[Secreted Protein Noggin4 Participates in the Formation of Forebrain Structures in Xenopus laevis by Inhibiting the Wnt/Beta-Catenin Signaling Pathway].

Noggin proteins are important regulators of the early development of the vertebrate neural system. Previously, it has been traditionally thought that vertebrates have only one noggin gene (Noggin1), whose main function is the inhibition of BMP signaling pathway during the formation of dorsoventral polarity in embryos. Then other proteins of this family were discovered, and the studies of Noggin2 protein showed that noggin proteins also participate in the modulation of Nodal/Activin and Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathways in the early development of amphibian head structures. The purpose of this study is to investigate the properties of another noggin protein, Noggin4. We proved that Noggin4 plays an important role in the formation of head structure in clawed frog, since it inhibits the activity of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. At the same time, unlike Noggin1 and Noggin2, Noggin4 does not inhibit the activity of TGF-beta signaling pathways (BMP and Nodal/Activin).

[Long-term results of the program «Point of Sobriety¼ in patients with alcohol dependence in the Krasnodar region]. / Otdalennye rezul'taty lecheniia patsientov s alkogol'noi zavisimost'iu po programme «Tochka trezvosti¼ v Krasnodarskom krae.

AIM: To analyze the long-term results of the «Point of Sobriety¼ program in patients with alcohol dependence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was analyzed the results of treatment of 104 patients treated 2 or more years before the current study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The high efficacy of complex treatment with naltrexone injections was demonstrated. Remission during more than 1 year was achieved in 64.4% of patients, more than 2 years in 45.2%. Most patients reported improvement in social and family status.

A monomeric red fluorescent protein with low cytotoxicity.

Multicolour labelling with fluorescent proteins is frequently used to differentially highlight specific structures in living systems. Labelling with fusion proteins is particularly demanding and is still problematic with the currently available palette of fluorescent proteins that emit in the red range due to unsuitable subcellular localization, protein-induced toxicity and low levels of labelling efficiency. Here we report a new monomeric red fluorescent protein, called FusionRed, which demonstrates both high efficiency in fusions and low toxicity in living cells and tissues.

[Experimental study of the efficacy of apovincaminic acid derivative on the model of reperfusive cerebral damage].

Neuroprotector properties of a new apovincaminic acid derivative (LHT 2 - 02) were studied on a model of acute brain ischemia in cats. LHT 2 - 02 has proved to be more effective than the reference drugs vinpocetin and glycine in preventing the reperfusive damage, which was manifested by decreased postishemic hyperglycemia and suppressed postishemic metabolic lactate acidosis.

Expression zones of three novel genes abut the developing anterior neural plate of Xenopus embryo.

We identified three novel genes that were expressed within the anterior non-neural ectoderm of Xenopus early neurula embryos. The expression of these genes was observed in the different areas complementary to the expression zone of a homeodomain gene Xanf-1 in the anterior neural plate. One of these genes, a Ras-like GTP-ase Ras-dva, marked the anterior placodal ectoderm area; a second, an Agr family homologous gene, XAgr2, was expressed in the anterior-most ectoderm in the cement gland primordium, and a third, novel gene Nlo was expressed in the lateral neural folds. The genes were transiently expressed in the developing cement and hatching gland primordia, and repressed in the mature cement and hatching glands. XAgr2 and Nlo were also expressed in the otic vesicles, and Ras-dva was expressed in the dorso-lateral column of the neural tube.

[The role of helminthiasis in the etiology of acute appendicitis]. / Znachenie gel'mintozov v razvitii ostrogo appenditsita.

279 vermiform processes removed for different form of appendicitis were studied hystologically with obligatory analysis of appendix content. High rate of helminth intestation (27.2%) in vermiform processes removed in acute appendicitis surgery confirms an important role of small helminths (Enterobius, Trichocephalis and their larvae) in acute appendicitis development. The incidence of acute appendicitis and helminths interstation in children is higher than in adults. All the patients with acute appendicitis need helminthological examination and etiotropic treatment because appendectomy eliminates the complication but not the cause of intestinal disease.

