Some Neurophysiological Correlates of Altered Mental States in Labor: Report II. Features of the Superslow Phasic Processes

A group of parturient women (n= 45) was divided into subgroups of subjects with a large and small number of signs of an altered mental state (AMS and NAMS, respectively) during and after labor, according to data of a special psychological questionnaire. The background EEG and the superslow phasic electric processes (SSPP) of the head surface were recorded simultaneously in 16 monopolar leads before and after labor. The parameters of autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions of the processes were calculated. Highly significant differences were found among the subgroups in the parameters of dynamics and spatial synchronization of the SSPP, related, in particular, to the activity of the anterofrontal zones of both hemispheres and of the temporal zones of the right hemisphere. The differences between the AMS and NAMS subgroups were revealed on the basis of the different extents of the unidirectional deviations from the SSPP parameters in the reference group of healthy nulliparous women. The pattern of interrelations of the investigated parameters of the EEG and the SSPP confirms the hypothesis that functional changes in the brain during the adaptation of women to pregnancy termination and physiological labor correlate with a special mental state.     

Neurophysiological and Psychophysiological Effects of Sulpiride in the Norm and in Patients with Opiate Addiction

We studied characteristics of the EEG activity and psychophysiological indices in healthy persons and patients with opiate addiction (in the states of abstinence and remission) before and after peroral introduction of 200 mg sulpiride. In the initial state, spectral characteristics of EEG in patients with opiate addiction differed from those in the control (in healthy tested subjects) by higher relative powers of low- and high-frequency components (delta and beta waves) and a considerable depression of the alpha rhythm. Treatment with sulpiride evoked changes in the spectral characteristics of EEG, which showed a significant intergroup specificity; intensification of alpha oscillations was a general effect in all groups. We conclude that the effects of sulpiride on the EEG activity comprised components typical of both neuroleptics and antidepressants; in the group of patients in the abstinence state, the pattern of effects of sulpiride was close in its profile to the effect of anxiolytics. Dynamics of the indices of psychophysiological testing after sulpiride treatment demonstrated that the drug exerts mostly positive regulating effects on the state of higher nervous functions in patients with opiate addiction.     

Effects of gender and age on thixotropic properties of whole blood from healthy adult subjects

The thixotropic parameters of whole blood from 314 healthy subjects (154 women, 160 men) were measured with our modified method by Low shear 30 Rheometer and calculated according Huang's equation. This communication offered the reference range of thixotropic parameters from man and woman group. The results demonstrated that no significant differences existed in the plasma viscosity and fibrinogen between man and woman group. Man group had statistically higher values in HCT, yield stress (tau 0), Newtonian contribution of viscosity (mu), non-Newtonian contribution of viscosity (eta s--mu), apparent viscosity at 2.37 sec-1 (eta s), the equilibrium value of the structural parameter (A) and apparent kinetic rate constant of rouleaux breakdown (ARC) than those in woman group. The man and woman groups could be separately divided into five subgroups in terms of age. It was found that the levels of fibrinogen and plasma viscosity had a tendency of increasing with aging. In the old subgroup (greater than 60 years) of men and women HCT, tau v, mu, eta s, (eta s--mu) and A had significant lower values than those in young and middle-age subgroups. However, it was very interested that there were differences of ARC versus age between man group and woman group, i.e. ARC in the man subgroup II, IV had lower and the woman subgroup II, III, IV had higher values than their respective older subgroup did.     

Locus of Psychological Control and Characteristics of the EEG Frequency Components

In a group including 65 adults of both sexes, we examined correlations of the internal/external personality type (locus of psychological control diagnosed by the Rotter questionnaire) with parameters of the EEG frequency components (rhythms). Multichannel recording of ongoing EEG was carried out in the resting state; leads were located according to the 10-20 system. Despite natural high interindividual variability, the subgroup of internals was, in general, characterized by higher spectral powers (SPs) of the δ, θ, α, and β1 rhythms and a lower SPs of β2 and γ oscillations recorded in the resting state with the eyes closed. In internals, the modal frequencies of practically all EEG ranges were, on average, somewhat lower. In this subgroup, reaction of EEG activation related to opening of the eyes was stronger, while the interhemisphere asymmetry was weaker.     

