Systematics and Distribution of Ferret Badgers Melogale (Mammalia, Mustelidae) in Vietnam: First Genetic Data.

Genetic studies of the ferret badgers Melogale conducted in Vietnam have shown that this area is inhabited by three species, M. moschata, M. personata, and M. cucphuongensis, which can be attributed to sibling species (cryptic species). M. personata was found to be widespread not only in southern and central Vietnam, but also in the northern provinces (Lang Son, Ha Giang, Ninh Binh), while M. cucphuongensis was found in the provinces Lang Son, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, and Dak Lak, apart from Ninh Binh, from where it was described. The data obtained suggest a sympatric distribution of all three species over the Vietnam area and confirm sympatry of M. personata and M. moschata in southern Vietnam, which has been earlier established on the basis of morphological data.

Unexpectedly high genetic diversity of the asiatic short-tailed shrews Blarinella (Mammalia, Lipotyphla, Soricidae).

Genetic diversity of the genus Blarinella was studied using one mitochondrial and four nuclear genes as examples. The first genotyping of shrews from the southeast of Gansu province (China), which is a typical habitat of B. griselda, has been performed. Molecular genetic analysis showed that Blarinella sp. from southern Gansu stand apart among the other representatives of the genus and can be assigned to neither of the known species.

Genetic variation of the MHC class II DRB genes in the Japanese weasel, Mustela itatsi, endemic to Japan, compared with the Siberian weasel, Mustela sibirica.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes encode proteins that play a critical role in vertebrate immune system and are highly polymorphic. To further understand the molecular evolution of the MHC genes, we compared MHC class II DRB genes between the Japanese weasel (Mustela itatsi), a species endemic to Japan, and the Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica), a closely related species on the continent. We sequenced a 242-bp region of DRB exon 2, which encodes antigen-binding sites (ABS), and found 24 alleles from 31 M. itatsi individuals and 17 alleles from 21 M. sibirica individuals, including broadly distributed, species-specific and/or geographically restricted alleles. Our results suggest that pathogen-driven balancing selection have acted to maintain the diversity in the DRB genes. For predicted ABS, nonsynonymous substitutions exceeded synonymous substitutions, also indicating positive selection, which was not seen at non-ABS. In a Bayesian phylogenetic tree, two M. sibirica DRB alleles were basal to the rest of the sequences from mustelid species and may represent ancestral alleles. Trans-species polymorphism was evident between many mustelid DRB alleles, especially between M. itatsi and M. sibirica. These two Mustela species divided about 1.7 million years ago, but still share many MHC alleles, indicative of their close phylogenetic relationship.

[Immunomodulator Intensification of Etioropic Therapy in Patients with Advanced Pulmonary Tuberculosis].

The study was aimed at possible increase of the therapy efficacy in patients with advanced tuberculosis by including immunomodulators to the treatment schemes. The data concerning 6034 patients with advanced tuberculosis, mainly fibrocavernous tuberculosis of the lungs, were analysed. Four groups of the patients were randomized. In group 1 the management of the patients included etiotropic therapy and some treatment and rehabilitation measures with the use of Cycloferon. The group 2 patients in addition to the etiotropic therapy and some treatment and rehabilitation measures were given Omega-3. In group 3 the management included the etiotropic therapy and some treatment and rehabilitation measures. In group 4 the etioropic therapy was used alone. The analysis showed that 3419 patients had primary pulmonary tuberculosis, 340 patients had relapsing tuberculosis and 2275 patients had long-term process. The etiotropic therapy efficacy was estimated after an intensive phase of not more than 3 months. In the cases with Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance and some other unfavourable factors it was estimated after a 5-month intensive phase. The results confirmed that inclusion of immunomodulators to the treatment schemes allowed to increase the therapy efficacy and the patients' adherence to the treatment, as well as to shorten the period of the bacteria carriage. Thus, the use of Cycloferon in the schemes of the treatment of the patients with fibrocavernous pulmonary tuberculosis allowed to shorten the period of the pathogen carriage (as well as the drug resistant forms) in 94.1 ± 3.33% of the patients in spite of concomitant diseases. The effect of Cycloferon in such cases was likely due to both its direct immunoprotective action and the improvement of the general state of the patients and their higher adherence to the treatment.

