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The paper deals with the analysis of comparative similes at the lexical, morphosyntactic and semantic level that operate within the concept of wealth. The corpus was extracted from phraseological dictionaries of the Serbian and German languages on the basis of semantic and structural criteria, which was confirmed by contextualized examples from the language of the written media. After a detailed analysis of the components of similes with a special focus on their semantics and with intercultural explanations, a contrastive analysis identified different types of equivalence for similes in Serbian as a source language and in German as a target language. Contrastive analysis was conducted in one direction. The importance of the paper is reflected in the theoretical analysis and definition of similes, as well as in its applicability in the field of lexicography and language teaching.

Motivation Timetrees depict evolutionary relationships between species and the geological times of their divergence. Hundreds of research articles containing timetrees are published in scientific journals every year. The TimeTree (TT) project has been manually locating, curating and synthesizing timetrees from these articles for almost two decades into a TimeTree of Life, delivered through a unique, user-friendly web interface (timetree.org). The manual process of finding articles containing timetrees is becoming increasingly expensive and time-consuming. So, we have explored the effectiveness of text-mining approaches and developed optimizations to find research articles containing timetrees automatically. Results We have developed an optimized machine learning system to determine if a research article contains an evolutionary timetree appropriate for inclusion in the TT resource. We found that BERT classification fine-tuned on whole-text articles achieved an F1 score of 0.67, which we increased to 0.88 by text-mining article excerpts surrounding the mentioning of figures. The new method is implemented in the TimeTreeFinder (TTF) tool, which automatically processes millions of articles to discover timetree-containing articles. We estimate that the TTF tool would produce twice as many timetree-containing articles as those discovered manually, whose inclusion in the TT database would potentially double the knowledge accessible to a wider community. Manual inspection showed that the precision on out-of-distribution recently published articles is 87%. This automation will speed up the collection and curation of timetrees with much lower human and time costs. Availability and implementation https://github.com/marija-stanojevic/time-tree-classification. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

The kidneys are recognized as a major target of cadmium-induced toxicity. However, all mechanisms that are involved in the early stages of cadmium nephrotoxicity, particularly considering low micromolar concentrations of cadmium ions (Cd2+) are still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of peritubular acute exposure to micromolar Cd2+ concentration (2.3 μmol/L) on the rapid depolarization and the rate of slow repolarization of peritubular membrane potential difference (PD), induced by luminal application of L-alanine in proximal tubular cells of frog kidney. The results showed that the luminal application of L-alanine rapidly depolarized the peritubular membrane PD of -42.00 ± 11.68 mV by 23.89 ± 4.15 mV with an average rate of slow repolarization of 5.64 ± 0.81 mV/min. Additionally, peritubular acute exposure to Cd2+ induced change in rapid depolarization of peritubular membrane PD of -53.33 ± 13.01 mV by 18.78 ± 3.31 mV (P < 0.01) after luminal application of L-alanine. Also, peritubular acute exposure to Cd2+ led to statistically significant decrease in the rate of slow repolarization of peritubular membrane PD (3.53 ± 0.35 mV/min; P < 0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that peritubular acute exposure to low micromolar Cd2+ concentration decreased the rapid depolarization and the rate of slow repolarization of peritubular membrane PD induced by luminal application of L-alanine. This is followed by reduced luminal sodium-coupled transport of L-alanine and this change may be one of the possible mechanisms involved in the early stages of Cd2+-induced nephrotoxicity.

Background and Aims Cadmium (Cd2+) is toxic metal and environmental pollutant. Accumulation of cadmium in the kidney results initially in proximal tubule dysfunction. Although Cd2+ toxicity is well documented, all mechanisms that are involved in the early stages of nephrotoxicity, especially considering low micromolar concentrations of Cd2+ ions are still unknown. The Aim of this study was to investigate the effects acute exposure to different peritubular micromolar concentrations of cadmium (0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 μmol/L) on the peritubular cell membrane potential in proximal tubular cells of frog kidney. Method The experiments were performed on isolated, doubly perfused kidneys of Rana esculenta of both sexes. Aortic and portal vein were cannulated in order to perfusate luminal and peritubular cell membraine. In controled conditions, Ringer solution was simultaneously used to perfusate both cell membraines. Cadmium chloride (different concentrations: 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0 μmol/L) were added to the peritubular perfusate separately, by switching the peritubular perfusate from the control Ringer solution to Ringer solution with addition of cadmium ions. Peritubular cell membrane potentials (PD) were measured with conventional 3 mol/L KCl microelectrodes. Results The peritubular application of different micromolar Cd2+ concentrations led to a rapid, sustained, reversible hyperpolarization of the peritubular cell membrane: 0.25 µmol/L, by −3.3±0.4 mV (n=8, p0.05). Comparing the effect of different Cd2+ concentrations, there was no difference in the hyperpolarization of the peritubular cell membrane (p>0.05).Each cell served as its own control. Conclusion Different low micromolar concentrations of Cd2+ provoked rapid and sustained hyperpolarization of peritubular membrane potential that did not show concentration-dependent response.

