Functional changes in the small intestine under the influence of sorbents in rats with a radiation-thermal lesion

Major small intestine functions of rats were inhibited after whole-body exposure to radiation and heat. The injection of sorbents varying in the chemical structure favored the recovery of the small intestine function.     

Sorbents with immobilized glycopeptide antibiotics for separating optical isomers by high-performance liquid chromatography

Chiral sorbents for HPLC separation of optical isomers carrying glycopeptide antibiotics (eremomycin or its eremosaminyl aglycon, ristomycin, or vancomycin) fixed onto the surface of silica gel have been synthesized. The patterns of the retention and separation of profen isomers and their dependence on the nature of the chiral selector and the eluant composition have been studied. The sorbents were shown to be highly enantiospecific in separating the isomers of α-amino-, α-hydroxy-, and α-methylphenylcarboxylic acids (profens)     

Dynamics of structure of shrew taxocene in southern Sakhalin

The complete cycle of the structure transformation of shrew model taxocene in southern Sakhalin was revealed by investigations of 2008–2014. It was shown that in the communities of these animals facultative and obligate dominants are absent and a dominant group is formed every year of common species. There are two main patterns of the taxocene structure: the monodominant type, predominating by the long-clawed shrew at low number of other species, and the polydominant type, in which one of the background species plays a role of codominant at a lower number of long-clawed shrews. It is found out that the dominance structure in shrew taxocene is not closely related to the phase of its quantitative dynamics.     

The mechanism of the resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to phages from the International Collection

The resistance of methicillin-resistant staphylococci to phage 85 is due to the presence of a certain system restriction modification in microbial cells. The loss of the capacity for restricting phage DNA by the cell as the consequence of the loss of the mec determinant is not accompanied by the loss of its capacity for modifying phage DNA.     

Resolution Estimation of the Au, Ag, Cu, and Al Single- and Double-Layer Surface Plasmon Sensors in the Ultraviolet, Visible, and Infrared Regions

Figures of merit are introduced for estimation of achievable resolution of surface plasmon (SP) sensors by modulation type. The resolution of SP sensors in the Kretschmann’s geometry is estimated by numerical simulation for combinations of silver (Ag), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), chromium, and titanium layers with a gold (Au) layer in the ultraviolet (UV), visible, and infrared (IR) regions in cases of detecting the change of the refractive index of water and the presence of an adsorption layer in water. SP biosensors with angular modulation based on Al exhibit low resolution in the UV region; Ag, Au, and Cu biosensors show best resolution in the visible region. Biosensors with intensity modulation demonstrate high performance in the near IR by Ag, Au, and Cu metals, and in the UV by Al.     

Taxonomic position of the lysine producer Brevibacterium flavum

Brevibacterium flavum 22 and 22L producing lysine and glutamic acid should be reclassified as Corynebacterium glutamicum on the basis of their chemotaxonomic characteristics: the IV type of the cell wall, corynomycolic acids C32--C34, 57.8% of GC in DNA.     

Ontogenetic approach to assessment of chufa response to culture conditions by the method of chlorophyll fluorescence induction

Application of earlier proposed ontogenetic approach to assessment of chufa (Cyperus esculentus L.) response to artificial-light culture growing conditions differing in illuminance and type of mineral nutrition is described. It was shown that, on biological soil-like substrate, plant productivity did not increase as a result of PAR level rising, and life time of chufa leaves was reduced to 11 days as compared with 18 days on the neutral substrate. Changes in the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence induction (F _v/F _m, Yield = (F _m − F _t)/F _m, and ETR = 0.5 × 0.84 × Yield × PAR) analyzed on the basis of ontogenetic approach show that it can disclose nonoptimal culture conditions.     

Protective effect of bixin on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Background

The liver is an important organ for its ability to transform xenobiotics, making the liver tissue a prime target for toxic substances. The carotenoid bixin present in annatto is an antioxidant that can protect cells and tissues against the deleterious effects of free radicals. In this study, we evaluated the protective effect of bixin on liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in rats.

Results

The animals were divided into four groups with six rats in each group. CCl₄ (0.125 mL kg^-1 body wt.) was injected intraperitoneally, and bixin (5.0 mg kg^-1 body wt.) was given by gavage 7 days before the CCl₄ injection. Bixin prevented the liver damage caused by CCl₄, as noted by the significant decrease in serum aminotransferases release. Bixin protected the liver against the oxidizing effects of CCl₄ by preventing a decrease in glutathione reductase activity and the levels of reduced glutathione and NADPH. The peroxidation of membrane lipids and histopathological damage of the liver was significantly prevented by bixin treatment.

Conclusion

Therefore, we can conclude that the protective effect of bixin against hepatotoxicity induced by CCl₄ is related to the antioxidant activity of the compound.