Presence of intestinal, liver and heart/adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein types in the liver of a chimaera fish

Exact tests of equivalence and efficacy with a non-zero lower bound based on two independent binomial proportions for comparative trials are proposed. These exact tests are desirable for studies with small sample sizes. They generalize classical methods to include testing of null hypotheses of prespecified differences and can be used to demonstrate a new treatment's efficacy or its equivalence to a standard treatment. The proposed exact tests use unconditional distributions of the test statistics. Variances of test statistics are estimated via a constrained maximum likelihood method (Farrington and Manning). Data from oncology and vaccine clinical trials are used to illustrate the exact tests.     

Potentiometric methods for determining boron, hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen chloride compounds and their use in controlling the quality of manufacturing and natural environments

The authors present basic science for, elaborate and set as methodic recommendations some potentiometric methods using ion-selective electrodes. Efficiency of those methods was proved in experiments with such substances as boron compounds, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride. High sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and rapidity of the methods with handy technique make the facilities available for analysis of air at workplace, ambient atmosphere, water and biologic materials, detecting wide range of concentrations. Practical application of the methods enabled to specify measures to preserve health of workers and general population, helped in hygienic evaluation of work conditions in composition materials production, high-temperature soldering, optic glass industry.     

The establishment of the I-PSS in the CIS countries taking into account its cultural and linguistic features. International Prostate Symptom Score

I-PSS adaptation to cultural and linguistic features of CIS population has been made in two stages. The 1st stage consisted of adaptation of the questionnaire's text and its check up by the specialists. At the 2nd stage a random sample of 46 males at the age 60 to 80 years were tested and retested. Reliability of the results has been proved in repeated tests and comparison of the adjusted questionnaire with its English-American variant. The authors propose to use adapted questionnaire I-PSS which meets international requirements in the countries members of CIS.     

Flow cytometric analysis of macrophage response to ceramic and polyethylene particles: effects of size, concentration, and composition

The aim of this work was to study the effect of a dose of 150 microCi 131I on the barrier properties of the thyroid epithelium in pregnant female rats. Thirty-five female Wistar rats were divided into a control and four experimental groups (each distinguished by the time of 131I injection: group I--no less then 12 days before mating; groups II, III, and IV--on 5th, 10th, and 16th days of gestation, respectively). The thyroid glands were fixed in Bouin's fluid, embedded in paraffin, and stained immunohistochemically for thyroglobulin and fibronectin. In group IV the appearance of follicles with fibronectin-positive colloid demonstrates the penetration of blood plasma into the follicular lumen. There are more fibronectin positive follicles in group III. Regardless of the nature of the follicles' contents, numerous thyrocytes with an intensive fibronectin positive reaction begin to appear in the follicles. In group II the number of fibronectin positive follicles and thyrocytes is clearly reduced, and in group I only a few remain. In group IV there is a noticeable reduction in the quantity of colloid inside the follicles and often an absence of any thyroglobulin positive reaction. There are thyrocytes in which thyroglobulin positive granules localized in the basal zone. There is thyroglobulin positive staining in the stroma and blood vessels. In group II thyroglobulin is no longer found in the stroma. Small doses of 131I provoke a serious breakdown in the thyroid epithelium's barrier properties, although these changes are of a transient nature. The central zone of the thyroid gland reacts more actively and dynamically to exposure to radioactive iodine than the peripheral zone.     

Reduced production of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha from decidual cell cultures supplemented with N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

A diet rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) may reduce the intrauterine production of prostaglandins and prolong pregnancy. We tested this hypothesis by assessing the influence of various PUFAs on the spontaneous production of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha from decidual cell cultures. In addition, we assessed prostaglandin and cytokine production stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in order to mimic parturition where infection is involved. In both settings, we found that after supplementing with n-3 PUFA, PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were significantly reduced. After supplementing with n-6 PUFA, there was a significant increase in both prostaglandins. Both n-3 and n-6 PUFAs reduced the production of interleukin 1 (IL-1), while n-6 PUFAs reduced TNF production. PUFAs did not influence IL-6 production. Our findings support the hypothesis that dietary n-3 PUFA may prolong pregnancy by reducing intrauterine production of prostaglandins.     

Changes in the Cardiotoxic Effects of Lead Intoxication in Rats Induced by Muscular Exercise

Exposure to lead is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Outbred white male rats were injected with lead acetate intraperitoneally three times a week and/or were forced to run at a speed of 25 m/min for 10 min 5 days a week. We performed noninvasive recording of arterial pressure, electrocardiogram and breathing parameters, and assessed some biochemical characteristics. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel was used to determine the ratio of myosin heavy chains. An in vitro motility assay was employed to measure the sliding velocity of regulated thin filaments on myosin. Isolated multicellular preparations of the right ventricle myocardium were used to study contractility in isometric and physiological modes of contraction. Exercise under lead intoxication normalized the level of calcium and activity of the angiotensin-converting enzyme in the blood serum, normalized the isoelectric line voltage and T-wave amplitude on the electrocardiogram, increased the level of creatine kinase-MB and reduced the inspiratory rate. Additionally, the maximum sliding velocity and the myosin heavy chain ratio were partly normalized. The effect of exercise under lead intoxication on myocardial contractility was found to be variable. In toto, muscular loading was found to attenuate the effects of lead intoxication, as judged by the indicators of the cardiovascular system.     

Effect of the alimentary factor on certain indices of the functional state of the pancreas in young peptic ulcer patients and atrophic gastritis patients

The activity of amylase, lipase and trypsin was increased and that of the trypsin inhibitor decreased in the blood serum of young peptic ulcer patients as compared with healthy persons. The antiulcerous dietetics normalized significantly the parameters studied. Similar highly pronounced shifts in the activity of the blood pancreatic enzymes were revealed in atrophic gastritis patients. Hyperamilasuria and clinical symptoms of pancreatitis were not observed both in the peptic patients, and in the atrophic gastritis patients. The shifts in the blood content of pancreatic enzymes and their dynamics correlated mainly with the intensity and dynamics of the disturbances in the locomotive function of the gastroduodenal system.