Application of technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime single-photon emission tomography to neurologic prognosis in patients undergoing urgent carotid surgery

In this study we aimed to work out a quantitative prognostic index for preoperative assessment of brain technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) single-photon emission tomography (SPET) in patients referred for urgent carotid endarterectomy due to acute obstructive disease of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and neurological deficit. To this end we compared data from preoperative SPET studies with the postinterventional changes in neurological status in 20 patients (17 males, three females; mean age 53 years, SD 4 years) with acute ischaemic cerebral disorders induced by obstruction of the ICA. Carotid obstruction was diagnosed by ultrasound B-mode study. All patients underwent urgent carotid endarterectomy from the ICA. Patients were divided into two groups in accordance with the results of postoperative follow-up: group A comprised patients with significant (more than 3 points) postoperative improvement in neurological condition as quantified by the Canadian Neurological Scale (11 patients); group B consisted of patients with minimal improvement or deterioration (nine, three of whom died). All patients were studied preoperatively by^99mTc-HMPAO SPET. The volume of nonperfused tissue (VS, cm³) was quantified using the Mountz technique. Hypoperfused volume (V _hypoperf, cm³) in the affected hemisphere was calculated as the total volume of voxels with^99mTc-HMPAO uptake <90% of the contralateral symmetric voxels. Discriminant prognostic function was calculated by discriminant analysis as:PF = 0.072×VS + 29.46×(VS/V _hypoperf). Patients with preoperativePF values <8.20 demonstrated postoperative improvement in neurological status, while the group withPF>8.90 comprised patients who demonstrated minimal improvement or deterioration. PF values in the range 8.20–8.90 carried an indefinite prognosis. We conclude that the preoperative^99mTc-HMPAO SPET can be used for the selection of patients in whom improvement in neurological status may be expected after urgent surgical correction of acute extracranial obstruction of the ICA.     

Clinical Results of Dynamic Cardiomyoplasty

Thirty-five cardiomyoplasty procedures were performed in five patients with dilated and 30 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathies. Russian-made cardiomyostimulators (CMS) were implanted in these patients. Twenty-one patients underwent a one-step procedure using a left thoracotomy for cardiomyoplasty, while in 14 patients, a two-step procedure that included a mid-line sternotomy was carried out. During the average follow-up period of 9 ± 2.1 months, studies were carried out that showed in survivors improved clinical functional status and decreased heart failure symptoms. Evidence of revascularization of the ischemic myocardium from the latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) wrap was obtained by angiography and radioactive scintigraphy. In five patients, the CMS had to be removed due to complications, and in all these patients, their clinical functional status deteriorated following the cessation of cardiomyostimulation.     

Effect of seleptine on retrieval of active avoidance task in rats

We have examined seleptine, a new derivative of the atypical neuroleptic clozapinum, on the retrieval of the active avoidance task in rats placed in a shuttlebox. Retention of the conditioned response was assessed in the test of repeated training for the same task to the score achieved in the first session. After oral seleptine (100 mg/kg), the retention of the active avoidance task was deteriorated to a greater extent than the ability for a new learning. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 7, pp. 28–30, July, 1998     

Glucocorticoid interaction with bone marrow lymphoblast receptors in acute leukemia

Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 115, N ^o 4, pp. 164–165, February, 1993.     

Structural Changes Study of Co/C and Ni/C Multilayers upon Annealing

A detailed study of structural changes occurring in films and on boundaries in multilayers upon annealing with EXAFS, WAXS, and SAXS methods was performed. The optimum temperature of annealing for the Ni/C and Co/C multilayers obtained by the pulsed laser evaporation method was found.     

Serum myoglobin as an indicator of endotoxicosis in acute intestinal obstruction

To give objective assessmed of endotoxicosis, the authors for the first time have studied blood myoglobin as a marker of tissue hypoxy in 84 patients with acute obstruction of the small bowel. A strong correlation between serum myoglobin level and clinical manifestations of endotoxicosis was established. It enables the authors to recommend the study of myoglobin values in patients for quick and objective evaluation of endotoxicosis. As a result of comparative analysis of the pronouncement of clinical and roentgenological symptoms as well as changes in laboratory findings and among them--myoglobin level in 427 patients with acute intestinal obstruction, the authors demonstrate 5 stages of clinical course of the disease. Th stage of ischemia was in 48.9% patients. In 22% of them manifestations of obstruction were eliminated by conservative means, 26.9% of patients of this stage were operated. The stage of water-electrolyte balance disturbances was detected in 26.2% of patients. The stage of peritonitis was detected in 15.9% of patients. The stage of multiorganic insufficiency was revealed in 8.9% of patients. All of these patients were operated. The stage of rehabilitation took from 2 months to 3 years after the operation. Conservative symptomatic treatment was used in all these patients. It was established that maximal informativevalue of myoglobin study was achieved in patients at the stages of water-electrolyte balance disturbances, in peritonitis and polyorganic insufficiency. The results of the examinations allows evaluation of the stage of endotoxicosis, prediction of the course of the disease and assessment of the effectiveness of detoxication therapy.