Activating effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tanacetum vulgare L.</Emphasis> pectin polysaccharide on ionic channels of neuronal membrane

The membranotropic effects of TVF tanacetan pectin polysaccharide derived from Tanacetum vulgare L. was studied by the voltage-clamp method on isolated neurons of Lymnaea stagnalis mollusk. TVF in concentrations of 0.1-10.0 µg/ml nonselectively activated the outward potassium and total inward (sodium and calcium) ionic currents (slightly dose-dependently and reversibly increased their amplitude by 5–10%) and decreased nonspecific leakage current.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 10, pp. 439–441, October, 2004     

Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on radioligand binding of [<Superscript>3</Superscript>H]-testosterone by androgen receptors in rat hypothalamus

Intramuscular injections of dehydroepiandrosterone in a dose of 0.7 mg/kg for 10 days significantly increased nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of androgen receptors in the preoptic/ anterior hypothalamic area. Presumably, the effect of the neurosteroid is mediated by 5-reductase transformation of dehydroepiandrosterone into 5-dehydroepiandrosterone, which initiates the synthesis of androgen receptors.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 10, pp. 435–438, October, 2004     

Anticipatory postural changes induced by active unloading and comparison with passive unloading in man

Normal human subjects, sitting in a chair, were required to maintain stable elbow flexion against loads of 0.5 kg or 1.0 kg. Unloading was affected either passively by the experimenter, or actively with the subject's own contralateral arm. Elbow angle, force exerted by the load, and electromyographic activity (EMG) of biceps and triceps muscles of both arms were recorded and averaged. Passive unloading was followed by a reduction of biceps EMG activity, starting 50–80 ms after weight lift, and by an upward deflection of the forearm. With active unloading, however, a reduction of the biceps EMG activity slightly preceded the onset of unloading (0–30 ms). This reduction of the actively unloaded arm occurred at about the same time as the activity of the contralateral unloading arm. In this experiment, the unloaded forearm maintained an almost stable position. Thus, the anticipatory adjustment of elbow posture, observed when unloading was performed by the subject, appears to optimize limb stability during the mechanical perturbation.     

Effect of perftoran on macroglobulin content in the plasma and peritoneal exudate of rats with acute exudative inflammation (peritonitis)

The effect of blood substitute perftoran on the content of ₁- and ₂-macroglobulins in the plasma and exudate was studied in rats with acute exudative inflammation. After intravenous injection of perftoran macroglobulin content increased in the plasma, but remained unchanged in the peritoneal fluid.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 10, pp. 397–399, October, 2004     

The effect of praziquantel on the pseudophyllidean cestodeBothriocephalus acheilognathi in vitro

AdultBothriocephalus acheilognathi were incubated in solutions containing 0 (control), 0.1, 1.0, 10.0 and 100 g praziquantel per ml (0, 10², 10³, 10⁴ and 10⁵ gl^–1) of 0.9% saline for 5, 15 and 60 min at a temperature of 18°C. The worms contracted immediately upon being placed in the drug. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed considerable tegumental damage particularly in the neck region. Vacuolization and bubbling to the tegument occurred in all of the drug solutions tested. Exposure to drug concentrations of more than 1.0 gml^–1 (10³ gl^–1) praziquantel for 15 min or greater resulted in many of the bubbles bursting and releasing their contents to the exterior. Mature proglottides were distorted and had occasional large swellings resulting in the mass expulsion of eggs. Praziquantel had no ovicidal activity. Exposure to drug concentrations of 100 g (10⁵ gl^–1) praziquantel per ml saline for 24 h was not lethal to the worms.     

A new sequence variant ofColeus blumei viroid 3 from theColeus blumei cultivar ‘Fairway Ruby’

