The possible role of immunogenetic factors in the pathogenesis of HIV infection

In this review the data on the presence of associations between immunogenetic markers and the development of HIV infection are presented. Special attention is given to spatial relationships of genetic determinants, responsible for the synthesis of the components of the complement system on one hand and the genes controlling resistance to the causative agents of opportunistic infections and malignant growth on the other hand. Suggestion is made on close relationship between the specific features of the course of HIV infection and the genetic control, responsible for the synthesis of complement components, in particular the genes making up the HLA system.     

Magnesium ions prevent development of hyperkinesis produced by picrotoxin intrastriatal microinjections into the rat neostriatum

The effects of daily bilateral microinjections of GABA-A receptor antagonist picrotoxin (2 mcg) into rostral neostriatum of the rats in chronic experiments were investigated. The picrotoxin was injected in volume of 1 mcl of saline or in 1 mcl of 1.0 M or 1.5 M MgCl2 solution; 1 mcl of saline or 1.0 M MgCl2 solution were injected in control groups of animals. The impairment of the avoidance conditioning in shuttle box, changes in free locomotor activity and the stereotypic choreo-myoclonic limb jerks were registered in rats with picrotoxin with the saline microinjections. The motor deviation registered are similar with Huntington chorea hyperkinesis in humans. The addition of magnesium ions into injected solution prevented both the lyperkinesis and condition behaviour realization impairment. As the magnesium is a universal calcium channel blocker, the calcium homeostasis of striatal neurons impairment as one of principal elements of hyperkinesis pathogenesis is proposed.     

Cytomegalovirus infection in Omsk region

Epidemiologic studies of prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection (CMVI) in Omsk region during a period of 15 years showed 1.6-fold increase of population seropositivity to CMV with rate of increase +2.94. In recent years antibodies to CMV were detected in 90.3 - 94.8% of cases. Diagnostics of innate and acquired CMVI was improved. Feasibility of detection of infectious process activity during complex use of new laboratory methods (IgA detection, assessment of IgG avidity, IgG to individual antigens in immunoblotting as well as detection of DNA and "early phase" viral ptoteins) was demonstrated. High rates of infection in population determine the necessity of revision of strategy for examination of children and adults, including screening of pregnant woman, on this infection.     

Effects of heptapeptide selank on genetically-based and situation-provoked symptoms of depression in behavior in WAG/Rij and Wistar rats, and in BALB/c mice

A synthetic derivative of the endogenous peptide tuftsin heptapeptide selank (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) possesses an anxiolytic and psychostimulant effect, and represents a working element of a new peptide drug having completed the third phase of the clinical testing as a selective anxiolytic. The neurobiochemical spectrum of selank action combines mechanisms which are characteristics of antidepressants and psychostimulants: activation of the brain monoaminergic systems, dopamine synthesis and turnover, and modulation of the tyrosine hydroxylase activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of selank in a new model of inherited (genetically-based) symptoms of depression in behavior of inbred WAG/Rij rats in comparison with its effect on situation-provoked symptoms of depression in behavior of BALB/c mice. Outbred Wistar rats constituted control group. Selank in high doses (1000-2000 microg/kg), after repeated injection counteracted symptoms of depression in behavior of WAG/Rij rats (increased immobilization in the forced swimming test and decreased sucrose intake or preference (anhedonia)). Selank in low doses (100 and 300 microg/kg) after single injection reduced the duration of immobility of BALB/c mice in the forced swimming test, but did not exert significant effect after repeated injection or after injection in high doses (600 and 900 microg/kg). Selank did not affect the level of general locomotor activity and anxiety in WAG/Rij rats, and did not exert substantial effect on the behavior of control Wistar rats. The results demonstrate the presence of antidepressant component in the spectrum of neuropsychotrophyc activity of selank and indicate the higher reliability of a new experimental model of depression (the WAG/Rij rats) as compared to the standard forced swimming test for the determination of antidepressant activity of a pharmacological drug.     

Fluctuations of pass band coefficients of water and water salt solutions in the spectral infrared region

The effect of superlow concentrations of KCl and CaCl2 solutions, obtained by diluting starting 1 M solutions of these salts 10(9)-10(15) times, on the fluctuations of pass band coefficients of water was studied. It was found that these solutions are substantially distinguished from bidistilled water by a high intensity of fluctuations of spectra in the infrared region. It was also shown that higher concentrations of solutions of these salts (at dilutions less than 10(8) times) have no strong and specific effect on fluctuations of the infrared spectrum: the intensity of fluctuations of the infrared spectra of these solutions practically coincides with that of control water. Possible reasons for this effect are discussed.     

137Cs and 90Sr accumulation in birch wood (Betula pendula Roth.) growing in regions with different soil conditions

The studies of 137Cs and 90Sr accumulation characteristics by birch wood (Betula pendula Roth.) growing in different edaphic conditions. Were conducted was stated that the increase in soil fertility from trophotops A to D results in 5-fold 137Cs transfer factor decrease and 2-fold decrease of 90Sr. Soil humidity increase for each grade of trophic net results happens the increase of 137Cs transfer factors to wood and decrease for 90Sr. Total activity of 37Cs and 90Sr in birch wood plantation depends on plantation productivity and on radionuclide transfer factors depending on different plantation conditions. In the most prevailing edaphotops (B2, B3, C2 and C3) birch wood accumulates 0.6-1.2% of 137Cs and 13-19% of 90Sr from total activity of radionuclides in biogeocenosis.     

