The genetic sequelae for plant populations of radioactive environmental pollution in connection with the Chernobyl accident

Populations of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., and Pinus sylvestris L., growing within 30 km of Chernobyl and Bryansk region have been analyzed for the frequency of embryonic lethal mutations on Arabidopsis and frequency of chlorophyll mutations and chromosome aberrations by pine. On pine also have been analyzed rate of mutations at enzyme loci in endosperms of seeds. Dose dependence of the value genetic damage on level of radioactive pollution was observed.     

A Ser315Thr substitution in KatG is predominant in genetically heterogeneous multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates originating from the St. Petersburg area in Russia

Parts of katG and rpoB from 27 Russian Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were sequenced to detect mutations causing resistance to isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RMP), respectively. All 24 INH-resistant isolates had a mutated katG, and 22 of them (91.7%) carried a mutation coding for a Ser315Thr shift. An rpoB mutation was noted for each of the 21 RMP-resistant isolates, with Ser531Leu being the most prevalent change encoded. Only two isolates had identical IS6110 fingerprints.     

The ultrasonic diagnosis of acute thrombophlebitis of the vena saphena magna

A total of 321 patients with suspected acute thrombophlebitis were examined. There were 92 men (30%) and 229 women (70%). For control 15 patients without lower limb vein abnormalities and 19 ones with uncomplicated varicose disease were examined. Ultrasonic examinations using Ultramark-8 (Medata, Sweden) device were carried out in all the patients. Of the 313 cases (in 8 patients the diagnosis of acute thrombophlebitis was not confirmed by ultrasonic examination) ultrasonography results were erroneous in only 6 cases when assessing the proximal borderline of the great subcutaneous femoral vein thrombosis. Hence, the accuracy of duplex scanning in assessment of the proximal border of thrombosis in acute thrombophlebitis was 98.6% in our study. Ultrasonic angio-scanning in patients with superficial thrombophlebitis give reliable and valuable information about the presence, type, and extension of the pathologic process. This helps to optimally solve the therapeutic policy problems and adequately plan surgical intervention.