Localization of laminin alpha4-chain in developing and adult human tissues.

Recent studies suggest important functions for laminin-8 (Ln-8; alpha4beta1gamma1) in vascular and blood cell biology, but its distribution in human tissues has remained elusive. We have raised a monoclonal antibody (MAb) FC10, and by enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) and Western blotting techniques we show that it recognizes the human Ln alpha4-chain. Immunoreactivity for the Ln alpha4-chain was localized in tissues of mesodermal origin, such as basement membranes (BMs) of endothelia, adipocytes, and skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle cells. In addition, the Ln alpha4-chain was found in regions of some epithelial BMs, including epidermis, salivary glands, pancreas, esophageal and gastric glands, intestinal crypts, and some renal medullary tubules. Developmental differences in the distribution of Ln alpha4-chain were detected in skeletal muscle, walls of vessels, and intestinal crypts. Ln alpha4- and Ln alpha2-chains co-localized in BMs of fetal skeletal muscle cells and in some epithelial BMs, e.g., in gastric glands and acini of pancreas. Cultured human pulmonary artery endothelial (HPAE) cells produced Ln alpha4-chain as M(r) 180,000 and 200,000 doublet and rapidly deposited it to the growth substratum. In cell-free extracellular matrices of human kidney and lung, Ln alpha4-chain was found as M(r) 180,000 protein.     

Importance of electroroentengography and fluorography in the detection of bronchiectatic disease

During mass screening of population 54 patients were detected with suspected bronchiectatic disease. Photoroentgenography and electroroentgenography were performed in all of them, in 36 of them simultaneously with subsequent bronchography. On electroroentgenograms cellular deformity in the decreased lung, the presence of cellular and linear lucidity of bronchiectasia against a background of a gas-bubble of the stomach were referred to as signs of bronchiectatic disease. Signs of inflammatory exacerbation and symptoms of lung emphysema were revealed on photoroentgenograms as an addition to electroroentgenographic findings. Combined electrophotoroentgenography with subsequent bronchographic verification of the spread of changes is recommended in suspected bronchiectatic disease.     

Effect of immunodepression on virus multiplication and interferon and antibody formation in animals]

Administration of high doses of imuran had no significant effect on the multiplication of influenza A/PR8 and Coxsackie A6 viruses. However, the serum levels of interferon and antibody were completely suppressed. Peripheral leukocytes of mice given imuran produced no interferon in vitro. These data suggest that the impairment of formation of the antiviral immunity factors resulting from the administration of high doses of immunosuppressants, such as used during the graft rejection crises, could serve as one of the main causes facilitating viral infections in the course of the transplantation therapy. The results could be of practical importance for the development of the optimal immunosuppression schedules during the organ transplantation.     

Measuring and Modeling Streamer Velocity at an Air Discharge in a Highly Inhomogeneous Electric Field

Plasma Physics Reports - The velocities of the positive and negative streamers in the air at atmospheric pressure are experimentally, theoretically, and computationally studied at the discharge of...     

Role of the Phytogenic Field of Larch of the Prefire Generation in Forming Edaphic Conditions in Burned-out Forest Areas

It is shown that larch of the prefire generation is the main edificator at the early stages of progressive successions in burned-out areas. Its environment-forming effect manifests itself most strongly in the phytogenic field of living trees, where edaphic conditions similar to those in primary larch forests are formed within ten years after the fire. This is accompanied by an increase in the numbers of microorganisms utilizing organic and mineral nitrogen, as well as in the rate of nitrogen mineralization in plant microgroups of this zone. Hence, living trees remaining in a burned-out area promote restoration of the initial edaphic conditions.     

Morphological analysis of the adaptive changes in the myocardium under individually measured physical load]

Studying morphological changes of the myocardium in the organic, cellular and subcellular levels of experimental animals (dogs) has shown that standard physical load on tradmill band graded only by external parameters of work (time of running, its speed etc.) causes different changes in different animals. In contrast to it, the method of individually graded physical load proposed by the author (1970, 1972) considers the depth of myocardium responses, the degree of its morphofunctional changes corresponding to certain stages of changes in the parameters of cardio-vascular activity and respiratory system. Using the relationship of pulse rate and frequency of respiration as a diagnostic test made it possible to establish 6 stages of myocardium responses to physical load. Each of these stages has a complex of morpho-functional changes in the myocardium and corresponds to certain adaptive shifts on the organism level. On these foundations one can prognoze the depth of morphological changes in the myocardium basing upon diagnostic tests. So, the proposed experimental model of individual selection of the value of physical load according to responses of the organism rather than to external parameters of work as well as the established principle of the stage character of adaptive responses may be used in the practice of investigators for directed influence on the myocardium to form its certain qualities.     

Natranaerofaba carboxydovora gen. nov., sp. nov., an extremely haloalkaliphilic CO-utilizing acetogen from a hypersaline soda lake representing a novel deep phylogenetic lineage in the class ‘Natranaerobiia’

An anaerobic enrichment with CO from sediments of hypersaline soda lakes resulted in a methane-forming binary culture, whereby CO was utilized by a bacterium and not the methanogenic partner. The bacterial isolate ANCO1 forms a deep-branching phylogenetic lineage at the level of a new family within the class ‘Natranaerobiia’. It is an extreme haloalkaliphilic and moderate thermophilic acetogen utilizing CO, formate, pyruvate and lactate as electron donors and thiosulfate, nitrate (reduced to ammonia) and fumarate as electron acceptors. The genome of ANCO1 encodes a full Wood–Ljungdahl pathway allowing for CO oxidation and acetogenic conversion of pyruvate. A locus encoding Nap nitrate reductase/NrfA ammonifying nitrite reductase is also present. Thiosulfate respiration is encoded by a Phs/Psr-like operon. The organism obviously relies on Na-based bioenergetics, since the genome encodes for the Na⁺-Rnf complex, Na⁺-F1F0 ATPase and Na⁺-translocating decarboxylase. Glycine betaine serves as a compatible solute. ANCO1 has an unusual membrane polar lipid composition dominated by diethers, more common among archaea, probably a result of adaptation to multiple extremophilic conditions. Overall, ANCO1 represents a unique example of a triple extremophilic CO-oxidizing anaerobe and is classified as a novel genus and species Natranaerofaba carboxydovora in a novel family Natranaerofabacea.