[Evolution of succulent Senecioneae (Asteraceae) of Southern Africa].

Southern African succulents of tribe Senecioneae are likely to have come from non-succulent inhabitants neighbour mesic to semi-arid areas of S to SE Africa. Four phyla are believed to have evolved successively in situ by colonizing arid regions of SW Africa. The Senecio medley-woodii-phylum must have been the first one to have developed the succulent syndrome. Its members are densely pubescent leaf-succulent herbs without special water-storage tissue in their leaves. This phylum seems to have been followed by Othonna-phylum which has mostly developed caudex/bulbous growth habit with annual hemi-succulent to non-succulent shoots. Some Othonna species are stem succulents and a few ones are leaf-succulents. No one species has dense indumentum, however. Curio species and some succulent Senecio ones constitute the unit alias Curio-phylum. Interrelationships between these species remain still unresolved. The Curio-phylum might have evolved a little bit later than the Othonna-phylum. Contrary to the latter, only 2 representatives of the Curio-phylum are bulbous herbs with annual hemi-succulent shoots and only 1 species is a stem succulent. The 3 species mentioned all occupy territories outside areas of Othonna species of similar growth habits. None of them has indumentum. Most members of the Curio-phylum are glabrate leaf succulents with special water-storage tissue in their leaves. We believe that specific succulent syndrome of each phylum indicates specific adaptive zone it occupies in arid regions of SW Africa (though we are unable to characterize these zones distinctively). These differences in succulent syndromes must enable the 3 phyla to coexist in numerous arid areas of SW Africa. Moreover, the differences evidently enable them to "close" competitively these areas to the latest Kleinia-phylum. Then, the species of the Kleinia-phylum inhabit semi-arid areas of SE Africa and semi-arid to arid areas of E & N Africa, Canary Islands and Arabia. Only a few stem succulent Kleinia species live in those arid areas of the SW Africa where there are neither stem succulent othonnas nor stem succulent curios. Evolution of the succulence in Southern African Senecioneae thus outlined fits the Gause's competitive exclusion principle.

TAS3 Genes for small ta-siARF RNAs in plants belonging to subtribe Senecioninae: occurrence of prematurely terminated RNA precursors.

The various classes of plant 21 - to 24-nt siRNAs derive from long dsRNA precursors that are processed by the ribonuclease Dicer-like (DCL). The species of ta-siRNA were originally discovered in Arabidopsis thaliana. Four gene families have been identified in Arabidopsis that each produces a number of ta-siRNAs: TAS1, TAS2, TAS3 and TAS4. The TAS3 genes encode tasiR-ARF species which target the mRNA of three Auxin Response Factor (ARF) genes (ARF2, ARF3/ETT and ARF4) for subsequent degradation. The function of TAS3 precursor RNA is controlled by two miR390 target sites flanking tandem of ta-siARF sequences. In this paper, we have studied the presence ofta-siARF RNA genes in the representatives of subtribe Senecioninae. Senecioneae is the largest tribe of Asteraceae, comprised of ca. 150 genera and 3,000 species which include many common succulents of greenhouses. Approximately one-third of species are placed in genus Senecio, making it one of the largest genera of flowering plants. However, there was no information on the structure of TAS genes in these plants. We revealed that the TAS3 species (TAS3-Sen1) in Senecio representatives was actively transcribed, and its homologues are distributed among many Asteracea plants and found to be similar to Arabidopsis AtTAS3a gene. We revealed several prematurely terminated transcripts of TAS3-Sen1. Finding the alternative shortened transcripts of TAS3-Sen1 lacking the 3'-terminal site cleaved by miR390 and retaining the 5'-terminal miR390 non-cleaved site suggested their using as decoys for the modulation of miR390 activity to regulate synthesis of ta-siARF RNAs in different Senecioninae species.

Novel miR390-dependent transacting siRNA precursors in plants revealed by a PCR-based experimental approach and database analysis.

TAS loci in plant genomes encode transacting small interfering RNAs (ta-siRNAs) that regulate expression of a number of genes. The function of TAS3 precursor in Arabidopsis thaliana is controlled by two miR390 target sites flanking two ta-siARF sequences targeting mRNAs of ARF transcription factors. Cleavage of the 3'-miR390-site initiates ta-siRNAs biogenesis. Here we describe the new method for identification of plant ta-siRNA precursors based on PCR with oligodeoxyribonucleotide primers mimicking miR390. The method was found to be efficient for dicotiledonous plants, cycads, and mosses. Based on sequences of amplified loci and a database analysis, a novel type of miR390-dependent TAS sequences was identified in dicots. These TAS loci are characterized by a smaller distance between miR390 sites compared to TAS3, a single copy of ta-siARF, and a sequence conservation pattern pointing to the possibility that processing of novel TAS-like locus is initiated by cleavage of the 5'-terminal miR390 target site.

