALR throughout the session, which would indicate prolonged negative mood possibly due to the task. High-Pt group, whose members tend to be susceptible to stress, showed sympathetic predominance during task period and parasympathetic predominance after task period, which would imply a tendency to overreact. These results suggest that task difficulties would affect mood states assessed by FALR and/or autonomic nervous function differently depending on the subject's personality, especially on Hs and Pt.