The Relationship between Neuropsychological Performance and Level of Direct Current Potential in Patients with Occupational Diseases from Exposure to Physical Factors

The aim of the study was to identify the peculiarities of neuropsychological indices disorders depending on changes in the level of constant potential in patients with occupational diseases as a result of physical factors.Materials and methods. The study involved 60 patients with vibration disease caused by local vibration (group I), 106 patients with vibration disease caused by combined exposure to local and general vibration (group II), 101 civil aviation pilots with an established diagnosis of professional sensorineural hearing loss (group III), and 50 healthy men (group IV, comparison group) who were not exposed to vibration and noise due to the specifics of their professional activities. Methods of neuro-energy mapping and neuropsychological testing were used.Results. In groups I–II, compared with group IV, an increase in local levels of constant potential (DC-potential level) in the central, right temporal, and central frontal parts of the brain (2.3 (6.5–3.8) mV; –0.3 (–2.1–2.1); 2.1 (–3.4–6.8) and –0.3 (–3.1–4.3); –2.24 (–6.4–3.8); 0.9 (–3.1–8.5) mV at p = 0.005, 0.007 and 0.004 respectively). Differences in the values of DC-potential level gradients in individuals of group III when compared with group IV reached the level of significance in the central, temporal, occipital leads relative to the central frontal (–5.0 (–13.1–3.8); –4.1 (–9.4–5.1); –2.1 (–10.9–6.6); –6.3 (–15.3–1.8) and 2.9 (–3.0–10.6); 2.2 (–4.5–13.8); 5.6 (–7.6–14.1); –1.4 (–7.5–3.9) mV at p = 0.008; 0.009; 0.009, and 0.007 respectively). Cognitive disorders in patients of groups I–III when compared with group IV correspond to a mild disorder of dynamic, constructive praxis and expressive speech (1.40 (0–1,6); 1.43 (0–1,7); 1.2 (0–1,5) and 0.3 (0–1); 0.2 (0–1); 0.06 (0–1) points at p = 0.008, 0.008 and 0.009 respectively).Conclusions. A common neurofunctional sign of a mild impairment of the cognitive sphere in occupational diseases caused by physical factors is an increase in direct current potential level in the frontal-central and parieto-occipital regions, predominantly of the left hemisphere of the brain

Neuropsychological criteria for diagnosing cognitive impairment in patients with occupational diseases caused by physical factors

The aim. To identify neuropsychological signs of a decrease in higher mental functions associated with professional exposure to physical factors.Materials and methods. The study involved 40 patients with vibration disease caused by local vibration (Group 1), 50 patients with vibration disease caused by combined exposure to local and general vibration (Group 2), 71 civil aviation pilots with an established diagnosis of occupational sensorineural hearing loss (Group 3), and 38 healthy men (Group 4, control group). Methods of neuropsychological testing were used.Results. In Groups 1–3 the state of functioning of the cognitive sphere is represented by a mildly pronounced nature of impairments. The results of MMSE and FAB tests in patients of Groups 1–2, when compared with Group 4, determine a decrease in the functional activity of the frontal lobes and subcortical structures (25 (24–27), 25 (22–26), 15 (14–16) and 15 (13–16) points respectively). The most informative feature associated with the fact of occupational exposure to local vibration is the indicator of long-term memory (F = 9.41; р = 0.003); with combined impact of local and general vibration – short-term memory (F = 11.0; р = 0.001); with aircraft noise – objective gnosis (F = 8.48; р = 0.001). The obtained features make it possible to track with a high degree of accuracy the development of a decrease in cognitive functions in this contingent (86.1 %, 84.8 % and 72.1 % respectively).Conclusion. Common signs of changes in the cognitive sphere and lesions of the brain structures in patients with vibration disease are a decrease in praxis, impressive speech, for occupational sensorineural hearing loss – the lack of analytical-synthetic and conceptual thinking, object and finger gnosis, characterizing the inferiority of the functioning of the frontal and parietal regions of the left hemisphere

PSYCHIC AND VEGETATIVE CHANGES IN EMPLOYEES AT THE INFLUENCE OF NEUROTOXICANTS

As a result of improving the working condition for the employees of chemical productions undergoing to the exposure to the neurotoxicants the clinical picture of the neurotoxications was considerably found to change. The oligosymptomatic forms of the occupational pathology which, may make difficult the differential diagnostics along with, the other diseases of the central nervous system, which, proceed with, the asthenic-vegetative syndrome were revealed, to prevail. The methods of performing the psychological and. vegetative tests which allow to suggest the early manifestations of the occupational intoxication, as well as to form the risk groups have been first introduced, in this paper. The analysis of the findings has allowed, to reveal the cognitive deficiency in the employees with a long-term, working period, in the combination, with the emotional-willing disorders, the polysystemic vegetative dysfunction, of the sympathetic trend, on the background, of the rapidly expressed, disorders in the neurological status. The need, of introducing the approach to performing the periodical medical examinations at the productions of chemical industry is indicated in this paper

Possibilities of Application of Modern Neurophysiological Methods in Diagnosis of Vibration Disease

