Clinical evaluation of fitness to drive in patients with brain metastases.

Background: Guidelines to provide recommendations about driving restrictions for patients with brain metastases are lacking. We aim to determine whether clinical neurologic examination is sufficient to predict suitability to drive in these patients by comparison with an occupational therapy driving assessment (OTDA).

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the concordance between neurology assessment of suitability to drive (pass/fail) and OTDA in 41 individuals with brain metastases.

[Functional role of dragonfly legs before and after hatching: reorganization of coordinating interactions].

The characteristics of a structure-functional organization of leg apparatus were examined in the dragonfly Aeshna grandis: larvae of the final stadium, which legs perform a locomotion function and adults (imago) rising on a wing, which legs lose a locomotion function and are used mainly for catching a prey in the air. It has been demonstrated that legs of the imago practically do not differ from those of the larva either in shape or in proportion of segments of the leg and all changes in the functional role of legs of the imago are implemented due to modifications of mechanisms of limb muscle control and an appropriate reorganization or coordinating interactions. As it is proved by the obtained data, this reorganization concerns mechanisms of the generation of motor commands as well as close coordination of the activity of wing and leg apparatus and some others.

[Functional role of leg receptors of the cockroach Periplaneta americana in the system of walking control].

This work deals with study of role of the hair plate (HP) and of the campaniform sensilla (CS) on legs of the cockroach Periplaneta americana in the system of walking control. These receptors were shown to induce their regulatory, correctional effect on the rhythm of the cockroach steps depending on the external circumstances. These effects are mainly realized only at slow walking.

[Peculiarities of the structural-functional organization of motor neuropil of dragonfly thoracic ganglia].

The work considers the structural-functional relations existing in the motor neuropil of thoracic ganglia of dragonflies - the animals able to perform very complex and fast maneuvers in the flight. The motor neuropil in dragonflies is shown to be more differentiated than in the lees mobile insects, while motor nuclei in neuropil are more clearly outlined and closer to each other. There are revealed dendrites of motoneurons of pedal muscles (the middle nucleus), which are running into the anterior and posterior nuclei that contain dendrites of motoneurons of wing muscles.

[Structural-functional peculiarities of wing appatatus of insects that have and do not have maneuver flight].

The work considers character of behavior in flight and discusses peculiarities of the structural-functional organization of the wing apparatus of two representative of insects: the Asiatic locust Locusta migratoria (a low-maneuver insect) and the dragonfly Aeschna sp. (an insect able to perform complex maneuvers in the air). The main principles underlying work of the wing apparatus of these insects are considered and mechanisms allowing the dragonflies to perform complex maneuvers in the flight are analyzed in detail.

[Motor activity of infusoria: fundamental and applied aspects].

The article considers morpho-functional organization of the cilia, locomotor organelle of the infusoria, and demonstrates the complicity of locomotor behavior of these protista. The problem of control of locomotion of infusoria is whole organism in discussed; and conclusion is drawn that system of control of movements could be multilevel and include receptor, afferent, central, efferent and effector units. In this context the macronucleus, could act as a central integrator and coordinator of the locomotor behavior being closely connected with periphery by dynamic elements of cytoskeleton.

Functional characteristics of stretch receptors of flight apparatus of cockroach Periplaneta americana.

The functional characteristics of the stretch receptors of the wing joints of Periplaneta americana were examined and the possible functional role of these receptors in the maintenance of a stable rhythm of flight is discussed. The stretch receptors of the wing joints are of the phasic-tonic type, with slow and incomplete adaptation by the receptors which discharge upon movement of the wing upward. The nature of the impulse response of a receptor depends both on the angle and the rate of movement of the wing membrane.

[Functional peculiarities of stretch receptors of the flight apparatus in the cockroach Periplaneta americana].

Functional peculiarities of stretch receptors in wing articulations of the cockroach are considered and possible functional role of these receptors in maintenance of stable rhythm of flight is discussed. Stretch receptors of wing articulations are of phasictonic type they exhibit slow and incomplete adaptation, discharging when the wing goes upward. The pattern of impulse response of the receptor depends both on the angle and the velocity of displacement of wing platelet.