Comparative study of biochemical and morphological parameters in rats with Walker 256 and Walker 256/DOX carcinosarcoma.

AIM: To evaluate the changes of some biochemical blood plasma parameters and morphological structure of the internal organs of rats with transplanted doxorubicin (DOX)-sensitive (Walker 256) and doxorubicin-resistant (Walker 256/DOX) strains of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on female Wistar rats with transplanted Walker 256 or Walker 256/DOX and intact animals (control). On the 9th day after transplantation of tumor cells, a comparative analysis of some blood plasma biochemical parameters and morphological examination of the liver, kidneys, myocardium and spleen of rats was carried out. RESULTS: Walker 256 growth, in comparison with Walker 256/DOX, is accompanied by more pronounced systemic effect on tumor-bearing rats. Uric acid concentration in the blood plasma of Walker 256 bearing rats was significantly (by 15.5%) higher than in Walker 256/DOX bearing rats. Aspartate aminotransferase activity in the Walker 256 group was significantly (by 107.2%) higher than in Walker 256/DOX group, but alanine aminotransferase activity was 58.5% lower. 56.7% decrease of alkaline phosphatase in rats with Walker 256, and 21% increase of this index in rats with Walker 256/DOX were observed. The growth of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma led to greater structural damage of the liver, kidneys and spleen in experimental animals compared with Walker 256/DOX strain. CONCLUSION: Tumor growth in rats with Walker 256/DOX leads to less pronounced changes in the biochemical parameters of rat blood plasma and morphological structure of internal organs compared with wild-type carcinosarcoma.

[MICROBIAL MARKERS OF CHRONIC CATARAL GINGIVITIS IN TREATMENT OF CHILDREN WITH FIXED ORTHODONTIC APPARATUS].

A side effect of treating children with fixed orthodontic equipment (FOE) is the deterioration of the oral microbiota and, as a typical consequence, a significant increase in the risk of chronic catarrhal gingivitis (CCG). The problem is to calculate the specified risk for each specific child, and its modern solution using models subjected to the machine learning procedure requires the identification of microbial and other markers of the process of formation of oral microbiota in the presence of FOE in healthy children and children with CCG. The identification of such markers was the main goal of this study. The experiment consisted in monitoring this process by four dental and nineteen microbial parameters at the third, sixth and twelfth month of orthodontic treatment of 30 non-sick and 32 patients with CCG having healthy periodontal tissues before the FOE. Markers were detected by correlation, principal component (PCA), factor and cluster analyzes of the obtained experimental data. As a result, a marker rating of the studied microbial and dental parameters was built, and most importantly, it was shown that the microorganisms Veillonella spp., Neisseria spp., Lactobacillus spp., Enterobacteriaceae spp. and some others have pronounced properties of markers of the process of formation of oral microbiota in the presence of FOE in healthy children and children with CCG.

Potential paths for the introduction of risk analysis to improve the veterinary epidemiology curriculum in Ukraine.

The main purpose of veterinary education institutions is to prepare qualified, well-trained and knowledgeable professionals ready to serve local and global communities. Veterinary programmes vary within and among countries, creating a disparity in competencies. In less-developed economies, adhering to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) â€ËœDay 1 competencies' and following its â€ËœGuidelines for a Model Core Veterinary Curriculum' may decrease this discrepancy. The authors offer a comparison of Ukraine's veterinary epidemiology curriculum with the OIE suggested â€ËœCore Veterinary Curriculum', particularly for infectious disease pathology in which epidemiology is taught, and propose different paths to structure advanced educational programmes in epidemiology. This course is relevant for the development of international animal trade and expansion of markets for animal products in Ukraine.

