The Endocrine Function of Testes in 12- and 18-Month-Old Boars of Different Breeds.

Testes have several primary functions, such as male gametes production (spermatozoa) and secretion of several endocrine factors, including the production of steroid and protein hormones which facilitate elements in the healthy reproductive function of mammals. The potential of an animal functional endocrine reservoir could be an interesting finding in animal reproduction management. Therefore, the current study aimed to analyze the functional endocrine reserves of testes in 12- and 18-month-old boars of four different boar breeds, namely Large White, Landrace, Duroc, and Tempo, as the animal model in this research (n=10). To determine the functional endocrine reserves of the testes at 12 and 18 months of age, boars received injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 3 times every 72 hours. Testosterone was measured in blood samples (10 mL) taken from the jugular vein before the administration of hCG as well as 2, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after administration of each of three hCG injections. The index of endocrine activity of the testes was determined by the formula: Ita = T1 -T0 / T0 , where Ita is the index of endocrine activity of the testes, T0 is the testosterone concentration before the administration of hCG, and T1 is the maximum testosterone concentration after the third administration of hCG. The effects of the hCG injection on boar testes at different age periods indicated that the testes of Large White and Duroc boars have higher potential endocrine reserves compared with the Landrace and Tempo breeds.

Spin-glass polyamorphism induced by a magnetic field in LaMnO3 single crystal.

We present experimental evidence of field-driven transition in spin-glass state, similar to pressure-induced transition between amorphous phases in structural and metallic glasses, attributed to the polyamorphism phenomena. Cusp in temperature dependences of ac magnetic susceptibility of weakly disordered LaMnO3 single crystal is registered below the temperature of magnetic ordering. Frequency dependence of the cusp temperature proves its spin-glass origin. The transition induced by a magnetic field in spin-glass state, is manifested by peculiarity in dependence of cusp temperature on applied magnetic field. Field dependent maximum of heat capacity is observed in the same magnetic field and temperature range.

AC response of 2H-NbSe2 single crystals with electron-irradiation-induced defects.

The generation of defects in NbSe(2) single crystals by electron irradiation has been investigated by a combination of ac susceptibility and structural measurements. Remarkably, thanks to the layered structure of NbSe(2), we show that electronic irradiation cannot only create point defects but also in-plane extended defects, which modify anisotropically the ac response. Indeed, the analysis of the onset of the nonlinear susceptibility response, H(ac)(l)(T), as a function of irradiation dose and field orientation shows a correlated increase in the density of anisotropic defects induced by electron irradiation. Also, we measured a decrease in the strength of the pinning (Labusch) constant α(L) accounting for elastic vortex oscillations within the linear Campbell regime for high-dose-irradiated samples in a transverse field, again compatible with the presence of planar defects hindering vortex pinning. X-ray powder diffraction and TEM electron diffraction measurements suggest these in-plane defects may result from the rupture of Se-Se bonds and the formation of nanorods and nanowires by NbSe(2) sheet rolling.

(93)Nb NMR study of the charge density wave state in NbSe(2).

(93)Nb NMR studies were carried out for a single crystal of NbSe(2) at 73.328 MHz in the temperature range 9-300 K to investigate the normal and charge density wave (CDW) states. Detailed analysis of the NMR line shape of the central transition using a classical incommensurate model reveals the change in the conduction electron spin dynamics from above T(CDW). An increase of the Knight shift below T(CDW) reflects modification to the uniform part of the conduction electron density of states. As suggested theoretically, the Knight shift distribution is found to be directly proportional to the square of the amplitude of the CDW. The results further indicate an incommensurate CDW state in 2H-NbSe(2). Analysis of the NMR spectra using the McMillan incommensurate model suggests a large value of the discommensuration parameter (γ) which is almost temperature independent, in contrast to the much smaller value previously reported in the case of 2H-TaSe(2).

A personal experience reducing radiation exposures: protecting family in Kiev during the first two weeks after Chernobyl.

The Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident occurred in 1986. The plume from the explosions and fires was highly radioactive and resulted in very high exposure levels in the surrounding regions. This paper describes how the people in Kiev, Ukraine, a city 120 km (90 miles) south of Chernobyl, and in particular one individual in that city, Professor Vitaly Eremenko, became aware of the threat before the official announcement and the steps he took to mitigate potential impacts to his immediate family. The combination of being informed and using available resources led to greatly reduced consequences for his family and, in particular, his newborn granddaughter. He notes how quickly word of the some aspects of the hazard spread in the city and how other aspects appear to not have been understood. Although these events are being recalled as the 20 anniversary of the terrible event approaches, the lessons are still pertinent today. Threats of possible terrorist use of radiation dispersal devices makes knowledge of effective individual actions for self-protection from radiation exposures a topic of current interest.

[Surgical stress: clinical-and-laboratory parallels under activation of the natural stress-limiting systems]. / Khirurgicheskii stress. Kliniko-laboratornye paralleli v usloviiakh aktivatsii estestvennykh stress-limitiruiushchikh sistem.

Three hundred and eighty-seven patients, who were operated on the scheduled basis for different surgical pathologies, were examined. The purpose of the case study was definition of the clinical-and-laboratory parallels related with pronouncement of surgical stress in an advanced variation of neuroleptanalgesia.

[Prevention of altering effects of surgical stress in children with abdominal pathology]. / Profilaktika al'teriruiushchikh éffektov khirurgicheskogo stressa u detei s abdominal'noi patologiei.

