Neuroendocrine interactions in thyroid pathology

Neuroendocrine interactions in thyroid pathology were studied by means of recording and analysis of the constant potential level (CPL) of the brain. The topography of changes in cerebral metabolism upon changes in the thyroid status was determined. A twofold CPL decrease in the central and left temporal areas was shown in hypothyroidism as compared with euthyroidism; in hyperthyroidism, there was a threefold CPL increase in the occipital area and a twofold CPL increase in the frontal and temporal areas as compared to euthyroidism. These variations were associated with corresponding changes in the metabolism of the brain’s energy. The constant potential value averaged over all derivations was approximated by the linear dependence on the logarithms of concentrations of the thyrotropic hormone (TTH), r = ?0.70, (p < 0, 001), n = 82. Drawing the dependences of the CPL value in derivation sites on the TTH concentration on a semilogarithmic scale, yielded approximation equations with negative correlation coefficients of ?0.53 to ?0.7. The method allows for the monitoring of the state of patients and assessment of the efficiency of treatment for thyroid pathology by the change in the CPL in different regions of the brain.     

Spatial structure of epiphytic yeast communities on fruits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorbus aucuparia</Emphasis> L.

The subject of this research is epiphytic yeast communities formed on the surface of Sorbus aucuparia. The object is to make quantitative assessment of the yeast communities’ differentiation of the same but distant substratum. Results of the nested ANOVA demonstrated that with increase in distances, there are increases in the variation of total number and relative abundance of the dominant yeast communities. The average similarity between groups of single fruits (Sørensen’s f Similarity Coefficient) regularly decreased with distance. The results demonstrate that the number and structure of separate yeast groups depend not only on ecological factors but also on proximity to other communities. Such aggregation in the distribution of the microorganisms’ species caused by migration and colonial resettlement should be taken into account when analyzing their diversity in natural habitats.     

Characteristics of the brain system activity and vegetative function formation in children under conditions of the European north (a problem study)

Results of complex medical-physiological research performed during 10 scientific expeditions in Arkhangelsk region in 2003-2005 are presented. Influence of climatic-geographic, biogeochemical and social conditions of North-West region of Russia on sexual maturation, formation of the brain structural-functional organization, vegetative functions, immunological and biochemical status of schoolchildren was studied with the aid of modern neurophysiologic (computer electroencephalography, computer rheoencephalography, computed electric dipole origin tomography, etc.), psychophysiological and psychometric methods (evaluation of cognitive and mnestic functions, Vechsler 1Q estimation), biochemical assessment of monoamine oxidase and butyrylcholinesterase activity, physical-chemical analysis of macro- and microelements in the organism.     

Feeding of the stone sculpin Paracottus knerii (Cottidae) in the littoral of southern Baikal

The food spectrum and seasonal dynamics of feeding of the stone sculpin Paracottus knerii in the littoral of southern Baikal is investigated. Altogether, 29 species of invertebrates are recorded. All year round, the bulk of food, similarly to other areas of the lake, consisted of amphipods; other groups of zoobenthos were represented insignificantly. The significance of particular amphipod species in the food of fish depended on their ecological and morphofunctional traits. The seasonal changes in the species composition and the ratio of food items in the food depended on life cycles of fish and on the migrations of zoobenthic organisms.     

Engineering Aspects of the Electromagnetic System of the TRT Tokamak

Plasma Physics Reports - The engineering and technical aspects of the creation of the electromagnetic system (EMS) developed using high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs) for the TRT project...     

Stability of recombinant plasmids in transgenic microorganism cells under various environmental conditions]

The copy number of R plasmids weakly depends on the selective pressure of the respective antibiotic but does depend on the physiology of the host species and the type of plasmids and cloned genes, whose expression leads to a further load on the biosynthetic apparatus of cells. The last factor is critical in the maintenance of recombinant plasmids in transgenic microorganisms.     

Geographical and seasonal distribution of multiple antibiotic resistance of heterotrophic bacteria of Lake Shira

From 1996 to 1999 heterotrophic bacteria of the brackish-water Lake Shira (Republic of Khakasia, Russia) were studied to understand the seasonal dynamics of their antibiotic resistance. During the winter, these bacteria were represented primarily by forms that could not be cultured and were psychrotolerant. In the summer period, heterotrophic, mesophilic bacteria increased in number. The percentages of isolates with multiple, antibiotic resistance isolated from the lake region near the resort area of the lake were 2–3 times higher than those from the central part of the lake. A decline in the bacterial numbers with multiple antibiotic resistance was observed during the cold period (February–March). Various mechanisms of multiple, antibiotic resistance of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from Shira lake are discussed.     

Immunity to diphtheria and tetanus in some of the administrative territories of the RSFSR

The article deals with the state of immunity to diphtheria and tetanus among the adult population in some administrative regions of the RSFSR. Of the children and adults covered by the survey, 91.3-96.7% were found to have protective antibody titers against diphtheria and 98.7-100%, against tetanus. An essential drop in the level of immunity to diphtheria in persons over 18 years of age was revealed: 71.7% of them were nonimmune, which correlated with the high morbidity rate among these persons. At the same time the percentage of adults nonimmune to tetanus was considerably lower than that of adults nonimmune to diphtheria, reaching only 27.1%. The state of immunity to tetanus in adults was found to depend on the seasons.     

Effects of Nitriles and Amides on the Growth and Nitrile Hydratase Activity of the Rhodococcus sp. Strain gt1

Effects of some nitriles and amides, as well as glucose and ammonium, on the growth and the nitrile hydratase (EC 4.2.1.84) activity of the Rhodococcus sp. strain gt1 isolated from soil were studied. The activity of nitrile hydratase mainly depended on the carbon and nitrogen supply to cells. The activity of nitrile hydratase was high in the presence of glucose and ammonium at medium concentrations and decreased at concentrations of glucose of more than 0.3%. Saturated unsubstituted aliphatic nitriles and amides were found to be a good source of nitrogen and carbon. However, the presence of nitriles and amides in the medium was not absolutely necessary for the expression of the activity of nitrile hydratase of the Rhodococcus sp. strain gt1.