Sporicidal Action of Pulsed Radiation of Hot Plasma.

Nitration is one of the main reaction mechanisms of long-living reactive species (oxygen and nitrogen products) formed under the action of pulsed radiation of hot plasma. The long lifetime of reactive species formed in a discharge zone (up to several days) enables them to penetrate deep into the objects covered with a protective coat. Spores are such objects. The aim of the investigation was to study sporicidal activity of hot plasma pulsed radiation of spark electric discharge by the analysis findings of active products formed in an aqueous L-tyrosine solution under the effect of the discharge. Materials and Methods: In the study, we used a Pilimin IR-10 spark discharge generator as a source of pulsed radiation of hot plasma; a corona discharge generator - as a source of cold plasma; a DKB-9 low-pressure mercury lamp - as a source of continuous radiation of UV band, wavelength of 253.7 nm. The samples were processed in Petri dishes, 40 mm in diameter, their volume being 4 and 10 cm3. The study used an L-tyrosine solution in distilled water (the concentration: 160 mg/L), a suspension of bacteria and spores of micromycetes (its concentration being ~106 cells per 1 ml). Tyrosine conversion products were identified spectrophotometrically before and after treatment. The biocidal and sporicidal effects were assessed by counting CFU (colony-forming units) after seeding incubation at 27-37°C. Results: The oxidation of tyrosine by HO2• radicals was found to be impossible. Under 2 the action of nitrogen compounds, nitration proceeds with 3-nitrotyrosine formation. The nitration reaction is slow, taking about 100 h. A possible nitration mechanism is through the formation of the nitronium ion NO2+ in an acidic medium.The biocidal effect of hot plasma radiation turned out to be weaker than that of UV radiation of a DKB-9 lamp. This is due to the difference in their emission spectrum. The sporicidal effect of hot plasma radiation was more pronounced: a 10-fold decrease in the number of CFU was observed at radiation doses of 200-280 J. Under the action of UV radiation, at the same doses, the decrease in the number of CFU was from 3 to ~30%. The sporicidal effect of hot plasma radiation is due to the decay of a long-living …ONOOH/ONOO-… complex with the formation of a nitric oxide and a nitronium ion in an acidic medium. Conclusion: The study showed the viability of spores under the action of pulsed radiation of hot plasma to decrease. While the light radiation of a UV lamp, under studied conditions, slightly penetrates the protective coating of a spore. The sporicidal effect of hot plasma radiation is due to the decay of a long-living …ONOOH/ONOO-… complex with the formation of a nitric oxide and a nitronium ion in an acidic medium. Nitration plays a decisive role in the sporicidal action of the hot plasma radiation of a spark discharge. The principle of the sporicidal effect of gas-discharge plasma radiation can be used to develop disinfecting devices.

Taxonomic composition and biodiversity of the gut microbiome from patients with irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and asthma.

To date, the association of an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota with various human diseases, including both diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and disorders of the immune system, has been shown. However, despite the huge amount of accumulated data, many key questions still remain unanswered. Given limited data on the composition of the gut microbiota in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) from different parts of Siberia, as well as the lack of data on the gut microbiota of patients with bronchial asthma (BA), the aim of the study was to assess the biodiversity of the gut microbiota of patients with IBS, UC and BA in comparison with those of healthy volunteers (HV). In this study, a comparative assessment of the biodiversity and taxonomic structure of gut microbiome was conducted based on the sequencing of 16S rRNA genes obtained from fecal samples of patients with IBS, UC, BA and volunteers. Sequences of the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes types dominated in all samples studied. The third most common in all samples were sequences of the Proteobacteria type, which contains pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria. Sequences of the Actinobacteria type were, on average, the fourth most common. The results showed the presence of dysbiosis in the samples from patients compared to the sample from HVs. The ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes was lower in the IBS and UC samples than in HV and higher the BA samples. In the samples from patients with intestinal diseases (IBS and UC), an increase in the proportion of sequences of the Bacteroidetes type and a decrease in the proportion of sequences of the Clostridia class, as well as the Ruminococcaceae, but not Erysipelotrichaceae family, were found. The IBS, UC, and BA samples had signif icantly more Proteobacteria sequences, including Methylobacterium, Sphingomonas, Parasutterella, Halomonas, Vibrio, as well as Escherichia spp. and Shigella spp. In the gut microbiota of adults with BA, a decrease in the proportion of Roseburia, Lachnospira, Veillonella sequences was detected, but the share of Faecalibacterium and Lactobacillus sequences was the same as in healthy individuals. A signif icant increase in the proportion of Halomonas and Vibrio sequences in the gut microbiota in patients with BA has been described for the f irst time.