The amount of user-generated text available online is growing at an ever-increasing rate due to tremendous progress in enlarging inexpensive storage capacity, processing capabilities, and the popularity of online outlets and social networks. Learning language representation and solving tasks in an end-to-end manner, without a need for human-expert feature extraction and creation, has made models more accurate and much more complicated in the number of parameters, requiring parallelized and distributed resources high-performance computing or cloud. This chapter gives an overview of state-of-the-art natural language processing problems, algorithms, models, and libraries. Parallelized and distributed ways to solve text understanding, representation, and classification tasks are also discussed. Additionally, the importance of high-performance computing for natural language processing applications is illustrated by showing details of a few specific applications that use pre-training or self-supervised learning on large amounts of data in text understanding.

Social scientists have shown that up to \(50\%\) of the comments posted to a news article have no relation to its journalistic content. In this study we propose a classification algorithm to categorize user comments posted to a news article based on their alignment to its content. The alignment seeks to match user comments to an article based on similarity of content, entities in discussion, and topics. We propose a BERTAC, BERT-based approach that learns jointly article-comment embeddings and infers the relevance class of comments. We introduce an ordinal classification loss that penalizes the difference between the predicted and true labels. We conduct a thorough study to show influence of the proposed loss on the learning process. The results on five representative news outlets show that our approach can learn the comment class with up to \(36\%\) average accuracy improvement comparing to the baselines, and up to \(25\%\) comparing to the BA-BC. BA-BC is our approach that consists of two models aimed to capture dis-jointly the formal language of news articles and the informal language of comments. We also conduct a user study to evaluate human labeling performance to understand the difficulty of the classification task. The user agreement on comment-article alignment is “moderate” per Krippendorff’s alpha score, which suggests that the classification task is difficult.

ObjectiveWe sought to predict if patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) would develop 10 selected complications. Accurate prediction of complications could help with more targeted measures that would prevent or slow down their development.Materials and MethodsExperiments were conducted on the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases of California for the period of 2003 to 2011. Recurrent neural network (RNN) long short-term memory (LSTM) and RNN gated recurrent unit (GRU) deep learning methods were designed and compared with random forest and multilayer perceptron traditional models. Prediction accuracy of selected complications were compared on 3 settings corresponding to minimum number of hospitalizations between diabetes diagnosis and the diagnosis of complications.ResultsThe diagnosis domain was used for experiments. The best results were achieved with RNN GRU model, followed by RNN LSTM model. The prediction accuracy achieved with RNN GRU model was between 73% (myocardial infarction) and 83% (chronic ischemic heart disease), while accuracy of traditional models was between 66% – 76%.DiscussionThe number of hospitalizations was an important factor for the prediction accuracy. Experiments with 4 hospitalizations achieved significantly better accuracy than with 2 hospitalizations. To achieve improved accuracy deep learning models required training on at least 1000 patients and accuracy significantly dropped if training datasets contained 500 patients. The prediction accuracy of complications decreases over time period. Considering individual complications, the best accuracy was achieved on depressive disorder and chronic ischemic heart disease.ConclusionsThe RNN GRU model was the best choice for electronic medical record type of data, based on the achieved results.

