The effect of negative air ions on the respiratory organs and blood

The effect of ionized air containing negatively charged ions at a concentration of 320000–350000 ions/cm³ inhaled by rats was studied. It was demonstrated that the inhalation of negative air ions for 60 min activated the secretion of goblet cells without impairing the tracheal mucosa and changing the protein profile of bronchoalveolar lavage. It was also found that the level of spontaneous production of reactive oxygen species by unfractionated blood cells increased after the action of negative air ions in both males and females. However, the intensity of their generation induced by opsonized zymosan increased only in females. Different sensitivities of the female and male blood antioxidant enzymes—superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase—to negative air ions were observed. These results allow the effect of negative air ions on the respiratory organs and blood to be interpreted as priming and weak activation via a direct action on the mucosa of primary target respiratory organs and then on the blood.     

The rest-dependent depression of action potential duration in rabbit myocardium and the possible role of the transient outward current. A pharmacological analysis

A pharmacological approach has been used to investigate the mechanism of the action potential depression after a 1 min rest in rabbit myocardium. This paradoxical depression was not prevented by potentiators of the slow inward current (isoproterenol and 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate). This depression was completely removed by a specific blocker of the transient outward current, 4-aminopyridine. It appears reasonable to assume that rabbit ventricular fibers have a transient outward current and the activation of this current coupled to the masking of the slow inward current probably accounts for the depression of the rested action potential plateau phase.     

Effect of Constitutive Expression of the rapA1 Gene on Formation of Bacterial Biofilms and Growth-Stimulating Activity of Rhizobia

Microbiology - In order to investigate the effect of the RapA1 protein on growth-stimulating activity, biofilm formation, and root colonization by rhizobia, strains Rhizobium leguminosarum...     

Antioxidant and Antiradical Properties of Probiotic Strains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum

The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant potential of the cell-free extracts (CFE) of two probiotic bacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum IMV B-7142 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum IMV B-7143 and their hepatoprotective effects. These strains are the main components of the veterinary probiotic preparation endosporyn. The CFE of probiotic bacteria were able to stabilize the 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical to its neutral form at their cultivation during 24–48 h. But this index was more pronounced for the IMV B-7142 strain and amounted to 44.4–51.2%. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of the CFE of probiotic bacteria increased more than 70–80% regardless of the cultivation period (24–48 h). The antioxidant potential of probiotic strains is associated with the synthesis of the multiple biologically active molecules. The phenolic and benzoic acids-antioxidants (gallic, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic, caffeic, syringic, p-coumaric, trans-ferulic, and trans-cinnamic acids) were identified among metabolites of B. amyloliquefaciens ssp. plantarum strains. The CFE of probiotic strains were able to protect of rat hepatocytes from the toxic effects of the carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Post-treatment of stress-induced rat hepatocytes by CFE of the IMV B-7042 was accompanied by an increase of the catalase activity of cells by 485.2 mM/min × mg of protein, compared to stress-damaged sample. In doing so, the content of the main markers of oxidative stress: lipid hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde decreased significantly. The results suggested that CFE of both probiotic strains have potent antioxidant properties and effectively protect of stress-damaged rat hepatocytes.

     

Genetic and Molecular Characterization of New Natural Haplotype t wMP1 Found in House Mouse Mus domesticus R. from Peru

A new natural haplotype, t ^wMP1, found in a population of house mouse Mus domesticus from Peru, was subjected to genetic and molecular analyses. Experiments were performed to study the complementation of the new haplotype, fertility of t ^wMP1/t ^x heterozygotes, and transmission ratio distortion (TRD) of the t-carrying chromosome in the progeny of heterozygous males. Molecular analysis included blot hybridization with t-specific probes Tu48, Tu66, and Tu119. The results were collated with the structure and properties of the t complex, and the new haplotype was identified as a complete lethal one.