[ROLE OF BIOMARKERS IN ESTIMATION OF RENAL TUBULOINTERSTITIAL TISSUE DAMAGE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC GLOMERULONEPHRITIS].

AIM: to investigate the relationship between the levels of NGAL and IL-18 in.blood, urine and clinical, morphological parameters reflecting renal tubulointerstitial tissue damage (TTD) in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 81 patients with CGN. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of arterial hypertension (AH). Levels of NGAL and IL-18 in blood and urine were determined by the immuno-enzymic method. Data of renal morphological study were used for the analysis of TTD. RESULTS: In patients with CGN and AH we observed more pronounced morphological changes of renal TTD, what coincide with higher levels of NGAL and IL-18 in blood and urine. We found correlations between markers and morphological changes, what allow to use NGAL in blood and urine, IL-18 in blood to estimate renal TTD in CGN. CONCLUSIONS: NGAL in blood most accurately reflects interstitial fibrosis (IF) and tubular basement membrane changes; NGAL in urine--tubular epithelium dystrophy. IL-18 in blood is an indicator of dystrophy and necrosis of the tubular epithelium, IF.

[Application of immunomodulators in the treatment of mandibular fractures in elderly patients with incomplete secondary adentia].

The aim of the work was to study the experience of using complex pharmacotherapy in the treatment of mandibular fractures in elderly patients with incomplete secondary periodontitis, which were divided into two groups. In the first group, patients (n = 46; average age 69.0 ± 3.6) were treated using the authors' original device combined with application of antimicrobial MetrogilDenta gel onto gums two times a day during ten days. Patients in the second group (n = 52; average age 61.0 ± 3.1) were treated with the same device combined with (i) application of MetrogilDenta antimicrobial gel onto gums two times a day during ten days, (ii) application of 1.5 ml of Cycloferon 5% liniment by cotton pellet for 20 min during the same 10 days (30 minutes after the antimicrobial gel), and (iii) intramuscular injections of 6 mg of synthetic immunomodulator Polyoxidonium once a day for 3 days, then once every two days (for a total of 17 days). It is established that the use of the combination of interferon inducers of immunomodulator group--Cycloferon in the form of liniment and synthetic immunomodulator Polyoksidonium together with MetrogilDenta antimicrobial gel--led to the most pronounced regression of inflammatory and destructive processes in periodontal tissues (in 7.1%, d = 0.05), optimized the state of local immunity of the oral cavity, and normalized microflora in periodontal pockets in elderly patients with incomplete secondary adentia.

Revision of the genus Leopoldamys (Rodentia, Muridae) as inferred from morphological and molecular data, with a special emphasis on the species composition in continental Indochina.

A revision of the genus Leopoldamys is presented, and both the species composition and distribution in Indochina and Sundaic regions is reinvestigated. The phylogeny of the genus is recovered based on Cyt b, COI, and IRBP gene analyses. Five basal and 16 secondary monophyletic phylogenetic lineages were identified. A taxonomic reassessment of the continental and Sundaic populations is performed based on morphological verification of the genetically defined clades. Six clades were recovered in the phylogenetic analyses and correspond to morphologically defined species: L. revertens (distributed in lowlands of eastern and central Indochina), L. herberti (western and central Indochina, northward to northern Vietnam), L. edwardsi (China and northern Vietnam, northward of 21 degrees N), L. milleti (endemic of Dalat Plateau, southern Vietnam), L. sabanus (Borneo), and L. vociferans (lowlands of the Malacca Peninsula, northward to southwestern Thailand). The absence of proper L. sabanus in continental Indochina is revealed. The substitute name for the species known from the majority of Indochina under the name of L. sabanus should be L. revertens. The name L. neilli, which has been ascribed to populations from Thailand and Vietnam, is a junior synonym of L. herberti. Two related but rather divergent clades are found in Sumatra and the Malacca Peninsula. Based on their considerable genetic distances, these forms should be regarded as separate species from the L. sabanus type-bearing populations of Borneo, or as the members of L. sabanus polytypic superspecies. The substitute name for the lineage-bearing taxon from Malacca should be L. vociferans. The continental populations of Leopoldamys can be distinguished from each other by external and cranial characters and may be subdivided into four species. Two of these species (L. revertens and L. milleti) are well distinguished by external and cranial morphology, whereas the other two species (L. herberti and L. edwardsi) may be treated as sibling species that are difficult to distinguish based on morphological characters.

