Effect of adenosine and β-endorphin on contractions of the vas deferens of rats differing in predisposition to ethanol

Laboratory for the Search for and Study of Agents for Prevention and Treatment of Drug Addictions, Research Institute of Pharmacology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. V. Val'dman.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 108, No. 12, pp. 700–702, December, 1989.     

Effect of thymosin and B-activin on lateralization of sensomotor control in rats

Research Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR Research Laboratory of Biologically Active Substances of Hydrobionts, Ministry of Health of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR G. N. Kryzhanovskii.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 108, No. 8, pp. 139–142, August, 1989.     

内皮细胞微丝结构与血管内皮完整性关系的探讨

为证实内皮细胞微丝与血管内皮完整性之间的直接关系，用Ｒｈｏｄａｍｉｎｅ－ｐｈａｌｌｏｉｄｉｎ显示了体外培养的牛主动脉内皮细胞形成一微密单层细胞后的微丝形态及用细胞毒素Ｂ孵育单层内皮细胞后的细胞形态及微丝的变化。结果表明：内皮细胞内的微丝结构ＤＰＢ是维持内皮细胞之间连接的重要结构。文内还对内皮细胞微丝结构与动脉粥样硬化早期病变的关系进行了讨论。     

Diverse locations of amino acids in HLA-DR beta chains involved in polymorphic antibody binding epitopes on DR(alpha, beta 1*0101), DR(alpha, beta 1*1101), and DR(alpha,beta 3*0202) molecules.

In a previous study, we used transfectants expressing hybrid HLA-DR(beta 1*0403)/DR(beta 1*0701) chains to map sequences involved in polymorphic antibody binding epitopes on DR(alpha, beta 1*0403) or DR(alpha, beta 1*0701) molecules. Amino acids 1-40 of the beta 1 domain were found to make the major contributions to most of the antibody binding epitopes studied. To begin to localize sequences that contribute to polymorphic antibody epitopes on DR(alpha,beta 1*0101), DR(alpha,beta 1*1101) and DR(alpha,beta 3*0202) molecules, we used indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry to assess the binding of mAb to transfectants expressing hybrid DR(beta 1*0101)/DR(beta 1*1101) or DR(beta 1*1101)/DR(beta 3*0202) chains that divide the DR beta chain into three segments: amino acids 1-40, 41-97, and the beta 2 domain. The results indicate that amino acids 41-97 of the beta 1 domain on DR(beta 1*0101), DR(beta 1*1101), or DR(beta 3*0202) are critical in most of the epitopes, including those recognized by human antibodies MP4 and MP12, and mouse mAb GS88.2, I-LR1, 21r5, and 7.3.19.1, whereas amino acids 1-40 of DR(beta 1*1101) are critical in the epitope recognized by the MCS-7 mAb, and both segments 1-40 and 41-97 of DR(beta 1*1101) are important in the epitopes recognized by the I-LR2 and UL-52 mAbs. Based on these data and comparison of DR beta allelic protein sequences, the residues that may play critical roles in these antibody binding epitopes are predicted.     

Changes in HIV-1 incidence in heroin users in Guangxi Province, China

Guangxi Province, China recently experienced an outbreak of HIV-1 infection among heroin users. We studied HIV-1 incidence rates and associated risk factors for HIV-1 infection among heroin users residing in Pingxiang City. A total of 318 heroin users were followed from February 1998 through January 1999 (median follow-up: 8.1 months). Of these, 130 were prospectively followed from January through September 1999 (median follow-up: 8.3 months). HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence rates for each period were calculated. A generalized estimating equation approach was implemented to identify independent risk factors associated with HIV-1 infection across both periods. Among 318 study participants, 97.2% were men. The median age was 22 years. Approximately 60% reported sharing needles. HIV-1 prevalence at baseline was 15.4%. During the first follow-up period, HIV-1 incidence was 2.38 per 100 person years (py), and HCV incidence was 26.8 per 100 py. During the second follow-up period, HIV-1 incidence was 6.86 per 100 py, and HCV incidence was 28.9 per 100 py. After controlling for age and other factors, HCV seropositivity, history of sexually transmitted diseases, and sharing needles were independently associated with HIV-1 infection. These data suggest that HIV-1 incidence was rising over time in Pingxiang City, Guangxi Province. The high incidence of HCV heightens the importance of enhanced prevention programs to reduce injection and needle sharing among heroin users.     

Action of remantadine on fusion of the lipid envelope of influenza a virus with plasma and internal membranes in lymphoblastoid cells

Department of Biomembranes, Research Center for Development and Introduction of Modern Methods of Molecular Diagnosis, Ministry of Health of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR I. P. Ashmarin.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 109, No. 5, pp. 483–485, May, 1990.     

Effect of interleukin 1 on adrenal function in mice

Laboratory of Regulation of Immunopoiesis, Institute of Clinical Immunology, Siberian Branch, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR V. P. Kaznacheev.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 105, No. 3, pp. 311–313, March, 1988.