Comparative study of the oncornavirus A and D proteins of human J-96 cells by the methods of isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Three peaks of 14C-radioactivity with buoyant densities of 1.23--1.24, 1.26 and 1.29 g/ml were detected in a cytoplasmic extract of J-96 cells upon equilibrium centrifugation in sucrose gradient. Electron microscopy of the 1.23--1.24 g/ml buoyant density fraction revealed particles 60--80 nm in diameter showing morphology characteristic of oncornavirus A. Isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gel showed polypeptides of extracellular D virus and oncornavirus A to differ in isofocusing points (pI). Proteins of extracellular D virus were localized in zones with pH 3.7, 4.0, 4.4, 4.7, 5.6, 6.5, 8.1, 9.45, and 10.0; polypeptide of intracytoplasmic oncornavirus A had the following isofocusing points: 4.0, 4.9, 6.7, 7.3, 9.0, 9.45 and over 10.0. Electrophoresis of polypeptides of D virus and intracellular oncornavirus A revealed differences in the molecular weights of the components. No proteins with molecular weights of 10,000, 12,000, 15,000, and 27,000 dalton characteristic of the extracellular D virus were found in oncornavirus A virions. The analysis of protein patterns obtained in parallel experiments of isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis suggests that oncornaviruses A and D of J-96 cells differ in the characteristics (pI and molecular weight) of the structural polypeptide components.     

The psychophysiological mechanisms of awareness: the hypothesis of self-identification

A hypothesis is advanced concerning the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the mental process of self-identification. It is assumed that a specific excitation pattern produced by a stimulus in one of several cortical areas is transmitted back to the neurons of the same cortical areas via massive parallel feedback pathways. The coincident (identical) excitation patterns--those produced by the stimulus and relayed by backward projections add together in the same neuronal structures thus inducing their intensive firing. This cyclic process amplifies the specificity and intensifies a representation of the stimulus thus creating the most favorable conditions for its categorization by distributed long-term memory. The result of categorization, a symbol or an image, is physiologically expressed by a pattern of neuronal activity, which is also included in the cycle of self-identification. This process underlies representation of subjective meaning of sensory characteristics of the stimulus. Symbolic representation of the stimulus signifies the transition of the perception process from the physiological (objective) to the mental (subjective) level. Theoretical analysis and experimental data show that the cyclic processes of self-identification and symbolic interpretation of sensory signals are likely to produce the phenomenon of awareness.     

Debatable issues in the problem of somatoform and related disorders

The questions of including into ICD-10 and DSM-III-R of extranosological category--somatoform disorders is discussed. Some positive moments were considered, but inexpediency of the limitation of somatoform disorders to psychological disturbances only, doubtfulness of both including psychosomatic diseases in this category and age limitations in beginning and duration of the disease were stressed. The concept of somatopsychic diseases was proposed with three main variations: 1) with relatively independent rise of somatic and psychic disorders, 2) with prevailing etiopathogenic role of psychic factor (psychosomatic disorders, somatized psychic disturbances, somatoform neurotic and psychosomatic disturbances), 3) with prevailing etiopathogenic role of somatic factors (somatogenic psychic disorders). The actual distribution of somatopsychic disturbances are presented on the syndromal, nosologic and personal levels using data of prophylactic medical examination of one big enterprise's employees.     

Explicit formulas for the ellipsoids approximating attainability domains

A series of explicit formulas for ellipsoids that estimate from above the attainability domains of linear dynamic systems with geometric constraints on control is obtained. Locally and globally-optimal ellipsoidal estimates in terms of different cost functions are studied. In particular, some essentially nonlinear boundary-value problems connected with seeking ellipsoids that are globally-optimal in volume are solved explicitly. It is shown that the formulas can be used to efficiently implement different passages to the limit, including those of a new type—passage to a limit when the dimension of the phase space of the dynamic system tends to infinity.     

A bronchoscopic aid in the therapy of bronchial asthma patients with a severe course

The body's immunological responses were examined in thyroid damage caused by the incorporation of varying 131I doses. The in-take of 131I in doses of 37, 74, and 148 KBc/g body weight caused reductions in the murine blood concentrations of thyroxin following 30, 60, and 180 days. The blood levels of triiodothyronine decreased 180 days after administration of 131I in a dose of 74 KBc/g body weight and 30, 60, and 180 days after incorporation of the radioisotope in a dose of 148 KBk/g body weight. Decreased concentrations of the both hormones were followed by the suppression of a humoral immune response to sheep red blood cells, diminished cell-mediated immunity in the mixed culture of lymphocytes. The inhibition of immune responses was correlated with the changes in the level of triiodothyronine.