[Prophylaxis of intraoperative nausea, vomiting and abdominal discomfort due to spinal anaesthesia for caesarian operation].

The article deals with data of comparison of different antiemetic drugs used for prophylactics of intraoperative nausea and vomiting (IONV) during caesarian operation. 150 women included in the study were divided into three groups. Patients of the group-1 (80 women) received dproperidol 0.08-0.12 mg kg(-1) intravenously and atropine 0.006-0.009 mg kg(-1). Patients of the group-2 (50 women) received dexamethasone 0.04-0.1 mg kg(-1) intravenously. In the group-3 (20 women) patients received methoklopramide 0.1-0.2 mg kg(-1) intravenously. Intravenous administration of low doses of atropine and dproperidol provides the most effective prophylactics of IONV.

Feline immunodeficiency virus vectors persistently transduce nondividing airway epithelia and correct the cystic fibrosis defect.

Several problems limit the application of gene transfer to correct the cystic fibrosis (CF) Cl(-) transport defect in airway epithelia. These include inefficient transduction with vectors applied to the apical surface, a low rate of division by airway epithelial cells, failure of transgene expression to persist, and immune responses to vectors or vector-encoded proteins. To address these issues, we used a feline immunodeficiency virus-based (FIV-based) vector. FIV vector formulated with a calcium chelator transduced fully differentiated, nondividing human airway epithelia when applied to the apical surface. FIV-based vector encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator cDNA corrected the Cl(-) transport defect in differentiated CF airway epithelia for the life of the culture (>3 months). When this approach was applied in vivo, FIV vector expressing beta-galactosidase transduced 1-14% of adult rabbit airway epithelia. Transduced cells were present in the conducting airways, bronchioles, and alveoli. Importantly, gene expression persisted, and cells with progenitor capacity were targeted. FIV-based lentiviral vectors may be useful for the treatment of genetic lung diseases such as CF. This article may have been published online in advance of the print edition.

On the mechanisms of internalization and intracellular delivery mediated by pH-sensitive liposomes.

We investigated the molecular mechanisms by which pH-sensitive liposomes surpass the cytoplasmic and endosomal membranes to deliver their aqueous contents into the cytoplasm. Various liposome formulations were evaluated for their efficacy to mediate intracellular delivery of encapsulated material, including a novel sterically stabilized pH-sensitive formulation ((DOPE:CHEMS:DSPE-PEG(2000) (6:4:0.3)) that was previously developed in our laboratories. In an attempt to fully characterize the nature of liposome-cell interactions different approaches based on a dual-labeling fluorescence assay were used. Our results indicate that the efficacy of interaction of pH-sensitive liposomes, both plain and sterically stabilized, with cells is strongly determined by the inclusion of DOPE in their composition, independently of the type of the amphiphilic stabilizer used. In fact, DOPE-containing liposomes shown to be non-pH sensitive by biophysical assays, mediated cytoplasmic delivery of their contents as efficiently as well known pH-sensitive formulations (e.g. DOPE:CHEMS). However, among the different formulations studied, DOPE:CHEMS liposomes were those exhibiting the highest extent of cell association. Moreover, our results with cells pretreated with metabolic inhibitors or lysosomotropic agents clearly indicate that DOPE-containing liposomes are internalized essentially by endocytosis and that acidification of the endosomes is not the only mechanism involved in the destabilization of the liposomes inside the cell.

Delivery of an anti-HIV-1 ribozyme into HIV-infected cells via cationic liposomes.

