TOPOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION OF THE PONTOMEDULLARY RESPIRATORI-SENSITIVE NUCLEI OF THE RAT BRAIN BY GLUTAMATE MICRO-STIMULATIONS

Automatic control of breathing is highly dependent on the integrity of the pontomedullary network of reciprocally connected neurons localized in a number of functionally and neurochemically different compartments. Glutamate is considered the key neurotransmitter mediating signal transmission in the respiratory regions of the brainstem. Identification of the respiratory-sensitive neurons using this neurotransmitter for microstimulations provides an insight into the topographic organization of the pontomedullary nuclei involved in the modulation and control of breathing.Three types of respiratory responses were observed following glutamate microinjections: hyperpnea, apneusis (inspiratory cramp) and hypopnea or apnea. Hyperpnea was obtained as a result of microstimulations in the region of lateral parabrachium and caudal Kölliker-Fuse nuclei. Apneustic response was observed in the region localized ventrally from superior cerebellar peduncle, while hypopneic or apneic responses followed glutamate microinjections in the region of ventral Kölliker-Fuse nucleus and a narrow area between motor and principal sensory trigeminal nucleus, which is referred to as intertrigeminal region.Anatomical distribution of the obtained respiratory responses depends on the localization of microinjections and ascendant and descendent projections stemming from the sites of stimulation

A Deficiência de vitamina d está associada com níveis aumentados de il-17 e tnfα em pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca crônica

FUNDAMENTO: Estudos recentes revelaram uma forte associação entre o estado de vitamina D (VD) e a insuficiência cardíaca crônica (ICC). Hoje, é normalmente aceito que a resposta imune pró-inflamatória é subjacente ao desenvolvimento de ICC. OBJETIVO: Uma vez que a VD possui propriedades anti-inflamatórias, pesquisamos o seu impacto sobre as citocinas envolvidas na ICC, como TNFα e IL-17, em pacientes portadores de ICC. MÉTODOS: Foi extraído sangue de quarenta pacientes com ICC secundária à hipertensão arterial e/ou doença coronariana. Os níveis de VD status, IL-17 e TNFαforam avaliados através de 25-hidroxi VD3 EIA e ELISA de citocinas. Também foram realizadas avaliação clínica e ecocardiograma. RESULTADOS: Pacientes idosos com ICC em Nis (Sudeste da Europa, latitude 43ºN) apresentaram níveis de 25-hidroxi VD3 abaixo do normal. Nossos dados demonstraram que pacientes com ICC secundária à hipertensão arterial têm níveis significativamente menores de 25-hidroxi VD3, e maiores de TNFαe IL-17A, se comparados com os níveis de pacientes com ICC secundária à doença coronariana. CONCLUSÃO: É demonstrado aqui que, mesmo em regiões com muitos dias ensolarados a deficiência de VD é motivo de preocupação. Os dados sugerem que o déficit de VD contribui para os elevados níveis de IL-17 e TNFα e, assim, contribuir ao desenvolvimento de ICC

SIGNIFICANCE OF THERAPY LENGTH WITH NORFLOXACIN TREATMENT OF LOWER URINARY TRACT INFECTION

The aim of the paper was to examine the significance of the therapy with Norfloxacin as mono therapy in the treatment of the lower urinary tract infection and to examine the effectiveness of this antibiotic nowadays as it has not been used for a long time (it was not available on our market).Eighty patients with the lower urinary tract infection were examined. Patients were divided into two groups according to the length of therapy and the age of patients. Before and after the therapy, some examinations were done: clinical check – up, urinary analysis (general check – up), KSL, SE, urea, creatinin, urinoculture, urinary tract EHO.There was no statistically significant difference in the number of patients with the lower urinary tract infections after 3 and 7 days of therapy with Norfloxacin. Often, the cause of this infection was Escherichia coli. The highest frequency of this infection was reported in the aged and female population. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of the patients with the lower urinary tract infection after the therapy with Norfloxacin in relation to the age.There were no differences in the effects of the medicine between the group whose therapy lasted for 3 days and the group whose therapy lasted for 7 days. There was no difference in the effects of the medicine without regard to the age of the patients, too

An inverse correlation between TNF alpha serum levels and heart rate variability in patients with heart failure

Background: Recent evidence indicates that chronic heart failure (CHF) is accompanied by both activation of the immune system and autonomic imbalance. There is a growing body of evidence that increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and other inflammatory markers have important roles as mediators of disease progression and markers of mortality in patients with CHF. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate connection between autonomic imbalance [obtained by analysis of heart rate variability (HRV)] and activation of the immune system [as measured by serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] in patients with chronic heart failure. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study included 21 patients with CHF and 8 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. We assessed HRV by 24-hour electrocardiographic Holter monitoring and measured serum levels of TNF-α using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Clinical assessment and echocardiography were also performed. Results: There was an inverse correlation between serum level of TNF-α and a time-domain parameter of HRV - SDNN (r= -0.542, p< 0.05). A similar result was found for HRV triangular index, a geometric measure of HRV (r= -0.556; p< 0.05). The correlation was stronger for subjects with a diabetes mellitus, females, and TNFA2 allele carriers (an A at position -308A). The pNN50, indirect marker of cardiac vagal activity, was not significantly associated with serum concentration of TNF-α. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that increased serum TNF-α level is significantly associated with reduced HRV indices, suggesting that activation of the immune system in patients with CHF is closely related to autonomic imbalance. © 2013 Japanese College of Cardiology

Research and development of efficient, environmentally improved household gas appliances

An experimental research and analysis of performance of three domestic house hold gas appliances was carried out. The objective of this work, based on the conducted analysis of the research data, was to improve the appliances’ performance, prefer ably through relative simple modifications, in order to satisfy DIN 4702 emissions and efficiency standards when using different fuels, including natural gas, liquefied petroleum gases and lower quality natural gas. This report summarizes details of this work and how the objectives were achieved