Changes in the characteristics of human granulo- and monocytopoiesis and the activity of stromal precursor cells in acute hypobaric hypoxia

10 healthy men underwent a 48 hour acute hypobaric hypoxia in the "Taba?" climate chamber imitating conditions of an altitude of 4.00 m. above s.l. The "ascent" and "descent" took 30 minutes each. Blood and bone marrow samples were taken before entering the chamber and immediately after leaving it. A decrease in colony-forming capacity of granulo- and monocyte and fibroblast precursors was shown, along with an increase in functional activity of circulating monocytes and monocyte precursors in bone marrow. A possible role of changes in granulo- and monocytopoiesis and in stromal cells is discussed in relation to the increased morbidity and decreased cicatricial and bone tissue reparation in the mountains.     

Interrelation of the dynamics of antigen intake into bone marrow and the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells

As it is previously shown (Tsyrlova et al., 1986), the level of humoral immune response is not only determined by the reaction of peripheral lymphoid system on antigenic effect, but also is bound up with the observed stem blood cell (SBC) proliferation in bone marrow (Frindel et al., 1976, Kozlov et al., 1982). Dynamics of label accumulation in bone marrow was examined when injecting antigen--sheep red blood cells labeled by radioisotope 51Cr, 125I. The peak of label accumulation in bone marrow, accompanied by the increase in proliferative SBC, was observed on the 3rd day after antigen injection. Furthermore in the course of immunization 51Cr labeled macrophage assortment was changed in time in such a way that a greater number of macrophages was accumulated in bone marrow on the 3rd and 4th days in the immunized animals in comparison with the intact ones. The macrophages in bone marrow are likely to take part in antigen uptake and to mediate its effect on SBC proliferation.     

Sequence divergence of the mitochondrial DNA of Pacific Ocean salmon

Restriction assay of mtDNA has been made in 6 salmon species form the genus Oncorhynchus and one species from the related genus, i.e. Salvelinus malma. The size of the mitochondrial genome was found to be identical and equal to 16.7 kilobases. The digestion patterns of mtDNA cleaved by 5 restriction endonucleases (Eco RI, Bgl I, Bgl II, Hind III, and Pst I) were used for analysis of the levels of interspecific variation and for estimation the matrix of mtDNA sequence differentiation. It was found that the level of nucleotide sequence divergence (p) in the genus Oncorhynchus varies within 1.7-6.7%. Minimum p value was observed in a pair O. keta--O. gorbuscha, maximum one--between O. masu and other species. With respect to similarity in their mtDNA, three groups may be distinguished: 1) O. gorbuscha--O. keta; 2) O. nerka--O. kisutch, O. tschawytscha; 3) O. masu. Mean value of intergeneric level of sequence divergence between Oncorhynchus and Salvelinus was found to be equal to 8%. On the basis of mtDNA analysis, the dendrogram of similarity of the species was plotted which is consistent in principle with current viewpoints on phylogenetic relations among the Pacific salmon.     

Effect of aortic arterial catheterization on tissue glycogen content

Measurements of hemodynamics and blood metabolites in rats are often made by insertion of a small polyethylene (PE-50) catheter into the aorta via the carotid artery. Although the effect of this type of procedure on animal body weight has been described, little information exists regarding the quantitative and temporal effects of this procedure on liver and skeletal muscle glycogen concentration. Relative to the control group (group C), liver glycogen concentration was reduced by 56% 24 h after catheterization (group CN). With respect to liver glycogen concentration, it was apparent that a postcatheterization recovery period of variable duration (2-8 days; group CNR) based on attainment of a normal food consumption-to-body weight ratio (FdWt/BdWt) was more effective than was a fixed 6-day recovery period (group CN6). This was probably due to the large between-animal variability in recovery times required to reach normal FdWt/BdWt values. After aortic catheterization, FdWt/BdWt was a reasonable predictor of postprocedural liver (y = 2,601x + 43.9; r = 0.72; P less than 0.01) and diaphragm muscle glycogen concentration (y = 146.3x + 14.0; r = 0.57; P less than 0.05). Aortic catheterization did not affect the glycogen concentration in the other skeletal muscles examined. Since the results of certain types of experiments can be significantly influenced by liver glycogen concentration, the use of FdWt/BdWt on 24-h food intake as a general indicator of recovery after instrumentation via aortic catheterization is proposed.     

Effect of trophoblast-specific beta 1-glycoprotein on the ratio of cellular forms in a mast cell population

The influence of trophoblast-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (TSG) on the degranulation of mast cells and their saturation with heparin was studied. Introduction of the TSG into the population of mast cells of the rat peritoneal fluid practically does not change their degranulation, but lowers the degree of their saturation with heparin. An antibiotic alone increases the saturation of the cells with heparin. The serum of an allergic animal markedly stimulates the degranulation and lowers the degree of saturation of the mast cells with heparin. In an experimental model (antibiotic--the serum of the allergic mast cells) the mast cells transform into very clear (heparin-free) cells and the degree of saturation is at minimum. The TSG introduction into this system stabilizes the population of mast cells and markedly increases the degree of their saturation with heparin. Although the degranulation is rather intensive, it is less expressed, than in the experimental model. This suggests the presence of TSG receptors on the mast cells (targets of allergic reactions). The possibility to use TSG preparations in the therapy of allergic diseases is discussed.     

The occurrence of Campylobacter jejuni in raw cows' milk

Faeces and raw milk from individual cows were examined for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni . After drawing milk, the lactoperoxidase system was inactivated by raising the pH to 7.5. The organism was isolated from 22% of 904 faecal samples and from 4.5% of 904 milk samples. From laboratory experiments it could be concluded that inactivation of the lactoperoxidase system resulted in a better isolation of C. jejuni from raw cows' milk.     

Selection and physiological study of culture of Bacillus circulans-- producer of butirosin]

For isolating a highly active variant of the butirosin-producing culture, a strain forming trace amounts of the antibiotic substance was used. Exposure to nitrosomethylbiuret and nitrosoguanidine and the use of selective media containing streptomycin and butirosin resulted in a 30-fold increase in the strain productivity. Thin layer chromatography of the produced antibiotic substance in the solvent system developed by the authors, mass spectrometry and assay of the antimicrobial spectrum in regard to ++gram-positive and ++gram-negative bacteria by using the known aminoglycosidine-inactivating enzymes revealed that the substance was identical to butirosin. Along with the major product, the fermentation broth contained up to 5 per cent of ribostamycin.     

Prevention of early inflammatory complications after transthoracic interventions and estimation of the degree of immunologic deficiency]

An analysis of the results of the examination and treatment of 379 patients undergoing transthoracic interventions showed that the use of the target-aimed selective immunomodulation, short-term antibacterial prophylaxis, inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolites, active elimination of the circulating immune complexes and medium-weight molecular peptides and adequate local analgesia after the interventions providing normalization of the laryngeal reflex and early activation of the patients permitted the incidence of the pulmonary complications to be decreased by 2.5 times, pleural complications by 1.7 times, suppuration of the postoperative wound by 1.8 times and the total expenses by 25.6 per cent.