[The audiological analysis in the patients homozygous for the c.-23+1G>A mutation in the GJB2 gene presenting with the loss of hearing in Yakutiya].

In the course of previous investigations carried out in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutiya), we have identified the main molecular-genetic factor responsible for the hereditary impairment of hearing among the indigenous population (mostly the Yakuts).The disease was shown to be attributable to the c.-23+1G>A mutation localized in the splice donor site (exon 1) of the GJB2 (Cx26) gene. The present study involved the comprehensive audiological analysis of the patients homozygous for the c.-23+1G>A mutation in the GJB2 gene based on the results of the study of a large sample of the patients residing in Yakutiya. All individuals with the GJB2 genotype c.-23+1G>A/c.-23-1G>A (n=108) at the mean age of 14.32±4.7 years (all ethnic Yakuts)were examined with the use oftonal threshold audiometry for air conduction testing at the frequencies of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 kHz and bone conduction testing at the frequencies of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 4.0 with a step of 5.0 dB.The results of the ASSR test were used whenever tonal threshold audiometry proved impracticable The data obtained in the study characterize the allelic form of the disease associated with the GJB2 genotype c.-23+1G>A/c.-23-1G>A as the congenital bilateral symmetric (90.1%), sensorineural (90.1%) form of hearing impairment of variable severity (from grade 1 to complete deafness) with the «flat¼ audiological profile (median slope not more than 5.0 dB in the extended frequency range (EFR) of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0, kHz). It is concluded that the results of the audiological analysis performed in the present study give evidence of relatively homogeneous but variable in terms of severity impairment of hearing in the patients homozygous for the c.-23+1G>A mutation in the GJB2 (Cx26) gene. It may serve as a positive prognostic sign to be used in the development and prescription of hearing aids.

[Morphoecological Aspects of Preimaginal Stages of Development of the Parasitic Wasp Minotetrastichus frontalis (Nees, 1834) (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Eulophidae)].

This work is devoted to studying the morphology and biology of preimaginal stages of development of the parasitic wasp Minotetrastichus frontalis. The morphological characteristics of eggs and larvae, the features of interaction of the parasitic wasp with the host (Phyllonorycter issikii), and other biological characteristics were determined. For the species identification of the studied specimens of insects, we performed molecular genetic analysis using a nuclear 28S RNA gene fragment as a molecular marker. The result showed a strong genetic polymorphism of the populations of the studied species for the selected marker.

[Micro technologies in express diagnostics of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains].

AIM: Development of micro technologies based approach for express diagnostics of toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Corynebacterium diphtheriae 10648 (tox+) and C. diphtheriae NCTC 10356 (tox-) from Central Health Laboratory (London) reference strains were used as positive and negative controls respectively. Diagnostic kit was created by using fractions of antibodies with high avidity that were obtained by consecutive fractioning of positive antitoxic blood sera and then loaded onto polyacrylamide latex particles with the diameter of 0.81 microm. 20 Elek test positive C. diphtheriae strains and 20 tox gene PCR negative C. diphtheriae strains (i.e. non toxigenic) (Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology) were used as control. Indirect hemagglutination with anti-diphtheria antibody diagnostic kit was used as a quantitative control. PCR, Elek test and ICS test were used as quality control. RESULTS: The diagnostic kit obtained had specificity of 97%, sensitivity of 98%. Specimen preparation time is 15 - 20 minutes, reaction time - 2 - 3 minutes, and up to 93 specimens can be analyzed on a single microchip. CONCLUSION: The developed approach has high sensitivity and specificity, is easy to use, and fast in regard to preparation and reaction time. Portability of the apparatus allows the use of reagents in micro volumes.

[Semiclosed endarterectomy of the aorto-femoral segment by Vollmar loops]. / Poluzakrytaia éndarteréktomiia aortobedrennogo segmenta petliami Vollmar.

In 1996-1998 131 patients were observed who underwent semiclosed loop endarterectomy of the aorto-femoral segment by Vollmar loops. The control group consisted of 220 patients on whom the operations of uni- or bilateral aorto-femoral bypass with synthetic prostheses were made. The semiclosed loop endarterectomy was mainly fulfilled through the femoral access, the retroperitoneal access was used in 18.3% of the patients. Thus the time of operation was as short as (100 +/- 10.9) min. in mono- and (118.6 +/- 12.9) min. in bilateral reconstructions, and blood loss in typical cases was not more than (327 +/- 24.1) ml. The operation of semiclosed loop endarterectomy gave a high level of patency to the reconstructed aorto-femoral segment. The primary 5-year patency of the iliac arteries was 91.86%, the cumulative one--93.87%. Such parameters for shunting operations were lower: 75.4 and 81.63% respectively (p < 0.05).

The high-energy heavy-particle fluences in the orbits of manned space stations.

The results are presented of measurements high-energy particles in a customary manned space station orbit (a 350-450-km altitude, a 51.6 degrees inclination; Salyut-6 and 7, MIR). The particles were recorded by the chambers composed of the Lavsan (polyethyleneterephtalate) solid-state nuclear track detector layers mounted outside a spacecraft for 1-3 years. A high resolution has been attained in the charge and energy spectra of 30-200 MeV/n Fe group particles. The results of measuring the particle fluxes in the space station orbits are used to restore the initial particle energy spectra in terms of the models that describe the galactic and solar cosmic rays and their penetration to the Earth's magnetosphere. The analysis demonstrates a high effectiveness of the described methods when applied to quite a number of space physics problems.

