Sensitivity, reliability and convergent validity of sequential dual-task measures of listening effort.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to assess the sensitivity, reliability and convergent validity of objective measures of listening effort collected in a sequential dual-task.

Design: On each trial, participants viewed a set of digits and listened to a spoken sentence presented at one of a range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and then typed the sentence-final word and recalled the digits. Listening effort measures included word response time, digit recall accuracy and digit response time.

Calcium-Regulating Hormonal System and HMGB1 in Cardiomyopathies.

Background: Calcium ions play a key role in the heart's functional activity. The steadystate levels of calcium are contingent on the calcium regulating hormonal system, impairment of which might result in the development of cardiac pathology. An important role in these processes is also attributed to the specific inflammatory mediator, HMGB1, one of the damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released by immune cells or cell damage.

Can the calcium-regulating hormones counteract the detrimental impact of pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular patterns in the development of heart failure?

Growing evidence suggests an important role of the inflammatory component in heart failure (HF). Recent developments in this field indicate an ambiguous role that innate immunity plays in immune-driven HF. Damaged or stressed cells, cardiomyocytes, in particular, emit damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) including HMGB1, S100 A8/A9, HSP70, and other molecules, unfolding paracrine mechanisms that induce an innate immune response.

[Corrective effect of aromatherapy on indices of heart rate variability in students under exam stress conditions].

There were investigated changes in indices of the activity of regulatory mechanisms of heart rhythm in student under exam stress conditions and the possibility of their correction with aid of aromatherapy. The examination stress was established to be accompanied by pronounced shifts of integral and spectral indices of heart rhythm in students, indicating to the activation of the sympathetic circuit of Autonomic Nervous System in conditions of examination stress. A positive, relaxation impact of the essential oil of orange on the investigated indices was also recorded.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of interaction of Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract with warfarin and theophylline in rats.

Significant pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic interactions between various herbal products and drugs being substrates of cytochrome P450 have recently been reported. The aim of this study was to determine whether Rhodiola rosea SHR-5 extract interacts with warfarin and theophylline when administered concomitantly. Thus, concomitant treatment of rats with theophylline and SHR-5 did not give rise to significant effects on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline.