The immunoregulatory and allergy-associated cytokines in the aetiology of the otitis media with effusion

Inflammation in the middle ear mucosa, which can be provoked by different primary factors such as bacterial and viral infection, local allergic reactions and reflux, is the crucial event in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME). Unresolved acute inflammatory responses or defective immunoregulation of middle inflammation can promote chronic inflammatory processes and stimulate the chronic condition of OME. Cytokines are the central molecular regulators of middle ear inflammation and can switch the acute phase of inflammation in the chronic stage and induce molecular-pathological processes leading to the histopathological changes accompanying OME. In this review we present cytokines identified in otitis media, immunoregulatory [interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, transforming growth factor-beta]) and allergy associated (IL-4, IL-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor), as crucial molecular regulators, responsible for chronic inflammation in the middle ear and the chronic condition of OME.     

Polar Constituents of Brown Seaweed Colpomenia peregrina (Sauv.) Hamel from the Black Sea

GC-MS of trimethylsilyl derivatives of the compounds present in the butanolic extract of biomass of brown seaweed Colpomenia peregrina from the Black Sea aided in identification of 24 components, including aliphatic hydroxy and keto and aromatic acids, glycerol, mannitol, floridoside, and monosaccharides. The polysaccharide composition of the biomass was also studied, with high sodium alginate and laminaran contents and a comparatively low level of fucoidan being revealed. The polysaccharides were isolated from the biomass by fractional extraction and purified by precipitation or ion exchange chromatography. The structures of alginic acid and laminaran were deduced from ¹³C NMR spectra and confirmed, in the case of laminaran, by methylation analysis. The sodium alginate was shown to contain more guluronic (G) than mannuronic acid (M) residues, the M/G ratio being 0.48. Laminaran was demonstrated to be a -glucan with 1 3 linkages in its backbone and 1 6 linkages in its branching points, which is characteristic of brown algae. Fucoidan turned out to be a complex heteropolysaccharide containing, in addition to fucose and sulfate, other neutral monosaccharides and uronic acids.     

The alternative oxidase of Yarrowia lipolytica mitochondria is unable to compete with the cytochrome pathway for electrons

The activity of the cyanide-resistant alternative oxidase (pathway) of Y. lipolytica mitochondria was studied as a function of the activity of the major, cyanide-sensitive, cytochrome pathway. The contribution of the alternative oxidase to the total respiration of mitochondria was evaluated by measuring the rate of oxygen consumption in the presence of cyanide (an inhibitor of the cytochrome pathway). The potential activity of the cytochrome pathway was evaluated spectrophotometrically, by measuring the oxidation rate of cytochrome c by ferricyanide, which accepts electrons from complex III (cytochrome c) of this pathway. The oxidation of succinate by mitochondria in the presence of ferricyanide and cyanide was accompanied by oxygen consumption due to the transfer of electrons through the alternative pathway. The subsequent addition of ADP or FCCP (an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in the cytochrome pathway) completely inhibited the consumption of oxygen by the mitochondria. Under these conditions, the inhibition of the alternative pathway by benzohydroxamic acid failed to affect the transfer of electrons from cytochrome c to ferricyanide. Benzohydroxamic acid did not influence the rate of ferricyanide reduction by the cytochrome pathway occurring in controlled state 4, nor could it change the phosphorylation quotient ATP/O upon the oxidation of various substrates. These findings indicate that the alternative pathway is unable to compete with the cytochrome respiratory chain for electrons. The alternative pathway transfers only electrons that are superfluous for the cytochrome chain.     

Characteristics of radish lines and hybrids from the spectrum of multiple molecular forms of enzymes

We characterized radish lines from a genetic collection on the basis of six enzyme systems, identified genes controlling these enzymes, and examined joint inheritance of some biochemical and morphological traits.     

Sequential isolation of superoxide dismutase and ajmaline from a tissue culture of Rauwolfia serpentina Benth

Two biologically active compounds, the enzyme superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) and the antiarrhythmic indole alkaloid ajmaline, were isolated from a callus culture of Rauwolfia serpentina Benth. Sequential isolation of biologically active compounds by metal-chelate affinity chromatography followed by azoadsorbent affinity chromatography allowed us to obtain highly purified products. The yields of superoxide dismutase and ajmaline were 180 mg/kg biomass and 16.5 g/kg dry weight, respectively.     

Use of celluloselytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the enrichment of roughage with protein

A new strain of acid-tolerant facultative anaerobic cellulose-degrading bacteria Bacillus cytaseus 21 (Mc Bethe ef Scales, 1912), which are capable to fixing atmospheric nitrogen, was isolated. This strain is intended for solid-phase fermentation and enrichment with protein of cellulose-containing waste of plant cultivation.     

Ontogeny of different life forms of plants and specific features of age and spatial structure of their populations

Materials have been generalized that were accumulated in population-ontogenetic studies of plants and leading features of the ontogeny of plants have been noted that determine specific structural features of their populations. The described patterns allowed the authors to develop simulation models of plant population dynamics. The results of simulation are provided, and they are compared to the empirical data. Problems have been considered that concern the influence of specific features of development of different plant biomorphs on the genetic structure of populations and biocoenotic processes.     

Disruption of organization of mitotic microtubules in root meristem cells of Allium cepa induced by chloral hydrate

Data are presented on the effect of chlorahydrate on microtubule organization in the root meristem of Allium cepa. Our studies show that an incomplete preprophase band commonly appears during G2-prophase transition, yet the major effect is the lack of perinuclear microtubules, leading to inhibition of the prophase spindle formation and transition to C-mitosis. Upon chloralhydrate treatment of metaphase cells, we found cells with chromosomes regularly aligned within the metaphase plate and differently disorganized mitotic spindles. Concurrently, C-metaphase cells with remnants of kinetochore fibers were present. In addition, normal bipolar and abnormal irregular types of chromosome segregation were detected, this representing multipolar and diffuse anaphases. The major difference between them is the presence of polar microtubules during multipolar anaphase, and their lacking during diffuse anaphase. Alternatively, microtubule clusters between segregated groups of chromosomes are typical for cells with diffuse anaphase. During bipolar anaphase, excessive aster-like microtubules emanate from the spindle poles, and in telophase accessory phragmoplasts are observed at the cell periphery. The formation of incomplete phragmoplasts was observed after normal bipolar and abnormal chromosome segregation. We conclude that chloralhydrate may affect the nuclear surface capability to initiate the growth of perinuclear microtubules, thus blocking the prophase spindle formation. It also disturbs the spatial interaction between microtubules, which is crucial for the formation and functioning of various microtubular systems (preprophase band, spindle and phragmoplast).