[Investigation of Free Radical Processes in Substrates and Biological Samples by Means of induced Chemiluminescence].

The possibility of applying induced chemiluminescence was investigated to evaluate oxidative capability of the substrate under the action of hydroxyl radicals and estimate the intensity of free radical processes in biological samples based on the analysis of the organic hydroperoxyde response in a probe. For this purpose the chemiluminescence light sum was measured in 3 steps: when Fe2+ was introduced into in a sample; in course of Fenton reaction (introducing Fe2+ and H202) and when Fe2+ was introduced into the sample after Fenton reaction. Light sum was measured depending on concentration (dilution) of the sample. It was shown that the light sum reaches the maximum value at certain dilution of the substrate studied. The maximum chemiluminescence's position is determined by concentration of RH fragments being oxidized, but the chemoluminescence light sum value is determined partially by the inhibitor [InH]/[RH] and organic hydroperoxides [ROOH]/[RH] found in the sample.

[Evaluation of prooxidant properties of ascorbic acid].

Chemiluminescence of ascorbic acid in Fenton solution was investigated at acid concentration from 10(-7) to 1 mol/l. The yield of chemiluminescence exceeds spontaneous light from Fenton solution at [Asc] - 10(-4) - 10(-3) mol/l in the presence of dissolved oxygen, and prooxidant properties are displayed. When there is no oxygen in solution, this effect is not observed. A comparison of experimental data and oxidation process simulation shows that ascorbic acid is an antioxidant. Its transformation products in the presence of oxygen exert prooxidant properties.

Systemic markers of age-related changes in the lens.

A dependency was found between total protein content and cataract maturity (P=-0.91, p<0.01). LPO intensity sharply increased and remained stably high after appearance of lens opacity. A strict negative correlation was found between the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in earwax and lens nucleus (P=-0.7, p<0.01). The content of conjugated dienes, crotonic aldehyde, and Schiff bases decreased during cataract development. The content of vitamins B(2), A, and E decreased with increasing brown coloration of lens nucleus. Studying the parameters of lipid metabolism in wax-producing glands of the external ear canal we can evaluate the disturbances in lipid metabolism in the lens, which was confirmed by the correlation between fatty acid composition of the earwax and lens nucleus. These data do not demonstrate the dependence of the lens state on earwax, but suggest general features of the process in organs and tissues during aging. Some markers in the blood of patients with cataract change during progress of lens opacity and intensification of brown coloration of lens nucleus, but these changes are inspecific and reflect general activation of peroxidation processes and antioxidant system.

[Noninvasive estimation of the oxygen state of experimental tumor by diffuse optical spectroscopy].

The potentialities of diffuse optical spectroscopy for the noninvasive estimation of the oxygen state of experimental tumors have been demonstrated. The distribution of total, oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, as well as the level oxygen saturation of blood have been shown using two tumor models differing in the histological structure and functional characteristics. The results obtained by the optical method have been verified by immunohistochemical examination of tissue specimens with the exogenous hypoxia marker pimonidazole.

Induction of antiidiotypic immune response with autologous T-cell vaccine in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Patients with different forms of multiple sclerosis were treated with a vaccine consisting of myelin-reactive T cells. It was found that after this treatment, lymphocytes from patients acquired the capacity to generate antiidiotypic proliferative response directed towards myelin-reactive T cells. The serum concentration of IFN-gamma decreased about 2-fold 1.5-2.0 years after the start of vaccine therapy, whereas the concentration of IL-4 increased 2-3 fold. Myelin-reactive proliferative activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells also decreased. The results of the 2-year follow-up study revealed no side effect of T-cell vaccination in patients with cerebrospinal form of multiple sclerosis and demonstrated its possible clinical efficiency in the treatment of this disease at early stages.

