The GWAS-MAP|ovis platform for aggregation and analysis of genome-wide association study results in sheep.

In recent years, the number of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) carried out for various economically important animal traits has been increasing. GWAS discoveries provide summary statistics that can be used both for targeted marker-oriented selection and for studying the genetic control of economically important traits of farm animals. In contrast to research in human genetics, GWAS on farm animals often does not meet generally accepted standards (availability of information about effect and reference alleles, the size and direction of the effect, etc.). This greatly complicates the use of GWAS results for breeding needs. Within the framework of human genetics, there are several technological solutions for researching the harmonized results of GWAS, including one of the largest, the GWAS-MAP platform. For other types of living organisms, including economically important agricultural animals, there are no similar solutions. To our knowledge, no similar solution has been proposed to date for any of the species of economically important animals. As part of this work, we focused on creating a platform similar to GWAS-MAP for working with the results of GWAS of sheep, since sheep breeding is one of the most important branches of agriculture. By analogy with the GWAS-MAP platform for storing, unifying and analyzing human GWAS, we have created the GWAS-MAP|ovis platform. The platform currently contains information on more than 34 million associations between genomic sequence variants and traits of meat production in sheep. The platform can also be used to conduct colocalization analysis, a method that allows one to determine whether the association of a particular locus with two different traits is the result of pleiotropy or whether these traits are associated with different variants that are in linkage disequilibrium. This platform will be useful for breeders to select promising markers for breeding, as well as to obtain information for the introduction of genomic breeding and for scientists to replicate the results obtained.

Negative heterosis for meiotic recombination rate in spermatocytes of the domestic chicken Gallus gallus.

Benef its and costs of meiotic recombination are a matter of discussion. Because recombination breaks allele combinations already tested by natural selection and generates new ones of unpredictable f itness, a high recombination rate is generally benef icial for the populations living in a f luctuating or a rapidly changing environment and costly in a stable environment. Besides genetic benef its and costs, there are cytological effects of recombination, both positive and negative. Recombination is necessary for chromosome synapsis and segregation. However, it involves a massive generation of double-strand DNA breaks, erroneous repair of which may lead to germ cell death or various mutations and chromosome rearrangements. Thus, the benef its of recombination (generation of new allele combinations) would prevail over its costs (occurrence of deleterious mutations) as long as the population remains suff iciently heterogeneous. Using immunolocalization of MLH1, a mismatch repair protein, at the synaptonemal complexes, we examined the number and distribution of recombination nodules in spermatocytes of two chicken breeds with high (Pervomai) and low (Russian Crested) recombination rates and their F1 hybrids and backcrosses. We detected negative heterosis for recombination rate in the F1 hybrids. Backcrosses to the Pervomai breed were rather homogenous and showed an intermediate recombination rate. The differences in overall recombination rate between the breeds, hybrids and backcrosses were mainly determined by the differences in the crossing over number in the seven largest macrochromosomes. The decrease in recombination rate in F1 is probably determined by diff iculties in homology matching between the DNA sequences of genetically divergent breeds. The suppression of recombination in the hybrids may impede gene f low between parapatric populations and therefore accelerate their genetic divergence.

Cryopreservation effect on proliferation and differentiation potential of cultured chorion cells.

BACKGROUND: Fetoplacental tissues including the early chorion contain stem cells with various morphological and functional characteristics. Cultured chorionic cells may be used in perspective therapies of different pathologies. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of cryopreservation on proliferation and differentiation potential of chorion cell culture (ChCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five freezing programs for ChCC were compared: Program 1, cooling from 25 degrees C down to -30 degrees C at 0.5 degrees C/min; Program 2, cooling from 25 degrees C down to -30 degrees C at 1 degrees C/min; Program 3, cooling from 25 degrees C down to -10 degrees C at 1 degrees C/min with further cooling down to - 80 degrees C at 10 degrees C/min; Program 4, cooling from 25 degrees C down to -5 degrees C at 1 degrees C/min with further cooling down to -80 degrees C at 10 degrees C/min; Program 5, cooling from 25 degrees C down to -6 degrees C at 1 degrees C/min with further crystal seeding by adding the surplus nitrogen into the chamber, and cooling down to -80 degrees C at 10 degrees C/min. Viability, adhesion, proliferation and directed differentiation were examined. RESULTS: Freezing program 5 achieved the best result, with the highest viability, adhesion, proliferation and directed differentiation. CONCLUSION: The data may help establishing better cryopreservation protocols for perspective chorionic cell lines and their further application in biotechnology.

