Functional structure and cerebrovascular circulation of the vestibulo-ocular formations of the brain stem of the human cerebrum

This work is dedicated to the study of anatomo-physiological peculiarities of the construction and cerebrovascular circulation of the vestibulo-ocular formations of the brain stem of the human cerebrum. The analysis of anatomo-physiological data enable to convince that the arches of the vertical and horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflexes include many structures of the brain stem of the human cerebrum, which are located along its longitude from the superior colliculi to caudal sections of brain stem. There is an existence of separate mechanisms of horizontal and vertical vestibulo-ocular interaction. The peculiarity of cerebrovascular circulation of main vestibulo-ocular structures is their profuse vascularisation chiefly by branches of the vertebro basilar system of arteries, which widely connected between each other, providing sufficiently profuse circulation in normal conditions of vital activity. The anatomical information above has great importance for the correct interpretation of the symptoms of infarctions in vertebro-basilar pool of the cerebrum, diagnostics and expert appreciation of these pathological states.     

A Comparative Analysis of Stachybotrys chartarum Strains Isolated in Russia

This work deals with a comparative analysis of Stachybotrys chartarum strains isolated from various artificial cellulose-containing materials and natural substrates in geographically distant regions of Russia. The analysis included determination of the spore size; the strain toxicity to Paramecium caudatum; the strain resistance to the fungicides Benomil, Olilen, and Tilt; and the PCR study of the genome structure with the aid of a primer that was complementary to the core sequence of the SINE retrotransposon. It was found that some of the strains that were isolated from different areas and from different substrates differ in their toxicity, fungicide resistance, and genome structure. PCR analysis showed the absence of any correlation between the genome structure, the strain properties, the geographic area, and the substrates from which the strains were isolated. The pheno- and genotypic diversity of the strains and their different vegetative compatibility suggest the existence of an intraspecies diversity of the S. chartarum strains that were isolated in different geographic areas. The absence of any correlation between the pheno- and genotypic properties of the strains and the substrates from which they were isolated implies that the colonization of artificial substrates by S. chartarum occurred occasionally from natural habitats. The S. chartarum populations that live on artificial substrates are unlikely to have their own evolutionary history.     

Comparative mechanical unfolding studies of spectrin domains R15, R16 and R17

Spectrins belong to repetitive three-helix bundle proteins that have vital functions in multicellular organisms and are of potential value in nanotechnology. To reveal the unique physical features of repeat proteins we have studied the structural and mechanical properties of three repeats of chicken brain α-spectrin (R15, R16 and R17) at the atomic level under stretching at constant velocities (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1?Å·ps^?1) and constant forces (700 and 900?pN) using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at T?=?300?K. 114 independent MD simulations were performed and their analysis has been done. Despite structural similarity of these domains we have found that R15 is less mechanically stable than R16, which is less stable than R17. This result is in agreement with the thermal unfolding rates. Moreover, we have observed the relationship between mechanical stability, flexibility of the domains and the number of aromatic residues involved in aromatic clusters.     

An essential saccharide binding domain for the mAb 2C7 established for Neisseria gonorrhoeae LOS by ES-MS and MSn

A study of bacterial surface oligosaccharides were investigated among different strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to correlate structural features essential for binding to the MAb 2C7. This epitope is widely expressed and conserved in gonococcal isolates, characteristics essential to an effective candidate vaccine antigen. Sample lipooligosaccharides (LOS), was prepared by a modification of the hot phenol-water method from which de-O-acetylated LOS and oligosaccharide (OS) components were analyzed by ES-MS-CID-MS and ES-MSnin a triple quadrupole and an ion trap mass spectrometer, respectively. Previously documented natural heterogeneity was apparent from both LOS and OS preparations which was admixed with fragments induced by hydrazine and mild acid treatment. Natural heterogeneity was limited to phosphorylation and antenni extensions to the alpha-chain. Mild acid hydrolysis to release OS also hydrolyzed the beta(1-->6) glycosidic linkage of lipid A. OS structures were determined by collisional and resonance excitation combined with MS and multistep MSn which provided sequence information from both neutral loss, and nonreducing terminal fragments. A comparison of OS structures, with earlier knowledge of MAb binding, enzyme treatment, and partial acid hydrolysis indicates a generic overlapping domain for 2C7 binding. Reoccurring structural features include a Hepalpha(1-->3)Hepbeta(1-->5)KDO trisaccharide core branched on the nonreducing terminus (Hep-2) with an alpha(1-->2) linked GlcNAc (gamma-chain), and an alpha-linked lactose (beta-chain) residue. From the central heptose (Hep-1), a beta(1-->4) linked lactose (alpha-chain), moiety is required although extensions to this residue appear unnecessary.      