[Thirty years' experience in following up patients with nonspecific respiratory diseases].

The paper sums up the work of the Diagnosis Department of the Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in the past 30 years. It also presents the results of examinations, treatment, and follow-ups of 5000 patients with sarcoidosis, exogenous allergic alveolitis, pulmonary tuberculosis of questionable activity, pneumonia, benign and malignant tumors, respiratory malformations, systemic vasculitis, pulmonary eosinophilia, lymphogranulomatosis, and rare lung diseases.

[Differential diagnosis of systemic vasculitis and tuberculosis].

Microbiology, X-ray study, and bronchoscopy, including the examination of bronchoalveolar lavage and histology of thransbronchial lung biopsy specimens have proven to be of the greatest informative value in the differential diagnosis of different forms of systemic vasculitis and tuberculosis in 52 patients. Focal pulmonary tuberculosis was detected in the phase of S(II) infiltration on the right in a patient with rheumatic arthritis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis was bacterioscopically detected. The patient underwent specific antituberculous therapy that provided beneficial effects.

[Clinical manifestations and specific features of the course of adenogenic tuberculosis in adults]. / Klinicheskie proiavleniia i osobennosti adenogennogo tuberkuleza u vzroslykh.

The paper analyzes the clinical manifestations of adenogenic tuberculosis, the methods of its diagnosis and treatment in 44 patients (15 males and 29 females) aged 18 to 75 years. The signs of an active tuberculous process were identified in the bronchus and lung of 33 patients and the remaining patients had posttuberculous adaptogenic changes. A bronchological study revealed infiltrative bronchial tuberculosis in 15 patients, bronchial fistula in 4, inflammatory and cicatrical stenoses in 22, broncholiths in 2, and nonspecific bronchitis in 5. The patients with specific active changes received antituberculous chemotherapy with 4 drugs; those with nonspecific lesions had antirecurrent chemotherapy and, in case of an exacerbation of nonspecific recurrent pneumonias and chronic bronchitis, used antibiotics mainly as inhalants.

[Cerebral sarcoidosis: clinical aspects and course]. / Tserebral'nyi sarkoidoz, klinika i techenie.

Central nervous system sarcoidosis lesion is rare among patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. The lesion was encountered in 3 of the examined 120 patients with this condition. These 3 patients with cerebral sarcoidosis are used as an example to describe the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease. Its diagnosis is difficult. When such symptoms as fever, headache, thirst, etc., much alert is required in order to recognize CNS lesion as soon as possible. Its treatment has its own features.

[Long-term results of prolonged treatment in patients with fibrosing alveolitis (prophylactic medical examination)]. / Otdalennye ruzul'taty dlitel'nogo lecheniia bol'nykh fibroziruiushchimi al'veolitami (dispanserizatsiia).

The results of a long-term (5-10 year) follow-up were studied in 109 patients with alveolitis, including 89 with EAA and 20 with IFA. A variety of treatments were applied. The predominant treatments were hormonal therapy supplemented by plasmapheresis, physiotherapy, oxygen therapy, etc. A follow-up of patients with alveolitis was made by 3 groups. Group 1 was compensated--Stage 0; Group 2, subcompensated--Stage II; Group 3, decompensated--Stage III. The control periods and scope of examinations were defined for each group. The Regulations governing the prophylactic medical examination of patients with alveolitis were worked out. Among patients with EAA, good results, such as improvement and stabilization of the process, were observed in 34.8% of cases, poor results, such as recurrences were in 53.6%, death rates were 3%. Among patients with IFA, good results were achieved in 15% of cases, recurrences and progression were in 10 and 30.7%, respectively, death rates were 40%.

[Atypical and unfavorable variants in the course of sarcoidosis]. / Atipichnye i neblagopriiatnye varianty techeniia sarkoidoza.

Sarcoidosis with atypical clinical manifestations and a poor course accounts for 5.6% (78 individuals per 1400 patients). The paper describes the atypical manifestations of sarcoidosis (fever, hypereosinophilia, lymphocytosis, etc.) and its poor course, which are similar to those of lymphoproliferative diseases, fibrosing alveolitis-type sarcoidosis, infiltrative pneumonic forms). Each of the above manifestations has complex differentially diagnostic aspects.

[Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of traditional and combined therapies of patients with sarcoidosis]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka éffektivnosti traditsionnoi i kombinirovannoi terapii u bol'nykh sarkoidozom.