The controlled activation of endogenous stress-limiting systems by using metabolites, their synthetic analogues and natural antioxidants was shown, within the case study, to prevent a excessive tension of the sympathetic-and-adrenalin systems and to ensure an adequate anesthetic protection against the surgical stress.

[Pleiotrophic effects of the bl gene and its practical value for selection in tomatoes]. / Pleiotropnye éffekty gena bl i ego prakticheskaia tsennost' dlia selektsii tomata.

Being of great value for creation of one-stem forms of tomato, the gene bl manifests a number of pleiotropic effects, which complicate its practical usage. There is shown that the gene manifestation depends significantly on the influence of the environment and the genetic background. Sometimes it is possible to avoid the manifestation of undesirable gene effects by creation of the favorable genetic surroundings.

[Mass spectrometry in the study of bioclasters of amino acids and peptides]. / Issledovanie bioklasterov aminokislot i peptidov metodom mass-spektrometrii.

The study of homo- and heterocluster quasimolecular ions of 20 L-amino acids (A) and five dipeptides by the TOF-PDMS method indicated that the intensity of quasimolecular ions of the corresponding homo-([An + H]+ and [Bm + H]+, where A and B are biomolecules (A, dipeptides), n and m = 1 .... 5) and heteroclusters ([An.Bm + H]+, n and m = 1 .... 5) depends mainly on the hydrophobicity of the constituents of the A cluster. The most intensive peaks of homo- and heterocluster ions were obtained for hydrophobic amino acids: L-Ile, L-Leu, L-Val, and L-Phe, and for dipeptides containing these amino acids. The assumption is made that the stereochemical parameters of heterocluster quasimolecular ions in the TOF-PDMS method are determined by the physicochemical mechanisms involved in the processes of ionization/desorption of biomolecules and do not reflect directly biologically significant interactions of biomolecules in vivo.

[An improved method of preparing protein and peptide probes in mass spectrometry with ionization of division fragments by californium-252 (TOF-PDMS)]. / Usovershenstvovanniia metodika podgotovki prob belkov i peptidov v mass-spektrometrii s ionizatsiei oskolkami deleniia kaliforniia-252 (TOF-PDMS).

The addition of organic acids (picric, oxalic, citric, or tartaric) to peptide and protein samples was found to significantly increase the yield of their quasi-molecular ions (QMI) in time-of-flight 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry. The yield of the ions depended on the pKa of the acid added.

[The cytochemical properties of the protective barrier of the duodenum in carnivorous animals in ontogeny]. / Tsitokhimicheskie svoistva zashchitnogo bar'era dvenadtsatiperstnoi kishki plotoiadnykh zhivotnykh v ontogeneze.

Studying the duodenal ontogenesis by means of morphometric and histochemical methods demonstrated that protective barrier of the organ is formed in the embryonic period and may be characterized by chemical composition of its secretion as a resistant barrier, formed by neutral and acid glycoproteins.

[Surgical tactics in splenic injuries and the sequelae of splenectomy]. / Taktika khirurga pri travme selezenki i posledstviia splenektomii.

Traumas of the spleen in overwhelming majority of patients are followed by destruction of the organ which results in 86% of absolute indications for forced splenectomy. Organ-preserving operations in patients with the injured spleen should be welcome. However their real possibilities can be realized in 8% of the victims only. Immediate outcomes of the surgery are dependent not on its volume on the injured spleen, but on the character and severity of the trauma. Removal of the spleen from the organism of adults due to its trauma is followed only by transitory disturbances of the cellular composition of the peripheral blood, defects of the immune competent system and disturbances of hemostatic properties of blood. In remote terms no higher susceptibility of infection was found.

[Morpho-functional changes in the vascular bed in obstructed portal blood flow]. / Morfofunktsional'nye izmeneniia sosudistogo rusla pri blokade portal'nogo krovotoka.

Clinical observations were performed in 104 patients with intrahepatic blockade and 32 patients with subhepatic blockade of portal bloodflow and experimental studies in 24 mongrel dogs with the model of dosed stenosis of the portal vein. It was found that microcirculation bed of hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract is also involved into the circle of pathological disorders in portal hypertension. Alterations of the microcirculation bed consist in the appearance of destructive lesions of the microvessel walls, disturbance of their permeability and hemodynamics. Undoubtedly, genesis of functional disturbances is based on structural alterations.

[Tactics of examining patients with unpalpable testis redux]. / Taktika obsledovaniia bol'nykh s nepal'piruemymi neopushchennymi iaichkami.

As many as 117 patients with inpalpable testis redux were examined. They had undergone selective testicular venography with measurements of testosterone content in random blood samples after stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin. The data obtained during all-round investigation make it possible to estimate the morphological status of the testes and their functional reserves. This forms the basis for recommending an optimal treatment method in each specific case of inpalpable testis redux.

[Preoperative superselective intra-arterial polychemotherapy in combined treatment of gastric stomach]. / Predoperatsionnaia superselektivnaia vnutriarterial'naia polikhimioterapiia v kombinirovannom lechenii raka zheludka.

In patients with gastric cancer, depending on location of a tumor, the left gastric or right gastroepiploic artery was catheterized via a puncture of the femoral artery, the course of polychemotherapy with fluorouracil and adriablastin was carried out, then the operative treatment was performed. In 62.4% of the patients, the complete, in 18.8%--the partial destruction of a tumor was achieved, in 18.8%, the effect was insignificant.