Peripheral interleukin-6 administration increases extracellular concentrations of serotonin and the evoked release of serotonin in the rat striatum

Previous studies have indicated that peripheral administration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) increases brain concentrations of tryptophan and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the major catabolite of serotonin (5-HT). To determine whether these changes were related to increased synaptic release of 5-HT, we studied the responses to peripheral administration of IL-6 by in vivo microdialysis and in vivo amperometry. Intraperitoneal injection of recombinant IL-6 resulted in an elevation of microdialysate concentrations of 5-HT in the rat striatum. Also, amperometric measurements indicated that i.p. IL-6 enhanced the 5-HT-like signal obtained from the striatum following electrical stimulation of the dorsal raphe nucleus. These results indicate that the increases in brain concentrations of 5-HIAA observed in earlier studies indeed reflect increased synaptic release of 5-HT.     

Study of the binding of the S7 protein with 16S rRNA fragment 926-986/1219-1393 as a key step in the assembly of the small subunit of prokaryotic ribosomes

Both structural and thermodynamic studies are necessary to understand the ribosome assembly. An initial step was made in studying the interaction between a 16S rRNA fragment and S7, a key protein in assembling the prokaryotic ribosome small subunit. The apparent dissociation constant was obtained for complexes of recombinant Escherichia coli and Thermus thermophilus S7 with a fragment of the 3' domain of the E. coli 16S rRNA. Both proteins showed a high rRNA-binding activity, which was not observed earlier. Since RNA and proteins are conformationally labile, their folding must be considered to correctly describe the RNA-protein interactions.     

Connection of the polymorphic variant T174M angiotensinogen gene with coronary atherosclerosis in the Tomsk population

Allele and genotype frequencies of the T174M polymorphism of the angiotensinogen gene were for the first time estimated in the West Siberian population. The polymorphism was tested for association with coronary atherosclerosis (CAS) and with several quantitative risk factors in patients with angiographically verified CAS, healthy individuals, and in a population sample nondifferentiated with respect to CAS.     

Intraspecific genetic differentiation of the Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope): Data of sequencing the mtDNA cytochrome b gene

For the first time, genetic diversity and intraspecific structure of Luscinia calliope was studied according to the data of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene sequencing. The strong differentiation of haplotypes of the Siberian Rubythroat into western and eastern groups, which include subspecies according to their geographical attachment, was revealed. A high-haplotypic (Hd = 0.986) and nucleotide (π= 0.00875) variety was shown for the species as a whole. We revealed considerable genetic distances (D = 0.016) between the western and eastern haplotypes that were four times higher than the intraspecific distances in terms of cytochrome b for passerines (D = 0.004). For three birds from Transbaikal, significant genetic divergence was detected, which could indirectly indicate the existence of the hybrid zone of several subspecies in this part of the area.     

Genetic Peculiarity of the Yakut Population as Inferred from Autosomal Loci

The autosomal gene pool of Yakuts was analyzed with a panel of polymorphic Alu insertions. The observed allele frequencies were typical for other Asian ethnic groups. Genetic differentiation of three Yakut populations was relatively high, 2%. East Siberian ethnic groups were shown to have a common gene pool and to experience no intense gene flow from other populations. Development of the Yakut gene pool was assumed to involve no substantial genetic effect of neighboring populations. The results fit both autochthonous and southern origin hypotheses.     

Phylogeography and demographic history of Siberian rubythroat <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luscinia calliope</Emphasis>

Phylogeographic analysis on the basis of individual marker variability provides insight into the history and mechanisms of the range formation of widely distributed species. A preliminary study of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene in Siberian rubythroat Luscinia calliope revealed the existence of three well-differentiated haplogroups, including one western and two eastern haplogroups. Continuing the study of the genetic markers of the species, we found that, in western part of the range, represented by the nominative geographic race, there were almost exclusively haplotypes of western group. In eastern populations of Khabarovsk krai, Chukotka, Kamchatka, and Sakhalin, haplotypes of all groups are mixed in different proportions. At the same time, the populations of Hokkaido and Iturup islands are exclusively represented by individuals with eastern haplotypes. Comparison of the identified nuclear copies of mitochondrial genes and construction of the phylogenetic network of haplotypes on the basis of cloned and initial sequences showed that two groups of eastern haplotypes (one of which geographically corresponded to L. c. anadyrensis and L. c. camtschatkensis and the second corresponded to L. c. sachalinensis) originated from nuclear pseudogenes of L. c. calliope through intergenomic recombination. In this regard, we propose a new hypothesis for the establishment of the modern range of this species, according to which the Siberian rubythroat dispersal from South Siberia occurred in two stages. At first, the species expanded its range to the northeast in the direction of the Kolyma and Koryak uplands. During the settling of these areas of northeastern Asia, a recombination between the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA took place, which led to the forming of a new haplotype, which was widespread in the emerging breeding populations. Birds with recombinant haplotypes populated the territories of Chukotka and Kamchatka, and then gradually occupied the Kuril Islands and, eventually, reached Hokkaido. At the next stage, Siberian rubythroat, probably, appeared in Sakhalin Island during spring migration, where some individuals stopped for breeding. Settling of the island was accompanied by similar intergenomic recombination and rapid fixation of a new recombinant haplotype with its subsequent spread across Sakhalin. The insular way of dispersal is completely repeated by modern migrants.     

Population-genetic analysis of Deschampsia antarctica from two regions of maritime antarctica

Comparative analysis of the sequence of the ITS1-2 rDNA region of Deschampsia antarctica showed that plants of this species with different genotypes may have migrated into Antarctica after the glacial period. The use of RAPD markers allowed the identification of differences at the level of polymorphisms between populations of D. antarctica located in different latitudes and showed a limitation of exchange of genetic material between these populations.     

Thallium as an industrial poison (review of literature).

The presented reports on cases of occupational thallium poisoning clearly demonstrate that the possibility of their occurrence in industrial plants is very real. The number of such intoxications is much higher than that of non-industrial poisonings, but this is predominantly due to the less pronounced clinical picture and to the fact that specific tests for thallium are not performed. As a result, these cases partly escape registration altogether and partly are wrongly diagnosed. Thallium and its compounds belong to the first class of poisons, their dangerousness being enhanced by their easy permeability through the skin. Industrial thallium poisoning can be either acute or chronic, but in all cases, it is characterized by a long duration and severity of its course. Strict hygienic demands on the organization of the technological process and the measures of protection of persons working with thallium are indispensable. Compulsory examination of the urine of those working with thallium for the presence of this substance should also be introduced.