Le principal objectif des établissements d'enseignement vétérinaire consiste à préparer des professionnels qualifiés, bien formés et compétents prêts à se mettre au service de leur communauté locale et, plus largement, de la communauté mondiale. Les programmes d'enseignement de la médecine vétérinaire varient d'un pays à l'autre et parfois même à l'échelle nationale, aboutissant ainsi à des compétences disparates. Dans les pays en développement, l'adhésion aux recommandations de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (OIE) sur les compétences minimales attendues des jeunes diplômés en médecine vétérinaire (compétences dites « au premier jour ¼) et aux lignes directrices de l'OIE relatives au Cursus de formation initiale vétérinaire permet de réduire ces disparités. Les auteurs procèdent à une comparaison entre le cursus d'épidémiologie vétérinaire en Ukraine et le cursus de formation initiale vétérinaire recommandé par l'OIE, en particulier en ce qui concerne les cours de pathologie des maladies infectieuses qui intègrent une composante épidémiologique ; ils proposent ensuite différentes voies permettant de structurer des programmes d'enseignement de haut niveau en épidémiologie. Ces formations sont nécessaires pour soutenir les échanges internationaux d'animaux et améliorer l'accès aux marchés des produits d'origine animale ukrainiens. L'épidémiologie est une discipline essentielle pour le Secteur de l'évaluation des risques, récemment créés au sein des Services nationaux ukrainiens chargés de la sécurité sanitaire des aliments et la protection des consommateurs. La formation professionnelle est d'une importance cruciale et les vétérinaires diplômés issus des institutions ukrainiennes seront dotés des compétences de base essentielles pour commencer à travailler à l'appui des échanges internationaux d'animaux et de produits d'origine animale et rejoindre la fonction publique. Les objectifs à long terme visent à améliorer les programmes d'enseignement vétérinaire en Ukraine, en réformant l'enseignement de l'épidémiologie, et à concevoir et diffuser un modèle d'évaluation du contenu des cours d'épidémiologie dans les écoles vétérinaires dans l'ensemble du pays.

Los establecimientos de enseñanza veterinaria tienen por principal cometido preparar a profesionales cualificados, bien formados e informados y prestos para servir a la población local y mundial. Dado que los programas de enseñanza veterinaria varían entre países y dentro de ellos, también difieren las competencias adquiridas. En economías poco desarrolladas, el hecho de guiarse por las «competencias mínimas¼ del recién titulado, según las define la Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal (OIE), y de seguir las pautas del «Modelo de plan de estudios básico de formación veterinaria¼ de la OIE puede ayudar a reducir estas disparidades. Los autores comparan el plan de estudios ucraniano en materia de epidemiología veterinaria con el «Plan de estudios básico de formación veterinaria¼ recomendado por la OIE, sobre todo en lo tocante a las enfermedades infecciosas, pues en esta materia se inscribe la enseñanza de la epidemiología, y proponen diferentes fórmulas para estructurar programas de formación avanzada al respecto. Esta formación reviste interés para el desarrollo del comercio internacional de animales y la expansión de los mercados de productos animales en Ucrania. La epidemiología es esencial para el Sector de la evaluación de riesgos recién creados en el Servicio Estatal Ucraniano de Higiene de los Alimentos y Protección del Consumidor. La formación de profesionales reviste máxima importancia. Los veterinarios titulados por establecimientos ucranianos contarán con los conocimientos básicos necesarios para empezar a trabajar en el comercio de animales y productos de origen animal o para administraciones públicas. El objetivo a largo plazo se cifra en mejorar el plan de estudios veterinarios de Ucrania introduciendo cambios en las clases de epidemiología y en elaborar una plantilla común para evaluar los contenidos de epidemiología impartidos en las facultades de veterinaria de cualquier parte del país.

A Novel Conductometric Urea Biosensor with Improved Analytical Characteristic Based on Recombinant Urease Adsorbed on Nanoparticle of Silicalite.

Development of a conductometric biosensor for the urea detection has been reported. It was created using a non-typical method of the recombinant urease immobilization via adsorption on nanoporous particles of silicalite. It should be noted that this biosensor has a number of advantages, such as simple and fast performance, the absence of toxic compounds during biosensor preparation, and high reproducibility (RSD = 5.1 %). The linear range of urea determination by using the biosensor was 0.05-15 mM, and a lower limit of urea detection was 20 µM. The bioselective element was found to be stable for 19 days. The characteristics of recombinant urease-based biomembranes, such as dependence of responses on the protein and ion concentrations, were investigated. It is shown that the developed biosensor can be successfully used for the urea analysis during renal dialysis.

Expression of genes, encoding the enzymes of cysteine metabolism in human placenta in the first and third trimesters of uncomplicated pregnancy.

The cellular cysteine is highly regulated in a narrow range of concentrations due to its cyto- and neurtoxicity when it is overwhelmed or its deficiency for protein synthesis and other vital metabolic reactions when its amount is restricted. The regulation of cysteine content and its metabolic products, glutathione, taurine and inorganic sulfur compounds, is scarcely explored in human placenta though cysteine metabolism is closely related to the maintenance of redox status and protection from free radical oxidation, elimination of homocysteine and detoxification. These processes are particularly important for placenta which meets substantial changes of oxygen supply during its development, and is the last metabolically active organ between mother and fetus. The abundance of CDO , CSAD , ADO , SUOX, GCLC and GCLM mRNAs was estimated by RT -qPCR and compared with the computationally analyzed microarray gene expression data from GEO , while the level of individual protein ­ by western-blot analysis, both in placental samples from first and third trimesters of uncomplicated pregnancies. The abundance of CDO mRNA is significantly up-regulated at term compared to the first trimester, the level of GCLM and GCLC mRNAs remains almost unchanged while the abundance of other mRNAs reduces to varying degrees. Overall, the changes of gene expression in third trimester in comparison to the first one estimated by RT-qPCR and microarray coincide while the former data are more informative for the limited group of genes. The data provide the basis for further research of these genes expression and phenotype of human placenta in health and disease