分离自杭子梢等3个宿主的根瘤菌的表型分析*

对86株分离自杭子梢、决明和菜豆的根瘤菌及20株已知参比菌进行了数值分类和全细胞蛋白SDS-PAGE的表型分析。在数值分类聚类中,所有供试菌在68％的相似性水平上分为两群。群I为快生和中侵生根瘤菌,群Ⅱ为慢生根瘤菌。群I在85％的相似性水平上又可分为3个亚群,群Ⅱ在76％的相似性水平上分为3个亚群。蛋白电泳结果表明,群I在68％的相似性水平上,分为4个亚群,其中亚群1和亚群2相当于数值分类中的亚群1,亚群3和亚群4与数值分类中的亚群2和亚群3相对应;群Ⅱ在59％的相似性水平上分为3个亚群,分别与数值分类中的亚群3、亚群1和亚群2大致对应。这说明两种方法在分类上得到的结果比较接近。正在通过进一步的实验确定两种方法一致的未与已知菌株聚在一起的亚群的分类地位。研究结果还表明,三种宿主的根瘤菌存在着多样性。     

Obstetric outcome in homeless women.

OBJECTIVE--To characterise the pregnant homeless population booking and delivering at St Mary''s Hospital, London, and ascertain whether their obstetric outcome was adversely affected by their homeless condition. DESIGN--Retrospective comparison of demographic characteristics of 185 homeless women booking for delivery with those of housed women booking in the same period and with the population of North West Thames region; comparison of obstetric performance of homeless women with subgroup of the housed population (group matched for age, parity, and ethnic origin). SETTING--Consultant obstetric unit, St Mary''s Hospital, London. SUBJECTS--All women booking between April 1987 and March 1988 who subsequently had a registrable birth. MAIN RESULTS--185 (8%) Of the 2308 women studied were homeless. Compared with the housed population, they had a larger proportion of young women, women of high parity, and Indo-Pakistani women and a smaller proportion of primiparas. Homeless women booked later and had had more previous obstetric problems than housed women. Pregnancy outcome (assessed by birth weight and prematurity rates) was worse than that of both women housed locally and the regional population. Antenatal attendance, complications, intrapartum performance, and perinatal outcome of homeless women did not differ from those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS--This study has been unable to show any significant differences in the outcome of pregnancy in homeless women that can be directly attributed to living in bed and breakfast accommodation, but these women have sociodemographic characteristics and obstetric risk factors that contribute to a poorer outcome in pregnancy than for the general population.     

Does the blood platelet phagocytic capacity depend on the sex and plasma thrombopoietic activity?

In 16 men and 25 women we tested the phagocytic activity of blood platelets. In women a higher phagocytosis index, increased blood platelet count and lower percentage of phagocytizing cells could be noted in comparison to men. Blood platelet count was significantly higher in women than in men. From this group we chose 10 men and 10 women and determined the plasma thrombopoietic activity. The results obtained were divided into two subgroups A with high and B low plasma thrombopoietic activity. In subgroup A a higher blood platelet count and phagocytosis index and a decreased percentage of phagocytizing platelets in relation to subgroup B could be found. The phagocytic activity of blood platelets in relation to sex and plasma thrombopoietic activity is briefly discussed. The role of blood platelets in antibacterial mechanisms is emphasized.     

Physiological correlates of individual differences in decision-making time during purposeful mental activity in humans

EEG correlates of individual differences in decision-making time were studied in subjects performing the task of memorizing and subsequently reproducing, on a monitor screen, a sequence of signals. Forty-six students were volunteers in the study, carried out with the use of an original computer-aided technique. Pioneering data on the individual specificity of physiological processes underlying human mental activity were obtained. Individual differences in EEG characteristics related to differences in the temporal parameters of the decision-making stage were found. In a situation directly preceding the activity, subjects characterized by a short decision-making time exhibited higher powers of the Δ (in the occipital, parietal, and central cortical areas) and θ-(in both the central and the right frontal and temporal areas) EEG rhythms. The subjects with a short decision-making time differed from those with a long decision-making time in a higher power of the θ rhythm in the right temporal area during memorization and an increased θ rhythm power in the frontal areas during reproduction of a signal sequence.     