In this paper we present, for the first time, a detailed account of electrophysiological effects of 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (2,4-DABA). 2,4-DABA is a neurotoxic non-protein amino acid produced by Cyanobacteria with a possible link to neurodegenerative disorders in animals and humans. Intracellular recordings were performed on Retzius nerve cells of the leech Haemopis sanguisuga using glass microelectrodes filled with 3 mol/L KCl. Our results show that 2,4-DABA is an excitatory amino acid, causing membrane depolarization in a concentration-dependent manner. The most prominent depolarizations of 39.63 ± 2.22 mV and 47.05 ± 4.33 mV, induced by 5 × 10 − 3 and 10 − 2 mol/L 2,4-DABA respectively, are several times larger than maximal depolarizations induced by either Glutamate, Aspartate, β -N-methylamino-alanine (BMAA) or β -N-oxalylamino-alanine (BOAA) on our model. These 2,4-DABA induced depolarizations evolve through two distinct stages, which is a novel phenomenon in electrical cell activity upon application of an excitatory amino acid, at least on our model. Involvement of two separate mechanisms, suggested by the two stage phenomenon, is discussed in the paper. We also provide evidence that 2,4-DABA induces irreversible functional disturbances in neurons in a concentration-dependent manner, since only half of the cells recovered normal electrical activity after application of 5 × 10 − 3 mol/L 2,4-DABA, and none recovered after application of 10 − 2 mol/L 2,4-DABA. Effects of both L -2,4-DABA and DL -2,4-DABA were tested and are not significantly different.

Oxidative stress and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in cellular damage. Electrophysiological analyses have shown that membrane transport proteins are susceptible to ROS. In the present study, oxidative stress was induced in Retzius nerve cells of the leech Haemopis sanguisuga by bath application of 1 mM of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 0.02 mM of copper (Cu) for 20 min. The H2O2/Cu(II) produced considerable changes in the electrical properties of the Retzius nerve cells. Intracellular recording of the resting membrane potential revealed that the neuronal membrane was depolarized in the presence of H2O2/Cu(II). We found that the amplitude of action potentials decreased, while the duration augmented in a progressive way along the drug exposure time. The combined application of H2O2 and Cu(II) caused an initial excitation followed by depression of the spontaneous electrical activity. Voltage-clamp recordings revealed a second effect of the oxidant, a powerful inhibition of the outward potassium channels responsible for the repolarization of action potentials. The neurotoxic effect of H2O2/Cu(II) on the spontaneous spike electrogenesis and outward K+ current of Retzius nerve cells was reduced in the presence of hydroxyl radical scavengers, dimethylthiourea and dimethyl sulfoxide, but not mannitol. This study provides evidence for the oxidative modification of outward potassium channels in Retzius nerve cells. The oxidative mechanism of the H2O2/Cu(II) system action on the electrical properties of Retzius neurons proposed in this study might have a wider significance, referring not only to leeches but also to mammalian neurons., Summary: This characterization of the early changes in physiological membrane properties of Retzius neurons provides evidence for the oxidative modification of outward potassium channels.

Epilepsies have a large significance and require detailed investigation of cellular mechanisms that lead to this disorder. Environmental, especially industrial, toxins are having increasingly more prominent role in these investigations. The aim of our research was to investigate the significance of Cd2+ in generation of epileptiform electrical activity of neurons, and the role of Na+/K+ pump in mechanisms that lead to cessation of this activity. Experiments were performed on Retzius nerve cells of the leech Haemopis sanguisuga. Intracellularly placed microelectrodes were used to measure membrane potential changes upon administration of Cd2+ (100 µmol/l), and the same concentration of Cd2+ in low K+ (1 mmol/l) solution. In our experiments Cd2+ led to generation of rhythmic repetitive oscillatory activity. This activity closely resembles paroxysmal depolarizing shifts (PDS) which represent the cellular basis of epilepsy. Cd2+ induced epileptiform activity had the following characteristics: frequency of 3.9±0.8 PDS/minute, PDS duration of 4.0±0.3 s, and PDS amplitude of 8.1±0.7 mV. Cd2+ induces effects similar to those of Ni2+ and Co2+, but in 30 times smaller concentration. Application of Cd2+ in low K+ solution led to a significant reduction of PDS frequency (by 2.34±0.55 PDS/minute, p

