[The dynamics of contamination of Kozhanovskoe lake with 137Cs in the post-Chernobyl period].

The paper presents the dynamics and the current state of radioactive contamination with 137Cs of low--running Kozhanovskoe lake situated in Bryansk region. Semi-empiric assessment of the current radiation state based on the analysis of dynamics of contamination of Kozhanovskoe lake with 137Cs corresponds satisfactory to experimental data. Integral 137Cs inventories were estimated for the main components of the lake, including water, bottom sediments and aquatic vegetation for the period of 2005-2007.

[The influence of glucocorticoid immunosuppression on the course of experimental influenza pneumonia].

The study demonstrates the effects of kenalog (Kn), a synthetic glucocorticoid hormone, on the course of virus A/Aichi/2/68 influenza in white mice. In doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, Kn reduced the weight of the adrenal glands, thymus and spleen, which was accompanied by decrease of the resistance to the mentioned virus, judging by LD50 decrease vs. this index in the control infected group. Besides, four days after infecting with 5 LD50 of influenza virus (IV), lung virus and interferon titers were significantly lower in mice pretreated with Kn vs. mice treated with placebo. Lung cell susceptibility to IV in vitro was identical in mice treated with Kn or placebo. In ultrathin lung sections of IV-infected mice, both experimental and control ones, there was virus budding in bronchial epithelium cells and type I and II alveolocytes. Analysis of inflammatory effusion compound in semithin lung sections 6 days after IV infection, found a substantially smaller number of mature alveolar macrophages (AM) and a bigger number of neutrophiles vs. infected controls. The authors reckon that higher mortality of mice pretreated with Kn before infecting, is caused not by enhancement of IV reproduction in target lung cells during influenza development, but by the contribution of other pathogenic factors. One of those may be increase of neutrophilic migration into the lungs; neutrophiles are more able to realize their significant destructive potential under the condition of reduction in the clearing function of AM and IV infection.

[Localization of immunodominant antigens of the liver fluke Opisthorchis felineus by immunoelectron microscopy]. / Vyiavlenie lokalizatsii immunodominantnykh antigenov v maritakh Opisthorchis felineus s pomoshch'iu immunnoi élektronnoi mikroskopii.

Immune electron microscopy with a panel of monoclonal antibodies to O. felineus antigens and human immune sera from patients was used for localization of the main antigens of adult O. felineus. The immune complexes at the ultrastructural level were visualized by 5-nm colloidal gold. The main antigens recognized by human antibodies and monoclonal antibodies were associated with the tegument, muscles, uterus, gonads, intestine and eggs of the liver fluke. The findings led to the conclusion that the surface structures of liver flukes stimulate a low B-cell immune response. The structures of the excretory-secretory system of the parasite and their products contain a lot of main antigens and induce B-immune response in man.

Recovery of infectious Ebola virus from complementary DNA: RNA editing of the GP gene and viral cytotoxicity.

To study the mechanisms underlying the high pathogenicity of Ebola virus, we have established a system that allows the recovery of infectious virus from cloned cDNA and thus permits genetic manipulation. We created a mutant in which the editing site of the gene encoding envelope glycoprotein (GP) was eliminated. This mutant no longer expressed the nonstructural glycoprotein sGP. Synthesis of GP increased, but most of it accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum as immature precursor. The mutant was significantly more cytotoxic than wild-type virus, indicating that cytotoxicity caused by GP is down-regulated by the virus through transcriptional RNA editing and expression of sGP.

An analysis of features of pathogenesis in two animal models of Ebola virus infection.

Virus reproduction and the time course of changes in liver and kidney functions and in the blood clotting system were studied in the visceral organs of green monkeys and baboons infected with Ebola virus (subtype Zaire). It was shown that monocytes and macrophages were the first cells to be infected with the virus, followed by hepatocytes, adrenocorticocytes, fibroblasts, and endotheliocytes. The early and late pathologic changes in the monkey organs are described. Biochemical data on changes in blood clotting and liver and kidney functions in the course of the infection are presented. The responses of blood clotting and vascular permeability were species specific: Fibrin deposited in blood vessels in green monkeys, while hemorrhages developed in baboons. The results show that species-specific features of monkeys must be taken into account when choosing an experimental model for studying Ebola virus infection.

