Comparative effects of amlodipine (stamlo) and enalapril (enam) on arterial pressure, painless myocardial ischemia and diastolic function of left ventricle in patients with arterial hypertension

43 patients with mild and moderate arterial hypertension received monotherapy with either stamlo (Dr. Reddy's laboratories, India) in a daily dose 9.5 +/- 0.5 mg (n = 33), or enam (n = 26) in a daily dose 28 +/- 1.5 mg, or stamlo treatment was followed in 10 days by enam (n = 16). Before and after the treatment 24-h monitoring was made of arterial pressure, left ventricular diastolic function and silent myocardial ischemia. Adequate lowering of arterial pressure was observed in 90 and 77% of patients after stamlo and enam treatment, respectively. Stamlo showed more potent antiischemic action and had a positive effect on left ventricular filling.     

Effect of methyluracil on the sensitivity of animals to cardiac glycosides and on the coronary blood flow]

Tests conducted with rabbits, cats and mice showed methyluracil to lower the sensitivity to strophanthin in rabbits with myocardial infarction and in intact mice and its intravenous introduction reducing the toxicity of Adonis L. in cats. Oral administration of methyluracil for one week did not prevent in critical tests a strophanthin-induced arrhythmia in intact rabbits and in those with myocardial infarction. Intravenous administration of methyluracil caused an increase of the coronary circulation rate.     

Effect of neuromediators on the acid-base balance

Acute and chronic experiments on dogs showed correlation between the state of the adrenergic, cholinergic, and serotoninergic systems, on the one hand, and the acid-base balance of the animal on the other hand. An excess of each mediator was accompanied by respiratory alkalosis and a deficiency by mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis.Laboratory of Pathological Physiology, Kazan' Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Ministry of Health of the RSFSR. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR N. A. Fedorov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 86, No. 11, pp. 525–528, November, 1978.     

The immunometaboic effects of benfotiamine and riboxine on hemolytic anemia

Single (80 mg/kg) or multiply repeated (30 mg/kg) intramuscular injections of phenylhydrazine decrease the functional activity of mononuclear blood cells and the reduces immunological reactivity of the organism. Benfotiamine and riboxin decrease the extent of changes in the immunological response to a single administration of phenylhydrazine but do not significantly influence the immunological functions impaired by repeated injections of the hemolytic toxin.     

A study of demyelination of nerve fibers using dynamic phase contrast microscopy

Dynamic phase microscopy was used for evaluation of changes in myelinated axon segment in the paranodal region of nerve fibers during demyelination. Normally paranodal myelin sheath is characterized by regular oscillations of the optical path difference with frequences of 4.2 and 6.7 Hz. Demyelination decreased the amplitude and conduction velocity in nerve fibers and shifted the characteristic frequencies of optical path difference oscillations to 2.8, 3.2, and 11 Hz. These shifts of optical path difference frequencies probably resulted from disturbances in the state of charged phospholipids and a decrease in the level of bound Ca²⁺ during demyelination of nerve fiber.     

Delayed radiation-induced optic neuropathy in patients with tumors in the chiasmal-sellar area after radiation therapy

Six clinical observations of a rare condition, delayed radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RON) are presented. RON developed in patients with brain tumors treated by radiotherapy and radiosurgery; in the majority of patients the condition developed during exposure to therapeutic doses; its incidence was 0.5% of the total number of patients treated by radiotherapy during this period. Asymmetrical chiasmal syndrome developed rapidly in all the patients. Clinical diagnosis of RON was confirmed by magnetic resonance tomography in all cases, and in one case by morphological analysis. Conservative therapy including hyperbaric oxygenation just stabilized the visual function. Remote period of observation was 42 months.