[A case of adenovirus infection complicated by gram-negative polymicrobial sepsis: A clinical and morphological observation].

Among respiratory infections, adenovirus infection (ADVI), in the presence of which there may be severe pneumonia that frequently results in a fatal outcome, occupies particular attention. ADVI in patients without immunodeficiency is usually mild and shows a limited extent of injury. At the same time the disease in immunocompromised individuals may be severe, presenting with viremia, evolving sepsis, and high death rates. The paper gives a characteristic example of severe ADVI and its fatal outcome.

[Successful restoration by radiofrequency ablation and maintenance of sinus rhythm in a patient with longstanding (for 21 years) persistent atrial fibrillation].

Clinical observation of a patient with atrial fibrillation persisting throughout 21 years is presented with discussion of results of radiofrequency catheter ablation.

[Bilateral massive pulmonary embolism: clinical observation and literature review].

The description of successful surgical treatment of a patient with bilateral massive pulmonary embolism (with the defeat of the equity and segmental branches), thrombosis of the right atrium and patent foramen ovale is given. The authors emphasize that determining predictors of successful surgical treatment of bilateral pulmonary embolism in a patient with high risk of death are the following: a) operational emergency diagnosis of disease; b) time from the beginning of clinical manifestations till embolectomy (within 1 hour); c) the maximum total removal of blood clots from the pulmonary artery and its branches. Dynamic 12 months observation showed a significant decrease of pulmonary perfusion deficiency, improvement of functional parameters of right heart chambers, absence of thromboembolism relapses.

[High-priority research directions in genetics, and the breeding of the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in the 21st century].

High-priority research directions for the genetics and breeding of the sugar beet in the 21st century were developed with consideration of the available scientific achievements of domestic and foreign scholars. These directions unite the classical and molecular approaches to solving the problems of increasing the effectiveness of sugar beet breeding carried out on a genetic basis, and they correspond to the contemporary level of scientific research. Seven such directions are proposed.

Ophiobolin A induces paraptosis-like cell death in human glioblastoma cells by decreasing BKCa channel activity.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal and common malignant human brain tumor. The intrinsic resistance of highly invasive GBM cells to radiation- and chemotherapy-induced apoptosis accounts for the generally dismal treatment outcomes. This study investigated ophiobolin A (OP-A), a fungal metabolite from Bipolaris species, for its promising anticancer activity against human GBM cells exhibiting varying degrees of resistance to proapoptotic stimuli. We found that OP-A induced marked changes in the dynamic organization of the F-actin cytoskeleton, and inhibited the proliferation and migration of GBM cells, likely by inhibiting big conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel (BKCa) channel activity. Moreover, our results indicated that OP-A induced paraptosis-like cell death in GBM cells, which correlated with the vacuolization, possibly brought about by the swelling and fusion of mitochondria and/or the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In addition, the OP-A-induced cell death did not involve the activation of caspases. We also showed that the expression of BKCa channels colocalized with these two organelles (mitochondria and ER) was affected in this programmed cell death pathway. Thus, this study reveals a novel mechanism of action associated with the anticancer effects of OP-A, which involves the induction of paraptosis through the disruption of internal potassium ion homeostasis. Our findings offer a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome the intrinsic resistance of GBM cells to proapoptotic stimuli.

[Peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the posterior-lower part of the right atrium in people of various constitutional types].

The peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the posterior-lower part of the right atrium (PLP-RA) were studied in autopsy material obtained from 120 men and women aged 22-72 years belonging to various constitutional types. It was found that in persons with pyknic constitution, long PLP-RA prevailed over the short one (59.4 [character: see text] 40.6%, respectively), while in asthenic constitutional type short PLP-RA was significantly more frequent (60.4 [character: see text] 39.6%, respectively). It is noted that during the procedure of radiofrequency ablation indicated in view of the atrial arrhythmias, high probability of the occurrence of concave or purse-shaped (saccular) PLP-RA in patients with asthenic constitutional type must be taken into account. This PLP-RA shape presents greatest difficulties during the course of operative treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

Phenazines and cancer.

Phenazines are a large group of natural and synthesised nitrogen-containing heterocycles, including more than 100 different compounds of natural origin and over 6000 synthetic compounds. Many of these compounds have been investigated as potential anti-cancer agents. Despite a large number of research publications, no recent attempt to summarise and critically evaluate the experimental findings relating to the anti-cancer activity of this class of compounds has been made. The present review fills this gap in the literature and discusses both natural and synthetic phenazines with a critical focus on in vitro, in vivo and available clinical anti-cancer activities of these compounds.

