A simple cardiac contractility computer

A single-purpose analogue-computing device is described for the online assessment of the contractile state of the human myocardium from the left ventricular pressure (P_lv) data available during routine cardiac catheterisation. Due attention has been paid to the design of the computer circuits so that they will not process pressure phenomena outside the isovolumic contractile period. Either a \(\left( {\frac{1}{{P_{lv} }}\frac{{dP_{lv} }}{{dt}}} \right)_{max} \) or a plain \(\left( {\frac{{dP_{lv} }}{{dt}}} \right)_{max} \) index is presented on a digitalvoltmeter display, thus obviating the need for any graphical extrapolation or additional computation.     

Significance of methods for purification of oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes for the efficiency of gene diagnosis by real-time PCR

Analysis of the use of real-time PCR with fluorescent registration of results for gene diagnosis of infectious diseases showed that the sensitivity and reliability of quantitative evaluation of DNA targets directly depended on the method of purification of oligonucleotide probes. Chromatographic behavior of synthetic probes carrying various fluorophores and fluorescence quenchers was analyzed. Approaches to optimization of purification methods are proposed enabling elimination of previously undetectable admixtures. The importance of these studies is explained by the need in extending the armory of methods for the development and production of diagnosticums for detection of infectious and hereditary diseases, identification of genetically modified organisms, and for a wide spectrum of research in molecular biology and medicine. __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 145, No. 3, pp. 280–284, March, 2008     

Comparison of Discrete Cardiovascular Fitness Groups on Plasma Catecholamine and Selected Behavioral Responses to Psychological Stress

Discrete cardiovascular fitness groups consisting of high-fit (n=10) and low-fit (n=9) men performed a well-learned vigilance task and their self-report, performance, and plasma catecholamine responses were compared. No significant differences were observed between the fitness groups on self-report or psychomotor performance responses to the vigilance task. However, the low-fit group took significantly longer than high-fit subjects to complete the first of three sets of anagrams administered immediately after the vigilance task. Plasma norepinephrine but not epinephrine response was greater in the low-fit group compared to their high-fit counterparts. The findings indicate that enhanced cardiovascular fitness may be characterized by an attenuated plasma norepinephrine response to a vigilance task with sustained cognitive performance subsequent to the task.     

Physiological responses and manual performance in humans following repeated exposure to severe cold at night

We evaluated human physiological responses and the performance of manual tasks during exposure to severe cold (–25°C) at night (0300–0500 hours) and in the afternoon (1500–1700 hours). Thirteen male students wearing standard cold protective clothing occupied a severely cold room (–25°C) for 20 min, and were then transferred to a cool room (10°C) for 20 min. This pattern of exposure was repeated three times, for a total time of exposure to extreme cold of 60 min. The experiments were started either at 1500 hours or 0300 hours and measurements of rectal temperature, skin temperature, blood pressure, performance in a counting task, hand tremor, and subjective responses were made in each condition. At the end of the experiment at night the mean decrease in rectal temperature [0.68 (SEM 0.04)°C] was significantly greater than that at the end of the experiment in the afternoon [0.55 (SEM 0.08)°C, P<0.01]. After the second cold exposure at night the mean increase in diastolic blood pressure [90 (SEM 2.0) mmHg] was significantly greater than that at the end of the second cold exposure in the afternoon [82 (SEM 2.8) mmHg, P<0.01]. At the end of the second cold exposure at night, mean finger skin temperature [11.8 (SEM 0.8)°C] was significantly higher than that at the comparable time in the afternoon [9.0 (SEM 0.7)°C, P<0.01]. Similarly for the toe, mean skin temperature at the start of the second cold exposure at night [25.6 (SEM 1.5)°C] was significantly higher than in the afternoon [20.1 (SEM 0.8)°C, P<0.01]. The increased skin temperatures in the periphery resulted in increased heat loss. Since peripheral skin temperatures were highest at night, the subjects noted diminished sensations of thermal cold and pain at that time. Manual dexterity at the end of the first cold exposure at night [mean 83.7 (SEM 3.6) times·min^–1] had decreased significantly more than at the end of the first cold exposure in the afternoon [mean 89.4 (SEM 3.5) times·min^–1, P<0.01]. These findings of a lowered rectal temperature and diminished manual dexterity suggest that there is an increased risk of both hypothermia and accidents for those who work at night. Electronic Publication     

