Essential phospholipids in the treatment of chronic pyelonephritis]

Through TCD test, observation on the blood flow dynamics change before and after treatment with 31 cases of the child cerebral atrophy was made. It is found that scalp therapy is able to speed up the blood flow of part artery, especially increase the even blood flow speed of MCA, ACA obviously (P < 0.05), which preliminary shows the mechanism of scalp therapy for child cerebral atrophy mean while. It is found that scalp therapy also has the function to restrain epilepsy.     

A 90-kD Na(+)-H+ exchanger kinase has increased activity in spontaneously hypertensive rat vascular smooth muscle cells

Increased activity of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger (NHE-1 isoform) has been observed in cells and tissues from hypertensive humans and animals, including the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). No mutation in NHE-1 DNA sequence or alteration in NHE-1 mRNA and protein expression has been demonstrated in hypertension, indicating that alterations in proteins that regulate NHE-1 activity are responsible for increased activity. The recent finding that NHE-1 phosphorylation in SHR vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was greater than in Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY) VSMCs suggested that NHE-1 kinases may represent an abnormal regulatory pathway present in hypertension. To define NHE-1 kinases altered in the hypertensive phenotype. We measured NHE-1 kinase activity by an in-gel-kinase assay using a recombinant glutathione S-transferase NHE-1 fusion protein as a substrate. At least 7 NHE-1 kinases (42 to 90 kD) were present in VSMCs. We studied a 90-kD kinase because it was the major NHE-1 kinase and exhibited differences between SHR and WKY. Comparison of 90-kD kinase activity revealed that SHR VSMCs had increased activity in growth-arrested cells and in cells stimulated by angiotensin II (100 nmol/L for 5 minutes). Activation of the 90-kD kinase by angiotensin II was Ca2+ dependent, PKC independent, and partially dependent on the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. These findings indicate that increased activity of a 90-kD NHE-1 kinase is a characteristic of SHR VSMCs in culture and suggest that alterations in the 90-kD NHE-1 kinase and/or proteins that regulate its activity may be a pathogenic component in hypertension in the SHR.     

A comparison of the hypolipidemic action of probucol at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/day in moderate hyperlipoproteinemia

AIM: Evaluation of effectiveness of hypolipidemic action of probucol in doses 500 and 1000 mg/day and comparison of probucol blood concentrations on the treatment month 3 and 6. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Probucol (Akrikhin, Russia) was given to 41 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia in a dose 500 mg/day. 3 months later the patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 patients exhibited a > 10% decrease in cholesterol levels and continued to take probucol in the dose 500 mg/day. Group 2 patients were crossed over to higher cholesterol dose--up to 1000 mg/day. Lipids levels were measured by enzyme tests, apoproteins--by immunoturbidimetry and immunodiffusion, probucol concentrations--by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: After 3 months of treatment, cholesterol lowered by 14.3 and 9.2% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. After 6 months, by 19.7 and 12.9%, respectively. Probucol concentrations in blood were higher after 6 months of treatment than after 3 months in both groups. No significant differences existed between the groups by probucol concentrations in 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSION: Hypolipidemic effect of probucol depended on the individual features of lipoproteins metabolic disorders rather than the drug blood concentration. Larger probucol doses fail to reduce cholesterol further.     

The work of the epidemiological health laboratory of the Black Sea Fleet in World War II

Between October 1983 and December 1991, 14 patients (mean age 48.1 [range 38 to 68] years) presented with single, clear, cystic-appearing juxtafoveal lesions beneath the retina, with discrete borders measuring approximately 2 mm in diameter. All patients had vision of 6/7.5 or better, which did not deteriorate over a follow-up period of 3 to 91 (mean 18.1) months. Angiographically, the lesions showed relative homogeneous hyperfluorescence with very discrete margins, the angiographic appearance of serous retinal pigment epithelial detachment. We describe the clinical and angiographic appearance on presentation and in follow-up and discuss the probable relationship of these lesions to central serous choroidopathy.     

A comparative study of the thermal stability of phenylalanyl tRNA synthetase from Escherichia coli MRE-600 and Thermus thermophilus HB 8

The thermal stability of phenylalanyl-tRNA-synthetase (PTS) from E. coli and T.thermophilus HB 8 was studied in solution at various conditions by scanning microcalorimetry. It has been shown that the value of heating rate, concentration of the enzyme and Mg2+ ions in the solution affects the parameters of thermal denaturation of both enzymes. The higher thermal stability of PTS from T. thermophilus was observed as well as the independence of its properties upon broad variations of experimental conditions. The role of thermostability of the enzymes are discussed with respect to the biological properties of E. coli and T.thermophilus.     

Mullerian-inhibiting substance secretion is delayed in XX sex-reversed dog embryos

A mathematical multiple dosing model was designed so that human plasma concentration-versus-time curves of beta-lactams are reproduced in mouse plasma. The pharmacokinetic parameters of FK037, a new injective cephalosporin, in volunteers and in the mice model were 6,966 and 6,894 ml, respectively, for Vc, 2.592 and 2.698/h for alpha, 0.2875 and 0.3027/h for beta, and 0.9079 and 1.0506 for K21. Therefore, real pharmacokinetics of humans were reproduced in mice by this method. The 8-hour therapeutic efficacy (the decrease of the viable counts in the lung) against pneumonia with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice was well correlated with the time above MIC value, but not with AUC, Cmax or AUC above MIC. These results indicate that this model was valuable to evaluate the beta-lactam antibiotics for predicting their clinical efficacy and that the time above MIC is an important factor in selecting beta-lactam agents and determining dosage in pulmonary infection.     

The diagnostic and treatment characteristics of focal liver lesions using computed tomography

Under analysis is an experience with examining and treatment of 167 patients with focal lesions of the liver using computed tomography. Percutaneous transhepatic puncture and draining the hepatic abscesses and cysts under control of computed tomography is an independent method of treatment used in 53 patients. The technique of performing the puncture and drainage is described. Specific features of surgical treatment of focal lesions of the liver are described. Decompression of bile ducts in the postoperative period is shown to be necessary. A conclusion is made about high efficiency of computed tomography in diagnosis and treatment of focal lesions of the liver.     

Use of a DNA polymerase III bypass mutant of Escherichia coli, pcbA1, to isolate potentially useful mutations of a complex plasmid replicon

We report a case of a 63-year-old woman who presented with pseudoaneurysm of the free wall of the left ventricle secondary to myocardial infarction, in the presence of angiographically normal major coronary arteries. This is the only such case we know of, in which the patient underwent successful surgical correction. At last follow-up, the patient was in good condition with no evidence of cardiac disease, at 9 years after surgery.     

Effect of size, manufacturing and prestrain on high-rate failure (spall) of PT-3V titanium alloy and 12Kh18N10T steel

Experimental results are presented on the spall strength of PT-3V titanium alloy and 12Kh18N10T steel as the system size is changed by a factor of five. The effects of a 0.5–5% dynamic prestrain and of the direction of the load relative to the manufacturing rolling direction on spall failure were also studied for the titanium alloy. It was established that failure of these metals under high-rate one-dimensional strain shows significant energy-related size effects. Effects of the rolling direction and prestrain were less pronounced for the titanium alloy than for steel. All-Union Research Institute of Experimental Physics, 607200 Sarov. Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Bzryva, Vol. 31, No. 6, pp. 130–139. November–December, 1995.