The changes of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in plasma in ischemic stroke

Contents of lipids (cholesterol CS, triglycerides) as well as levels of CS of lipoproteins of different density and of apolipoproteins A1 and B were measured in blood serum of 31 patients in different periods after of ischemic stroke. The majority of the indices studied were significantly decreased in men in acute periods of the stroke, especially in 8-21 days after the stroke development. Meanwhile, the levels of lipids, CS lipoproteins of both low and very low densities were increased later. Contents of CS of antiatherogenic lipoproteins of high density (HDLP) was low in different periods after the development of disorders of cerebral circulation. This confirms the concept that low level of HDLP is one of the risk factors of ischemic stroke. Decrease of the levels of both lipids and CS of lipoproteins of different density was more pronounced in patients with more severe atherosclerotic damages of the main cerebral arteries. Disorders of metabolism of lipoproteins in ischemic disorders of cerebral circulation are discussed with reference to literary data taking into consideration their heterogeneity. Genetically determined pathology of certain apolipoproteins plays a key role factor in the development of early atherosclerosis and in the elucidation of biochemical markers of the primary damages of cerebral vessels.     

Comparison of glycoprotein components, tryptophan, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in borderline and severe hypertension and myocardial infarction

Between 1957 and 1993, the Siberian Chemical Complex (Tomsk-7) located in the Tomsk region (Russia) regularly discharged radioactive liquid wastes into the Tom River which resulted in an extensive contamination of large territories with long lived radionuclides such as cesium-137 and strontium-90. In the summers of 1996 and 1997, Research Team of Siberian Medical University conducted biodosimetry and cytogenetic monitoring of pikes (Esox lucius) caught in the Tom River at various distances downstream from the Siberian Chemical Complex (SCC) using the micronucleus test and the gamma spectroscopy. Our findings demonstrated that the difference in frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes between the radiation-exposed fish caught downstream from the SCC and the controls was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Moreover, we found a good correlation between radiocesium concentration and micronucleated erythrocyte frequency in pikes. It was found that both the micronucleated erythrocyte frequency in pike blood and the level of the pike radiocesium concentration depended on the age of pikes. The micronucleated erythrocyte frequency gradually increased from the 1-year-old pikes to the over 20-year-old pikes. On the other hand, the average level of radiocesium concentration gradually increased from the 1-year-old pikes only up to the 10-year-old pikes. There is no correlation between radiocesium concentration and micronucleated erythrocyte frequency in the over 10-year-old pikes.     

The effect of an original analog of the C-terminal fragment of vasopressin on the behavior of white rats

Ethinylestradiol (EE) has evident paradoxical effects on cancer risk for human breast and hepatic cancer which parallel in some respects its effects on estrogen-induced neoplasms in the hamster kidney and liver. EE has been shown to be only weakly carcinogenic in the hamster kidney, but the most potent carcinogenic estrogen in the hamster liver following prolonged treatment. Unexpectedly, when EE and potent carcinogenic estrogens, such as diethylstilbestrol (DES), 17beta-estradiol (E2) and Moxestrol (MOX), are administered concomitantly, estrogen-induced carcinogenesis in the kidney is completely prevented. In studying this novel finding, we found that, compared with E2 exposure alone, EE at 0.05 and 1.0 nM significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited the rise in proliferation of cultured primary hamster proximal renal tubular (PRT) cells in the presence of E2 (1.0 nM). Consistent with these findings, combined EE + DES treatment for 5.0 months reduced hamster kidney c-myc, c-fos and c-jun RNA expression to 43, 37 and 52%, respectively, compared with levels observed after DES treatment alone. Interestingly, TAM + DES treatment for the same period also resulted in the same low level of RNA expression of these proto-oncogenes. c-MYC, c-FOS and c-JUN protein products were comparably reduced after either EE + DES or TAM + DES treatment. It appears that c-fos expression and c-FOS protein levels in the hamster kidney were more responsive to TAM inhibition. These data demonstrate that EE possesses unique anti-tumorigenic properties in vivo in the hamster kidney. Additionally, the observed anti-estrogen-like effect of EE on cell proliferation of cultured PRT cells suggests that EE may interfere critically with estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated mitogenic pathway(s) affected by potent carcinogenic estrogens, thus preventing subsequent gene dysregulation and, hence, tumor development. Based on competition studies, the differential binding of EE to hamster kidney ER relative to that of the other estrogens (E2, DES, MOX) appears not to contribute to the prevention of estrogen carcinogenesis at this organ site by EE.     

Activity of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and vasopressin level in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension

AIM: Assessment of RAAS and vasopressin in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Activity of plasma renin (APR), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), plasma levels of angiotensin II (AII) and vasopressin (VP), serum concentration of aldosteron (AS) were measured by radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay in 21 PPH patients with circulatory failure (age 34.7 +/- 2.1 years), 11 patients with NYHA functional class II-III, 10 with class IV, and 10 control subjects (age 29.8 +/- 1.5 years). RESULTS: Compared to controls, 21 PPH patients had elevated RAAS parameters: APR up to 3.52 ng/ml/h (p < 0.05), activity of ACE up to 43.13 units, AII level up to 33.93 ng/ml (p < 0.01), AS up to 468.86 ng/ml (p < 0.01), VP up to 5.26 ng/ml (p < 0.001). Circulatory failure progression resulted in activation of all the RAAS components. This and VP activation was the greatest in PPH patients with ACE > 5 ng/ml/h. PPH patients with mean pressure in the pulmonary artery higher than 60 mm Hg demonstrated higher ARP, AS, VP, AII, ACE than those who had this pressure under 60 mm Hg. CONCLUSION: PPH patients display a noticeable activation of RAAS and VP. This activation seems to be secondary as the changes increase with elevation of the pressure in the pulmonary artery and aggravation of circulatory insufficiency. Plasma renin activity determines the degree of RAAS activation as a whole. The discovered activation of RAAS in PPH gives grounds for doubts in the validity of using ACE inhibitors in the treatment of PPH.     