The role of the monkey sensory cortex in the recovery from cerebellar injury

Summary The aim of the study was to investigate the contribution of the primary sensory cortex in the compensation of cerebellar deficits during self-paced movements. For this purpose, monkeys were trained on motor tasks which required goal-reaching and independent finger movements. The intermediate and lateral deep cerebellar nuclei and the sensory cortex were lesioned in isolation and in sequence and the course of motor recovery was studied on the test performances. The deep nuclei were lesioned by kainic acid injections, the sensory cortex was removed by ablation. Cerebellar lesions in isolation produced obvious deficits at proximal and distal joints, affecting both slow and fast motor adjustments. Only lesions of the anterior portions of the intermediate and lateral deep nuclear complexes produced deficiencies in voluntary movements. Lesions of the posterior portions produced postural disturbances. The process of recovery following cerebellar lesions was slow and, depending on the nature of the task, was found to be differentially disruptive for motor performances requiring fast and slow motor adjustments. The deficits at distal joints appeared to be more enduring than those at proximal joints. Sensory cortical lesions in isolation produced much less severe and more transient motor deficits. They consisted of hand clumsiness and their recovery was fast and reached higher levels of performance than following cerebellar lesions. When the sensory cortex was removed secondarily to a cerebellar lesion and after recovery from the cerebellar deficits, the initially recovered motor performance became much worse again (decompensation). Removal of the sensory cortex prior to a cerebellar lesion exaggerated the cerebellar deficits and severely limited their recovery. Slow and fast motor performances were completely abolished for three weeks following sequential lesions. Signs of recovery subsequently appeared and stabilized at low levels of performance by five to seven weeks. The effects of combined, sequential cerebellar and sensory cortical lesions were much worse than expected if the effects from the two lesions were merely additive. This indicates that there is some functional interrelationship between the sensory cortex and the cerebellum, which promotes compensation. The somatosensory cortex appears to play a crucial role in the process of recovery from cerebellar motor deficits and it is likely that sensation is an important component in the process of recovery. It is suggested that the sensory cortex exerts its compensatory actions via a structure or structures which receives convergent cerebellar and sensory cortical inputs.     

电化学共沉积制备有机高聚物/钙磷复合陶瓷膜层--Ⅱ XPS、SIMS表征及力学性能研究

通过电化学共沉积方法制备具有生物活性的有机高聚物／钙磷陶瓷复合膜层。用XPS、SIMS等对复合膜层的化学组分进行表征，证明少量有机高聚物可能在分子层次上掺杂形成有机高聚物／羟基磷灰石复合膜层。对电沉积HAP陶瓷膜层进行微刮痕实验表明，陶瓷膜层与金属基体的结合力得到显著改善。     

Multidimensional Chromatographic and Hyphenated Techniques for Hydrophilic Copolymers, 1

Summary: The chromatographic analysis of hydrophilic copolymers is complicated due to the fact that in most cases aqueous eluents must be used. In aqueous eluents different polar and ionic effects may disturb the selective interactions between the macromolecules and the stationary phase making it impossible to separate such copolymers with regard to chemical composition. Therefore, 2D chromatography combining a separation according to composition with a separation according to molar mass has been applied mostly to polymers that are soluble in organic solvents. The present contribution describes experimental approaches to analyze such hydrophilic copolymers by 2D‐chromatography. For a model polymer system resulting from the copolymerization of methacrylic acid and a poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomer, it is shown that different analytical techniques including SEC, LC‐CC, MALDI‐TOF MS and 2D chromatography can be used to analyze the different parameters of molecular heterogeneity of such copolymers.

2D separation of poly(MPEG‐MM 2), 1^st dimension: LC‐CC, 2^nd dimension: SEC.     

二维视觉搜索的计算机模拟

视觉搜索的模拟算法考虑两个交互作用的过程:覆盖过程(“看”)和视觉过程(“看见”)。搜索场景包含有靶,假目标和背景噪声;一个视力角模型按一定的搜索策略去覆盖场景。对模拟程序的输入是场景和靶的空间大小,随机分布的靶和假目标的数目。靶探测几率和识别几率均为物体在场景中对比度和物体离视力角中心的距离的函数。本模拟程序的目的是比较系统搜索和随机搜索的性能,验证关于计算最佳视窗宽度的公式,进而鉴别影响靶探测和识别能力的覆盖过程和视觉过程的参数,阐明它们之间的相互作用。     

Trends Influencing Future Delivery of Mental Health Services in Large Healthcare Systems

The delivery of mental health services, particularly psychotherapy and other psychosocial care, is being increasingly limited by financial constraints. We briefly review three trends that will play an increasingly important role in the delivery of mental health services in large organizations such as health maintenance organizations. These are (a) an increasing role for self-help and bibliotherapy interventions, both in traditional and electronic formats; (b) mental health services being offered in settings other than mental health specialty clinics; and (c) an increased emphasis on mechanisms for improving the quality and type of services offered, including quality improvement methods and pay-for-performance.     

Distribution of galanin immunoreactivity in the central nervous system and the responses of galanin-containing neuronal pathways to injury

Radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry were used to study the distribution of galanin, a novel 29 amino acid porcine intestinal peptide, in the central nervous system of the rat and pig. The pattern of distribution was similar in the two species, with the highest concentrations of galanin-like immunoreactivity found in the neurohypophysis, hypothalamus and sacral spinal cord. Immunocytochemical studies of these regions localized galanin-like immunoreactivity to cell bodies in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus, to fibres in the pars nervosa and to numerous cell bodies and fibres in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. On both gel and high pressure liquid chromatography, galanin-like immunoreactivity in rat and pig nervous tissue eluted as a single peak in a position similar to purified procine intestinal galanin standard. Surgical and pharmacological manipulations in the rat suggest the presence of galanin in afferent fibres. An increase of galanin-like immunoreactivity was observed in the sacral spinal cord of the rat following thoracic spinal cord transection. Thus galanin-like immunoreactivity in the brain is mainly localized in the hypothalamopituitary region. The decrease of galanin-like immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, following dorsal rhizotomy and pre-treatment of rats with capsaicin, indicates that many of the fibres, which are of small diameter, may well be derived from spinal sensory neurones.