Vibration disease is one of the leading in the structure of occupational diseases. A more detailed study of the pathogenesis, expanding the possibilities of diagnosis of vibration disease, is necessary. The aim of the study is to determine the diagnostic value of stabilometry, quantitative sensory testing and neuroenergocarting in vibration disease associated with the combined effects of local and general vibration. Materials and methods. Two groups of patients were examined: with the diagnosis of vibration disease associated with the combined effect of local and general vibration – 50 people (age 48.7 ± 3.1 years), not in contact with vibration – 30 people (age 49.1 ± 2.8 years). The study of the equilibrium function, the determination of the level of the constant potential of the brain by 12 standard leads and the determination of temperature and pain sensitivity. Statistical processing of the results was carried out using the software package “Statistica 6.0” (StatSoft Inc., USA). Differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. Results. In vibration disease, the vertical stance of patients is more unstable than in patients with no contact with vibration. In patients with vibration disease, there is a decrease in the threshold of cold sensitivity and an increase in the threshold of thermal sensitivity and thermal pain compared to the control group. According to our data, the increased level of permanent potential in patients with vibration disease is observed in the central (22.7 (12.6; 30.7) mV) and right central (20.4 (11.5; 27.1) mV), also the average level of permanent capacity in this group is increased – 17.1 (8.4; 25.8) mV.Conclusion. The results obtained indicate the involvement of the neurosensory complex united by single thalamic and cortical centers in the pathological process and confirm the diagnostic value of the methods used

DISORDERS OF HIGHER PSYCHICAL FUNCTIONS IN ENCEPHALOPATHY OF DIFFERENT GENESIS

We examined the patients with encephalopathy of different genesis (vascular from the exposure of mercury and alcohol). Besides the comparison of clinical picture of disease the comparative analysis of psychological and neuropsychological indices was performed. The disorders of higher psychical functions revealed in patients with encephalopathy from different etiological factor may testify the dysfunction of subcortical-frontal systems that take part in the regulation of cognitive functions

Особенности распределения уровня постоянного потенциала головного мозга у пациентов с хронической ртутной интоксикацией

The aim of the research was to reveal features of distribution of DC-potential level of the brain in patients with chronic mercury intoxication.Materials and methods. The study involved 33 male patients with chronic mercury intoxication and 38 healthy men (comparison group) who, by the specifics of their professional activities, were not exposed to neurotropic substances. We used the electrophysiological method of neuroenergy mapping.Results. In the group of patients with chronic mercury intoxication, persons with a low level of constant potential prevailed when compared with the comparison group (36 and 11%, respectively). With a decrease in the level of constant potential in the frontal parts, an increase was observed in the central leads (Fpz – Cz = –1,2 (–6,3–12,6) mV), and with an increase in it, a decrease in the occipital (Fpz-Oz = 4,2 (–4,8–21,4) mV) and the right temporal (Fpz-Td = 0,01 (–6,5–16,3) mV) areas.Right hemisphere temporal asymmetry was manifested in an increase in the Td-Ts index (p = 0,03) when compared with that of the comparison group, (0,66 ± 0,01) and (–4,34 ± 1,12) mV, respectively. Using discriminant analysis, five reliable diagnostic signs were identified: the values of the parameters of the parietal (Pz), right parietal (Pd), right temporal (Td), central (Cz), occipital (Oz) leads. The most informative sign was the value of the index of the parietal lead (Pz, F = 21,1).Conclusion. A distinctive neurophysiological sign associated with chronic exposure to metallic mercury vapors is an increase in indices of the parietal, right parietal, right temporal, central, occipital leads compared with those inherent in the normal population. Цель исследования – выявить особенности распределения уровня постоянного потенциала головного мозга у пациентов с хронической ртутной интоксикацией.Материалы и методы. В исследовании приняли участие 33 пациента мужского пола с хронической ртутной интоксикацией и 38 здоровых мужчин (группа сравнения), которые по специфике профессиональной  деятельности не подвергались воздействию нейротропных веществ. Использовали электрофизиологический метод – нейроэнергокартирование.Результаты. В группе пациентов с хронической ртутной интоксикацией преобладали лица с пониженным уровнем постоянного потенциала при сопоставлении с группой сравнения (36 и 11% соответственно). При снижении уровня постоянного потенциала в лобных отделах наблюдалось повышение показателей в центральных отведениях (Fpz–Cz = –1,2 (–6,3–12,6) мВ), а при его повышении – снижение в затылочной (Fpz-Oz = 4,2 (–4,8–21,4) мВ) и правой височной (Fpz-Td = 0,01 (–6,5–16,3) мВ) областях.Правополушарная височная асимметрия проявилась в увеличении показателя Td-Ts (р = 0,03) при сопоставлении с таковым группы сравнения – (0,66 ± 0,01) и (–4,34 ± 1,12) мВ соответственно. С помощью дискриминантного анализа выявлено пять достоверных диагностических признаков: значения показателей по теменному (Pz), правому теменному (Pd), правому височному (Td), центральному (Cz), затылочному (Oz) отведениям. Наиболее информативным признаком было значение показателя по теменному отведению (Pz, F = 21,1).Заключение. Отличительным нейрофизиологическим признаком, сопряженным с фактом хронического воздействия паров металлической ртути, является повышение показателей по теменному, правому теменному, правому височному, центральному, затылочному отведениям по сравнению с таковыми, присущими нормальной популяции