Effects of millimeter-wave electromagnetic exposure on the morphology and function of human cryopreserved spermatozoa.

Exposure of human cryopreserved spermatozoa to millimeter-wave electromagnetic radiation of 0.03 mW/cm2 density for 5 min in normozoospermia and for 15 min in asthenozoospermia lead to increase of the fraction of mobile spermatozoa without impairing the membrane integrity and nuclear chromatin status and without apoptosis generation.

[The combined application of thermography and local thermometry for diagnostics, prognostication, modeling, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment of acute sinusitis].

The objective of the present work was to study the possibilities of the combined application of thermography and local thermometry for diagnostics of acute sinusitis, characteristic of dynamics of the clinical course of this pathology, and evaluation of the effectiveness of its treatment. The study included 23 patients presenting with acute rhinosinusitis and 21 ones free from pathology of paranasal sinuses. Contact thermometry was performed with the use of the electronic thermometer applied to the anterior surface of the inferior turbinated bone. An infrared thermovision camera was employed to carry out thermographic measurements. The study demonstrated variations in endonasal and surface temperature under effect of the treatment. Positive dynamics of the patients' conditions was manifested as a drop of endonasal temperature and relatively constant surface temperature. A rise in the surface temperature was associated with the pathological process. In the patients showing slightly positive dynamics of the disease, the surface temperature on the side of the pathological process was lower than on the unaffected side. This difference was interpreted as an indication of the reduced microcirculatory activity in this region. It was hypothesized that dynamics of the inflammatory process is to a large extent determined by the character of blood circulation in the affected region. The authors conclude that the combined application of thermometry and thermography not only improves the quality of diagnostics of acute rhinosinusitis but also facilitates the evaluation of its dynamics and the effectiveness of the treatment.

The use of catalytic carbon deposits as 3D carriers for human bone marrow stromal cells.

We studied the possibility of using 3D structures based on carbon catalytic deposits as carriers for human bone marrow stromal cells. It was found that carbon catalytic deposits obtained by gas deposition method using FeCl(3) × 6H(2)O as the catalyst are a biocompatible material for human bone marrow stromal cells promoting adhesion, proliferation, and distribution of cells within the 3D carrier, and therefore can be used for tissue engineering.

[Neurological deficit following cortical stroke in rats with functional hemispheric asymmetry].

We evaluated the effect of "sidedness" of focal stroke induced by pial blood vessel devascularization in sensorimotor cortex of right or left hemisphere on neurological deficit in rats. Animals were preliminary examined for paw preference (hemispheric "dominance") by means of food reaching test. Data of cylinder-test, vibrissae-elicited forelimb placing test and swimming task (forepaw inhibition test) were assessed to monitor functional deficit weekly for 8 weeks after stroke. No difference between rats with right or left cortical damage was observed during the experiment. Rats with ischemia in "dominant" hemisphere performed significantly better than those with "nondominant" hemisphere lesion. The revealed effect of functional brain asymmetry on the neurological rehabilitation after stroke should be considered in design of preclinical investigation of new therapeutic approaches to stroke.

[Interaction of signal cascades induced by cAMP and prolactin in bovine oocyte-cumulus complexes].

Prolactin (PRL) is one of the pituitary hormones participating in the control of mammalian folliculo- and oogenesis. In the present study, the joint effect of PRL (50 ng/ml) and dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP, 1 mM) on oocyte maturation and the morphologic-functional state of surrounding cumulus cells was investigated in vitro. It has been shown that PRL totally suppresses the braking impact of dbcAMP on meiosis reinitiation and the completion of oocyte nuclear maturation. Furthermore, PRL partly inhibited cumulus expansion induced by dbcAMP, although it exerted the opposite effect in the control medium. In the presence of PRL, the inhibitory impact of dbcAMP on the proliferative activity of cumulus cells and on the PRL-elicited braking of destructive processes in the cells has been found. In cumulus cells, mRNA expression of PRL receptor long isoform was revealed by the RT-PCR method. The data obtained suggest an interaction of signal cascades induced by PRL and cAMP in bovine oocyte-cumulus complexes, with the coupling site of these cascades in oocytes being apparently different from that in cumulus cells.

[Osteogenic and adipogenic capacity of fibroblast-like progenitor cells derived frow human fetal liver].

