Domestication as a possible mode of biodiversity conservation (as exemplified by the river otter Lutra lutra L., 1758)

On an experimental basis in the Institute of Cytology and Genetics Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, a cage population of river otter (Lutra lutra) was formed. During the introduction period of captivity, as the selection for stress resistance in an anthropogenic environment is shown to be a crucial factor. Through the course of domesticating river otters, directional selection occurs due to the increase in the number of individual otters and to the absence of fear-induced response toward humans. In the initial generation caught in the wild, three types of animals were revealed: cowardly or showing a fear-induced response (80%), aggressive (10%), and quiet (10%). After three generations were reared in captivity, the relationship between these three phenotypes changed in favor of otters with a quiet response toward man; the percentage increased. After three generations, these quiet animals comprised 37%. The percentages of aggressive and cowardly animals accounted for 11 and 52%, respectively.     

A study of the effect of the adsorbed molecules of concanavalin A on characteristics of the bound water in the hydrate coat of the disperse silica by 1H NMR of the frozen water suspensions

The experimental technique is presented which allows the investigation of water at the adsorbent-biopolymer interface by record of temperature dependencies of 1H NMR signals during the heating of previously frozen water suspensions. It was found that the adsorption of protein conconovalin A resulted in twofold decrease of strong bound water amount and in 70% increase of loosely bound one. The mean-value of Gibbs energy decreased twice for strong bound water and increased twice for loosely bound one. The external layer of hydrate shell of silica particles with adsorbed conconovalin A was organized by protein molecules. This conclusion is based on the observed total increase of loosely bound water amount, as a result, of protein adsorption, although its amount with respect to a protein molecule decreased.     

Amizon in the treatment of nervous system involvement in herpes zoster

The authors submit results of treatment of patients having suffered from postherpetic pain syndrome (herpetic ganglionitis of the cervical, thoracic, lumbosacral localization, postherpetic intercostal neuralgia, ganglionitis of the trigeminal nerve). In viral diseases, amizone has marked analgetic, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulating effects. The drug is well tolerated by patients, is not associated with side effects under prescribed doses (0.25-0.75 as one dose on a three- or four-times daily schedule during the course of treatment lasting three or four weeks). The drug preparation in question is less effective in the treatment of chronic recurring post-therapeutic intercostal neuralgias, radiculalgia.     

The effect of inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II on the radiosensitivity, repair and conformational changes in the chromatin in mammalian cells

1. The pharmacological properties of four synthetic analogues of the wasp neurotoxin, Vespulakinin 1, were studied using a cascade of mammalian smooth muscle preparations and the synaptic transmission from the cockroach cercal nerves to a giant interneuron. 2. All analogues have an extremely slow bradykinin-like effect on the smooth muscles. The carbohydrate-free and the two mono-glycosylated analogues are about equally active with bradykinin. 3. The double glycosylated derivative is about 5 times more potent than bradykinin. 4. All analogues have two different effects on synaptic transmission in the insect CNS--at first a direct and reversible block of excitatory nicotinic transmission with a concurrent activation of the inhibitory GABA-ergic system and, secondly, a delayed irreversible block of the transmission, comparable to the block described earlier for bradykinin and Thr6-bradykinin. 5. For the synaptic transmission in the insect CNS the double glycosylated kinin is about 5 times more potent than bradykinin.     

A study of the biological properties of cholera phages and strains of El-Tor vibrions isolated from the external environment in Donetsk

Choleric phages were identified in 2 out of 44 samples of Donetsk sewage. Biological properties of phages were characterized.     

Synthesis of phosphoceramide azidothymidine and phosphoceramide didehydrodeoxythymidine

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL), not just survival, is central to outcomes analysis in musculoskeletal oncology. However, little information exists about the patients' definition of what constitutes QOL. METHODS: Self-administered outcomes questionnaires were given to 201 surgically treated patients with lower extremity tumors. Of these patients, 192 (137 with malignant tumors, 55 with benign tumors) provided a written definition of QOL. Their responses were independently collated and matched with clinical information. RESULTS: For most patients (153, or 80%) the definition of QOL encompassed several attributes. A consistent combination of four major attributes was used in the QOL definition by 44 (32%) of the malignant cases and 19 (35%) of the benign cases. Differences in responses between men and women were idiosyncratic and more common in the benign group. Good family relations and good health were equally important to men and women. Responses varied by patient age. Older patients valued self-sufficiency and freedom from pain, whereas younger patients emphasized happiness, trust in God or church, achieving goals and being successful, and love. Those whose surgery was less extensive cited good family relations, the ability to function physically and emotionally, and having a good job or work. CONCLUSION: The variation in patients' perspectives and definitions of quality of life must be taken into account when assessing QOL in musculoskeletal oncology patients. Patients often emphasize concerns that are not adequately addressed by current outcomes-measures in orthopedics and general oncology.     

The relationship between the immunological efficacy of a dried meningococcal group-A polysaccharide vaccine and the molecular parameters of the group-A polysaccharide

This work deals with the problem of relationship between the molecular parameters of group A meningococcal polysaccharide and its immunological effectiveness for laboratory animals and humans. The depolymerization of group A polysaccharide contained in the vaccine leads to a decrease in its capacity of inducing the production of hemagglutinating (19S and 7S) and bactericidal IgA antibodies in humans, as well as inducing an increase in the number of cells producing IgA antibodies in the spleen of immunized mice and the appearance of circulating IgA antibodies in their sera. As shown in this investigation, fully developed immune response to group A meningococcal vaccine may be achieved in humans only if the content of group A high-molecular polysaccharide in the vaccine is not less than 70%. Mice have been recommended as an experimental model for the prognostication of the effectiveness of meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines and for their control in the process of manufacture instead of currently used titration of bacteriolysins in the sera of immunized humans.     

The clinical instrumental characteristics of the locomotor involvement in patients who have had Lyme disease

Locomotor system has been studied in 24 patients with a history of Lyme's disease. All of them had arthralgia, 11 had relapsing arthritis, chronic arthritis occurred in 6 examinees. Arthritis presented as recurrent asymmetric mono-oligoarthritis affecting primarily joints of the lower limbs. Periarticular disorders were detected in 12 patients. Serologically, 18 of 24 patients had elevated titers of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in indirect immunofluorescence test. Scintigraphy revealed polyarticular lesions in many cases, ultrasound investigation of the joints confirmed inflammatory nature of the pathological changes. It is inferred that combined methods of examination in diagnosis of Lyme's arthritis (titers to antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, ultrasound investigations, scintigraphy of the joints) provide most complete information.