PENELOPE-LIKE RETROTRANSPOSONS IN THE GENOME OF ASIAN BLOOD FLUKE SCHISTOSOMA JAPONICUM (TREMATODA: SCHISTOSOMATIDAE).

Mobile genetic elements (in particular, retrotransposons) constitute a considerable part of eukaryotic genomes. These elements are one of the main sources of variability and instability. Although mobile genetic elements had been discovered more than 60 years ago, certain classes of these elements, such as Penelope-like elements (PLE) remain insufficiently understood. In this work, the results of in silico research into PLE of the S. japonicum genome (one of the most important human parasites from the epidemiological viewpoint) are presented. A new estimate of PLE in the S. japonicum genome was made. It was shown that their high heterogeneity presumably reflects several transposition events. Two groups of canonical PLE copies differing by the amino sequence in the domains RT and EN were found to be present in the Schistosoma genome. The data on the representation, structural features, and possible functional load and evolution of Penelope-like retroelements of the parasite are discussed.

THE CONCENTRATION OF ACETYLCHOLINE AND THE LEVEL CHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY IN THE SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC ULCER, DUODENAL ULCER AND ALCOHOLIC CHRONIC PANCREATITIS.

INTRODUCTION: There are a lot of pathogenic factors involved in development of polyetiologic diseases. Acetylcholine is known as first-order mediator and plays important role in development and maintenance of pathological processes. In this article we provide data on concentration of acetylcholine (Ah) in blood serum of patients with stomach ulcer (SU), duodenal ulcer (DU), alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP) and control group.as well as activity of cholinesterase (Che). The aim of this study was to identify a role played by Ah in pathological process during a disease, that may complicate a course of the disease as poor prognostic factor. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We found that there are significant differences in Ah concentration and Che activity between SU, DU, ACP and control. In control group we divide concentration of Ah into three groups: low - 0.46 to 1.0 mlMol/l (60% of individuals), moderate - mlMol 02-1,5/I (30%) and high - more than 1.5 Ah mlMol/I (10%). CONCLUSION: We suppose that Che activity and Ah concentration depend on localization of pathological process. It is possible that there are hidden differences in Ah concentration and Che activity between GU and DU.

Structural and Population Polymorphism of RT-Like Sequences in Avian Schistosomes Trichobilharzia szidati (Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Schistosomatidae).

Recently we developed the genus-specific markers of the avian schistosomes of the genus Trichobilharzia, the causative agents of human cercarial dermatitis. The 7 novel genome sequences of T. franki, T. regenti, and T. szidati revealed similarity with genome repeat region of African schistosome Schistosoma mansoni. In the present work we analyzed the 37 new T. szidati sequences to study intragenome variability and host specificity for the parasite from three localities of East Europe. DNAs were isolated from cercariae or single sporocysts obtained from 6 lymnaeid snails Lymnaea stagnalis and L. palustris from Belarus and Russia. All sequences formed three diverged groups, one of which consists of the sequences with multiple deletions; other groups involved two paralogous copies with stop codons and frameshift mutations. Strong association between geographical distribution and snail host specificity cannot be established. All studied sequences have homology with the reverse transcriptase domain (RT) of Penelope-like elements (PLE) of S. mansoni and S. japonicum and new members of RT family were identified. We proposed that three diverged groups RT sequences of T. szidati are results of duplication or transposition of PLE during parasite evolution. Implications of the retroelement dynamics in the life history of avian schistosomes are discussed.

[Transcranial magneto- and electrostimulation in patients with obesity and erectile dysfunction].

The objective of the present study was to evaluate therapeutic efficiency of transcranial magnetotherapy (TcMT) and electric stimulation (ES) included in the combined treatment of 143 patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and abdominal obesity. The majority of the patients had waist circumference over 102 cm. An AMO-ATOS complex was used to stimulate the hypothalamic region and other brain structures. Transdermal myostimulation of the abdominal and femoral regions was achieved with a Miovolna device. It was shown that both TcM and ES improved lipid metabolism and erectile function; moreover, they exerted hypotensive and sedative action. Specifically, the testosterone level in the patients increased by a mean of 27% compared with the pre-treatment values while the number of patients complaining of erectile dysfunction decreased by 31%.