Recent studies suggest that 2,4-DABA, a neurotoxic excitatory amino acid present in virtually all environments, but predominantly in aquatic ecosystems may be a risk factor for development of neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. Despite its neurotoxicity and potential environmental importance, mechanisms underlying the excitatory and putative excitotoxic action of 2,4-DABA in neurons are still unexplored. We previously reported on extensive two-stage membrane depolarization and functional disturbances in leech Retzius neurons induced by 2,4-DABA. Current study presents the first detailed look into the electrophysiological processes leading to this depolarization. Intracellular recordings were performed on Retzius neurons of the leech Haemopis sanguisuga using glass microelectrodes and input membrane resistance (IMR) was measured by injecting hyperpolarizing current pulses through these electrodes. Results show that the excitatory effect 2,4-DABA elicits on neurons’ membrane potential is dependent on sodium ions. Depolarizing effect of 5·10−3 mol/L 2,4-DABA in sodium-free solution was significantly diminished by 91% reducing it to 3.26 ± 0.62 mV and its two-stage nature was abrogated. In addition to being sodium-dependent, the depolarization of membrane potential induced by this amino acid is coupled with an increase of membrane permeability, as 2,4-DABA decreases IMR by 8.27 ± 1.47 MΩ (67.60%). Since present results highlight the role of sodium ions, we investigated the role of two putative sodium-dependent mechanisms in 2,4-DABA-induced excitatory effect – activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors and the electrogenic transporter for neutral amino acids. Excitatory effect of 5·10−3 mol/L 2,4-DABA was partially blocked by 10-5 mol/L 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) a non-NMDA receptor antagonist as the first stage of membrane depolarization was significantly reduced by 2.59 ± 0.98 mV (40%), whilst second stage remained unaltered. Moreover, involvement of the sodium-dependent transport system for neutral amino acids was investigated by equimolar co-application of 5·10−3 mol/L 2,4-DABA and L-alanine, a competitive inhibitor of this transporter. Although L-alanine exhibited no effect on the first stage of membrane depolarization elicited by 2,4-DABA, it substantially reduced the second stage (the overall membrane depolarization) from 39.63 ± 2.22 mV to 16.28 ± 2.58 mV, by 58.92%. We therefore propose that the electrophysiological effect of 2,4-DABA on Retzius neurons is mediated by two distinct mechanisms, i.e. by activation of ionotropic glutamate receptor that initiates the first stage of membrane depolarization followed by the stimulation of an electrogenic sodium-dependent neutral amino acid transporter, leading to additional influx of positive charge into the cell and the second stage of depolarization.

The kidneys are recognized as a major target of cadmium-induced toxicity. However, all mechanisms that are involved in the early stages of cadmium nephrotoxicity, particularly considering low micromolar concentrations of cadmium ions (Cd

The effects of Mg2+ on Ni(2+)-induced epileptiform bursting activity and input membrane resistance during this activity of leech Retzius neurons were examined using intracellular recordings. To induce epileptiform activity, 3 mmol/l NiCl2 was added into superfusing Ringer (Ri) saline. To test for dose-dependence of the effects of Mg2+ on the induced epileptiform activity, MgCl2 was added in concentrations from 1 mmol/l to 20 mmol/l Mg2+ to the Ni(2+)-containing Ri saline. Input membrane resistance (IMR) was measured in standard Ri, Ni2+ Ri and 20 mmol/l Mg2+Ni2+ Ri saline. Superfusion with Ni2+ Ri induced epileptiform bursting activity characterized by generation of paroxysmal depolarization shifts (PDSs). Parameters of epileptiform activity including PDS frequency, PDS duration, PDS amplitude and the number of spikes/PDS were measured. Magnesium suppressed Ni(2+)-induced epileptiform activity, significantly reducing values of all parameters observed in a concentration-dependent manner. The highest concentration applied of 20 mmol/l Mg2+ completely eliminated epileptiform activity. To test for the effect of Mg2+ on membrane conductance during bursting, IMR was measured. Magnesium significantly increased IMR during bursting suppression.

The growth of the renewable energy sector in the world in the first decade of the twenty-first century was rapid. Wind energy sector was one of the fastest growing renewable energy technologies. In this paper, authors have tried to review the current state of wind power utilization in Serbia as one of the most penetrating RES technologies in the world. The brief overview of electric power sector in Serbia was given in order to describe the environment for emerging wind energy sector development. Sufficient wind energy resources were identified in several regions of the country. Current energy policy in Serbia was reviewed in terms of the regulations that have to be followed in order to meet the requirements for RES power plants, i.e. wind power plant construction. In subsequent section short reviews of wind energy projects which are in their initial phases are provided. The wind energy sector in Serbia is emerging despite the difficulties faced by the investors, regulatory bodies and other shareholders, in the course of the past several years. There is an urgent need of a broader transfer of specific knowledge and technologies related to wind farms and wind turbines in order to speed up the current wind energy sector development.

The amino acid beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (L-BMAA) has been associated with the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonismdementia complex in three distinct western Pacific populations. The putative neurotoxin is produced by cyanobacteria, which live symbiotically in the roots of cycad trees. L-BMAA was thought to be a threat only to those few populations whose diet and medicines rely heavily on cycad seeds. However, the recent discovery that cyanobacteria from diverse terrestrial, freshwater, and saltwater ecosystems around the world produce the toxin requires a reassessment of whether it poses a larger health threat. Therefore, it is proposed that monitoring L-BMAA levels in cyanobacteria-contaminated water supplies might be prudent.

