Mechanism of the suppression of the spinal pain syndrome by serotonin derivatives

The ability of serotonin derivatives to stimulate cAMP accumulation in isolated nerve terminals and lumbar enlargement of the spinal cord of normal rats was compared. The effect of the compounds on the intensity of spinal pain syndrome was also assessed. It has been established that substitutes injected into NH2-group of serotonin in 5-OH position attenuate the ability to stimulate cAMP accumulation in synaptosomes, with the effect more pronounced with substitutes of larger volume. A certain correlation between the ability of serotonin derivatives to stimulate adenylate cyclase in vivo and in vitro, on the one hand, and their analgetic effect, on the other hand, is suggested.     

Therapy of severe stenocardia with ultraviolet blood irradiation (UVB) and various action mechanisms of this therapy

We observed 70 male patients with a seriously proceeding Chronic myocardial ischemia. They were hospitalised because of frequent, permanent and serious attacks of stenocardia at rest and in stress situations. More than 2/3 of these patients had suffered from a myocardial infarct. In the course of two weeks an intensive therapy with all modern preparations for vasodilatation was made. This therapy proved to be unsuccessful. Nearly all patients were administered more than 10 tables of nitroglycerin per day and, in addition, they were injected analgetics as a compensation of attack. The ultraviolet own blood irradiation (UVB) had a positive therapeutic effect in all patients. There was a good success in 46 patients, in all patients satisfactory results could be registered. The effect of therapy was evident by the decrease of administration of nitroglycerin required, by an increase in the degree of stress capacity, and by an easier treatment of stenocardia attacks. The observation time for patients amounted to 2-8 months. The success of therapy remained in 38 patients. After this time the success of therapy could partially be regained by a repeated number of irradiation series. Then, it remained positive in 9 of 22 patients who had been followed-up for 10 months. The half decay period of eliminating 131I from an intradermal depot could be normalised under the influence of ultraviolet own blood irradiation. This ultraviolet own blood irradiation had no significant influence on the fibrinogen level, fibrinolytic activity, and erythrocyte aggregation (examined in 11 patients). A 2 1/2-fold diminution of monomer fibrin complexes in the blood could be observed. The titre of antistreptolysin-O was increased in all patients who had got over the infarct. It had completely normalised a week after finishing the ultraviolet own blood irradiation. Spectroscopic examinations of the blood and plasma made after ultraviolet own blood irradiation revealed that this irradiation will not only affect the properties of Hb, but will also cause a photochemical transformation accompanied by a destruction of some plasma proteins, of the membrane of formed blood elements, and a photosynthesis of biochemically active compounds. The mechanism of action of ultraviolet own blood irradiation is complicated and requires further exact investigations. Even today, however, this method can be recommended as a complex therapy in patients with severe myocardial ischemia.     

Mechanism of mda-5 Inhibition by Paramyxovirus V Proteins

The RNA helicases encoded by melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (mda-5) and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) detect foreign cytoplasmic RNA molecules generated during the course of a virus infection, and their activation leads to induction of type I interferon synthesis. Paramyxoviruses limit the amount of interferon produced by infected cells through the action of their V protein, which binds to and inhibits mda-5. Here we show that activation of both mda-5 and RIG-I by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) leads to the formation of homo-oligomers through self-association of the helicase domains. We identify a region within the helicase domain of mda-5 that is targeted by all paramyxovirus V proteins and demonstrate that they inhibit activation of mda-5 by blocking dsRNA binding and consequent self-association. In addition to this commonly targeted domain, some paramyxovirus V proteins target additional regions of mda-5. In contrast, V proteins cannot bind to RIG-I and consequently have no effect on the ability of RIG-I to bind dsRNA or to form oligomers.     

Density gradient analysis of newly replicated DNA from synchronized mouse lymphoma cells

The replication of DNA in synchronous cultures of mouse lymphoma cells was investigated by use of CsCl density gradient centrifugation. We found that the buoyant density of newly replicated DNA depended upon the particular stage of S phase in which synthesis occurred. In early S phase, newly replicated DNA exhibited buoyant densities which were slightly higher, on the average, than that of pre-existing DNA. As S phase progressed, newly replicated DNA shifted to lower buoyant densities, until, near the end of S phase, densities less than pre-existing DNA were observed. These observations are discussed in terms of their possible relevance to base compositional differences between nucleotide sequences made in early as opposed to middle or late S phase.     

The proteins of the ejaculatory bulbs in different species of Drosophila

A comparative electrophoretic study or ejaculatory bulb proteins in 29 different Drosophila species has been carried out. In all analyzed species, ejaculatory bulb contains a major component (designated as PEB). It has molecular mass of 61-65 kDa in the species of virilis group, 33-36 kDa in species of obscura group, and 34-56 kDa in species of melanogaster group. Using immunoblotting technique, we have demonstrated that PEB is introduced into organs of female sex tract during mating. The nature and significance of revealed interspecific differences in PEB proteins has been discussed.     

Changes in IL-6, IL-8, C-reactive protein and pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor after transcatheter arterial chemo-embolization therapy for hepato-cellular carcinoma.

In an attempt to investigate the interaction between the changes of cytokines and acute phase reactants after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization therapy (TACE), the levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), C-reactive protein (CRP) and pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) in the blood of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were measured. Before the therapy, serum IL-6 and plasma IL-8 levels were detectable in 77.8% and 28.5%, respectively, of patients with HCC. Levels of serum IL-6 and plasma IL-8 increased after TACE and reached a peak on day 3 in all patients (18/18) and in 87.5% of patients (12/14), respectively. Both blood levels of IL-6 and IL-8 reached a peak earlier than those of CRP and PSTI did after the therapy. When the maximal values of IL-6 were compared with those of CRP and PSTI, there were significant positive correlations (r = 0.63, P < 0.01 and r = 0.81, P < 0.01, respectively). Similarly, comparisons of the maximal values of IL-8 with those of CRP and PSTI gave a significant correlation (r = 0.68, P < 0.01 and r = 0.67, P < 0.05, respectively). However, no significant correlation was found between the elevation of IL-6 and IL-8.