Chromosome and cytome analysis of the somatic cells of nuclear-chemical production workers with incorporated 239Pu

The analysis of plutonium production factors has been carried out by using two methodical approaches: assessment of chromosomal aberrations level in routine and G-banded metaphases and molecular-cytogenetic investigation of aneugenic/clastogenic damages in cytokinesis-block binuclear lymphocytes by FISH with centromere specific DNA probes. The obtaining data point out for the first time about both aneugenic and clastogenic influences of incorporated 239Pu with activity range from 0.37 to 6.95 kBq. Correlation analysis of chromosome aberrations with cytome abnormalities allowed finding significant connection between number parameters of metaphase and interphase approaches. The results of this study support the suggestion that aberrant chromosomes are involved preferable in aneugenic events. The FISH technique in binucleated cytokinesis-blocked lymphocytes allows extending of detecting spectrum of chromosome damages and glance of aneugenic mechanisms. Correlations between metaphase and interphase-FISH results point out a high sensitivity of FISH cytome assay, which could be used as an independent test for detection both clastogenic and aneugenic environment influences.     

Radioprotective activity and toxicity of copolymer 2-methyl-5-vinyl pyridine with 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridinium-n-oxide

In experiments in mice, hamsters and dogs therapeutic radioprotective efficiency and toxicity of new water-soluble copolymer were studied. It was found that at intramuscular injection of the copolymer to dogs in a dose of 5 mg/kg 24 h after irradiation with a dose of 3.30 Gy (LD85/45) it showed pronounced therapeutic effect (68.1%). In mice and hamsters, the effect was less pronounced: 42-21% after irradiation with a dose of 8.0 Gy. The copolymer is low toxic substance and according to the State standards of Russian Federation belongs to the fourth class (harmless).     

Influence of saturated long-chain N-acylethanolamines on lipid composition and heart contractility of isolated rat heart under ischemia-reperfusion

The heart contractility and changes of lipid composition of isolated rat heart (n = 26) under total ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion was studied. The effect of N-stearoyl-ethanolamine under these conditions was investigated. N-stearoyl-ethanolamine leads to remodelling of fatty acyl chain composition of myocardial phospholipids: to drastic fall of polyunsaturated fatty acyl chains (18:2w6, 20:3w6, 20:4w6, 22:5w3, 22:5w6, 22:6w3 and 22:6w6) and enhancement of 18:0. This can be caused by N-stearoyl-ethanolamine-induced suppression of polyunsaturated fatty acids synthesis. Naturally occurring minor lipids--N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine and its derivative N-acylethanolamine were detected in isolated rat heart under ischemia-reperfusion. It is notable that approximately 12% of total N-acylethanolamines were composed by anandamide. Treatment of N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine by phospholipase D with subsequent fatty acyl chain analysis demonstrates that fatty acid composition of both N-acyl chains of N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine and free N-acylethanolamine are similar and their main fatty acyl chains are 16:0, 18:0 and 20:4w6. It was shown that exogenous N-stearoyl-ethanolamine did not alter the levels of endogenous N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine and N-acylethanolamine, but caused the decrease of lyso-phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol levels. The rate of heart contractility and heart relaxation was found to increase during the early period of reperfusion. N-stearoyl-ethanolamine prevents this alteration and exerts a negative inotropic effect. It is concluded that membrane protective properties of N-stearoyl-ethanolamine at least partly depend on its ability to inhibit decrease amount of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids, to modulate the fatty acyl chains of cardiac phospholipids and to decrease the level of lyso-phosphatidylcholine.     

Outpatient screening and its place in better detection of breast tumors

The authors state their opinion on this problem by analyzing their 5-year use of their programme specially developed for detection of breast disease, mainly cancer, among females visiting specialized rooms of non-mammological profiles (gastroenterology, endocrinology, rheumatology, pulmonology, neurology, cardiology, hematology, nephrology, etc.) in the consulting polyclinics of regional (territorial) hospitals and large city hospital-polyclinic complexes. In this period, mammographic studies were made in 9169 women included into a breast cancer-risk group. Of them 1370 young female patients with well-developed glandular tissue that makes mammographic diagnosis of presumed masses difficult underwent breast ultrasonography. Abnormalities were found in 6092 (66.44%) patients. Breast cancer and nodal benign masses (including cysts and fibroadenomas) were detected in 278 (3.03%) and 669 (7.30%) women, respectively. The detection rates of unpalpable breast malignant and benign masses carcinomas were 0.4 and 3.03%, respectively. The findings allow the authors to recommend their proposed screening programme for wide use in large regional (territoreal), city, and town polyclinic complexes.