[The mechanisms of the neuroprotective action of carbonate mineral baths in ischemic brain lesions].

Effects of Arzni effervescent mineral baths (EMB) on brain tissue metabolism were studied on white rats (normal controls and those with transitory cerebral ischemia). It was found that EMB prevent ischemia-related disorders of phospholipid and adeninnucleotide pools, promote an increase in vasoactive prostaglandins in brain tissue, shifts in catecholamines concentrations in the hemispheres and hypothalamus, inhibit the activity of monoaminoxidase and absorption of 3H-noradrenaline by brains sections. Mechanisms of neuroprotective action of Arzni EMB in cerebral ischemia are considered.

[A familial case of Kennedy's X-linked bulbospinal amyotrophy].

The authors describe 4 cases of Kennedy's medullo-spinal amyotrophy (BSA) which is a genetically determined disease with mutant gene inheritance by the recessive type with X chromosome cohesion. The disease largely shows up by the impairment of the nervous system in the form of BSA. However, the clinical picture is also marked by the derangement of the mesenchymal (Dupuytren's contracture) and endocrine systems (gynecomastia).

[Status of the prostacyclin-thromboxane balance in patients with cerebrovascular disorders and the effect of the treatment with nifedipine].

It is shown that in patients with cerebral circulatory disorders, the prostacyclin -thromboxane balance is replaced toward the latter one. As a result of nifedipine administration part of the test subjects demonstrate a rise of the content of prostacyclin and a decline of the concentration of thromboxane. This effect of nifedipine is ascertained to be in a good agreement with its action on blood inflow to the brain and platelet aggregation.

[Cholesterol-containing circulating immune complexes in patients with cerebral arteriosclerosis and disorders of cerebral circulation].

A study was made of the level of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in patients with circulatory encephalopathy and brain infarction to find out the CIC level to be increased. The content of cholesterol in CIC was discovered to be also augmented, with that phenomenon being in agreement with the degree of atherosclerotic lesions to carotids. It has been shown that in patients with the increased content of cholesterol-containing CIC, the rise of platelet aggregation and blood coagulation is most remarkable.

[Pharmacodynamic approach to the optimal use of calcium antagonists in patients with cerebrovascular disorders].

Three hours after administration of a single 20 mg dose of nifedipine the platelet, leucocyte and red blood cells aggregation was inhibited with the red blood cells and leucocytes deformability increased. This effect proved sensitive to the plasma nifedipine concentration disappearing with its concentrations below 25 ng/ml. The nifedipine sensitivity of the blood cells was the second factor influencing its effect.

["Dynamic" component of carotid artery stenosis in patients with cerebrovascular disorders].

Nifedipine is shown to abolish contraction of the vessel at the site of the internal carotid artery stenosis induced by a cold test. It can furthermore produce a direct 5-40% reduction of the stenosis, the effect being dependent both on the drug plasma level and the ability to rise such levels of prostacyclin. In some patients there is a possibility of nifedipine contrary action when it promotes stenosis (up to 5-30% increase) and leads to disturbances of cerebral circulation.

[Clinical and expert opinion aspects of vertebrobasilar insufficiency].

As many as 103 patients with vertebral basilar failure (VBF) underwent clinical expert examination. The patients' age ranged from 34 to 58 years. Bearing in mind the clinicopathogenetic characteristics, the patients were distributed into 3 groups.

[Blood cells and their sensitivity to calcium antagonists in patients with cerebrovascular disorders].

Patients with ischemic-type cerebral dyshematopoiesis have disturbances of blood cell function (their enhanced aggregation and reduction of leucocyte and erythrocyte deformation). Calcium antagonist nifedipine can neutralize these disturbances but it reduces blood cell sensitivity to it. The effectiveness of nifedipine can be increased by giving it in combination with prostacyclin.

[Clinical expert classification of chronic cerebrovascular insufficiency].

Basing on the results of an analysis and systematization of the findings of comprehensive examination of 519 patients the authors identified complexes of characteristic criteria which have served as the basis for creating a classification of chronic insufficiency of cerebral circulation (CICC) developing in cases of cerebral atherosclerosis, essential hypertension, and their combination. With regard to the stage of CICC and expert significance of either clinical manifestations of this disorder in relation to different types of professions a working scheme of medical expert examination of patients' working capacity is proposed.

[Computer-assisted differential diagnosis of cerebral stroke].

An automatic system of the stage-by-stage differential diagnosis of acute disorders of the cerebral circulation has been developed. Investigation of the efficacy of computer-aided diagnosis and its comparison to the diagnosis made by physicians at different levels of the care of patients with acute impairments of the cerebral circulation have shown the advisability of employing this system in the diagnosis of brain stroke at the prehospital stage at variable levels of the public health service.

[Effect of erythrocytes on the stability of prostacyclin in healthy subjects and patients with cerebral dyshemias].

The authors studied the interaction between red blood cells (RBCs) and prostacycline (P) in normal subjects and patients with transient disorders of the cerebral circulation and cerebral stroke. RBCs accelerated P disintegration with the formation of inactive products, with the process being most accelerated in RBC aggregation. It has been found that hyperosmolarity of the medium and disoxygenation of RBCs increase their ability to break down P while lactacydosis decreases this ability.

[Possible role of prostacyclin in the pathogenesis of cerebral circulatory disorders].

It has been shown that patients with cerebral ischemias are characterized by a reduction in the capacity of prostacyclin to inhibit platelet aggregation and a decrease in the time of its plasma half-life. The role of these changes in the pathogenesis of cerebral circulation disturbances is discussed. It has been established that cases of the most pronounced decrease in the antiaggregation effect of prostacyclin with its minimum stability in the plasma are the least favourable with regard to the prognosis of cerebral infarction.

[Role of lesions of the major arteries of the head in disorders of hemostasis and the rheologic properties of the blood].

The authors studied the process of platelet and erythrocyte aggregation in blood passing through a special chamber designed to simulate an intact vessel and a vessel which is either stenosed or pathologically convoluted. Aggregate formation was shown to be dramatically increased in simulating a part of a vessel with an altered geometrical pattern of the blood flow, with the increase being more pronounced when the blood from patients with cerebral dyshemias was applied. It was found that in patients with cerebral infarction, the antiaggregate activity of the blood passing through the internal carotid arteries on the affected side was lower than in other sections of the blood stream.

[Microcirculatory disorders in patients with cerebrovascular pathology].

The microvascular network of the labial mucosa and the nail bed, as well as the rheological properties of the blood were examined in 132 patients with various forms of cerebral circulation disorders. It was shown that the patients with the cerebrovascular pathology had organic changes of the capillaries. At the same time a hyperreactivity of the microvessels was observed.