New approaches to the treatment and prophylaxis of the cicatrix formation

Preparation Contractubex (gel for external application in tubes of 20 g each), manufactured by pharmaceutical company Merz GmbH (Frankfurt-on-Main, Germany), was used during the treatment of 30 patients with hypertrophic cicatrix and contracture.     

Response of the pituitary-adrenocortical system to prolonged action of small doses released from an internal depot of [75Se] selenomethionine

The principles governing the distribution of the absorbed dose and the dynamics of its formation were studied by a radiometric technique in vivo during the course of 1 year after injection of 0.033 Ci/g of [⁷⁵Se] selenomethionine into rats and the functional state of the pituitary-adrenal adaptive system was studied at the same time by determination of the plasma corticosterone level. The preparation was shown to have high affinity for the organs of the endocrine system. Evidence of increased functional activity of the adaptation system was given by an increase in the corticosterone concentration in the animals' blood plasma after injection of the radioactive preparation, which was significantly higher than in the control 3, 6, and 10 months after the beginning of the experiments. Exposure to acute stress (induced by histamine and formalin) 10 months after injection of [⁷⁵Se] selenomethionine did not produce the sharp increase in the plasma corticosterone concentration characteristic of the control rats; this points to extreme stress of the pituitary-adrenal system and its inability to respond to additional loads. It is postulated that analysis of the functional state of the adaptation system could provide the key to the assessment of the biological effect of small doses of radiation.Institute of Medical Radiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Obninsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR G. A. Zedgenidze.) Translated from Byulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 1, pp. 20–23, January, 1978.     

The Effects of Electrical Stimulation of the Paleocerebellar Cortex on Penicillin-Induced Convulsive Activity in Rats

Studies in Wistar rats in conditions of free behavior showed that low-frequency stimulation of the paleocerebellar cortex (nodulus, uvula) (10-12 Hz, 0.5 msec) was accompanied by activation of spike discharges induced by systematic application of benzylpenicillin sodium (3,000,000 IU/kg). Facilitation of the formation of ictal discharges was also seen. High-frequency electrical stimulation (100-300 Hz, 0.25 msec) of the same structure was accompanied by suppression of the generation of spike potentials and prevented the development of ictal potentials. The antiepileptic effect of electrical stimulation was seen in conditions of relatively low levels of convulsive activity. Electrical stimulation decreased the frequency and amplitude of spike potentials in the interstimulus intervals and decreased the total duration of epileptic foci. Repeated electrical stimulation of the paleocerebellum after electrocoagulation did not produce any changes in convulsive activity.     

Surgical treatment of giant aneurysms of ascending parts and arch of the aorta in condition of deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest with artificial assisted circulation

Sternotomy in giant (10 cm and more in diameter) aneurysms is highly dangerous due to possibility of injury of aneurysmatic wall with fatal bleeding. That is why sternotomy in condition of artificial circulation (AC) and cooling of patients to 29-30 degrees C are preferred. Two cases of successful surgical treatment of critical patients with giant aneurysms of ascending parts and arch of the aorta in condition of femoro-femoral AC, hypothermia (20 degrees C) and circulatory arrest are presented. One of the patients had a giant false posttraumatic aneurysm of an ascending part of the thoracic aorta with fistula between aneurysm and pulmonary artery. Suturing of defects of ascending aorta and pulmonary artery wall, aneurysmorrhaphia of pulmonary artery were performed. The other patient with acute disruption of a giant dissected aortal aneurysm and hemomediastinum underwent prosthesis of ascending part and arch of the aorta.     

Surgical technologies in the treatment of aneurysms of thoracic and thoraco-abdominal aorta

From 1993 to 2001 279 patients with aneurysms of the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta were operated. Cause of aneurysm formation in 74% cases was degenerative changes of aortal wall (Marfan's disease or Erdheim syndrome). Aneurysms were revealed in ascending aorta in 38 (14%) cases, in the ascending aorta with insufficiency of aortic valve--in 67 (24%), in the ascending aorta and aortic arch--31 (11%), in descending aorta--54 (19%), thoracoabdominal aneurysms--in 89 (32%). Twenty patients underwent surgery for combined aneurysms of the ascending aorta with it arch and descending part, thoracoabdominal aneurysms, and also for thoracic aneurysms in combination with coronary heart disease. Lethality in early postoperative period in patients with aneurysms of the ascending aorta was 5%, with aneurysms of the ascending aorta and insufficiency of the aortic valve--6.2%, in aneurysms of the ascending aorta and aortic arch--16.2%, in aneurysms of the descending aorta--6.4%, in thoracoabdominal aneurysms--15%.