An experimental infection of the seal Phoca sibirica with the morbilli virus]

A Baikal seal (Phoca sibirica) was experimentally infected with Baikal seal morbillivirus (BSMV) isolated from Baikal seals during an epizootic in 1987-1988. The seal was infected with BSMV with an infectious titer of 10(7.0) TCD50/ml, and daily observations of the animal clinical condition were made. The virus-specific antibodies in the seal serum were determined by ELISA and virus neutralization test. The clinical picture showed a mild infection. The ELISA-active antibodies were detected 10 days postinfection and reached the maximum in 20 days. Virus-neutralizing antibodies were detected in 16 days after infection, reached the maximum titer of 1:640 in 20 days and remained at this level for 39 days (the observation period). These data indicate that BSMV can induce a disease in the natural host with production of virus-neutralizing antibodies. The results of this work and the earlier reports show that the epizootic in Baikal seals was induced by BSMV.     

Analgesic transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation following surgery of the abdominal organs]

The effect of continuous antinociceptive transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation (TENS) has been studied in 94 patients after abdominal surgery. The analysis of the clinical findings and sinus heart rhythm has demonstrated a strong enough analgesic effect of TENS, which was accompanied by a considerable, more than 4-fold, reduction in narcotic analgesics requirements, lower incidence of functional urination disturbances, intestinal paresis, retention of the regulating role of the autonomous nervous system, stable hemodynamics and on the whole a more smooth and safe course of the early postoperative period.     

Modern aspects of wound sepsis in war surgical trauma]

The results of the treatment of 1020 wounded with symptoms of wound infection have been studied. The wounded were admitted with developed complications from the hospitals in Afghanistan. The syndrome of systemic inflammatory reaction detected in 239 (23.4%) wounded was the indication for application of the whole complex of antiseptic treatment. Sepsis in patients with complicated gunshot wounds was revealed only in 54 wounded, i.e. in 5.4%. Early diagnosis and multicomponent therapy resulted in a decrease of mortality rate in wound sepsis up to 9.3%.     

Comparative analysis of genomes of oncogenic B-lymphotropic herpesviruses reproducing in cell lines obtained from different species of monkeys

Research Institute of Experimental Pathology and Therapy, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Sukhumi. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 110, No. 12, pp. 643–645, December, 1990.     

Diversity of nivicolous myxomycetes of the Teberda State Biosphere Reserve (Northwestern Caucasus, Russia)

Nivicolous myxomycete assemblages were surveyed on the northwest of the Greater Caucasian ridge in May-June 2010 and 2011 at a north facing transect between 1,700 and 2,920 m elevation of the summit Malaya Khatipara situated within the Teberda State Biosphere Reserve. Morphological characters of 396 collections representing 45 taxa (39 species, 3 varieties, and 3 forms) of myxomycetes in 8 genera and 5 families were recorded. Many (13) taxa are classified as rare (a species represents <0.5 % of all records). Only seven species were found to be widely distributed (present in 50 % or more of the 17 studied localities). To confirm the assignment of specimens to morphospecies, we obtained independently from determination 145 partial sequences of the 18S SSU rRNA gene from 35 taxa of Lamproderma, Meriderma, Physarum and Diderma, which turned out to represent 58 genotypes. Most of the taxa represented by more than one sequence had several genotypes, with an average of 1.7 genotypes per taxon. Except for three taxonomically difficult groups of species, partial SSU sequences did well correspond with the respective morphospecies and where similar or identical to sequences of specimens from the European Alps, making this marker a good candidate for barcoding in myxomycetes. Species richness and diversity increased from subalpine crooked-stem birch forests (23 species, 2 varieties, H′?=?2.8, E?=?0.88, D?=?0.08) to alpine dwarf shrub communities (34 species and 2 varieties, 2 forms, H′?=?3.2, E?=?0.89, D?=?0.05) but decreased again for alpine meadows (27 species and 2 varieties, 2 forms, H′?=?3.1, E?=?0.91, D?=?0.06). Species richness and alpha-diversity reached maximum values for ground litter, whereas leaves and stems of living shrubs above ground harboured a more depauperate myxomycete assemblage.     

Inadequate interaction between open- and closed-loop postural control in phobic postural vertigo

Phobic postural vertigo (PPV) is characterized by a subjective dizziness and postural imbalance. Changes in postural control strategy may cause the disturbed postural performance in PPV. A better understanding of the mechanisms behind this change in strategy is required to improve the diagnostic tools and therapeutic options for this prevalent disorder. Here we apply stabilogram diffusion analysis (SDA) to examine the characteristics and modes of interaction of open- and closed-loop processes that make up the postural control scheme in PPV. Twenty patients with PPV and 20 age-matched healthy controls were recorded on a stabilometer platform with eyes open and with eyes closed. Spatio-temporal changes of the center of pressure (CoP) displacement were analyzed by means of SDA and complementary CoP amplitude measures. (1) Open-loop control mechanisms in PPV were disturbed because of a higher diffusion activity (p < 0.001). (2) The interaction of open- and closed-loop processes was altered in that the sensory feedback threshold of the system was lowered (p = 0.010). These two changes were comparable to those observed in healthy subjects during more demanding balance conditions such as standing with eyes closed. These data indicate that subjective imbalance in PPV is associated with characteristic changes in the coordination of open- and closed-loop mechanisms of postural control. Patients with PPV use sensory feedback inadequately during undisturbed stance, and this impairs postural performance. These changes are compatible with higher levels of anti-gravity muscle activity and co-contraction during the conscious concentration on control of postural stability.     

Estimation of Homeostatic Activity of the Human Body and Its Systems in Treatment of Uterine Cervix Cancer

Changes in homeostatic parameters of the human body and its systems caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be assessed by complex monitoring of peripheral blood parameters (AKS-ENOFIT system). Such monitoring shows changes in the dynamic curves of patient body state and their dependence on radiation dose. In contrast to radiation therapy, the zigzag shape of these curves becomes more pronounced at lower radiation doses. This is due to the homeostasis phenomenon and can be regarded as evidence of regulation of homeostasis.