Experimental evidence of the defense role of the exocyst in the metacestode of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microsomacanthus lari</Emphasis> Belogurov et Kulikov,in Spasskaja, 1966 (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae)

The interaction of intermediate host (Eogammarus tiuschovi) cells with the cysticercoid of Microsomacanthus lari of the cyclocercus type was examined for the case of damage of the noncellular exocyst surrounding it. Massive penetration of the host cells, supposedly haemocytes characterized by intensive secretion, into the exocyst was observed even during the first several minutes of the experiment. Large accumulations of the product of secretion (fibrous material) were concentrated in the distal areas of the endocyst glycocalix and the microvillar layer of the cysticercoid tail appendage. The results provide evidence for the defensive role of the exocyst of M. lari in the cellular response of an intermediate host organism to invasion.     

Regulatory Effect of Magnesium Ions on Interaction of Prolactin and Somatotropin with Receptors on Granulosum Cells of the Cow Bos taurus

A comparative study of effects of Mg²⁺ ions on specific and competitive binding of the bovine somatotropic hormone (STH) and bovine prolactin (PL) with cells of cow granulosum is carried out. It is found that Mg²⁺ increases the level of specific binding of ¹²⁵I-PL with the cells at concentrations from 1 to 70 mM and decreases the level of specific binding of ¹²⁵I-STH at a concentration of 70 mM. Analysis of the data by Scatchard's method has shown that the decrease of the level of specific binding of ¹²⁵I-PL in the absence of MgCl₂ and ¹²⁵I-STH at a MgCl₂ concentration of 70 mM is caused mainly by a decrease of the number of active binding sites on the cells. Oppositely directed effects of the studied divalent cations on the capability of unlabelled STH (25 µg/ml) and PL (25 µg/ml) for cross-suppression of specific binding of ¹²⁵I-PL and ¹²⁵I-STH, respectively, with the granulosum cells have been revealed. At the same time, with increase of Mg²⁺ ion concentration, the degree of replacement of ¹²⁵I-STH and ¹²⁵I-PL with unlabelled STH and PL, respectively, did not change. The obtained results are considered in connection with electrostatic model of participation of the divalent cations in interaction of PL and STH with receptors on cells.     

Measuring the distribution of plantar pressures during walking in patients with multiple sclerosis to evaluate treatment efficiency

The relationship between the parameters of the distribution of plantar pressure and the state of a patient with multiple sclerosis has been studied with repeated measurements, before and after (or during) treatment. The possibility of using this method for study of walking function impairment in a chronic demyelinating process is considered.     

Individual variability of the projection line of the common carotid artery

The investigation has been performed on 87 corpses of persons of both sex, that died after 60 years of age from the pathology not connected with any diseases in the neck organs. Individual variability in the common carotid artery projection line has been revealed; it conforms, to a certain extent, with the value of the neck index. When the neck is short and thick, the artery position corresponds to the line that runs across the following points: the superior--0.5 cm forward from the mandibular angle, the inferior--0.5 cm medially from the sternoclavicular joint. When the neck index is within the limits 1.71-1.88, it is expedient to draw the classical projection line. When the neck index is within the limits 1.57-1.69, it is possible to determine the projection zone as an elongated rectangle. At the bottom of every side the border of this zone is a straight line drawn between the sternoclavicular joint and the point situating 0.6 cm laterally from the joint, and at the top--the line connecting the top of the mastoid process with the point 1.0 cm behind the mandibular angle.     

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis by blastocentesis: Problems and perspectives

The discovery of cell-free DNA in blastocoele fluid opens new perspectives for the development of preimplantation genetic diagnosis of human chromosomal and genetic diseases. In this review we analyzed the results of the first studies, which made it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the application of a new source of biological material and showed a high degree of agreement between the results of molecular karyotyping with cell-free DNA and blastocyst cells. The results suggest the possibility of developing a noninvasive method of preimplantation genetic diagnosis, which may open a new round of progress in the field of assisted reproductive technologies and the genetics of early stages of human ontogenesis.