Xenon effects on cells and receptors

Xenon (Xe) is being more widely used in medicine owing to its unique physical-and-chemical properties of a noble gas. However, the knowledge about the physiological and patho-physiological changes occurring in the organism and in its separate structures during the interaction with Xe is still scanty. The aim of this survey was to briefly describe the presently known Xe biological-and-medical properties and certain mechanisms of Xe impact produced on cells and receptors as well as on the release of mediators and hormones. Besides, the Xe hemodynamic effects are also defined. The conclusion is that the Xe effect can be of a complex nature and can depend on the conditions of the body vital activity (optimal condition, activation, lesion), which predetermine, in their turn, the performance of the structural-and-functional units of various cellular systems.     

Clinical course of disease and prognosis in patients with ischemic heart disease with stable angina pectoris,caused by stenosing coronary atherosclerosis (data from a a 20-year study

AIM: To study a course and prognosis of ischemic heart disease (IHD) with stable angina pectoris (SAP) caused by stenotic coronary atherosclerosis (SCA) by 20-year follow-up data. MATERIAL AND DATA: Prognosis of survival was made in 318 patients with SAP due to SCA. RESULTS: The results of a 20-year study show that prognosis in IHD patients depends on SAP severity (by the functional class), exercise tolerance (by the exercise test), severity of coronary bed affection and of left ventricular contractility affection as assessed by coronary- and ventriculography. If lethality of the test subjects was not higher than in the population, the patient had good prognosis associated with one-vessel lesion, normal myocardial contractile function, high exercise tolerance, absence of the leading risk factors. CONCLUSION: The multivariance analysis with stepwise selection enabled the design of the model of the integral prognostic index (IPI) for the studied patients. The IPI index under 1.86 suggests a favourable prognosis, 1.87-2.33--an intermediate prognosis and in IPI higher than 2.34--unfavourable prognosis. Early surgery is recommended for patients with high IPI.     

A laboratory model of the parasitic system of Lyme disease

A laboratory model of the parasitic system of Lyme borreliosis (LB) with Ixodes persulcatus and Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. underwent 5 epizootic cycles (Cycle I transition of Borreliae by the scheme a tick-->a mouse-->a tick corresponds to the seasonal cycle). A group of 5-6 mice was inoculated with the suspension of infected nymphs by the intracutaneously route and 35-45 days later intact tick larvae or nymphs were fed on them. In the first three cycles, 40-100% of mice in a group (a total of 33 of 59) were susceptible, but 3 of 11 groups of mice were not inoculated. 20-50% of larvae and 75-92% of nymphs were susceptible on the infected mice. The mean geometric abundance of borreliae was 2.8-6.3 cells per 100 fields of vision in the nymphs infected in the larval phase and 16.1-29.5 cells in the image phase. In cycle IV, 2 of 6 groups of mice were unsusceptible to borreliae and 5 of the 17 mice from 4 groups got infected. One mouse died from Lyme borreliosis when larvae were fed on it. The nymphs remolted from underfed larvae were infected in 62.2% of cases, the mean geometric abundance in these nymphs was 5.7% per 100 fields of vision. A total of 3.2-14.7% of the ticks fed on the remaining 4 mice were infected and the abundance of boreliae was 1-2 per 100 fields of vision. In cycle V, one of 12 mice got infected, the infection rate in nymphs was 9.1%, the abundance of borreliae was 1 per 100 fields of vision. Thus, as the number of epizootic cycles increases, the proportion of infected mice, that of ticks infected on these mice on feeding, and the abundance of borreliae in the infected ticks decrease. Moreover, there was a reduction in the length of borreliae reduced from 17-18 mm to 10-11 mm and in the duration of multiplication and preservation of borreliae in the infected ticks and there was concurrently an increase in the duration of development of an infectious process in mice. It is suggested that the population of borreliae consists of 2 morphophysiological groups or more. During cultivation of the laboratory model of the parasitic system of Lyme borreliosis, a group of borrelia that are short and slightly pathogenic for mice had got many points in its favour. A five-fold procedure of artificial election of precisely defining this group set the model on the verge of disappearance. The capacity of the populations of borreliae to alter their properties rapidly and fundamentally suggests that there might be violent annual fluctuations in human morbidity.     

