Ecology and the female reproductive system

Observation of female health in a region having higher background radiation suggests that Chernobyl plant accident has not induced symptomatic radiation disorders, but actually altered immune system. Chances are that long-term consequences of exposure to radiation will induce higher incidence of immune-related diseases. Females residents of Moscow suburb demonstrated more favorable results of immunologic study, than those of regions exposed to radiation.     

Cytophotometric determination of non-heme iron content in hepatocytes. I. Effect of cell separation techniques on iron content

To study conditions of the preservation of non-heme iron (3+) in hepatocytes, experiments were performed on rats fed with the diet supplemented with 2% carbonyl iron. The cells were isolated by a collagenase method (an enzymatic method) or by a treatment of the tissue with the phosphate buffer (a nonenzymatic method). When using the enzymatic method, the main steps of obtaining preparations-smears were analysed: perfusion of the organ, subsequent washing out of the cells from collagenase, mounting of the smear on the object glass. When using the non-enzymatic method, such steps were an incubation of the tissue pieces in the isolation solution and mounting of the smears. It has been found that the enzymatic isolation method results in practically no losses of iron from the cells if the perfusion lasts for 20 min. A slight loss (10-12%) of the Perls'-stained iron can occur during the initial 30 min of the washing out of the cells from collagenase. This step is not accompanied by any morphological changes of the cells; their viability, according to the trypan test, is 70-87%. The iron release from the cells rises with decrease in the viability of hepatocytes. It has been shown that the greatest losses of iron can occur at the mounting step when the cells are submitted to a substantial mechanical effect. When the nonenzymatic method is applied, the incubation of the cells in the phosphate buffer for up to 2 hr causes no marked morphological changes revealed in the light microscope; however, the cell viability is very low (about 1%). The preservation of iron in the cells is lower when using the nonenzymatic than the enzymatic method. Thus, for cytophotometric determinations of the iron content in hepatocytes, the collagenase method of isolation of cells is recommended.     

Various properties of liver transketolase

Transketolase was isolated from rat liver tissue by ion exchange chromatography on Phosphocellulose. The enzyme was eluted by fructose-6-phosphate. The final product had a specific activity of 2.68 units/mg. The enzyme yield is 65% of its total content in the original extract. The possibility of regulation of transketolase activity by keto- and aldo-substrates has been studied; their interrelations are determined by the competition for relations with free and substituted forms of the enzyme.     

Reliability of a handgrip test for evaluating heart rate and pressor responses in multiple sclerosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of an isometric handgrip exercise protocol designed to evaluate heart rate and arterial pressure responses in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS Three males and eleven females, aged 24 through 51, performed isometric handgrip contractions at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) to the point of fatigue (defined as inability to maintain the target force for three consecutive seconds). During this exercise, rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded every 30 s. Heart rate and beat-to-beat systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures were recorded continuously throughout the duration of exercise. Surface EMG was monitored continuously via loudspeaker to provide feedback on extraneous muscular activity. Each subject performed three trials. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to calculate interclass reliability estimates for each dependent variable. RESULTS: Reliability estimates for MVC and time to fatigue were 0.98 and 0.84, respectively. Reliability estimates for the following dependent variables at the point of fatigue were: RPE, 0.90; delta HR, 0.97; delta systolic pressure, 0.92; delta diastolic pressure, 0.87; and delta MAP, 0.88. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that this isometric handgrip protocol is a reliable method for evaluating heart rate and blood pressure responses in MS patient.     

Study of the olfactory effects of citronellal in the environmental air

The study was performed using four cadavers of adult persons with the method of preparation. The access to the ligament was obtained by the removal of the inferior orbital wall and inferior orbital adiposal layer. Topographical anatomy of Lockwood ligament, its interrelations with inferior rectus and oblique muscles and attachment to lateral and medial orbital walls were studied. Lockwood ligament, the transverse fascial structure that supports the eyeball, stabilizes it, providing the framework for inferior rectus and oblique muscles of the eye.