Possibilities of neurophysiological methods of study in encephalopathy of occupational and non-occupa-tional genesis

The diagnostic possibilities of the neurophysiological study methods were studied in the process of examining the patients with chronic mercury intoxication, discirculatory encephalopathy and chronic alcoholism to reveal the disorders of the bioelectrical activity, indicating the organic brain injury in the encephalopathy of the occupational and non-occupational genesis. 36 patients with the postponed chronic mercury intoxication (CMI) working at the chemical enterprise in shop on manufacture soda and chlorine a method mercury electrolyses (group I) were chosen for study. The average age of the patients in this group was 50,8 ± 6,0, average work period -14,7 ± 1,05years. The second group consisted of 30 patients with discirculatory encephalopathy (DE) (average age - 50,8 ± 5,2 years old). The third group consisted of 30 persons with chronic alcoholism (average time period of the alcoholization was 16,7 ± 2,1 years, average age - 47,5 ± 6,6 years old). The control group consisted of 30 practically healthy men (average age - 50,8 ± 5,2 years old, average total working period -14,2 ± 1,2 years) who were not occupationally exposed to the harmful substances (group IV). The persons examined in all the groups were males. The complex analysis of the available neurophysiological indices allowed to reveal the expression of the brain deficiency, to assess the specificity of the disorders revealed in the encephalopathies of different genesis. The multinidus brain injuries were revealed indigently of the etiological factor in encephalopathies. The presence of the equivalent sources of pathological activity in the field of the dyencefalic structures which may be clinically characterized by the emotional and cognitive disorders was found to be a common sing. The injury of the corny body was considered as the specific character for mercury-induced encephalopathy evidenced by the presence of the expressed depressive responses. More frequent presence of the pathological nidus activity in the cerebellar field which were clinically followed by the cerebellar disorders were presented as the characteristic difference for alcohol encephalopathy. The temporal brain regions were considered as the more typical source of the pathological activity in the discirculatory encephalopathy

STATE OF MINERAL BONE TISSUE DENSITY IN EMPLOYEES ATTENDING TO SEVEROMUISKI TUNNEL

The results of the examination of employees realizing the exploitation of the Severomuiski distance of railway in serving of the tunnels of the East-Siberian railway concerning studying the state of mineral bone tissue density are presented in this paper. Examined patients (66 men) were divided into two age groups — up to 50 years old. and. older than 50 years old. The double-energetic x-ray absorptiometry (osteodensitometry) was performed. The reduction in the mineral bone tissue density was found to be in both studied groups

Cравнительная характеристика когнитивных нарушений у больных с токсической (ртутной) и сосудистой (дисциркуляторной) энцефалопатией

The neurophysiological (the registration of induced potentials P300) and the psychological examinations of 70 patients, males, with chronic mercury intoxications (ChMI) and discirculatory encephalopathy (DE) have been performed with aim to reveal the features of cognitive disorders (CD). The study results have shown the presence of light CD and small demention in the patients of both groups, preferably, of subcork type for the patients with ChMI and preferably of cork type – for the patients with DE.Проведено нейрофизиологическое (регистрация вызванных потенциалов Р300) и психологическое обследование 70 мужчин с хронической ртутной интоксикацией (ХРИ) и дисциркуляторной энцефалопатией (ДЭ) с целью выявления особенностей когнитивных нарушений (КН). Результаты исследования показали наличие легких КН и легкой деменции у пациентов обеих групп, преимущественно подкоркового типа для больных ХРИ и коркового - для пациентов с ДЭ

Восстановительная дегидратация биоспиртов – перспективный путь получения моторных топлив

The reaction of reduction dehydratation of aliphatic alcohols into the hydrocarbons is the perspective approach for receiving liquid fuel. It opens ways to the industrial method of one-study receiving linear and cyclic alkanes, being high-energy components of aviation fuel, from bioalcohols (ethanol, butanols, pentanols). It has been found that combinated systems based on hydrides of intermetallic compounds are sufficiently effective catalysts and lead to the formation mixture of hydrocarbons with considerable content of isoalkanes. It has been appeared synergetic effect in formation of alkanes in the presence of two-component composition consisting of hydride intermetallic compound and alumoplatinum catalyst.Реакция восстановительной дегидратации алифатических спиртов в углеводороды является перспективным подходом к получению жидкого топлива. Она открывает пути к промышленному методу одностадийного получения линейных и циклических алканов, являющихся высококалорийными компонентами авиационного топлива, из биоспиртов (этанола, бутанолов, пентанолов). Выявлено, что комбинированные системы на основе гидридов интерметаллических соединений являются достаточно эффективными катализаторами и приводят к образованию смеси углеводородов со значительным содержанием изоалканов. Обнаружен синергический эффект в образовании алканов при использовании двухкомпонентной композиции, состоящей из гидрида интерметаллического соединения и алюмоплатинового катализатора