Some real problems of human opisthorchiasis

Forty six sera from residents of the Novosibirsk Region in whom the diagnosis of chronic opisthorchiasis had been helminthoovoscopically verified were examined. In the thin layer immunoassay, of them 14 (30.4%) sera were responsive to excretory O. felineus antigens, 3 (7.9%) were to M. bilis antigens, and 29 (63.2%) were to the above antigens simultaneously. The results of these studies determine it possible to regard M. bilis methorchiasis as a zooanthroponous disease and a human being as a final host of this helminth.     

Relationships between coronary calcification detected at electron beam computed tomography and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty results in coronary artery disease patients

Our objective was to assess the relationship between coronary artery calcification and outcomes of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) was performed in 80 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent PTCA. The calcium score in each coronary artery vessel was estimated (in Agatston units) and compared with the occurrence of complications and restenosis. Angioplasty had been performed in 96 coronary artery segments with stenosis in 80 patients. The average calcium score in the unsuccessful PTCA segments was significantly higher than in ones with successful results. For complications these values were 65.0±79.9 and 27.0±44.7, respectively (p=0.02), and for restenosis 63.9±87.9 and 27.3±41.3, respectively (p=0.03). Applying receiver operating characteristics analysis we determined sensitivity and specificity of EBCT for forecasting complications and restenosis. The best cut-off value of calcium score in segment of PTCA for prediction of restenosis was 27 (sensitivity 73%, specificity 67%), and for prediction of complications 29 (sensitivity 80%, specificity 74%). Coronary segments with extensive calcification were not optimal target lesions for PTCA. Analysis of coronary calcium score should be taken into consideration during planning of endovascular coronary interventions. Electronic Publication     

Indirect electrochemical blood oxidation in the prophylaxis of suppurative-inflammatory complications after transurethral resection of the prostate

To investigate efficiency of indirect electrochemical blood oxidation in prophylaxis of infectious complications, 28 patients were treated with 0.06% hypochlorite solution (2 infusions, 2-3 days before TURP). These patients belonged to a high-risk group of infectious complications (80% of them had chronic prostatitis, 8 patients had bladder stones, 8 had undergone cystostomy). The results demonstrated that the complication rate in the above prepared patients fell four times as compared to the control group and the postoperati hospital stay was reduced by 3 days.     

Various forms of mononitrates in treating patients with stress angina

AIM: Clinical and device evaluation of efficacy of new dosage forms of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (ISMN) in patients with angina of effort of functional class (FC) II-III in 1-3 month treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 54 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stable angina pectoris (42 males, 12 females aged 48-70, mean age 59.4 +/- 3.6 years) were examined. 16 of them had angina of effort FC II, 35--of FC III and 3--of FC IV. IHD was verified at stress tests and 24-h Holter ECG monitoring. In 85.2% of IHD patients the diagnosis of stenotic coronary atherosclerosis of 1-3 great arteries was confirmed by coronarography findings. The treatment effect was assessed by bicycle exercise tests, Holter ECG monitoring, patients' records of anginal attacks before and after treatment. RESULTS: Long-term forms of ISMN--Mono Mac Depo (100 mg) and Mono Mac 50D (50 mg)--and non-retard form Mono Mac (40 mg) produced a stable antianginal effect in 85, 80 and 75% patients, respectively. ISMN preparations given for 1 and 3 months reduced frequency of anginal attacks, improved functional condition of the patients, exercise tolerance, variability of heart rhythm. Mono Mac Depo and Mono Mac 50 D were well tolerated, induced no serious side effects. CONCLUSION: ISMN preparations can be recommended as monotherapy in patients of FC II-III angina or in combination with beta adrenoblockers for treatment of patients with angina FC III-IV.     

Methodology of determining Yersinia pestis antigens using dot-immunologic analysis

The technique of dot-immunoassay on nitrocellulose filters is described for the detection of the vital infection (VI) agents. The results are read visually (qualitatively) and instrumentally (quantitatively). The method is highly sensitive (3.2 +/- 0.8 ng/ml of fraction I) and specific, cost-effective, simple, and available for laboratories engaged in VI diagnosis.     

Preventive and therapeutic effects of air ionization in industrial plants

The article provides an analysis of data on the effects of continuous negative air ionization on the cardiovascular system in workers engaged in weaving and spinning industries. The authors indicate a possibility of applying the proposed technique in hypertensive disease prevention.