Role of neurons of the thalamus and striopallidar complex of the human brain in ensuring the constancy of visual perception

The neuronal impulse activity during visual testing for orientation sensitivity in different head tilts was recorded in parkinsonian++ patients diagnosed and treated with long-term intracerebral electrodes implanted into different nuclei of the thalamus and striopallidar complex. It was revealed that some neuronal populations responded only to the definite orientation of the stimuli. The "preferable" orientations were not changed for the most orientation-selective neurons during left and right head positions differing by 90 degrees.     

Evaluation of three substitutes for Percoll in sperm isolation by density gradient centrifugation

Silane-coated silica particle solutions (ISolate(TM) and PureSperm)TM)) and iodixanol (OptiPrep(TM)) were compared to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated silica particles (Percoll(TM)) in their efficacy to recover spermatozoa by gradient centrifugation for use in assisted reproductive procedures. Efficacy was assessed in terms of percentages of sperm recovery, sperm vitality and motility, normal sperm morphology and normal sperm chromatin condensation. No significant difference was found in the recovery of spermatozoa for men with both normal sperm counts and oligozoospermia, between PVP-coated and silane-coated particle solutions. Iodixanol had significantly lower sperm recovery compared to the other products. Sperm vitality, progressive motility, normal morphology and normal chromatin condensation did not differ significantly between any of the sperm isolation products.      

Direct mechanical heart massage

Biomedical Engineering -