[Erythrocyte equidistance and heavy metals in the pathogenesis of disseminated intravascular coagulation in myocardial infarct patients at the hospital rehabilitation stage]. / Ekvidistantnost' éritrotsitov i tiazhelye metally v patogeneze disseminirovannogo vnutrisosudistogo svertyvaniia krovi u bol'nykh infarktom miokarda na étape bol'nichnoi reabilitatsii.

Blood levels of fibrin degradation products and free haemoglobin were studied in 108 inpatients with acute transmural myocardial infarction in the period of rehabilitation. At the same time contents of cadmium, vanadium, lead and nickel in blood cells and plasma were determined spectrographically. It was established that heavy metals take part in activation of blood clotting and haemolysis which decrease equidistance and accelerates sedimentation of erythrocytes.

[The detection of preventive hypofibronectinemia in diagnosing the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with myocardial infarction at the hospital rehabilitation stage]. / Vyiavlenie preventivnoi gipofibronektinemii v diagnostike razvitiia sindroma disseminirovannogo vnutrisosudistogo svertyvaniia krovi u bol'nykh infarktom miokarda na étape bol'nichnoi reabilitatsii.

Postmyocardial infarction patients on hospital rehabilitation in case of no complications were examined for time course changes in the levels of fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), free hemoglobin (fHg) and fibronectin (Fn) using enzyme immunoassay. As shown by FDP and fHg values, the patients had DIC syndrome with its maximum on observation days 6-12 and 22-24. Fn fall occurred on the disease day 2-4 preceding maximum hemostasis activation up to 6-12th day. Less marked Fn reduction on the disease day 15-17 predicted a rise in hemocoagulation on day 22-24. It is recommended to determine FDP, fHg and Fn levels in blood of postmyocardial infarction patients to detect DIC syndrome and prevent hemostasis activation.

[The content of ceruloplasmin, fibronectin and selenium in the blood of patients with an acute myocardial infarct]. / Soderzhanie tseruloplazmina, fibronektina i selena v krovi bol'nykh ostrym infarktom miokarda.

The content of ceruloplasmin, fibronectin and selenium was evaluated in the blood plasma of acute myocardial infarction patients within the first three days after onset if the disease. Results showed a reduction of fibronectin during the first hours after onset of the disease. The content of ceruloplasmin was increased, selenium reduced during the entire period of examination indicating pronounced disturbances of lipid peroxidation in the acute period of myocardial infarction as well as potentiation of antioxidant processes.

[Myoglobin and nickel in the blood of patients in the acute period of myocardial infarct]. / Mioglobin i nikel' v krovi bol'nykh v ostrom periode infarkta miokarda.

The content of blood nickel and myoglobin was studied in 25 patients with macrofocal and transmural myocardial infarction during the acute stage. It was established that acute myocardial infarction results in an increase of the content of nickel and myoglobin in the blood of these patients. The diagnostic importance of these examinations is discussed.

[Fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products in the blood of acute myocardial infarct patients at the hospital rehabilitation stage]. / Produkty degradatsii fibrinogena i fibrina v krovi bol'nykh ostrym infarktom miokarda na étape bol'nichnoi reabilitatsii.

An enzyme immunoassay was used for a study of the time course of the content of fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and free hemoglobin (fHg) in the blood of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during uncomplicated hospital rehabilitation. A considerable increase in the levels of FDP in the blood serum and fHg in the blood plasma of the AMI patients were noted. These levels were particularly high on the 6-12th day of rehabilitation with further fluctuations on the 22-24th day from the beginning of disease resulting from an increase of the patients' motor activity during rehabilitation which might cause the depletion of endothelial reserves of fibrinolysis activators and an increase in thrombinemia, however changes in the content of FDP and fHg in the blood were more likely associated with DIC-syndrome inherent fluctuations in the system of hemostasis. The content of FDP and fHg in the blood of AMI patients was recommended to be used as a marker of DIC-syndrome and assessment of corrective therapy.

[Solid-phase immunoenzyme method of determining myoglobin in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction]. / Tverdofaznyi immunofermentnyi metod opredeleniia mioglobina v diagnostike ostrogo infarkta miokarda.

A solid-phase immunoassay was developed for quantitative estimation of myoglobin in human biological fluids. This technique was used for analyses of blood serum and plasma from patients with acute myocardium infarction. The method developed was similar to radioimmunoassay by its diagnostic characteristics but more simple and available. The immunoassay might be used in diagnosis of myocardium infarction as well as in estimation of the disease severity at least in clinics.

[Determining myoglobinemia in acute myocardial infarction by the immunoenzyme method]. / Opredelenie mioglobinemii pri ostrom infarkte miokarda immunofermentnym metodom.

Like radioimmunoassay, immunoenzyme assay permits detecting myoglobinemia both in healthy persons and in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In AMI patients, myoglobinemia reaches a maximum 5 to 12 hours since the onset of a powerful anginal attack whereupon it gradually and spasmodically decreases, without returning to normal toward outcome of the 3d day of the observation period. A single assay of myoglobinemia in AMI patients is of diagnostic importance within 2 to 27 hours since the disease onset.