[Sudden death in school-aged children at physical exercise: forensic diagnosis]. / Vnezapnaya smert' detei shkol'nogo vozrasta pri fizicheskoi nagruzke: sudebno-meditsinskaya diagnostika.

OBJECTIVE: Acomprehensive forensic study of cases of sudden death of school-age children during physical exertion and sports. Investigated 9 cases of sudden death of children aged 8 to 17 years that occurred during exercise. It was studied anthropometric indicators, histological and biochemical studies to identify changes in internal organs and the cardiovascular system. The forensic medical characteristics of sudden death cases of schoolchildren are given. Along with the constitutional features, the characteristic changes in some tissues and internal organs in particular the heart and blood vessels were determined. The data obtained make it possible to develop an algorithm and propose a methodological approach for diagnosing sudden death of school-age children. The results of the study can be used as additional forensic criteria for assessing the risk of sudden death of children during physical activity.

[The efficacy of remaxol addition in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of remaxol addition in the treatment scheme of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty patients with alcohol dependence and physical symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome were enrolled. All patients received basic therapy in accordance to the applicable standards of treatment. The patients were randomized to remaxol introduced intravenously 2 times a day (morning and afternoon) in dose of 400 ml for 7 days (n=40) and saline with 25%-magnesium sulfate (10 ml) and 4% potassium chloride (10 ml) (n=40). RESULTS: The effectiveness of the inclusion of remaxol was expressed in a more rapid relief of asthenic syndrome, reduction of phenomena such as tension, dysphoria, headache and impaired coordination of samples. Patients treated with remaxol demonstrated a trend towards a more rapid reduction of the affective (p=0.08) and behavioral components (p=0.09) of the syndrome of pathological craving for alcohol. Hepatoprotective and detoxification properties of the drug were confirmed by the significant decline in ALT and AST activity to the 20th day of treatment. Significant positive changes in lipid metabolism (HDL to the 7th day of treatment) and a normalizing effect on the processes of tissue respiration were shown as well. No adverse effects were noted. CONCLUSION: The data obtained allow to recommend the inclusion of remaxol in the complex treatment regimens of alcohol withdrawal syndrome to improve the treatment efficacy.

Protein V, a novel type-II IgG receptor from Streptococcus sp.: sequence, homologies and putative Fc-binding site.

We have cloned and sequenced the Fc-receptor-encoding gene, fcrV, from a group G streptococcus. Considerable similarity was revealed between the FcRV, FcRA76 and M proteins of group A streptococci in their signal sequences and 3' termini, and between the Fc-binding regions of FcRV and FcRA76. The promoter and terminator regions showed no homology with those of the fcrA76 and M protein-encoding genes. The A1-A4 domains of FcrV (protein V) exhibit a heptapeptide repeat motif which is characteristic of alpha-helical coiled-coil proteins. The sequence, Ser-Asn-Arg-Ala-Ala, in the outer position, 'f' of each domain is highly conserved and may be involved in FcR-IgG interactions.

[Identification and cloning of peptide synthetase genes of thermostable bacilli using the polymerase chain reaction]. / Identifikatsiia i klonirovanie genov peptidil sintetaz termorezistentnykh batsill pri pomoshchi polimeraznoi tsepnoi reaktsii.

Fourteen thermophilic and thermostable strains of the genus Bacillus were studied. Total DNA was isolated from these strains and used as a template to identify and clone peptide synthetase genes by means of polymerase chain reaction. Amplified DNA fragments were cloned into a phasmid vector, and nucleotide sequences of cloned fragments were determined. Stringent thermophilic strains were shown to lack genetic systems, which are responsible for the synthesis of secondary metabolites and homologous to the known peptide synthetase genes. On the contrary, thermostable strains had peptide synthetases and produced antimicrobial secondary metabolites. Analysis of nucleotide sequences and deduced amino acid sequences of cloned PCR fragments from B. licheniformis strains VK2, VK21, and VK2101 showed that they are absolutely identical. The cloned DNA fragment was found to be a portion of the open reading frame, which we termed ORF1. Data from analysis of a partial nucleotide sequence of the peptide synthetase gene of strain VK21 indicated that a 9.5-kb region of chromosomal DNA contains sequences of two genes homologous to the B. subtilis peptide synthetase genes dhbB and dhbF. Strains VK2, VK21, and VK2101 were shown to synthesize siderophores. A method for screening bacteria with peptide synthetase genes has been developed.