Background Immunization programs maintain and improve vaccination coverage to prevent diseases. Immunization program text data provide contextual information necessary to better understand vaccine coverage. However, text data analysis can be labor intensive. Cognitive computing systems address this challenge by systematically processing large volumes of text data. Methods Publicly available data were used. Formal data were gathered using scrapers and parsers to extract information from immunization-related websites, journals, and legislation. Informal data were collected via a social media search platform, Sysomos, from Twitter feeds. All data were preprocessed to remove irrelevant text. Existing algorithms analyzed data and retrieved the most closely related words or paragraphs and produced similarity scores for queries. Additionally, Word2vec and Glove algorithms were used to assess similarity and frequency of occurrence between queried and retrieved information. Results The system searches by query, date, and jurisdiction. A query can range from a single word to a whole document. The system understands similarities between words, sentences, paragraphs, and documents and retrieves text based on similarities to the query. Results are supplemented by similarity scores, dates, jurisdictions, web-links, and usernames (where applicable). Similarity scores allow for quantitative analysis on text data. Conclusion The pilot cognitive computing system used algorithms to quickly search formal and informal immunization text data, creating a well-rounded system. The formal data can help identify program activities associated with changes in vaccination coverage. The informal data can help assess information being shared through social media during an outbreak or other emergency. The system will stay relevant as long as new data are continuously incorporated to update the algorithms. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Large amounts of fruit seeds, especially peach, are discarded annually in juice or conserve producing industries which is a potential waste of valuable resource and serious disposal problem. Regarding the fact that peach seeds can be obtained as a byproduct from processing companies their exploitation should be greater and, consequently more information of cultivars' kernels and their composition is required. A total of 25 samples of kernels from various peach germplasm (including commercial cultivars, perspective hybrids and vineyard peach accessions) differing in origin and ripening time were characterized by evaluation of their sugar composition. Twenty characteristic carbohydrates and sugar alcohols were determined and quantified using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC/PAD). Sucrose, glucose and fructose are the most important sugars in peach kernels similar to other representatives of the Rosaceae family. Also, high amounts of sugars in seeds of promising hybrids implies that through conventional breeding programs peach kernels with high sugar content can be obtained. In addition, by the means of several pattern recognition methods the variables that discriminate peach kernels arising from diverse germplasm and different stage of maturity were identified and successful models for further prediction were developed. Sugars such as ribose, trehalose, arabinose, galactitol, fructose, maltose, sorbitol, sucrose, iso-maltotriose were marked as most important for such discrimination. Supplementary material: [http://cherry.chem.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3433]

The hydrogels prepared by free radical copolymerization of acrylamide and itaconic acid were investigated with regard to their composition and crosslinking degree to find materials with satisfactory swelling and drug release properties. Samples were characterized by measuring the swelling behavior and in vitro release of paracetamol as a model drug in aqueous media with different pH values. The two-factor, three-level experimental design and response surface methodology were applied to statistically evaluate the influence of investigated factors.

The chromatographic behavior of arylureas and arylacetamides derivatives with observed biological activity toward dopamine D-2 and 5-hydroxytryptamine 5HT(1A) receptors were examined by high-performance thin-layer chromatography in order to determine their lipophilicity and to correlate their structure and retention. The binary water-dimethyl sulfoxid mobile phases and RP-18 silica as stationary phase were used in order to determine chromatographic descriptors R-M(0), b, and C-0, as a measure of the lipophilicity of tested compounds. Based on the respective retention, the lipophilicity of the investigated compounds was discussed. Principal component analysis followed by partial least squares was used to select variables that best describe the behavior of the investigated compounds in the chromatographic system and to quantify their influences. The models reveal the importance of nonpolar properties of the solutes and their ability for hydrophobic interactions, as well as the importance of proton donating abilities and the size and the shape of the molecule, pointing out on that way the possible separation mechanism in the studied chromatographic systems.

