Use of a cytogenetic method for buccal epithelium study, and a method of laser correlation spectrometry for health disturbances monitoring in children

Buccal epithelium cytogenetic disturbances were studied in schoolchildren from Moscow schools, a country school (Novgorod region) and a Moscow boarding school for chindren with musculoskeletal diseases (scoliosis and kyphosis). The minimal mean frequency of cells with karyorrhexis were revealed in children from an ecologically pure Novgorod region. Moscow schoolchildren demonstrated more than 13-fold higher level of this parameter. Children with spinal deformities had an intermediate frequency. Cells with karyolysis minimal mean frequency were observed in Moscow pupils. Children from Novgorod demonstrated a statistically valid higher level of this parameter, and the maximum was reached in Moscow boarding school. No difference between these groups was revealed in a study of the mean frequency of binucleated cells, cells with pyknosis, cells with micronuclei, or "broken eggs" incidence. Laser correlation spectrometry (LCS) method was used for parallel studies. It was shown that the distribution of spectra in Moscow pupils and in children with spinal deformities differs from that in children living in ecologically pure region. Normal spectra prevailed in pupils of country school, who demonstrated, in addition, high levels of anabolic and low levels of catabolic type metabolism. The examined Moscow schoolchildren demonstrated almost the same incidence of normal spectra. They differed from the country children by statistically valid reduction of anabolic type spectra, and by increased levels of catabolic type spectra. Young patients with spinal deformities demonstrated the maximum incidence of catabolic type spectra. The authors suggest the availability of a qualitative correlation between both the monitoring methods used in this study. It was shown that children living in unfavorable conditions and patients with musculoskeletal diseases manifested an enhanced incidence of buccal epithelium cells with karyorrhexis and karyolysis, as well as higher levels of catabolic type spectra accompanied by reduction of normal and anabolic type spectra.     

Molecular-chemical basis of emotional states and reinforcement

In this paper we have attempted to relate and explain the activity of the brain different integrative levels, which ends up with occurrence of a goal-directed behaviour and reinforcement. Two main mechanisms of responding to subjects and events of external environment, as rapid executive reactions and slow motivational-emotional states, have been marked out. Each mechanism gets its own neurochemical basis, ways of information transmission and molecular-genetic programs for the specialized metabolic reactions. Together both mechanisms form a unique spatial-temporal continuum of neural processes aimed to produce the beneficial activity and reinforce it by subjectively perceived emotional states.     

The participation of cortical brain areas in the processes of perceiving and reproducing human emotional states]

New method of mapping intracortical interactions was used to study the participation of cortical brain areas in the processes of perception and of mental reproduction of emotional states in humans. When an emotion was identified, the activity focus was observed in the left temporal cortex. If emotion was not identified, the temporal focus did not appear, but activity foci were seen in frontal regions of both hemispheres. When emotional states were mentally reproduced, activity foci were encountered mostly in the frontal cortical areas.     

Use of a radioimmune method for determining HBsAg in preparations of human gamma-globulin

The work presents the results of studies made with a view to improve the method of testing gamma-globulin preparations for the presence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) by means of radioimmunoassay (RIA). The work shows that this method requires the use of specially selected negative control samples made up of pooled gamma-globulin samples. Standard RIA techniques intended for detecting the presence of HBsAg in human plasma and blood serum is not suitable for the analysis of the preparations of human gamma-globulin.     

Novel spectral method for the study of viral carcinogenesis in vitro

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a unique technique for the laboratory diagnosis of cellular variations based on the characteristic molecular vibrational spectra of the cells. Microscopic FTIR was used to investigate spectral differences between normal and malignant fibroblasts transformed by retrovirus infection. A detailed analysis showed significant differences between cancerous and normal cells. The contents of vital cellular metabolites were significantly lower in the transformed cells than in the normal cells. In an attempt to identify the cellular components responsible for the observed spectral differences between normal and cancerous cells, we found significant differences between DNA of normal and cancerous cells.