Baroreflex Curve Fitting Using a WYSIWYG Boltzmann Sigmoidal Equation

Arterial baroreflex assessment using vasoactive substances enables investigators to collect data pairs over a wide range of blood pressures and reflex reactions. These data pairs relate intervals between heartbeats or sympathetic neural activity to blood pressure values. In an X-Y plot the data points scatter around a sigmoidal curve. After fitting the parameters of a sigmoidal function to the data, the graph’s characteristics represent a rather comprehensive quantitative reflex description. Variants of the 4-parameter Boltzmann sigmoidal equation are widely used for curve fitting. Unfortunately, their ‘slope parameters’ do not correspond to the graph’s actual slope which complicates the analysis and bears the risk of misreporting. We propose a modified Boltzmann sigmoidal function with preserved goodness of fit whose parameters are one-to-one equivalent to the sigmoidal curve’s characteristics.

Anthropology of Smells: History and Modernity

Smell, as evidenced by modern science, is one of the most significant factors influencing human consciousness and behavior. This is due not only to the biological aspects of its origin and the actualization of the bodily being of a human, but also to deeply rooted in culture and society stereotypes and patterns of perception that determine the value system, cognitive attitudes and social structure of each particular culture. This is the essence of relevance of the project of historization and anthropologization of smell, based on the original model of describing the transformation of human cultural practices, which equally takes into account the natural and social aspects of human life and can identify the regulatory mechanisms, order and principles of sociocultural changes. Although a modern man does not fully realize the power of olfactory area of his sense empire, this does not free him from the power of reflex reactions, cultural norms and social demarcations, originating in the olfactory receptivity. Perhaps, that is why the rationalistic ideal of deodorization has not been achieved by modern perfumers, who only mask, but not destroy smells, that are, in some sense, completely indestructible, because they can effectively shape a person’s cultural identity, historical memory and even self-awareness.

Hydrovibrotactile stimulation in rehabilitation of deaf children

Goals of the study were investigation the perception of vibro-acoustic signals, spreading in water, by deaf patients and the possibility of use hydrovibrotactile stimulation for habilitation of deaf children. In the first part of study 5 experienced cochlear implants (CI) users were involved – 2 adults and 3 children with congenital deafness. Participants were presented modulated tones (100-4000 Hz) and natural sounds (horn, pipe, march melody) though underwater loudspeakers in small swimming pool. Each participant was sitting in the swimming pool without CI during the stimulation. It was shown that deaf subjects are able to detect vibro-acoustic signals, spreading in water, which they feel as a vibrotactile sense. The most vibrotactile sensitivity was between 100 and 400 Hz, while stimuli between 1000 Hz and 4000 Hz didn’t evoke any sensation. In the second part of the study 30 early aged children with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss without hearing aids or CI experience were participated. It was observed typical oriented behavioral reactions in response to test stimuli in water in 15 children from the experimental group, but there weren’t reactions to the acoustic component of stimuli on air (out of water). Hydrovibrotactile stimulation sessions prior amplification and CI processor fitting accelerated the development of oriented and stable condition motor reflex reactions to sounds in children with hearing aids and CI, including even near-threshold stimuli, in comparison with control group children, who got only traditional lessons with speech-language therapist. As a result, an adequate fitting of hearing aids or CI processor and spontaneous development of hearing behavior in everyday situations were achieved significantly faster.

Amygdala complex: physiology of emotions and memory

The monograph provides a review of the world’s published scientific literature on the physiology of emotions that are based on the conditioned reflex reaction of fear. A detailed description of electrophysiological, molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity of the amygdala complex (amygdala), and their ability for long-term potentiation (LTP), as the basis for emotions and conditioned memory, is presented in this work. There are two categories of fear: innate and learned. Innate fear is realized like an unconditioned reflex by the genetically determined pathways. Learned fear is realized like a conditioned reflex and is formed as a result of learning during the combination of conditioned and unconditioned signals. A convergence of sensory inputs that carry the information on such signals occurs on the neurons of the lateral nuclei of the amygdala. Two types of amygdala cells (glutamatergic projection and GABAergic interneurons) receive inputs from the thalamus and cortex. The synapses of the projection cells are equally effective, while the thalamic synapses of interneurons are more effective. The response of projection neurons to the stimulation of cortical and thalamic afferents includes the monosynaptic excitatory glutamatergic AMPA and NMDA components and disynaptic inhibitory GABAergic components. The most important resources of the regulation of the excitatory efferents of the amygdala are GABAergic interneurons. During the stimulation of the thalamic input, the synapses of the interneurons shunt the membrane of the projection cells more effectively and decrease the level of long-term potentiation in comparison with the stimulation of the cortical input. The stages of the development of long-term potentiation are similar for short-term and long-term memory. The formation of the conditioned reflex is based on a short-term memory on the coincidence of the conditioned signal with an unconditioned traumatizing stimulus, and the consolidation — on the long-term memory. The association of the conditioned reflex reactions and long-term potentiation verify the results of the experiments on the manipulations with genes that encode proteins regulating the synaptic transmission and its plasticity. In animals with a knocked-out gene of gastrin-releasing peptide, easier initiation of long-term potentiation and formation of conditioned reflex reactions of fear are observed. The knock-out of the gene of oncoprotein18/stathmin leads to a deficit of long-term potentiation and complicates the expression of amygdala-dependent conditioned reflexes. The review and analysis of modern publications and the author’s research supplement the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion with evidence that a key role in the regulation of emotions is played by the amygdala complex that is characterized by neuronal mechanisms of stimuli filtration depending on their relevance, education, and formation of stimulus-conditioned memory. The annexes to the article contain the protocols of the electrophysiological experiments and methods of formation of conditioned reflex reaction of fear in animals.