MULTICOMPONENT REACTIONS IN ALKALOID-BASED DRUG DISCOVERY.

Multicomponent reactions are emerging as a powerful tool in alkaloid-based drug discovery. This Highlight describes several recent (all published in 2011) examples of the employment of multicomponent reactions for the synthesis of biologically active alkaloids and their medicinally relevant analogues.

[Optimization of the biological microchip for genotyping the AB0 locus: analytical aspects].

The present work continues the search for methodological options facilitating the improvement and optimization of the biological microchip designed for genotyping the AB0 locus. It was shown in an earlier study designed to test a prototype biological microchip using a reference set of preparations with the known group specificity that under certain conditions some cells of the biochip appear to generate artifact hybridization signals that tend to make the results of genotyping either incorrect or difficult to interpret. We performed the correction of the molecular structure of DNA probes of the prototype biochip for the purpose of optimization of their hybridization potency. In addition, we developed and synthesized new DNA probes and designed new variants of the biochip. The experimental analysis of hybridization properties of all DNA probes thus obtained was carried out for the final choice of the most promising options suitable for the creation of the optimized biochip.

[Optimization of the biological microchip for genotyping of the AB0 locus: correction of DNA probes].

The objective of the present work was to search for methodological options facilitating the improvement and optimization of the biological microchip designed for genotyping of the AB0 locus. Testing a prototype biological microchip for genotyping of the AB0 locus using a reference set of preparations with the known group specificity has demonstrated that the choice of DNA probes by theoretical calculation of their thermodynamic parameters does not necessarily yields the desired practical result. Suffice it to say that under certain conditions some cells of the biochip appear to generate artifact hybridization signals that tend to make the results of genotyping either incorrect or difficult to interpret. This problem required the adjustment of the molecular structure of DNA probes for the optimization of their hybridization properties. As a result new DNA probes have been developed and synthesized and new variants of the prototype biochip constructed to be subjected to experimental verification.

[Sensorineural hearing loss: New prospects for therapy].

The authors developed a pathogenetically sound rationale for the estimation of the therapeutic efficacy of milgamma and milgamma compositum used to treat patients presenting with neurosensory loss of hearing. The results of relevant studies are presented. It is concluded that the inclusion of these preparations in the combined treatment of patients with acute and progredient forms of chronic neurosensory deafness creates conditions for the stable positive clinical effect.

[Molecular genetic investigation of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)].

Molecular genetic studies of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) are reviewed as a basis for the development of genomics of this species. The methods used to study structural and functional genomics are considered. The results and their application to increase the efficiency of sugar beet breeding are discussed.

Natural polyphenols that display anticancer properties through inhibition of kinase activity.

Over eleven hundred publications reporting anticancer activities of polyphenols have appeared in the peer-reviewed literature. In addition, a search of the PubMed database using "polyphenols - cancer - review" as keywords produced over 320 hits for review articles (July 2009). Polyphenol anticancer activities include, among others, anti-oxidative, pro-apoptotic, DNA damaging, anti-angiogenic, and immunostimulatory effects. Targeting specific protein kinases to combat cancer represents a major focus of oncology research within the so-called targeted therapy approach. An exhaustive search of the PubMed database (July 2009) using "polyphenols - cancer - kinases" as keywords resulted in more than 130 hits, half of them having been published within the past five years. Furthermore, the PubMed database contains 25 reviews on the subject of anti-kinase activity of some specific polyphenols, including mainly curcumin and the green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG). However, no attempt has been made yet to review this area of research in a comprehensive, general manner. The current review therefore aims to highlight those anticancer polyphenols that target specific kinases in various types of cancer. The present review also provides an in-depth analysis of polyphenol structure- activity relationships in relation to their anticancer activities and specific kinase targeting. Lastly, a number of polyphenols are identified as potential antitumor agents that could be used to combat biologically aggressive cancers, including metastasizing cancers, through the targeting of specific kinases.

Lycorine and its derivatives for anticancer drug design.

Amaryllidaceae alkaloids are extensively studied for their biological activities in several pharmaceutical areas, including, for example, Alzheimer's disease for which galanthamine has already reached the market. Among this chemical family, lycorine displays very promising anti-tumor properties. This review first focuses on the chemical diversity of natural and synthetic analogues of lycorine and their metabolites, and then on mechanisms of action and biological targets through which lycorine and its derivatives display their anti-tumor activity. Our analysis of the structure-activity relationships of this family of compounds highlights the existence of various potential leads for the development of novel anticancer agents.

