Mechanism of action of 2-aryloxy-2-thio-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinane pesticides

The interaction of 2-aryloxy-2-thio-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinanes exhibiting nematocide, insecticide/acaricide, and synergetic activities with monoamine oxidases and the interaction of the corresponding oxones, 2-aryloxy-2-oxo-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinanes, with various cholinesterases, carboxyl esterases, and monoamine oxidases were studied. We showed that the thioderivatives inhibited monoamine oxidases, whereas oxones, which are, as a rule, weak cholinesterase inhibitors, strongly inhibited carboxyl esterases of the American cockroach and were transformed with monoamine oxidases into the strong cholinesterase inhibitors, acyclic phosphamidates. This allowed us to explain the low toxicity of the thioderivatives, the high toxicity of the oxoderivatives, and the great difference in toxicities of thio- and oxocompounds in the 1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinane series. The capacity of thioderivatives to inhibit monoamine oxidases and of oxoderivatives and their further activation products to inhibit carboxyl esterases, i.e., both enzymes responsible for pyrethroid detoxication in insects, explains the synergetic activity of the 1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinane series.     

The results and characteristics of the mupirocin (Bactroban) sanative treatment of intranasal Staphylococcus carriers in a large hospital]

The action of mupirocin as a nasal ointment (Bactroban) was studied on intranasal carriers of the hospital staphylococcal strains. The study included 37 medical workers from different and mainly problem units of the large general hospital. The tolerability of the ointment was good. After the Bactroban use no complications of the patients were recorded. The efficacy of Bacroban by the microbiological criteria in total amounted to 100 per cent. The eradication of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was observed in 93 per cent of the cases. A decrease of the level of the nasal passages dissemination by MRSA and methicillin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRSC) up to such low titers as 100 and 90 per cent was stated. No difference in the action of Bactroban on MRSA, MSSA and MRSC was noted. The bacteriological monitoring for 3 to 4 months revealed a change of the staphylococcal strains in 94 per cent of the cases, recolonization by the same staphylococcal strain in 19 per cent, recolonization by some another staphylococcal strains in 33 per cent and no recolonization in 14 per cent. A stable decrease of staphylococcal strains was possible with simultaneous Bactroban sanitation of all the bacterial carriers of the hospital or its isolated unit.     

Specific Interaction between Esterases and 2-Butylthio-2-thio-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorynane and Its Cyclic and Acyclic Analogs

We studied the anticholinesterase and anticarboxylesterase effects of 1,3,2-oxazaphosphorynane derivatives and certain cyclic and acyclic analogs on the two enzymes of homoiotherms (ACE from human erythrocytes and BuCE from horse serum) as well as the enzymes from insect tissues (the nerve cord of the American cockroach and the cephalic region of the domestic fly). The differences in in vitro antiesterase activity of cyclic thionic and the corresponding oxo derivatives of phosphorinane were revealed. The mechanism of the esterase active center phosphorylation not only splitting off the outgoing group (in vivo) but also opening the cycle by P–O bond (in vitro and possibly in vivo) is usually proposed to explain the higher inhibiting activity of the thionic compounds compared to the oxonic ones. The possible involvement of this phosphorylation mechanism in the synergistic activity of the studied compounds is discussed.     

Ultrastructural changes in the neuropile of the sensorimotor cortex during long-term protein-calorie deficiency

The effect of alimentary (protein-caloric) deficiency on the brain sensomotor cortex of mice was studied during their postnatal development. It was found that malnutrition of mice from day 10 to day 40 of postnatal period brought about the most remarkable changes in synaptic junctions located on the dendritic spines. They manifested destruction of the spine apparatus, reduction of the width of synaptic slits and of postsynaptic membranes. Dystrophic and destructive alterations are frequently encountered in dendrites, axon terminals, and myelinized axons, indicating the reduced compensatory functions of the CNS.     

AGR2, ERp57/GRP58, and some other human protein disulfide isomerases

This review considers the major features of human proteins AGR2 and ERp57/GRP58 and of other members of the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family. The ability of both AGR2 and ERp57/GRP58 to catalyze the formation of disulfide bonds in proteins is the parameter most important for assigning them to a PDI family. Moreover, these proteins and also other members of the PDI family have specific structural features (thioredoxin-like domains, special C-terminal motifs characteristic for proteins localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, etc.) that are necessary for their assignment to a PDI family. Data demonstrating the role of these two proteins in carcinogenesis are analyzed. Special attention is given to data indicating the presence of biomarker features in AGR2 and ERp57/GRP58. It is now thought that there is sufficient reason for studies of AGR2 and ERp57/GRP58 for possible use of these proteins in diagnosis of tumors. There are also prospects for studies on AGR2 and ERp57/GRP58 leading to developments in chemotherapy. Thus, we suppose that further studies on different members of the PDI family using modern postgenomic technologies will broaden current concepts about functions of these proteins, and this will be helpful for solution of urgent biomedical problems.     

Effect of cultivation conditions on the cytochrome system of Candida mycoderma yeasts

The effect of aeration of the medium, the source of carbon, yeast autolysate and its components (amino acids, vitamins, cytochrome precursors) on the biosynthesis of cytochromes and the ratio between them was studied in the cells of Candida mycoderma. The content of cytochromes b and c increased in the cells at the stationary phase of growth on the Rieder medium regardless of the carbon source and in the presence of elevated concentrations of iron and yeast autolysate (or one of its components, delta-aminolevulinic acid), whereas the content of cytochromes a + a3 decreased. These changes in the content of cytochromes were found in the conditions of strong oxygen deficiency in the medium during the stationary phase.     

Defensive reactions of gastropod molluscs. Humoral reactions

Humoral protective reactions and their mechanisms in gastropod mollusks are considered based on the results of various investigations. It is important to note that lectines in molluscs, as well as in other invertebrates, are functional analogues of immunoglobulins in vertebrates.