Induced leukemias and their connection with radiation exposure

The cytogenetic study of bone marrow cells was performed in 40 patients with secondary leukemias which have arisen after application of cytostatic and/or radiotherapy for primary tumours (Hodgkin's disease, lymphomas, acute lymphoblastic leukemias, breast cancer and other solid tumours). The comparative analysis of results has shown, that the leukemias after irradiating or application of alkylating agents and irradiation, have the quite particular clinico-morphological and cytogenetic characteristics. In 70% of cases these diseases develops as smouldering leukemias with subsequent transformation in M-4, M-6, and rarely M-2 cytochemical variants. Primary cytogenetic events in 60% of researched karyotypes are the losses of long arms or whole chromosomes 5 and 7. In 20% of the researched cases normal karyotype was found, in the left 20%, the changes of a karyotype not including anomalies 5 and 7 chromosomes were detected. The obtained outcomes allow to consider the discharged complex of tags as reference for leukemias, induced by irradiating or chemical agents with similar mechanism of action (alkylating agents, benzene and its derivates). This complex of tags is typical for induced leukemias, and in a combination with definition of a level of stable aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes, can be utilised for abjection of radiation-induced leukemias from common mass of cases detected in regions, polluted by radionuclides. In this study in 60% of cases only specific for secondary leukemias chromosomal aberrations, including monosomy 5 and 7, rearrangements of 11q23 were found. On the base of the obtained data the differences in concepts of "secondary" and "induced" leukemias are considered.     

Long-lasting Changes of Albino Rats Behavior and Brain Bioamines Content After Immunization Against Cholecystokinin-3 and -4

Active immunization against cholecystokinin fragments 31–33 (CCK-3) and 30–33 (CCK-4) results in long-lasting changes of albino rats’ behavior. CCK-3 and CCK-4 covalently linked to antigen-carrier evokes the suppression of the anxiety, decreases some signs of depression-like behavior and changes the level of bioamines and their catabolites in striatum at least for two months after immunization. These data can provide a perspective approach to the problem of long term correction of behavior.     

Comparison of tetrachromic VOF stain to other histochemical staining techniques for characterizing stromal soft and hard tissue components

The components of hard tissues including dentin, enamel, cementum, bone and other calcified deposits, and mature and immature collagen pose problems for identification in routine hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained sections. Use of combinations of stains can demonstrate the components of hard tissues and soft tissues distinctly. We assessed the efficacy of the Verde Luz-orange G-acid fuchsin (VOF) stain for differentiating hard and soft connective tissues and compared results with other histochemical staining techniques. Eighty tissue sections comprising developing tooth (30), ossifying fibroma (30) and miscellaneous pathologies (20) expected to contain varying types of calcified tissues were stained with H & E, VOF, and Masson's trichrome (MT). In developing tooth, VOF demonstrated better differentiation of hard tissues, while it was comparable to MT for ossifying fibroma and miscellaneous pathologies. The intensity of staining was greater with VOF than with the other stains studied. VOF stains hard tissue components distinctly and gives good contrast with the surrounding connective tissue. VOF is comparable to MT, but has added advantages including single step staining, rapid and easy procedures, and it distinguishes the maturity of the tissues.     

Analysis of storage proteins (prolamines, puroindolines and Waxy) in common wheat lines Triticum aestivum L. × (Triticum timopheevii Zhuk. × Triticum tauschii) with complex resistance to fungal infections