Potentiation of the antitumor effect of ionizing radiation by brief concomitant exposures to angiostatin

Angiostatin, a proteolytic fragment of plasminogen, inhibits the growth of primary and metastatic tumors by suppressing angiogenesis. When used in combination with ionizing radiation (IR), angiostatin demonstrates potent antitumor synergism, largely caused by inhibition of the tumor microvasculature. We report here the temporal interaction of angiostatin and IR in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumors growing in the hind limbs of syngeneic mice. Tumors with an initial mean volume of 510 +/- 151 mm3 were treated with IR alone (20 Gy x 2 doses on days 0 and 1), angiostatin alone (25 mg/kg/day divided twice daily) on days 0 through 13, or a combination of the two as follows: (a) IR plus angiostatin (days 0 through 13); (b) IR plus angiostatin (days 0 and 1); and (c) IR followed by angiostatin beginning on the day after IR completion and given daily thereafter (days 2 through 13). By day 14, tumors in untreated control mice had grown to 6110 +/- 582 mm3, whereas in mice treated with: (a) IR alone, tumors had grown to 2854 +/- 338 mm3 (P < 0.05 compared with untreated controls); and (b) angiostatin alone, tumors had grown to 3666 +/- 453 mm3 (P < 0.05 compared with untreated controls). In combined-treatment groups, in mice treated with: (a) IR plus longer-course angiostatin, tumors reached 2022 +/- 282 mm3 (P = 0.036 compared with IR alone); (b) IR followed by angiostatin, tumors reached 2677 +/- 469 mm3 (P > 0.05 compared with IR alone); and (c) IR plus short-course angiostatin, tumors reached 1032 +/- 78 mm3 (P < 0.001 compared with IR alone). These findings demonstrate that the efficacy of experimental radiation therapy is potentiated by brief concomitant exposure of the tumor vasculature to angiostatin.     

Imaging features and clinical significance of perineural spread or extension of head and neck tumors

Perineural spread of head and neck tumors is a form of metastatic disease in which tumor disseminates to noncontiguous regions along the endoneurium or perineurium. Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can help detect perineural spread, although MR imaging is the modality of choice because of its multiplanar capability, its superior soft-tissue contrast, and the decreased amount of artifact from dental hardware. Perineural spread most commonly occurs in adenoid cystic carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Nerve enlargement may lead to foraminal enlargement and, ultimately, to foraminal destruction, findings that are best seen at CT. Extension through the foramen ovale and involvement of the Meckel cave is best seen on coronal T1-weighted MR images, and nerve enhancement is best seen on fat-suppressed T1-weighted MR images. Other radiologic findings include obliteration of fat planes at foraminal openings, neuropathic atrophy, cavernous sinus enlargement, and replacement of the trigeminal subarachnoid cistern with soft tissue. The pathway of perineural tumor spread is predictable with knowledge of the pertinent cranial nerve anatomy; however, patients with radiologically or pathologically proved perineural spread may have normal nerve function at clinical examination. Therefore, it is imperative that the radiologist be familiar with both normal cranial nerve anatomy and the radiologic appearance and assessment of perineural tumor extension.     

Correlates of gonococcal infection and of antimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae among female sex workers, Republic of the Philippines, 1996-1997

From 1994 to 1997, the proportion of Neisseria gonorrhoeae highly resistant to ciprofloxacin (MIC >/=4 microg/mL) increased substantially among female sex workers (FSWs) in the Philippines. Among 1499 Filipina FSWs, we evaluated factors associated with gonococcal infection and with gonococcal antimicrobial resistance. By multivariate analysis, gonococcal infection was associated with sex with a new client, self-prescribed prophylactic antimicrobial use, work in a brothel, and inconsistent condom use and was negatively associated with registration status and vaginal hygiene practices. Factors associated with ciprofloxacin-resistant gonococci included: marital status, living alone, duration of sex work, and clinic site. Further, gonococci highly resistant to ciprofloxacin were isolated from 10 (11.5%) of 87 FSWs reporting self-prescribed antimicrobial use versus 44 (3.4%) of 1295 reporting no antimicrobial use (P<.001). Self-prescribed prophylactic antimicrobial use and inconsistent condom use could be important factors in the continued emergence of gonococcal antimicrobial resistance in the Philippines.     

Oxygenation in the rabbit myocardium: assessment with susceptibility-dependent MR imaging

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of using hemoglobin (Hb) desaturation as an indicator of myocardial oxygenation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: High-resolution gradient-echo nuclear magnetic resonance (MR) images of isolated, blood-perfused rabbit hearts were obtained at various blood oxygenation levels. The hearts were perfused at 37 degrees C with a Langendorff apparatus modified for nuclear MR imaging. The perfusate contained bovine red blood cells in a cardioplegic solution that eliminated motion artifacts and minimized arteriovenous oxygenation differences. Hb saturation was varied (7%-100%) randomly. Perfusion pressure was continuously monitored, and blood samples were obtained. RESULTS: There was a substantial correlation between image signal intensity in the myocardium and Hb saturation in the blood, believed to be due to susceptibility effects of the paramagnetic species deoxyhemoglobin. CONCLUSION: Direct and noninvasive determination of regional Hb saturation with susceptibility-dependent MR imaging may provide information regarding regional myocardial O2 content.