Endocytotic activity of the presynaptic membrane and the morphometric differences of cortical synapses during the excitability changes in the initial phases of kindling.

Cortical sensorimotor areas of the laboratory rats was repeatedly stimulated at 10 min intervals. It led to progressive lengthening of the self-sustained after discharges (SSAD). Ten minutes after termination of the third SSAD the synapses of type I were examined.

Communication with patients as a problem in undergraduate medical education.

The work is based on the following concepts: communication with patients ceases being a matter of experience learning only (the trial and error method) and should become a part of systematic training; it should not be included only into continuous education of graduated physicians but must be gradually introduced into undergraduate education as well; it is not an optional activity which may but may not be performed by physicians, but it is a specific component of their clinical competence. Today attempts to instruct medical students in communication with patients and their relatives are being made at many medical schools all over the world. Reports on such instruction are, however, scattered in various journals or in internal publications published by universities, faculties and clinics.

A chimera between platelet-derived growth factor beta-receptor and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 stimulates pancreatic beta-cell DNA synthesis in the presence of PDGF-BB.

This study was undertaken to characterize the expression of a chimeric growth factor receptor composed of the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) beta-receptor (PDGFR-beta) fused to the intracellular domain of the fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) and to assess its effect on the growth potential of pancreatic islet cells. For this purpose rat pancreatic islets or monolayers of pancreatic islet cells were transfected with recombinant DNA constructs coding for the PDGF B-chain, the PDGFR-beta, the FGFR-1 and the chimera between PDGFR-beta and FGFR-1. DNA synthesis, monitored as the percentage of labelled nuclei and [3H]thymidine incorporation, was stimulated in pancreatic islet cells cotransfected with the constructs coding for the PDGF B-chain and the PDGFR-beta or the chimeric PDGFR-beta/FGFR-1 as compared with that determined after transfection with control plasmid.

[Changes in the configuration of synapses in the cerebral cortex in laboratory rats after termination of epileptic seizures during kindling].

The sensorimotor area of the cerebral cortex of the laboratory rat was repeatedly stimulated by electric current after 10-minute intervals which led to the development a gradual prolongation of self-sustained after-discharges (SSAD). One and 10 minutes after termination of the third SSAD the authors analyzed under the electron microscope synapses type I after to Gray from the second cortical homotopic area of the unstimulated hemisphere. They evaluated the curvature of the active zone of synapses.

[The effect of terguride on contractility of rat uterine strips].

The effects of terguride on the uterotonic activity of rat's uterine stria were investigated by means of a standardized isometric method of measuring in vitro the contractility of uterine muscles. The uterotonic activity of the given preparation depends on its concentration and on the phase of uterine cycle. The uterotonic activity makes 71.

[Effect of the sequelae of acute hypobaric hypoxia on epileptic seizures in laboratory rats. Ontogenic studies].

Male rats of the Wistar strain were exposed at the age of 9, 14 and 18 days for a period of 30 minutes to hypobaric hypoxia corresponding to an altitude of 9,000 m. Twenty-four hours after exposure the right sensoric motor area of the cerebral cortex was repeatedly stimulated (rectangular pulses, 8 Hz, 20 s). Contrary to controls, the 10-day-old animals responded to this stimulation by an epileptic self-sustained after-discharge.

[The effect of propranolol (Obsidan) as well as propranolol and fenoterol (Partusisten) on the motility of the smooth uterus musculature in vitro].

Propranolol (1; Obsidan) relaxes in vitro stripes of smooth muscles of non-pregnant rat's uterus in a concentration dependent manner. In contrast, on uterine muscle stripes of pregnant rats 1 causes small contractions. In an combination of 1 and fenoterol (2; Partusisten) (20:1) 1 prevents the relaxing effect of 2, reported to be an inhibitor of uterine muscle activity.

Students' rating as one of the methods for instruction evaluation.

World-wide knowledge in this field is summarized in this study. The information may be useful for university teachers, academical officials and people dealing with measuring quality of higher education. First part of the study is general.

[Reconstruction of medical education in the USSR].

The submitted review is devoted to changes in undergraduate medical education in the USSR. In the first part the author discuss seven important problems faced so far by medical faculties: extensive approach to medical training, little effective organization and management of education, hitherto existing goals of undergraduate education, hitherto valid concepts of its contents, inadequate material conditions for training, declining quality of teachers and students. The mentioned problems still partly exist and make the efforts regarding reconstruction of education difficult.

[The effect of calcium on the contractility of uterine strips in vitro].

Using a standard isometric method, the authors investigated the effect of some cations and nifedipine on the contractility of isolated strips of the human uterus in vitro. Evidence was provided that the contractility depends on the extracellular surface concentration of the calcium cation. Under the experimental set-up used intracellular calcium does not play any part and the contractions of the uterine strip depend on the state of the calcium channels.

[The effect of certain drugs on the contractility of uterine strips in vitro].

The isometric method of assessment of the contractility of uterine strips in vitro makes it possible to follow up systematically the response of smooth uterine musculature to oxytocin and to test the effect of selected preparations on this process. In the submitted work the author investigated the effect of methyloxytocin, magnesium sulphate, seduxene, phenergan, plegomazine and DH-ergotoxin on the uterine contractions of strips of rat and human uteri ted. Based on the results of model experiments in vitro, the author discusses the effect of the mentioned substances on the spasmogenic activity of oxytocin.

Changes of the neuronal structure produced by prolonged hypobaric hypoxia in infant rats.

Structural parameters of neuronal circuits were studied in rats exposed to aerogenic hypoxia during the postnatal development. In 18-day-old experimental animals pyramidal cells of the hippocampal CA1 area had less branches of the apical dendrites. These branches were shorter with lower dendritic spine density.

[The effect of partusisten, dilatol, papaverine and magnesium sulfate on uterine smooth muscle in vitro].

Inhibitory effects of Partusisten, Dilatol, Papaverin and Magnesium-sulfat on the activity of smooth muscle were tested in vitro on 18 isolated stripes of rats uteri, exhibiting both a high sensitivity against oxytocin and a distinct spontaneous activity. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of all drugs tested were determined, and their influence on the frequency and amplitude of contraction as well as on lag phase between inhibition and onset of spontaneous activity were registered. Basing on these experimental data conclusions were drawn concerning their clinical relevance.

Action of clonazepam and clorazepate on cortical self-sustained after-discharges in the rat.

Self-sustained after-discharges (SSADs) induced by electric stimulation of the sensorimotor cortex in rats exhibited under control conditions a significant progressive prolongation with repeated stimulations. Clonazepam not only blocked this increase in duration but it suppressed and/or abolished SSADs in a dose-dependent manner. Clorazepate in the lowest dose used (10 mg/kg) did not change SSADs.

Effect of prolonged hypobaric hypoxia during postnatal development on myelination of the corpus callosum in rats.

Infant rats, together with the female, were exposed to a simulated altitude of 7,000 m every day from birth to the age of 17 days, excepting the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th day. Animals were studied on the 18th day, 20 hours after the last exposure to hypoxia. Rats aged 12, 15 and 18 days acted as the controls.

Electrocorticographic development of epileptogenic foci in the occipital region of the rat cerebral cortex.

The development of cortical penicillin foci in the occipital region was studied in rats whose ages ranged from five days up to the adult age. The local application of penicillin induced the formation of an epileptogenic focus for the first time at the age of seven days. With advancing age, the amplitude of focal discharges increased, the duration of the individual components of the discharge shortened, its originally negative-positive configuration changed to a triphasic form and in the third week of life initial positivity, for a time, become the dominant component of the discharge.