Apolipoprotein A-I Stimulates Cell Proliferation in Bone Marrow Cell Culture.

Culturing of bone marrow cells in serum-free RPMI-1640 medium led to a decrease in the rate of DNA biosynthesis. Addition of HDL or their main protein component apolipoprotein A-I to the culture medium dose-dependently increased the rate of [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA. The maximum stimulation was achieved at HDL concentration of 80 µg/ml and apolipoprotein A-I concentration of 20 µg/ml. To identify the target-cells of apolipoprotein A-I, we used thymidine analogue 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) that incorporates into cell DNA at the stage of replicative DNA synthesis (S phase) and can be detected by fluorescence microscopy. In bone marrow cell culture, apolipoprotein A-I stimulates the proliferation of monocyte (monoblasts, promonocytes) and granulocyte (myeloblasts, promyelocytes) progenitor cells, as well as bone marrow stromal cells.

Effect of Native and Modified Apolipoprotein A-I on DNA Synthesis in Cultures of Different Cells.

Culturing of bone marrow cells in serum-free RPMI-1640 medium for 24 h was accompanied by a decrease in the rate of [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA. Addition of native apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) or plasma LDL and HDL to the culture medium increased this parameter. In contrast to native apoA-I, its modified form decelerated DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells. A similar inhibitory effect of modified protein was observed in cultures of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) and in rapidly proliferating mouse macrophage cell line ANA-1. The only exclusion was human myeloid cell line U937: neither native nor modified apoA-I affected DNA synthesis in these cells. Thus, the regulatory effects of apoA-I are tissue-specific; this protein can produce either stimulatory or inhibitory effect on DNA biosynthesis in cells depending on its conformation.

[Acid-base state of blood in pregnant rats after application of lead acetate].

It was shown that the increase of lead content in the blood, liver, placenta of female rats, rat embryo and embryo's liver (by 80.4; 30.9; 26.8; 18.2 and 22.7%, respectively) of rats poisoned by lead causes pH decrease in blood, reduction of HCO3- concentration, content of general CO2, level of pCO2 and pO2, that evidences for development of subcompensated metabolic acidosis. It was determined, that the poisoning of pregnant rats causes deep metabolic acidosis and hypoxia in their organisms that can result in the prenatal death of fetus.

Electrical injury through the eyes of professional electricians.

This paper presents the first results of an attitudinal survey that was conducted among professional electricians in order to explore their knowledge and beliefs related to occupational electrical injury. Four hundred eighty-one out of 1200 questionnaires were returned and analyzed. The presented statistical and qualitative data reflect electricians' personal experiences with electrical injury, their communication patterns around electrical trauma, their understanding of possible electrical injury sequelae, their safety beliefs and attitudes towards occupational dangers, and the reasons for their occupational choice. We expect that the results of this study will enhance our understanding of the psychological profile, environment, and culture of electrical workers. The collected data may also help to identify those at risk for poor outcome after electrical injury and determine a new set of risk factors to be taken into account by medical professionals, social workers, and union/utility training officers.

Life after electrical injury. Risk factors for psychiatric sequelae.

Long-term cognitive and emotional deficits have been commonly reported in electrical injury (EI) survivors. However, it remains undetermined what factors may lead to the development of such effects in some patients and not in others. In this study, we hypothesized that certain elements of subjective EI experience may predict specific psychiatric sequelae. A group of 73 post-acute EI patients were included in this retrospective study. Statistical associations were examined between major psychiatric diagnoses (posttraumatic stress disorder and major depression) and such EI descriptors as having experienced "no-let-go" or having been knocked away on contact, as well as loss of consciousness or altered states of consciousness at the scene of the accident (including amnesia for the event). The study results will help physicians determine which patients may be at increased risk of developing psychiatric symptoms and address these issues as part of their total rehabilitation plan.