Calorimetric study of collagen hydration

Water in human Achilles tendon was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. It was shown that in the postmortem period there takes place a redistribution of free and bound water. The quantity of free freezing water in the tissue increases, whereas that of bound unfreezing water diminishes. The data obtained can be used for organ and tissue conservation and in forensic studies.     

Premorbid personality of patients with adolescent seizure-like schizophrenia

The premorbid personality, features of early ontogenesis and childhood crises periods were studied in 226 patients with attack-like forms of schizophrenia, manifesting itself in adolescence with florid psychotic attacks. The authors describe 8 types of the premorbid personality: 1) hyperthymic; 2) sthenic; 3) sensitive; 4) dissociated; 5) passive; schizoid; 6) explosive; 7) model and 8) deficitary personalities. A clinical analysis of the studied cases deomnstrated that the premorbid type of the patient, along with some other factor may be considered as one of the important indices when making a probability prognosis of the development of the disease.     

Determination of lysine residue number, positive charge and molecular lengths of histone H1 and H5 by a method of incomplete succinylation

A simple method for determination of lysine residue number and positive charge of histones H1 and H5 in the acetic acid -- urea system has been developed. The method is based on incomplete succinylation of lysine residues and allows an accurate determination of protein molecular length. The accuracy of the method has been demonstrated by determination of goose and chicken histones H5 and their fragments. The calibrating curve for determination of molecular lengths of histones H1 and H5 has been plotted. Using the incomplete succinylation method, a detailed analysis of Lymantria dispar histone H1 structure has been carried out. The method under discussion can be used for determining lysine residue number, positive charge and molecular length of practically any protein.     

Excited atom emission from metals under ion bombardment

In this paper the available models of excited atom emission from metals under ion bombardment are analysed and a new approach to solving the problem of finding the sputtered atom excitation probability is offered. At distances between a metal and an atom less than some critical distance the ‘metal-sputtered atom’ system is considered adiabatically. At the larger distances interaction between the metal and the atom is considered in terms of a weak perturbation which can excite the valence electron of the atom. The calculations of the probability of sputtered Al and Cu atom excitation and the radiation intensity for a number of spectral lines of these elements have been carried out.     

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft fistula for chronic hemodialysis

In a retrospective study of 66 PTFE arteriovenous fistulae and 71 BCH arteriovenous fistulae for dialysis access, PTFE had a higher patency rate than BCH at 12 months (62.4 versus 32.5%). PTFE was easier to work with and easier to handle in the face of infection. The lateral upper arm approach to placement of the PTFE graft is desirable in patients who have had multiple previous access procedures because this area is usually free from scarring, is distant from neurovascular structures, and provides a greater length of graft for needle punctures.     

Electrical activity of the cerebral ganglion of the mollusk Helix vulgaris upon acoustic stimulation of the statocyst

Responses in the cerebral ganglia to acoustical stimulation were studied at the frequencies 30, 60, 150, 300, 500, 1000 Hz. The lowest threshold of response was at the frequency 30 Hz 60 dB spl. The reaction was in the form of evoked response or different patterns of spike activity. Responses could take place at one frequency of stimulation or in the wide range of frequencies. The reaction lasted sometimes even after the stimulation had ceased. After 3-4 stimulations by one frequency the reaction disappeared as a rule. But if the stimulation continued, but with another frequency, the response restored. The acoustic stimulation of the statocyst evokes various types of response in the cerebral ganglia.