Role of alpha-tocopherol and retinol in the antiradical protection of the body in peptic ulcer]

Retinol and tocopherol content, the intensity of spontaneous chemiluminescence as well as concentration of malonic dialdehyde in the blood of practically healthy persons of different age groups and in patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer have been studied. Results are presented. The lower content of tocopherol was revealed in the young persons as compared with other age groups, while the level of vitamin A was not established to depend on age. The content of tocopherol is established to decrease in the blood serum under peptic ulcer. Under these conditions low level of retinol correlates with considerable growth of spontaneous chemiluminescence. Reserve interrelation of tocopherol content in the blood with the level of spontaneous chemiluminescence as well as the absence of true dependence on the concentration of malonic dialdehyde at peptic ulcer are proved. Mechanisms of participation of vitamins E and A in the inhibition of free-radical reactions are discussed, role of their deficiency in pathogenesis fo peptic ulcer is substantiated.     

A comparative description of mitochondrial DNA differentiation in selected avian and other vertebrate genera

Levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence divergence between species within each of several avian (Anas, Aythya, Dendroica, Melospiza, and Zonotrichia) and nonavian (Lepomis and Hyla) vertebrate genera were compared. An analysis of digestion profiles generated by 13-18 restriction endonucleases indicates little overlap in magnitude of mtDNA divergence for the avian versus nonavian taxa examined. In 55 interspecific comparisons among the avian congeners, the fraction of identical fragment lengths (F) ranged from 0.26 to 0.96 (F = 0.46), and, given certain assumptions, these translate into estimates of nucleotide sequence divergence (p) ranging from 0.007 to 0.088; in 46 comparisons among the fish and amphibian congeners, F values ranged from 0.00 to 0.36 (F = 0.09), yielding estimates of P greater than 0.070. The small mtDNA distances among avian congeners are associated with protein-electrophoretic distances (D values) less than approximately 0.2, while the mtDNA distances among assayed fish and amphibian congeners are associated with D values usually greater than 0.4. Since the conservative pattern of protein differentiation previously reported for many avian versus nonavian taxa now appears to be paralleled by a conservative pattern of mtDNA divergence, it seems increasingly likely that many avian species have shared more recent common ancestors than have their nonavian taxonomic counterparts. However, estimates of avian divergence times derived from mtDNA- and protein-calibrated clocks cannot readily be reconciled with some published dates based on limited fossil remains. If the earlier paleontological interpretations are valid, then protein and mtDNA evolution must be somewhat decelerated in birds. The empirical and conceptual issues raised by these findings are highly analogous to those in the long-standing debate about rates of molecular evolution and times of separation of ancestral hominids from African apes.      

Effect of vitamin D3, arginine, and a biologically active complex from Serratula coronata on free radical oxidation of lipids in vitamin D deficiency

Lipid free-radical oxidation (LFRO) on the D-deficient model with the animal administration per os by vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), specimen from Serratula coronata plant, containing low molecular weight biological sterol--20-hydroxyecdysone (ecdysterone) was investigated. As well influence of arginine as one of the amino acid components of the specimen from Serratula coronata was investigated. The LFRO in the blood serum, liver microsomal and mitochondrial fractions were characterize by measured of the chemiluminescence kinetic parameters. Vitamin D3, the specimen from Serratula coronata plant and arginine displayed some antioxidant (AO) properties as was established. On the basis of the received experimental data the series of their antioxidizing activity: vitamin D3 = drug from Serratula coronata > arginine were offered. The possible mechanism of the 20-hydroxyecdysone and arginine participation on LFRO maybe in free-radical reactions breaking via hydroxy and amino groups in structure of their molecules.     

90Sr and 137Cs in higher aquatic plants of the Chernobyl nuclear plant exlusion zone]

The content of radionuclides 90Sr and 137Cs in higher aquatic plants of water objects within Chernobyl NPP exclusion zone has been analysed. Biodiversity of phytocenose was studied and species-indicators of radioactive contamination were revealed. The seasonal dynamics of radionuclide content in macrophytes was studied and the role of main aquatic plant clumps in processes of 137Cs and 90Sr distribution in abiotic component of biohydrocenose was demonstrated.     

90Sr, 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu,and 241Am radionuclides in macrophytes within the Krasnensky flood plain: species specificity of concentration and distribution in phytocenosis components

The analysis of the content of radionuclides 90Sr, 137Cs, 238Pu, 239 + 240Pu and 241Am in water vegetation of flood plain reservoirs has allowed studing features of radionuclide accumulation by various species of macrophytes and revealing bioindicators of radionuclide contamination. Thus species-specificity of radionuclide accumulation can essentially change the contribution of different species to a percentage ratio of the radionuclide content in phytomass of reservoirs in comparison with fund of higher aquatic plants.     

Activity of antioxidant enzymes in enterocytes of the small intestine and blood cells after ionizing irradiation and administration of vitamin E in rats

The long-term influence of low X-ray irradiation increases lipid peroxidation (LP) in radiosensitive (bone marrow, enterocytes of small intenstine) and in relatively radioresistant blood cells (erythrocytes). The activation of antioxidant system enzymes in observed cells does not decrease LP intensity. We concluded that additional administration of alpha-tocopherol provided the decrease of the first and end products of LP in the observed tissues mostly in the beginning of the experiment. Antioxidant effect of the preparation is more significant in cells with high proliferative activity but normal activity of enzymes was not determined.     

Regional government policy in the area of preventing the spread of HIV infection and drug abuse among youth

In 1993 the Youth Social Service, aimed at the creation of favorable conditions for the development of young people, the realization of their rights, the preservation of their individuality, their self determination and self expression, the support of their innovative activities, was created in Kiev. The work on the prevention of the spread if HIV infection and injection drug use should be considered only in the aspect of the involvement of young people in the work on the prevention of negative phenomena. The prerequisite for these programs was the tendency to an increase in the number of manifestations of negative phenomena among young people in Kiev. One of the most complicated programs was the program "Harm Reduction" among injecting drug users. The main prospect in the realization of this program was the involvement of a large number of volunteers and training by the method "Per Education".