[The mountain weasel Mustela kathiah (Carnivora: Mustelidae): molecular and karyological data].

The karyotype of Mustela kathiah was first described. Its structure is most similar to the karyotype of M. altaica, differing inthe morphological peculiarites of five pairs of large chromosomes. A comparative analysis of mitochondrial genes in the species Mustela allowed us to clarify understanding of the place of M. kathiah in the system of the genus. The earlier hypothesized proximity of the species to a group of small weasels (altaica, nivalis) or to a group of South Asian species (strigidorsa, nudipes) was not confirmed. A high level of differences between M. kathiah of Vietnam and specimens from southern China in nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome b (7.7%) and ND2 (6-6.2%) genes was found. Perhaps these differences, manifested in populations of M. kathiah from different regions, are adaptive.

Influence of prototropic reactions on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of methyl p-dimethylaminobenzoate and its two ortho derivatives.

The influence of prototropic reactions on the spectral characteristics of methyl p-dimethylaminobenzoate (I) and its o-methoxy (II) and o-hydroxy (III) derivatives has been studied using steady-state spectroscopic technique and quantum-chemical calculations. This study concerns the solvent-induced shift of the absorption, locally excited (LE) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescence bands in the neat tetrahydrofuran (THF) and its hydrochloric acid solutions at different HCl concentrations. On the basis of the experimental results and quantum-chemical calculations, it was shown that in a hydrochloric acid solution the studied molecules exist as a mixture of neutral, mono-, and dicationic forms. Additionally, the results of spectroscopic measurements were used to calculate, according to the Benesi-Hildebrand method, the equilibrium constants of protopropic reactions in the ground, S(0), and excited, S(1), states. Our findings predestine molecules I and II to be used as acid fluorescence probes in a region of 0-2.5 M of [H(+)] concentrations.

[Using thin-layer chromatography of fecal bile acid to study the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica) population].

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of fecal bile acids has been used to confirm visual identification of 30 scat samples found in Armenia from April 2004 to November 2005 and attributed to the Persian leopard (Panthera pardus ciscaucasica). The results of TLC do not differ significantly from those of visual identification, confirming the reliability of the latter method. All samples identified incorrectly (lynx and wolf scats) are from the Meghri Ridge, indicating that the ecological niches of the three predators apparently overlap in this area. Taking into account the frequency and distribution of scats, two priority areas for leopard conservation have been identified: the Central and Khachadzor districts of the Khosrov Nature Reserve and the Nuvadi-Shvanidzor area in eastern Meghri ridge.

[Sexual dimorphism of marbled polecat Vormela peregusna (Carnivora: Mustelidae)].

Analysis of morphometric variation in 26 cranial characters were studied in 85 individuals of marbled polecat Vormela peregusna from Turkmenistan demonstrated a low level of sexual dimorphism in the species. The properties of sexual dimorphism in marbled polecat are discussed in terms of available hypotheses of sexual dimorphism in carnivores.

[Limited epidemic of tuberculosis among young socially dysadapted individuals].

Two epidemic outbreaks of tuberculosis were observed among young socially dysadapted individuals at a juvie. They were liquidated, by chiefly implementing social preventive measures and by introducing new chemotherapy regimens.

[Effects of decreased nystagmus amplitude in children periodically exposed to light].

The effect of steady-state nystagmus suppression has been found upon periodic light exposure of the eye. The paper describes the exposure facility and procedure based on the changes in the amplitude and frequency of light pulse until there is a response of a patient's nystagmus parameters that are continuously monitored by video-assisted computer system. After periodic light exposures, there was a persistent suppression of nystagmus and a steady-state increase in visual acuity by an average of 0.1.