Modulation of High-Frequency EEG Rhythms under Conditions of the Activation Reaction: Dependence on Psychological Characteristics of Personality

In a group of 118 adults of both sexes, we studied modulation of high-frequency EEG rhythms (β and γ components) under conditions of EEG activation related to opening of the eyes. Typical changes in the α rhythm (significant depression in the overwhelming majority of the tested subjects) was accompanied by different (in direction and intensity) shifts of the spectral powers (SPs) of the β and γ components in different subjects. The power of the β1 subcomponent under conditions of the activation reaction increased in 6 persons and dropped in 109 persons; changes in this index in two hemispheres were opposite in their directions in 3 subjects. Thus, changes in the β1 SP upon opening of the eyes were nearly parallel to those of the α rhythm but less intense. The subgroups differentiated according to the pattern of reactivity of the β2 subcomponent included 23, 85, and 10 subjects; for the γ rhythm, the corresponding numbers were 31, 72, and 8. In other words, the patterns of reactivity of β2 and γ oscillations were rather similar to each other but differed significantly from the pattern for the β1 rhythm. Values of the differential coefficients of reactivity (DCRs) of the β1, β2, and γ rhythms demonstrated significant correlations that were especially close for the β2 and γ activity. Within the entire examined group, we found significant negative correlations of the DCR values for β and γ activities with the estimates of some psychological characteristics of the subjects (levels of neuroticism, psychoticism, plasticity, self-control of behavior, and some others) measured using the RTS (Strelau), EPQ (Eysenck), OST (Rusalov), and 16PF (Kettel) questionnaires. The dispersion analysis demonstrated that the above-mentioned subgroups of the subjects (with increase and decrease in the SPs of the β and γ rhythms in both hemispheres and opposite changes of these indices in the right and left hemisphere) showed significant or close to significant specific intergroup differences of a few mean values of the psychological characteristics estimated according to the above questionnaires. Possible mechanisms of modulation of high-frequency EEG components under conditions of the reaction of EEG activation and relations of such changes to the psychological characteristics of the personality are discussed.     

Induction of emotional states during oral reading of texts with different emotional valence and EEG power dynamics in frequency bands beta2 and gamma

EEG power in frequency bands beta2 (18.5-29.5 Hz) and low gamma (30-40 Hz) was compared for situations while reading aloud with the technique "self-regulative utterance" texts as follow: a text with neutral emotional-semantic dominant; literary texts with either a positive or a negative emotional-semantic dominant; personal texts--recollections with similar dominants. Two groups of healthy subjects participated--a group of actor students (N=22) and a group of non-actor students (N=23). EEG power values in the states of emotiogenic texts reading are reproducibly differed with statistical significance from those in the state of reading ofa non-emotiogenic text. States of reading emotionally-positive texts are characterized by increases of EEG power in these bands, while those for emotionally negative texts--by decreases if compared with the state of emotionally neutral reading.     

经会阴实时三维盆底超声评估不同分娩方式对产后女性前腔室结构和盆膈裂孔的影响

摘要 目的：探讨经会阴实时三维盆底超声评估不同分娩方式对产后女性前腔室结构和盆膈裂孔的影响。方法：回顾性分析2015年1月至2019年10月在我院接受检查的100例产妇的诊治资料。根据分娩方式的不同,将患者分为经阴道分娩组（n=55）和剖宫产分娩组（n=45）。比较两组产妇在静息状态和Valsalva状态下的前腔室和盆膈裂孔超声参数。结果：在静息状态下,两组的膀胱颈位置、逼尿肌厚度、膀胱后角和尿道倾斜角相比无差异（P>0.05）。经阴道分娩组在Valsalva状态下的膀胱颈移动度和尿道旋转角均大于剖宫产分娩组,尿道内口漏斗形成率和膀胱膨出率均高于剖宫产分娩组（P<0.05）。在Valsalva状态下,经阴道分娩组的盆膈裂孔前后径、左右径、面积和周长均大于剖宫产分娩组（P<0.05）;在静息状态下,两组的上述指标相比,差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论：应用经会阴实时三维盆底超声技术观察产妇前腔室结构和盆膈裂孔的参数变化,可评估产妇盆底功能受损的程度,经阴道分娩对其影响较大。     

New insights into the circadian rhythm of acute myocardial infarction in subgroups

