[Means and methods of acoustic protection in aviation: current status and outlook for development].

Analysis of the current status of acoustic protection in aviation shows that despite the material progress in the field, risk of professional pathologies in flying and technical personnel is still high. The situation is dramatized by the lack of effective personal and crew acoustic protectors. The authors speculate on applicability of innovative materials and technologies, ingenious designs of earphones and modular prefabricated demountable structures. Tests of proposed personal protectors demonstrated their competitiveness with foreign analogs. Prospective lines of development, e.g. incorporation of active sound absorption systems in existing passive protectors are discussed.

Phenotypic variability and incomplete penetrance of spontaneous fractures in an inbred strain of transgenic mice expressing a mutated collagen gene (COL1A1).

Phenotype variability and incomplete penetrance are frequently observed in human monogenic diseases such as osteogenesis imperfecta. Here an inbred strain of transgenic mice expressing an internally deleted gene for the pro alpha 1(I) chain of type I procollagen (COL1A1) was bred to wild type mice of the same strain so that the inheritance of a fracture phenotype could be examined in a homogeneous genetic background. To minimize the effects of environmental factors, the phenotype was evaluated in embryos that were removed from impregnated females 1 d before term. Examination of stained skeletons from 51 transgenic embryos from 11 separate litters demonstrated that approximately 22% had a severe phenotype with extensive fractures of both long bones and ribs, approximately 51% had a mild phenotype with fractures of ribs only, and approximately 27% had no fractures. The ratio of steady-state levels of the mRNA from the transgene to the level of mRNA from the endogenous gene was the same in all transgenic embryos. The results demonstrated that the phenotypic variability and incomplete penetrance were not explained by variations in genetic background or levels in gene expression. Instead, they suggested that phenotypic variation is an inherent feature of expression of a mutated collagen gene.

Altered ratio of collagen chains in bone of a patient with non-lethal osteogenesis imperfecta.

Bone from a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta contained type III collagen which was absent in control bone. The ratio of alpha 1(I)/alpha 2(I) in type I collagen of patient's bone was increased (2.9 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.2 in controls) and the ratio of dimers beta 11/beta 12/beta 22 was altered due to the increased beta 22 content. No abnormality was observed in collagen from the patient's skin. The altered composition of collagen in bone, but the normal composition in skin suggests that the disease in the patient is due to impaired regulation of the synthesis of collagens in bone, rather than by a mutation in one of the two type I collagen genes. Unlike in skin, all the type III collagen in patient's bone was pepsin-soluble indicating an inability of the bone to incorporate type III collagen into mature highly cross-linked extracellular matrix.

Levels of mRNAs encoding synaptic vesicle and synaptic plasma membrane proteins in the temporal cortex of elderly schizophrenic patients.

BACKGROUND: Electron microscopy and biochemical studies indicate that developmental abnormalities in synaptic organization may be present in brains of schizophrenic patients. This study determined whether these synaptic abnormalities are reflected in differential or uniform alterations in the expression of various synaptic protein genes in the left superior temporal gyrus of schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Levels of mRNAs encoding four synaptic vesicle proteins (synaptotagmin I [p65], rab3a, synaptobrevin 1, and synaptobrevin 2) and two synaptic plasma membrane proteins (syntaxin 1A and SNAP-25) were measured postmortem in the left superior temporal gyrus from elderly (58-95 years) schizophrenic patients (n = 14) and age-matched control subjects (n = 9). RESULTS: There were significant negative correlations between age and levels of synaptotagmin I (p65), rab3a, synaptobrevin 1, SNAP-25, and syntaxin 1A mRNAs in schizophrenic patients (-.692 < r < -.517,.003 < p <.030) but not in control subjects. Levels of all six synaptic mRNAs studied were increased in the younger (58-79 years) subgroup of schizophrenic patients compared to control subjects and older (80-95 years) subgroup of schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSIONS: That similar abnormalities were found for mRNAs encoding different synaptic vesicle and synaptic plasma membrane proteins suggests that they reflect overall neurodevelopmental abnormalities in synaptic connectivity in the temporal cortex of schizophrenic patients rather than changes in the number of synaptic vesicles per synapse or abnormalities in a specific synaptic function.

Application of cDNA microarrays to examine gene expression differences in schizophrenia.