Intrageneric diversity of the cytochrome B gene and phylogeny of eurasian species of the genus mustela (mustelidae, carnivora).

To illuminate molecular phylogenetic relationships among Eurasian species of the genus Mustela (Mustelidae, Carnivora), we determined nucleotide sequences of the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene region (1,140 base pairs). Molecular phylogenetic trees, constructed using the neighbor-joining and the maximum likelihood methods, showed the common topology of species relationships to each other. The American mink M. vison first branched off and was positioned very remotely from the other species of Mustela. Excluding M. vison, the ermine M. erminea first split from the rest of the species. Two small body-sized weasels, the least weasel M. nivalis and the mountain weasel M. altaica, comprised one cluster (named "the small weasel group"). The other species formed another cluster, where the remarkably close relationships among the domestic ferret M. furo, the European polecat M. putorius, and the steppe polecat M. eversmanni were noticed with 87-94% bootstrap values (named "the ferret group"), supporting the history that the ferret was domesticated from M. putorius and/or M. eversmanni. The European mink M. lutreola was the closest to the ferret group. The genetic distance between the Siberian weasel M. sibirica and the Japanese weasel M. itatsi corresponded to differences of interspecific level, while the two species were relatively close to M. lutreola and the ferret group. These results provide invaluable insight for understanding the evolution of Mustela as well as for investigating the hybridization status between native and introduced species for conservation.

[The neuronal characteristics of the subnuclei of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus in rats (based on the data from morphometric and informational analyses)]. / Kharakteristika neironov sub''iader paraventrikuliarnogo iadra gipotalamusa krys (po dannym morfometricheskogo i informatsionnogo analizov).

Subnuclei of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus were studied in chronic experiments in 60 male Wistar rats (3 groups of animals) under normal conditions and under the influence of intensive and moderate regiments of hypoxic trainings. The division of macro- and micro-cellular populations of neurons of PVN is justified not only due to the peculiarity of the topographo-anatomical arrangement of them in the nucleus and the neuroanatomical relations but also due to a difference of their morphometrical (volumes of the cells, their nuclei, cytoplasm, nucleo-cytoplasmic coefficient) and informative characteristics (relative entropy and informative excess). The use of this approach in the assessment of the functional state of neurosecretory cells when compared with the change of organism resistance allows more complete assessment of the level of morphofunctional activity of neurons of subnuclei ot PVN and of their adaptation reserve which is important from the viewpoint of prognosis of the possibility of ther participation in protective-adaptational and compensatory reactions.

[Morphofunctional characteristics of gastrin-releasing peptide synthesizing system of the hypothalamus in normal conditions and in experimental diabetes in rats]. / Morfofunktsional'naia kharakteristika gastrin-rilizing peptid-sinteziruiushchei sistemy gipotalamusa v norme i pri éksperimental'nom diabete u krys.

5 weeks development of streptozoticin-induced diabetes mellitus in the rats is accompanied with the increase of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) immunopositive neurons amount in parvocellular neurosecretory subdivisions of immunopositive fibers increased in these structures:the content of GRP increased in median eminence as well. In supraoptic nucleus and posterior magnocellular subdivision of paraventricular nucleus the amount of GRP-immunopositive neurons increased by the second week of diabetes development with its decrease by the fifth week. Thus, the increase of GRP synthesis in hypothalamic neurosecretory structures in diabetes mellitus may be considered as a compensatory reaction directed on the activation of the central mechanisms of feeding restriction and stimulation of insulin synthesis in the pancreas.

[Quantitative assessment of the processes of insulin synthesis and secretion in B-endocrinocytes of pancreatic islets]. / Kolichestvennaia otsenka aktivnosti protsessov sinteza i sekretsii v B-éndokrinotsitakh pankreaticheskikh ostrovkov.

