Chronic theatment with an endothelin-converting enzyme inhibitor reduces the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in rat

The aim of this study was to investigate how blocking functional endothelin-converting enzyme activity may offer a new approach to inhibition of changes in pulmonary vessels reactivity due to development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in rats. This data shows that treatment with endothelin-converting enzyme blocker PP36 significantly reduced pathological changes due to hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. One of the reasons may be the increased production and role of nitric oxide in pulmonary artery tone.     

Spatial distribution of red-backed voles of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myodes</Emphasis> in the Khanka Plain,Primorskii Krai

The authors present new data on spatial-temporal distribution of the northern red-backed vole (Myodes rutilus Pallas) and the large-toothed redback vole (M. rufocanus Sundervall) for the main habitat types in the Khanka Plain, Primorskii Krai. Data on seasonal and long-term abundance for 2003-2005 are reported. The study was stimulated by contradictory data on the distribution of the Myodes voles in the Khanka Plain.     

The strategy of “Useful Sun” improves physical endurance and adaptation of cardiac morphology

The action of solar light transformed by special screens has been studied on CD-1 male mice. In the active control group, mice were irradiated through screens absorbing the UV-component. In the experimental group, screens transforming the UV-component into the orange-red light were used. In the active control, changes in the swimming activity, as compared to the same parameter before irradiation, were manifested much less than in animals of the experimental group. A morphological analysis showed changes in the structure of all cardiomyocyte organelles studied: the relative area of mitochondria in the experimental mice increased by more than 20% compared to intact animals (p < 0.05). A significant increase in the area of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, by 23.4% (p < 0.05), and in the volume of the myofibrillar apparatus, by 19.4% (p < 0.05), was detected. The results of our experiment show that the irradiation with using an additional orangered component improves the physical endurance 1.5 times and initiates morphogenetic processes in cardiac muscle cells.     

Enhanced cellular binding of concatemeric oligonucleotide complexes

Interaction of oligonucleotides condensed into long concatemeric complexes with cancer cells was investigated. Pairs of 24- and 25-mer oligodeoxyribonucleotides were designed so that they could hybridize and form concatemeric structures. Pre-assembling of the oligonucleotides into concatemers considerably enhanced their ability to bind to human embryo kidney 293 cells and neuroblastoma IMR-32 cells as compared to free oligonucleotides. Efficiency of concatemers binding to the cells is improved with increase of the length and concentration of concatemeric complexes. The obtained results suggest incorporation of pharmacologically active oligonucleotides into concatemeric complexes as an approach to improvement of their cellular interaction.