Using cDNA microarrays we have investigated gene expression patterns in brain regions of patients with schizophrenia. A cDNA neuroarray, comprised of genes related to brain function, was used to screen pools of samples from the cerebellum and prefrontal cortex from a matched set of subjects, and middle temporal gyrus, from a separate subject cohort. Samples of cerebellum and prefrontal cortex from neuroleptic naive patients were also included. Genes that passed a 3% reproducibility criterion for differential expression in independent experiments included 21 genes for drug-treated patients and 5 genes for drug-naive patients. Of these 26 genes, 10 genes were increased and 16 were decreased. Many of the differentially expressed genes were related to synaptic signaling and proteolytic functions. A smaller number of these genes were also differentially expressed in the middle temporal gyrus. The five genes that were differentially expressed in two brain regions from separate cohorts are: tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein, eta polypeptide; sialyltransferase; proteasome subunit, alpha type 1; ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase L1; and solute carrier family 10, member 1. Identification of patterns of changes in gene expression may lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia disorders.

[Optimization of the method of cyanogen bromide mapping of polypeptides separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis]. / Optimizatsiia metoda rasshchepleniia bromtsianom polipeptidov, razdelennykh élektroforezom v poliakrilamidnom gele.

Two highly efficient methods of CNBr-peptide mapping of polypeptides divided by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis are described. The first is elaborated on the basis of peptide mapping of collagen proposed by G. Barsh et al. The following three modifications diminish wasting the material essential for the method. 1. CNBr treatment takes place in the absence of CNBr solution outside the gel, excluding the peptides elution from the gel fragments in the process of mapping. 2. After CNBr treatment the solution of CNBr is substituted by the samples buffer before electrophoresis by means of drying and subsequent addition of minimal volumes of the buffer. The latter procedures substitute the gel washing out by the buffer solution. 3. The step of washing the gel fragments by the 70% strong solution of formic acid before CNBr treatment is excluded. The second method of CNBr-peptide mapping is notable for extracting peptides from the gel fragments in the process of CNBr-treatment and permits obtaining of the high quality peptide electrophoregrams.

[Isolation of high molecular weight eukaryotic DNA with the use of potassium acetate]. / Vydelenie vysokomolekuliarnoi éukarioticheskoi DNK s ispol'zovaniem atsetata kaliia.

The simple technique for isolation of high-molecular eucaryotic DNA has been proposed. It includes cell or nuclei lysates by sodium dodecylsulfate in the presence of pronase, proteins precipitation by potassium acetate, DNA precipitation by ethanol. The DNA isolated by this technique is easily cleaved by restriction endonucleases and can be used for analysis of the unique genes by blot-hybridization. The yield of DNA is similar or somewhat higher than that in case of using the standard methods including phenol extraction or phenol-chloroform extraction.

[Various characteristics of the structure and synthesis of procollagens produced by cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with Danlos-Ehlers syndrome type I]. / Nekotorye kharakteristiki struktury i sinteza prokollagenov, produtsiruemykh kul'turami fibroblastov kozhi bol'nykh s sintromom Elersa-Danlo I tipa.

The electrophoretic mobilities of the collagen and procollagen type I and III chains synthesized by the fibroblasts isolated from patients with type I Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as well as a set of peptides obtained by splitting of pro alpha 1(I) and pro alpha 2(I) type I procollagens by cyanbromide are not different from the normal ones. The fact demonstrates the absence of long insertions or deletions, or the sufficient defects in intracellular chain modifications. The changes were also nor registered for the ratio of type I and III collagens from the digested by pepsin preparations of protein accumulating in the culture media of the cultured skin fibroblasts from patients. The studied strains of cultured fibroblasts from patients suffering the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have the trend to increased accumulation of partially processed chains of proc alpha 1(I) and proc alpha 2(I) type I procollagen and to the increased ratio of pro alpha 1(I) to pro alpha 2(I).

[Abnormal structure of type II collagen in a patients with funnel chest]. / Anomaliia struktury kollagena II tipa u bol'nogo s voronkoobraznoi deformatsiei grudnoi kletki.

