Intraraphedorsal kainic acid induces paroxysmal electroencephalographic changes in some brain structures of cats

In acute experiments on cats the effect of kainic acid microinjected into the raphe dorsal nucleus on the EEG activity recorded from various brain structures was investigated. Kainic acid in doses of 0.2 to 32.0 nmol was injected by glass micropipets and an air-pressure system. The analysis of the EEG and the EEG power analysis in the usual frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) revealed an activating to hyperexcitatory effect of kainic acid. This hyperexcitatory effect was manifested by the appearance of paroxysmal EEG patterns of different types which developed in some cases into seizure episodes or an epileptic state. Abnormal EEG changes occurred first in the thalamus and mesencephalic reticular formation. A dose-response relationship existed: the duration of the EEG with pathological patterns increased whereas the latency of their appearance decreased with increase of the dose of kainic acid. Five to seven hours after the injection there were no severe histopathologic changes in the region of the raphe dorsal nucleus. The hyperexcitatory effect of kainic acid on brain excitability might be a result of the excitatory action of kainic acid and of triggering of circuits of neuronal hyperactivity in structures connected with the raphe dorsal nucleus.     

A case of nasal glioma in a new-born infant

We report a 1 day old girl with a nasal mass that was diagnosed as an intranasal glioma. The tumor mass was noted to be localized laterally from, and based along, the inferior turbinate. Nasal glioma is a developmental abnormality of neurogenic origin with no malignant potential. An intranasal mass requires careful rhinological, neurological and radiological examinations. With adequate initial removal, excisional biopsy usually allows complete recovery. A frontal craniotomy approach is preferred for those patients who have nasal glioma with an intracranial connection. With no evidence of an intracranial connection, a conservative extracranial approach is recommended.     

Application of high information technologies in predicting outcomes of cardiovascular diseases

The authors review their studies conducted for many years on cardiological prognostication in the context of the republican program "Cardiology" performed in the Udmurt Republic. The lines of the research and results obtained are described.     

Nasal and sleep cycle--possible synchronization during night sleep

Regular cyclic changes in nostril airflow due to a nasal congestion and decongestion are known in literature as nasal cycle. Registration of breathing from each nostril separately gives possibility to registrate moments of alternative change of airflow of nostrils and periods of nasal cycle. This registration during night sleep shows that the length of these periods are about 1.5h, 3.0 h and 4.5h. The length of these periods are multiple of mean length of sleep cycle--about 1.5h. The alternative change of airflow through nostrils occurs through some of REM stages of the sleep. This shows, that during the night sleep becomes synchronization of nasal and sleep cycles in some of the REM phases of sleep. As a result--length of periods of the nasal cycle are one or more length of sleep cycle.     

Rat liver plasma membrane damage in hexachlorobenzene intoxication and its potentiation by ethanol

Chronic feeding of male Wistar rats with food containing hexachlorobenzene (HCB) at 17.5 mmol/kg induced elevation of serum amino-transferases and bilirubin content, increase of microsomal cytochrome P-450 concentration, and decrease of 5'-nucleotidase, K+,Na+- and Mg2+-adenosine triphosphatase activities in liver plasma membrane preparations. These changes were potentiated by ethanol consumption suggesting a possible role of liver plasma membrane damage in the pathogenesis of HCB intoxication.