Summary A viroid was isolated from symptomlessColeus blumei cultivar (cv) Fairway Ruby plants using the bidirectional PAGE method for analysis of small circular RNA molecules. The viroid was transmitted to viroid-free plants ofColeus blumei cv. Scarlet Dragonfly by mechanical inoculation. Cloning and sequencing revealed that the viroid from theColeus cv. Fairway Ruby is closely related to theColeus blumei viroid 3-Bv (CbVd 3-Bv) isolated from theColeus cv. Bienvenue. Therefore, the new viroid sequence variant has been namedColeus blumei viroid 3-FR (CbVd 3-FR).Coleus blumei viroid 3-FR consists of 364 nucleotides, 202 G + C, 162 A + U with a GC content of 55.5%. The most stable rod-like secondary structure of this viroid has 82 G:C, 50 A:U and 10 G:U base pairs with a minimum free energy of –670.5 kJ/mol (–160.4 kcal/mol). Due to mutations that increase the stability of the rod-like secondary structure, CbVd 3-FR has a lower minimum free energy than CbVd 3-Bv (–598.2 kJ/mol; –143.1 kcal/mol). A base-exchange in the upper strand of the central domain of CbVd 3-FR may stabilize the basal helix of hairpin I.The sequence data reported here have been submitted to the EMBL database and have been assigned the accession numbers X95290 (for CbVd 3-FR) and X57294 (for CbVd 3-Bv).     

Effects of tonicity,digestive enzymes and bile salts,and nutrient media on the survival of excysted metacercariae of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Echinostoma caproni</Emphasis>

The effects of tonicity, digestive enzymes and bile salts, and various nutrients added to Lockes solution were studied on the chemically excysted metacercariae of Echinostoma caproni. Metacercariae were maintained at 37.5°C in multiwell chambers, ten per 0.5 ml of test solution; each experiment was replicated five times. Most metacercariae maintained in deionized water or Lockes 2× solution were dead within 2 h. About 85% and 55% of the metacercariae were alive at 8 h in Lockes 1× and Lockes 0.5×, respectively. Metacercariae of this species are osmoconformers, as is the case for adult digeneans. All metacercariae were dead in an acid saline or acid pepsin medium by 2 h. About 50% of the metacercariae were alive in an alkaline trypsin-bile salts medium at 4 h. These results suggest that the acidic pepsin environment in the stomach of a definitive host would be detrimental to the survival of excysted metacercariae, but prolonged survival in alkaline trypsin-bile salts would facilitate establishment of this larval stage in the mucosa of the host small intestine. Studies on excysted metacercariae in Lockes 1× supplemented with various nutrients showed that optimal survival occurred in Lockes plus 0.1% glucose and in Lockes 1× plus 1% hens egg yolk. Significant survival of excysted metacercariae in Lockes 1× supplemented with either 0.1% proline, 0.1% threonine, or 0.1% serine did not occur.     

Crystallization of oral fluid components in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Crystal aggregations of oral fluid from normal subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were examined. Morphological signs characterizing crystal aggregations of salivary pools from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are described and classified.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 9, pp. 345–347, September, 2004     

Age-related differences in the response of blood stroke volume to stimulation of the sympathetic ganglion in rats with β-adrenoceptor blockade

Blood stroke volume in rats aging 21 and 56 days decreased during -adrenoceptor blockade with propranolol, but increased again by the 15th minute after treatment. Suprathreshold stimulation of the stellate ganglion decreased the stroke volume and increased the heart rate in control animals. Electrical stimulation after -adrenoceptor blockade was followed by a further decrease in stroke volume in young rats. In 100-day-old animals this parameter remained unchanged, while the cardiac output improved.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 10, pp. 393–396, October, 2004     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> regulation of cell behavior by calcium phosphates synthesized by the mechanochemical method

Biological activity of eight hydroxyapatite powders synthesized by the mechanochemical method was studied in vitro. Introduction of copper and zinc atoms into synthetic hydroxyapatite structure promotes cell adhesion. Hydroxyapatites obtained by the mechanochemical method are promising base for a new class of materials and coatings with regulated bioactivity for orthopedics and traumatology.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 9, pp. 356–360, September, 2004     

Rapid Method for Diagnosis of Abnormal Activity of Butyrylcholinesterase

We present the results of spectral studies of the interactions between butyrylcholinesterase and ethidium bromide fluorophore inhibitor. The ethidium bromide fluorescence selectively increased in the presence of butyrylcholinesterase. A rapid method for evaluation of serum butyrylcholinesterase activity is developed.__________Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 139, No. 2, pp. 234–236, February, 2005     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In Silico</Emphasis> Stochastic Network Models that Emulate the Molecular Sieving Characteristics of Bone

