Neutral Endopeptidase (Neprilysin) in Therapy and Diagnostics: Yin and Yang.

Neprilysin (NEP) is a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase that exists in organisms in both transmembrane and soluble forms. NEP substrates are involved in regulating the cardiovascular and nervous systems. In this review, we discuss some of the biochemical characteristics and physiological functions of this enzyme with special emphasis on the use of NEP as a therapeutic target. The history and various physiological aspects of applying NEP inhibitors for treating heart failure and attempts to increase NEP activity when treating Alzheimer's disease using gene and cell therapies are described. Another important issue discussed is the role of NEP as a potential marker for predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease complications. The diagnostic and prognostic performance of soluble NEP in various types of heart failure is analyzed and presented. We also discuss the methods and approaches for measuring NEP activity for prognosis and diagnosis, as well as a possible new role of natriuretic peptides (NEP substrates) in cardiovascular diagnostics.

[Cytogenetic aberrations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in acute Lyme-borreliosis patients].

It is known that among biological mutagenic factors the cytogenetic aberrations can be induced by not only intracellular parasites like viruses, but also some extracellular infectious agents including bacteria, protozoas and helminthes. The object of this work was to study the cytogenetic status of acute Lyme borreliosis patients. It was found that the acute Lyme borreliosis patients as compared with the control group showed significantly higher frequencies of lymphocytes with chromosome instability in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures. Chromosome instability included the aneugenic type like polyploidy, hypoploidy or endoreduplication as well as the clastogenic type like chromatid and chromosomal breaks. In addition, high chromosome abnormality frequencies in the patients' cultures were associated with an increase in elimination of the abnormal cells by apoptosis.

Fluctuations of persistent current.

We theoretically analyze equilibrium fluctuations of the persistent current (PC) in nanorings. We demonstrate that these fluctuations persist down to zero temperature provided the current operator does not commute with the total Hamiltonian of the system. For a model of a quantum particle on a ring we explicitly evaluate PC noise power which has the form of sharp peaks at frequencies set by the corresponding interlevel distances. In rings with many conducting channels, a much smoother and broader PC noise spectrum is expected. A specific feature of PC noise is that its spectrum can be tuned by an external magnetic flux indicating the presence of quantum coherence in the system.

[Therapeutic effect of mineral water of the Belokurikha spa resort on the level of antinuclear antibodies and chromosomal aberrations in synovial cells of patients with osteoarthrosis].

The objective of this study was chromosomal analysis and measurement of anti-nuclear antibody level in synovial cells of 28 patients aged between 35 and 50 years with knee joint osteoarthrosis before and after radon therapy at an equivalent doe of 280 mSv per treatment course. It was shown that the presence of osteoarthrosis was associated with a rise in the number of synoviocytes characterized by cytogenetic defects in the form of various chromosomal aberrations the frequency of which positively correlated with the number of anti-nuclear antibodies. Radon therapy brought about a decreases in the titers of antinuclear antibodies in synovial cells and the number of chromosomal aberrations in their nuclear apparatus. These changes were accompanied by the enhancement of mitotic activity of synoviocytes, stimulation of protein synthesis in these cells, and activation of proliferative processes in the synovial medium of the joints.

[Portable personal staircase elevator Vektor].

The multipurpose electric staircase elevator Vektor has an original design. The elevator is intended to help persons with motor disabilities to move up and down stairs (with an assistant's help). The elevator construction is simplified, and its cost-performance ratio is improved. The elevator provides high maneuverability, stability and smoothness of motion up and down stairways of various types. In the process of development of the elevator, special attention was paid to designing a special electromechanical high-torque drive for elevation and a damping device providing smooth downward motion and curb climbing.

[An electric exercycle for rehabilitation of patients with movement disorders].

The design, construction, performance, and results of clinical testing of an electric exercycle are described. Medical recommendations for its use are given. The electric exercycle is based on electric motor and mechanical gearbox. It has adjustable velocity and load characteristics and provides monitoring of motion parameters and safety monitoring. The electric exercycle is intended for training, rehabilitation, and maintenance of functional capabilities of lower extremities in patients with complete or partial immobilization of lower extremities.

[Diagnosis of chronic duodenal obstruction].

Arteriomesenterial compression (AMC) of a low-horizontal part of the duodenum is one of the causes of chronic duodenal obstruction (CDO). The degree of compression of this part of the duodenum was studied in 82 patients with CDO. It was revealed that distance between the aorta and superior mesenterial artery (SMA) on the level of low-horizontal part of the duodenum was less than 20 mm in the majority of cases. When this distance is 20 mm or less the duodenum is compressed by SMA and looks like sand-glass. If the distance between the aorta and SMA is 10 mm and less, delay of contrast in the middle third of a low-horizontal part of the duodenum during roentgenography is an obligate symptom. In AMC 10-20 mm this phenomenon is diagnosed less frequently. In AMC 20 mm and less endoscopy demonstrates symptoms of CDO in the majority of cases. There were no intraoperative subjective symptoms of AMC.

[Second-generation self-moving wheelchairs: conception and prospects of production]. / Samokhodnye invalidnye kresla-koliaski vtorogo pokoleniia: kontseptsiia i perspektivy proizvodstva.

The paper proposes a conception of designing the self-moving wheeled chairs that meet the present-day consumers' requirements and corresponds to the up-to-date medical and transport building facilities. The conception mainly involves their electrification requirements, maximum maneuverability, good moving capacities, including self-climbing up and down stairs. The system of decision making and recommended modes for the wheeled chairs to move is designed up to the world novelty standards and can be manufactured both in Russia and foreign countries.

[Factor and cluster analysis on the study of mimetic communication in monkeys]. / Primenenie faktornogo i klasternogo analizov v izuchenii mimicheskoi kommunikatsii obez'ian.

The mimics elements, typical mimic complexes and frequency of mimics display in different behavioral contexts in representatives of 10 species of monkeys and apes have been investigated. The methods of factor and cluster analyses have been applied to reveal a connection between mimics and phylogenetical level of the species. A dendrogram of interspecies relationships is presented. The type of species social structure is one of the main factors in mimic communication development.