"Fluorescent timer": protein that changes color with time.

We generated a mutant of the red fluorescent protein drFP583. The mutant (E5) changes its fluorescence from green to red over time. The rate of color conversion is independent of protein concentration and therefore can be used to trace time-dependent expression. We used in vivo labeling with E5 to measure expression from the heat shock-dependent promoter in Caenorhabditis elegans and from the Otx-2 promoter in developing Xenopus embryos. Thus, E5 is a "fluorescent timer" that can be used to monitor both activation and down-regulation of target promoters on the whole-organism scale.

The homeobox gene, Xanf-1, can control both neural differentiation and patterning in the presumptive anterior neurectoderm of the Xenopus laevis embryo.

From the onset of neurectoderm differentiation, homeobox genes of the Anf class are expressed within a region corresponding to the presumptive telencephalic and rostral diencephalic primordia. Here we investigate functions of the Xenopus member of Anf, Xanf-1, in the differentiation of the anterior neurectoderm. We demonstrate that ectopic Xanf-1 can expand the neural plate at expense of adjacent non-neural ectoderm. In tadpoles, the expanded regions of the plate developed into abnormal brain outgrowths. At the same time, Xanf-1 can inhibit terminal differentiation of primary neurones. We also show that, during gastrula/neurula stages, the exogenous Xanf-1 can downregulate four transcription regulators, XBF-1, Otx-2, Pax-6 and the endogenous Xanf-1, that are expressed in the anterior neurectoderm. However, during further development, when the exogenous Xanf-1 was presumably degraded, re-activation of XBF-1, Otx-2 and Pax-6 was observed in the abnormal outgrowths developed from blastomeres microinjected with Xanf-1 mRNA. Other effects of the ectopic Xanf-1 include cyclopic phenotype and inhibition of the cement gland, both by Otx-2-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Using fusions of Xanf-1 with the repressor domain of Drosophila engrailed or activator domain of herpes virus VP16 protein, we showed that most of the observed effects of Xanf-1 were probably elicited by its functioning as a transcription repressor. Altogether, our data indicate that the repressor function of Xanf-1 may be necessary for regulation of both neural differentiation and patterning in the presumptive anterior neurectoderm.

[Effects of low-intensity laser irradiation on hormonal responsiveness of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]. / Vliianie nizkointensivnogo lazernogo izlucheniia na gormonal'nuiu reaktivnost' bol'nykh tuberkulezom legkikh.

To examine the impact of low-intensive laser radiation (LILR) on endocrine function in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, the time course of blood levels of thyroid hormones, cortisol, and insulin was studied in 117 patients of whom 64 received complex treatment by using LILR. Pulmonary tuberculosis was ascertained to be characterized by a marked hormonal imbalance, including impaired metabolism of thyroid hormones, hypercorticism, altered pancreatic incretion, which negatively affects the efficiency of antituberculosis therapy. Intravenous and epicutaneous therapy promotes recovery of endocrine responsiveness and enhances the efficiency of treatment in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

[Laser technologies in treatment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with concurrent abnormality]. / Lazernye tekhnologii v lechenii bol'nykh tuberkulezom legkikh s soputstvuiushchimi zabolevaniiami.

Low-intensive laser radiation used by topical, intravenous, and transendoscopic routes was employed in the complex antituberculosis therapy of 120 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis concurrent with chronic nonspecific respiratory diseases (n = 48), diabetes mellitus (n = 20 patients), gastrointestinal diseases (n = 45). The results of treatment were compared with the parameters of 62 patients with the similar clinical and X-ray characteristics of a tuberculosis process and concomitant diseases. It was ascertained that laser therapy might enhance the efficiency of treatment of patients with concurrent abnormality statistically significantly, by reducing the time of bacterial isolation, closure of decay cavities in the lung tissue, hospital treatment and by accelerating the onset of stable remission of concomitant diseases.

