Blood parameter and heart rate response to training in Andalusian horses

The psychopathology and associated disabilities experienced by persons with schizophrenia have only partially responded to conventional pharmacological and psychosocial treatment approaches. Biobehavioral treatment and rehabilitation employs behavioral assessment, social learning principles, skills training, and a focus on the recovery process to amplify the effects of pharmacotherapy. Utilizing the Medline database, we review a selection of English-language studies published from 1970 to 1994 that support the effectiveness of each of the components of biobehavioral therapy, such as case management, psychopharmacology with behavioral assessment, psychoeducation, family involvement, and social skills training. An integrated biobehavioral therapy directed toward early detection and treatment of schizophrenic symptoms, collaboration between consumers and caregivers in managing treatment, family and social skills training, and teaching coping skills and self-help techniques has been documented to improve the course and outcome of schizophrenia, as measured by symptom recurrence, social functioning, and quality of life. A case vignette is presented to illustrate the successful integration of biobehavioral therapies into a treatment system that focuses on consumers' attempts to become increasingly responsible for recovering from illness.     

The effect of noncoherent infrared radiation on the bone tissue reparation of the mandible in an experiment

Exposure of rabbits with mandibular bone defects to coherent infrared radiation (IR) at a wavelength of 890 nm decreased the intensity of inflammation by accelerating the repair. The results of exposure of the injured site to noncoherent IR radiation are compatible with those of IR laser exposure.     

Mechanical and tribological properties of TiN/Ti multilayer coating

A large area filtered arc deposition (LAFAD) technique was used to deposit TiN/Ti multilayer coatings with fixed TiN layer thickness and different Ti layer thickness. Nanoindention and pin-on-disk tribometer were used to characterize the hardness, elastic modulus, plasticity, friction coefficient, and wear rate of the multilayer coatings. The dependence of the mechanical and tribological properties of the coating on the Ti interlayer thickness was systematically studied. It was found that the increase in the Ti layer thickness resulted in a decrease in the effective hardness and elastic modulus, and an increase in the wear rate, plasticity, and toughness. The coatings with a Ti layer thicknesses of 0, 25 nm and 50 nm possess an excellent combination of high effective hardness (> 20 GPa), high plasticity (> 69%), low friction coefficient, and high wear resistance.     

Study of the efficacy of prostaglandins and prostacyclin in decrease of osmotic permeability of the frog urinary bladder

Washout of autacoids using a repeated change of serosal Ringer solution of the frog urinary bladder was accompanied by a pronounced rise in the osmotic water permeability. A decrease in the osmotic water permeability was achieved by addition at the serosal Ringer solution of different eikosanoids at concentrations of 10(-10)-10(-6) M. According to efficiency of the recovery of the low osmotic water permeability, the substances studied showed the following order: prostaglandin E1 > prostaglandin > E2 > prostaglandin F2 alpha > (prostaglandin I2). The data obtained indicate a role of the endogenous prostaglandin production in maintaining of the low osmotic water permeability.     

Reversible ischemia determined by xenon-enhanced CT after 90 minutes of complete basilar artery occlusion

Intraarterial thrombolytic therapy decreases mortality in the treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion. An acute decrease in cerebral blood flow (CBF) (<12 mL/100 g per minute) has been reported to invariably result in infarction. We report a case of acute basilar artery occlusion, recanalized within 90 minutes, with reversal of CBF of less than 6 mL/100 g per minute. After reperfusion, areas with persistent CBF of 6 mL/100 g per minute resulted in infarctions on subsequent CT studies. Parenchymal viability is possible after 90 minutes of posterior CBF of 6 mL/100 g per minute.     

Overexpression of VEGF in testis and epididymis causes infertility in transgenic mice: evidence for nonendothelial targets for VEGF

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of endothelial growth and permeability. However, VEGF may also target nonendothelial cells, as VEGF receptors and responsiveness have been detected for example in monocytes, and high concentrations of VEGF have been reported in human semen. In this work we present evidence that overexpression of VEGF in the testis and epididymis of transgenic mice under the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) LTR promoter causes infertility. The testes of the transgenic mice exhibited spermatogenic arrest and increased capillary density. The ductus epididymidis was dilated, containing areas of epithelial hyperplasia. The number of subepithelial capillaries in the epididymis was also increased and these vessels were highly permeable as judged by the detection of extravasated fibrinogen products. Intriguingly, the expression of VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) was detected in certain spermatogenic cells in addition to vascular endothelium, and both VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 were also found in the Leydig cells of the testis. The infertility of the MMTV-VEGF male mice could thus result from VEGF acting on both endothelial and nonendothelial cells of the male genital tract. Taken together, these findings suggest that the VEGF transgene has nonendothelial target cells in the testis and that VEGF may regulate male fertility.     

The choice of the optimal schedules in the vaccination procedure against influenza in elderly subjects

The paper describes a clinical case of the cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome, a rare complication of carotid endarterectomy. The syndrome appeared as the generalized convulsive syndrome in the patient in the early postoperative period. In the context of clinical observation, the results of analysis of the literature are presented and the pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of the cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome considered.