Cationic liposome-mediated intracellular delivery of a fluorescein-labeled chimeric DNA-RNA ribozyme targeted to the HIV-1 5' LTR was investigated, using THP-1, THP-1/HIV-1IIIB or HeLa/LAV cells. Different fluorescence patterns were observed when the cells were exposed to Lipofectamine, Lipofectin or DMRIE:DOPE (1:1) complexed to the ribozyme. With Lipofectamine intense cell-associated fluorescence was found. Incubation with Lipofectin resulted in less intense diffuse fluorescence, while with DMRIE an intense but sporadic fluorescence was observed. Differentiated THP-1/HIV-1IIIB cells were more susceptible to killing by liposome-ribozyme complexes than THP-1 cells. Under non-cytotoxic conditions (a 4-h treatment) complexes of 5, 10 or 15 microM Lipofectin or DOTAP:DOPE (1:1) and ribozyme, at lipid:ribozyme ratios of 8:1 or 4:1, did not affect p24 production in THP-1/HIV-1IIIB cells in spite of the intracellular accumulation of the ribozyme. A 24-h exposure of THP-1/HIV-1IIIB cells to 5 microM Lipofectin or DOTAP:DOPE (1:1) complexed with either the functional or a modified control ribozyme reduced virus production by approximately 30%. Thus, the antiviral effect of the liposome-complexed ribozyme was not sequence-specific. In contrast, the free ribozyme at a relatively high concentration inhibited virus production by 30%, while the control ribozyme was ineffective, indicating a sequence-specific effect. Both Lipofectin and DOTAP complexed with ribozyme were toxic at 10 and 15 microM after a 24-h treatment. A 4-h treatment of HeLa/LAV cells with Lipofectin at 5, 10 or 15 microM was not toxic to the cells, but also did not inhibit p24 production. In contrast, treatment of HeLa CD4+ cells immediately after infection with HIV-1IIIB at the same lipid concentrations and lipid:ribozyme ratios was cytotoxic. Our results indicate that the delivery of functional ribozyme into cells by cationic liposomes is an inefficient process and needs extensive improvement before it can be used in ex vivo and in vivo applications.

Target cell membrane sialic acid modulates both binding and fusion activity of influenza virus.

Influenza virus binds to cell surface sialic acid receptors, and following endocytosis fuses with the endosome membrane at low pH. Whether sialic acid plays a role in the virus-cell membrane fusion step is not known. We investigated the effect of the removal of cell membrane sialic acid on the fusion activity of influenza virus (A/PR/8/34 strain) toward human T lymphocytic leukemia (CEM) cells at low pH. Fusion was monitored by fluorescence dequenching of octadecylrhodamine incorporated in the virus membrane. Removal of sialic acid by neuraminidase resulted in a drastic reduction in both viral binding and fusion. The association of the virus with neuraminidase-treated cells was enhanced at pH 5, compared to that at neutral pH, probably due to the unfolding of the hemagglutinin and the resulting increase in viral surface hydrophobicity, but the fusion capacity of the virus was reduced significantly. The results were analysed with a mass-action kinetic model which could explain and predict the kinetics of fusion. Our results indicate that binding of influenza virus to sialic acid residues on the cell surface leads to rapid and extensive fusion and partially inhibits the low pH-induced viral inactivation.

Human serum albumin enhances DNA transfection by lipoplexes and confers resistance to inhibition by serum.

Cationic liposome-DNA complexes ('lipoplexes') are used as gene delivery vehicles and may overcome some of the limitations of viral vectors for gene therapy applications. The interaction of highly positively charged lipoplexes with biological macromolecules in blood and tissues is one of the drawbacks of this system. We examined whether coating cationic liposomes with human serum albumin (HSA) could generate complexes that maintained transfection activity. The association of HSA with liposomes composed of 1, 2-dioleoyl-3-(trimethylammonium) propane and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine, and subsequent complexation with the plasmid pCMVluc greatly increased luciferase expression in epithelial and lymphocytic cell lines above that obtained with plain lipoplexes. The percentage of cells transfected also increased by an order of magnitude. The zeta potential of the ternary complexes was lower than that of the lipoplexes. Transfection activity by HSA-lipoplexes was not inhibited by up to 30% serum. The combined use of HSA and a pH-sensitive peptide resulted in significant gene expression in human primary macrophages. HSA-lipoplexes mediated significantly higher gene expression than plain lipoplexes or naked DNA in the lungs and spleen of mice. Our results indicate that negatively charged HSA-lipoplexes can facilitate efficient transfection of cultured cells, and that they may overcome some of the problems associated with the use of highly positively charged complexes for gene delivery in vivo.

Transfection of human macrophages by lipoplexes via the combined use of transferrin and pH-sensitive peptides.

The crucial function of macrophages in a variety of biological processes and pathologies render these cells important targets for gene therapeutic interventions. Commonly used synthetic gene delivery vectors have not been successful in transfecting these non-dividing cells. A combination strategy involving cationic liposomes to condense and carry DNA, transferrin to facilitate cellular uptake, and the pH-sensitive peptide GALA to promote endosome destabilization, resulted in significant expression of a luciferase gene. Transfection of macrophages was dependent on the degree of differentiation of the cells. The quaternary complexes of cationic liposomes, DNA, transferrin, and GALA exhibited a net negative charge, which may obviate a limitation of cationic synthetic vectors in vivo. The lack of cytotoxicity and the expected lack of immunogenicity of these complexes may render them useful for gene delivery to macrophages in vivo.

[Surgical approach for destructive cholecystitis in elderly and old patients].

