[The prevalence of asthma-related symptoms among children in three Ukrainian cities with environmental problems (preliminary results)].

In 2002 authors initiated a US-Ukraine collaborative study on bronchial asthma among 2177 6-8 year old children who resided in Kyiv, Dniprodzerzhinsk and Mariupol, Ukraine in 2002 and who were participants in the Family and Children of Ukraine Longitudinal Cohort Study. The overall goal of the study is to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors for asthma and asthma--related symptoms among these children. The study design comprises of three phases.

[Problems of a physician-patient interaction and control of arterial hypertension in Russia. Main results of scientific-practical program ARGUS-2].

Objective: To study the problems of physician-patient cooperation, patient- and physician related barrieres to target blood pressure (BP) achievement and to demonstrate improvement of BP control with indapamide SR 1.5 mg, when given to patients remaining uncontrolled while receiving antihypertensive therapy without thiazide diuretics (TD).

Methods: The trial Improvement of Arterial Hypertension Control in High-Risk Hypertensive Patients (ARGUS-2) run in 15 Russian centres during the year 2006.

[Mononuclear cell response to fetoproteins in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in dysregenerative bronchial epithelial changes].

A relationship was studied between the response of mononuclear cells (MNC) to fetoproteins (FP) and the bronchial changes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The response was evaluated by the change in the relative count of CD8+ lymphocytes after MNC incubation with FP as compared with the controls. The value of the response (in scores) was compared with the pathohistological pattern of the bronchial epithelium and interstitial tissue.

[Distribution and activity of microorganisms in the deep repository for liquid radioactive waste at the Siberian Chemical Combine].

The physicochemical conditions, composition of microbial communities, and the rates of anaerobic processes in the deep sandy horizons used as a repository for liquid radioactive wastes (LRW) at the Siberian Chemical Combine (Seversk, Tomsk oblast), were studied. Formation waters from the observation wells drilled into the production horizons of the radioactive waste disposal site were found to be inhabited by microorganisms of different physiological groups, including aerobic organotrophs, anaerobic fermentative, denitrifying, sulfate-reducing, and methanogenic bacteria. The density of microbial population, as determined by cultural methods, was low and usually did not exceed 10(4) cells/ml.

[The structure of rat pinealocytes in stress and after unilateral intranasal administrations of oxytocin].

Stress-induced functional changes in the light pinealocytes and signs of stress-limiting effect of oxytocin were revealed in white non-linear rats. The data obtained suggests involvement of oxytocinergic systems in the stress modulation of pinealocytes.

[The reaction of the neocortical structures in the seal Pusa sibirica to a prolonged stay under water].

Using light and electron microscopic techniques, structural and functional changes in the neurones and glia of the Baikal seal neocortex were revealed during diving. These changes include shifts in tinctorial properties of cells, in the number of dendritic spines, cell ultrastructure (condensation and redistribution of nuclear chromatin, swelling of organoids, etc.).

[The structural characteristics of the auditory portion of the cerebral cortex in the Baikal seal (Pusa sibirica) and the neuronal reaction to hypoxia].

Methods of light (Nissl, Golgi-Kopsch) and electron microscopy were used for studying the structural organization of the auditory portion of the cerebral cortex of Pusa sibirica. The auditory port of this kind of cortex is characterized by pyramidization of all the layers (layer IV included), thick layer I, two sublayers in layer III which is typical of other semiaquatic and aquatic mammals. Synaptoarchitechtonics of this part of the neocortex may be compared with that of other aquatic, semiaquatic and terrestrial mammals.

[Structure of the endotheliocytes of cerebral vessels of aquatic mammals].

By means of scanning microscopy the relief of luminal surface of endotheliocytes, lining microvessels of various parts of the brain in the Pusa sibirica, Phoca vitulina and Delphinapterus leucas have been studied. Specialized formations of the cellular surface--various processes, projections, toruli have been revealed; their character in various parts of the brain in diving animals is determined by the blood stream conditions and their different sensitivity to oxygen deficiency during diving. The peculiarities, revealed in the structure of the cerebral vessels intima, are considered as one manifestations of the adaptive properties in the organism of diving animals, which had been developed in them during the process of a long evolution, while they adapted to the aquatic environment.

[Structure of the neocortex of the Baikal ringed seal (Pusa sibirica Gm.)].

The sulci and gyri of the neocortex, as well as cyto-, synaptoarchitectonics and neuronal composition of the sensomotor (brain area) have been studied in the Baikal ringed seal. The structure of the sulci and gyri have been found to be similar to that in carnivores. The following specific features have been revealed in the brain of this endemic species: a thick layer I, presence of giant pyramidal cells in the layer III, large mitochondria in the presynaptic parts and dendrites.

[Osteocalcin in infants with rickets].

Infants afflicted with rickets demonstrate a reduction in the blood content of vitamin K-dependent protein, osteocalcin, most pronounced in disease of medium gravity, in its calcipenic and phosphopenic varieties. It has been established that there is an inverse correlation between osteocalcin content and the level of parathyroid hormone and a direct correlation between osteocalcin content and the concentration of total and ionized calcium and calcitonin in the blood. It is suggested that measurement of blood osteocalcin in children may serve a diagnostic marker of metabolic disorders and mineralization of osseous tissue.

[The ultrastructure of the spines on serial sections of the rat cerebral cortex].

Electron microscopy was used for studying in detail the structure of dendritic spines of cortical neurons in layer III of the rat's sensomotor cortex. It is found that the electron-dense substance between the cisterns of the spine apparatus consists of orderly arranged fibrillae. Serial sections allowed to follow the changes in the spine apparatus, in the curvature and intermittent character of the synapse active zone, as well as the connection between the cisterns of the spine apparatus, and between these and other membrane structures of the spine.