Antibiotic therapy of cystic fibrosis in children]

It is postulated that P. aeruginosa in monoculture or in association with Staphylococcus aureus keeps its leading position in chronic bacterial inflammatory broncho-pulmonary processes in children with cystic fibrosis. Antibiotic resistant strains of Burkholderia cepacia, Stenotrophomonas maltophila, Alcaligenes xylosoxidans were revealed (7.1% of the strains). P. aeruginosa strains were susceptible to aminoglycosides, ciprofloxacin, and polymixin B. Susceptibility of smooth and mucoid forms of P. aeruginosa to ceftazidime stayed at the level of 49.6-57.1%. Such microbial associations as P. aeruginosa sm. + S. aureus, P. aeruginosa sm. + P. aeruginosa muc. + S. aureus were mainly susceptible to ciprofloxacin, aminoglycosides and resistant to ceftasidime. Meropenem, cefepim and ciprofloxacin are highly effective antibiotics for the treatment of broncho-pulmonary processes exacerbations at children with chronic P. aeruginosa cystic fibrosis. Intravenous use of antibiotics out of hospital for the treatment of the children with cystic fibrosis is clinically effective, and is economically and psychologically reasonable. It should be used more widely in medical practice.     

Ouabain‐induced changes in MAP kinase phosphorylation in primary culture of rat cerebellar cells

Cardiotonic steroid (CTS) ouabain is a well‐established inhibitor of Na,K‐ATPase capable of inducing signalling processes including changes in the activity of the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) in various cell types. With increasing evidence of endogenous CTS in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, it is of particular interest to study ouabain‐induced signalling in neurons, especially the activation of MAPK, because they are the key kinases activated in response to extracellular signals and regulating cell survival, proliferation and apoptosis. In this study we investigated the effect of ouabain on the level of phosphorylation of three MAPK (ERK1/2, JNK and p38) and on cell survival in the primary culture of rat cerebellar cells. Using Western blotting we described the time course and concentration dependence of phosphorylation for ERK1/2, JNK and p38 in response to ouabain. We discovered that ouabain at a concentration of 1 μM does not cause cell death in cultured neurons while it changes the phosphorylation level of the three MAPK: ERK1/2 is phosphorylated transiently, p38 shows sustained phosphorylation, and JNK is dephosphorylated after a long‐term incubation. We showed that ERK1/2 phosphorylation increase does not depend on ouabain‐induced calcium increase and p38 activation. Changes in p38 phosphorylation, which is independent from ERK1/2 activation, are calcium dependent. Changes in JNK phosphorylation are calcium dependent and also depend on ERK1/2 and p38 activation. Ten‐micromolar ouabain leads to cell death, and we conclude that different effects of 1‐μM and 10‐μM ouabain depend on different ERK1/2 and p38 phosphorylation profiles. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Histology and histochemistry of the seal ovaries and the age-related changes in the ovaries of the Greenland seal]

Histological and histochemical methods were used to study the ovaries of Greenland seal (Pagophoca groenlandica) from birth-time up to 30 years of age and mature females of Phoca vitulina and Erignathus barbatus. The ovary of the new-born Greenland seal has fetal medullary substance which is a provisory endocrinous gland producing not only sex hormones but also corticosteron. In other species of seals the intestinal cells of the medullary substance are the equivalent of this gland. Within 3-4 weeks after birth the reduction of the fetal medullary substance is completed, it is substituted by the connective tissue and the ovary acquires its typical structure. The rest of the fetal medullary substance is in the depth of the cortex and near the infundibulum of the ovary as lipofuscincontaining cells. When the maturation period approaches, the process of the follicle atresia regularly changes: the epithelium dies quicker, and the multiplication of intestinal cells increases. The ovaries of seals are rich in interstitial cells. Their amount cyclically changes. The cells producing steroid hormones always well hydrolize AS naphthyl-phosphates, the reaction with glycerophosphate is more variable. The connective tissue is poor in acid mucopolysaccharides, its amorphous substance in the ovary cortex is rich in protein. Senile changes of the ovary are noticed in the seal beginning from 20 years of age.     

Genetic structure of an isolated native population group of northern Sibiria, the Nganasani (Tavgi) of the Taimyr. II. An analysis of intrapopulation variability

Chi-square contingency table analysis of phenotypic (genotypic) and gene frequencies of erythrocyte and blood serum groups and enzymes in a group of reindeer hunter and fishermen revealed heterogeneity within the population studied. Four out of twelve loci which have been compared were found to be involved in the process of differentiation into two local subgroups (subpopulations). No statistical differences have been observed between samples arbitrarily representing three generations. The data obtained support the hypothesis that the whole population still preserves the state of the stability. Traditional migration from adjacent populations close to nganasans by language and culture has made an important contribution into heterogeneity found in nganasans.     

Isolation of split and whole-virion tick-borne encephalitis vaccines in an experiment and the characteristics of their immunogenic and antigenic properties

The split preparation, obtained by the treatment of purified and concentrated tick-borne encephalitis virus with 0.5% Tween-80 and ether and inactivated with formalin at a minimal concentration of 1:10,000, did not contain the active virus. After the removal of the detergent, the preparation retained its antigenic and immunogenic properties.     

Anabolic and catabolic responses of human articular chondrocytes to varying oxygen percentages

Introduction  

Oxygen is a critical parameter proposed to modulate the functions of chondrocytes ex-vivo as well as in damaged joints. This article investigates the effect of low (more physiological) oxygen percentage on the biosynthetic and catabolic activity of human articular chondrocytes (HAC) at different phases of in vitro culture.     

Genetic study of a new color of the beet Beta vulgaris L

A new genetic character of the beet Beta vulgaris L., named stem color, was described and studied genetically. This character was shown to be dominant trait and monogenically inherited. The first-year beet plants with the genotype Stc/_have red leafstalks, weakly colored central rib, and colored storage root; however, the root itself is not colored. The second-year plants have a red-colored low third of the floral shoot. The plants with the genotype stc/stc are uncolored. The Stc gene was localized to the first linkage group at a distance of 17.5 +/- 2.1 crossing over units from the gene B (Bolting), which controls the annual-perennial habit of beet.