The individual surgical policy in the treatment of patients over 60 years of age with destructive cholecystitis was developed. Urgent radical surgical procedures using total intravenous anesthesia with endotracheal intubation and ALV were performed in patients with a low surgical and anesthetic risk and without concomitant acute pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice. Cholecystostomy and delayed cholecystectomy were performed in patients with these concomitant pathologies. Palliative operations were performed in patients with high surgical and anesthetic risk. Patients with disseminated peritonitis underwent cholecystectomy through laparotomy using total intravenous anesthesia with epidural blockade. Choice of method of cholecystectomy and anesthetic management depended on nature of concomitant diseases and complications. Proposed individual surgical policy permitted to decrease postoperative lethality to 0.8%.

Action of influenza virus neuraminidase on gangliosides. Haemagglutinin inhibits viral neuraminidase.

The action of partly purified neuraminidase (NA) of influenza A virus, a mixture of detergent solubilized NA and haemagglutinin (HA) and of intact virions on gangliosides GT1b, GD1a, GD1b, GM1 was studied. The viral NA transformed GT1b mainly into GD1b with formation of only minor amounts of GM1. HA was found to inhibit the hydrolysis activity of viral NA. At the same time viral NA transformed GD1a quantitatively into GM1 which was not hydrolyzed by the enzyme. These results suggest that the function of NA is to transfer the 'primary' receptor (such as GT1b) into the proper carbohydrate sequence (GD1b-like) which is proposed to serve as the minimal structure required for influenza virus reception.

Investigation of human immunodeficiency virus fusion peptides. Analysis of interrelations between their structure and function.

The N-terminal region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 appears to be involved in virus-cell membrane fusion. To study the influence of fusion domain structure on gp41 interaction with artificial lipid membranes, two families of peptides were synthesized. The peptides of the first family starting from the C-terminal Gly-532 of gp160 (BRU isolate) were assembled in a stepwise manner to N-terminus of gp41(Ala-517). These hydrophobic peptides, containing 10-16 amino acid residues (a.a.), were able to form channel-like current fluctuation through planar lipid membranes, and the longest 15-16 a.a. peptides lysed the liposomes. Peptides of the second family beginning from the C-terminal Arg-538 and continuing to Val-510 contained several hydrophilic amino acid residues. These 15-22 a.a. peptides also increased the conductance of planar lipid bilayers and lysed liposomes. The degree of liposome lysis depended upon peptide length and concentration. The attachment of gp120 C-terminal amino acid or peptides to N-terminus of 517-538 peptide resulted in complete loss of activity. The effects of the second family of peptides on membranes were reduced to a great extent at acidic pH. The conjugation of 22 a.a. Lys peptide with bovine serum albumin decreased its lytic activity. The circular dichroism study of these peptides revealed alpha-helix configuration in hydrophobic and aqueous media only for deca- and longer peptides. The electron microscopy of 22 a.a. peptide performed in the aqueous medium showed large spherical aggregates about 0.5-0.7 micron in diameter consisting of long filaments approximately 5 nm in diameter. Other tested peptides could generate only short strings. Thus, the effects of fusion peptides on lipid membranes depends on their sequence and length, secondary and tertiary structures, and freedom of their N-terminus.

Successful transfection of lymphocytes by ternary lipoplexes.

Transgene expression in lymphoid cells may be useful for modulating immune responses in, and gene therapy of, cancer and AIDS. Although cationic liposome-DNA complexes (lipoplexes) present advantages over viral vectors, they have low transfection efficiency, unfavorable features for intravenous administration, and lack of target cell specificity. The use of a targeting ligand (transferrin), or an endosome-disrupting peptide, in ternary complexes with liposomes and a luciferase plasmid, significantly promoted transgene expression in several T- and B-lymphocytic cell lines. The highest levels of luciferase activity were obtained at a lipid/DNA (+/-) charge ratio of 1/1, where the ternary complexes were net negatively charged. The use of such negatively charged ternary complexes may alleviate some of the drawbacks of highly positively charged plain lipoplexes for gene delivery.

Enhanced inhibition of HIV-1 replication in macrophages by antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes and acyclic nucleoside phosphonate analogs delivered in pH-sensitive liposomes.

An antisense oligodeoxynucleotide against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Rev response element, a ribozyme complementary to the HIV-1 5'-LTR, and the reverse transcriptase inhibitors 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl) adenine (PMEA) and (R)-9-(2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)-adenine (PMPA) inhibited virus replication in monocyte-derived macrophages more effectively when delivered in pH-sensitive liposomes compared to the free drugs.

