[New evidence of the prion nature of amyotrophic leukospongiosis].

We described 2 cases and presented new experimental data on the study of the etiopathogenesis of amyotrophic leukospongiosis (AL) using Western blot, electronic and atomic force microscopy. AL is characterized by the gradual and steady progression of flaccid paralysis of extremities and muscles of the trunk without the expressed atrophy with an inevitable fatal outcome resulting in breathing disorders of spinal type, degenerative changes of the central nervous system and, first of all, spongiosis of the white matter of the brain. Several lines of evidence suggest that the accumulation of pathological prion protein (PrPAL) in the human brain is a critical event for the development of the disease.

Cardiac mitochondrial membrane stability after deep hypothermia using a xenon clathrate cryostasis protocol - an electron microscopy study.

We investigated a new cryopreservation method using xenon, a clathrate-forming gas, under medium pressure (100psi). The objective of the study was to determine whether this cryostasis protocol could protect cardiac mitochondria at cryogenic temperatures (below 100 degrees Celsius).We analyzed transmission electron microscopy images to obtain information about changes in mitochondrial morphology induced by cryopreservation of the hearts.

Stability and autolysis of cortical neurons in post-mortem adult rat brains.

We investigated the dynamics of autolytic damage of the cortical neurons in adult brains for 24 hours at room temperature (+20 degrees C) after cardiac arrest. The progressive histological and ultrastructural changes were documented using routine and immunohistochemical staining as well as electron microscopy. Our results demonstrated that there were no autolytic damages in the ultrastructure of cerebral neurons in the first 6 hours after warm cardiac arrest, in agreement with previous studies in other mammals.

Effect of electroconvulsive stimulation on morphological and physiological aspects of post-cardiac arrest cerebral microcirculation.

We investigated the effect of electroconvulsive stimulation (ECS) on cerebral circulation in vivo using the method for measuring microcirculation in real time with the photosensitizer dye Photosense and the fiber optic spectrofluorometer LESA-01-BIOSPEC. We have found that electroconvulsive stimulation significantly improved cerebral microcirculation (fourfold higher comparing to the control cerebral perfusion) after 30 min of room-temperature cardiac arrest. Morphologic study of the brain tissue showed the absence of rouleaux formation of erythrocytes ("sludged blood") in the cerebral cortex microcirculation after the application of electrical stimulus.

[Cladosporiosis in chronic herpetic encephalomyelitis].

One case of chronic herpetic meningoencepalitis complicated by a rare my costs of the central nervous system (CNS) and generalised viral infection is described. Cladosporiosis is considered as a lesion resulting from a immunosuppression due to chronic herpetic involvement of CNS. Morphologically this mycosis is manifested by the presence of spors and septic micelium among cells of productive inflammation an inside of giant multinuclear cells in affected areas.

[The clinical characteristics of progressive focal epilepsy with a herpetic etiology].

Cases are described of chronic zoster encephalitis presenting with the leading progressive focal epilepsy syndrome. The clinical presentation of the trouble can include both general cerebral signs and those of the focal affection of the central nervous system only. The progressive course and duration of remission suggest to us a persisting infection manifesting against the background of immune deficiency.

Progressive muscular atrophy variant of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PMA/ALS).

Twelve cases of adult-onset progressive muscular atrophy variant of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PMA/ALS) were studied in a small rural population of 1500 in the Republic of Belarus (former Soviet Union). The patients were members of three apparently related kindreds, each showing autosomal dominant pattern of disease inheritance. The average age at clinical onset ranged from 26 to 57 years (mean, 40 years).

[A case of diagnosis of Landry ascending paralysis of herpetic etiology].

One clinical and pathomorphologic case of Landry paralysis with a proven etiological role of herpetic infection is reported. Acute clinical syndrome developed as a manifestation of exacerbation of chronic inflammation in the central nervous system. Advancement of the process and generalisation of herpetic infection was connected with immunodeficiency in this patient.

[Morphologic diagnosis of a seronegative case of HIV-infection].

Morphological diagnosis is described of a seronegative case of HIV-infection resulting in AIDS-dementia and development of a generalized herpes and aspergillosis. The presence of HIV-antigens in the central nervous system and the spleen histologic sections confirmed morphological diagnosis.

[The characteristics of progressive dementias in patients with herpetic encephalitis].