COMPARISON OF SPECTROSCOPIC PROPERTIES OF INTRAOCULAR FLUID IN PATIENTS WITH CATARACT AND PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA.

This paper presents a comparison ofspectroscopic properties of aqueous humour in patients with cataract (60 patients, 60 eyes) and combination of cataract and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG, 36 patients, 36 eyes). The samples of aqueous humour were collected during the surgery. Both groups of patients were treated with different types of local drug antihypertensive therapy with different multiplicity and duration of instillation during the preoperative period. The absorption spectrum of aqueous humour were measured in the wavelength range 190-1100 nm. There were two absorption bands with maximums at 202 and 267 nm in the absorption spectrum (2nd maximum of some samples was shifted to larger wavelengths). The mean absorbance of aqueous humour at 202 nm in patients without POAG was significantly lower than in patients with POAG. This difference could be explained with accumulation of metabolites in aqueous humour of patients with POAG, which in turn may be caused by deceleration of aqueous humour flow in patients with POAG. Meanwhile, there were no statistically significant differences of mean absorbance of aqueous humour at 267 nm between the patients of both groups.

Development of conductometric biosensor array for simultaneous determination of maltose, lactose, sucrose and glucose.

The aim of this work was to develop an array of biosensors for simultaneous determination of four carbohydrates in solution. Several enzyme systems selective to lactose, maltose, sucrose and glucose were immobilised on the surface of four conductometric transducers and served as bio-recognition elements of the biosensor array. Direct enzyme analysis carried out by the developed biosensors was highly sensitive to the corresponding substrates. The analysis lasted 2 min. The dynamic range of substrate determination extended from 0.001 mM to 1.0-3.0mM, and strongly depended on the enzyme system used. An effect of the solution pH, ionic strength and buffer capacity on the biosensors responses was investigated; the conditions of simultaneous operation of all biosensors were optimised. The data on cross-impact of the substrates of all biosensors were obtained; the biosensor selectivity towards possible interfering carbohydrates was tested. The developed biosensor array showed good signal reproducibility and storage stability. The biosensor array is suited for simultaneous, quick, simple, and selective determination of maltose, lactose, sucrose and glucose.

Synoviocytes synthesize, bind, and respond to basic fibroblast growth factor.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease characterized by the destructive proliferation of synovial tissue. It has been suggested that this proliferative lesion resembles a malignancy. Although polypeptide growth factors have been implicated in malignant cell growth, their role in the pathogenesis of proliferative but non-neoplastic diseases such as RA has not been extensively studied. We tested the hypothesis that the synoviocyte itself may be a source of growth factor activity. We demonstrated that culture supernatants from synoviocytes obtained from patients with RA, osteoarthritis, and traumatic joint disease contain mitogenic activity. This activity has biologic properties identical to those of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Specifically, the mitogenic activity is synergistic with insulin and binds to heparin-agarose, but elutes with 2.0M NaCl. In addition, synoviocyte extracts contain a peptide with a molecular weight of approximately 16,000, which reacts with antibody specific for bFGF. Cultured synoviocytes express the bFGF gene, express receptors for bFGF, and proliferate in response to bFGF. We conclude that bFGF derived from the synoviocytes themselves may play a role in stimulating their proliferation in an autocrine manner in disease states such as RA.

Geriatric rheumatology: safe use of potentially toxic antirheumatics.

Despite what is known about pharmacokinetics in the elderly, there is little information regarding the relationship between age and disease-modifying antirheumatic agents or immunosuppressive drugs. Musculoskeletal diseases are common in the aging population, and the therapeutic use of potentially toxic pharmacologic agents, including immunosuppressives, is prevalent. A number of factors influence the potential for toxicity in this age group, including polypharmacy and age-related physiologic change. An overview of clinical pharmacologic factors in the elderly is presented, and available information on efficacy and toxicity of disease-modifying antirheumatics and immunosuppressives is reviewed.