Adaptive changes in the myocardium of patients with ischemic heart disease

Changes in the human heart muscle resulting from chronic coronary insufficiency have been analyzed using biopsies taken during surgery from nine patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and six patients with the WPW syndrome (without IHD). Histochemical analysis have shown that the atrial myocardium in IHD patients is characterized by an increased density of the microvascular network, increased phosphorylase activity, and decreased succinate dehydrogenase activity. Virtually the same changes have proved to occur in the myocardium of rats adapted to hypoxia by means of repeated exposure in a low-pressure chamber. According to the results of two-dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting, acid (but not alkaline) isoforms of inducible HSP70 proteins appear in the myocardium of IHD patients. It is concluded that the myocardium of IHD patients undergoes adaptive changes at the tissue level in response to repeated exposure to ischemia in the course of development of this disease. It is proposed that activation of the synthesis of alkaline HSP70 isoforms in the myocardium of cardiological patients may provide the possibility of improving its resistance to the impact of ischemia and reperfusion (this possibility is not realized under conditions of IHD).     

Immunomodulating action of neuropeptides in in vitro systems

The work presents the data on the immunostimulating properties of neuropeptides. As revealed in this study, the leu-enkephalin level in blood sera (taken from 55 patients) inversely correlates with the intensity of the proliferative response of lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin. In in vitro systems dalargin promotes the increase or decrease of the proliferative response of lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin, depending on the proliferative activity of cells in response to this mitogen, and also leads to an increase in the number of rosette-forming cells. Leu-enkephalin in doses of 100, 10, 1, 0.1 micrograms/ml and dalargin in a dose of 0.1 microgram/ml inhibit the migration of leukocytes.     

Blood Circulation Pattern in Highly Skilled Swimmers

Echocardiography was used to study the parameters of cardiodynamics, systemic hemodynamics, left ventricular morphology and functioning, phase analysis of cardiac activity, and rheological blood properties in highly skilled expert swimmers. The relationship between different levels of blood circulation was established. A close correlation between the blood flow at rest and arterial pressure was found to contribute to the optimization of microvascular pressure and shear stress in accordance with body demands.     

Kinetid structure in Choanocytes of Sponges (Heteroscleromorpha): Toward the ancestral Kinetid of Demospongiae

Every large clade of Eukarya has its own pattern of kinetid (flagellar apparatus) structure, which is stable and specific within the group, thereby being a good phylogenetic marker. The kinetid structure of sponge choanocytes might be a candidate for such marker for the phylogeny of Porifera. Kinetids of two heteroscleromorphs, Halichondria sp. (Suberitida) and Crellomima imparidens (Poecilosclerida), have been investigated here for the first time, and a reconstruction of the kinetid for each species is provided. The kinetids of both species comprise a flagellar kinetosome with a nuclear fibrillar root, a basal foot and satellite producing microtubules; a centriole is absent. Good resolution images reveal a new thin structure, the axial granule, in the flagellar transition zone which might be present in other sponges. The comparison of kinetids in investigated sponges revealed three types of kinetid in Demospongiae, and their distribution in the taxon has been shown on a molecular phylogenetic tree. Kinetid characters of the common ancestor of Demospongiae are discussed. J. Morphol. 277:925–934, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Study of the anatomy of the living human heart using echocardiography

For studying anatomy of the alive human heart, a new method of ultrasonic echography has been used. With its assistance it is possible to see all the cardiac chambers, interventricular and interatrial septa, tricuspidal and mitral valves, their chordae, papillary muscles, myocardium and pericardium. Not only their statics, but also their dynamics are investigated, when the heart contracts and its valves make movements. Owing to this, possibilities for studying cardiac anatomy in the alive people.     

Quantitative analysis of neurological effects after cranio-caudal gamma-irradiation of rats

A study was made of the frequency and duration of neurological disorders after cranio-caudal irradiation of rats with doses of 7.5-500 Gy delivered to the head. As the mean effective dose increased the neurological disorders occurred in the following order: tremor, rotatory movements hyperkinesia, opisthotonos, and convulsions. The neurophysiological disorders observed were subjected to a pathophysiological analysis.