Effect of adaptation to cold on the alpha1- and beta-adrenergic reactions of arterial vessels of the small intestine in rabbits

Changes in major paraments of alpha 1- and beta-adrenergic responses (EC50 and Pm) were studied in the intestine arterial blood vessels of rabbits adapted to cold for 1-30 days (daily cold exposures for 6 hours at -10 degrees C). It was shown that responses to phenylephrine, noradrenaline, adrenaline (alpha 1-agonists), isopropylnoradrenaline (beta-agonist) corresponded to the equation p = (Pm.An)/(EC50n + An) with n = 1 and n = 2, respectively. Adaptation to cold induced radically different changes in the major parameters of alpha- and beta-adrenergic responses. In the alpha-adrenergic responses, the parameters EC50 and Pm changed reciprocally. In the beta-adrenergic response, only Pm value changed while EC50 did not differ from the control over the entire period of adaptation to cold. The pronounced differences from the control gradually decreased within 1-30 days of adaptation.     

The neuromediator modulation of the ionic composition of the brain cells in rats irradiated at nonlethal doses

It had been found that both the single prolonged irradiation and chronic (fractionated) one with doses of 25 and 50 cGy (1.75 mGy/min) caused essential modification of the biphase modulative effects of acetylcholine and gamma-aminobutyric acid upon K+ level in rat brain cortex slices to be compared to the acute lethal irradiation influence. The results of model experiments showed saturated fatty acids to be significant for the changes in regulative functions of nerve cell membranes after exposure to low dose-rate radiation.     

The biological effects of combined exposure to low-dose irradiation and heavy metal ions

It was shown that chronic 0.25 Gy irradiation of rats (0.01 Gy/day) at background of heavy metal penetration (Cu2+, 20 mg/l or Co2+, 5 mg/l) with drinking water had caused significant accumulation of the free-radical products proportional to exhausting antioxidant and oxidizing-reduction potential in various organs and tissues. Radiation was shown to be primary harmful factor for the brain, spleen, lungs, and blood plasma, whereas the liver and heart muscle were affected with chemicals at first. Under prolonged unfavourable influence the biochemical changes observed were sustainable and progressing that satisfied to transformation of protective-adaptive reactions into prepathology stage.     

The ratio of fungi and bacteria in the biomass of different types of soil determined by selective inhibition

Tundra, chernozem (virgin and arable), sod-podzolic (coniferous forest, meadow, and arable), and grey forest (larch forest) soils were used to separate the contributions of fungi and bacteria to substrate-induced respiration (SIR) with the help of antibiotics. For soils with a high content of organic matter (tundra and chernozem: 12 and 8%, respectively), the procedure of selective inhibition of SIR has been optimized. The optimized procedure includes the application of high concentrations of streptomycin (50-120 mg/g of soil) and cycloheximide (50-80 mg/g of soil) and decreasing the weight of the analyzed soil sample. Soils under study have shown the predominant contribution of fungi (63-82%) to the total SIR. The fungal-bacterial ratio in the soils of natural ecosystems (0-5 cm, without litter) was 4.32, 2.19, 1.5, and 1.5 for tundra soil, virgin chernozem, coniferous (sod-podzolic soil), and larch (grey forest soil) forests, respectively. The lower layers of sod-podzolic (5-10 cm) and grey forest (48-58 cm) soils showed a decrease in the fungal and increase in the bacterial component in the total SIR.     

Long non‐coding RNAs in melanoma

Melanoma is the most lethal cutaneous cancer with a highly aggressive and metastatic phenotype. While recent genetic and epigenetic studies have shed new insights into the mechanism of melanoma development, the involvement of regulatory non‐coding RNAs remain unclear. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of endogenous non‐protein‐coding RNAs with the capacity to regulate gene expression at multiple levels. Recent evidences have shown that lncRNAs can regulate many cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and invasion. In the melanoma, deregulation of a number of lncRNAs, such as HOTAIR, MALAT1, BANCR, ANRIL, SPRY‐IT1 and SAMMSON, have been reported. Our review summarizes the functional role of lncRNAs in melanoma and their potential clinical application for diagnosis, prognostication and treatment.     

Protective effect of bixin on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Background

The liver is an important organ for its ability to transform xenobiotics, making the liver tissue a prime target for toxic substances. The carotenoid bixin present in annatto is an antioxidant that can protect cells and tissues against the deleterious effects of free radicals. In this study, we evaluated the protective effect of bixin on liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in rats.

Results

The animals were divided into four groups with six rats in each group. CCl₄ (0.125 mL kg^-1 body wt.) was injected intraperitoneally, and bixin (5.0 mg kg^-1 body wt.) was given by gavage 7 days before the CCl₄ injection. Bixin prevented the liver damage caused by CCl₄, as noted by the significant decrease in serum aminotransferases release. Bixin protected the liver against the oxidizing effects of CCl₄ by preventing a decrease in glutathione reductase activity and the levels of reduced glutathione and NADPH. The peroxidation of membrane lipids and histopathological damage of the liver was significantly prevented by bixin treatment.

Conclusion

Therefore, we can conclude that the protective effect of bixin against hepatotoxicity induced by CCl₄ is related to the antioxidant activity of the compound.     

Preparations for serodiagnosis of diseases due to causative agents of ixode tick-borne Borreliosis (Lyme disease). Communication 2. Comparative study of recombinant enzyme immunoassay test-systems (rELISA) for serological diagnosis of ixode tick-borne Borreliosis]

One foreign and two Russian recombinant enzyme immunoassay test-systems were comparatively investigated under conditions of an encoded experiment. Sensitivity in the experiment with the Russian test-systems Borreliosis-ELISA-IgG and Lyme Best was 63.8 and 68.8% respectively. As for the test-system Borrelia IgG Recombinant, it was 47.5%. All the test-systems were highly specific (94.4 to 99.5%). The test-systems Lyme Best and Borrelia IgG Recombinant revealed partial cross reactions with sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and leptospirosis.     

Changes in serum lysozyme activity in terminal states caused by blood loss]

A study was made of the dynamics of the lysozyme activity of the serum in dogs which sustained clinical death on the background of a 2-hour hypovolemic hypotension due to blood loss. There was revealed a progressive increase in the lysozyme activity of the serum during the hypotension and during the first 30 minutes of the postreanimation period. Lysozyme activity of the serum was increased in the course of 4 days after the revival. The significance of the lysozyme activity of the serum as an index of hypoxic injury of the internal organs in terminal conditions is discussed.