Multiple modifications of low-density lipoproteins in the blood of patients with atherosclerosis

Atherogenic low-density proteins (LDL) found in human blood — desialylated, electronegative, and small dense LDL — share many chemical and physical characteristics and appear to represent the same subfraction of multiply modified lipoproteins. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 8, pp. 118–121, August, 1995 Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Correlation between anatomic parameters of the aorta and manifestations of atherosclerosis

A new risk factor of atherosclerosis — distal narrowing and shortening of the aorta — is described. The following parameters are analyzed in aortas collected from 1098 men and 1059 women aged 20–89 years: visual and planimetric estimations of the severity of atherosclerotic lesions and the perimeter, length, area, and angles of narrowing at different levels of the aorta. Atherogenic effect of inadequate aortic narrowing is more pronounced in young healthy individuals and is aggravated by hypertension. The narrowing of abdominal aorta promotes progression of atherosclerosis in the aorta, iliac, right coronary, and superior mesenteric arteries to a greater extent than in the left coronary and inferior mesenteric artery. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 8, pp. 124–130, August, 1997     

The use of alisat to control lipids and lipid peroxidation products in the blood of patients with atherosclerosis

The useof Alisat for the treatment of patients with ischemic heart disease prevents the development of undesirable proatherogenic effects of prolonged therapy with the nonselective β-adrenoblocker, obsidan. Combined treatment with Alisat and obsidan was not accompanied by a decrease in plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I, an increase in the contents of conjugated dienes and malonic dialdehyde, and a decrease in the activity of glutathione peroxidase. However, prolonged obsidan monotherapy led to these changes. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 9, pp. 345–349, September, 1998     

Effect of the garlic preparation alisat on the content of lipid peroxidation products,activity of some antioxidant enzymes,and blood lipoprotein level in patients with atherosclerosis

A 3-month therapy with Alisat (600 mg/day) results in a decrease in the plasma content of lipid peroxidation products (diene conjugates and malonic dialdehyde), activation of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes, increase in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, decrease in plasma cholesterol, and decrease in the low-density lipoprotein. This implies that Alisat has an antiatherogenic activity. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 11, pp. 502–504, November, 1996     

Correction of disturbances in neuroregulatory systems at early stages of atherogenesis with verapamil

The effect of verapamil on morphofunctional state of the hypothalamo-pituitary neurosecretory system, adrenergic innervation of microvessels, and microcirculation in the early stages of atherogenesis was studied. Correction of functional aberrations of the neuroregulatory systems and microcirculatory disturbances with verapamil was accompanied by restoration of lipid homeostasis and less pronounced atherosclerotic alterations in major arteries. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 1, pp. 61–63, January, 2000     

Common clinical manifestations of serotonin deficiency and intoxication syndrome

Clinical manifestations of serotonin deficiency, its genesis, diagnostics, and treatment are described. the contribution of free hemoglobin and myoglobin to the genesis of absolute serotonin deficiency — disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) syndrome — is shown. Evidence is presented suggesting that chronic serotonin deficiency underlies aged-related and diabetic angiopathies. It is demonstrated that the serotonin deficiency syndrome has common clinical manifestations with the intoxication syndrome. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 6, pp. 604–613, June, 1997     

Vitamin status and spermatogenesis in rats during late stages after irradiation in various doses

The content of vitamin B₂ in testes increased 6.5 months postirradiation irrespective of the irradiation dose. The concentration of vitamin E decreased. The least pronounced decrease was observed in animals irradiated with 0.5 Gy; these changes persisted for 15.5 months. The concentration of spermatozoa, the weight of epididymides and body weight increased. No changes in angiotensin-converting enzyme activity were found. Histological changes in the testes attest to inhibited growth of the spermatogenic epithelium in convoluted seminiferous tubules, which depended on the irradiation dose. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 7, pp. 42–44, July, 1999     

Changes in the stages of nocturnal sleep in patients with lesions of the hypothalamus and brain stem

Polygraphic investigations of nocturnal sleep in 18 patients with lesions of the hypothalamus and mesencephalon revealed a shortening of stage II and lengthening of stages III and IV of slow sleep compared with the corresponding durations in patients with lesions of pontobulbar structures (9 patients) and healthy subjects (8 persons) of the control group. Analysis of qualitative indices of the EEG of slow sleep (relative number of sleep spindles per minute in stage II, the index, and amplitude of the waves in stages III and IV) showed a tendency toward their increase in patients with lesions of the hypothalamus and mesencephalon. In the patients of this group the frequency of spontaneous changes from deeper to more superficial stages of sleep was reduced.Department of Pathology of the Autonomic Nervous System, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. I. Arutyunov [deceased].) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 8, pp. 938–940, August, 1976.     