9 lethal cases of progressive dementias were analysed, both psychical and neurological disturbances characteristics on different stages of herpetic dementias were presented, a number of clinical morphological criteria of diagnosis ascertaining was described. It was determined that progressive dementias turned out to be one of the clinical forms of chronic CNS herpetic infection which was conditioned by prolonged persistence and activation of herpes simplex virus in brain tissue.

[Chronic herpetic encephalitis with a progressive epileptic syndrome].

Basing on the evidence provided by clinicomorphological and immunobiological studies, three, patients with progressive epileptic seizures were found to have chronic herpetic inflammation in the brain. The seizures took serial pattern with development of status epilepticus.

[The clinico-pathogenetic characteristics of Kaposi's sarcoma].

The paper is concerned with clinicomorphological characteristics of endemic, immune and epidemic (AIDS-associated) forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Recent experimental and clinical evidence suggests pathogenic contribution to KS of virus-induced depression of sex-linked genes and immunosuppression. Combined action of these factors should be regarded when specifying current presentation of KS.

Which brain defects accompany cyclopia?

We report a fetus with an association of cyclopia without proboscis, aprosencephaly and agnathia. Analysing literature cases and the case presented here we can suggest that: 1) not only alobar holoprosencephaly but also more severe forebrain anomalies can be a brain equivalent of cyclopia; 2) aprosencephaly can be viewed as the earliest known variant of prosencephalic series; and 3) "agnathia-holoprosencephaly" association is etiologically heterogeneous.

[A variant of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].

The results of the clinico-morphological studies carried out in 30 patients with the anterior-horn variety of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (CNS morphology was investigated in 6 cases) demonstrate this variety to be characterized by early fading of the tendinous periosteal reflexes, rapid development of amyotrophies, weak intensity of pyramid system lesions. This is supported by morphological studies of the CNS and allows advancing an opinion in favour of the priority of motoneuronal injury.

[The morphological characteristics of the endocervicoses in genital herpes].

Uterine cervix biopsies from 450 patients with endocervicosis were studied morphologically. Giant cell metamorphosis, nuclei hypertrophy and hyperchromatism with intranuclear viral basophilic inclusions typical for herpes infection were found in 24 cases (5.3%).

[Chronic forms of herpetic lesions of the central nervous system in adults (clinico-laboratory and morphological studies)].

Based on analysis of 17 cases with chronic herpetic encephalitis and encephalomyelitis, the authors demonstrate the diversity of the clinical manifestations of the illnesses. A problem of the progredient forms of those neurologic infections is discussed.

[Neurologic semeiotics of Jakob-Creutzfeldt syndrome].

The paper is concerned with the results of a clinicomorphological analysis of 17 cases of Creutzfeld's-Jacob disease (CJD) in patients aged 39 to 78 years. The authors show polymorphism of the clinical manifestations at the early stages of the disease and the necessity of differentiation between atherosclerotic dementia and tumors of the profound parts of the brain and sometimes with the high pattern of lateral amyotrophic sclerosis. The problem of the clinical varieties of CJD is discussed.

[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in adults (clinico-morphologic study)].

Analysis of seven cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in adults has revealed several clinical and morphological characteristics of this disease. The results indicate a tendency toward a chronic course of the process, the primary nature of ganglionic cell damage and the secondary nature of demyelinization, as well as a diagnostic value of the immunoperoxidase method in studying the central nervous system.

[Morphological changes in the brain of fetuses and newborn infants with diabetic fetopathy].

Brains of 13 newborns and 7 foetuses dying intranatally from mothers suffering from diabetes mellitus were examined. Morphological changes found permit making the conclusion about an unfavourable influence of diabetes mellitus on the developing foetus. Developmental disturbances in the central nervous system, such as slow down of the migration and differentiation of cells and degenerative changes in nervous and glial cells were observed.

[Clinical and experimental amyotrophic leukospongiosis (progressive spinal amyotrophy)].

The authors succeeded in reproducing amyotrophic leukospongiosis in experiments on two squirrel monkeys 16-23 months after challenge with cerebral suspension obtained at autopsy from a human patient. The clinico-morphological studies showed the similarity of the disease in humans and monkeys. A previously unknown agent belonging by its properties to "slow" viruses was isolated.