The aim of this study was to determine the existence of the circadian rhythm (CR) in the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in different patient subgroups. Information was collected about 41,244 infarctions from the database of the ARIAM (Analysis of Delay in AMI) Spanish multicenter study. CR in AMI were explored in subgroups of cases categorized by age, gender, previous ischemic heart disease (PIHD), outcome in coronary care unit, infarction electrocardiograph (ECG) characteristics (Q wave or non-Q wave), and location of AMI. Cases were classified according to these variables in the different subgroups. To verify the presence of CR, a simple test of equality of time series based on the multiple-sinusoid (24, 12, and 8 h periods) cosinor analysis was developed. For the groups as a whole, the time of pain onset as an indicator of the AMI occurrence showed a CR (p<0.0001), with a morning peak at 10:10 h. All the analyzed subgroups also showed CR. Comparison between subgroups showed significant differences in the PIHD (p<0.01) and infarction ECG characteristics (p<0.01) groups. The CR of the subgroup with Q-wave infarction differed from that of non-Q wave subgroup (p<0.01) when the patients had PIHD (23% in Q wave infarction vs. 39.2% in non-Q wave). AMI onset followed a CR pattern, which is also observed in all analyzed subgroups. Differences in the CR according to the Q/non-Q wave infarction characteristics could be determined by PIHD. The cosinor model fit with three components (24, 12, and 8 h periods) showed a higher sensitivity than the single 24 h period analysis.     

Effects of exercise practice on the maintenance of radius bone mineral density in postmenopausal women

The effect of exercise practice on the radius bone mineral density (BMD) was investigated on 480 women at the age of perimenopause and later. The BMD at the 1/3 distal site of the radius on a non-dominant hand was measured using the Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry method. The subjects were divided into group E with regular exercising and group C without regular exercising. The difference of mean radius BMD values was not statistically significant between groups E and C. Each of the groups E and C was further classified into a perimenopause group and groups with stratified postmenopausal years (postmenopausal years less than 5, less than 10 and more than 10). Then, the mean radius BMD value of the perimenopause subgroup was taken as 100% for each of the groups E and C, and the relative radius BMD values of subgroups were compared between groups E and C. The relative BMD values for the subgroup of postmenopausal years more than 10 were higher in E group than those in C group, while no difference was observed in below postmenopausal 10 years between the two groups. To clarify the BMD difference among exercise events, group E was further divided into the following three subgroups: the subgroup practising events which give high-impact to arm (HI group), such as tennis, ping-pong, golf and volleyball, the subgroup practising swimming (SW group), and the subgroup practising events which give low-impact to arm (LI group), such as walking, running, aerobic dance and light gymnastics. No significant differences were observed in BMD values among the above sports event-stratified subgroups when postmenopausal years were less than 10 years, but the relative BMD values for the subgroup of postmenopausal years more than 10 were higher in HI and LI group than those in control group. These results suggest the possibility that exercise practice suppresses a postmenopausal decline in bone density for preventing osteoporosis from developing.     

Adaptive method for EEG spectrum component decomposition

A new computerized method for EEG rhythms extraction is proposed as a development of the idea of adjustable boundaries of frequency components that was put forward in previous investigations. Principle component analysis of the correlation matrix of EEG spectra with subsequent rotation of factor solutions was used for decomposition of a spectrum into physically meaningful spectral components. The method was tested on EEG of 14 healthy subjects recorded in 17 functional waking states. Fourteen independent spectral components in the spectral range from 0 to 100 Hz were extracted and their frequency boundaries were consistent with the current knowledge on frequency components of EEG oscillations. Main advantage of the described method is the adjustable estimation of EEG frequency oscillators taking into account characteristic properties of individual EEGs. Possible area of application might be the correct evaluation of spectral power of the EEG rhythms, EEG coherence and other spectral characteristics in clinical and experimental research, studies of the frequency characteristics of the EEG rhythms in different human functional states, changes in frequency characteristics of the EEG rhythms during maturation and in mental pathology.     

Analysis of probabilistic characteristics of brain biopotentials in healthy humans using electronic computer technology]

Results are given of determination by means of a Minsk-22 electronic computer of the probabilistic characteristics and correlation coefficients for some parameters of the background EEG (frontal-occipital records) in a group of healthy subjects. The parameters studied (the number and amplitude of alpha- and other waves) are subject to the normal law of distribution of random values. A probabilistic model of background EEG has been plotted. Correlations between the factors of the statistic model of background EEG have been studied. The results presented in the paper may prove useful in studying the EEG characteristics and the functional state of the brain.     