Immunofluorescent methods allowing the detection of different hormones in endocrine cells, are widely used in many works, however, their application is usually limited to the description of qualitative criteria, while the reactions of indirect immunofluorescence permit their quantitative assessment. The purpose of the present work was the definition of the criteria for the quantitative assessment of the activities of the processes of insulin synthesis and secretion in pancreatic B-endocrinocytes by examination of changes of their fluorescence using classical activation of these cells by glucose. The investigations performed indicate that the main parameters of activity of insulin synthesis and secretion in pancreatic B-endocrinocytes are the area occupied by immunoreactive material, its concentration and heterogeneity. As the secretory response of pancreatic B-endocrinocytes is of variable intensity, the classification of these cells into groups with different activity of the processes of insulin synthesis and secretion is proposed. This approach enables the quantitative assessment of the action of different insulotropic agents, opening promising prospects for their further investigation.

[Changes in the endocrine pancreas of laboratory white rats with diabetes mellitus, adaptation to hypoxia and their combination (an immunohistochemical study)]. / Izmeneniia éndokrinnoi chasti podzheludochnoi zhelezy belykh laboratornykh krys pri sakharnom diabete, adaptatsii k gipoksii i ikh sochetanii (immunogistokhimicheskoe issledovanie).

The study was performed in 80 albino Wistar rats of both sexes. Pancreatic A-, B- and D-cells state were studied by means of indirect immunofluorescence, using monoclonal antibodies to insulin and anti-serine to glucagon and somatostatin. This method reflects state of endocrine cells secretory activity most adequately and is an optimal one for studying the structure, function and qualitative determination of hormones. Peculiarities of A-, B- and D-cells relationship in diabetes, adaptation to hypoxia and their combinations taking animals sex into account were demonstrated. This is, first of all, an inverse dependence between insulin content on one hand and between glucagon and somatostatin on the other. It is also a greater vulnerability of big islets in diabetes. Besides, positive effect of adaptation to hypoxic hypoxia on the course of the experimental diabetes was demonstrated, which may be expressed in several ways: by insulin biosynthesis stimulation and new B-cells appearance, by normalization of glucagon secretion by A-cells and their reaction to hyperglycemia, depending on insulin and somatostatin content in D-cells and by inhibition of destructive process in B-cells.

[Changes in the cholecystokinin-synthetizing hypothalamic system during experimental diabetes mellitus in rats]. / Izmeneniia kholetsistokinin-sinteziruiushchei sistemy gipotalamusa pri éksperimental'nom sakharnom diabete u krys.

The investigation was performed in 96 Wistar rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single injection of 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin. Cholecystokinin (CCK) synthesizing neurons were identified in hypothalamic structures using indirect immunofluorescence. In latent period of diabetes (2 wks) number of CCK--immunopositive neurons increases, especially in paraventricular and suprachiasmatic nuclei, while in ventrolateral subnucleus of arcuate nucleus and parvicellular subnucleus of paraventricular nucleus areas occupied by immunoreactive material in neurons and their CCK content are reduced. By the end of wk 5 of the disease increase in number of CCK immunopositive neurons was registered only in medial parvicellular subnucleus of paraventricular nucleus whereas in other structures their number was reduced. The administration of CCK to intact animals causes increase of insulin content in endocrinocytes of pancreatic islets, but does not affect the level of hypoglycemia. The administration of the peptide to animals with diabetes leads to destruction of pancreatic islets, decline in endocrinocyte number and insulin content and marked hypoglycemia. Thus, the data obtained indicate the significant role of hypothalamic peptidergic system and CCK in regulation of beta-endocrinocyte function.

[State of the pancreatic insular apparatus in experimental diabetes mellitus with varying degrees of severity in the rat]. / Sostoianie ostrovkovogo apparata podzheludochnoi zhelezy pri éksperimental'nom sakharnom diabete razlichnoi stepeni tiazhesti u krys.

The interrelationship between endocrine cells of the Langerhans islands in experimental diabetes provoked in female Wistar rats are studied. The content of the insulin in B-cells, glucagon in A-cells and somatostatin in D-cells was determined by method of indirect immunofluorescence with the use of monoclonal antibodies and antiserum. It is established that an decrease of the insulin content in B-cells is followed by an increase of glucagon in A-cells and that of somatostatin in D-cells. The increase of the glucagon content is proportional to glycemia level and to the decrease of the insulin in B-cells.