Reconstruction of the visceral cranium by the replantation of a resected bone segment subjected to extracorporeal freezing in benign tumors and dysplastic processes

The new method for surgical treatment of benign tumors and dysplastic processes in the facial skull bones includes resection of the involved segment of the bone, its mechanical treatment, extracorporeal freezing, sterilization, and replantation. Biophysical studies revealed that 10-min freezing of the preparation in liquid nitrogen followed by slow defrosting kills tumor cells. Animal experiments demonstrated excellent osteoplastic properties of thus treated replants. Based on the results of treatment of 29 patients, the authors defined the indications for such treatment and demonstrated its high efficacy in benign tumors and dysplastic processes in the facial skull.     

PhLPs and PhLOPs in the phosducin family of G beta gamma binding proteins

In this study, we identify new isoforms of the retinal phosducin and investigate the expression of the phosducin family, showing that an isoform, PhLP1, has sequence homology with Phd and Gbeta gamma binding capability, whereas two isoforms (phosducin-like orphan proteins, PhLOPs) share sequence homology with Phd but fail to bind Gbeta gamma. Original identification of PhLP1 and the PhLOPs was from a human retina cDNA library, using a PCR product for library hybridization screening that contained a predicted functional epitope domain. The screen identified Phd and three related, but distinct, recombinants (PhLP1, PhLOP1, and PhLOP2). By RT-PCR, all isoforms are expressed in either retina or forskolin-stimulated Y79 retinoblastoma cells; however, the new isoforms are below the level of detection on Northern blot analysis. The predicted amino acid translation of each homologue revealed major differences, arising from either splice variants or gene duplication of Phd. To test the functional interaction of all phosducin isoforms with Gbeta gamma in vitro, a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein was developed for each member. Biochemical interaction with purified retinal transducin Gbeta gamma was verified for GST-Phd and demonstrated for GST-PhLP1; however, neither GST-PhLOP1 nor GST-PhLOP2 bound Gbeta gamma. Comparable results were observed when the GST-phosducin fusion proteins selectively sequestered Gbeta gammas from retinal extracts or when functional Gbeta gamma interactions were assessed using surface plasmon resonance technology. Phosducin and its isoforms are widely distributed in body tissues where they may participate in signal transduction pathways. Phd and PhLP1 possess an 11-amino acid conserved epitope domain (TGPKGVINDWR) that controls the high-affinity binding of Gbeta gamma; these isoforms are implicated in the G-protein signaling pathway. The phosducin-like orphan proteins (PhLOPs) fail to bind Gbeta gamma, suggesting that the PhLOP isoforms may participate in still unidentified signaling pathways.     

Surgical treatment of lymphadenopathy in children

Clinical observations of 1365 children with the lymph nodes affection were summarized. The diagnosis verification was conducted using the broad arsenal of general clinical and special methods of investigation. In complicated situations the histochemical and immunogenetic methods were applied for the diagnosis. The structure and dynamics of children's morbidity with lymphadenopathies (LAP) was studied up, the age, sexual and seasonal peculiarities were systematized, the analysis of primary localizations and clinico-morphological comparisons was conducted. The basic thesises of the standardized approach were elaborated on the ground of the diagnostical and tactical mistakes results analysis.     

Primers for the nef gene in the diagnosis of HIV infection using the polymerase chain reaction

The incidence of chronic alcoholism among the non-medical staff of a hospital was evaluated in an occupational health service context. Three criteria were sought routinely: suspicion by history of excessive alcohol intake, typical findings by physical examination, and suggestive behavioural changes reported by work colleagues. Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase levels and mean corpuscular volume were measured when one of these three criteria existed. The diagnosis of chronic alcoholism was made when two criteria were found or when only one criterion existed but accompanied by laboratory abnormalities. The incidence of chronic alcoholism was 6.2 per cent among male staff and 0.6 among female staff. It appeared to be less than in the population as a whole. The selective and non-systematic use of laboratory investigations and the frequent absence of indication to the occupational health physician of behavioural problems were sources of bias which probably contributed to underestimation of the incidence of chronic alcoholism among employees of the Orleans Regional Hospital Group. Provision of information to all staff is essential in order to explain the behavioural changes associated with chronic alcoholism and the usefulness of reporting employees showing evidence of such changes to the occupational physician. This enables medico-social diagnosis and the early care of those with early chronic alcohol abuse.     

The mechanism of the reaction forming tryptophanyl-tRNA, catalyzed by tryptophan:tRNA-ligase

The rates of tryptophanyl-tRNA formation catalyzed by beef pancreas tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase were measured in a concentration range of each substrate (tryptophan, ATP and yeast tRNATrp) and also in the presence of various concentrations of substrate analogues (tryptamine and alpha,beta-methylene analogue of ATP) concentrations. The data obtained were compared with the kinetic equations which described various possible mechanisms of the reaction. The comparison of the mechanisms was based on the calculation of relative probabilities of each hypothesis the efficiency of which was demonstrated earlier. The calculations have shown that two mechanisms according to which the intermediate enzyme-aminoacyl-adenylate complex formation involves the enzyme-aminoacyl-tRNA complex are the most probable ones.     

Change in the concentration of total lipids, phospholipids and neutral lipids in rat liver mitochondria and microsomes during chemical carcinogenesis

Sharp increase in the content of total lipids and, especially, neutral lipids, and considerable decrease in the content of phospholipids were observed in liver microsomes and mitochondrias from liver of tumour-bearing rats in the process of the growth of sarcoma, induced by a single injection of 3,4-benzpyrene. The injection of anthracene, a non-cancerogenous hydrocarbon, practically did not affect the lipid composition of rat liver subcellular particles. Thus, the disturbances in normal functioning of subcellular particles under cancerogenesis are due to considerable change in the chemical composition of biomembranes. The data obtained confirm our hypothesis on lipid mobilization under tumour growth.