A comparative evaluation of the technological characteristics of working with metal-containing filling materials in the clinic

Principles of administration of physiotherapeutic methods in patients with chronic bronchitis are outlined. It is shown that combined treatment including electromagnetic field of extremely high frequency (millimetric waves) is beneficial.     

Dopamine-dependent pathology and trace processes

During recent years, ceramide has received a lot of attention as a possible mediator of the cellular responses to a variety of apoptotic stimuli. In a manner analogous to generation of its sibling diacylglycerol, ceramide is generated by a phospholipase-C-type reaction from its lipid precursor sphingomyelin. Two observations led to the proposal that ceramide plays a role in apoptosis: (1) treatment of cells with tumor necrosis factor or other inducers of apoptosis leads to activation of sphingomyelinases and to an increase in cellular ceramide levels; (2) ectopic generation or administration of ceramide can mimic apoptotic cell death. Recently, several observations have challenged the notion that ceramide is an important cell-death mediator and have prompted a re-evaluation of previously published results.     

Combined use of left atrial transesophageal pacing and cordarone in atrial flutter

AIM: To investigate the effectiveness of superfrequent transesophageal left atrial stimulation (TLAS) and its combination with cordarone in management of atrial flutter (AF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 650 patients with paroxysmal AF underwent TLAS. The paroxysm duration varied from 1 hour to 1 month. In 312 patients TLAS was performed prior to treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs (group 1), in 338 patients--after intravenous administration of cordarone (group 2). RESULTS: Superfrequent TLAS has restored sinus rhythm (SR) in 85(27.2%) and 169(50%) patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.001). TLAS promoted conversion of AF in atrial fibrillation (AFi) in 185(59.3%) and 159(47.1%) patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively (p < 0.01). Moreover, SR recovered 24-48 hours after TLAS in 87(27.9%) and 64(18.9%) patients of groups 1 and 2 respectively (p < 0.01). Sinus rhythm recovered in a total of 172(55.1%) and 233(69.0%) patients, AF was converted to AFi in a total of 88(31.4%) and 95(28.1%) patients (p > 0.05) of groups 1 and 2, respectively. TLAS was uneffective in 42(13.5%) and 10(2.9%) patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSION: Superfrequent TLAS is a highly effective and non-invasive modality in the treatment of paroxysmal AF. It promotes recovery of SR. In some patients TLAS induces AFi which is more controllable by medication as regards the heart rate. Cordarone contributes to the response to TLAS in patients with paroxysmal AF.     

Compound heterozygous deletion of the PROP-1 gene in children with combined pituitary hormone deficiency

Mutations in the prophet of Pit-1 gene (PROP1) have been shown to be responsible for combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) with deficiencies of growth hormone (GH), Prolactin (Prl), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and gonadotropins. We previously reported that homozygosity for a 2bp deletion in exon 2 (296delGA) accounted for CPHD in three patients from two Russian families. Here we report a second mutational hot spot in exon 2. This 2bp 149delGA deletion results in a frame shift that leads to the same serine to stop codon change at codon 109 (S109X). The predicted proteins are each truncated at residue 108 but diverge from the wild type sequence at different points in the homeodomain. Compound heterozygosity for the two mutations (149delGA/296delGA) was detected in 5 of 14 CPHD children from 4 families (36%). This provides the first evidence of heterozygosity for two common deletions as a cause of CPHD in Russian children.     

A new method of preparing and some properties of high molecular weight monoamine oxidase from swine liver mitochondria

Isolation of highly purified and highly molecular monoamine oxidase (MAO) from pig liver mitochondria have been worked out. Specific activity of isolated preparation is 2700 times higher than of original mitochondria homogenate. Enzyme solubilization by digitonin, affinity chromatography purification and ultrafiltration underlie this method. MAO catalytic properties changing during the process of purification by different methods have been investigated. Substrate specificity was studied; kinetic parameters of enzymatic desemination were calculated.     

Distribution of T-bands and telomeric (TTAGGG)n nucleotide repeats on chromosomes of Bos taurus

Distribution of T-bands on mitotic chromosomes of Bos taurus was studied. Association of T-bands with telomeres and enrichment of T-bands with genes, with a known localization is described. After THA-banding on the chromosomes of cattle, telomeric and pericentromeric regions of all autosomes showed bright fluorescence. The exception was for chromosome 7, which did not have telomeric T-bands. Interstitial T-bands were detected only on chromosomes 7, 16, and Y (7q13, 7q15, 7q22, 7q24, 16q21, and Yp12). A total proportion of centromeric, telomeric, and interstitial T-bands was 11.19, 9.97, and 2.02% of the length of the haploid chromosome set, respectively. By means of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), the presence of the telomeric repeat (TTAGGG)n was shown not only in telomeric regions of all autosome, but also in all pericentromeric regions. The obtained data are indicative of the specificity of T-banding on the chromosomes of Bos taurus.     

Digitalis-like and vasoconstrictor effects of endogenous digoxin-like factor(s) from the venom of Bufo marinus toad

Digitalis glycoside-like properties of the Bufo marinus toad crude venom and one of its constituents, bufalin, were studied in various assay systems. In concentrations 0.3-30 micrograms/ml crude venom increased the contractility of isolated electrically driven rat atria, constricted rat aortic rings, inhibited ouabain-sensitive Na+,K(+)-ATPase in rat erythrocytes and the Na+,K(+)-pump in rat aorta, and cross-reacted with antidigoxin antibody from the dissociation enhanced lanthanide fluoroimmunoassay (DELFIA). These effects were unaffected by adrenoceptor blockers and the 5-HT antagonist, deseril, but were blocked by antidigoxin antibody. Bufalin (10-30 microM) increased myocardial contractility and inhibited Na+,K(+)-ATPase in rat erythrocytes similarly to crude Bufo marinus venom. In rat aorta bufalin showed weak and delayed vasoconstrictor activity which was antagonized by 2 microM phentolamine, and had a biphasic effect on the Na+,K(+)-pump; 0.5-1.0 microM bufalin stimulated the pump, while higher concentrations inhibited its activity. Although the effects of bufalin were blocked by antidigoxin antibody, bufalin showed very low digoxin-like immunoreactivity in the DELFIA. These observations suggest that, in addition to bufalin, Bufo marinus venom contains at least one more digitalis-like steroid with significant intrinsic vasoconstrictor activity which, unlike bufalin, constricts the blood vessels acting directly via inhibition of the sodium pump in the vascular smooth muscle membrane.