Fibre optic confocal imaging (FOCI) of keratinocytes, blood vessels and nerves in hairless mouse skin in vivo

Fibre optic confocal imaging (FOCI) enabled subsurface fluorescence microscopy of the skin of hairless mice in vivo. Application of acridine orange enabled imaging of the layers of the epidermis. The corneocytes of the stratum corneum, the keratinocytes in the basal layers and redundant hair follicles were visualised at depths greater than 100 μm. Cellular and nuclear membranes of keratinocytes of the skin were visualised by the use of acridine orange and DIOC5(3). Imaging of the skin after injection of FITC-dextran revealed an extensive network of blood vessels with a size range up to 20 μm. Blood cells could be seen moving through dermal vessels and the blood circulation through the dermal vascular bed was video-taped. The fluorescent dye 4-di-2-ASP showed the presence of nerves fibres around the hair follicles and subsurface blood vessels. Comparison was made between images obtained in vivo using FOCI and in vitro scanning electron microscopy and conventional histology. FOCI offers the potential to study dynamic events in vivo, such as blood flow, skin growth, nerve regeneration and many pathological processes, in ways which have not previously been possible.     

Effects of fibrinogen on lipid peroxidation in patients with coronary heart disease and in vitro

In patients with coronary heart disease oxidizability of lipids during Cu²⁺-induced oxidation of blood plasma inversely correlated with fibrinogen content. A positive correlation was found between the amount of lipid peroxidation products in the plasma from these patients and fibrinogen content. The increase in fibrinogen content was associated with high levels of total lipids and triglycerides and low concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In vitro experiments demonstrated that fibrinogen reduces oxidizability of blood plasma. Our results suggest that the decrease in lipid oxidizability at high concentration of fibrinogen in patients with coronary heart disease is related to predominant oxidation of fibrinogen and its competition with plasma lipids during Cu²⁺-induced oxidation.     

Creation of new physicochemical methods for blood analysis on the base of fluorescent probes

This review deals with the development of new methods for studies of blood cells and plasma, based on the use of special dye molecules, the so-called fluorescent probes. These probes can also be used for clinical diagnosis. Probes and new methods on the basis of these probes were created for measurements of plasma and serum lipoproteins, serum albumin binding centers, blood leukocyte intracellular lipoproteins, allergens. __________ Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Supplement 2, pp. 43–48, April, 2007     

Effects of low-density lipoproteins on blood coagulation and fibrinolytic activity

In vitro experiments showed that copper-oxidized low-density lipoproteins activate factors of the prothrombin complex in the whole blood and inhibit fibrin generation in both blood and plasma. Moreover, oxidized low-density lipoproteins inhibit fibrinolysis and impair the structure of fibrin clot, which results in hypercoagulation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 129, No. 6, pp. 637–639, June, 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     

Changes in blood rheological properties and erythrocyte osmotic resistance in activation of free radical processes

Relationship between serum oxidation of different degree and micro- and macrorheology of the blood and modification of this relationship in the presence of antioxidant alpha-tocopherol were studied. Lipid peroxidation affects blood rheology and erythrocyte osmotic resistance. Erythrocytes are the first to react to increased activity of free radical oxidation and to exhaust their compensatory potential. Plasma viscosity remains stable in serum oxidation of different degree, and therefore erythrocytes are responsible for changes in blood rheology during intensification of free radical oxidation. Moreover, erythrocytes are functionally resistant to oxidative stress in malonic dialdehyde concentrations under 3.62 +/- 0.41 nM/ml. alpha-Tocopherol increases functional resistance of erythrocytes and maybe of protein components of the plasma to damaging action of free radicals.     

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     

Effects of T-activin on the course of ischemic heart disease in cases of the development of sensitization to apoprotein B-containing lipoproteins

A comprehensive clinicoimmunological examination was made of 105 male patients aged 35-65 years who suffered from coronary heart disease. The authors identified a group of 33 patients whose unstable course of angina pectoris was associated with pronounced apolipoprotein B sensitization, as well as with the presence of the autoimmune lipoprotein-antibody complex and abnormalities in the cellular link of immunity. All 33 patients received antianginal agents. Out of them, 15 patients took additionally a course of T-activin therapy to modulate immunological shifts. The results of the examination demonstrated that the immunomodulator exerted a beneficial effect both on the course of CHD (reduction in the number of anginal episodes, improvement of left ventricular contractility) and the immune system (recovery of T-suppressor function, disappearance of lipoprotein sensitization, decrease in the patient's blood detection rates of the autoimmune lipoprotein-antibody complexes from 83 to 28%). The highest effect was reached by T-activin 1.5-2 months following termination of the course therapy. Immunomodulating therapy is regarded as an additional approach to the treatment of CHD patients with marked lipoprotein sensitization.