The synaptic responses of the neurons in the medulla oblongata to stimulation of the stepping stria of the spinal cord in the cat

Synaptic responses of bulbar neurons to stimulation of stepping points in the dorsolateral funiculus were recorded in decerebrate cats. 40% of neurons were excited from both ipsi- and contralateral stepping points, the rest of them were excited only from one of those points. Part of the neurons was activated from stepping points at both C2 and Th12 spinal cord levels. Latencies of the synaptic responses to stimulation of the stepping point at the cervical level were from 2 to 18 ms. These results suggest that bulbar neurons as well as propriospinal ones contribute to initiation of locomotion.     

Pharmacological activity and clinical effects of trecrezan and other tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium salts of arylheteroacetic acids (A review)

The results of an experimental and clinical study on the pharmacological properties of new compounds representing tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium salts (TES) of arylheteroacetic acids-in particular, tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium-2-methylphenoxyacetate (trecrezan)-are summarized. Trecrezan exhibits a modulating action on immunity and hemopoiesis and offers a promising approach to immune correction for the treatment of immune deficiency and autoimmune disorders. Recovery of the proliferative activity of the early precursors of erythropoiesis with the aid of trecrezan (experimental model) leads to the normalization of immunity and hemopoiesis. A method involving trecrezan administration has been developed for the complex treatment of acute viral hepatitis B as well as hepatitis A and B complicated by occupational anamnesis. Trecrezan has also been successfully applied for the complex treatment of ischemic heart disease and multiple sclerosis. Trecrezan stimulates the regeneration of hepatocytes during partial hepatectomy and acts as an effective adjuvant in the complex therapy of tuberculosis. Trecrezan analogs (TES) show antitumor, hepatoprotective, and adaptive activity, increase the resistance of animals to oxygen insufficiency and to poisoning with heavy metal salts and organophosphorus compounds, and improve the endurance of animals under physical load and emotional stress conditions. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 13–17, May, 2007.     

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) supplemented St. Thomas' hospital cardioplegic solution improves the antioxidant defense system of rat myocardium during ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF STUDY: Cardioplegic arrest remains the method of choice for myocardial protection in cardiac surgery. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) prevents lipid peroxidation induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury and has a potent antioxidant property. We investigated the advantages of CAPE supplemented cardioplegic solution (St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution No.: 2) on the antioxidant defense system of myocardium against ischemia-reperfusion injury. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Isolated rat hearts were mounted on a nonrecirculating type of Langendorff apparatus. The hearts were arrested for 60 min with cardioplegic solution given at 20-min intervals and then reperfused for 15 min. The hearts were divided into three groups. Cold saline (0.9%, 4 degrees C) in group 1, St. Thomas' Hospital solution in group 2 and CAPE added St. Thomas' Hospital solution in group 3 were used as the cardioplegic solution. Krebs-Henseleit buffer solution was used for reperfusion. The tissues were examined biochemically for oxidative stress. RESULTS: Significant differences among the three groups existed in tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase (CAT), Na+-K+ ATPase activity and in the concentrations of malonydealdehyde (MDA) and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT). Group 2 showed significant changes in MPO (P = 0.04), Na+-K+ ATPase enzyme activity (P = 0.02) and the levels of MDA (P = 0.004) and 3-NT (P = 0.01) in comparison with group 1. Group 3 efficiently reduced MDA levels (P = 0.004) and also led to significant decrease in levels of MPO (P = 0.006), 3-NT (P = 0.01) and Na+-K+ ATPase activity (P = 0.01) and increase in the level of CAT (P = 0.004) in comparison with group 1. Significant changes were also found in the levels of MDA (P = 0.03), MPO (P = 0.04) and CAT (P = 0.009) in comparison between groups 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the administration of CAPE into cardioplegic solutions improves the antioxidant defense system of rat heart during the ischemia-reperfusion injury.     

The use of lipid indicators and indexes for assessment of ischaemic heart disease

The informative value of various lipid indicators and indexes in healthy subjects and in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is compared. In 10 investigated biochemical indicators significant differences were found between healthy people and subjects with epidemiological or clinical signs of IHD. The first places in the order according to Anderson-Bahadur intervals were held by the cholesterol atherogenity index, total cholesterol (CS) and the percent of high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (HDL-CS) in total CS. The cholesterol atherogenity index and HDL-CS percent in total CS were closely correlated with the severity of angiographically proved changes in the coronary arteries.     

A case of prostatic leiomyosarcoma

A case of a 19-year-old male with leiomyosarcoma of the prostate is reported. He visited our hospital with the chief complaint of urinary retention in December, 1983. Following overall examination, needle biopsy of the prostate gland was performed with the suspicion of sarcoma. Histology of the prostate revealed leiomyosarcoma. Two courses of combined chemotherapy were given, but the tumor continued to enlarge. The patient died in April, 1984, 5 months after the appearance of the first symptom.