Biochemical Adaptation of Scots Pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.) to Technogenic Pollution

We have investigated changes in the complex of biochemical parameters reflecting the disturbance of the homeostatic state and the activity of the adaptive reactions in Pinus sylvestris L. under the conditions of technogenic pollution. Disorders of the physiological state of trees growing under the effect of the excessive accumulation of pollutant elements result in changes in a number of parameters: a decrease in the ratio of protein and nonprotein nitrogen fractions in the needles by 52%; a decrease in the total phosphorus and its acid-soluble fraction by 40 and 63%, respectively; a decrease in carbon concentration by 31%; and a decrease in the amount of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids based on the weight of one needle by 23, 40, and 42%, respectively. The activation of protective reactions of pine is proven by an increase in the amount of ascorbic acid in needles by 48%; in the amount of water-soluble phenolic compounds by 29%; in the ratio of Chl. a/Chl. b by 35%; in the ratio of green pigments to yellow by 40%; and in the level of water- and alcohol-soluble proteins 40 and 30%, respectively. The highest activity of biochemical protection components was recorded in trees growing near the Shelekhovsky industrial center, the emissions of which contain a large amount of fluorides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).     

Types of Y chromosome deletions and their frequency in infertile men

Deletions of Y chromosome AZF locus were analyzed during a large-scale andrological and genetic examination of 810 infertile men. The search for Yq microdeletions was carried out according to the standard EAA/EMQN guidelines. The breakpoints were mapped for the deletions in AZF locus. The Y chromosome macro- and microdeletions were detected in 61 (7.5%) infertile men. The frequencies of AZF deletions during azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia amounted to 12.2 and 8.1 %, respectively. On the whole, the frequencies of Yq microdeletions and the genophenotypic correlations characteristic of various AZF deletion types comply with the relevant published data. However, spermatozoids in the ejaculate sediment of men with completely deleted AZFa region or AZFb+c deletions (from solitary spermatozoids to several dozens) were detected for the first time. It was demonstrated that the breakpoints were localized between AZFa and AZFb regions proximally to AZFb+c microdeletions for the majority of cytogenetically detectable deletions in the Y chromosome long arm. This indicates that the mechanisms underlying Yq macro- and microdeletions are somewhat different. The issues related to the role of Y chromosome deletions in the origins of monosomy for X chromosome and X/XY mosaicism are discussed.     

Types of Y chromosome deletions and their frequency in infertile men

Y chromosome deletions in the AZF locus were analyzed during a large-scale andrological and genetic examination of 810 infertile men. The search for Yq microdeletions was carried out according to the standard EAA/EMQN guidelines. The breakpoints were mapped for the revealed AZF deletions. The Y chromosome macro-and microdeletions were detected in 61 (7.5%) infertile men. The frequencies of AZF deletions in patients with azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia amounted to 12.2 and 8.1%, respectively. On the whole, the frequencies of Yq microdeletions and the genophenotypic correlations characteristic of various AZF deletion types agree with the relevant published data. However, spermatozoa in the ejaculate sediment of men with completely deleted AZFa region or AZFb+c deletions (from solitary spermatozoa to several dozens) were detected for the first time. It was demonstrated that the breakpoints were localized between AZFa and AZFb regions proximally to AZFb+c microdeletions for the majority of cytogenetically detectable deletions of the Y chromosome long arm. This indicates that the mechanisms underlying Yq macro-and microdeletions are somewhat different. The issues related to the role of Y chromosome deletions in the origins of X chromosome monosomy and X/XY mosaicism are discussed.     

The rate of human herpes virus type 6 and cytomegalovirus among HIV-infected and healthy women from Chelyabinsk and Moscow

Human herpes virus type 6 (H HV-6) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroprevalence among HIV-infected and healthy women of childbearing age from Chelyabinsk and Moscow was measured with ELI - SA test-system for detection of antibodies to respective viruses. Seropositivity to HHV-6 was detected in 93.5% of HIV-infected women, that is 1.2 times more often than in healthy woman of child-bearing age. Seropositivity to CMV was detected in 87% of HIV-infected women, that is 1.05 times more often than in healthy woman of childbearing age. Low titers to HHV-6 and CMV were detected in seropositive healthywomen more frequently (in 44.1 and 48.4% respectively) whereas intermediate and high titers prevailed in HIV-infected women (in 73.9% for HHV-6 and 31.4% for CMV).     

A new method of determining the virulence of nontubercular mycobacteria and weakly virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A new method for enhancing the sensitivity of white mice to infection with faintly virulent mycobacteria is proposed. The method consists in the sensitization of animals with pertussis monovaccine introduced in a single-intraperitoneal injection 7 days before the infection of animals with the culture under study. The method permitted the detection of residual virulence in all opportunistic mycobacteria under study.     

Trends of chhemical element content in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) under various natural conditions and emission load

The studies were conducted in different parts of the Baikal Region in Southern Pribaikalia, Southwestern Transbaikalia, and Northern Pribaikalia. It was shown that the chemical element content depends largely on biogeographical conditions and varies slightly between different types of forest in the same geographical region. However, the most significant factor leading to an imbalance of most elements is the emission load. It is concluded that the investigation of element trends in assimilating organs of woody trees is an important link in the system analysis of the vital status of tree stands under natural conditions and on exposure to abiotic factors.     

Animal death after exposure to ultra-high frequency waves in the dependence of power flux density and specific absorption rate

A comparative analysis and mathematical modeling of laboratory animal sensitivity (mice, rats, rabbits and dogs) to microwave exposure in the dependence of the power flux density (PFD) and the specific absorption rate (SAR) were carried out. The results obtained in our laboratory and some data published by other authors were presented as the dependence of the survival time of various animals during exposure both on PFD and SAR of microwave radiation (0.46; 2.4 and 7 GHz). It is shown that if PFD is used as a dosimetric parameter, the animal sensitivity to nonionizing electromagnetic ultrahigh frequency radiation increased with animal mass. If SAR was used as a dosimetric parameter, the arrangement of animals in accordance with their sensitivity to microwave became quite opposite. Mathematical equations describing the dependence of the survival time of laboratory animals on the duration and the intensity of microwave radiation were obtained. These equations describe the published experimental data and can be used to predict the animal death during the process of microwave irradiation.     

Phytomonitoring of air pollution in the Baikal region

Phytomonitoring of air pollution has been performed using the Scots pine as a highly sensitive bioindicator. Needles have been sampled from key plots along the macrotransect Sayansk-Irkutsk-Listvyanka (with a total length of 320 km) covering the main industrial centers of the Baikal region and stretching up to the shoreline of Lake Baikal. The content of inorganic pollutants (sulfur, fluorides, heavy metals, etc.) has been determined. The highest level of air pollution has been registered in the following industrial centers: Angarsk, Irkutsk, Usol’e-Sibirskoe, and Shelekhov. The degree of pollution is lower in industrial centers such as Sayansk and Cheremkhovo. The data provide evidence that most pollutants reach the shoreline of Lake Baikal.