Detection of differences in liver protein composition between recombinant strains of mice with different ThioTEPA sensitivities

The sensitivity of recombinant mouse strains subjected to 23-27 generations of inbreeding to the clastogenic effect of thioTEPA (triethylene thiophosphoramide) was reestimated, and their characteristics were confirmed. Six 1XC3 recombinant strains were obtained from crossing strains 101/H x C3H/Sn, which differed from one another with respect to the sensitivity to thioTEPA. The protein composition of the liver tissue was studied in the recombinant strains by means of two-dimensional electrophoresis. Interstrain differences with respect to five liver proteins were found, which were correlated with the differences in the response to the mutagen.     

Immunological mechanisms of the radioprotective effects of ceruloplasmin

The aim of the work was to examine immunotropic features of celluroplasmine++ (Cp) and estimate its capacity as radioprotector. The pulse radiolysis method was used to set the mechanism of elementary reactions, which were responsible for antioxidant activity, and to demonstrate a particular role of reversible oxycomplexis, Cp...O2. Within in vitro test-systems the effects of Cp were examined on the model of interaction between lymphocytes from Shelter staff which constantly contacts with ionizing irradiation, and autologous erythrocytes in rosset-forming phenomenon (223 Shelter employees in comparison with 253 donors of Kyiv blood transfucion station). Expression of this Index in the presence of antigens with known poly-specificity was determined (antigens were taken from cortical and pyramid sections of kidney, liver, lungs, myocard, pancreatic gland, grey matter and aorta). Simultaneously the presence of analogous autoantibodies was determined (ELISA). It has been shown that Cp can reprogram the level of expression of immunovaluable receptors towards to norm. It has been also defined that Cp presence in blood irradiated in vitro (1-15 rem) promotes the masking of active centers of autoantibodies of different tissue specificity.     

Quantification of the magnification and distortion effects of a pediatric flexible video-bronchoscope

Background

Flexible video bronchoscopes, in particular the Olympus BF Type 3C160, are commonly used in pediatric respiratory medicine. There is no data on the magnification and distortion effects of these bronchoscopes yet important clinical decisions are made from the images. The aim of this study was to systematically describe the magnification and distortion of flexible bronchoscope images taken at various distances from the object.

Methods

Using images of known objects and processing these by digital video and computer programs both magnification and distortion scales were derived.

Results

Magnification changes as a linear function between 100 mm (×1) and 10 mm (×9.55) and then as an exponential function between 10 mm and 3 mm (×40) from the object. Magnification depends on the axis of orientation of the object to the optic axis or geometrical axis of the bronchoscope. Magnification also varies across the field of view with the central magnification being 39% greater than at the periphery of the field of view at 15 mm from the object. However, in the paediatric situation the diameter of the orifices is usually less than 10 mm and thus this limits the exposure to these peripheral limits of magnification reduction. Intraclass correlations for measurements and repeatability studies between instruments are very high, r = 0.96. Distortion occurs as both barrel and geometric types but both types are heterogeneous across the field of view. Distortion of geometric type ranges up to 30% at 3 mm from the object but may be as low as 5% depending on the position of the object in relation to the optic axis.

Conclusion

We conclude that the optimal working distance range is between 40 and 10 mm from the object. However the clinician should be cognisant of both variations in magnification and distortion in clinical judgements.     

The role of intracellular Ca(2+) pools in the regulation of protoplast volume. Effect of red light on the Ca(2+) mobilization in cytoplasm of Arabidopsis cells

The changes in cytosol Ca2+ concentration associated with the shrinkage of Arabidopsis cells induced by the inhibitor of Ca(2+)-ATPase, cyclopiazonic acid and the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin were monitored using the fluorescence of Ca(2+)-sensitive probe chlortetracycline hydrochloride. It was found that these compounds elicited a substantial decrease in fluorescence intensity closely associated with Ca(2+)-release from the intracellular stores to the cytoplasm. The release of Ca2+ from the intracellular depots was accompanied by decrease of plant cell volume. Thapsigargin and 2,5'-ditert-butyl-1,4-benzohydroquinone (highly specific inhibitors of Ca(2+)-ATPase of endoplasmic reticulum) resulted in much weaker changes than cyclopiazonic acid did. It was also found with the help of the same technique that red light (lambda = 660 nm) illumination induced a similar Ca2+ release from the intracellular stores. Moreover, the amplitudes of light-induced fluorescence responses registered in mutant plants differing in the content of phytochrome A (phyAOX) and phytochrome B (phyBOX) were much higher than those registered in wild-type of Arabidopsis.     

Regulation of smooth muscles of the vascular wall in the rabbit pulmonary artery

The cholinergic, histaminergic and adrenergic features of regulation of the small muscles contractile activity in a vascular wall of a pulmonary artery in rabbits and involvement of an endothelium in these processes, were investigated. The cholinergic release phenomenon of small muscles of the rabbit pulmonary artery has a two-component character of dose dependence. The low-threshold components of Pilocarpinum relaxing effect has an endothelium-dependent nature. The important feature of histaminergic regulation of contractile activity of segments involves a direct contractile effect of histamine that is not inherent. The endothelium renders a suppressing effect on histaminergic contraction of small muscles of the rabbit pulmonary artery. A basic feature of adrenergic regulation of the pulmonary artery involves registered-beta-adrenergic contractile effects in small muscles of a vascular wall. The activation of the cAMP-dependent signal system in small muscles of a pulmonary artery is capable of rendering a contractile effect. The detected features of a regulation in the small circle can have an essential clinical-physiological value.     

Vibrational structure of absorption spectra of water in visible region

The results of the study of the temperature dependence of water absorption spectra in the visible region and in the region of vibrational overtones are discussed.     

Changes in the protein spectrum of human kidney anlagen

Extracts of metanephros were studied using two-dimensional electrophoresis in human embryos at the age of 7 to 21 week of intrauterine development. Electrophoregrams show 160 to 190 protein fractions. Fractions have been identified which corresponded to actin, albumin, alpha-chain of tropomyosin, light chains of myosin. The tropomyosin zone fractions were subject to greatest changes during development. Other zones of the embryonic kidney electrophoretogram displayed, predominantly, quantitative changes of polypeptides.     

The study of adaptation mechanisms of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yarrowia lipolytica</Emphasis> yeast to alkaline conditions by means of proteomics

Using proteomic technologies—two-dimensional electrophoresis in denaturing conditions in combination with mass spectroscopy of MALDI-TOF proteins—we demonstrated, for the first time, that the most noticeable alteration of protein composition of a Yarrowia lipolytica cell during adaptation to alkaline conditions was an increase of mitochondrial proteins relatively to proteins of cytoplasm.     

Brain cholinesterases in marine mammals

Substrate properties of brain cholinesterases were studied in ringed seal and beluga. Kinetic parameters of hydrolysis of thiocholine esters of carboxylic acids were determined. According to the substrate specificity, the enzyme from the brain of marine mammals can be assigned to acetylcholinesterases. Specific properties of the enzyme from the brain of marine mammals were demonstrated in comparison with land animals. The revealed differences in kinetic parameters of the brain enzyme activity are considered in terms of different biochemical adaptation in ringed seal and beluga.