Effects of thymalin and α-tocopherol on morphofunctional state of neuroendocrine system at the early stages of atherogenesis

The effects of thymalin and α-tocopherol on the morphofunctional state of hypothalamohypophyseal neurosecretory system, thyroid gland, and adrenals at the early stages of atherogenesis are described. Correction of pathological changes in the neuroendocrine organs was accompanied by restoration of lipid homeostasis, decrease in intensity of lipid peroxidation, prevention of progressive atherosclerotic alterations in major arteries. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 12, pp. 692–695, December, 1997     

Prophylactic and corrective action of the polyethylene oxide polyox WSR-301 in rats with experimental lipoidosis

Two once-weekly intravenous injections of the polyethylene oxide Polyox WSR-301 (yielding a blood concentration of the order of 5×10⁻⁶ g/ml) led to a 38% decrease in the area occupied by sudanophilic lesions in the aortic arch of rats fed an atherogenic diet for two weeks. Perfusion under constant pressure of the formalin-fixed vascular system in the posterior part of the body with physiological saline and then with polyethylene oxide (10⁻⁵ g/ml) was without effect in normal rats and in those with mild lipoidosis, but reduced hydrodynamic vascular resistance by 9–14.5% in rats with pronounced lipoidosis. Intravenous injection of polyethylene oxide into anesthetized rats with pronounced lipoidosis in doses that were subthreshold for normal rats (blood concentrations of the polymer were of the order of 10⁻⁷ g/ml) caused a 20% decrease in the total peripheral resistance to blood flow, with a 17–20% rise of the blood flow rate in the carotid artery. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 6, pp. 587–589, June, 1995 Presented by I. P. Ashmarin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Micro- and ultrastructure of the pial arteries in experimental hypercholesterolemia

Morphological changes induced by experimental cholesterolemia in the walls of pial arteries of Chinchilla rabbits are studied by light and electron microscopy. It is found that these changes are typical of small artery atherosclerosis. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 122, No. 8, pp. 218–221, August, 1996     

Morphometric analysis of the pulmonary vessels in premature neonates

In premature neonates with the respiratory distress syndrome the vessels of the pulmonary arterial system show stereotypical changes: dystonia with the predominance of vasoconstriction, a thickened muscular layer, and a narrowed lumen. A morphometric index is proposed: the coefficient of nonuniformity of the medial thickness of the vascular wall, which reflects a structural reorganization of the pulmonary vessels in different pathological processes. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 9, pp. 311–314, September, 1994 Presented by Yu. I. Borodin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Status of the breasts in patients with the postcastration syndrome treated by transplantation of human fetal tissue

Clinical and x-ray examinations of the breasts were carried out in 45 women with the postcastration syndrome before and after treatment by human fetal tissue transplantation. The results indicate that a drastic drop of the steroid hormones level and increased gonadotropin secretion occurring in patients with the postcastration syndrome lead to the intensification of involution processes no matter what the patient's age. Benign hyperplastic changes in the breasts induced by previous neuroendocrine gynecological diseases gradually regress. Breast examinations carried out 6–8 months after transplantation of human fetal tissue showed no deterioration of any kind. Clinical examinations and interviews of patients showed an improved turgor of breast skin, although mammography failed to detect any changes in the volume of the glands. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, No 4, pp. 386–388, April, 1994     

Anatomical study of the perforating vessels of the lower leg

Difficulty of soft tissue defects of the lower leg demands the development of new methods to treat such defects. The aim of this study is the examination of perforators and the various ways of blood supply to the skin in the lower leg. Provided with certain regularity, we would be able to cure soft‐tissue defects also in the difficult zone of the distal segment and on the dorsum of the foot not harming vessels and not affecting mobility of muscles. Subcutaneous island‐flaps supplied by perforating vessels could replace free flaps. By saving the crural fascia of 10 lower legs we flayed layers of skin and fat, marked the perforating vessels with pins, and photographed and documented them. Specimens were divided into a proximal, an intermediate and a distal segment, each of them subdivided into a medial, lateral and dorsal section. The perforators, which can be classified as septocutaneous and musculocutaneous vessels, followed a reproducible pattern all over the lower leg. All vessels were sufficient in number as well as in size. Additionally these perforators can easily be identified by colour‐coded sonography. The knowledge that perforators in the lower leg occur regularly enables the development of a new operative approach in therapy of soft‐tissue defects in this region with the advantage, that the vessels used can be selected preoperatively. Anat Rec 255:374–379, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Atherosclerosis induced in rabbits by prolonged electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus

The effect of prolonged electrical stimulation of emotiogenic zones of the hypothalamus in rabbits on their blood lipid level and the development of atherosclerosis was studied with the aid of a specially designed autonomous system. A negative emotional state observed during stimulation was accompanied by hyperlipemia and by the development of atherosclerosis in one third of uncastrated and two thirds of castrated animals.Department of Pathological Physiology and Central Scientific-Research Laboratory, Leningrad Sanitary Hygiene Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR P. N. Beselkin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 11, pp. 1294–1296, November, 1976.     

Protective action of M- and N-cholinoceptor blockers in acute ammonium intoxication

Atropine and d-tubocurarine are shown to prevent convulsions in rats and mice poisoned by ammonium acetate and to protect these animals from its toxic effects. Ammonium and lactate levels in their brain were found to correlate directly with ammonium toxicity. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 11, pp. 489–492, November, 1995     

Morphofunctional changes in renal vessels caused by experimental coarctation of aorta

In coarctation of the aorta tangential tension of the walls of renal arteries and arterioles decreases, which leads to a drop in the glycogen content and activity of respiratory enzymes in medial leiomyocytes and accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the media. This is accompanied by atrophy and sclerosis of the vessels. The observed changes disappear after surgical correction. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 5, pp. 591–593, May, 1997