Characterization of immunogenic properties of polyclonal T cell vaccine intended for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Two-staged technology for obtaining polyclonal T cell vaccine intended for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is described. Stage 1 includes antigen-dependent cultural selection of patient's T cells and stage 2 consists in their reproduction in the needed amounts by nonspecific mitogenic stimulation. T cell vaccination induces an effective specific anti-idiotypic immune response against T cells reactive to joint antigens. Vaccine therapy significantly reduces plasma level of IFN-gamma and increases IL-4 level. The results indicate immunological efficiency and safety of polyclonal T cell vaccine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

[Dynamic effects of crown and spark pulse categories on metabolic processes of blood of rats].

In work it is investigated influences of pulse categories on a metabolism of not purebred rats in dynamics. Research spent to the first day, through six, in twelve day after influence. It is shown, that category crown 5 of impulses and spark's category 100 of impulses, cause increase oxidations lipids for the sixth day and decrease oxidations lipids in plasma of blood and erythrocytes by twelfth day after influence. Influence category crown 50 of impulses and spark category 300 of impulses leads to increase of a level oxidations lipids on membranes erythrocytes. Categories crown 5 and 50 impulses cause dynamic changes of resistance erythrocytes. Decrease in stability for the sixth day and increase of stability erythrocytes by twelfth day after influence categorys crown is shown by pulse categories.

[Use of a three-component scheme of immunosuppression on morphologic and immunohistochemical changes of transplants in the early postoperative period]. / Primenenie trekhkomponentnykh skhem immunosupressii na morfologicheskie i immunogistokhimicheskie izmeneniia transplantata v blizhaishem posleoperatsionnom periode.

Three-component (cyclosporin A, corticosteroids and azathioprine) immunosuppression has been widely introduced in the treatment of recipients of renal transplants because it allows a significant reduction of the components' doses in greater effectiveness. The analysis of the results of 83 puncture biopsies obtained in the immediate postoperative period after kidney transplantation has shown that administration of an imidazole derivative allows raising therapeutic concentration of cyclosporin up to 200-300 ng/ml, thus preventing rejection crises. However, increased blood concentration of cyclosporin does not increase its toxicity as a result of a significant fall in the overall level of the metabolites.

[Normobaric hypoxy-therapy of patients with bronchial asthma]. / Normobaricheskaia gipoksiterapiia bol'nykh bronkhial'noi astmoi.

Conventional drug therapy for moderate atopic or mixed bronchial asthma was combined with normobaric hypoxytherapy (NBHT) in 32 patients (a course of 10 sessions) and was not combined in 20 control patients. Clinical results show that NBHT enhances response to conventional therapy of moderate bronchial asthma as confirmed by a significant relief of the clinical symptoms, by a significant rise of volumic and flow parameters of external respiration function, a fall in the number of CD 20+ B cells, low level of serum IgE, increased number of phagocyting neutrophils and cells carrying erythroblast antigen in peripheral blood.

[Changes in functional activity of blood neutrophils in pollenosis patients: effects of specific immunotherapy]. / Izmeneniia funktsional'nykh svoistv neitrofilov krovi u bol'nykh pollinozom i vliianie spetsificheskoi immunoterapii.

AIM: The study of effective and regulatory functions of neutrophilic granulocytes in patients with pollenosis exacerbation, correction of the impaired neutrophil function with standard treatment and specific immunotherapy (SIT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 103 healthy donors (controls) and 122 patients with pollenosis aggravation. 69 of the latter received symptomatic treatment. 53 patients received preseasonal SIT with water-salt extracts of the pollen allergens. RESULTS: The untreated pollenosis patients had hyperproduction of interleukin-1 (IL-1) by nonstimulated blood neutrophils associated with elevation of NBT-reduction and lowering of phagocytic activity in decreasing count of Fc- and Ca-receptors. Effective SIT produced recovery of phagocytic activity, the number of Fc- and Ca-receptors, IL-1-activity of cell supernatants. CONCLUSION: One of the SIT targets in pollenosis patients is neutrophilic granulocytes.