[cDNA cloning of three new homeobox-containing genes of Anf class from human, chicken and newt]. / Klonirovanie kDNK trekh novykh gomeobokssoderzhashchikh genov klassa Anf iz cheloveka, kuritsy i ispanskogo tritona.

On the basis of the analysis of cDNA of three new homeobox-containing genes from human, chicken, and newt, a new class of homeobox genes Anf is characterized homologous to the Xanf-1 gene from Xenopus laevis, earlier cloned by us. These genes may be largely involved in the specification of embryonic subdivisions in the forebrain region of the embryo. The homeodomains of the proteins encoded by these genes differ greatly in the primary structure from all previously described homeobox genes. The high variability of the homeodomain sequences of the proteins of this class imply their rapid evolution.

Anf: a novel class of vertebrate homeobox genes expressed at the anterior end of the main embryonic axis.

Five novel genes homologous to the homeobox-containing genes Xanf-1 and Xanf-2 of Xenopus and Hesx-1/Rpx of mouse have been identified as a result of a PCR survey of cDNA in sturgeon, zebrafish, newt, chicken and human. Comparative analysis of the homeodomain primary structure of these genes revealed that they belong to a novel class of homeobox genes, which we name Anf. All genes of this class investigated so far have similar patterns of expression during early embryogenesis, characterized by maximal transcript levels being present at the anterior extremity of the main embryonic body axis. The data obtained also suggest that, despite considerable high structural divergence between their homeodomains, all known Anf genes may be orthologues, and thus represent one of the most quickly evolving classes of vertebrate homeobox genes.

[Hematological dispensary care for the participants in the cleanup of the aftermath of the accident at the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station]. / Gematologicheskaia dispanserizatsiia uchastnikov likvidatsii posledstvii avarii na Chernobyl'skoi AES.

Standard (hemogram, routine biochemical indices) and non-standard hematological parameters reflecting monocytic-macrophagal system (MMS) function and antioxidant defense were investigated in 140 subjects who had worked in radionuclide-contaminated zone after the Chernobyl accident. As shown by measurements of iron serum metabolism, lysozyme, total interferon, CIC, chemiluminescence of venous blood mononuclear leukocytes, MMS in 50% of them underwent negative changes in suppressed antioxidant defense. Standard hematological findings registered abnormalities only in 8-27% of the examinees.

[Several functional and diagnostic criteria in the evaluation of the state of the neuromuscular function of arms of workers exposed to the effects of local vibration]. / Nekotorye funktsional'no-diagnosticheskie kriterii otsenki sostoianiia nervno-myshechnogo apparata ruk rabochikh, podvergaiushchikhsia vozdeistviiu lokal'noi vibratsii.

The authors studied neuromuscular apparatus of hands in workers subjected to local vibration and in patients having vibration disease (VB). If compared to apparently healthy individuals both exposed to vibration or not, the VB patients proved lower muscular durability (MD) of hands, higher oxyproline excretion (OB) and greater MD/OB ratio. The studied parameters (MD, OB, MD/OB) in the VB patients turned out to be similar in the VB patients and the healthy examinees having initially low MD (under 29 s). The suggested criteria were recommended for early diagnosis of neuromuscular disturbances in hands and for occupational selection.

[The nature and characteristics of treating nonpenetrating abdominal wounds]. / Kharakteristika i osobennosti lecheniia nepronikaiushchikh ranenii zhivota.

According to the analysis of 2687 medical histories of abdominal injuries during the 9 years of the Afghan war 25% of them were nonpenetrating wounds. The basic surgical intervention in these cases was a primary surgical treatment of wounds. Laparotomy was performed for 10% of patients because of suspicion of internal injuries. After admission of such patients to medical establishments they must pass a thorough examination.