The electrophoretical analysis and CNBr-peptide mapping of the collagens, isolated from the costal cartilage of 30 patients with non-classified and syndromal forms of pex excavatum (funnel chest) (27 patients) and pex carinatum (3 patients) was carried out. In case of one patient with the nonclassified form of funnel chest the electrophoretical mobility of CB 9.7-peptide was found to be decreased. The electrophoretical mobilities of other peptides are not markedly changed. The data obtained allow one to suggest the mutation causing the defect in the region about 160 amino acid residues distant from the C-end of alpha 1 (II) chain of type II collagen of the patient.

[Comparative study of the proteins of influenza virus type A nucleoproteins]. / Sravitel'noe izuchenie belka nukleoproteidov virusov grippa A.

A comparative study of protein of nucleoproteins (NP-protein) of influenza A viruses by peptide mapping shows its variability to be small within one drifting series and quite marked in strains belonging to different sero-types. In oligopeptide maps of NP-proteins of viruses of the Hong Kong (H3N2) series there is a typical group of spots differing them from oligopeptide maps of NP-proteins of viruses of other serotypes, particularly of the preceeding serotype H2N2 and the viruses related by hemagglutinin: A/duck/Ukraine/63 (Hav7Neq2) and A/horse/Miami/63 (Heq2Neq2). NP-proteins of the old A/swine/Iowa/30 and new A/New Jersey/76 strains of swine influenza viruses belonging to the same serotype Hsw1N1 differ from each other but are similar to NP-proteins of viruses of H0N1 and H1N1 serotypes, respectively.

[Oligopeptide maps of the matrix protein of a temperature-sensitive mutant (TS 303) of the fowl plague virus]. / Oligopeptidnye karty matriksnogo belka temperaturochuvstvitel'nogo mutanta (TS 303) virusa chumy ptits.

Oligopeptide maps of M proteins of "wild" fowl plague virus (FPV) and a temperature-sensitive mutant of FPV were compared with respect of gene. In maps of M proteins labeled with 14C-chlorella hydrolysate and 35S-methionine the mutant virus was found to lack one of oligopeptides present in maps of M proteins of the "wild" virus. The electrophoretic mobility of M proteins of ts 303 and FPV in 25% polyacrylamide gel was similar.

[Heterogenicity of influenza A virus NP protein]. / Geterogennost' NP-belka virusov grippa A.

Three classes of NP-proteins were detected by 7% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of virion proteins of influenza A various strains. Peptide maps of these proteins vary. The pattern of the discrepancies indicates the presence of two types of influenza A virus NP-protein. Incubation during 30 h at 37 degrees C of the preparations of intact viral particles and particles destroyed by nonion detergent NP-40 does not result in changes of the NP, NP2 and NP3 proteins ratio, that is an evidence of their intracellular origin.

[Protein variability of influenza A viruses]. / Izuchenie izmechivosti belkov virusov grippa A.

Comparative studies of nonstructural (NS) protein, nucleoprotein protein (NP) and membrane protein (M) of some influenza virus strains were performed by peptide mapping. The greatest differences were found in peptide maps of NS and NP proteins of influenza viruses whereas tryptic 35S-methionine maps of membrane proteins were much less variable. No correlation between the oligopeptide composition of NP, M, and NS proteins and the natural host range of the influenza A viruses under study was found.

[Oligopeptides of the nucleocapsid proteins of influenza A viruses]. / Oligopeptidy belkov nukleokapsida virusov grippa A.

The method of oligopeptide mapping has shown the presence of similar oligopeptides in nucleocapsid proteins of various influenza viruses, and at the same time diverse oligopeptides in different viruses. This indicates shifts in the sequences of aminoacid residues in various influenza viruses. Various oligopeptide composition of nucleoprotein is marked not only in the viruses with shift hemagglutinin differences (H1 and H3), but also in the drift-variants of viruses (H0-H1).

[Grouping of the NS1 nonstructural proteins of influenza A viruses]. / Gruppirovanie nestrukturnykh belkov NS1 virusov grippa A.

Peptide mapping was used for comparative analysis of nonstructural proteins (NS1) of 21 strains of human and animal influenza A viruses. At least 4 groups of NS1 proteins could be distinguished by the analysis of the peptide maps; we designated these groups as 0, 1, 2, and 3. Group O includes NS1 proteins of human influenza virus serotype HON1, group 1 - NS1 proteins of viruses of serotypes H1N1 and H2N2, group 2 - NS1 proteins of viruses of serotype H3N2. NS1 proteins of avian influenza viruses A/duck Czechoslovakia/63, A/turkey Massachusetts/65, A/petrel Australia/1/71, A/duck Ukraine/63, and A/turkey Ontario/68 have been included into group 3.

