Polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 (GSTM1 and GSTT1) in the indigenous and the nonresident population of the Kemerovo region

GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms were studied in Shorians, Teleuts, and Caucasians of the Kemerovo region. It has been shown that distribution of homozygous deletions in the examined groups is significantly heterogeneous. The frequency of deletion genotypes and combinations of deletion in these genes was lower in Shorians and, Teleuts than in Caucasians.     

Functional training status of soccer players from leading Russian teams

The maximum aerobic power and aerobic efficiency (anaerobic threshold) have been determined in major league soccer players. The aerobic capacity of soccer players from leading Russian teams is substantially lower than that of players from leading European teams.     

Intragenic duplication and divergence in the spectrin superfamily of proteins

Many structural, signaling, and adhesion molecules contain tandemly repeated amino acid motifs. The alpha-actinin/spectrin/dystrophin superfamily of F-actin-crosslinking proteins contains an array of triple alpha-helical motifs (spectrin repeats). We present here the complete sequence of the novel beta-spectrin isoform beta(Heavy)- spectrin (beta H). The sequence of beta H supports the origin of alpha- and beta-spectrins from a common ancestor, and we present a novel model for the origin of the spectrins from a homodimeric actin-crosslinking precursor. The pattern of similarity between the spectrin repeat units indicates that they have evolved by a series of nested, nonuniform duplications. Furthermore, the spectrins and dystrophins clearly have common ancestry, yet the repeat unit is of a different length in each family. Together, these observations suggest a dynamic period of increase in repeat number accompanied by homogenization within each array by concerted evolution. However, today, there is greater similarity of homologous repeats between species than there is across repeats within species, suggesting that concerted evolution ceased some time before the arthropod/vertebrate split. We propose a two-phase model for the evolution of the spectrin repeat arrays in which an initial phase of concerted evolution is subsequently retarded as each new protein becomes constrained to a specific length and the repeats diverge at the DNA level. This evolutionary model has general applicability to the origins of the many other proteins that have tandemly repeated motifs.      

Comparisons of the molecular evolutionary process at rbcL and ndhF in the grass family (Poaceae)

We examine rate heterogeneity among evolutionary lineages of the grass family at two plasmid loci, ndhF and rbcL, and we introduce a method to determine whether patterns of rate heterogeneity are correlated between loci. We show both that rates of synonymous evolution are heterogeneous among grass lineages and that are heterogeneity is correlated between loci at synonymous sites. At nonsynonymous sites, the pattern of rate heterogeneity is not correlated between loci, primarily due to an aberrant pattern of rate heterogeneity at nonsynonymous sites of rbcL. We compare patterns of synonymous rate heterogeneity to predictors based on the generation time effect and the speciation rate hypotheses. Although there is some evidence for generation time effects, neither generation time effects nor speciation rates appear to be sufficient to explain patterns of rate heterogeneity in the grass plastid sequences.      

New target for inhibition of bacterial RNA polymerase: 'switch region'

A new drug target - the 'switch region' - has been identified within bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP), the enzyme that mediates bacterial RNA synthesis. The new target serves as the binding site for compounds that inhibit bacterial RNA synthesis and kill bacteria. Since the new target is present in most bacterial species, compounds that bind to the new target are active against a broad spectrum of bacterial species. Since the new target is different from targets of other antibacterial agents, compounds that bind to the new target are not cross-resistant with other antibacterial agents. Four antibiotics that function through the new target have been identified: myxopyronin, corallopyronin, ripostatin, and lipiarmycin. This review summarizes the switch region, switch-region inhibitors, and implications for antibacterial drug discovery.     

Multiyear dynamics of cytogenetic abnormalities in adolescents from a large industrial city

Long-term cytogenetic monitoring was carried out in adolescents of the town of Kemerovo. In total, aberrant metaphase frequency increased from 1.53% in 1992 to 4.40% in 1996 in Kemerovo adolescents, being significantly higher than a control frequency from 1993 to 1996. In all samples, chromosome aberrations mostly included acentric fragments, while exchanges were rare. The highest number of aberrations per aberrant metaphase was 2 in Kemerovo adolescents and 1 in the control sample. The observed increase in total number of chromosome aberrations suggests that the mutagenic effect of chemical environmental pollutants on Kemerovo adolescents increased over the five years.     

Lipids and carotid plaque in the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS)

Background

Heterogeneity in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, especially among individuals with acute heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (HFNEF), can cause confusion in interpreting results. We investigated the characteristics of cases of acute HFNEF with only modestly elevated BNP.

Methods

One hundred forty-two patients with acute or acute exacerbation of chronic HFNEF were divided into two groups by BNP level: BNP < 100 pg/ml (NB group, n = 45) and BNP ≥ 100 pg/ml (B group, n = 97). We compared clinical findings, echocardiography results, and neurohormonal factors between these two groups.

Results

In the NB group, a history of open-heart surgery (OHS) was more frequent (71% vs. 22%, p < 0.0001) and hypertension was less frequent (p = 0.0005). Left atrial diameter (LAd) was higher (p = 0.0026), while interventricular septal thickness, posterior wall thickness, relative wall thickness, left ventricular mass index were lower (p = 0.0005, p = 0.0225, p = 0.0114, p = 0.0051, respectively) in the NB group. In patients with HFNEF, a history of OHS remained an independent predictor of BNP level (< 100 pg/ml) after adjustment for hypertension, age, LAd, and interventricular septal thickness (odds ratio 3.6, p = 0.0252).

Conclusion

We found associations between acute HFNEF with less elevated BNP and a history of OHS. In a patient suspected of HFNEF, a history of OHS is considered diagnostic evidence of presence of diastolic heart failure when plasma levels of BNP are less elevated.     

Quantitative characteristics of chromosomal aberration frequency in the residents of the regions with different levels of cancer incidences

We present the results of cytogenetic monitoring of the districts in Kemerovo region, which differ in standardized indices of cancer incidence. It has been shown that residents of the districts with high incidence of malignancies had higher average frequency of metaphases with chromosomal aberrations than the control group (4.06 ± 0.12% and 2.76 ± 0.13%, respectively). This difference is caused primarily by single or paired fragments. The increase in the frequency of aberrant metaphase incidence in the districts with elevated cancer frequency was observed both in the male and female groups as well as both in adults and children.     

Cytogenetic analysis of genotoxic effects in subjects employed in heat power industry

Chromosomal aberration rate has been estimated in peripheral blood lymphocytes of subjects occupationally exposed to a set of hazardous factors (employees of the Kemerovo Heat Power Plant). The frequency of metaphases with aberrations in the workers (3.23 ± 0.26%, N = 104) is significantly higher than in control subjects (2.11 ± 0.28%, N = 70). The cytogenetic aberrations did not depend on the sex, age, duration of employment, or smoking.