Three-dimensional structure of thin myocardial filaments in cardiac insufficiency caused by toxic allergic myocarditis

Diffraction patterns of a single myocardial thin filament and its Mg-paracrystals from normal myocardium and in cardiac insufficiency caused by toxic allergic myocarditis were presented, and three-dimensional reconstruction of normal and pathological filaments was carried out. It was shown that in a rigor solution pathological actin protomers are elongated, while normal filaments are kidney-shaped. It is concluded that changes in the thin myocardial filament helix parameters in heart failure caused by toxic allergic myocarditis are due to the loss of conformational mobility of native actin filaments. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 1, pp. 101–105, January, 1999     

Energy, structure, conformation, and heart failure

The problem of heart failure is analyzed from the point of view of conformation changes in submolecular cardiomyocyte structures. The development of heart failure as a consequence of abnormal function of contractile myocardial proteins is discussed. The properties of actin and the role of structural changes in actin molecules in the impairment of ATP energy utilization and generation of contractile force by actomyosin complexes are studied. Experiments on animal models and autopsy samples showed that conformation changes precede disturbances in energy utilization by myofibrils, abnormal functioning of the energy-producing and Ca²⁺-transporting systems during the development of heart failure. It is proposed that rigid recombinations of submolecular structures in contracile proteins underlie impairment of myocardial contractility and resistance of the myocardium to regulatory factors and drugs (immobilization). Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 8, pp. 124–140, August, 1999     

Conformational changes in albumin molecule: a new response to pathological process

A new fluorescent test developed at the Institute of Physicochemical Medicine (Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation) allows to determine not only blood concentration of albumin, but also to evaluate the state of its molecule. The test is feasible and enables express-analysis of the plasma and serum without fractionation and other preliminary procedures. This test reveals abnormalities in albumin molecule caused by toxic metabolities or conformational changes. Many diseases are accompanied by conformational changes in albumin, while its concentration often remains unchanged. Changes in, albumin conformation can serve a diagnostic and prognostic criterion in some pathologies. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 7, pp. 4–8, July 2000     

Conformational changes in albumin molecule: A new response to pathological process

A new fluorescent test developed at the Institute of Physicochemical Medicine (Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation) allows to determine not only blood concentration of albumin, but also to evaluate the state of its molecule. The test is feasible and enables express-analysis of the plasma and serum without fractionation and other preliminary procedures. This test reveals abnormalities in albumin molecule caused by toxic metabolities or conformational changes. Many diseases are accompanied by conformational changes in albumin, while its concentration often remains unchanged. Changes in, albumin conformation can serve a diagnostic and prognostic criterion in some pathologies. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 7, pp. 4–8, July 2000     

Effect of trekrezan on lipid peroxidation in patients with chronic heart failure

The effect of the new Russian-manufactured immunomodulator trekrezan in combination with isosorbide dinitrate on lipid peroxidation is studied in patients with chronic heart failure associated with ischemic heart disease, arterial hypertension, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Trekrezan reduces blood content of malonic dialdehyde and diene conjugates and the index of peroxide production and increases the content of vitamin A. Trekrezan can be recommended for clinical use. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 8, pp. 186–188, August, 1998     

Prognostic value of cardiodynamic indexes with respect to the development of heart failure during massive pulmonary embolism

The cardiodynamics of the right ventricle was studied during the first 30 min of massive pulmonary embolism complicated and uncomplicated by heart failure. Both variants were accompanied by diastolic dysfunction of the right ventricle. Some changes in the cardiodynamics observed during complicated massive pulmonary embolism indicated a lower increase in the contractile activity, decreased myocardial contractility, and more pronounced dilation of the right ventricle. The absolute indexes of mechanical activity including indexes of contractility are not reliable criteria for early diagnostics of heart failure in the acute stage of massive pulmonary embolism, whereas changes in these indexes hold much prognostic value. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 12, pp. 634–637, December, 1999     

Changes in components of the kinin system and structure of myocardium caused by antikinin preparations in rabbits with allergic myocarditis

The effect of anginin, contrical, aspirin, indomethacin, and -aminocaproic acid on the kininogen content and kininase activity in the myocardium and on its morphological structure was studied in rabbits with experimental allergic myocarditis. Anginin and contrical depressed the activation of the kinin system of the myocardium much more than the other substances and facilitated restoration of the morphological structure of the heart muscle. By inhibiting the kinin system of the plasma and the myocardium by antikinin substances it is possible to arrest the development or reduce the severity of allergic inflammation in the myocardium.M. F. Vladimirskii Moscow Regional Clinical Research Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 8, pp. 979–981, August, 1976.     