[Generalized tuberculosis after kidney transplantation]. / Generalizovannyi tuberkulez posle transplantatsii pochki.

Tuberculosis is one of severe infectious complications in patients on hemodialysis and after kidney transplantation. Incidence of disseminated and generalized forms is high, whereas clinical symptoms are weak and nonspecific. An aggressive generalized form of tuberculosis was observed in a kidney transplant recipient. M. tuberculosis, the antigen and DNA were registered only a few days before death. Disseminated foci in the lungs were seen on CT image only in the agonal period in spite of multiple x-ray investigations. Thus, our experience and experience of other investigators evidence that if recipients of renal transplant have fever of unknown genesis and do not respond to standard antibiotic therapy, tuberculosis should be suspected and a course of specific antituberculosis therapy should be started as early as possible.

[The discovery of new internal sources of neural retinal regeneration after its detachment in newts. Morphological and quantitative research]. / Obnaruzhenie novykh, vnutrennikh istochnikov regeneratsii neiral'noi setchatki posle ee otsloiki u tritonov. Morfologicheskoe i kolichestvennoe issledovaniia.

A model of experimental detachment of the retina in adult newts Pleurodeles waltl was used for studies of internal sources of the neural retina regeneration. Changes in morphology, localization, behavior, and abundance of the cells of various retinal layers were studied on serial semithin and ultrathin sections of the retina taken at different times after the operation. As a result, a new class of cells was found in the external nuclear layer, which differ from the photoreceptors but have a certain morphological similarity with the bipolar cells in the internal nuclear cell layer that have a Landolt's club. These cells were called bipolar-like cells. The bipolar-like cells, which amount to 10-12% of the cells in the external nuclear layer, proved to be capable of producing new photoreceptors during retina recovery after its detachment. We propose that the bipolar cells with Landolt's club of the internal nuclear layer that are displaced towards the sclera after the death of a part of the photoreceptors are a source of the bipolar-like cells of the external nuclear layer. Supposedly, they are also a source of neuroblasts that we first found at later stages after detachment in the case of more intense destruction of the retina nuclear layers. The neuroblasts arising in the internal nuclear layer are displaced apically and divide to form radial "inserts", whose cells differentiate and restore the cell composition of all three nuclear layers of the detached retina. The discovered internal sources of regeneration of the neural retina in newts are compared with those known in fish, precursor cells of rods, and the role of other cell types in the retina regeneration is described under the given conditions of its damage.

[Assessment of interleukin-1 beta mRNA expression in the norm and pathology]. / Otsenka ékspressii mRNK interleikina-1beta v norme i pri patologii.

We investigated cytoplasmic RNA from the peripheral blood cells of pollinosis patients. Increased levels of IL-I mRNA were registered in neutrophils of patients suffering from pollinosis for a long time. Neutrophils from patients at the time of exacerbation of pollinosis responded to stimuli less than the cells from healthy donors. During remission the activated neutrophils from pollinosis patients and those from healthy donors had same levels of IL-I mRNA.

[Temporary loss of work capacity in connection with rheumatic diseases in workers of the agricultural-industrial complex]. / Vremennaia netrudosposobnost' v sviazi s revmaticheskimi zabolevaniiami u rabotnikov agropromyshlennogo kompleksa.

The authors studied the morbidity rate accompanied by temporary incapacity for work in workers of the agricultural and industrial complex suffering from diseases of the joints. It has been established that rheumatic diseases take the first place as to their duration (number of days) and the second place at to their incidence (number of cases) per 100 workers. An annual rise in rheumatic disease prevalence, especially of a degenerative dystrophic nature was noted. Of importance are the age of patients service record in agriculture, intensity of load, nature of work, season. Machine operators were most liable to the mentioned disease.