Visual evoked potentials and the P300 component in different courses of the posttraumatic vegetative state

The late latency components of visual evoked potentials (VEP) and the component P300 AEP were analyzed to evaluate their informative value in the process of mental function restoration in patient after long-term traumatic coma. VEP components with latencies of 70 to 320 msec were studied in 24 patients. Topographical mapping of the power of the study VEP components and components P300 was made by the peak amplitude. Long-term VEP components and component P300 were examined by the method of three-dimensional localization of equivalent dipole sources. In 16 patients with positive tendencies in the condition there was a stable localization of the maximum VEP power in the parietal, sagittal, and occipital regions, component P300 showed its maximum amplitude in the central and parietal regions in the left hemisphere. Eight patients with negative tendencies in the status had the maximum VEP and component P300 in the frontal and temporal regions, predominantly in the right hemisphere. The paper shows it important to evaluate not only time-amplitude parameters and analyzes the tomographic features of its formation in dynamics.     

Two pathways of exocytosis of cytoplasmic granule contents and target cell killing by cytokine-induced CD3+ CD56+ killer cells

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxic cells generated by incubation of peripheral blood lymphocytes with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MoAb), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-1, and interferon-gamma. Cells with the greatest effector function in CIK cultures coexpress CD3 and CD56 surface molecules. CIK cell cytotoxicity can be blocked by MoAbs directed against the cell surface protein leukocyte function associated antigen-1 but not by anti-CD3 MoAbs. CIK cells undergo release of cytoplasmic cytotoxic granule contents to the extracellular space upon stimulation with anti-CD3 MoAbs or susceptible target cells. Maximal granule release was observed from the CD3+ CD56+ subset of effector cells. The cytoplasmic granule contents are lytic to target cells. Treatment of the effector cells with a cell-permeable analog of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) inhibited anti-CD3 MoAb and target cell- induced degranulation and cytotoxicity of CIK cells. The immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporin (CsA) and FK506 inhibited anti-CD3- mediated degranulation, but did not affect cytotoxicity of CIK cells against tumor target cells. In addition, degranulation induced by target cells was unaffected by CsA and FK506. Our results indicate that two mechanisms of cytoplasmic granule release are operative in the CD3+ CD56+ killer cells; however, cytotoxicity proceeds through a cAMP- sensitive, CsA- and FK506-insensitive pathway triggered by yet-to-be- identified target cell surface molecules.     

Interval between insulin injection and breakfast in diabetes

The relationship between the insulin-breakfast interval, postprandial increase in blood glucose, and glycaemic control was studied in 58 children with diabetes. Patients recorded insulin-breakfast intervals in a home diary over a seven day period, and during a 24 hour period at the weekend provided eight serial capillary dried blood spots for glucose analysis. The highest mean blood glucose value occurred two hours after breakfast and showed a significant correlation with fructosamine concentrations. Weekend insulin-breakfast intervals ranged from 2-30 minutes, with 70% reporting intervals of less than 15 minutes. There was a significant correlation between the weekend insulin-breakfast interval and the after breakfast increase in blood glucose with a mean increment of 0.4 mmol/l in the 30 minute group and 7.2 mmol/l in the 2 minute group. Over the whole study period, children with mean insulin-breakfast intervals of two to 12 minutes had a mean fructosamine concentration of 376 mumol/l compared with 341 mumol/l in those with intervals of 15-35 minutes. This study has shown that the interval between insulin injection and breakfast significantly influences the morning postprandial rise in blood glucose and consequently short term glycaemic control. It is therefore important that patients are encouraged to leave an interval of about 30 minutes between insulin injection and breakfast.     

Morphological assessment of physical methods of dissection and coagulation in operations on the stomach

The first results of experimental investigation of the potencies of a new domestic electrosurgical apparatus "ESA-MINI-01" are presented. The investigation of the morphological alterations in the stomach wall after using different physical methods of dissection and coagulation has proved the advantages of the new apparatus which has the principle of work based on an original means of forming the outlet parameters.