[Genetic structure of populations of Schrenck newt (Salamandrella schrenckii) based on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b variability data].

Data on variability of nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome b gene of Schrenck newt, Salamandrella schrenckii (Strauch, 1870), from populations of Primorie and Khabarovsk regions have been received. By means of phylogenetic analysis, two clusters of haplotypes--'southern' cluster 1 and 'northern' cluster 2, with divegence level between them estimated as 3%-- were revealed. Results of analysis of mtDNA and cytochrome b amino acid variation allow us to assume that development of a modern area of Schrenck newt occurred from the south on the north of Primorie region. It was found that 'northern'cluster in contrast to the 'southern' one demonstrates all signs of demographic expansion (i.e., unimodal type of pairwise nucleotide differences, results of tests of selective neutrality of mtDNA variation and good correspondence of genetic parameters to expectations following from the models of demographic expansions).

[Genetic variation of carrion and hooded crows and their hybrids based on RAPD-PCR data]. / Geneticheskaia izmenchivost' chernoi, seroi voron i ikh gibridov po dannym RAPD-PCR.

RAPD-PCR analysis of genetic variability of carrion crows, hooded crows and their phenotypic hybrids from the zones of overlap of their areals and hybridization of parental forms in Siberia has been carried out. According to RAPD variability the following parameters were estimated for both species and their hybrids: genetical distances (DN), polymorphism (P95), mean expected heterozygosity (H(e)), gene fixation coefficient (Fst) and the portion of interpopulation differentiation (Gst). It was shown that the rate of genetic variability in carrion crows and hooded crows is less than in the hybrids. It turned out that the hybrids were genetically closer to each other (DN = 0.295) than to both parental species (DN = 0.441 and 0.397 with C. corone and C. cornix, correspondingly). The studied individuals of C. cornix show the minimal level of heterozygosity and polymorphism (H(e) = 0.12 and P95 = = 27.8%) in comparison with C. corone and the crows of hybrid zone (H(e) = 0.18 and 0.20; P95 = 42.6% and 50.4%, correspondingly). Right's indexes of inbreeding (Fst = 0.285) and population spliting (Gst = 0.352) indicate low genetic variability in all the analysed birds. Nevertheless UPGMA and NJ dendrogrammes differentiate the individuals from the areals of carrion crows, hooded crows and from hybrid zone to different clusters. Our data correlate with molecular-genetic investigations of Corvidae carried out with other methods, and do not contradict the conception of carrion crows and hooded crows as semispecies in the context of the conception of overspecies.

[Genetic diversity of carrion and jungle crows from RAPD-PCR analysis data]. / Geneticheskoe raznoobrazie chernoi i bol'shekliuvoi voron po dannym RAPD-PCR-analiza.

RAPD-PCR analysis of the genetic diversity of the carrion crow (Corvus corone) and jungle crow (C. macrorhynchos) living in the continental parts of their species ranges and on some Russian and Japanese Far Eastern islands has been performed. Taxon-specific molecular markers have been found for each species. The genetic diversity of the carrion crow is considerably less than that of the jungle crow at the same genetic distance (P95 = 68.2%, DN = 0.27 and P95 = 88.4%, DN = 0.24, respectively). In both species, the genetic polymorphism of island samples is almost two times greater than that of continental samples (62 and 31.8%, respectively, for C. corone and 81.5 and 47.2%, respectively, for C. macrorhynchos). In addition, differences in genetic diversity between males and females (P95 = 55.1 and P95 = 72.1, respectively) has been found in the carrion crow but not in the jungle crow. The gene diversity of C. macrorhynchos is greater than that of C. corone: the mean numbers of alleles per locus are 2 and 1.81, effective numbers of alleles are 1.62 and 1.43, and the mean expected heterozygosities are 0.39 and 0.30, respectively. The phenograms and phylograms significantly segregate the clusters of the carrion and jungle crows. The clustering patterns of carrion crows corresponds to the intraspecies taxonomic and geographic differentiation: subspecies C. c. corone and C.c. orientalis living in the western and eastern parts of the species range, respectively, form different subclusters. The cluster of the jungle crow does not exhibit differentiation into subspecies C. m. mandshuricus and C. m. japonensis; molecular genetic differences between them are small.

[Karyological study of some Corvine birds (Corvidae, aves)]. / Kariologichesoe izuchenie nekotorykh vranovykh ptits (Corvidae, aves).

Karyotypes were studied in the hooded and carrion crows, their naturally occurred hybrids, the jungle crow, the azure-winged magpie (2n = 80 in all aforementioned birds), and the magpie (2n = 82). Corvine birds of Primorskii Krai were karyotyped for the first time. In addition to the similarity in the diploid chromosome sets, corvine birds were shown to have a similar structure of karyotype: in all studied birds, 14 macrochromosomes (Mchs) classified into three groups according to their size were detected. By karyotype structure, birds belonging to the same genus are similar. Some intergeneric differences are due to a change in the position of centromeres of the largest and sex chromosomes. Karyotypes of interspecific hybrids of crows are remarkable for the presence of heteromorphic (t/st) chromosome pair 2 in some individuals, which apparently does not affect their fecundity. Using differential C-banding, the sex chromosome W in female magpies was identified. In addition, heteromorphism was detected in C-bands of homologs of Mch pair 4 in the hooded crow. In the jungle crow, the azure-winged magpie, and the magpie, bright QH-bands and numerous G-bands were detected on Mchs and on some microchromosomes only. Active Ag-NOR-bands were detected on one macrochromosome pair in the magpie. In all, the karyotype structure of corvine birds is comparable to the basic structural scheme of the karyotype in the order Passeriformes, which confirms the concept of conservatism of the avian karyotype.