The study of differentiation potential of multiponent stromal progenitor cells (PCs) in embryogenesis is a crucial issue for understanding their biology and role in tissue regeneration of an adult organism. In this study in monolayer culture there were investigated osteogenic and adipogenic capacities of fibroblast-like PCs derived from human fetal liver of 8-11 gestation weeks before and after exposure to cryoprotectant dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). It was shown that the primary suspension of human fetal liver cells included immature stromal fibroblast-like PCs which were able to be induced into osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. A short-time exposure of freshly isolated human fetal liver cells to cryoprotectant DMSO led to altering properties of the fibroblast-like PCs. Under subculture conditions, it was found an increase in the number of fibroblast-like PCs which were able to be induced to osteogenic differentiation in vitro. The established fact of DMSO influence on the differentiation capacity of fetal fibroblast-like PCs is necessary to take into consideration while developing cryopreservation methods for stem cells.

Growth and adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal bone marrow cells during culturing in 3D macroporous agarose cryogel sponges.

We studied the possibility of population of macroporous agarose cryogel sponges by mesenchymal stromal bone marrow cells with their subsequent adipogenic differentiation. After 7-day culturing of mesenchymal stromal cells in agarose cryogel, the level of cell proliferation was 35%. After 3-week culturing in a medium inducing adipogenesis we observed accumulation of intracellular neutral lipids positively stained with Oil Red O. These findings can be used for the development of bioengineering constructions of the adipose tissue on the basis of spongy carriers.

[Retroviral-mediated gene transfer as an effective tool for the in vitro genetic transformation of chicken embryonic cells and production of transgenic chickens].

The data on the in vitro and in vivo (into embryonic disk) retroviral-mediated transfer of genetic information into chicken embryonic cells are presented. The estimated transformation frequency of the cultured target cells constituted 8 x 10(-4) to 5 x 10(-3). A transgenic rooster, carrying recombinant DNA in blood, heart, liver, and intestine cells, was obtained.

[Experimental base for use of low-mineral water with a high concentration of organic substances in balneological practice].

Experimental evidence on stability of chemical composition (1991-2004), toxic and skin-irritating, mitotic and mutagenic, bacterio- and fungostatic actions of low-mineral water "Salekhard" with a high concentration of organic substances justifies initiation of clinical trials of therapeutic effects of this novel balneological factor in different diseases (locomotor, nervous, cardiovascular, cutaneous, etc.).

[The normoxic therapeutic compression effect on microcirculation in acute stroke].

The study evaluates efficacy of two hyperbaric therapeutic regimes--1,-51,1 atm and 1,2 atm in patients with an acute ischemic stroke. Acid-base equilibrium dynamics of capillary and venous blood, whole blood and plasma, platelet aggregation and lipid peroxidation were investigated. An analysis of the data revealed that, comparing to the conventional method, barotherapy in stroke is accompanied by a marked therapeutic effect. Barotherapy or normoxic therapeutic compression is principally different from other methods of oxygen therapy, because it is not resultant in blood plasma hyperoxygenation and in lipid peroxidation augmenting. Activation of tissue respiration in barotherapy accompanied by normalization of lipid peroxidation process and CO2 resources restoration leads to renewal of MKT microcirculation and autoregulation, thus providing a stable therapeutic effect of the method in brain ischemia.

[The state and aims of physician continuing education in the field of nutrition hygiene]. / Sostoianie i zadachi poslediplomnoi podgotovki vrachei po gigiene pitaniia.

In article clause the brief characteristic of a condition post-diploma of preparation of the doctors on hygiene of feed now is given and the tasks are put in field of their training in the future.

[Hygienic evaluation of actual nutrition and health status of sales personnel in the city of Artem]. / Gigienicheskaia otsenka fakticheskogo pitaniia i sostoianiia zdorov'ia rabotnikov torgovli g. Artema.

Actual nutrition of saleswomen was studied in the town of Artem (Primorye territory), characterized by unfavorable demographic values. Fifty-two women aged 30-39 years were examined, all of them living in the region for at least 3 years and engaged in foodstuff sales for more than 3 years. Their nutrition was studied by 24-hour reproduction of nutrition. In addition, nutrition regimen, food preferences were evaluated and alimentary-dependent diseases were detected. The study revealed an imbalance in the nutrition structure, with low consumption of meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, vegetable oil and high consumption of sugar, potato, and bread. The consumption of the main nutrients and micronutrients was insufficient, energy value of food was low, and meals hours irregular.