Evaluation of cytochrome c affinity to anionic phospholipids by means of surface plasmon resonance

We attempted to evaluate the affinity of the anionic phospholipids to cytochrome c by means of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique and to correlate it with the cytochrome c active site alterations and peroxidase activity. Our experiments showed a strong interdependence between the phospholipid fatty acid saturation degree, the active site structure alterations and peroxidase activity of the cytochrome c phospholipid complex. Cytochrome c peroxidase activity and Trp59 fluorescence increase in the sequence of phosphatidyl choline (PC) → phosphatidylserine (PS) → cardiolipin (CL) → phosphatidic acid (PA). The association constant (K_a) increased in the sequence PC → PA → PS → CL. The SPR spectroscopy data shows that K_a is independent of lipid saturation degree, but correlates with phospholipid negative charge value.     

Structure of component parasite communities in the grayling, Thymallus thymallus L. (Salmoniformes, Thymallidae), and minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus L. (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae), from the upper reaches of the Pechora River

A comparative analysis of parasite communities in the grayling and minnow has been performed. These communities differ in the number of constituent species and in the fact that the community of the minnow is dominated by one allogenic species, whereas that of the grayling usually has two dominants, both being autogenic species. The values of species diversity indices characterizing these communities are also different. Differences between the parasite communities of these fish species reflect the position of their hosts in the hydrobiocenosis. Species prevailing in both communities are classified as specialists, which is characteristic of parasite communities of the boreal-piedmont faunal complex. Both these communities consist of three species groups distinguished by their proportions in the total biomass, which indicates that parasitic communities are structured in a certain way and that the distribution of species in them is not random.     

Evaluation of a point-of-care diagnostic to identify glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Brazil

BackgroundGlucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common enzyme deficiency, prevalent in many malaria-endemic countries. G6PD-deficient individuals are susceptible to hemolysis during oxidative stress, which can occur from exposure to certain medications, including 8-aminoquinolines used to treat Plasmodium vivax malaria. Accordingly, access to point-of-care (POC) G6PD testing in Brazil is critical for safe treatment of P. vivax malaria.Methodology/Principal findingsThis study evaluated the performance of the semi-quantitative, POC STANDARD G6PD Test (SD Biosensor, Republic of Korea). Participants were recruited at clinics and through an enriched sample in Manaus and Porto Velho, Brazil. G6PD and hemoglobin measurements were obtained from capillary samples at the POC using the STANDARD and HemoCue 201+ (HemoCue AB, Sweden) tests. A thick blood slide was prepared for malaria microscopy. At the laboratories, the STANDARD and HemoCue tests were repeated on venous samples and a quantitative spectrophotometric G6PD reference assay was performed (Pointe Scientific, Canton, MI). G6PD was also assessed by fluorescent spot test. In Manaus, a complete blood count was performed.Samples were analyzed from 1,736 participants. In comparison to spectrophotometry, the STANDARD G6PD Test performed equivalently in determining G6PD status in venous and capillary specimens under varied operating temperatures. Using the manufacturer-recommended reference value thresholds, the test’s sensitivity at the <30% threshold on both specimen types was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI] venous 93.6%–100.0%; capillary 93.8%–100.0%). Specificity was 98.6% on venous specimens (95% CI 97.9%–99.1%) and 97.8% on capillary (95% CI 97.0%–98.5%). At the 70% threshold, the test’s sensitivity was 96.9% on venous specimens (95% CI 83.8%–99.9%) and 94.3% on capillary (95% CI 80.8%–99.3%). Specificity was 96.5% (95% CI 95.0%–97.6%) and 92.3% (95% CI 90.3%–94.0%) on venous and capillary specimens, respectively.Conclusion/SignificanceThe STANDARD G6PD Test is a promising tool to aid in POC detection of G6PD deficiency in Brazil.Trial registrationThis study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT04033640","term_id":"NCT04033640"}}NCT04033640).     

