Genetic mapping of the alpha-galactosidase MEL gene family on right and left telomeres of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The alpha-galactosidase MEL2-MEL10 genes have been genetically mapped to right and left telomere regions of the following chromosomes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: MEL2 at VII L, MEL3 at XVI L, MEL4 at XI L, MEL5 at IV L, MEL6 at XIII R, MEL7 at VI R, MEL8 at XV R, MEL9 at X R and MEL10 at XII R. A set of tester strains with URA3 inserted into individual telomeres and no MEL genes was used for mapping.     

The characteristics of neuroendocrine regulatory disorders in acute myocardial infarct in relation to the severity of the course of the disease

A total of 45 patients aged 35 to 73 years who had sustained acute myocardial infarction (MI) were studied in a special cardiological unit. On days 1, 5, 14, 28 of hospital stay, each patient underwent measurements of cortisol, insulin, T3 and T4 and calculations of the mathematical clinic severity index after G.I. Marchuk et al. In acute MI, there were elevated plasma levels of cortisol depending on the MI severity with a small repeated peak of its increase on day 14 and its subsequent decrease, except deaths. In severe acute MI there were impairments of reciprocal cortisol/insulin ratios. This was particularly pronounced in patients with lethal outcomes. By the end of hospital rehabilitation, patients with acute MI displayed lower levels of thyroidal hormones. The maximum decrease in T3 and T4 was found in patients with lethal outcomes. There was a direct correlation between the mathematical clinical severity index of the natural history of acute MI and the levels of cortisole triidothyronine at the hospital stage of observation. In the course of the study it was found that the Marchuk clinical severity index serves as an informative severity index of MI course whose determination in its acute period allows one to predict the course of acute MI and to choose a differential therapy of and to make a diagnosis of possible complications.     

An epidemiological assessment of ischemic heart disease and mortality in men over 70 in the population of Saint Petersburg

AIM: To analyze prevalence of ischemic heart disease (IHD), main IHD risk factors and mortality in the population of males aged 70-79 and over 80 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 209 males aged 70-79 years and 96 males over 80. All the males were examined for IHD and 3 main risk factors: blood hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking. RESULTS: Incidence of IHD was about similar in both age groups. For 3.5 years of follow-up in the group of 80-year-olds mortality was 2 times that of the group of 70-79-year-olds. The presence of IHD in the groups was directly related to the presence of 2 or 3 risk factors, especially in the group aged 70-79 years. In the group of 80-year-olds and older combination of IHD with affection of cerebral vessels was a poor prognosis sign. CONCLUSION: Factors deteriorating prognosis in males over 70 were: macrofocal myocardial infarction in anamnesis, atherosclerosis of the coronary and cerebral arteries.     

Human insulin receptor substrate-1 gene (IRS1): chromosomal localization to 2q35-q36.1 and identification of a simple tandem repeat DNA polymorphism

The protein designated as insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is a major substrate for the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase. Since post-receptor defects in the insulin signalling pathway are a common feature of Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, we have cloned the human IRS-1 gene in order to study the role of genetic variation in this gene in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. As a first step in these studies, we have mapped the IRS-1 gene to chromosome 2, bands q35-q36.1 and identified a simple tandem repeat DNA polymorphism in this gene that will be useful for genetic studies.     

The current problems in protecting the health of the population in the oil- and gas-producing regions of Tyumen Province

A socioeconomic and medicodemographic analysis of modern problems related to population health protection in the oil and gas extraction regions of Tyumen Province has been carried out under conditions of radical reconstruction of the national economy. Changes in the parameters of natural migration of the population for each year over a period of 1991 to 1995 are followed up, and specific features of the migration processes, effects of socioeconomic and medical factors on the health status of individual population groups, rates of increment in the number of disabled subjects, and population mortality from various causes analyzed. The authors discuss the status of public health services and offer measures for improving their efficacy in the above regions.     

An experimental study of combined effects of toluene and general vibration

Cytological and pH-metrical investigations of the tracheobronchial aspirate were performed in 43 children with a respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) on artificial pulmonary ventilation. The content over 40% in the cytogram of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PNL) indicated infectious genesis and below 10%--noninfectious genesis of RDS. The content of PNL in the range of 11-39% requires additional clinical data which would help to establish RDS cause.     

Oligomerization and divalent ion binding properties of the S100P protein: a Ca2+/Mg2+-switch model

S100P is a 95 amino acid residue protein which belongs to the S100 family of proteins containing two putative EF-hand Ca2+-binding motifs. In order to characterize conformational properties of S100P in the presence and absence of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+) in solution, we have analyzed hydrodynamic and spectroscopic characteristics of wild-type and several variants (Y18F, Y88F and C85S) of S100P using equilibrium centrifugation, gel-filtration chromatography, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopies. Analysis of the experimental data shows the following. (1) In agreement with the predictions there are two Ca2+-binding sites in the S100P molecule with different affinity; the high affinity binding site has an apparent binding constant of approximately 10(7) M-1 and the low affinity binding site has an apparent binding constant of approximately 10(4) M-1. (2) The high and low affinity Ca2+-binding sites are located in the C and N-terminal parts of the S100P molecule, respectively. (3) These C and N-terminal sites can also bind other divalent ions. The C-terminal site binds Zn2+ (with relatively low affinity approximately 10(3) M-1), but not Mg2+. The N-terminal site binds Mg2+ with the apparent binding constant approximately 10(2) M-1. (4) Binding of Ca2+ to the C-terminal site and binding of Mg2+ to the N-terminal site occur in the physiological concentration range of these ions (micromolar for Ca2+ and millimolar for Mg2+). (5) Oligomerization state of the S100P molecule appears to change upon addition of Ca2+. On the basis of these observations a plausible model for S100P as a Ca2+/Mg2+ switch has been proposed.