Recent studies implicate bones extracellular matrix as a living electrophoresis and ion exchange column with low pass filter function at the matrix level; whereas small molecules pass through the matrix microporosity, larger molecules penetrate the tissue through the pericellular space. In this study, stochastic network modeling principles were applied, for the first time to our knowledge, to build in silico, nano- to microscale models of bone. Small volumes of bone were modeled to include hierarchical levels of porosity comprising the bone matrix microporosity and the pericellular network. Flow and transport through the network was calculated for molecules from 1,000 to 100,000 datons (Da). On the basis of this study, two contrasting effects determine the rate and direction of transport of different size molecules through the hierarchical porous network of bone. Whereas diffusivity of a given molecule decreases with increasing molecular size, the size exclusion effects of bones low pass molecular sieve translate into increasing flow velocities for large molecular species along transport paths located in the immediate vicinity of the cells. Both phenomena are expected to have a profound effect on the formation of molecular gradients at a tissue level, providing cues for tissue generation and repair by cellular micromachines, i.e., osteoclasts and osteoblasts.     

Use of girth measurements for estimating body volume and body density in Indian girls aged 10–19 years

Summary Mean values and standard deviations of total body volume, body density, height, weight, and a battery of 20 girth measurements of 200 Punjabi girls aged 10–19 years are presented. Selective stepwise multiple regression equations for predicting total body volume and body density from girth measurements are also given for different age groups.Hip girth was the most commonly selected measurement at the first step in most age groups and the values of r between hip girth and total body volume ranged between 0.86–0.96 in different age groups. The values of multiple R between total body volume and a combination of first four selected girth measurements varied from 0.96–0.99 in different age groups.The values of multiple R between body density and a combination of four girth measurements selected up to fourth step ranged between 0.73–0.92 in different age groups.     

Analysis of miniature spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) from current noise in crayfish opener muscle

Deviating from the normal situation, some crayfish muscle fibres showed spontaneous inhibitory activity: discharge of large inhibitory postsynaptic currents, IPSCs, alternating with long lasting bursts of current noise. Analysis of the bursts of current noise revealed that they are composed of spontaneous miniature unit currents, sIPSCs. In the burst periods the sIPSCs occurred with an average rate of 3.5–10 kHz and had an amplitude of about ã=90 pA at a driving force E=10 mV. The peak conductance _ã=ã/E of the sIPSCs was _ã=9.2 nS±0.5 (S.D.,n=5) for membrane potentials between E=–60 mV and E=–80 mV. _ã seemed to decrease when the membrane was hyperpolarized. The time constants of decay, , of the sIPSCs were identical with of the IPSCs. Further, and its potential dependence agreed with the mean lifetimes of inhibitory postsynaptic channels operated by -aminobutyric acid (GABA) [Dudel et al. 1977, 1980]. Synchronized opening of about 750 inhibitory synaptic channels generates a sIPSC.Analysis of this anomalous bursting inhibitory activity thus yields the size of the inhibitory quantum of transmission, which could not be obtained from IPSCs.This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft     

Aggressive large granular lymphocyte lymphomas in five dogs: a clinical cytohistological and immunological study

Among 276 canine lymphomas referred to the Haematology–Cytology–Immunology laboratory of the Lyon Veterinary School between 1997 and 2003, there were five aggressive large granular lymphocyte (LGL) malignancies. The five dogs were clinically examined and followed up. Cytological and histological analyses of the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, intestine and bone marrow were performed. The immunophenotype and proliferation index were established. The most significant clinical finding was that of an aggressive clinical course, the presence of hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly, an abdominal lymphadenopathy, anaemia in four cases and blood and bone-marrow involvement in two cases. The cytological presentation was a diffuse infiltration of atypical, large granular lymphoid cells. Two cases were of the null type (CD3–, CD79a–, CD4–, CD8–), and three were of the T-cell type (CD3+, CD79a–, CD4–, CD8+). The proliferation index was high in all cases, with a median of 54.4%. The histological presentation of the null-type cases was an infiltration of the livers portal triads and the spleens red pulp. The T CD8+ cases showed two different patterns, characterised by infiltration: in the first, of all the intestines layers, the livers portal triads, the spleens red pulp and the lymph nodes and, in the second, infiltration of the livers sinusoids, the spleens red pulp. Although these aggressive LGL lymphomas are still poorly known, they may be compared to three types of human lymphoma: aggressive NK cell lymphoma/leukemia, hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma and enteropathy-type T-cell lymphoma.     

