State of the antioxidant system in premature newborn infants during early postnatal period

The main parameters of the antioxidant system--AOS (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, ceruloplasmin, estriol, estradiol) were studied in 58 normal full-term infants and in 178 premature infants in the course of the early neonatal period. In the control group, the functioning of the AOS appeared more perfect and was characterized by phasic changes in the course of the first week of life. The premature infants demonstrated functional disorganization of both enzymatic (glutathione in particular) and hormonal components of the system of antiperoxide defence. This circumstance played a substantial part in the development of polysaturated fatty acids deficiency, which determined in turn the modification of the membrane lipid content and selective loss of cell sensitivity to neuro-humoral actions and unbalance in the system of cyclic nucleotides.     

Hybrid compound based on diethylenetriaminecopper(ii) cations and scarce V-monosubstituted β-octamolybdate as water oxidation catalyst

Herein, we report on a new hybrid compound (NH₄){[Cu(dien)(H₂O)₂]₂[β-VMo₇O₂₆]}·1.5H₂O (1), where dien = diethylenetriamine, containing an extremely rare mixed-metal pseudo-octamolybdate cluster. An ex situ EPR spectroscopy provided insights into the formation of paramagnetic species in reaction mixture and in solution of 1. The magneto-structural correlations revealed weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the [Cu(dien)]²⁺ cations transmitted by intermolecular pathways. The cyclic voltammetry showed the one-electron process associated with the Cu³⁺/Cu²⁺ oxidation followed by the multi-electron catalytic wave due to water oxidation with a faradaic yield of 86%. The title compound was thus employed in homogeneous water oxidation catalysis using tris(bipyridine)ruthenium photosensitizer. At pH 8.0, efficiency of the catalytic system attained 0.19 turnovers per second supported by the relatively mild water oxidation overpotential of 0.54 V.

A new hybrid compound (NH₄){[Cu(dien)(H₂O)₂]₂[β-VMo₇O₂₆]}·1.5H₂O was employed in homogeneous water oxidation catalysis. At pH 8.0, its efficiency attains 0.19 turnovers per second, supported by the relatively mild water oxidation overpotential of 0.54 V.     

Theoretical validation of local express auto-cytokine therapy

Theoretical validation for local express autocytokine therapy (LEACKT), used in recent years with good results for the treatment of viral and nonviral diseases of the eyes, is provided. In vitro experiments showed that autologous cytokine complex appearing after stimulation of patient's peripheral whole blood with poludan (polyA:polyY complex, 200 micrograms) includes all three interferon types (alpha, beta, and gamma) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). It was shown for the first time that poludan stimulated the production of IL-8, the main chemotactic cytokine inducing chemotaxis, neutrophil activation, angiogenesis stimulation, and regeneration. This was not paralleled by an increase in the production of TNF, the key mediator of inflammation, whose level in whole blood did not increase. Addition of poludan to cell culture led to a 2-fold decrease of lymphocyte apoptosis in comparison with that after treatment with dexamethasone alone. The results of experiments indicate that LEACKT with poludan is characterized by pronounced antiinflammatory, interferonogenic, regeneratory, and antiapoptosis effects in various diseases of the anterior segment of the eye and is a simple and safe method.     

Serum Ornithine Carbamoyl Transferase as a Surrogate Marker in Malaria

Ornithine carbamoyl transferase (OCT) activity and other liver function tests were studied in a total of 50 patients of clinical malaria and 15 controls. They were grouped as group I (positive for malarial parasite on peripheral blood smear, n=18), group II (negative for malarial parasite on peripheral blood smear (PBS) but responded to antimalarials, n=17) and group III (peripheral blood smear negative and did not respond to antimalarial therapy, n=15). The mean OCT levels were significantly raised in group I (6.79 ± 1.84 IU/L, p value = 0.006) and group II (5.0 ± 1.15 IU/L, p value = 0.014) as compared to controls (2.5 ± 1.13 IU/L) and returned to normal after treatment In contrast, group III had normal levels except in a case of kala azar and septicemia where OCT levels were high and increased further on treatment. Taking PBS positivity as a gold standard of diagnostic criteria, OCT had a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 86% with a high positive predictive value of 88% as compared to ALT which had a lower sensitivity of 55% and specificity of 80%. The clinical response rate in PBS negative cases of fever having high OCT level was 83% as compared to 35% in cases with normal OCT level, making OCT a good surrogate marker of malaria. OCT levels could also be of prognostic significance as 2 cases of cerebral malaria had high OCT levels of 11.1 UAL and 10.7 IU/L, respectively.Key Words: Malaria, Ornithine carbamoyl transferase     

Local express auto-cytokine therapy (a complex of cytokines) in the treatment of viral and nonviral eye lesions

The method of local express-autocytocinetherapy (LEACCT) consists in using an experimentally tested autologous complex of cytokines (alpha- beta- gamma-interferons, interleukins 2.8, tumor necrosis factor gamma etc.), which is produced by joining the autoblood of patients with immune-modulator poludan (complex poly A:poly U). The external LEACCT and the intrachamber LEACCT are distinguished. The former presupposes the administration (subconjunctivally and in installations) of the autoblood-poludan mixture. This method is used in herpes- and adenovirus keratoconjunctivitis, slow re-epithelization after laser keratectomy and in eye burns (178 patients). The latter comprises, apart from the external LEACCT procedures, a 1-4-time introduction of the mentioned mixture into patient's anterior chamber. It was used in endothelial herpetic keratoiridocyclitis, initial bullous keratopathy, severe keratoconus and in injuries of the anterior lens capsule (117 patients). The clinical-study results (main group--295 patients) show that the designed method based on poludan has pronounced anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects in different viral and virus-free lesions of the eye tissues; it is simple and can be applied in clinical settings. An increased visual acuity ranging from 0.05 to 1.0 was registered in 85% of cases. The action of the complex of cytokines is as close as possible to the physiological mechanism, which provides for avoiding the side-effects and for applying the treatment scheme in situations when the administration of other drugs is limited or their efficiency is not sufficient.     

The dimensions of the roots and root canals of human premolars and molars

Dental roots and channels were measured in 160 premolars and molars on human upper and lower jaws. The longest roots were found in 5-th teeth and shortest in 7-th. The data suggest that dental channels can be extended up to 10 mm. Their maximal widening in upper jaw molars and premolars is 1 mm and in lower premolars 1.2 mm.