Autoimmune process after long-term low-level exposure to electromagnetic field (experimental results). Part I. Mobile communications and changes in electromagnetic conditions for the population. Need for additional substantiation of existing hygienic standards

Mobile communications provides a new source of electromagnetic exposure for almost the whole population of Russia. For the first time in the history of civilization, the brain of mobile phone users is exposed to localized radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF). Base stations are a factor in the exposure of the population. Existing standards for limiting exposure do not account for the role of base stations as a source of EMF and cannot guarantee the absence of adverse health effects. It has become necessary to obtain reliable information to expand databases for the development of new standards. As recommended by the World Health Organization, an additional experiment is performed under the supervision of foreign experts, which shows changes in autoimmune status in rats after long-term low-level RF EMF exposure with an incident power of 500 μW/cm².     

In vitro development of the reconstructed bovine embryos activated at various time after electrofusion

The dynamics of in vitro development of reconstructed bovine embryos activated at various time after electrofusion was studied. The in vitro mature oocytes without zona pellucida enucleated using the blind method were taken as cytoplasts. Fetal fibroblasts were used as the nuclei source. Approximately 40% of embryos activated between 3 and 3.2 hours after electrofusion developed to blastocysts. The efficiency of in vitro development of cloned embryo of cloned embryo did not decrease when the time between electrofusion and activation was extended up to 4–5 hours. The pattern of more successful development of in vitro reconstructed embryos was found using enucleated oocytes, extrusion the first polar body to 18 hours in comparison with oocytes matured in vitro afterwards, as cytoplasts.     

Surface Plasmon Polariton Mach–Zehnder Interferometer and Oscillation Fringes

We present a quantitative experimental analysis of a surface plasmon polariton (SPP) interferometer relying on elliptical Bragg mirrors. By using a leakage radiation microscope, we observe oscillation fringes with unit visibility at the two interferometer exits. We study the properties of the SPP beam splitter and determine experimentally both the norm and phase of the SPP reflection and transmission coefficients.     

Prostaglandins E in tumor tissue from patients with stomach cancer

Estimation of prostaglandins E (PGE) content in various tumour tissues of gastric cancer was performed. These parameters were studied in dependence on different factors: volume and localization of primary tumour, level of cellular and structural atypism, degree of differentiation and other clinical and morphological conditions of disease genesis. The data received showed higher mean levels of PGE in the tissues of primary tumours of gastric cancer comparing with the normal gastric mucosa.     

Genetic differentiation of residents of Central Asia from autosomal marker data

The gene pool of five ethnic groups of the Central Asian population was characterized using nine human-specific polymorphic insertion/deletion loci (ACE, PLAT, APOA1, PV92, F13B, A25, B65, CD4, Mt-Nuc). It has been shown for the first time that at the CD4 locus, the frequency of Alu(-) is inversely related to the Mongoloid component of the population. For the Central Asian populations, the lowest and highest frequencies of the Alu deletion at locus CD4 were recorded respectively in Dungans (0.04), immigrants from China, and Tajiks (0.15). The coefficient of gene differentiation in the Central Asian populations for all the genes was 2.8%, which indicates a relatively low level of population genetic subdivision in this region. The unity of the gene pool of the Central Asian Caucasoids was shown.     

Analysis of genetic diversity of population of Northern Eurasia from autosomal microsatellite loci

The paper presents the results of analysis of the gene pools of several North Eurasian ethnic groups (Buryats, Evenks, Altaians, Russians, Kyrgyzes, Tuvinians, Tatars, and Ukrainians) examined using a panel of autosomal microsatellite markers (D4S397, D5S393, D7S640, D8S514, D9S161, D10S197, D11S1358, D12S364, and D13S173) mapped on different chromosomes and represented by the (CA)n dinucleotide repeats. In the group of populations examined the proportion of genetic variability at microsatellite loci explained by interpopulation differences was about 2.5%, while genetic differences between the individuals within a population accounted for 97.5% of this variability. Analysis of genetic relationships among the populations revealed substantial differences between the populations belonging to the Indo-European and Altaic linguistic families in gene diversity at microsatellite loci.