Fatty acid composition of the lipids of yeasts differing in radioresistance

The composition of membrane fatty lipid acids and the content of polyunsaturation of fatty acids have been shown not to be the leading factors in the formation of radioresistance cells.     

Dynamics of the types of carrier state and their relationship to the phage group characteristics of pathogenic staphylococci]

A total of 305 persons belonging to the medical staff of a hospital surgery unit were subjected to multiple examinations during period of up to 8 years. 2,354 staphylococcal strains isolated from these subjects were studied, and the following types of carrier state were determined: constant (23.6 +/- 2.43%), intermittent (57.4 +/- 2.83%), resident (7.9 +/- 1.54%), and the stable absence of carrier state (11.1 +/- 1.60%). An increase in the number of examinations and the terms of observation resulted in a regular increase in the number of intermittent carriers at the expense of constant carriers and persons not identified as carriers. Against this background resident carriers constituted a relatively more stable group. Carrier states of the resident type were connected with staphyloccci belonging to various phage groups without pronounced differences in the frequency with which any of the phage groups occurred.     

Proportion of the GSTM 10/0 genotype in some Slavic populations and its correlation with cystic fibrosis and some multifactorial diseases

A homozygous gene deletion at the glutathioneS-transferase M1 (GSTM1) locus of genomic DNA from blood spots was studied by PCR in the group of Slavic populations from the north-western and central-eastern regions of European Russia and in patients with lung cancer (LC), other tumors (OT), endometriosis (E), alcoholic cirrhosis (AC), cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic bronchitis (CB). The frequencies of the GSTMI 0/0 genotype were 38.8% and 67.5% for both population groups, respectively. The proportion of the GSTM1 gene deletion geno-type was estimated as significantly increased in LC (81%), OT (65%), E (81%), AC (77.3%), and in CB (73.6%) patients with symptoms of CB confirmed by X-ray but not in CB patients without X-ray evidence of disease (40.9%). A definite preponderance of GSTM1-0 homozygotes (51.1%) has been registered in CF patients of the pancreatic sufficient group with clear-cut pulmonological manifestations but not in those of the pancreatic insufficient group with predominantly intestinal or mixed clinical symptoms (41.2% and 37.5%, respectively). Earlier clinical manifestations and death before the age of 5 years are typical for GSTM1-deleted CF patients. These data support the notion that GSTM1 deletion should be considered as a convenient genetic marker for the early detection of groups at higher risk of many diseases caused by environmental and genetic factors, where manifestation depends on the lack of detoxification. High levels of GSTM1 0/0 genotypes in E patients favor the substantial contribution of certain environmental toxins in the pathogenesis of this widespread disease.     

Effect of metabolites on the activity of enzymes protecting the stability of the erythrocyte membrane in experimental decompression sickness]

Metabolites have been studied for their effect (sodium succinate, thiamine, riboflavin) on the pentosophosphate pathways and glutathione reductase. The possible mechanisms of its influence on the membrane stability of erythrocytes in decompression disease are discussed.