Expression of activation markers by lymphocytes of patients with infective allergic myocarditis

Negative correlation between the severity of infective allergic myocarditis and the content of CD8⁺ lymphocytes has been established. The counts of CD25⁺ and CD71⁺ lymphocytes increased during the early period of the disease. Attenuation of inflammation in the myocardium was associated with a tendency to normalization of these parameters. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 1, pp. 86–88, January, 1999     

ATP-sparing effect of histochrome in acute myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary heart disease

Afterin vitro ischemia, the content of adenosine triphosphate in myocardial bioptates from patients with heart diseases is reduced. This reduction is more pronounced in patients with coronary heart disease than in patients with rhythm disturbances. Administration of the antioxidant preparation histochrome to patients with coronary heart disease preserves ATP during ischemic exposure. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 12, pp. 669–671, December, 1997     

Correction of altered β-glucosidase activity induced by the toxic effect of strophanthin K and modeled cardiac decompensation with cordaron

Some biochemical mechanisms of the protective effect of cordaron with respect to strophanthin K cardiotoxicity in modeled cardiac failure are experimentally studied in random-bred male albino mice. Strophanthin K is shown to aggravate the disturbances in free and total activity of β-glucosidase and in lysosome membrane permeability in the heart that are characteristic of this pathology. In comparison with the toxic dose of cardiac glycoside, cordaron has an opposite effect on the functional state of the myocardial lysosome system. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, No. 6, pp. 645–647, June, 1996     

Ultrastructural changes in the pancreas and their role in the pathogenesis of myocardial injury in endotoxin shock

The pancreas in endotoxin shock is characterized by the hypoperfusion, prolonged cycle of acinar cell secretion, and activation of their lysosomal system. The rearrangements in the exocrine part of the gland involve the production of a myocardial depressant factor exerting a negative inotropic effect on the heart. Myocardial dysfunction is aggravated by myofibrillar contractures, myocytolysis, glycogenolysis, and circulatory disorders. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 11, pp. 587–593, November, 1998     

Na+/H+ countertransport and calcium exchange in peripheral blood cells of healthy subjects and patients with chronic heart failure

A comparative study is performed of Na⁺/H⁺ exchange and Ca²⁻ mobilization in erythrocytes and platelets of patients with stage I–II chronic heart failure caused by dilative cardiomyopathy and ischemic heart disease. A significant rise in the Na⁺/H⁺ exchange rate is found in the cells of chronic heart failure patients, which correlates with an elevated erythrocyte and platelet concentration of Ca²⁺ and an increased “calcium” response of platelets to inductors. The findings testify to a certain functional relationship between various cation-transporting cellular systems whose change in properties upon chronic heart failure can play an important pathogenic role. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 12, pp. 572–575, December, 1994     

Morphofunctional changes in renal vessels caused by experimental coarctation of aorta

In coarctation of the aorta tangential tension of the walls of renal arteries and arterioles decreases, which leads to a drop in the glycogen content and activity of respiratory enzymes in medial leiomyocytes and accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the media. This is accompanied by atrophy and sclerosis of the vessels. The observed changes disappear after surgical correction. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 5, pp. 591–593, May, 1997     

Analysis of the effect of morphine and trimeperidine on the uptake and liberation of noradrenalin by myocardial tissue

The effect of morphine and trimeperidine on the concentration, uptake, and liberation of noradrenalin (NA) in the rat myocardium was investigated. Trimeperidine lowers the NA level in the myocardium. Morphine does not affect the liberation of NA-¹⁴C from the isolated perfused heart, whereas trimeperidine significantly increases it, affecting both the slow and the rapid release of the mediator. Trimeperidine does not affect the uptake of NA-¹⁴C by the perfused heart but morphine significantly lowers it. Competition between morphine and NA is characterized by an incomplete inhibition effect: Morphine and NA mutually affect the affinity of each other for the receptor and their interaction depends on their relative concentrations.Laboratory of Pharmacology of the Cardiovascular System, Institute of Pharmacology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. V. Zakusov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 82, No. 11, pp. 1345–1347, November, 1976.     

Histotopography of some metabolic processes in the heart

The localization of the principal metabolic processes in the heart of untrained, trained, and overtrained rats in a state of relative rest and in untrained rats exposed to single and repeated physical exertion was investigated histochemically. Processes of glycogenolysis and glycolysis in the myocardium were found to be more active in the subendocardial layers, whereas oxidation of fatty acids and ketone bodies was more active in the subepicardial layers. The reverse relationships were found in the myocardium of trained and overtrained rats. The role of the subepicardial layers of the myocardium in the maintenance of cardiac function in response to a sharp increase in the intensity of its activity is demonstrated.Laboratory of Functional Morphology, All-Union Research Institute of Physical Culture, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 86, No. 11, pp. 607–610, November, 1978.     

Cardiodynamics and pumping function of the heart under conditions of hyperthermia

Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 116, N ^o 8, pp. 115–116, August, 1993     

Stress-induced rearrangment of the myocardium: Time course of structural changes in various types of stress

Common morphological changes in the myocardium were revealed in rats exposed to three different types of stress. At the initial stages of stress, the structural changes were stereotypical (contractures) irrespective of the type of stress factor and differed only by their severity. At later stages contractures were gradually replaced by cytolytic injuries, which did not depend on the type of stress either. Early predominance of myocytolysis in combination with excessive contracture injuries led to rapid death, which is probably a manifestation of genetically determined low capacity to adapt to stress in some individuals. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 10, pp. 378–381, 2000     

Perfluorodecalin-induced changes in clinical and immunological parameters of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Perftoran injected into guinea pigs for 17 days after immunization with encephalitogenic mixture reduces morbidity and/or mortality, suppresses specific inhibition of migration of peripheral blood leukocytes and skin delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to the main myelin protein, and stimulates the production of anti-myelin antibodies. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 3, pp. 315–318, March, 1997