Dystrophic calcinosis cutis in subacute lupus.

Dystrophic calcinosis cutis is known to be associated with various connective tissue disorders but to the best of our knowledge has never been reported in subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), a distinctive cutaneous subset in the spectrum of lupus erythematosus. It occurs without calcium and phosphorus metabolic abnormalities and may be localized or generalized. We report a patient with SCLE who developed calcinosis cutis and had normal serum calcium and phosphorus levels and, interestingly, a normal concentration of blood ionized calcium. This latter, which represents the active form in the total amount of blood calcium, is a parameter only rarely assessed in patients with dystrophic calcinosis cutis. Thus, other pathogenic factors should be investigated to clarify the pathophysiology of the dystrophic type of calcification.

[Microscopic study of species specific features of hemostatic impairment in Ebola virus infected monkeys]. / Mikroskopicheskii analiz vidovykh osobennostei porazheniia krovenosnoi sistemy u zarazhennykh virusom Ebola obez'ian.

Pathological changes were studied in the blood vessels of baboons, green, rhesus, and cynomolgus monkeys at the end-stage Ebola (Zaire) infection. Marked microvascular lesions (capillary stasis, blood engorgement, thrombosis with blood cells, neutrophil accumulation, endothelial edema) were found in all the monkeys. These changes clearly indicate impaired organ blood supply. Multiple hemorrhages were formed by diapedesis without vascular wall destruction. Fibrin deposition and thrombi were features of hemostatic impairment in green and rhesus monkeys. Fibrin deposition and hemorrhages were not found in the cynomolgus monkeys. The possible mechanisms responsible for end-stage shock in Ebola virus-infection associated with microcirculatory disorders.

[Experimental study of therapeutical properties and safety of king crab collagenase-containing ointment]. / Eksperimental'noe izuchenie lechebnykh svoistv mazi, soderzhashchei kollagenazu kamchatskogo kraba.

The effects of ointment containing king crab (Paralithodes camtschatica) collagenase on intact skin, thermal, and pyonecrotic wounds were studied in rats by using hematological, biochemical, immunological, and morphological methods. The ointment for the skin and viscera was shown to be safe. It is highly effective in debriding the infected wounds. Different concentrations of collagenase were tested. The concentration of collagenase was recommended to be 0.2 mg/g ointment for use.

Localization of the amino terminus of the hepatitis B virus core antigen within the core particle.

The position of the amino terminus of the hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAg) within the core particle was studied. For this purpose, three recombinant analogs of HBcAg were designed. One analog, HBcAgR, was identical in amino acid sequences to the core polypeptide of the hepatitis B virus; the second, HBeAgR, differed from the authentic protein in deletion of 39 carboxy-terminal amino acids. The amino acid sequences of the third polypeptide, HBe delta N and of HBeAgR were similar, HBe delta N differed from HBeAgR only in replacement of 3 N-terminal amino acids by 16 amino acids of beta-galactosidase. The HBcAg analogs were compared with respect to their reaction with monoclonal antibody (mAb E1A7) to the amino-terminal linear epitope of hepatitis B virus e antigen. Although able to assemble into virus-like particles, the three analogs of HBcAg, reacted differently with mAb E1A7. It was demonstrated that mAb E1A7 reacted with both native and denatured HBeAgR. HBe delta N was not recognized by mAb E1A7. In contrast, HBcAgR reacted with mAb E1A7 only when denatured. Native HBcAgR did not react with mAb E1A7 when assembled into particles. Thus evidence was obtained that the amino terminus of HBcAg is not exposed on the particle surface.

[Ultrastructural analysis of pathological changes in ferrets with experimental canine distemper]. / Ul'trastrukturnyi analiz patologicheskikh izmenenii pri éksperimental'noi chume plotoiadnykh u khor'kov.

Morphologic study of the lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys of ferrets infected with canine distemper virus has been carried out. Electron microscopy revealed virus reproduction in bronchial epithelial cells, types I and II alveolocytes, bile duct epitheliocytes, and hepatocytes. Mononuclear phagocyte system cells infected with the virus were found in all the examined organs. The most expressed pathological changes were observed in the lungs.