Treatments were comparatively analyzed in two groups comprising 106 patients with respiratory sarcoidosis. One group of patients (n = 52) was treated with conventional therapy (corticosteroid hormones as tablets or aerosols, physiotherapy, SWF, plaquenil, antioxidants, the other (n = 54) received combined therapy (plasmapheresis, reduced hormone dosage, antioxidants. With both treatments, the early results of treatment were equally positive in 60-63% of patients, mainly in new cases of sarcoidosis. The late (3-year follow-up) ones were positive (no recrudescence) in 50 and 37% of patients treated with conventional and combined therapies, respectively. These outcomes are attributable to that combined therapy was used in more critical patients with disseminated and generalized processes and commonly at late stages of the disease.

[Clinical presentation, course and treatment of recurrent sarcoidosis: followup data]. / Klinika, techenie i lechenie retsidiva sarkoidoza po dannym dispansernogo nabliudeniia.

The paper presents the results of long-term follow-ups of 107 patients with recurrent sarcoidosis registered as having Group VII-IB. In the patients, there was the greatest dissemination of the process in the lung, intrathoracic lymph nodes and other organs and MF MB in the blood, sputum, BAC? Group VIIIB patients need the greatest attention of physicians, treatment involving extracorporeal and physiotherapeutical methods to prevent respiratory failure and disability.

[X-ray criteria for assessing the activity of lung sarcoidosis at follow-up]. / Rentgenologicheskie kritetii otsenki aktivnosti sarkoidoza legkikh pri dispansernom nabliudenii.

The results of comprehensive X-ray findings in 300 patients with different clinical and X-ray forms of respiratory sarcoidosis who had been registered to be followed up at the Consulting Outpatient Department, Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, were analyzed. The follow-up lasted 3 to 20 years. X-ray study heads the list of the most informative techniques for assessing the activity of sarcoidosis. The time of following up patients with sarcoidosis in dispensary registration groups is recommended in accordance with the recommendations of the sarcoidosis Consensus Commission. X-ray criteria for stabilization of the disease and the optimum methodological complex of radiation diagnosis are defined.

[Follow-up of sarcoidosis outpatients]. / Dispansernoe nabliudenie bol'nykh sarkoidozom.

The results of long-term follow-ups of 300 patients with sarcoidosis registered at the Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, were studied. The paper provides a full characterization of the patients by their social status, clinical forms, detection modes, diagnostic methods. The efficiency of treatment was evaluated, as evidenced by the "movement" from group to group (from active group to inactive one). A follow-up makes it possible to correct treatment.

[Plasmapheresis in multimodality therapy of alveolitis]. / Plazmaferez v kompleksnoi terapii bol'nykh al'veolitami.

Fifty one patients with alveolitis of different genesis (idiopathic fibrotic alveolitis (IFA) in 15, extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) in 20, fibrotic alveolitis (FA) in 10, and eosinophilic pneumonias (EP) in 6), receiving multimodality therapy had a session of plasmapheresis (PA) including 3-4 procedures at a week interval. The session was repeated in 4 patients. The earliest results in all patients appeared as better well-being, improved parameters of blood and external respiratory function and half the patients had positive X-ray changes. The best results were achieved by patients with EP, the worst by those with IFA. Following 2 years, remission retained in a third of patients, recrudescence was noted in two thirds. Five patients with IFA and EAA died. In most patients PA was started late when they had developed recrudescence and respiratory failure. Ineffective therapy made the authors think of PA. The latter improved all the patients' condition and yielded early positive changes in many parameters. PA may have a positive impact in the late period.

[Eosinophilic pneumonia: course and prognosis]. / Eozinofil'naia pnevmoniia, techenie, prognoz.

Clinical manifestations of eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) are characterized basing on examination of 40 patients aged 19-65 years. The disease arose primarily due to chemicals, first of all, to medicinal agents. Eosinophils were found in peripheral blood, on cytogram of bronchoalveolar lavage, lung biopsies. The patients received corticosteroids, desensitization drugs, underwent plasmapheresis. All the patients responded, though 20 of the 30 evaluated patients developed later recurrences.

[Scintigraphic evaluation of 67GA citrate in the comprehensive study of diffuse pulmonary lesions]. / Stsintigraficheskaia otsenka tsitrata 67GA v kompleksnom issledovanii diffuznykh porazhenii legkikh.

Scintigraphic evaluation of 67Ga citrate was made in 102 patients with diffuse pulmonary lesions (DPL) of various genesis. There was respiratory sarcoidosis in 40 patients, exogenous allergic alveolitis in 47, idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis in 3, histiocytosis X in 6, and carcinomatosis in 6. Radionuclide findings indicated that the radioagent accumulated in intrathoracic lymph nodes of the mediastinum and partially in the lung tissue in 75.5% of cases at the acute stage of the disease, negative results were in 24.5%, as explained by the fact that the studies were conducted at remission or in the presence of pneumosclerosis. Reexaminations of DPL patients using 67Ga citrate may yield objective information on the treatment performed and, if the latter fails, correct it.