A total of 360 patients with different stage of chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) were studied. Of these, 180 patients, observed for 12 months from initial assessment, were divided into two groups depending on the course of illness – favorable (stable) and unfavorable (progressive or with acute episodes of impaired cerebral circulation). Markers of oxidative stress were assessed in terms of the level of lipid (malondialdehyde) and protein (carbonyl protein oxidation products, plasma SH groups levels, and accumulation of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in plasma. Along with measures of oxidative stress, the binding capacity of albumin was also determined, using the fluorescent probe K-35. Initial values for these markers were measured, along with concentrations after copper ion-induced oxidation of plasma. The greatest increases in measures of oxidative stress were seen in patients with acute episodes of circulatory failure. Significant differences were found in measures of oxidative stress in groups of patients with different clinical variants of the course of CCI and qualitative and quantitative diagnostic criteria suggesting an unfavorable course of illness and the risk of developing stroke were established. The ability to diagnose a prognostically unfavorable course of illness allows appropriate treatment to be started in a timely fashion.

Authors studied 360 patients with different stages of chronic cerebral ischemia (CBI), including 180 patients followed-up for 12 months after the first examination, who were stratified into two groups with regard to disease course - favorable (stable) and unfavorable (progressive or with acute episodes of cerebral blood circulation disturbance). Oxidative stress markers were evaluated by the level of lipid- (malonic dialdehyde) and protein - (carbon products of protein oxidation, the level of plasma SH-groups, the accumulation of the products of deep oxidation of proteins) oxidation. Along with indicators of oxidative stress, we evaluated the binding capacity of albumin using fluorescent probe K-35. Initial level of these markers and their concentrations after the copper ion induced oxidation of the plasma were determined. The highest increase in oxidative stress indicators was seen in patients with acute episodes. Authors identified significant differences in these indicators in the groups of patients with different clinical variants of CBI course as well as qualitative and quantitative diagnostic criteria of unfavorable course and risk of stroke. Our findings suggest that the imbalance of oxidative-antioxidative system contributes to the course of CBI. Prediction of unfavorable course of CBI determines the timeliness of adequate treatment.

Free amino acids were studied in the blood plasma of 37 patients with multiple sclerosis with different variants of its course. Hypoaminoacidemia and disaminoacidemia in all the patients justified the conduction of the corrective treatment with the Soviet drug polyamine manufactured from balanced crystalline amino acids. The results of treatment of 21 patients with multiple sclerosis are presented. Normalization of the metabolism of free amino acids correlated with the clinical improvement of the patients's status.

Forty patients with multiple sclerosis of a differing course, duration and severity were treated in this series. T-activin was employed as an immunocorrective agent (AFT-6 fraction). The immunological status was assessed in all patients observed prior to, during and after the treatment. Good clinical response was noted in patients with a secondary progressive course; the effect of a short course of treatment with T-activin on the state of patients with a prolonged progressive course or at the stage of stabilization in the presence of severe organic symptomatology was less prominent. AFT-6 showed a beneficial effect on the immunological status of patients, largely on the T-immunity system. Following the treatment, most patients displayed the normalization of the total lymphocyte count and of the proportional content of T-cells with their activity rising.

Clinical-electrophysiological examination of 108 patients with demyelinated diseases of the nervous system, which included electromyography, electroneuromyography and study of trunk evoked potentials, allowed the authors to identify criteria of the differential and topical diagnosis in multiple sclerosis, multiple encephalomyelitis and encephalomyelopolyradiculoneuritis. Data provided by a combined electrophysiological examination employing the above listed techniques expand our understanding of individual elements of the pathogenesis of demyelinated diseases involving the nervous system.

The spectrum of daily urine C21-corticosteroids was examined in 50 patients by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. There were 28 men and 22 women aged 16--50 years with a disease standing from 1 to 26 years. Twenty-two healthy persons of the same age formed the control group. Appropriate indices were calculated to have a deeper insight into adrenocortical function. The dependence of gluco- and promineralocorticoid activity and of corticosteroid biosynthesis and metabolism on the disease course and acuity was revealed. The data obtained made it possible to elaborate the most rational treatment tactics in patients with disseminated sclerosis and to define the opportunities of glucocorticoid use taking into consideration the adrenocortical response to the pathological process.

In patients with acute disorders of cerebral circulation dynamic examinations of hydroxyproline excretion, total content of glycosamineglycans (GAGs) and content of the latters' fractions were carried out. During the first week of the disease the total content of the GAGs in the urine daily portion was found to be increased, this increase being statistically significant and correlating with the size of the expected brain lesion. The fractional spectrum of the GAGs changed towards greater content of sulphonated fractions. By the 3d--5th week of the disease the hydroxyproline concentration in the urine sharply rose, an evidence of the intense organizational processes within the ischemic focus by that time.