[Grouping of influenza A virus NP proteins]. / Gruppirovanie belkov NP virusov grippa A.

A comparative study of influenza A virus NP proteins was carried out using peptide mapping. Thirty-five strains of all main serotypes of human and animal viruses were tested. The greatest diversity was found in NP proteins of human influenza viruses belonging to different serotypes, while within serotypes the variability is less pronounced. Four main groups of NP proteins were distinguished and designated NP0, NP1, NP2, and NP3. The NP0 group includes proteins of viruses of HON1 serotype, NP proteins of all avian viruses with the exception of A/shearwater/Australia/1/71 (Hav6Nav5), NP proteins of A/horse/Prague/56 (Heq1Neq1), A/swine/Iowa/1/30 (Hsw1N1), and A/whale/Pacific/76 (HONav2). The NP1 group comprises NP proteins of viruses of HIN1 serotype (with the exception of A/California/78), A/Singapore/57 (H2N2) and NP protein of A/New Jersey/76 (Hsw1N2) virus. The NP2 group includes NP proteins of H3N2 virus serotype and NP protein of A/California/78 (H1N1) virus. NP proteins of A/horse/Miami/63 (Heq2Neq2) and A/shearwater/Australia/1/71 viruses comprise NP3 group.

[Oligopeptide mapping of the proteins of animal influenza virus nucleoproteins]. / Oligopeptidnoe kartirovanie belkov nukleoproteidov virusov grippa zhivotnykh.

Oligopeptide mapping showed the viruses H1N1 and H3N2 isolated from animals, unlike the majority of animal viruses with "animal" subtypes of the surface antigens, to have NP proteins typical of human H1N1 and H3N2 viruses which confirms their origin from human viruses.

[Comparison of the 35S-methionine oligopeptide maps of influenza A virus NP proteins]. / Sravnenie 35S-metioninovykh oligopeptidnykh kart belkov NP virusov grippa A.

Tryptic mapping of radioactive methionine-labeled NP proteins of 15 species of human influenzae A viruses and 11 animal viruses was performed. On the basis of similarities and differences of peptide maps, NP proteins were divided into 4 groups designated A, B, C, and D. Group A included viruses A/WS/33 and A/PR/8/34; Group B viruses H1N1 (apart from those isolated after 1977 and WSN virus), H2N2, H3N2, and 8 species of animal influenza viruses, Group C 4 species of H1N1 viruses isolated in 1977-1979 (A/USSR/90/77, A/USSR/086/79, A/USSR/093/79, A/Brazil/79); Group D three species of animal influenza viruses (A/swine/Iowa/30, A/horse/Praha/56, A/duck/England/56).

[Human and animal Hong Kong series influenza viruses]. / Virusy grippa gonkongskogo riada cheloveka i zhivotnykh.

Investigation of influenza viruses isolated from man and animals and having hemagglutinin of the H3 subtype according to the new nomenclature (H3, Heq2 and Hav7 according to the old nomenclature) by serological methods (including the use of monoclonal antibody) and oligopeptide mapping showed that many animal isolates reflected an antigenic drift of the Hong Kong virus series which has been going on since 1968 until now. At the same time a number of isolates represent precursors of viruses of the Hong Kong series circulating among the human population. It is suggested that this is not the first time that viruses of the Hong Kong series have been introduced into the human population.

[Variability of hemagglutinin and nucleoprotein proteins in the "Spanish" series of influenza viruses]. / Izmechivost' belkov gemagglutinina i nukleoproteida u virusov grippa "ispanskogo" riada.

Oligopeptide mapping and immunological methods were used to study influenza viruses of the evolutionary series Hsw1-H0-H1 isolated from man and animals. Among the animal viruses some possess hemagglutinins similar to those observed in the viruses isolated from man, while some viruses differ from them. These are assumed to be precursors of the viruses of "Spanish" influenza retained in animals. Variability of the nucleoprotein protein in the viruses under study was observed.