Efficacy and safety assessment of viburcol drug for preparation of uterine cervix for childbirth and prevention of labor anomalies

The objective is to compare the effectiveness of complex bio-regulatory medication (CBRM) Viburcol, produced by «Biologishe Haylmittel Heel GmbH», Germany, with the reference product No-X-sha, produced by «Lekhim-Kharkov», which are used as antispasmodics, for preparation of uterine cervix for childbirth and prevention of labor anomalies. Patients and methods. 92 pregnant women aged 18 to 45 years, who were randomized into 2 groups: the main group (n=46) and the control (n=46) one, were involved in the study. Viburcol was used for the treatment of pathological preliminary period and prevention of development of labor anomalies. It was prescribed at the end of pregnancy and in the 1st stage of labor, in the morning and in the evening. Two Viburcol suppository every 3-4 hours were given at the onset of labor. Antispasmodic No-X-sha was used in the control group. It was studied the functional state of the sympathetic-adrenal system with fluorometric method, the concentration of noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) in the urine, to assess the neurohormonal regulation of labor. The plasma levels of b-estradiol and progesterone were determined to identify the risk of discoordination of labor activity and the state of uterine contractile function. Also, the parameters of uterine contractile activity were analyzed according to cardiotocography. Results. Usage of complex bio-regulatory medication Viburcol promotes adequate cervical ripening and incidence of discoordination of labor activity decreased by 1.5 times. CDRM Viburcol administration in childbirth facilitated the elimination of pathological levels of catecholamines, which led to the development of discoordination of labor activity. Conclusion. The results show the effectiveness of CDRM Viburcol (rectal suppositories) for the prevention of discoordination of labor activity. The medicine meets all modern requirements for antispasmodics and analgesics used during labor: it has analgesic, antispasmodic, anxiolytic effect, eliminates side reflex reactions, reduces the severity of birth stress, it has no adverse effect on the contractile activity of uterus and the fetus condition. Key words: complex bio-regulatory medications, bio-regulatory approach, labor amoralities, preparation of uterine cervix, Viburcol.

Development of D.M. Zubairov ideas by the Chita school of hemostasis

Review is dedicated to the influence D.M. Zubairov ideas on the further research of hemostasis system in Chita scientific school. Even in 1957, D.M. Zubairov showed that the state of coagulation largely depends upon the reflex reactions from chemo- and baroreceptors of the carotid sinus and aortic arch. Building on this theory, we established that reflex reactions of hemostatic system can arise not only from known receptor zones, but also originate from the vessels of kidney, liver, lung and other organs. D.M. Zubairov et al. in 1963 dispelled the myth of the non-wetting vascular endothelium, ostensibly to retain the liquid state of the blood. Later we have shown that the increase in the potential difference between the intima and adventitia increased regardless of primary or secondary hypercoagulability. Our data indicate that when the crash syndrome lymph fibrinolysis is 23 times faster compared to the blood, which indicates a better adaptability against thrombosis. We have established the proof for the role of hemostatic system as a cellular regulator of the functional activity and survival. Pathological conditions associated with significant increase in the coagulation process, may not only lead to disseminated intravascular coagulation but also blood, extracellular fluid and cytoplasm of cells coagulation - a syndrome of intra- and extravasal coagulation. To date we can not tell the threshold determining when the hemostasis system is a cell regulator and when «executioner». Development of D.M. Zubairov ideas have led to new concepts of the «continuous liquid coagulation», «common transport system of the body», which helped to produce effective prophylactic and therapeutic methods for a significant umber of life threatening conditions.

Mobility test protocols for the elderly: a methodological note

Consequences of falls are a major health problem in elderly. Poor balance is the precursor of falls and balance impairment has been evidenced after an injury. On the other hand, balance and stability can be improved with training. At the beginning of the project Mobility in Aging one of the questions was how to measure dynamic and static balance in order to get reliable and sensitive parameters to follow the effect of decay in movement functions in elderly or to track the improvement after training. In this short report we will give a couple of answers to a long standing debate. There is indeed evidence in literature that stability and balance is very important. Elderly people often shift from the so called ankle strategy to the hip strategy for balancing. The reflex reactions are the more to decay and we observed more co-contractions. Also, inactivity causes slower muscles contractions. Our goal should be a combination of trainings, where we can see changes at neuromuscular, structural and molecular levels, but we would like to say that our training protocols did not touch all the aspects of movement function we aimed to observe. Future projects will hopefully provide the missing information.

Amygdaloid and non-amygdaloid fear both influence avoidance of risky foraging in hungry rats

Considerable evidence seems to show that emotional and reflex reactions to feared situations are mediated by the amygdala. It might therefore seem plausible to expect that amygdala-coded fear should also influence decisions when animals make choices about instrumental actions. However, there is not good evidence of this. In particular, it appears, though the literature is conflicted, that once learning is complete, the amygdala may often not be involved in instrumental avoidance behaviours. It is therefore of interest that we have found in rats living for extended periods in a semi-naturalistic ‘closed economy’, where they were given random shocks in regions that had to be entered to obtain food, choices about feeding behaviour were in fact influenced by amygdala-coded fear, in spite of the null effect of amygdalar lesions on fear of dangerous location per se . We suggest that avoidance of highly motivated voluntary behaviour does depend in part on fear signals originating in the amygdala. Such signalling may be one role of well-known projections from amygdala to cortico-striate circuitry.