Physicochemical properties of membranes and functional status of liver mitochondria in rats with an inherited capacity for increased radical formation

Liver mitochondria of inbred W/SSM rats with inherited increased radical formation reveal the following anomalies: inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation, a lowered transmembrane potential, and alterations in protein-lipid interaction. The membrane viscosity and osmotic stability of mitochondria are unaffected. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 6, pp. 628–631, June, 1995     

Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition

Pain sensitivity varies substantially among humans. A significantpart of the human population develops chronic pain conditionsthat are characterized by heightened pain sensitivity. We identifiedthree genetic variants (haplotypes) of the gene encoding catecholamine-O-methyltransferase(COMT) that we designated as low pain sensitivity (LPS), averagepain sensitivity (APS) and high pain sensitivity (HPS). We showthat these haplotypes encompass 96% of the human population,and five combinations of these haplotypes are strongly associated(P=0.0004) with variation in the sensitivity to experimentalpain. The presence of even a single LPS haplotype diminishes,by as much as 2.3 times, the risk of developing myogenous temporomandibularjoint disorder (TMD), a common musculoskeletal pain condition.The LPS haplotype produces much higher levels of COMT enzymaticactivity when compared with the APS or HPS haplotypes. Inhibitionof COMT in the rat results in a profound increase in pain sensitivity.Thus, COMT activity substantially influences pain sensitivity,and the three major haplotypes determine COMT activity in humansthat inversely correlates with pain sensitivity and the riskof developing TMD.     

Two pathways of exocytosis of cytoplasmic granule contents and target cell killing by cytokine-induced CD3+ CD56+ killer cells

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted cytotoxic cells generated by incubation of peripheral blood lymphocytes with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MoAb), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-1, and interferon-gamma. Cells with the greatest effector function in CIK cultures coexpress CD3 and CD56 surface molecules. CIK cell cytotoxicity can be blocked by MoAbs directed against the cell surface protein leukocyte function associated antigen-1 but not by anti-CD3 MoAbs. CIK cells undergo release of cytoplasmic cytotoxic granule contents to the extracellular space upon stimulation with anti-CD3 MoAbs or susceptible target cells. Maximal granule release was observed from the CD3+ CD56+ subset of effector cells. The cytoplasmic granule contents are lytic to target cells. Treatment of the effector cells with a cell-permeable analog of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) inhibited anti-CD3 MoAb and target cell- induced degranulation and cytotoxicity of CIK cells. The immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporin (CsA) and FK506 inhibited anti-CD3- mediated degranulation, but did not affect cytotoxicity of CIK cells against tumor target cells. In addition, degranulation induced by target cells was unaffected by CsA and FK506. Our results indicate that two mechanisms of cytoplasmic granule release are operative in the CD3+ CD56+ killer cells; however, cytotoxicity proceeds through a cAMP- sensitive, CsA- and FK506-insensitive pathway triggered by yet-to-be- identified target cell surface molecules.     

Interval between insulin injection and breakfast in diabetes

The relationship between the insulin-breakfast interval, postprandial increase in blood glucose, and glycaemic control was studied in 58 children with diabetes. Patients recorded insulin-breakfast intervals in a home diary over a seven day period, and during a 24 hour period at the weekend provided eight serial capillary dried blood spots for glucose analysis. The highest mean blood glucose value occurred two hours after breakfast and showed a significant correlation with fructosamine concentrations. Weekend insulin-breakfast intervals ranged from 2-30 minutes, with 70% reporting intervals of less than 15 minutes. There was a significant correlation between the weekend insulin-breakfast interval and the after breakfast increase in blood glucose with a mean increment of 0.4 mmol/l in the 30 minute group and 7.2 mmol/l in the 2 minute group. Over the whole study period, children with mean insulin-breakfast intervals of two to 12 minutes had a mean fructosamine concentration of 376 mumol/l compared with 341 mumol/l in those with intervals of 15-35 minutes. This study has shown that the interval between insulin injection and breakfast significantly influences the morning postprandial rise in blood glucose and consequently short term glycaemic control. It is therefore important that patients are encouraged to leave an interval of about 30 minutes between insulin injection and breakfast.     

Magnetic resonance relaxometry of serum in patients with different forms of cellulitis in the dynamics of the disease

AIM: To study the time of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of spin-lattice serum relaxation (T1) in the dynamics of an infectious process in patients with different forms of erysipelas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 37 patients with different clinical forms of erysipelas were examined in the acute period of the disease and in the early period of convalescence. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in T1 NMR was ascertained in patients with bullous hemorrhagic erysipelas as compared with those with erythematous form. CONCLUSION: Pronounced changes in the functional status of serum in patients with hemorrhagic forms of erysipelas are of great importance in the development of the local hemorrhagic syndrome.