Work with public in foci of infection during outbreaks of pneumonia caused by Legionella in town Verkhnyaya Pyshma in July-August 2007

One of the key elements in epidemiologic control for infectious diseases is timely and active identification of contacts, which results in in-time hospitalization of patients that are needed it and allows to conduct educational work with the public. Measures for outpatient medical and preventive help in Legionella infection which were developed on the experience of termination of outbreak of pneumonia caused by Legionella in town Verkhnyaya Pyshma in July-August, 2007 are presented.     

Diagnosing Aging: I. Problem of Reliability of Linear Regression Models of Biological Age

The problem of the reliability of linear regression models of biological age assessment was studied using an experimental population of patients of a geroprophylactic center. The main factors of the model quality (interpopulation difference, method of approximation of biological age, and methods of approximation of statistical significance of parameters of biological age models) were tested. New equations were derived for calculating biological age. All parameters of these equations meet the requirements of significance. It was shown that if the nonlinear character of age dynamics of biological markers of aging and the statistical significance of model parameter estimates are taken into account, the model of biological age is substantially simplified and its reliability increases.     

Association of the HindIII Polymorphism of the Lipoprotein Lipase Gene with Myocardial Infarction and the Life Span in Elderly Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Allele and genotype frequencies of the HindIII polymorphism of the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene were studied in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and stable angina of effort (SAE), including long-lived people (over 90). The polymorphism proved to be associated with MI and with the life span, genotype H+/H+ being predisposing to MI and allele H– being protective. The allele and genotype frequencies of long-lived people differed significantly from the Hardy–Weinberg proportions and from those of SAE patients aged up to 90. An excess of heterozygotes in this group suggests a selective pressure which eliminates homozygotes. Possibly, heterozygotes H+/H– have an adaptive advantage, which provides for their longevity.     

The comparative analysis of gene and structural somatic mutations in inhabitants of Orel district areas contaminated with radionuclides as a result of Chernobyl accident

The results of comparative analysis of gene and structural mutations found in peripheral blood lymphocytes of inhabitants of Orel district areas contaminated with radionuclides as a result of Chernobyl accident are presented. The average level of 137Cs contamination in those areas ranged about 22-113 kBq/m2. In the study group was found the enhanced frequency of somatic cells with gene and structural mutations compared with laboratory control level by synchronous applying a T-cell receptor (TCR) loci mutation assay and cytogenetic analysis of unstable aberrations. The case-control comparison was carried out using the measured mutation frequencies and cases of various thyroid gland sickness recognized by ultrasonic examination. The cytogenetic assay did not show the statistical difference between healthy group and subjects with thyroid gland sickness. The average frequency of TCR loci mutation cells in the subjects with thyroid gland sickness was found to be statistically higher comparing with healthy persons. This finding was true for each study region and for Orel district in total. The subgroup of subject exposed in utero in 1986, soon after accident was analyzed. Both cytogenetic and TCR loci mutation assays shown enhancement of average mutation frequency in somatic cells in the subjects of this subgroup with thyroid gland sickness comparing with healthy persons.     

Biofilm formation by different strains of Salmonella typhimurium in artificial systems

The ability of 14 different strains of Salmonella typhimurium to biofilm formation depending on genotype and culture conditions was investigated in artificial systems: in 96-well plastic microtitre plates, plastic and glass tubes, plastic Petri dishes and on microscope glasses. Quantitative biofilm growth was monitored by using an assay based on crystal violet staining, while planctonic growth in the same cultures was monitored by absorbance in iEMS Reader MF, and qualitatively--by digital photo and visually. Optimal rate between growth and biofilm indications for all strains was determined at initial cell concentration 10(6-7) KOE/ml and culture incubation at t degrees 28 degrees C. The nutrient content of the medium significantly influenced the quantity of produced biofilm. The nutrient broth LB without NaCl was more effective in promoting biofilm formation, than LB itself. The least quantity of biofilm was formed in water. The genotype of the strains also critically influenced the quantity of produced biofilm. Nonmotile mutants cells had reduced ability to form biofilm. RpoS mutant cells produced significantly less biofilm as compared with cells of isogenic parent strains. The chemical content of plastic and glass also influenced biofilm formation.     

Proteomic analysis of two isogenic Vibrio cholerae of the classical biovar with the alternative expression of virulence genes

At carrying out the proteomic analysis of two isogenic Vibrio cholerae Dakka35 of the classical biovar itwas revealed, that toxigenic (1 type) and nontoxigenic (2 type) clones differ from each other not only the expression ofgenes of exopolysaccharide, motility, and soluble haemagglutinin/protease, but also change of activity about other 60 genes. Among 11 identified proteins 5 are the enzymes participating in a metabolism cells. Besides it is revealed, that clones 2 types of Dakka35 strain synthesize in a more level of OmpU and TolC proteins, which provide their more significant stability to action of bile in comparison with clones of 1 type. It was shown, that bile serves as a signal from an environment for switching of gene expression of the genes, coding production of factors as virulence, and carrying out protective function of bacterial cell.     

Telomere length of cord blood cells chromosomes as additional quality characteristic of sample for transplantation

Telomeres are the ends of the chromosomes and represent repeated DNA sequence and protein complex. Telomeres shorten with each cell division, which limits proliferative potential of cells. There is a great progress in clinical application of telomere length now. Additional characteristic of stem cell proliferation activity estimated by telomere length can be an informative indicator of transplant quality. In this work, we analyzed 14 cord blood samples by flow-FISH, ELISA and gematologycal analisator, and also the number of CD34 + CD45dim cells. Average telomere length of leukocytes fraction CB cells was 20.4-4.9 % respectively the control cells 1301 (T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia).     

Preclinical trials of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase, an antitumor enzyme

The effect of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase from a representative of the Trichoderma genus on the humoral immune response to protein antigens was studied. It was shown that repeated fife-fold intravenous administrations of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase in a dose of 35 U/kg had no depressive action on the humoral immunity. The enzyme had no suppressive effect on the delayed type hypersensitivity to xenogenous erythrocytes. The use of L-lysine-alpha-oxidase in a therapeutic dose or in a twice as higher dose had no reliable effect on the leukocyte migration capacity vs. the control.