New gall midges of the subfamily Lestremiinae (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) from the Rovno amber

Two new genera and eight new species of the gall midges subfamily Lestremiinae, viz. Berestella insuperabilis gen. et sp. nov., Monardia impellucida sp. nov., Xylopriona aristata sp. nov. (Micromyini), Aprionus improvisus sp. nov., A.? vlaskini sp. nov. (Aprionini), Vicemyia immediata gen. et sp. nov. (Peromyiini), Cordylomyia cauta sp. nov. (Campylomyzini) and Bryomyia necessaria sp. nov. (Bryomyiini) from the Late Eocene Rovno amber are described. New combinations, i.e., Cordylomyia declinata (Fedotova, 2004), comb. nov. and Cordylomyia magnifica (Nel et Prokop, 2006), comb. nov. (both are transferred from Neurolyga) are proposed. No species in common with the fauna from the Baltic amber are recorded.     

Effects of estrogen in the CNS

The data of modern experimental and clinical researches of a estrogen role in pathogenesis of cognitive disorders are analyzed. The estrogen effects on receptor and postreceptor molecular-cellular level, and also its opportunity of cross-talk interaction with various neurotransmitters playing the role in mental functions are described. The data of the estrogen role during cellular differentiation, synaptic neuroplasticity and apoptoz are descibed. In comparative aspect influence [cyrillic word: see text] on training and memory, uneasiness and depression in experiments and in clinic is discussed. The principles of pharmacocorrection of the psycho-neurologic disorders caused by dysfunction of hypohysis-ovary of system, and also an opportunity of the combined application of estrogen and neurotropic drug are considered.     

Destabilization of the cytosolic calcium level and the death of cardiomyocytes in the presence of derivatives of long-chain fatty acids

By means of fluorescent microscopy, long-chain fatty acid derivatives, myristoylcarnitine and palmitoylcarnitine, were shown to exert the most toxic effect on rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. The addition of 20–50 μM acylcarnitines increased calcium concentration in cytoplasm ([Ca²⁺]_i) and caused cell death after a lag-period of 4–8 min. This effect was independent of extracellular calcium level and Ca²⁺ inhibitors of L-type channels. Free myristic and palmitic acids at concentrations of 300–500 μM had little effect on [Ca²⁺]_i within 30 min. We suggest that the toxic effect is due to the activation of calcium channels of sarcoplasmic reticulum by acylcarnitines and/or arising acyl-CoA. Mitochondria play a role of calcium-buffer system under these conditions. The calcium capacity of the buffer determines the duration of the lag-period. Phosphate increases the calcium capacity of mitochondria and the lag-period. In the presence of rotenone and oligomycin, the elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i after the addition of acylcarnitines occurs without the lag-period. The exhaustion of the mitochondrial calcium-buffer capacity or significant depolarization of mitochondria leads to a rapid release of calcium from mitochondria and cell death. Thus, the activation of reticular calcium channels is the main reason of the toxicity of myristoylcarnitine and palmitoylcarnitine.     

On the Mechanism of Blood Plasma Filtration by Neutrophils in the Capillary System

Changes in the ratio between the diameters of capillaries and neutrophils, neutrophil stiffening, and their adhesion to vascular endothelium lead to the retention and accumulation of leukocytes in the pulmonary capillary system. In experiments, these phenomena are induced by different methods, from injection of microorganisms into the blood to breathing pure oxygen for 24 h. They may result in capillary occlusion with neutrophils and platelets and damage to blood vessels and tissues. The hypothesis is discussed that blood is filtered by neutrophils accumulated in capillaries, which ensures the contact of neutrophils with microorganisms no later than 5–10 min after the microorganisms enter the blood circulation. Neutrophils are retained, at least temporarily, in the places in the capillary system where relatively wide capillaries branch into narrower capillaries.