Effect of enkephalins on the function of calcium-regulating endocrine glands.

Experiments on rats have shown that administration of a synthetic analog of leucine enkephalin at a dose of 100 mg/kg did not change the content of the immunoreactive parathyroid hormone in the blood plasma, but eliminated the parathyroidin-stimulating effect on the cAMP concentration in the renal tissue and AP activity in the blood. We conclude that enkephalins do not influence the secretion and metabolism of the parathyroid hormone, but block its peripheral effects and stimulate thyroid C-cell function.

[The expert diagnosis of HIV infection by radioimmunoprecipitation]. / Ekspertnaia diagnostika VICh-infektsii metodom radioimmunopretsipitatsii.

Using a panel of sera from HIV-infected persons and donors, the authors showed that radioimmunoprecipitation assays compare favourably with immunoblotting assays. With radioimmunoprecipitation, cross reactions were observed between HIV-2 antigens and HIV-2 antibodies, and that the nature of cross reactivity differs from that observed with immunoblotting. Potentials of radioimmunoprecipitation assays as a confirmatory test for use with sera that have given indeterminate results in immunoblotting assays and contradictory results in enzyme immunoassays are examined.

[Stimulating action of liposomes on experimental influenza infection]. / Stimuliruiushchee deistvie liposom na éksperimental'nuiu grippoznuiu infektsiiu.

Intranasal inoculation of liposomes from egg phosphatidylcholine to white mice infected with influenza A virus resulted in the death of practically all animals whereas the death rate in the control group was 30%. A possible mechanism of the effect of liposomes on the virus infection is discussed.

[Varying nature of the cell receptors for influenza and para-influenza viruses]. / Raznaia priroda kletochnykh retseptorov dlia virusov grippa i paragrippa.

A comparative study of receptors for influenza virus, fowl plague virus, and human parainfluenza type 3 virus was carried out. Natural receptors of guinea pig erythrocytes were destroyed with neuraminidase, and individual gangliosides GM1, GD1a, and GT1b were inserted into their membranes. The labeled virus was adsorbed on the erythrocytes modified in this manner, and the degree of restoration of the receptor activity of erythrocytes lost after neuraminidase treatment was determined. Two gangliosides, GD1a and GT1b, were found to be capable of functioning as specific receptors for influenza virus. Both gangliosides restored completely the virus adsorption on erythrocytes. In contrast, none of the three gangliosides used did not restore parainfluenza virus adsorption. It is concluded that the nature of influenza and parainfluenza virus receptors is different.

[Comparative study of the hemolytic activity of ortho- and paramyxoviruses]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie gemoliticheskoi aktivnosti orto- i paramiksovirusov.

A comparative study of hemolytic activity of influenza type A, B, and C viruses, human parainfluenza type 3, and Sendai virus showed the pattern of pH-dependence and the nature of the curve to differ not only for different viruses under study but also for different erythrocyte species. Studies of virus-induced hemolysis of influenza C virus demonstrated that, depending on the erythrocyte species used, it had common properties both with influenza types A and B viruses and with paramyxoviruses.

[The effect of gangliosides on experimental influenza infection]. / Vliianie gangliozidov na éksperimental'nuiu grippoznuiu infektsiiu.

Experiments in two strains of mice; CBA, susceptible to influenza, and CBAXC57Bl/cXFl, resistant to it, demonstrated stimulation of influenza infection caused by gangliosides. The stimulating effect of gangliosides (GMl, GDla, GTlb) seems to be explained by their insertion into plasma membranes of epithelial cells of the respiratory tract and by an increase, due to it, of the number of superficial virus-specific receptors.

[Isolation and characteristics of endocytic vacuoles containing the influenza virus]. / Vydelenie i kharakteristika éndotsitarnykh vakuolei, soderzhashchikh virus grippa.

Endocytic vacuoles (receptosomes) containing influenza virus were isolated from the cytoplasm of Ehrlich ascitic carcinoma cells and characterized. In the sucrose density gradient, the virus-containing material was detected in two peaks with a buoyant density of 1.175-1.16 and 1.155-1.135 g/cm3 with which the activity of marker enzymes of cell plasma membranes was associated. The virus was present in receptosomes in morphologically and electrophoretically intact condition. Examinations for the lipid composition of endocytic vacuoles showed the presence in their membranes of large amounts of cholesterol and glycolipids, particularly asialo-GM1 which, according to some authors may enhance the fusion of viral and cell membranes.