Storage proteins (prolamines, puroindolines, and Waxy) were studied in common wheat introgression lines obtained with the use of the Saratovskaya 29 (S29) cultivar line and synthetic hexaploid wheat (Triticum timopheevii Zhuk. × T. tauschii) (Sintetik, Sin.) displaying complex resistance to fungal infections. Comparative analysis of storage proteins in the introgression lines of common wheat Triticum aestivum L. and in the parental forms revealed the only line (BC5) having a substitution at the Gli-B2 locus from Sintetik. Hybrid lines subjected to nine backcrosses with the recurrent parental form S29 and selections for resistance to pathogens can be considered as nearly isogenic for the selected trait and retaining the allelic composition of (1) prolamines responsible for the bread-making qualitiy, (2) puroindolines associated with grain texture, and (3) Waxy proteins responsible for nutritive qualities. These lines are valuable as donors of immunity in breeding programs without the loss of the quality of flour and grain as compared to the S29 line and are also important in searching for genes determining resistance to leaf and stem rust and to powdery mildew. The amphiploid has a number of characters (silent Glu-A1 locus and Ha genotype) that can negatively affect the quality of flour and grain and thus should be taken into account when choosing this donor.     

Interactions of neural glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans with protein ligands: assessment of selectivity, heterogeneity and the participation of core proteins in binding

The method of affinity coelectrophoresis was used to study the binding of nine representative glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-binding proteins, all thought to play roles in nervous system development, to GAGs and proteoglycans isolated from developing rat brain. Binding to heparin and non-neural heparan and chondroitin sulfates was also measured. All nine proteins-laminin-1, fibronectin, thrombospondin-1, NCAM, L1, protease nexin-1, urokinase plasminogen activator, thrombin, and fibroblast growth factor-2-bound brain heparan sulfate less strongly than heparin, but the degree of difference in affinity varied considerably. Protease nexin-1 bound brain heparan sulfate only 1.8- fold less tightly than heparin (Kdvalues of 35 vs. 20 nM, respectively), whereas NCAM and L1 bound heparin well (Kd approximately 140 nM) but failed to bind detectably to brain heparan sulfate (Kd>3 microM). Four proteins bound brain chondroitin sulfate, with affinities equal to or a few fold stronger than the same proteins displayed toward cartilage chondroitin sulfate. Overall, the highest affinities were observed with intact heparan sulfate proteoglycans: laminin-1's affinities for the proteoglycans cerebroglycan (glypican-2), glypican-1 and syndecan-3 were 300- to 1800-fold stronger than its affinity for brain heparan sulfate. In contrast, the affinities of fibroblast growth factor-2 for cerebroglycan and for brain heparan sulfate were similar. Interestingly, partial proteolysis of cerebroglycan resulted in a >400- fold loss of laminin affinity. These data support the views that (1) GAG-binding proteins can be differentially sensitive to variations in GAG structure, and (2) core proteins can have dramatic, ligand-specific influences on protein-proteoglycan interactions.      

Geographic Variation of Color in the Synanthropic Blue Rock Pigeon

Variation in plumage color was studied in 211 populations of the blue rock pigeon (Columbia livia) from various geographic zones. The frequency distribution of three common and three rare phenotypes and an interspecific hybridization zone ofC. liviaand C. rupestriswere described. Different conditions of the origin of the urban populations of blue rock pigeon and consequent high genetic heterogeneity of this species were revealed. The key aspect of color polymorphism in blue rock pigeon is synanthropization, i.e., anthropogenic evolution.     

Dynamics of axonal degeneration in the neuronally isolated cerebral cortex]

The brains of 11 cats were studied after unilateral isolation of the cortex after M. M. Khananashvily (1961) by means of resection of the projection fibres connecting the cortex with subcortical formations. The character and peculiarities of axonal degeneration in the large hemisphere cortex, were investigated after Nauta and Fink--Heimer. It was found that distribution of degenerating terminals in every layer depended on the time when the material was taken for investigation. Maximal concentration of the degenerating fibres was observed 3--5--10 days after the operation, then a gradual decrease in density of degeneration in every cortical layer was observed. By the 9th month after the operation, the processes of axonal degeneration completely came to their end. The problem of retrograde and anterograde nature of the axonal degeneration in the cortex of the large hemispheres was discussed in the article and it was demonstrated that in the field 4 of the neuronally isolated cortex it is of mixed nature.