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We found small but statistically significant increase in the number of stable to peroxide oxidation saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in the auditory cortex of KM rats in comparison with control Wistar ones. The levels of fatty acids in the cells of the auditory cortex of KM rats were studied at different times (1 h, 1 day, 3 days and 14 days) after a single audiogenic seizure. The changes in fatty acids composition in auditory cortex of KM rats were found already in time point 1 h after convulsion, the maximal decrease of fatty acids levels was observed at 3 days after convulsion. These data suggest that the fatty acids pool in this time was depleted. Finally, we found the recovery of the better part of fatty acids in the auditory cortex of KM rats to 14 day after convulsion. These results can be used for development of new approaches to eliminate brain damage after seizures.

Administration of anticonvulsant sodium valproate alleviated audiogenic seizures in Krushinskii-Molodkina rats, which was accompanied by a decrease in cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein MAP2 in the hippocampus ex vivo. In contrast, audiogenic kindling resulted in a marked increase in MAP2 phosphorylation at cAMP-dependent protein kinase-specific sites. These changes in the state of MAP2 phosphorylation providing restructuring of dendrites in response to specific influences modulate neuronal activity and are the important mechanisms of neuronal plasticity.

Using a Western blot method it was been shown that a aontent of beta-CaMKII subunit was decreased on 40 % in hippocampus of Krushinskii-Molodkina rats (rats, genetically prone to audiogenic seizures) in comparison with normal Wistar rats. Additionally, we have investigate the temporal modifications of alpha/beta-CaMKII subunits in dependent from number audiogenic fits (n = 1 or n = 5). The level of beta-CaMKII in hippocampus of naive KM rats and KM rats in 24 h after single audiogenic seizure was not different, but it was increased on 56 % through 72 h after convulsion fit. In contrast, both 5-fold seizures and 20-fold seizures (audiogenic kindling) reduced the beta-CaMKII levels in comparison with naive group. The levels of alpha-subunit protein kinase in hippocampus these experimental groups of animals were not different. We suggest a hypothesis, that modifications alpha/beta ratio can be viewed as specific "homeostatic mechanism", which provide for neuronal function in hippocampus, thereby changing the rules governing synaptic plasticity in dependence from preliminary neuronal activity.

Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and protein phosphatase 2B (calcineurin) play a critical role in modulation responses of nerve cells to Ca(2+)-signal. Here we asked the question, whether and how these enzymes may become affected by single seizure activity. Male epilepsy-prone Krushinsky-Molodkina rats were exposed to single sound stimulation (80 dB, 12-15 kHz). Biochemical studies carried out two days after the sound exposure. Immunoblots of hippocampal and cortical (from sensomotor area) homogenates reacted with monoclonal antibodies to neurospecific alpha-subunit CaMKII showed an increased presence of this protein in seizured animals in comparison with naive controls. The level of the calcineurin catalytic subunit was increased in the hippocampus only. Additionally, studies of CaMKII activity revealed that the total enzyme activity from hippocampus and cortex of seizured rats was increased as compared with controls. However, it was no differences in functional (Ca(2+)-calmodulin-independent) CaMKII activity between experimental and control groups. It was suggested that observed long-lasting changes in rats brain induced by seizure activity may be a one in a number adaptative mechanisms against neuronal exitability.

The authors analyze 143 cases of extrapulmonary and generalized tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients. There is a steady increase in the number of patients with multiple organ tuberculosis that frequently acquires the pattern of an acute generalized septic process. Generalized tuberculosis predominantly develops in HIV-infected patients with a considerable reduction in immunological parameters and it is, in these cases, of primary generalized nature. The efficiency of treatment is very low in patients with multiple organ tuberculosis. Despite therapy, the progression of the disease results in early death. However, the prospects for further inclusion of highly active antiretroviral therapy in multimodality treatment for comorbidity give hope for the solution of this problem.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis mainly afflicted females over 60 years of age; males aged 20-29 years suffered from this disease concurrent with HIV infection. The major site of extrapulmonary tuberculosis was the urogenital tract; however, the incidence of tuberculosis of the nervous system considerably increased. At the same time abdominal tuberculosis was prevalent in HIV-infected patients. The rate of concomitant pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis was on the rise. In extrapulmonary tuberculosis, the common cause of death was nervous system tuberculosis. Disseminated and complicated extrapulmonary tuberculosis requires that the problems associated with personnel, organization, and finance be solved.

Rats Krushinsky-Molodkina inbred strain (KM) genetically prone to audiogenic seizures were injected with pineal hormone melatonin (50 mg/kg, s.c.) within the period 7th to the 14th posnatal days (PND). The remote effects of this injection adult KM rats consisted in a decrease in the latency and increase in severity of myoclonic seizures produced by audiogenic kindling (20 sound stimuli, 100 dB and 12-15 kHz). As compared to the control, in the cortex and hippocampus of rats of melatonin group, we also found a significant reduction of both total and functional activity of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CAMK II) after audiogenic kindling. On the contrary, melatonin administration within the 1st to 7th PND and the 14th to the 21st PND resulted in a decrease in seizure activity. In the first case, both the total (cortical) and functional (hippocampal) CAMK II activities in melatonin-injected rats were increased as compared to control, whereas in the second case, only a slight increase in Ca2+-independent CAMK II activity in the hippocampus of melatonin-injected rats was observed. Probably, the melatonin administration in the period of early postnatal development changes the features of expression and/or regulation of CAMK II activity, and this could be one of the mechanisms of audiogenic seizure modulation in KM rats.

It has been shown that modification of microtubule (MT) ultrastructure are accompanied by functional changes in microtubule-associated protein MAP2 in the hippocampus of Krushinsky--Molodkina rats (KM), which are prone to autogenic seizures. The morphogenetic analysis revealed that contrary to Wistar rats, which are insensitive to sound stimulation, in KM the middle length of microtubule fragments in the apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons in CA3 hippocampal area was reduced. Using immunoblot and autoradiography methods, we found that the level of MAP2 and the rate of its cAMP = and Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation were increased in hippocampus of KM, in comparison with Wistar rats. Daily repeated sound stimulation for 20 days (audiogenic kindling) induced a further decrease in length of MT fragments, and an increase of their density in the proximal part of apical dendrites of KM. Moreover, audiogenic kindling induced additional increase in MAP2 phosphorylation state, but did not change the level of MAP2 in KM hippocampus. We suppose that the obtained alteration of MAP2 phosphorylation state exerted influence on kinetic parameters of microtubule assembly, serving as part of genetically determined predisposition of KM to audiogenic epilepsy.

The paper presents the results of follow-up of 894 patients in 1983 - 1993. The increasing topicality for physiology and the potentialities of making the diagnosis of the disease better are defined, based on the data on the pathogenesis and pathomorphism of tuberculous lymphadenitis and on the results of testing new diagnostic techniques, including cytological and histological studies of sections and imprints, enzyme immunoassay, and polymerase chain reaction.

Basing on the results of their studies, analysis of 894 patients with tuberculosis of the lymph nodes and nonspecific lymphadenopathy treated in 1983-1993, medical literature, the authors investigate the place of lymphadenopathies in medical practice: new data on the patients, pathogenesis and pathomorphosis of tuberculous and nonspecific lymphadenopathies, diagnostic techniques. Updated approaches to this disease led to a 17.8% decrease in the percentage of cases with unclear etiology.