Structural and metabolic changes in the ventricular myocardium in experimental massive pulmonary embolism

N. I. Pirogov Second Moscow Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. S. Savel'ev.) Translated from Byulleten' Ékperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 113, No. 3, pp. 327–329, March, 1992.     

Content of acid and alkaline phosphatases in lymphocytes of peripheral blood and hematopoietic organs of intact rats and mice

The content of acid and alkaline phosphatases was studied in the lymphocytes of the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and lymphoid organs (thymus, spleen, lymph node) of intact noninbred rats. The mean percentage of cells containing the enzymes was determined. Their organ and species characteristics are described.Central Research Laboratory and Department of Pathophysiology, Tomsk Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR I. V. Toroptsev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 85, No. 2, pp. 158–159, February, 1978.     

Acilact and improvement of the health status of sickly children

A complex study of the effects of Acilact on the immune and interferon status, phagocyte defense, and cytokine balance in sickly children showed that Acilact had a positive effect on the immune system in these patients. The preparation is able to normalize abnormal immune parameters, and does not influence healthy immune system. In some ways Acilact has advantages over IRS 19 vaccine. Simultaneous administration of these two preparations is appropriate in some cases.     

Cellular composition of atherosclerotic and uninvolved human aortic subendothelial intima. Light-microscopic study of dissociated aortic cells.

Alcoholic-alkaline dissociation was used in the study of cellular composition of human aorta. Cells were isolated from an uninvolved intima and intima with different types of atherosclerotic lesions: fatty infiltration, fatty streak, and atherosclerotic plaque. In the isolated suspension we evaluated the ratio of four previously described morphologic forms of cells: stellate, elongated, elongated with side processes, and flat cells of irregular shape. It was demonstrated that the quota of stellate cells in an atherosclerotic lesion considerably exceeds that of the normal intima. For elongated cells the opposite is true. The other two cell forms are represented in the uninvolved and atherosclerotic intima in approximately equal proportions. Alteration of the ratio of different morphologic forms occurs because of the fact that the number of cells belonging to different morphologic forms increases disproportionately in the lesion zone. Specifically, the number of stellate cells is increased much more substantially, compared with elongated cells.     

Effect of cerebral ischemia on acute convulsions and chronic epileptogenesis

The pharmacological kindling with corazol was used as a model of chronic cerebral epileptization. In contrast to sham-operated rats or rats with unilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries, bilateral occlusion of these vessels moderated acute seizures provoked by a single administration of the convulsant corazol and abated the enhanced cerebral seizure readiness induced by its repeated administration. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 7, pp. 30–33, July, 1998     

Recent advances in diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung disease

Pulmonary hypertension with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance is a common cardiovascular complication associated with increased morbidity and mortality in preterm infants with chronic lung disease. Injury to the developing pulmonary circulation results in structural and functional abnormalities of the pulmonary vasculature. Animal studies have demonstrated that disruption of angiogenesis may contribute to the failure of normal alveolarisation in chronic lung disease. Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are lower in infants with chronic lung disease compared to preterm controls. Supplemental oxygen is commonly used to prevent and treat pulmonary hypertension, although optimal arterial oxygen saturation levels remain uncertain. Other vasodilators such as inhaled nitric oxide appear promising, but as yet have not been evaluated in the form of randomised controlled trials. Further studies are required to investigate the long-term effectiveness of pulmonary vasodilator therapy.