Structural analysis of the Alu-containing DNA fragment with disperse distribution in human chromosomes

Nucleotide sequencing of two terminal subfragments of a cloned human DNA fragment has been done. The fragment cloned hybridized dispersively along all chromosomes except for Y chromosome and C heterochromatic chromosome regions. Both subfragments sequenced contain Alu repeats, whose structures differ partially from those of accurately determined sequences of human Alu repeats. The results obtained are discussed in respect of possible usage of Alu repeats containing sequences for construction of special polymorphic molecular markers of human chromosomes.     

Antigenic polysaccharides of Shigella bacteria. Structure of the polysaccharide chain of the lipopolysaccharide from Shigella boydii, type 11]

On mild acid degradation of the Shigella boydii, type 11 lipopolysaccharide, the corresponding O-specific polysaccharide composed of D-glucuronic acid, 2-acetylamino-2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-ribose and L-rhamnose residues in the ratio 1:1:1:3 was obtained. Methylation, partial acid hydrolysis and 13C-NMR spectral data for the polysaccharide led to the structure of the oligosaccharide repeating unit as a branched hexasaccharide: [formula: see text]. Numerous O-acetyl groups attached non-stoichiometrically to the residues of D-glucuronic acid, L-rhamnose and 2-acetylamino-2-deoxy-D-glucose were located with the use of 13C-NMR spectroscopy.     

Plasminogen activation by antiplasminogen monoclonal antibody IV-1C. Properties and mechanism of reaction

In review the results of investigation of plasminogen(Pg) activation by antiplasminogen monoclonal antibody IV-1c have been presented. Antigenic determinant of IV-1c was localized in Val709-Gly718 site of Pg protease domain. IV-1c completely inhibited the Pg activation by streptokinase, but increased the rate of Pg activation by t-PA and urokinase. Catalytic properties of plasmin in complex with IV-1c were studied. It was found that IV-1c induced catalytic activity in Pg-IV-1c complex. It was shown that Pg and IV-1c interacts in complex by two-centre mechanism: IV-1c binds with Pg by paratope and by N-terminal lysine of gamma-chain and Pg binds to IV-1c by one of the lysine binding sites and by V709-G718 site of protease domain. The influence of pH, temperature, 1.5 mM Ca2+, Mg2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Co2+, Ni2+ cations and 10 mM Cl-, F-, Ac-, SO4(2-), HPO4(2-) anions on lag and fast phases of Pg activation by VI-1c was investigated. It was revealed that Val709-Gly718 site was determining in Pg activation by IV-1c and streptokinase.     

Clinical and laboratory efficacy of the novel difluoroquinolone Sparflo (sparfloxacin) in therapy of skin and soft tissue infections]

Results of clinical trial of new difluoroquinolone--Sparflo (sparfloxacin, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd) are presented. Sparfloxacin was used in the treatment of 24 patients at the Department of Wounds and Wounds infections (11 patients) and at the Department of burn wounds (13 patients) of the A.V. Vishnevsky Institute of Surgery. After the treatment with sparfloxacin pathogen eradication was stated in 18 patients, eradication with superinfection--in 13 patients, persistence--in 3 patients. Thus bacteriological efficacy amounted to 87.5 per cent. Pharmacokinetic data demonstrates long-term sparfloxacin circulation in the organism of patients with burns--elimination half-life amounted to 20 hours. Overall after the sparfloxacin use the favourable clinical effect was stated in 100 per cent patients--18 patients (75%) had clinical cure and 6 (25%)--clinical improvement. The drug tolerance was good. It is concluded that clinical and laboratory investigation demonstrated high efficacy of sparfloxacin (Sparflo, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd) in the treatment of patients with skin and tissue wounds of different localization and genesis, complicated with infections.     

Efficacy of moxifloxacin in the treatment of secondary peritonitis]

Moxifloxacin efficacy was studied in a prospective open controlled incomparable surveillance of 22 patients at the age of 24 to 78 years (the average of 56.6 +/- 15.9 years old) with extended secondary peritonitis that developed before the hospitalization or not later than 48 hours after the hospitalization. Moxifloxacin (Avelox) was used in a dose of 400 mg every 24 hours at first intravenously as infusions and then orally in the same dose. The abdominal infection was severe (APACHE II of 6 to 12, the average of 8.0 +/- 2.2), in 6 (27.3%) patients signs of severe sepsis with polyorganic insufficiency were observed. The intravenous therapy was used for 3 to 7 days (the average of 3.91 +/- 0.92 days) and the oral therapy was used for 2 to 7 days (the average of 4.50 + 1.37 days). The total time of the treatment was 7 to 12 days (the average of 8.45 +/- 1.53 days). The recovery was recorded in 20 out of the 22 patients (90.9%), disappearance of the main signs of peritonitis being observed within 3-5 days of the treatment. Before the treatment 34 microbial strains were isolated. The most frequent pathogens were E.coli (35.4%) and Enterococcus faecalis (20.6%). In the etiological structure of the community-acquired peritonitis gramnegative enterobacteria prevailed (65%). All the isolates (except 1 strain of E. faecalis) were susceptible to moxifloxacin. The pathogen eradication was stated in 17 out of 18 patients (94.4%). Moderate adverse reactions were observed in 3 patients. Moxifloxacin evidently showed high clinical and bacteriological efficacies in the hospitalized patients with complicated intraabdominal infection including severe abdominal sepsis with the syndrome of polyorganic insufficiency. It can be used for monotherapy of patients with secondary extended peritonitis.     

Individual and age-related characteristics of the mitotic condensation of human Y chromosome

Three types of contraction (steady, speeding and slowing) of fluorescent (f) and nonfluorescent (nf) parts of the human Y chromosome were revealed in the spiralization interval limited by reper chromosome 3 length from 16.6 to 2.9 mkm. On the basis of regression analysis it was shown that in the initial phase of the spiralization interval studied the f-block was condensed more rapidly than the nf-region; then the speed of contraction of the latter exceeded that of the former. A decline of the Y chromosome condensation in relation to ageing was revealed. A possible chromosome segregation disturbance in gametogenesis due to senescent changes of heterochromatic regions is discussed.