[Participation of Sphingolipids in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis].

Lipid metabolism disorders are the most significant risk factor of development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In the process of diagnosing ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular pathologies, levels of total cholesterol, low- and high- density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides are determined. However, in recent years, close attention has been paid to the intersection of the metabolic pathways of the biosynthesis of cholesterol and sphingolipids. Sphingolipids - a group of lipids, which include a molecule of aliphatic alcohol sphingosine. This group includes sphingomyelins, cerebrosides, gangliosides and ceramides, sphingosines and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1-P). Ceramides and sphingosines have pro-apoptotic properties, and S-1-P protects cells from apoptosis. Particular attention as inducer CVD attracts ceramide. It has been established that aggregated lipoproteins isolated from atherosclerotic zones are enriched with ceramides. The level of ceramide and sphingosine increases with ischemia/reperfusion of the heart, in the infarction zone and in the blood, and also in hypertensive disease. S-1-P has a pronounced cardioprotective properties. Its content sharply decreases with ischemia and myocardial infarction. S-1-P performs a special function in the structure of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), being one of the main lipid components of these lipoproteins, which determines their multiple functions. Recently, work has been underway to create drugs that can correct the metabolism of S-1-P. The most successful drugs are those that use the S-1-P receptor as a target, since all of its actions are carried out through receptors. Increasing ceramide and sphingosine and reducing blood plasma level of S-1-P can be an important factor in the development of atherosclerosis. It is proposed to use the determination of the level of sphingolipids in blood plasma for early diagnosis of cardiac ischemia and in arterial hypertension. Chromatography-mass spectrometry has been suggested as the main method for testing these lipids.

Heterodyne quasi-elastic light-scattering instrument for biomedical diagnostics.

The heterodyne technique has a number of advantages over the homodyne technique when an accurate characterization of particle-size distribution (PSD) of heterogeneous systems is required. However, there are problems related to acoustic vibrations that make it difficult to take advantage of the heterodyne technique. An instrument developed for quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) that uses the optical heterodyning principle is described. Vibration-related problems are considerably reduced because of the incorporation of all optical elements into one solid optical block. A real-time correlation analysis of the photocurrent fluctuations is performed by a PC-embedded analog-to-digital converter card with a digital signal processor. Investigation of the PSD in biological fluids for medical diagnostics is presented as a typical application. A diagnostic analysis of the PSD requires a simultaneous processing of a huge number of QELS data. An original statistical algorithm to accomplish this analysis has been developed. Technical specifications of instrumentation for heterodyne QELS measurement are discussed.

[The differential possibilities of the laser correlational spectroscopic method in the diagnosis of different pathological processes encountered among the population of the Urals radiation trace]. / Differentsiatsial'nye vozmozhnosti metoda LKS pri diagnostike ralichnykh patologicheskikh protsessov, vstrechaemykh sredi naseleniia Ural'skogo radiatsionnogo sleda.

The satisfied differential distinctions between diseases (7 nosological groups) observed in population of so-called Ural radiation trace are established using laser correlation spectroscopy (LCS). Unsatisfied differentiation (less then 65%) was observed between cancer and pre-cancer diseases relative to gastric, bronchial and exchange pathologies. The most significant distinctions are established for autoimmune pathologies and osteochondroses and for cancer and pre-cancer differentiation. Marked differentiation degree is less than that earlier registered between the same pathologies in regions, where radiation level was normal. On the base of the measurements is planned to study the dose effect of pathology radiomodification.

[The subfractional composition of the blood plasma in benign tumors and cancer of the breast based on the data from laser correlational spectroscopy]. / Subfraktsionnyi sostav plazmy krovi pri dobrokachestvennykh opukholiakh i rake molochnoi zhelezy po dannym lazernoi korreliatsionnoi spektroskopii.

LCS was performed in 35 patients with mammary cancer, 59 patients with benign breast tumours and 35 healthy people. 39 samples were taken from inhabitants of Odessa, 89 from St.-Petersburg. Differences were discovered between blood plasma spectra of Odessa and St.-Petersburg residents. Spectra of blood plasma in patients with mammary tumours differed from those of healthy people. LCS may be used for screening, for forming the groups of risk and for diagnosis of mammary gland tumours.

[Laser correlation spectroscopy of the blood serum--a new approach to the identification of groups at risk for specific diseases and poisonings in areas of ecological anomalies]. / Lazernaia korreliatsionnaia spektroskopiia syvorotki krovi--novyi podkhod k identifikatsii grupp riska po otdel'nym zabolevaniiam i intoksikatsiiam v zonakh ékologicheskikh anomalii.

The technique methodology of nuclear correction spectroscopy are proposed to solve the tasks of mass medico-biological examinations. From the analysis of 2500 LCS-spectra of blood serum of donors, from various nosologic groups, it is concluded that the LCS method permits to identify risk groups with respect to certain diseases and intoxications, as well as to study pathological processes and to prognosticate the efficacy of the therapeutic measures used.

[The production and characteristics of liposomes bearing interferon antibodies on their surfaces]. / Poluchenie i kharakteristika liposom, nesushchikh na svoei poverkhnosti antitela k interferonu.

Liposomes carrying anti-interferon antibodies 5A6 on their surface were prepared from the mixture of lecithin and cholesterol. The binding of antibodies with the liposomal membrane was achieved by their modification with palmitic acid molecules in an amount of 3-4 molecules per vesicle. Antibodies on the liposomal surface were shown to retain their antigenic specificity, but the amount of the antigen bound by them was less than a half of the possible maximum amount. Double immune complexes could be formed on bound antibodies, but the number of such complexes was relatively small. The causes of a decrease in the sorption of interferon and the formation of immune complexes are discussed.