Background/Aim. Myomas of the uterus, the most common benign tumors, have been studied for decades from the aspects of different basic and clinical disciplines. Despite this fact, their pathogenesis is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine immunocytochemical characteristics of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue components of submucosal myomas of the uterus. Method. During the course of this study, 25 samples of submucosal myomas of the uterus were analyzed, all of them obtained during the surgery, after abdominal histerctomy by Aldridge. The samples were fixed in 4% formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections of 5 ?m thickness were stained immunocytochemically using the DAKO LSAB+/HRP technique to identify ?- smooth muscle actin (?-SMA), vimentin, desmin, CD34, CD45, CD68 and PCNA (DAKO specification). Results. Our results suggest that submucosal myomas of the uterus are build-up of smooth muscle cells which are immunoreactive to ?-SMA and desmin, but also to a certain number of smooth muscle cells which are immunoreactive to ?-SMA and vimentin. Some of vimentin-immunoreactive cells also show an immunoreactivity of PCNA. In the build-up of connective stroma CD34-immunoreactive fibroblasts and neovascular formations are also present. By examining the distribution of CD45 antigen, at all the analyzed samples we observed a weak reaction. Conclusion. Submucosal myomas of the uterus are made-up of smooth muscle cells of the highly differentiated contractile phenotype (?-SMA- and desminimmunoreactivity), as well as smooth muscle cell of the synthetic phenotype which proliferate (?-SMA-, vimentin- and PCNA-immunoreactivity). In submucosal myoma of the uterus there is a significant presence of connective tissue as a result of synthetic activity of fibroblasts, which clearly differ in their immunocytochemical characteristics from smooth muscle cells of the synthetic phenotype.

Introduction. One of the most dramatic conditions in obstetrics is definitely bleeding from the uterus which fails to compress. This condition is known as postpartum atony. When such a condition is diagnosed, the obstetrician has a choice of several conservative methods to stimulate the uterus to contract and several surgical methods to stop the bleeding. The most extreme measure used to save the patient's life and stop the bleeding is hysterectomy. This surgery is characterized by high morbidity, primarily by the loss of woman's fertility. In order to avoid hysterectomy, several authors have introduced the compressive uterine suture technique into gynaecological practice. Objective. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the technique of applying compressive uterine suture after delivery to stop excessive bleeding, and to present results obtained by this technique. Methods. The paper explains the technique of applying compressive suture to the atonic uterus in cases when all other procedures to stop excessive bleeding after delivery fail. Since uterine atony is the main reason for excessive and uncontrollable bleeding after childbirth, the need to perform such surgery is rather common. Authors demonstrate the technique of applying four compressive sutures which prevent uterus dilation and thus stop the bleeding. Results. Compressive suture technique was used by the authors eight times, seven of which during caesarean section and one after spontaneous delivery. All patients had normal postpartum period and normal involution of the uterus. Conclusion. Although this surgery requires a skilful and experienced obstetrician, the authors find it rather easy to perform and it is suggested to be applied in all cases of uterine atony when excessive bleeding cannot be stopped by other any other method except hysterectomy. This surgical procedure saves the uterus and facilitates quick and easy patient's recovery.

In the present study we have examined effects of ethanol and magnesium on Ni(2+)-induced bursting of leech Retzius cells. Saline with 3 mmol/l NiCl2 induced spontaneous bursting activity, characterized by rapid depolarizations to a plateau level during which bursts of action potentials occurred. To test for the mechanism of bursting initiation external Na+ was completely removed. Removal of external Na(+) in presence of 3 mmol/l NiCl2 terminated the bursting activity. Application of 2% ethanol solution significantly decreased the bursting frequency, duration and amplitude of depolarization plateaus, and the number of spikes per plateau. Solution containing 10 mmol/l Mg2+ almost completely abolished the oscillatory activity of the neurons and completely suppressed action potential generation. We conclude that ethanol and magnesium suppress Ni(2+)-induced epileptic activity.

groups: (1) control, saline-treated group (n = 16), (2) dimethylsulfoxide-treated group (n = 16), (3) group that received lindane, dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide, in a dose of 8 mg/kg intraperitoneally (n = 16). Eight animals from each group were sacrificed 0.5 and 4 h after treatment and brain samples were prepared for further analysis. Acetylcholinesterase activity (mitochondrial and synaptosomal fraction) was determined in cerebral cortex, thalamus, hippocampus and nc. caudatus spectrophotometrically. Results: A significant rise in mitochondrial acetylcholinesterase activity was detected in cortex and nucleus caudatus of lindane-treated animals 0.5 h after administration (p < 0.05). This rise was sustained in nucleus caudatus within 4 h after treatment (p < 0.05). In contrast, activity of synaptosomal acetylcholinesterase fraction was significantly increased only in thalamus 4 h after lindane administration (p < 0.05). Conclusion: An increase in acetylcholinesterase activity may be involved in mediating acute neurotoxic effects of lindane, at least in some brain structures in rats.