Trace Element Concentration in Hair Samples as an Indicator of Exposure of Population in the Negev, Israel

The concentration of the toxic elements Ag, As, Cd, Co, Mn, Mo, Pb, Se, and U and the elements Al, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Zn in human hair samples of population living in the north of the Negev Desert in Israel was determined. The study population consisted of three subgroups: Jewish urban population, Bedouin urban population, and Bedouins living in unrecognized villages (the “dispersion”). The main focus is on the differences between these subgroups in an attempt to explore factors responsible for the variation in trace metal contents in hair samples. The results show that the level of several elements, particularly Ag, Mn, and Pb, in the female Bedouin group significantly differed from the other groups in the study. Exploring the reasons for these differences, we concluded that the lifestyle of those women is the main cause. The female Bedouin subgroup is exposed to heavy metals from kitchen utensils, jewelry, and makeup. Therefore, differences in the heavy metal concentration in the hair samples of this group were attributed to the traditional unique lifestyle and social behavior of the females in the Bedouin society.     

Correlation between level of aggressiveness of personality and characteristics of EEG frequency components

In a group of 80 adults of both sexes, we studied the correlation between the characteristics of aggressiveness of the individual (diagnosed using the Buss-Durkee questionnaire) and parameters of the frequency components (rhythms) of EEG recorded in the resting state from leads C3 and C4 according to the 10–20 system. Despite the natural high interindividual variability, the higher spectral powers of nearly all EEG frequency components (δ-, θ-, α-, and β rhythms) and coefficient of reactivity of the α rhythm corresponded in general to lower indices on the scales of the Buss-Durkee questionnaire and smaller values of the index of aggressiveness and index of hostility. These correlations probably reflect a significant dependence of both characteristics of aggressiveness of personality and amplitude parameters of the EEG rhythms on hereditary factors. Both these aspects of the neurodynamic constitution of the individual are to a significant extent determined by the specificity of organization and functioning of a few neurotransmitter (in particular, aminergic) and neurohumoral systems. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, Nos. 5/6, pp. 448–457, September–December, 2006.     

Age-related specificity of the frontal and temporoparietal cortex activation levels in three-to seven-year-old children

The results of studies on the specificity of formation of the frontal and temporoparietal cortex activation levels in children aged three, four to five, and six to seven years with a normal development of higher mental functions and speech are summarized. The parameters of the stable millivolt-range potential recorded from the head surface were used for this purpose. The results obtained are compared with published data on the specificity of the morphological and functional organization of the brain and the level of development of the slow information control system estimated on the basis of EEG parameters at the same ages. The estimation of the contribution of the brain superslow information control system by one of the basic parameters of state makes it possible to determine, in quantitative terms, (1) the characteristics of the formation of activation levels of cerebral systems involved in the regulation of the resting state, higher mental functions, and speech at different stages of ontogeny; (2) (on the basis of the stable-potential variance) the degrees of freedom of the activation levels of the cerebral systems studied, which determine their regulatory capacity at different ages; and (3) the degree of development of the system-forming mechanisms combining all these systems into an integrated whole at a certain stage of ontogeny (from six to seven years of age).     

New Insights into the Circadian Rhythm of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Subgroups

The aim of this study was to determine the existence of the circadian rhythm (CR) in the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in different patient subgroups. Information was collected about 41,244 infarctions from the database of the ARIAM (Analysis of Delay in AMI) Spanish multicenter study. CR in AMI were explored in subgroups of cases categorized by age, gender, previous ischemic heart disease (PIHD), outcome in coronary care unit, infarction electrocardiograph (ECG) characteristics (Q wave or non‐Q wave), and location of AMI. Cases were classified according to these variables in the different subgroups. To verify the presence of CR, a simple test of equality of time series based on the multiple‐sinusoid (24, 12, and 8 h periods) cosinor analysis was developed. For the groups as a whole, the time of pain onset as an indicator of the AMI occurrence showed a CR (p<0.0001), with a morning peak at 10:10 h. All the analyzed subgroups also showed CR. Comparison between subgroups showed significant differences in the PIHD (p<0.01) and infarction ECG characteristics (p<0.01) groups. The CR of the subgroup with Q‐wave infarction differed from that of non‐Q wave subgroup (p<0.01) when the patients had PIHD (23% in Q wave infarction vs. 39.2% in non‐Q wave). AMI onset followed a CR pattern, which is also observed in all analyzed subgroups. Differences in the CR according to the Q/non‐Q wave infarction characteristics could be determined by PIHD. The cosinor model fit with three components (24, 12, and 8 h periods) showed a higher sensitivity than the single 24 h period analysis.