Factors related to postmenopausal muscle performance: a cross-sectional population-based study

The aim of the present study was to investigate cross-sectionally the association of postmenopausal muscle strength with simple performance tests. A random sample of 1,166 naturally postmenopausal women (born 1932–1941) was selected from the Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention (OSTPRE) study cohort. Grip and quadriceps strength were measured with strain gauge dynamometers and reported in both absolute values (KPa and kg) and per kilogram of body mass (N cm^–2 kg^–1 and N kg^–1). In addition, two performance tests, ability to stand on one foot and ability to squat down to touch the floor were carried out. A five-category self-assessment of overall health (very good, good, moderate, bad, and very bad) was obtained by postal questionnaire. The women that were able to stand on one foot and able to squat down to touch the floor had greater grip and quadriceps strength than their counterparts (P<0.001 and P<0.03 in ANOVA, respectively). In addition, self-assessed health had a strong positive association with muscle strength in the grip and leg extensor muscles in ANOVA (P<0.001 between very good and moderate or poorer state of health) and regression model (P<0.001). Adjustment for age, duration of menopause, body mass, height, physical activity level, use of HRT, and number of diseases and medications did not change any of the main effects. Also, there were no differences in results between absolute measurement values and values reported per kilogram of body mass. According to the present study, a simple performance test may be useful in the prediction of postmenopausal muscle strength. Furthermore, self-assessed state of health is strongly associated with muscle strength in postmenopausal women.     

Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on radioligand binding of [<Superscript>3</Superscript>H]-testosterone by androgen receptors in rat hypothalamus

Intramuscular injections of dehydroepiandrosterone in a dose of 0.7 mg/kg for 10 days significantly increased nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of androgen receptors in the preoptic/ anterior hypothalamic area. Presumably, the effect of the neurosteroid is mediated by 5-reductase transformation of dehydroepiandrosterone into 5-dehydroepiandrosterone, which initiates the synthesis of androgen receptors.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 10, pp. 435–438, October, 2004     

Comparative Characterization of Cytokine Production by Concanavalin A-Activated Splenocytes from BALB/c and C57Bl/6 Mice after Cold Exposure

The level of cytokines produced by ConA activated splenocytes was studied in male BALB/c and C57Bl/6 mice after single and repeated cold exposure (–20°C, 3 min). Single cold exposure significantly decreased IL-2, -3, -4, -5, -10, -12, IFN- production in BALB/c mice and decreased IL-2 content and increased TNF- level in C57Bl/6 mice. Repeated cold exposure normalized the content of IL-2, -4, -10, -12, and IFN- in BALB/c mice, which reflects the development of adaptive immune reactions. In C57Bl/6 mice IL-2, -3, -5, -10, -12, and IFN- production remained significantly decreased, which attested to dysadaptive processes.__________Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 139, No. 2, pp. 188–190, February, 2005     

Selection of E. coli strains for stable transformation with recombinant plasmids containing full-length genome of clinical HIV-1 isolates

Strain 6007 obtained from the parent E. coli strain 5097 is a result of ptsH5 mutation, which allowed cells to grow without common components of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. Segregants of strain 6007 retaining the Pol⁺ gene responsible for inability to grow at 37°C, but gaining rifampicin resistance (Rif^R) were used for cloning of cointegrate plasmids. Preintegration complexes of HIV-1 were cointergated with the pBR-322 plasmid and transformed strain 6018. Sequencing showed that the pPIC91 hybrid plasmid contains full-length genome of HIV-1 with shortened 5-terminal LTR and full-length copy of pBR322. Elimination of the pPIC91 plasmid from 6018 cells was followed by the appearance of auxotrophic insertion mutants. Sequencing of the insert region showed that chromosome DNA of the host cell includes integrated genomes of pBR-322 and HIV-1.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 11, pp. 550–554, November, 2004     

Stimulatory effect of green tea extract on the growth of neurites in the rat spinal ganglion culture

Addition of green tea extract in concentrations of 0.004–0.006% to the nutrient medium markedly stimulated the growth of spinal ganglion neurites of 1–2-day-old rats.Translated from Byulleten Eksperimentalnoi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 138, No. 9, pp. 296–298, September, 2004