Thermosensitive injectable fibrillar gels based on cellulose nanocrystals grafted with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) as biocompatible brain implants.

Drug treatment of glioblastoma, the most aggressive and widespread form of brain cancer, is complicated due to the difficulty of penetration of chemotherapeutic drugs through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Moreover, with surgical removal of tumors, in 90 % of cases they reappear near the original focus. To solve this problem, we propose to use hydrogel based on cellulose nanocrystals grafted with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (CNC-g-PNIPAM) as a promising material for filling postoperative cavities in the brain with the release of antitumor drugs.

Current progress and challenges in the development of brain tissue models: How to grow up the changeable brain in vitro?

In vitro modeling of brain tissue is a promising but not yet resolved problem in modern neurobiology and neuropharmacology. Complexity of the brain structure and diversity of cell-to-cell communication in (patho)physiological conditions make this task almost unachievable. However, establishment of novel in vitro brain models would ultimately lead to better understanding of development-associated or experience-driven brain plasticity, designing efficient approaches to restore aberrant brain functioning.

A new look at the architecture and dynamics of the nerve net.

The nervous system is the paradigm of a 'simple nerve net'. Nerve cells in , as in many cnidarian polyps, are organized in a nerve net extending throughout the body column. This nerve net is required for control of spontaneous behavior: elimination of nerve cells leads to polyps that do not move and are incapable of capturing and ingesting prey (Campbell, 1976).

Development of myelination and axon diameter for fast and precise action potential conductance.

Axons of globular bushy cells in the cochlear nucleus convey hyper-accurate signals to the superior olivary complex, the initial site of binaural processing via comparably thick axons and the calyx of the Held synapse. Bushy cell fibers involved in hyper-accurate binaural processing of low-frequency sounds are known to have an unusual internode length-to-axon caliber ratio (L/d) correlating with higher conduction velocity and superior temporal precision of action potentials. How the L/d-ratio develops and what determines this unusual myelination pattern is unclear.

[The World Health Organization: Project of novels in the field of controlling international medical sanitary regulations].

The article considers draft of new edition of the International Health Regulations. The possible risks associated with changing of the document are evaluated from perspective of member countries, in whose territories occur or supposedly occur emergency situations in field of public health having international importance.