[The ultrastructural changes in guinea pig organs during the serial passage of the Ebola virus]. / Ul'trastrukturnye izmeneniia v organakh morskikh svinok pri posledovatel'nom passirovanii virusa Ebola.

Morphological study of internal organs of guinea pigs inoculated with Ebola virus at 2-8 passages was carried out. In the course of these passages the number of infected cells and virus particles in the organs was shown to increase, and the destructive changes in organs became more pronounced. In the 1st-3rd passages Ebola virus replication was observed in macrophagal cells only but beginning from the 4th passage of virus reproduction was found also in hepatocytes, spongiocytes, and fibroblasts.

[An ultrastructural stereological analysis of the cardiomyocytes in a hibernating rodent (the red-cheeked suslik Citellus erythrogenys, Brandt)]. / Ul'trastrukturnyi stereologicheskii analiz kardiomiotsitov u zimospiashchego gryzuna (krasnoshchekogo suslika Citellus erythrogenys, Brandt).

The quantitative morphological study of cardiomyocytes in heterothermic animals (red-cheeked susliks Citellus erythrogenys Br.) was quantitatively morphologically studied. The features of spatial ultrastructural cardiomyocyte reorganization in hibernating susliks were shown to manifest in pronounced increase of volume and surface densities of sarcoplasmic reticulum and relative volume of lipid droplets.

[Histostereological analysis of the parenchyma and stroma of the atrophied myocardium in alimentary starvation]. / Gistostereologicheskii analiz parenkhimy i stromy atrofiruiushchegosia miokarda pri alimentarnom golodanii.

The sexually mature Wistar rats were placed in separated cages and totally deprived of food (but allowed water ad libitum) for 2, 4 and 8 days. Tissue stereological analysis of myocardium included the determination of volume and surface densities of cardiomyocytes, volume density of stroma, volume and surface densities of capillaries and interstitial cells, volume-to-volume and surface-to-volume ratios of the basic components of parenchyma and stroma. The correlation and information analyses of the stereological parameters were carried out. It was shown that the development of myocardial atrophy (a decrease in heart weight and cardiomyocyte diameter) was accompanied by decreasing the volume density of parenchyma and increasing the volume density of stroma. A decrease in the surface of the exchange between the cardiomyocytes and microcirculatory bed was also revealed in alimentary starvation.

[Histologic organization of the myocardium of the rat during hypokinesia (stereologic study)]. / Tkanevaia organizatsiia miokarda krys pri gipokinezii (stereologicheskoe issledovanie).

For 30 days Wistar rats have been kept under conditions of hypokinesia. Using stereological methods, the volume and surface density of muscle fibers, microcirculatory bed and connective tissue components have been defined, and volumetric and surface--volume ratios of parenchymal and stromal structures have been calculated. Intracellular stereological parameters of the cardiac myocytes have been studied. Three-dimensional parameters in the parenchymatous-stromal interrelations of the atrophying myocardium accompanied with a deep rearrangement of the intracellular architectonics have been determined, as well as certain destructive changes of the cardiac myocyte ultrastructures. Such a treatment as a decreased functional loading is demonstrated to be the cause of cardiomyocytic lesions.

[Stereological analysis of the ultrastructural organization of the cardiomyocytes in the red-cheeked suslik in different seasons of the year]. / Stereologicheskii analiz ul'trastrukturnoi organizatsii kardiomiotsitov u krasnoshchekikh suslikov v raznye sezony goda.

The myocardium of red-cheeked sousliks was studied at different seasons with the use of stereological analysis. The volume and surface densities of the myofibrils, mitochondria, T system, sarcoplasmic reticulum as well as the surface-volume ratios of the main organelles were measured. Pronounced seasonal changes in physiological activity of the heterothermal animals were accompanied by marked reorganization of the spatial ultrastructure of the cardiomyocytes. The seasonal regression of the heart weight and diminution of the cardiomyocyte diameter were recorded during hibernation. The authors believe that the increased volume ratio of the cytoplasmic organelles to the myofibrils forms the basis for a rapid adaptive reaction of the heart during hibernation and waking up.