The Adhesiveness of the OmpF and OmpC Porins from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis to J774 Macrophages

Biophysics - Abstract—The significance of the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis porins OmpF and OmpC for adhesion to macrophages J774 was assessed using optical trapping. The passive sensitization...     

Radiation diagnosis of aortic aneurysmal ruptures with formation of anastomoses with the inferior cava and various organs

The results of radiation diagnostic techniques were analyzed in 29 patients with aortic aneurysmal ruptures with formation of aortic anastomoses. The examination and treatment of 362 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysmal ruptures revealed that 23 (6.35%) patients had anastomoses (aortocaval (n = 15), aortoduodenal (n = 6), aortogastric (n = 1), and aortoureteral (n = 1)). Six patients were observed to have secondary aortointestinal anastomoses occurring after reconstructive vascular surgery. In one patient, abdominal aortic aneurysmal rupture first led to the formation of a primary aortoduodenal anastomosis and some time after surgery a secondary aortointestinal fistula emerged. One out of 113 patients with aortic dissecting aortic aneurysms had an aortopulmonary fistula. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, and angiography were performed in 27, 19, and 14 patients, respectively. Radiation diagnostic techniques revealed fistulas in 9 (31%) out of the 29 patients. The diagnosis of aortic anastomoses presents challenges.     

Oxygen consumption of engorged nymphs and unfed adults of Hyalomma asiaticum ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) exposed to various photoperiods

The oxygen consumption of engorged nymphs of Hyalomma asiaticum was measured at various intervals after drop-off from mice hosts. Duration of nymphal development to the emergence of adults was 25–32 days at 25°C. The oxygen consumption was high immediately after completing the blood meal (193–248 mm³ g^-1 h^-1 but decreased significantly 18 days later (at 25°C) to 45–65 mm³ g^-1 h^-1. It increased again before ecdysis (81–102 mm³ g^-1 h^-1, and also after ecdysis in freshly moulted adults (177–220 mm³ g^-1 h^-1. The oxygen consumption in 8-month-old adult ticks was very variable ranging from 40–42 to 172 mm³ g^-1 h^-1. Neither engorged nymphs nor unfed adult ticks showed any dependence of their respiratory metabolism on the photoperiodic regimes tested (LD 20:4 and LD 12:12, with or without transfer to an alternative photoperiod after engorgement of nymphs).     

Regeneration of limbs and sensory organs in Ixodid ticks (Acari, Ixodeidea, Ixodidae and Argasidae)

We present a review of our own and literature data on reparative regeneration in ixodid ticks (chelicerate arthropods). Ticks have a high potential for reparative regeneration and a close relationship between regeneration and development determined by similar hormonal regulatory mechanisms. These mechanisms depend on ecdysteroid hormones, which participate in the initiation of both processes, and juvenile hormones, which direct these processes either to the maintenance of larval features or to the development of nymphal and adult features. We present a detailed analysis of the regeneration of Haller's sensory organs in ixodid ticks and propose an hypothesis about the role of juvenile hormones in the modification of morphogenetic processes in this group. Furthermore, we present data on the effects of insect juvenile hormone analogs (methoprene and fenoxycarb) on the regeneration of Haller's organ, which support this hypothesis. Studies on reparative regeneration in arthropods provide a broader view of the problem of repair morphogenesis in animals.     

Recording of Superenergetic Electrons and Ions in the High-Current Pulsed Relativistic Electron Beam Generator

Plasma Physics Reports - In experiments on ion acceleration in the Katran pulsed high-current relativistic electron beam generator with output voltage U ≤ 250 kV and current I ≈ 50 kA,...     

Specific Features of Haller's Organ Regeneration in the Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari,Ixodidae) in the Presence of Methoprene and Retinoic Acid

The results of experiments on regeneration of the Haller's sensory organ in the metastriate ixodid tick Haemaphysalis longicornisNeumann in the presence of the juvenoid methoprene and retinoic acid and of studies of its structural changes by SEM confirmed the similarity of prostriate and metastriate ixodids as concerns the juvenalizing effect of the above morphogens on regenerative processes during nymphal-imaginal metamorphosis. However, the metastriate ticks (Haemaphysalis and earlier studied Hyalomma) are well behind the prostriate ticks (Ixodes) as concerns the extent of changes induced by juvenoids and retinoids in the sensillar sets of Haller's organ regenerates.     

Cell-mediated and humoral immunity in HBS-Ag carriers]

The presence of HBs--Ag in the blood was established in 1.8% of practically healthy persons, in 29.7% of virus hepatitis patients and in 86.0% of serum hepatitis patients. The immunological study of clinically healthy HBs--Ag carriers revealed a statistically significant decrease in the number of T and B lymphocytes and an increased level of serum IgA, IgM and IgG in the blood. Among donors, 7.6% were found to have lymphocytes sensitized to HBs--Ag and 15.4% were found to have lymphocytes sensitized to liver antigen, while for HBs--Ag carriers these data were 62.5% and 50%, respectively.     

Seasonal aspects of the life cycle of solifuges (Arachnida, Solifugae) as compared with pseudoscorpions (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones)

Solifuges (order Solifugae) and pseudoscorpions (order Pseudoscorpiones) united into the superorder Haplocnemata (Shultz, 2007) are nevertheless characterized by essential differences both in morphological and biological characters. Analysis of available information on the biology and life cycles of these arachnids revealed a clear difference between the daily rhythms of activity: their presence in solifuges and their absence in pseudoscorpions. However, this concerning the seasonal adaptations in the two orders is not simple since they demonstrate not only differences but also a lot of similarities. All the studied solifuges are characterized by the seasonally timed stenochronous (heterodynamic) type of development which is characteristic of species with uni-, bi-, and semi-voltine development (i.e., to life cycles completed within a year, half a year, and several years), as well as to species combining different forms of voltinism. This type of development is not only prevalent in solifuges (as in pseudoscorpions and other arachnids) but appears to be the only one, since no cases of eurychronous (homodynamic) development have been found in solifuges; whereas pseudoscorpions and other arachnids develop both steno- and eurychronously. The initial ontogenetic stages remain in underground shelters (brood burrows in solifuges and brood chambers in pseudoscorpions). The first nymphal stages (I instar nymphs in solifuges, protonymphs in pseudoscorpions) are embryonized; active life outside the brood burrows starts with II instar nymphs in solifuges and with deutonymphs in pseudoscorpions.