Dystonic Camptocormia: Clinical Presentation,Diagnosis, and Treatment Results

This study was aimed at assessing clinical features of camptocormia as one of the dystonia symptoms and evaluating the efficacy of various treatments for this condition. The study involved 39 patients with dystonia and camptocormia symptoms. We analyzed the clinical features of dystonic camptocormia and evaluated the results of pharmacotherapy and botulinum therapy as well as neuromodulation methods, namely transcranial magnetic stimulation and deep brain stimulation. A phased and integrated approach was shown to be required for managing patients with camptocormia caused by dystonic hyperkinesis. Local botulinum toxin injections and deep brain stimulation are the most effective treatments. More extensive use of low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation may be advisable for everyday practical use in patients with dystonic camptocormia.     

Incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine into DNA in newborn rat tissues

The incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) into newborn rat tissue DNA has been determined after i.p. injection of 5-bromo-2′-deoxy[6-³H]uridine. Incorporation of the unchanged nucleoside was shown by hydrolysis and ion exchange chromatography of extracted DNA. In all tissues examined, more than 90% of the radioactivity incorporated was in the form of bromodeoxyuridine.     

A comparative analysis of Stachybotrys chartarum strains isolated in Russia

This work deals with a comparative analysis of Stachybotrys chartarum strains isolated from various artificial cellulose-containing materials and natural substrates in the geographically distant regions of Russia. The analysis included the determination of the spore size, the strain toxicity to Paramecium caudatum, the strain resistance to the fungicides Benomil, Olilen, and Tilt, and the PCR study of the genome structure with the aid of a primer that was complementary to the core sequence of the SINE retrotransposon. It was found that some of the strains that were isolated from different areas and from different substrates differ in their toxicity, fungicide resistance, and genome structure. The PCR analysis showed the absence of any correlation between the genome structure, the strain properties, the geographic area, and the substrates from which the strains were isolated. The pheno- and genotypic diversity of the strains and their different vegetative compatibility suggest the existence of an intraspecies diversity of the S. chartarum strains that were isolated in different geographic areas. The absence of any correlation between the pheno- and genotypic properties of the strains and the substrates from which they were isolated implies that the colonization of artificial substrates by S. chartarum occurred occasionally from natural habitats. The S. chartarum populations that live on artificial substrates are unlikely to have their own evolutionary history.     

Postlabelling HPLC analysis of lipophilic DNA adducts from human lung

A new modification of the 32P postlabelling method was described for the analysis of lipophilic DNA in human tissues. To isolate these DNA adducts the method applied nuclease P1 enrichment before labelling and butanol extraction after labelling, followed by high performance liquid chromatography HPLC separation and flow through radioactivity detection. These enrichment methods are known to work for many adducts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs . In human peripheral lung tissue fro m smokers the apparent level of the DNA adducts observed was 25-244 adducts per 108 nucelotides; in two alleged non smokers the level of adducts was 17 and 109 adducts per 108 nucleotides. When the same samples were analysed by thin layer chromatography TLC , as in the conventional postlabelling assay, the recovery was 5 of that of the HPLC method. Nevertheless, the results from the two methods correlated. In TLC the adducts were lost because they did not remain in the origin in D1 of the TLC development. There was no large difference in recovery between the two techniques for the PAH-DNA adduct standards used. The present results are underestimates of the true adduct levels because there is no way to correct for labelling efficiency and recovery of unknown adducts. Yet they give a lower estimate of the level of lipophilic DNA adducts in human lung tissue.