Genetic aspects of vitamin D-deficient rickets: genetic markers of blood]

Polymorphism of the AB0 blood groups, haptoglobin Hp, vitamin-D-binding protein (Gc), transferrin (Tf), alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1-AT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (Pp) was studied in a group of children suffering from rickets (VDDR) and in a adequate control group of healthy individuals of the same sex-age composition. Considerable differences were revealed between the VDDR patients and healthy individuals in frequencies of the PIM1 and PIM2 factors on the alpha 1-AT system, r and p of the AB0 system as well as the Hp. Increase in a portion of one of the homozygotes for the Hp and for the alpha 1-AT system took place at the expense of other homozygote proportion (the latter being decreased). Heterozygotes frequencies remained intact in both compared groups. Atypical combination of phenotypes and gene frequencies was observed in a group of patients in the alpha 1-AT and AB0 systems as compared with usual distribution in European population. Higher frequencies of rare alleles of the loci under study were observed in the VDDR patients, which is partially reflected in increase in heterozygosity level in total within a cogort of patients analysed. Combination of the Hp 1-1 (Hp)--A(AB0)--M2M2 (alpha 1-AT) factors should be considered as unfavourable in rickets prognosis.     

Syringa species: molecular marking of species and cultivars

RAPD analysis was carried out with 22 accessions of the genus Syringa, including six species, one interspecific hybrid, and 15 cultivars. In total, 500 polymorphic fragments were detected; species-specific and cultivar-specific markers were identified. For the first time, genetic polymorphism and genome similarity coefficients were estimated and phylogenetic relationships were established for the genus Syringa.     

Regularities of changes in microcirculatory flow through different parts of the heart in patients with acquired valvular disease before and after surgery

Microcirculation in the subepicardium was studied in 30 patients with aortic acquired valvular disease (AVD) and 20 with mitral AVD with the use of an ALF-21 laser Doppler blood flowmeter (Transonic Systems). In total, 845 measurements were made. Subepimyocardial flow (EMF) was measured on the anterior surface of the right and left atria and on the anterior, posterior, and diaphragmatic surfaces of the left and right ventricles of the heart before and after surgery. A decrease in the hyperfunctioning of the chambers of the heart led to a redistribution of myocardial flow. Differences (EMF) between EMF values observed before and after treatment were analyzed, and the coefficients for the linear equation EMF = a + kEMF_bs were computed by the least-squares method. It was found that blood flow decreased when it was enhanced before treatment and increased when it was weak initially. Thus, blood flow was balanced, approaching a value that did not change after treatment, and heterogeneity of coronary flow in the microcirculatory link decreased. Control mechanisms were assumed to change blood flow so that it acquires stability, which is needed to preserve and maintain normal energy parameters of the functioning myocardium.Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2005, pp. 40–48.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Okuneva, Vlasov, Karaskov, Nazarov, Bulatetskaya, Voronova, Dukhnov, Zhelezchikov, Zheleznev.     

Molecular genetic marker-based approaches to the verification of lilac Syringa vulgaris L. in vitro germplasm collections

RAPD analysis was used to verify the varieties in an in vitro germplasm collection of lilac Syringa vulgaris L. RAPD patterns were obtained with 16 decanucleotide primers for 46 accessions (microclones and corresponding reference varieties). The RAPD patterns of a microclone and the corresponding reference variety often differed in composition; consequently, it was infeasible to verify the accessions by direct comparison of the RAPD patterns. Hence, evaluation of the relative genetic distances between accessions (microclones) and known varieties was proposed as a method to verify lilac in vitro germplasm collections.     

Ecological description of the sodium chloride mineral springs in the Kirenga River basin and the upper reaches of the Lena River: 1. General characteristics of the springs and their hydrofauna

The aquatic microecosystems and their environment have been studied in 12 mineral springs located in the Cis-Baikal Depression and in the basin of the upper reaches of the Lena River (Eastern Siberia). The hydrochemical characteristics of the springs, originating from the Cambrian salt deposits, are given. Their total mineralization varies from 1.1 to 123.0 g/L and the water is sodium chloride. The soils formed under the influence of the mineral waters (“para-soils”) are described. The data on the composition and quantitative abundance of aquatic fauna are presented. Six types of macroinvertebrate communities are described. The communities where Turbellaria, Gastropoda, and Psychodidae dominate are recorded in weakly mineralized waters (<3 g/L). The communities where Chironomidae dominate are found in waters characterized both by low and high (up to 28 g/L) salinity. In springs with a water salinity of 2.5–11 g/L, communities characterized by the dominance and high biomass of amphipods Gammarus lacustris Sars. are formed. A unique type of community where Ephydridae larvae dominate (>97% of the biomass) is described for the concentrated brines in Ust’-Kutskii spring. Halophilic species of crustaceans are recorded in the meiofauna. The presence of Foraminifera (marine organisms) in the two studied springs attracts specific interest.     

Physiological Evaluation of the Results of Myocardial Revascularization in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease

Intraoperative assessment of the myocardial blood flow was performed in different heart areas in 94 patients with ischemic heart disease prior to and after myocardial revascularization. An ALF-21 laser–Doppler flowmeter (Transonic Systems Inc.) was used to measure the myocardial blood flow near the anterior and posterior surfaces of the left ventricle (LV_asand LV_ps, respectively) and the anterior surface of the right ventricle (RV_as). According to the results of revascularization, the patients were divided into four groups: group I with increased myocardial blood flow in all areas tested, group II and group III with blood flow redistributed along LV and RV, and group IV with moderately decreased myocardial blood flow in all test areas. All groups showed a postoperative decrease in blood flow differences between different myocardium areas and the leveling of blood flow in the whole myocardium. The efficiency of revascularization depended on a number of factors, including the initial level of myocardial blood flow, completeness of revascularization of ischemic areas, the number and quality of bypass grafts, and the patients' age. The most pronounced positive results were observed in patients under the age of 60 years.