[Thyroliberin: new physiological effects and prospects of clinical use].

In addition to the well-known activities of TRH (stimulation of respiration, antidepressant action, increase of motility, antishock action, therapeutic effects against ataxia, and so forth), some new properties were established. TRH was found (1) to stimulate the contractility of lymph vessels in ultra-low doses and to be useful in the treatment of acute pancreatitis; (2) to normalize cerebral circulation in rats and neonates after asphyxia; (3) to improve the electrophysiological parameters of the retina and pigmented epithelium in rats and man, to exert a long-term positive influence on the health status of patients suffering from senile retinal macular dystrophy; (4) to potentiate the analgesic effect of low doses of morphine in a definite range of doses (analog PR-546). It is of paramount importance that most of the indicated activities of TRH may hold promise for clinical application.

[Cerebral blood flow in healthy newborn infants in the early neonatal period].

Dynamic Doppler scanning studies of brain blood flow were carried out in 78 healthy newborns in the first days of their lives. The measurements were carried out in the internal carotid, basilar , anterior, median, and posterior cerebral arteries at the age of 30 min, 2 h, 1, 2, 3, and 4 days. Vascular resistance of brain vessels was assessed and the resistance index estimated.

[Echographic evaluation of the structure and size of the kidneys in healthy newborn infants in the first week of life].

Echographic assessment of the renal structure and size was carried out in 39 healthy full-term babies during the first five days of their lives. Renal echograms of the examined newborns were characterized by highly echogenic cortical layer, ++hypo-echogenic central sinus, and unechogenic pyramids well imaged against the background of the cortical layer. A drastic increase of the echogenicity of some pyramids (3-5) was seen in 4 newborns on days 2-3 of life, not involving impairments of renal function.

[Neurologic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of infectious diseases of the brain in newborn infants].

The authors assess potentialities of ultrasonic scanning of the brain (neurosonography) in the diagnosis of infectious brain injuries. The data obtained have demonstrated a high information content of the method in recognition of purulent meningitis complications and advisability of the use of neurosonography in neonates with suspected specific intrauterine infection.