Quantification of D-dimer and soluble fibrin in blood plasma of people with ischemic heart disease and hypertension

The method of D-dimer quantification in the human blood plasma has been developed using monoclonal antibodies 111-3b and II-4d. The method has been verified on the blood plasma of the patients with ischemic heart disease with and without stenocardia and with hypertension. The results showed that at ischemic heart disease with and without stenocardia and at hypertension the quantities of D-dimer in the blood plasma were generally less than the highest normal level 500 ng/ml (64.3%, 76.2% and 95%, correspondingly). The semiquantitative measurements of soluble fibrin levels in blood plasmas of the patients with ischemic heart disease and hypertension have been performed. It has been shown that the quantity of soluble fibrin at these diseases range greatly from < 0.03 mg/ml to 0.15 mg/ml. There was no correlation between the quantities of D-dimer and soluble fibrin in blood plasmas of the patients. Electrophoresis in PAAG with SDS showed that the soluble fibrin at these diseases had the mo- lecular mass of the fibrin (ogen). Thus the soluble fibrin in blood plasmas analysed consisted mainly of fibrin desAA oligomers (may be with fibrinogen incorporation) which are not stabilized by the factor XIIIa.     

STING Millennium Suite: integrated software for extensive analyses of 3d structures of proteins and their complexes

Background  

The integration of many aspects of protein/DNA structure analysis is an important requirement for software products in general area of structural bioinformatics. In fact, there are too few software packages on the internet which can be described as successful in this respect. We might say that what is still missing is publicly available, web based software for interactive analysis of the sequence/structure/function of proteins and their complexes with DNA and ligands. Some of existing software packages do have certain level of integration and do offer analysis of several structure related parameters, however not to the extent generally demanded by a user.     

Study of peptide fractions from hemolymph of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Galleria mellonella</Emphasis>

Changes in the peptide composition of hemolymph of Galleria mellonella larvae induced by their immunization have been studied, and some new peptides have been found. The composition of fractions exhibiting antibacterial activity was investigated. Known antibacterial peptides have been found in the hemolymph of control larvae and those immunized with bacteria.     

The activation of specific immunity in male mice stimulates fertility of their breeding partners: the phenomenon of lot's daughters

In previous experimental studies on laboratory mice, it was shown that activation of specific immunity by injection with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) lessens males' sexual olfactory attractiveness for intact females. However, reduced attractiveness can decrease males' reproductive efficiency only under the conditions of free mating, which is not obligatory for natural populations. The goal of this work was to study the influence of immunoenhancement on sexual behavior and reproductive output of outbred ICR male mice. Males, either injected with saline (control group) or SRBC-treated, were kept with intact females during 5 days after injection. While the number of fertile copulations was practically equal in both groups, the potential (ovulated ova) and actual (number of embryos) fecundity was significantly higher in females having been paired off with SRBC-treated males. Main reproductive effects were registered at 3-5th day after injection, when specific antibody-forming process starts and males' scent becomes less attractive for females. On the base of previous and present data, the hypothesis is proposed that if the quality of a non-alternative mating partner is compromised by activation of specific immunity, a female tries to maximize its reproductive output (due to low chance of repeated copulation). This responsibility for the next generation is reminiscent of the Bible story about Lot and his daughters, and may help to sustain the species existence under conditions of parasitic press.     

Genome-scale metabolic reconstruction and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in silico</Emphasis> analysis of methylotrophic yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis> for strain improvement

Background  

Pichia pastoris has been recognized as an effective host for recombinant protein production. A number of studies have been reported for improving this expression system. However, its physiology and cellular metabolism still remained largely uncharacterized. Thus, it is highly desirable to establish a systems biotechnological framework, in which a comprehensive in silico model of P. pastoris can be employed together with high throughput experimental data analysis, for better understanding of the methylotrophic yeast's metabolism.     

Cytokine mediated apoptosis of granulocyte eosinophils in expressed blood eosiniphilia

Programmed cell death induced by recombinant cytokines (IL-5, IL-3 and eotaxin) of eosinophils isolated from patients with expressed blood eosinophilia (malignant diseases of the blood system, opisthorchosis) has been examined. It was demonstrated that an initially low level of spontaneous apoptosis is registered in all surveyed patients. r-IL-5, r-IL-3 and r-eotaxin treatment of eosinophils isolated from the peripheral blood of opisthorchosis patients and cultivated in vitro suppressed apoptosis. However, eosinophils isolated from patients with malignant diseases associated with expressed blood eosinophilia were insensitive to the cytokines.     

The biphasic selective effect of an antiserum to beta-endorphin on pain sensitivity in rats

In rats beta-endorphin antiserum systemic injection decreased during 1-2 days the threshold of tail-shock and latency of tail-flick tests, and during subsequent 85 days increased the threshold of tail shock, but not changed the latency of tail-flick tests. Naloxone injection blocked the increasing of thresholds, but not changed the latency of tail tests. It is suggested that antiserum evokes the first inhibition and the second selective activation of endogenous antinociceptive opioid system with affinity to electric nociception.     

Modulation of the Activity of Succinate Dehydrogenase by Acetylation with Chemicals,Drugs, and Microbial Metabolites

Biophysics - Abstract—The effects of acetylating and deacetylating compounds on the activity of succinate dehydrogenase, as well as on the membrane potential and calcium retention capacity of...     

Taxonomic Interpretation of Allopatric Mammalian Forms on the Example of Two Karyoforms of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microtus (Terricola) subterraneus</Emphasis> (Rodentia,Arvicolinae) from Eastern Europe

New European pine vole records from the Novgorod, Kaluga, Voronezh, and Belgorod oblasts were studied by sequencing of the mtDNA cytb gene (1143 bp) and by karyotyping (routine staining and G-banding techniques). The results enabled us to summarize chromosome variability of this species throughout Eastern Europe. In the sample studied, two geographically replacing chromosomal forms have been identified: northern, 2n = 54 (Novgorod and Kaluga oblasts), and southern, 2n = 52 (Voronezh and, presumably, Belgorod oblasts). Our data make the boundaries of these two karyoforms in Eastern Europe more precise and testify to intraspecific level of their taxonomic differentiation.     

The Role of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">GIPR</Emphasis> Gene in Regulation of Secretion of Hormones and Adipokines in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The relationship between the rs2302382, rs8111428 and Glu354Gln (rs1800437) polymorphisms in the GIPR (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor) gene and plasma levels of mediators involved in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism has been investigated in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) before and after test breakfast. The contribution of the polymorphic variants of rs2302382, rs8111428 in the GIPR gene contributed to T2DM genetic predisposition in Russian individuals belonging to the Slavic population. Polymorphisms rs2302382 and rs8111428 in the GIPR gene were characterized by the linkage disequilibrium. The decrease in the expression level of the GIPR gene in mesenteric adipose tissue of the small intestine in the carriers of the CC genotype rs2302382 and AA rs8111428 was associated with the increase in the plasma leptin level, whereas during its normal expression, the plasma content of insulin, and GIP (in persons with the CA genotype of the polymorphism rs2302382 and AG polymorphism rs8111428), resistin and ghrelin (in individuals with the CA genotype of the polymorphism rs2302382) increased. We propose the stimulating effect of GIP on the secretion of resistin, leptin and ghrelin, with an increase in insulin production in obese patients with T2DM.