Efficiency of preventive use of bemethyl during long-term voyages

A positive effect of bemityl in the 24-hour dose of 0.25-0.5 g on the cellular and humoral factors of nonspecific defence, blood neutrophils intracellular exchange, barrier properties of the skin, working ability of operators and on morbidity has been established. An important property of the drug is long duration of preservation of the pharmacological effect, which prevents the development of disadaptation states following the cessation of its use. The data obtained gives the basis to recommend the actoprotective drug bemityl to increase nonspecific resistance during long-term voyages.     

Surgical tactics in clotted hemothorax in patients with combined chest injuries

Based on the experience with treatment of 26 patients the authors recommend to use mainly conservative treatment with the intrapleural administration of fibrinolytic drugs. The method was used in 20 patients. All of them recovered.     

Basis of immunocorrective therapy among patients with chronic osteomyelitis

The application of Dimexid and Dekaris is shown to give better results in the treatment of patients with chronic osteomyelitis.     

A diagnostic algorithm for male genital oedema

Male genital oedema can be defined as swelling or the appearance of swelling of the scrotum and/or the penile shaft and prepuce. Despite the various causes of genital oedema reported in the published work, a concise approach to the evaluation and management has not been sufficiently addressed.     

Long-term effect of HU-211, a novel non-competitive NMDA antagonist, on motor and memory functions after closed head injury in the rat

HU-211 is a synthetic, non-psychotropic cannabinoid which acts as a non-competitive NMDA antagonist and antioxidant. We studied the drug's therapeutic window as well as its long-term effect on cognitive and motor functions in a model of closed head injury (CHI) in the rat. A weight-drop device was used to induce CHI in ether anesthetized male rats. HU-211 (5 mg/kg) was administered i.v. to the experimental groups. For the therapeutic window study, drug was injected at 4 or 6 h after CHI. Edema (water content) and clinical status (neurological severity score, NSS) were evaluated at 24 h. Reduction of edema was slight, whereas improvement of NSS was significant when the drug was administered at 4 or 6 h (P = 0.0023and0.059, respectively). To determine the drug's long-term effect, it was administered 1 h after CHI and additional doses were later given. NSS was evaluated for a period of 30 d. A single dose of HU-211 given 1 h post-CHI improved the clinical outcome during the 30 d period (P < 0.01). Repetitive doses of HU-211 injected during the post traumatic period had similar effects. Cognitive functions were evaluated in the Morris water maze, with rats trained either before or after CHI. CHI resulted in a highly significant impairment of these abilities, whereas HU-211 treatment 1 h after CHI improved performance. Our results indicate that HU-211 is a potent cerebroprotective agent, with a therapeutic window of about 4 h. The beneficial response obtained even after a single dose was long lasting, and ameliorated impairment of both motor and cognitive functions following CHI.     

Synthesis and cytostatic activity of xylofuranosyl analogs of nucleosides

Translated from Khimiko-farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 23, No. 10, pp. 1217–1223, October, 1989.     

The clinical significance of the audible and mechanographic manifestations of mitral valve prolapse

Graphic techniques were employed to examine 82 patients with mitral valve prolapse verified on echocardiography. In addition to the known acoustic symptoms, enhancement of tones III, IV and V was identified, especially in transmitral regurgitation, together with inverted alternating of the components of tones I and II. Mitral click (OS) was discovered in one third of the examined. Uninterrupted protodiastolic and presystolic murmurs were found more seldom. They were more well-defined on the phonocardiogram recorded from the esophagus, at the level of the mitral valve. The right and left ventricular apex cardiography made it possible to diagnose hyperdynamia of the left atrium, the shortening of isometric relaxation of the left ventricle on elongation of this phase of the right ventricle. Both the curves had the M-like deformation in the systole. On the apex cardiogram of the left ventricle, the O point was always low, and the OF amplitude (rapid ventricular filling) was increased. During regurgitation, the OF transformed to an anomalous positive wave (a "surge"). Simultaneous alterations in the jugular phlebogram and in both apex cardiograms reflect changes in all four heart chambers. In part of the examined, pulmonary hypertension was established with the aid of indirect techniques. Esophagoatriography turned out diagnostically instrumental, since in some of the patients it enabled identification of systolic expansion of the entire posterior wall of the left atrium (regurgitation).     

Effect of leucine-enkephalin on cerebral cortical unit activity

Experiments on unanesthetized rats immobilized with flaxedil showed that leucineenkephalin (150 g), if injected into the lateral cerebral ventricle, caused heterogeneous changes in the activity of 21 sensomotor cortical units tested. Spike discharges of five neurons were reduced and those of 11 neurons increased. Naloxone (2 mg/kg, intravenously) prevented both the inhibitor and the activating effect of leucine-enkephalin in the case of repeated injections of this pentapeptide. Leucine-enkephalin did not change the activity of five units.Department of Pharmacology, Faculties of Internal Medicine and Hygiene, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 88, No. 7, pp. 42–44, July, 1979.