Protective Effect of Carnosine on Excitable Structures of the Auditory Apparatus in Albino Rats with Acute Acoustic Trauma

We studied the effect of natural antioxidant carnosine on Wistar rats with experimental acoustic trauma of the auditory apparatus. Repeated intraperitoneal injection of carnosine in a dose of 200 mg/kg 12 and 0.5 h before modeling of acute acoustic trauma decreased the severity of degenerative and atrophic changes in the nuclei of hair cells in the cochleae. Carnosine compensated the deficiency of tissue antioxidant systems and suppressed generation of lipid peroxidation products in tissues of the membranous cochlea and auditory cortex of the temporal lobes. Carnosine holds much promise as a nonspecific otoprotector.     

Morpho-functional changes of neurons in temporal cortex in comparison with spatial memory in bulbectomized mice after treatment with minerals and ascorbates

The effect of antioxidant mixture of mineralascorbates (MA) on the status of neurons of brain temporal cortex and behavior of mice after olfactory bulbectomy (BE) was studied, as it was previously shown by us that these animals were characterized by a deficit of spatial memory and development of neurodegenerative process in brain structures, which are affected by Alzheimer disease. Disorganization of cytoarchitectonics of temporal cortex with the deletion of its layers as a result of dystrophy of pyramidal neurons and foci of their complete disappearance were shown 1 month after BE. The increased number of neurons with the phenomena of karyopyknosis, karyolysis and vacuolysis was observed with a concomitant reduction in neuronal density. Addition of MA to the diet for three weeks prevented the development of deterioration of spatial memory in mice after BE and protected the neurons of brain temporal cortex from the degenerative changes. The results obtained suggest the possibility of realization of prophylaxis aimed at the prevention of the development of Alzheimer-type neurodestructive processes.     

Effect of Lauric Acid on Transdermal Penetration of Phenazepam In Vivo

We studied the effect of lauric acid on transdermal penetration of phenazepam in vivo. It was found that treatment with lauric acid 3-fold increased the maximum anticonvulsive effect of phenazepam applied in a transdermal therapeutic system in comparison with the control. Study of the pharmacokinetics of phenazepam transdermal therapeutic system showed its higher bioavailability in the presence of lauric acid (f=0.9).     

Effectiveness and mechanism of action of a new plant complex drug in nonspecific inflammatory processes in the bronchopulmonary system

The elixir Bronchofit is an aqueous-alcoholic extract from 7 kinds of plants. It is a balanced compound, rich in biologically active substances including essential oils and flavonoids, possessing a wide spectrum of pharmacological activity. On the model of frog's palate the elixir enhanced the transport function of the ciliated epithelium. On the model "karragenin edema" bronchofit showed a marked anti-inflammatory activity. A noticeable therapeutic effect was registered in rats with induced bronchopulmonary inflammation. Bronchial secretion contained reduced content of glycosaminoglycans while bronchial lavage did of histamine. Also, bronchofit demonstrated a prominent antioxidative activity, an antibacterial action in relation to Str. pyogenes and Bac. cereus. By a total complex of the activities bronchofit is a promising medicine against bronchopulmonary inflammation.     

Experience with high-dose immunosuppressive therapy followed by transplantation of autologous stem hematopoietic cells in patients with multiple sclerosis

AIM: To assess efficiency of immunosuppressive therapy and subsequent autologous transplantation of stem blood cells (SBC) in patients with multiple sclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial enrolled 23 patients (4 men and 19 women) with multiple sclerosis (MS) lasting for 3 to 12 years. The age of the patients ranged from 18 to 44 years. The index of the progression was above 1 in all the patients. A remitting, primary-progredient, secondary-progredient course was diagnosed in 3, 3 and 17 patients, respectively. Posttransplantation follow-up was 1 to 1.5 years. The degree of the neurological deficiency (0-6 scores) was estimated by the scale of functional systems damage. Lymphocyte subpopulations were evaluated by enzyme immunoassay according to expression of membrane antigens CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD20, CD25, CD56, CD95 using monoclonal antibodies ICO (Biomedspectr), humoral immunity--by serum levels of IgA, IgM and IgG. SBC mobilization was conducted for 5 days by subcutaneous introduction of neipogen (Roche) in a dose 8.7-10 mcg/kg. Preparation of SBC was made on Haemonetics blood separator on mobilization day 4-5. Cryopreservation was carried out in programmed freezer (Cryomed) with 7% dimethylsulphoxide as a cryoprotector. Pretransplantation conditioning was conducted according to the schemes BEAM + antilymphocytic globulin (protocol N 1) and fludar + melfalan + ALG (protocol N 2). RESULTS: In posttransplantation period most of the patients achieved a fall in intensity of motor and coordination disorders. No recovery of cranial nerve function was observed. The protocols of pretransplantation preparation were compared by efficiency and organic toxicity. CONCLUSION: Indications to immunosuppressive therapy in MS patients were defined, pathogenetic validation of the immunosuppressive therapy was attempted.