Synthesis of Indole-Containing 2-Thiobarbituric Acid Derivatives

The synthesis of barbituric acid derivatives containing α-phenylskatyl residues substituted at C(5) is described. The initial compound was α-phenylnorgramine, which had been previously successfully used for the alkylation of a series of CH-acids, in particular, for the synthesis of diethyl-1H-indol-3-yl(phenyl)methylmalonate. This compound has been used to obtain a series of 2-thiobarbituric acid derivatives, which are expected to possess antioxidant, membrane protector, and radioprotector properties.__________Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 29 – 33, January, 2005.     

T-cells of virus-infected mice produce a lymphokine which activates the autoreactivity of intact mouse lymphocytes.

The role of lymphokines was estimated in induction of autoreactive T-cells during Langat virus infection in mice. It was shown that in vitro cultured splenocytes from virus-infected animal containing autoreactive lymphocytes (ARL) spontaneously produce a lymphokine which is capable to activate the autoreactivity of lymphocytes derived from the spleen of intact syngeneic mice. The capacity of this lymphokine to activate the autoreactivity of acceptor cells within 2 hr was demonstrated by local graft-versus host reaction (GVHR) in the donor-recipient system. According to their surface markers (theta-antigen expression, absence of immunoglobulins) the lymphokine activating autoreactivity (LAA) producers may belong to T-lymphocyte population. Autoreactivity could be induced by the lymphokine only if the LAA producers and acceptors were compatible by the major histocompatibility complex antigens.     

Synthesis and acid ionization constants of cyclic cystine peptides

Cyclic peptide disulfides of the general formula were synthesized from the corresponding peptide derivatives [Boc-Cys(Trt)(Gly)-_n-Cys(Trt)-OBu^t] by oxidation with iodine in methanol and by subsequent removal of the terminal groups with trifluoroacetic acid. Acid ionization constants of the obtained peptides were determined by potentiometric titration in aqueous KCl (0.1 mol/L) medium. All compounds have two dissociable hydrogens, corresponding to carboxyl (pK¹= 2.35–2.84) and to terminal amino group (pK₂= 5.61–6.93); pK₁, values show first an upward and then a downward trend with the increase in ring size; the opposite is true for pK₂, values. These trends could be tentatively attributed to the intramolecular salt bridge (-COO——-NH⁺₃-) formation.     

Designing a mixer for calibrating blood-gas analyzers

Moscow Automobile Roads Institute. All-Union Medical Instrumentation Research Institute, Moscow. Translated from Meditsinskaya Tekhnika, No. 3, pp. 35–38, May–June, 1991.     

Ultrastructure of Nuclear Compartment in Cardiomyocytes during Regenerative and Plastic Insufficiency of the Myocardium

We studied ultrastructure of nuclear compartment in cardiomyocytes during regenerative and plastic insufficiency of the myocardium induced by anthracycline antibiotic daunomycin. A peculiarity of ultrastructural organization of cardiomyocyte nuclei under these conditions is almost complete disappearance of the heterochromatin lumps. The earliest changes in nucleoli under conditions of disturbed DNA-dependent RNA synthesis are segregation of the granular and fibrillar nucleolonema components. Deep alterations in the nucleoli manifested by fragmentation and annulation correlate with pronounced changes in cardiomyocytes ultrastructure, intensive lysis of the myofilaments, reduction of the organelles, and enhanced autophagocytosis.