Facilitating visuospatial attention for the contralateral hemifield by repetitive TMS on the posterior parietal cortex

Previous studies have demonstrated that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could modulate the visuospatial functions. In this study, we investigated the effect of off-line high frequency subthreshold rTMS, when applied over the right or left posterior parietal cortex (PPC), on the visuospatial attention of the bilateral hemispaces. The subjects underwent visuospatial tasks before and immediately after receiving 1000 pulses of 10 Hz rTMS for a period of 20 min, and their responses were recorded. Our results demonstrated that the high frequency rTMS applied over the PPC produced facilitative effects on the visuospatial attention to the contralateral hemispace. The inhibitory effect to the ipsilateral hemispace was noticeable only in the left PPC.     

Induction of Alzheimer antigens by an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation

Since previous studies have suggested that the coupling of oxidation to phosphorylation is impaired in Alzheimer brain and fibroblasts, the effects of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, a hydrazone known to uncouple mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, were tested on the development of immunoreactivity with antibodies to "Alzheimer antigens" in cultured fibroblasts from cognitively intact subjects. The fibroblasts were exposed for 10 to 14 days to a medium (DMd) modeled on media that favor neuronal differentiation in fetal brain cultures. The addition of a 10-microns concentration of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone to the DMd culture medium increased by more than 10-fold the proportion of cells reacting immunocytochemically with antibodies to paired helical filaments and by 157-fold the proportion of cells reacting with the Alz-50 monoclonal antibody. These observations suggest that the oxidative abnormalities previously described in tissues from patients with Alzheimer's disease may contribute to the accumulation of abnormal cytoskeletal materials in this disorder.     

Various medico-social aspects of children's disability in the Kirghiz SSR

Disability of children is an urgent, little investigated and medicosocial problem. It is characterised by high level, severity, very slow dynamics and stipulates the formation of population of "invalids from childhood" among adult population. The main causes of disability are congenital and genetic diseases, mainly neuropsychic. Hereditary factors, diseases during pregnancy, the use of drugs, consumption of alcohol, complicated delivery also play a major role. The lack of watchfulness both on the part of physicians and the parents themselves also results in the birth of affected children. Prevention priorities include medico-genetic counseling, the improvement of obstetric care and increasing awareness of the importance of family planning among young people. The disability of children should be regarded as an important qualitative indicator of joint activities of obstetrician-gynaecologists, general practitioners and pediatricians.     

Effect of hepatic cirrhosis on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline in rats

The experimental hepatic cirrhosis was induced either by bile duct ligation (BDL) or by pretreatment with dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA). The pharmacokinetics of theophylline were studied after a single intravenous or a single oral administration. Using the ultrafiltration method, protein-drug binding experiments were also carried out. The bilirubin level was several-fold increased by BDL, but not by DMNA treatment. The albumin content was decreased in both cirrhotic groups. The total clearance (Clt, ml/kg/hr) of theophylline in both hepatic cirrhosis groups significantly decreased and the terminal half-life (t_1/2) in the cirrhotic rats was increased about two-fold after intravenous and oral administration. The volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss, ml/kg) was increased slightly in the cirrhotic groups. Protein binding in BDL (8.67±4.85%) decreased about four-folds, but in DMNA (73.00±9.85%) similar result, was observed as compared with the control. Increased free fraction of theophylline did not increase the volume of distribution in BDL. Therefore decreased total body clearance of theophylline was mainly due to decreased intrinsic clearance of theophylline in the liver. The absolute bioavailability of theophylline in these experiments was between 63.8 and 72.8%(66.1% in BDL, 63.8% in Sham operated and Control, 72.8% in DMNA). These results suggest that in the experimental hepatic cirrhosis model, administration route does not affect the disposition of theophylline.     

Prevention of liver-tumor colonization by combined immunomodulation and liver lectin blocking

The protective effect of combined treatment (immunomodulation with Propionibacterium avidum KP-40; liver lectin blocking by D-galactose administration) on the liver colonization of RAW 117-H10 lymphosarcoma was investigated in BALB/c-mice. Both, immunomodulation with P. avidum KP-40 as well as liver lectin blocking by D-galactose treatment significantly decreased the number of liver tumor colonies in this experimental model. However, the combination of P. avidum KP-40 and D-galactose obviously proved to be superior to each monotherapy since the liver colonization by RAW 117-H 10 lymphosarcoma could be completely inhibited.     

Background on the system of integral evaluation of human exposure to toxic substances in the work and municipal environments

Exposure to toxic chemicals in the work, natural and home environments is recognised as combined exposure. The system of integral evaluation of human exposure should take account of all toxic substances occurring in all environmental media (air, water, soil and food), and all routes through which they enter the human body. To provide the integral evaluation it is necessary to develop different exposure scenarios based on dose intake or derived values. Following the toxicological criteria, calculated exposure indicators, after their standardisation and aggregation, should be converted into combined exposure indices. The index value will reflect the level of combined exposure.     

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against human airway mucins

The objective of this study was to generate and characterize monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against human airway mucins, and therefore, should serve as a useful tool in studying the regulation of airway mucins in various physiological or pathological situations of human airway. As an antigen, we used a high molecular mass mucin preparation purified from the sputum of normal human subjects. Two monoclonal hybridomas, namely MAbs HM02 and HM03 were obtained and they showed strong immunoreactivity against purified or crude mucin in sputum or bronchial washing of normal human subject. With the high immunoreactivity of these MAbs, mucin contents could be analyzed with more than 100-fold dilution of human airway secretion. The antibodies recognized carbohydrate epitopes because their immunoreactivity was completely abolished by treatment of the mucin with 5 mM periodate. Further characterization of MAbs HM02 and HM03 showed that: (1) they belong to the IgM type; (2) they bind to high molecular mass mucins based on Western blot; (3) they could indirectly immunoprecipitate human airway mucin and as we know, this is the first to demonstrate immunoprecipitation of human airway mucin with anti-human mucin antibodies; and (4) they bind to the goblet cell in airway epithelium as well as some submucosal glands based on immunohistochemistry. Therefore, MAbs HM02 and HM03 should be able to serve as an invaluable tool in studying the regulation of airway mucins in various physiological and pathological situations of human airway.     

A study on impact and tensile strength of acrylic resin filled with short ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers

In dentistry, acrylates have been used for preparing denture bases for 50 years. Although polymethylmethacrylates (PMMA) are known to be an ideal base material, they possess some undesirable mechanical properties, especially their impact strength and tensile strength, which appear to be unsatisfactory for some applications. Additives and fibers have therefore been used to enhance and improve these properties over the last two decades. The present article describes the mechanical properties, impact and tensile strength of PMMA reinforced with chopped ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber (6 mm long). It was found that, although the processing involved for high loading of fibers into the PMMA was difficult, the resulting improvement of impact strength was substantial.