Lednev’s model: Theory and experiment

The results of theoretical and experimental investigations of V.V. Lednev on interactions of weak and extremely weak magnetic fields with biosystems are reviewed. The period since 1989, when the first version of the interference model has been suggested, until now is considered. Some mathematical expressions are presented, which have been published earlier in the papers that are now bibliographic rarity. The results of experimental investigations are also summarized that have been performed in this period under the supervision of V.V. Lednev in the Laboratory of Biophysics of Intracellular Regulation at the Insitute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.     

Effect of chronic treatment with Rosiglitazone on Leydig cell steroidogenesis in rats: <Emphasis Type="Italic">In vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">ex vivo</Emphasis> studies

Background  

The present study was designed to examine the effect of chronic treatment with rosiglitazone - thiazolidinedione used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus for its insulin sensitizing effects - on the Leydig cell steroidogenic capacity and expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) in normal adult rats.     

Effect of rye Secale cereale L. chromosomes 1R and 3R on polyembryony expression in hybrid combinations between (Hordeum vulgare L.)-Triticum aestivum L. alloplasmic recombinant lines and wheat T. aestivum L.-rye S. cereale L. substitution lines

The effect of rye chromosomes on polyembryony was studied for reciprocal hybrid combinations between (Hordeum vulgare L.)-Triticum aestivum L. alloplasmic recombinant lines and five wheat T. aestivum L. (cultivar Saratovskaya 29)-rye Secale cereale L. (cultivar Onokhoiskaya) substitution lines: IR(1D), 2R(2D), 3R(3B), 5R(5A), and 6R(6A), and for direct hybrid combinations between the [H. marinum ssp. gussoneanum (H. geniculatum All.)]-T. aestivum alloplasmic recombinant line and the wheat-rye substitution lines 1R (1A), 1R (1D), and 3R(3B). Chromosomes 1R and 3R of rye cultivar Onokhoiskaya proved to affect the expression of polyembryony in the hybrid combinations that involved the alloplasmic recombinant lines of common wheat as maternal genotypes. Based on this finding, polyembryony was regarded as a phenotypic expression of nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions where an important role is played by rye chromosomes 1R and 3R and the H. vulgare cytoplasm. Consideration is given to the association between the effect of rye chromosomes 1R and 3R on polyembryony in the [(Hordeum)-T. aestivum x wheat-rye substitution lines] hybrid combinations and their stimulating effect on the development on angrogenic embryoids in isolated anther cultures of the wheat-rye substitution lines.     

Effect of rye Secale cereale L. chromosomes 1R and 3R on polyembryony expression in hybrid combinations between ( Hordeum L.)-Triticum aestivum L. alloplasmic recombinant lines and wheat-rye substitution lines T. aestivum L.- S. cereale L.

The effect of rye chromosomes on polyembryony was studied for reciprocal hybrid combinations between (Hordeum vulgare L.)-Triticum aestivum L. alloplasmic recombinant lines and five wheat T. aestivum L. (cultivar Saratovskaya 29)-rye Secale cereale L. (cultivar Onokhosikaya) substitution lines: 1R(1D), 2R(2D), 3R(3B), 5R(5A), and 6R(6A), and for direct hybrid combinations between the [H. marinum ssp. gussoneanum (H. geniculatum All.)]-T. aestivum alloplasmic recombinant line and the wheat-rye substitution lines 1R(1A), 1R(1D), and 3R(3B). Chromosomes 1R and 3R of rye cultivar Onokhoiskaya proved to affect the expression of polyembryony in the hybrid combinations that involved the alloplasmic recombinant lines of common wheat as maternal genotypes. Based on this finding, polyembryony was regarded as a phenotypic expression of nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions where an important role is played by rye chromosomes 1R and 3R and the H. vulgare cytoplasm. Consideration is given to the association between the effect of rye chromosomes 1R and 3R on polyembryony in the [(Hordeum)-T. aestivum × wheat-rye substitution lines] hybrid combinations and their stimulating effect on the development on androgenic embryoids in isolated anther cultures of the wheat-rye substitution lines. Original Russian Text ? L.A. Pershina, T.S. Rakovtseva, L.I. Belova, E.P. Devyatkina, O.G. Silkova, L.A. Kravisova, A.I. Shchapova, 2007, published in Genetika, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 7, pp. 955–962.     

Selected anthropometric variables and aerobic fitness as predictors of cardiovascular disease risk in children

The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio and aerobic fitness as predictors of cardiovascular risk factor clustering in children. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 290 school boys and girls from 6 to 10 years old, randomly selected. Blood was collected after a 12-hour fasting period. Blood pressure, waist circumference (WC), height and weight were evaluated according to international standards. Aerobic fitness (AF) was assessed by the 20-metre shuttle-run test. Clustering was considered when three of these factors were present: high systolic or diastolic blood pressure, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high triglycerides, high plasma glucose, high insulin concentrations and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. A ROC curve identified the cut-off points of body mass index (BMI), WC, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and AF as predictors of risk factor clustering. BMI, WC and WHR resulted in significant areas under the ROC curves, which was not observed for AF. The anthropometric variables were good predictors of cardiovascular risk factor clustering in both sexes, whereas aerobic fitness should not be used to identify cardiovascular risk factor clustering in these children.     

Diffusional attenuation of proton echo and control of changes in the cytoskeleton hydration level

Using the pulsed NMR-method with pulse gradient of the magnetic field, a study was made of changes in diffusional attenuation (DA) of proton echo in germs of triticum grains under the influence of agents depolymerizing cytoskeleton elements or inhibiting their ATP-activity. At a short diffusion time, we observed respective alterations of NMR-population in a fraction of cell water molecules contributing to DA at large values of pulse gradient. It is shown that the presence in DA of a site with essentially smaller coefficient of self-diffusion, as compared with basic cell water fraction, is not a consequence of restricted diffusion phenomenon. The observed changes in NMR-population of the appropriate fraction of cell water molecules are interpreted as changes in the level of cytoskeleton hydratation occurring under the influence of the used agents. A hypothesis is proposed for the functional role of similar changes in the level of hydratation of cytoskeleton elements located inside plamodesmata in the mechanism of plasmodesmatal water permeability regulation.