The possibility of using Daphnia magna as an alternative test object for evaluating the receptor selectivity of cholinotropic substances

The results of study of the selectivity of the effects of cholinonegative and cholinopositive agents obtained on Daphnia magna hydrobionts were compared with the results of investigations on rats. This allowed Daphnia to be recommended as an alternative test object for studying the selectivity of the effect of cholinotropic agents in relation to some subtypes of muscarine receptors in an intact organism.     

The action of emoxipin, lithium oxybutyrate and pikamilon on the blood circulation of the ischemic brain

Acute experiments were conducted on rats under nembutal anesthesia to compare the efficacy of emoxipin with that of lithium oxybutyrate and picamilon in the postischemic period after preventive and therapeutic injections in various doses. Emoxipin proved to be most effective in prevention of postischemic non-restoration of the flow of blood in the brain and in preservation of the autoregulation responses of the cerebral vessels. The possible mechanisms of the effect of the drug are discussed.     

L-myc and GSTM1 polymorphism in cerebral glioma

L-MYC and GSTMI polymorphisms were studied in glioma patients. L-MYC allele frequency in patients (L: 61/114 (54%); S: 53/114 (46%)) and controls (L: 108/204 (53%); S: 96/204 (47%)) was identical. S allele was associated with certain unfavourable clinical features of the disease. In particular, its frequency was 26/42 (62%) in relapse vs. 26/68 (38%) in relapse-free disease (p < 0.05). GSTMI "null" genotype was identified in both patients and healthy donors (48%). GSTMI-deficient genotypes were significantly predominant in patients with grade III-IV gliomas as compared with grade I-II tumors (p < 0.05). Patients, but not donors, frequently revealed a combination of SS L-MYC homozygosity and GSTMI (-) variant (p < 0.01) as well as an association of LL L0-MYC homozygosity and GSTMI (+) genotype (p < 0.05).     

EFR-like peptides and their receptors as prognostic factors for the survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

The levels of EGFR and its ligands have been assayed in tumor and adjacent lung tissues in NSCLC patients. Both EGFR and EGF-like peptides were found in tumor more frequently than in unaltered tissue. It was shown (Kaplan-Meyer) that simultaneous expression of EGFR and its ligands in tumor and adjacent lung tissues was associated with lower overall and relapse-free survival in NSCLC patients.     

Sternal osteosynthesis after cardiac surgery

Sternal fixation with nickelide titanium staples with shape memory effect is considered to be a novel method of wound closure after cardiac operations. The study includes data of 140 patients and is devoted to the preliminary assessment of the use of the mentioned fixators with self-regulating compression. Osteosynthesis proved to be completely effective in 136 (97,1%) patients. The use of nitinol staples allows not only a secure sternal fixation with minimal risk of underlying structures' trauma, but decreases time of postoperative patients' rehabilitation after the major cardiac surgery.     

Eccrine spiradenoma]

Benign epithelial tumor of the skin--eccrine spiradenoma--is characterized in detail clinically and morphologically.     

Clinical and immunological factors in predicting an early exudative reaction after extraction of senile cataracts with implantation of elastic IOL]

Clinical and immunological studies in 170 patients with senile cataracts carried out before and during the first 7 days after cataract extraction with implantation of intraocular lenses helped define the risk factors for development of an early exudative reaction: patients' age under 60 years, clinical signs of secondary immune deficiency presenting as infection syndrome, increased levels of nonspecific immunity factors with deterioration of the phagocytic component, T-lymphopenia, CD4/CD8 imbalance, and increased levels of interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor in the serum and lacrimal fluid.     

Chromatographic behavior of the hepatitis B virus surface antigen in donor plasma

Behavior of HBsAg in adsorption chromatography of the antigen-containing plasma in a column with unmodified macropore silica was studied. Under the employed conditions of overlaying and elution, five maximum yields of plasma proper proteins from the column (peaks 1-5) were observed. HBsAg was determined mainly in the material of peaks 4 and 5 in which the dominating host protein was lipoprotein HDL. No HBsAg was detected in albumin-enriched fraction. Similarities of chromatographic behavior of all the three classes of particles whose surface is presented by HBsAg, 20 nm particles, filamentous forms, and Dane particles, were observed.