[On the phylogenetic relationship of Corvinae birds (Aves, Corvidae) from data of partial sequencing of cytochrome b gene mitochondrial DNA]. / K filogeneticheskim otnosheniiam vranovykh ptits (Aves, corvidae) po dannym chastichnogo sekvenirovaniia gena tsitokhroma b mitokhondrial'noi DNK.

To establish phylogenetic relationships within the corvine birds at the interspecific and intergeneric levels, the sequence of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene was analyzed. The NJ, UPGMA, and MP trees showed similar clustering. Relationships between the jungle crow, on the one hand, and the rook and Australian raven, on the other hand, were closer than between the jungle crow and the hooded and carrion crows. Mitochondrial genome of Australian raven displayed the closest similarity to the ancestral genome of the genus Corvus. Populations inhabiting the eastern part of the carrion crow C. corone orientations area were statistically significantly subdivided into three lineages. These data also confirmed the hypothesis on the location of the carrion crow ancestral lineage in the southeastern part of the area. In general, the transition and transversion substitution levels, their relationships, and distribution over codon positions were similar to that already reported for birds. Synonymous transitions in the third codon position were the prevailing substitution type. Using standard calibration scales, the time of divergence between species and genera within the corvine family was estimated to be 3.1-4 and 3.8-8.8 Myr, respectively. The divergence time between the examined corvine birds and birds of paradise constituted from 8 to 10 Myr.

[Phylogeographic carrion, hooded and jungle crows (Aves, Corvidae) from data on partial sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome B gene]. / Filogeografiia chernoi, seroi i bol'shekliuvoi voron (Aves, Corvidae) po dannym chastichnogo sekvenirovaniia gena tsitokhroma b mitokhondrial'noi DNK.

Distribution of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene haplotypes in two crow species was examined by means of sequencing of the 336-bp gene fragment. The topology of the NJ and UPGMA trees showed that the carrion crow range was split into two parts due to the presence of significantly diverged ancestral lineage localized in the southeastern part of the range. The carrion crow populations, inhabiting a territory ranging from France to northern Sakhalin, along with interspersed hooded crow populations and hybrid Siberian populations, shared a common haplotype. The border between two carrion crow lineages revealed is located in central Sakhalin. The subdivision of two weakly differentiated lineages within the jungle crown range, also observed within this territory, coincided with the subspecies division of this species. The estimated genetic distances indicate the isolation of the subgenus Coloeus. These data also suggest the convergent similarity between the chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax and the Corvus genus, as well as the conspecificity of Corvus corone corone and C. c. cornix.

[The assessment of the health of industrial enterprise workers and the means for its strengthening]. / Otsenka zdorov'ia rabotnikov promyshlennykh predpriiatii i puti ego ukrepleniia.

The authors provide the results of a sociological interview of the collective of a mixed feed plant. The interview concerned information about health, healthy way of life and routine behavior. Noticeable differences were revealed between the theoretical background of the respondents and daily routine. A rapid method was employed to objectively evaluate the level of the physical health status. A considerable percentage of subjects with low health status were detected. This requires carrying out of the goal-oriented treatment, prophylactic and organizational measures at the plant.

[Experimental substantiation of the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis with prednisolone and its combination with retabolil (clinico-experimental study)]. / Eksperimental'noe obosnovanie lecheniia bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom prednizolonom i sochetaniem ego s retabolilom (kliniko-eksperimental'noe issledovanie).

Fifty RA patients receiving prednisolone and prednisolone combined with retabolil were examined. Prednisolone made a negative effect on central hemodynamics, the effect being less with the use of retabolil. A dystrophic action of prednisolone on the myocardium and the weakening of this effect in a combined use of prednisolone and retabolil were shown on a RA model in rabbits.

[Various clinical and instrumental parallels in the condition of the lungs and heart in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Nekotorye kliniko-instrumental'nye paralleli sostoianiia legkikh i serdtsa u bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom.

Comparative clinical and instrumental examination of 33 patients with seronegative and 67 patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has revealed that patients with seropositive RA often manifest the functional and roentgenomorphological signs of lung damage. Pulmonary lesions related pathogenetically to RA were encountered equally often in patients of both groups, whereas those caused by concomitant chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases were more characteristic of patients with seropositive RA apparently because of a more powerful suppression of immunity. In addition, in spite of the fact that the latter patients did not make any complaints on the part of the heart, they did manifest abnormalities of the phase structure of the cardiac cycle and central hemodynamics.