Effect of Circulation Parameters on Functional Status of HepaRG Spheroids Cultured in Microbioreactor.

We studied the relationship between microcirculation parameters and functional status of HepaRG cells in spheroids and chose an optimal regimen within the physiologically permissible limits of mechanical impact for the cells that maintains the expression of functional genes of the liver.

Maintenance of High Cytochrome P450 Expression in HepaRG Cell Spheroids in DMSO-Free Medium.

We studied the effects of DMSO and fibroblasts during HepaRG cell spheroid formation and conditions of their subsequent culturing on the levels of mRNA of the major cytochromes P450. A protocol of spheroid formation from differentiated HepaRG cells and their culturing in serum- and DMSO-free medium is developed.

Mathematical and Experimental Model of Oxygen Diffusion for HepaRG Cell Spheroids.

3D cell cultures are extensively used to study in vitro toxic effect of xenobiotics. When using multicellular spheroids, the question about their optimal size should be solved: small spheroids are difficult to manipulate, while large size of spheroids impairs the transport of nutrients and oxygen into the center. Mathematical models describing the distribution of substances in multicellular spheroids numerical procedure for solving differential equation system, which complicates their use in laboratory practice. We proposed and experimentally evaluated a new mathematical model describing oxygen distribution in HepaRG cell spheroids. Markers of functional activity were studied in spheroids of different size. The maximum size of spheroids that can be maintained in culture for 9 days without necrosis was determined.

p53- and Caspase-3-Independent Mechanism of Acetaminophen Effect on Human Neural Cells.

Acetaminophen in a concentration of 5 mM increased the expression of JNK, HIF1A (hypoxiainduced factor), and CASP3, which indicated development of oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death. Acetaminophen in a concentration of 10 mM did not induce expression of HIF1A and CASP3, but reduced expression of chaperone HSP90, which attested to activation of a caspase-3-independent mechanism of cell death. The methods of preventing acetaminophen intoxication are discussed.

[Bacterial complexes of the fruiting bodies and hyphosphere of certain basidiomycetes].

The surface and internal tissues of the fruiting bodies of basidiomycetes were shown to be specific bacterial habitats characterized by varying diversity and structure of bacterial complexes. On the surface of fruiting bodies, gram-negative bacteria of the genera Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, and Myxococcus prevailed, while in the internal tissues gram-positive bacteria of the genera Streptomyces, Bacillus, Arthrobacter, and Micrococcus were identified in addition. Bacterial complexes from the surface and inner tissues of the fruiting bodies of the studied basidiomycetes showed significant similarity to each other and differed from those from the hyphosphere and the reference soil. On the surface and in the internal tissues of the fruiting bodies, representatives of the genus Myxococcus were identified for the first time, which could indicate initial decay of the fruiting body.

[State of vaginal microbiocenosis and its correction in pregnant women living under conditions of constant exposure to low doses of radiation]. / Sostoianie vaginal'nogo mikrobiotsenoza i ego korrektsiia u beremennykh, prozhivaiushchikh v usloviiakh postoiannogo vozdeistviia malykh doz radiatsii.

Microflora of the vaginal mucosa was investigated bacteriologically in 44 pregnant women at the pregnancy term of 27-28 weeks. It was shown that in half of the women the vaginal microbiocenosis was within the normal and did not depend on urogynecological diseases in the case histories. In the women with impaired microbiocenosis the level of the impairment depended on gynecological diseases in the case histories. In the pregnant women without urogynecological diseases only slightly pronounced changes in the vaginal microbiocenosis were detected. The prophylactic use of eubiotics (bifidumbacterin and lactobacterin) was not efficient. In the women with urogynecological diseases in the case histories the levels of the microbiocenosis impairment were different. The prophylactic use of the eubiotics was efficient when the changes in the vaginal microbiocenosis were slightly pronounced or marked. When the changes were extreme the prophylactic use of the eubiotics failed.

[Perinatal care for the fetus in women exposed to ionizing radiation after the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident]. / Perinatalnaia okhrana ploda u zhenshchin, prozhivaiushchikh v usloviiakh ioniziruiushchego izlucheniia v rezultate avarii na ChAES.

Thorough examination covered 114 pregnant women living in the second zone of radioactive pollution (Novozybkov town in Briansk region). Occurrence of miscarriage, late gestosis, intrauterine hypoxia and hypotrophia of fetus was higher vs. control. Laboratory studies helped to reveal underlying mechanisms of the stated conditions which are caused by compromised immunity and changes in fetoplacental system.

[The immune status of nonpregnant and pregnant women living constantly under ionizing radiation exposure conditions]. / Immunnyi status neberemennykh i beremennykh zhenshchin, postoianno prozhivaiushchikh v usloviiakh ioniziruiushchego izlucheniia.

A total of 455 women, both pregnant and nonpregnant ones, permanently living in zones I and II of ionizing irradiation, were examined in 13 months after the Chernobyl Power Plant accident. Monocyte phagocytic activity and humoral immunity parameters were under study. An imbalance of the immunity parameters were characteristic of all the examinees living in zone I: they presented with disordered phagocytic activity of the monocytes, elevated levels of circulating R proteins, reduced production of natural and specific antibodies, changed concentrations of the principal immunoglobulin classes. The immune status of women living in the zone II was found lowered at the expense of reduced phagocytic activity of the monocytes, production of natural antibodies and immunoglobulins, shifted to either sides R protein levels, this necessitating immunocorrective therapy before pregnancy onset.