Primary structure of the gene for protein VP1 from foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype O1 isolated in the USSR]

The nucleotides sequence has been determined for the viral RNA and some of its cDNAs coding for the major antigenic protein of the epidemic stomatitis O1-194 and O1-1618 VP1 viruses. The expressed microheterogeneity has been registered for the population of the strain O1-194.     

Participation of conditionally pathogenic enterobacteria in the processes of intestinal dysbacteriosis

The presence of a number of conditioned-pathogenic enterobacteria (Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Enterobacter) in patients with intestinal dysbacteriosis, and also their detection in derangement of normal intestinal biocenosis in patients with chronic intestinal disturbances with clinical manifestations of this condition, even in the absence of known bacteriological indications of dysbacteriosis was revealed. Results of investigations led the authors to the conclusion on the participation of a number of conditioned pathogenic enterobacteria in intestinal dysbacteriosis, and permit a suggestion on the necessity of proper assessment of the fact of presence of these bacteria as a possible dysbacteriosis indication.     

Degradation of cuticle during larval-pupal and pupal-adult development of the housefly, Musca domestica

Abstract. The patterns of changes in cuticle weight, its chitin content and chitinase activity have been studied during postembryonic development of the housefly, Musca domestica L. During pupariation the larval cuticle loses weight. During the early part of this weight-loss the decline in chitin content parallels the overall change in cuticle weight. A simultaneous elevation in chitinase activity suggests that at this time the larval cuticle is being enzymatically degraded. Later weight loss may be due to sclerotization. No significant changes in cuticle weight or its chitin content occur in pharate cuticle until one day before eclosion. However, a peak of chitinase activity found at mid-late pupal stage suggests the timing of pupal cuticle breakdown.     

Physiological and reparative regeneration of the mitochondria]

The ultrastructure of mitochondria of hepatocytes in normal and pathological conditions was studied. It was shown that the process of regeneration of the ultrastructure of swollen mitochondria with a lucent matrix up to the normal state was completed in hepatocytes of the rat and chick embryos within one day. It was established that one of the ways of intraorganoid regeneration of mitochondria in hepatocytes of chick embryos and of mice after injections of CCl4 twice a week for 5 months was clasmatosis of the destroyed mitochondria fragments and their removal through the partially disintegrated exterior membrane of mitochondria followed by the membrane restoration. The process of mitochondrial regeneration after clasmatosis of its fragments was shown to require two days in the chick embryo hepatocytes.     

The results of a controlled field trial of a dried erythrocytic immunoglobulin diagnostic agent for detecting the hepatitis A virus antigen]

The results of the controlled field trial of lyophilized erythrocytic immunoglobulin diagnosticum for the detection of hepatitis A virus antigen in the urine and feces of patients are presented. This diagnosticum was used for the study of urine and fecal samples from 225 patients (of these, 176 had hepatitis A) and 54 healthy persons in the passive hemagglutination (PHA) test. Their blood sera were studied in the PHA test (to detect HBsAg) and the radioimmunoassay (to detect anti-HAV IgM). The immunoglobulin diagnosticum under study was found to be nonspecific and faintly sensitive and, therefore, unsuitable for use in medical practice.     

Biosynthesis of embryonic prealbumin by cultured human fibroblasts

Embryonic prealbumin (EPA) was found in human cultured fibroblasts by means of immunodiffusion and immunofluorescence. No quantitative or qualitative differences in the content and localization of this antigen were revealed in embryonic and adult fibroblasts. A conclusion has been made that EPA is the product of human cultured fibroblasts and can be used as a marker of this type of cells.     

Protective effect of high density lipoproteins, their subfractions and lecithin-cholesterol-acyltransferases on the peroxidation modification of low density lipoproteins

The role of high density lipoproteins (HDL), their subfractions (HDL2 and HDL3) and lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) on peroxidative modification of low density lipoproteins (LDL) in vitro was studied. Peroxidative modification was estimated by the formation of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) and LDL aggregates during LDL incubation at 37 degrees C for several days without Fe2+ or for 2 hours in the presence of Fe2+ in EDTA-free media. It was shown that the addition of HDL3 (but not HDL2) markedly decreases the formation of both MDA and LDL aggregates. Since LCAT is bound to HDL3, its effect was examined. An addition of LCAT isolated from human plasma (650-fold purification) at a concentration of 450 micrograms/ml resulted in a complete inhibition of LDL peroxidation and LDL aggregate formation. Heat-inactivated LCAT had no effect. Possible mechanisms of the protective effect of LCAT on LDL peroxidative modification are discussed.     

Ultrastructure of liver cells of shrews]

It was established that the hepatocytes of least shrew (Sorex minutissimus) contained 1-2 nucleus with wide nuclear pores and big nucleolus. There are abundant mitochondria with numerous crists in their matrix (many organelles were divided along the crists). Each mitochondrion was surrounded by the cistern of granular endoplasmic reticulum. The ultrastructure of Golgi complex (1-2 flat cisterns, small vesicles] indicated that the bile was secreted often, by small portions, that was the adaptation to repeated fractional feeding. There were many peroxisomes in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Lipid droplets were absent, glycogen granules were not at all hepatocytes. Sinusoidal cells had the usual structure. All sinusoids were open and consisted of the erythrocytes, fragments of hepatocyte cytoplasm and myelin figures in its lumen.     

Synaptic mechanisms of use-dependent potentiation and use-dependent inhibition of evoked burst discharges in rat hippocampal slices

The mechanisms of activity-dependent modulation of burst discharges in rat hippocampal slices have been studied. The extracellular registration of field responses (population spike, PS, and field excitatory postsynaptic potential, fEPSP) induced by repetitive electrical stimulation (1–4 Hz) of Schaffer collaterals (with 30 pulses trains separated by 5-min resting intervals) was performed in cellular and dendritic layers of CA1 area. It has been established that repetitive orthodromic stimulation exerts biphasic modulation of burst discharges in Mg²⁺-free medium: use-dependent potentiation (UDP) and use-dependent inhibition (UDI). The former was manifested as an increase in the number of PS in the burst discharge associated with a corresponding lengthening of the fEPSP. During the UDI development the number of NMDA-dependent PS in the burst was diminished despite the continuing increase in the fEPSP duration. In some cases UDI was followed by spreading depression. Both UDP and UDI were reversible. The development of UDP and UDI could be effectively suppressed either by the NMDA antagonists or by the GABAergic inhibition enhancer, diazepam. The picrotoxin (PTX)-induced burst discharges did not undergo either UDP or UDI development. However, removal of Mg²⁺ from PTX-containing solution during continuing repetitive stimulation led to the appearance of NMDA-dependent UDI. Analysis of the data obtained indicates that: (1) UDP results from a progressive decrease in GABA-mediated inhibition in the course of low-frequency (1–4 Hz) repetitive stimulation (the so-called “fatigue of synaptic inhibition”); (2) UDI is caused by excessive Ca²⁺ influx into the neurons due to overactivation of NMDA receptors. The article is published in the original.     

Variability of sensitivity of lymphocytes from healthy donors to antiproliferative effect of dexamethasone and HLA antigens

A positive correlation between the level of lymphocyte PHA-stimulation and the degree of stimulation inhibition by dexamethasone has been established. Using regression analysis methods, healthy volunteers were divided into three groups: sensitive, intermediate and resistant. The frequency of HLA-B7, B12 and DR2 antigens was increased in the latter group.