Blood oxygen transport and pro-oxidant-antioxidant state during liver reperfusion

Indices of blood oxygen transport (hemoglobin-oxygen affinity, pCO2, pH, pO2, etc.) and prooxidant-antioxidant state (Schiff bases, conjugated dienes, catalase, retinal, alpha-tocopherol) were measured in rabbit blood and the liver during postischemic reperfusion. Hepatic ischemia was induced for 30 min by ligation of a hepatica propria, and reperfusion lasted for 120 min. Hepatic ischemia worsened blood oxygen transport. Restoration of arterial blood flow did not result in improvement of oxygen delivery. Moreover, marked metabolic acidosis was observed throughout 2 hr of reperfusion. Ischemia induced a shift of oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve to the right. This shift persisted after restoration of hepatic arterial blood flow facilitating increased oxygen transport to tissues. Changes in blood oxygen transport during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion were accompanied with high activity of free radical processes. During reperfusion, the largest increase in content of lipid peroxidation products and the greatest fall of some antioxidant levels except catalase were observed indicating impairment of liver prooxidant-antioxidant balance. The results showed that activation of lipid peroxidation and a decrease in some antioxidant levels during hepatic reperfusion were associated with lowering of hemoglobin-oxygen affinity and suggest participation of the latter in impairment of prooxidant-antioxidant balance.     

Computer modelling of the organs of the upper abdominal cavity

Method of creation computer models of upper floor of abdomen organs: liver, gallbladder, duodenum, pancreas, stomach, blood vessels with using computer system "DUCT" was described. Details of modelled structures of the cylindric and complicated forms were noted.     

Mast cells in photolesion of the skin and basal cell cancer associated with it

Morphofunctional features of skin mast cells located in the areas subjected to chronic UV-radiation and in the associated basal cell carcinoma with photoinjure have been studied. Various immunohistochemical methods (chromogranin A, CDla, HLA-DR, CD35, Ki67, P53, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, involucrine) were used. It is found that chronic UV-damage leads to mast cell hyperplasia as well as activation of their synthetic, absorption and secretory functions. It is suggested that mast cell hyperplasia and increase of mast cells neuroendocrine activity provide a risk of basal cell carcinoma development.     

Achievements in morphological diagnosis of prostatic cancer: alpha-methylacyl-coenzyme-A-racemase--a new marker of malignant cell transformation

Gene P504S is considered as the most specific for prostatic carcinoma and its protein (alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A racemaze (AMACR/P504S) is higly sensitive and specific marker not only for adenocarcinoma cells but also for preceding changes - prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm (PIN). AMACR/P504S seems to be the first marker of malignant transformation and tumor progression. Use of immunohistochemical method for revealing this marker together with methods of basal prostatic cells observation (cytokeratin of a high molecular weight, cytokeratin 5/6, p63) improves morphological diagnosis of prostatic carcinoma, particularly on the material of needle biopsies. This combination allows one to identify neoplastic nature of some difficult lesions.     

Morphological features of juvenile colon polyps in children

Histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies of 50 solitary juvenile polyps (JP) and 50 JP from children with juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) were performed. Observations of the focal complex glandular structures with high mitotic rate were more frequent in JP from patients with JPS (n = 29, 58%) than in solitary JP (n = 17, 34%) (p < 0.03). The immunohistochemical study demonstrated p53 overexpression in individual cells and more than 50% of Ki-67-positive cells in 5 (10%) solitary JP and in 17(34%) JP from patients with JPS (p < 0.007). The finding of microglandular pattern is more typical for JP from patients with JPS. Pathological data, expression of p53 and Ki-67 by immunohistochemistry could help to pick out the group of JP with dysplastic changes.     

Nucleotide sequence of gag and env genes of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, found in Russia: detection of new recombinant variants

Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of gag and env genes of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) variants isolated from individuals infected through sexual intercourse or nosocomially (by injections with nonsterile syringes) showed that 5 of 27 (18.5%) isolated strains were recombinants. Two viruses found in the Russian Far East had gagAenvE genotype, three other recombinants had envG genotype; gag gene of one isolate belonged to subtype A and gag genes of two others belonged to subtype D. Detection of new recombinant variants in addition to the A/B recombinant described previously shows that these viruses can contribute to the HIV-1 genetic variability in Russia.     

Mutation spectrum and genotype-phenotype analyses in Cowden disease and Bannayan-Zonana syndrome, two hamartoma syndromes with germline PTEN mutation

The tumour suppressor gene PTEN , which maps to 10q23.3 and encodes a 403 amino acid dual specificity phosphatase (protein tyrosine phosphatase; PTPase), was shown recently to play a broad role in human malignancy. Somatic PTEN deletions and mutations were observed in sporadic breast, brain, prostate and kidney cancer cell lines and in several primary tumours such as endometrial carcinomas, malignant melanoma and thyroid tumours. In addition, PTEN was identified as the susceptibility gene for two hamartoma syndromes: Cowden disease (CD; MIM 158350) and Bannayan-Zonana (BZS) or Ruvalcaba-Riley-Smith syndrome (MIM 153480). Constitutive DNA from 37 CD families and seven BZS families was screened for germline PTEN mutations. PTEN mutations were identified in 30 of 37 (81%) CD families, including missense and nonsense point mutations, deletions, insertions, a deletion/insertion and splice site mutations. These mutations were scattered over the entire length of PTEN , with the exception of the first, fourth and last exons. A 'hot spot' for PTEN mutation in CD was identified in exon 5 that contains the PTPase core motif, with 13 of 30 (43%) CD mutations identified in this exon. Seven of 30 (23%) were within the core motif, the majority (five of seven) of which were missense mutations, possibly pointing to the functional significance of this region. Germline PTEN mutations were identified in four of seven (57%) BZS families studied. Interestingly, none of these mutations was observed in the PTPase core motif. It is also worthy of note that a single nonsense point mutation, R233X, was observed in the germline DNA from two unrelated CD families and one BZS family. Genotype-phenotype studies were not performed on this small group of BZS families. However, genotype-phenotype analysis inthe group of CD families revealed two possible associations worthy of follow-up in independent analyses. The first was an association noted in the group of CD families with breast disease. A correlation was observed between the presence/absence of a PTEN mutation and the type of breast involvement (unaffected versus benign versus malignant). Specifically and more directly, an association was also observed between the presence of a PTEN mutation and malignant breast disease. Secondly, there appeared to be an interdependent association between mutations upstream and within the PTPase core motif, the core motif containing the majority of missense mutations, and the involvement of all major organ systems (central nervous system, thyroid, breast, skin and gastrointestinal tract). However, these observations would need to be confirmed by studying a larger number of CD families.      

Ultrastructural organization of the human lamellar bone tissue mineral component in aged and elderly

The lamellar bone mineral component in mature and senile age was studied using the methods of transmission electron microscopy and cryofractography. This component was shown to be formed by crystals (13-4 x 7-8 x 3-4 nm) of the prismatic shape that formed coplanar units (29-3 x 18-21 x 3-4 nm). The peculiarities of mineral particle distribution inside and between the collagen fibrils, as well as on the completely formed areas of bone surface, were detected. It was established that the length and the width of coplanar crystal aggregates was significantly higher in senile age as compared to similar linear parameters defined in persons of mature age (by 17-20 and 5-9%, respectively).