Trans influence in a mer-octahedral triiodidolanthanide: triiodidotris(tetrahydrofuran-kappaO)ytterbium(III).

The structure of the six-coordinate title complex, [YbI(3)(C(4)H(8)O)(3)], is the first mer-octahedral form of an LnI(3)L(3) lanthanide (Ln) compound with neutral L ligands, and is closely related to that of several of the seven-coordinate LnX(3)L(4) series of compounds, where X = Cl, Br or I and L = tetrahydrofuran (THF), isopropanol, pyridine or water. A structural trans effect can be assigned to YbI(3)(THF)(3), in contrast to the LnX(3)L(4) compounds, where steric and crystal packing effects are significant. The Yb-I bond lengths are 2.9543 (4) and 2.9151 (6) A for I trans and cis to I, respectively, and the Yb-O bond lengths are 2.299 (5) and 2.251 (3) A for O trans and cis to I, respectively. The crystal packing allows for six contact distances as weak C-H...I interactions in the range 3.10-3.24 A. The title molecule has a crystallographic twofold axis passing through a THF O atom, the trans I atom and the Yb atom.

[Assessment of Moscow population health risk from exposure to ambient air suspended matter].

Ambient air pollution by suspended matter is an environmental factor that has the greatest influence on the health status of the majority of the Russian Federation's population. There is extensive epidemiological and clinical evidence suggesting that ambient air pollution by suspended matter and its fine-dispersed fractions PM10 and PM2.5 in particular, poses a serious threat to human health. The existing Russian single and average daily maximum permissible concentrations of suspended matter are not a high risk from this type of ambient air pollution and fail to assess human health damage in full measure. To reduce the concentrations of suspended matter and their action on man is currently the worldwide priority task whose performance will save much money. There is a need to change an air pollution monitoring system (continuous monitoring of fine suspended matter of PM10 and PM2.5), as well as to substantiate and introduce Russian hygienic standards for fine suspended matter (PM10 and PM2.5).

[Pediatric population's health in Moscow according to the data of sociohygienic monitoring].

Environmental pollution has a negative impact on the health status of the population, on that of children in particular. In-depth developments of primary morbidity of childhood diseases of respiratory organs as a system that is mostly exposed to ambient air pollution have indicated that respiratory diseases, including their chronic forms, are more frequently notified in the children residing in the areas characterized by high levels of air pollution. Formaldehyde and nitric dioxide, i.e. the chemical compounds the concentrations of which exceed the hygienic normal values, make the greatest contribution to risk formation. In-depth analysis of morbidity rates in the children living in the areas along which the heavy-traffic motorways pass has demonstrated that chronic respiratory diseases are more frequently registered in these children than in those residing in the areas remote from the motorways. A role of social factors influencing the increase of the so-called alimentary-dependent diseases is shown.

[Motor transport emission, ambient air quality, and the Moscow population's health].

As of 2006, the city's motor transport fleet amounted to as many as 3 million units that annually consume about 5 million tons of petrol. The use rate of all kinds of vehicles has increased, resulting in the growth of the proportion of ambient air pollutants discharged by motor transport, which surpasses the increase of the absolute size of the fleet. The contribution of traveling sources to ambient air pollution is growing steadily and it has been recently about 90% (1 million tons). Implementation of measures and developed managerial decisions, and ecological programs, improvement of Moscow town-planning measures, and environment-improving measures against motor vehicles have contributed to a reduction in chemical and physical burdens on the population. The characteristics of the capital's ambient air pollution have been recently observed to become stable and improve. There is stabilization in morbidity due to respiratory diseases in all population groups. The prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in children is on the decrease, the increase rate was 1.4% versus 33.5% in the preceding period. Assessment of carcinogenic risk showed that ambient air pollution and drinking water contamination had a negative impact on the Moscow population.

[Role of hygienic studies in Moscow residents' health support].

The Government of Moscow allocates substantial funds for the development of a sociohygienic monitoring (SGM) system and for the guidance of the population's health status monitoring in relation to environmental factors. The risk-assessing studies made jointly with the investigators of the A. N. Sysin Research Institute of Human Ecology and Environmental Hygiene, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, make it possible to determine priorities in risk control and to introduce new technologies for controlling the public health associated with the influence of social and environmental factors.