[Molecular genetic aspects of endothelial dysfunction in individuals exposed to mercury].

The article deals with frequency data on polymorphism of candidate genes participating in endothelial dysfunction (EDN1 Lys198Asn, NOS3 T786C, AGT Thrl74Met and AGT Met23SThr) in totality with concentrations of their active substances in individuals exposed to mercury. Findings are changes in levels of nitrogen oxide, endothelin-1, angiotensin II metabolites in examinees including those without cardiovascular diseases. The genetic conditionality is connected with unfavorable genotypes of polymorphic variants - Met235Thr of AGT gene and Lys198Asn of EDNI gene. Changes in levels of biochemical markers of endothelial dysfunction in individuals exposed to mercury indicate serious endothelial function disorders and are not genetically determined processes.

[MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OF THE LIVER IN OBTURATION JAUNDICE, CAUSED BY CHOLEDOCHOLITHIASIS, DEPENDING ON ITS DURATION].

Abstract The results of surgical treatment of 184 patients for obturation jaundice, caused by choledocholithiasis, were analyzed. Morphological changes of the liver were studied in 20 patients. There were three groups of patients delineated, depending on the obturation jaundice duration: up to 7 days, from 8 to 14 days, more than 15 days, and also a group of patients after the bile outflow restoration. The obturation jaundice occurrence in choledocholithiasis is accompanied by significant morphological changes in the liver, severity of which is enhancing while the obturation jaundice persistence increasing. While persistence of obturation jaundice through 8 days and more the connective tissue volume is enhancing, a relative volume of hepatocytes is reducing and a stromal-parenchymatous index is increasing. The bile outflow restoration secures significant reduction of intensity of alterative and inflammatory changes in hepatic parenchyma, as well as activation of reparative processes in the tissue. In cholangitis, caused by P. aeruginosa and E. coli, according to morphological investigations data, in the liver a diffuse purulent cholangitis on background of chronic changes in accordance to duration of the obturation jaundice persists.

IMPACT OF PREPARATIONS OF FETOPLACENTAL ORIGIN ON THE WOUNDS HEALING.

Possibilities of application of preparations, containing biologically active substances (BAS) of fetoplacental origin, in systemic therapy of the wounds, were analyzed. Comparison of morphological characteristics of the cold wounds while application of placental extract (PE) and cryopreserved serum of the cord blood (CPSCB) was done. The pronounced stimulating impact on the wounds healing due to improvement of microcirculation in tissues, bordering upon the cryodestruction zone, the local immune processes stimulation, аctivation of the granulation tissue and epithelial wound defect formation were noted. Therapeutic effect of CPSCB is more significant than that of PE. The data obtained serve as a background for the BAS of fetoplacental origin application in complex treatment of the wounds.

[Clinical, biochemical and allergological indices characterizing occupational diseases of the bronchial and pulmonary system in employees at aluminium production].

There are many harmful factors that possess a damaging impact on the body of employees at aluminum production. It leads to the development of bronchial asthma (BA), chronic nonobstructive bronchitis (CNB) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The pathogenesis of these disorders, as well as sensitizing effect offluorine in the aluminum production is not fully understood. The purpose of this work was to study the characteristics of laboratory indices in patients with occupational diseases of the respiratory system. In workers of aluminum production with the diagnosis of occupational diseases of respiratory system (15 patients with a diagnosis of asthma, 30 CNB cases, 20 COPD patients) we evaluated the content of total protein, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), total calcium, phosphorus, ceruloplasmin, hematological indices and performed emigration of leukocytes braking test (TTEEL). Clinical and biochemical profile ofpersons with occupational asthma was characterized by a low level of total calcium and ceruloplasmin, a high concentration of phosphorus in the blood serum and inhibition of leukocyte emigration in the test with sodium fluoride. For aluminum production CNB workers characteristic active proatherogenic process was pronounced by a decrease in the HDLC level and an increase in atherogenic index; higher hematocrit value and concentration of erythrocytes, and more than 50% of cases of sensitization to the presence of sodium fluoride. COPD cases had occupational lower average concentration of hemoglobin in the erythrocyte, total protein in serum, as well as polymorphic variant response to sodium fluoride in the form of a depression and activation of leucocytes emigration.

[Registration of the protein in the serum with a field-effect nanotransistor biosensor].

A method for detection of cancer-associated protein D-NFATc1 in serum using nanowire (NW) biosensor based on field-effect nanotransistor is developed. Field-effect nanotransistor was fabricated on the basis of «silicon-on-insulator¼ structures. For the biospecific detection of target protein, the NW surface was modified with aptamers against the target protein. Using the 3 um-NW enabled to obtain stable source-drain characteristics and to register D-NFATc1 in serum at concentration of 2.5 x 1014 M in the mode of drain-source current vs. gate voltage characteristics measurements. Data collection in the mode of drain-source current vs. gate voltage characteristics measurements was carried out with the use of high-speed data collection system running TURBO NBS software.

[SOI-nanowire biosensor for the detection of D-NFAT 1 protein].

The nanowire (NW) detection is one of fast-acting and high-sensitive methods allowing to reveal potentially relevant protein molecules. A NW biosensor based on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI)-structures was used for biospecific label-free detection of NFAT 1 (D-NFAT 1) oncomarker in real time. For this purpose, SOI-nanowires (NWs) were modified with aptamers against NFAT 1 used as molecular probes. It was shown that using this biosensor it is possible to reach the sensitivity of ~10(-15) M. This sensitivity was comparable with that of the NW biosensor with immobilized antibodies used as macromolecular probes. The results demonstrate promising approaches used to form the sensor elements for high-sensitive disease diagnostics.

Molecular-beam epitaxy-grown Si whisker structures: morphological, optical and electrical properties.

Scanning electron microscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, and current-voltage and current-temperature measurements were employed to characterize nanowhisker structures grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on Si(111) substrates. Small clusters of gold deposited on the Si surface were used as the seeds for nanowhisker growth. The diameter of grown nanowhiskers and their length ranged from 70 to 200 nm and from 580 to 890 nm, respectively. The whiskers were found to inherit the (111) orientation of the Si substrate. By means of spectroscopic ellipsometry in the range 1.5-4.77 eV, lateral optical inhomogeneity of the nanowhisker layer was revealed, with optical properties of the layer substantially differing from those of single-crystal Si. Electrical measurements point to the presence of a Schottky barrier with height 0.70 eV in the structure and to the presence of electrically active centers non-uniformly distributed over the nanowhisker length.

[Radioprotective properties of carnosine]. / Protivoluchevye éffekty karnozina.

In experiments with rats and mice there was shown the ability of carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) to depress accumulation of lipoperoxidative products in blood serum and to increase the yield of spleen endocolonies in irradiated animals. There were investigated duration of the protective action and compared effects of single and prolonged administration of carnosine. Carnozine restores the postradiative decrease in the cytochrome P-450 content in rat liver microsomes. Besides, the ability of carnosine to prevent the postradiative decline in the activity of UDP-glucoronyltransferase. Some possible mechanisms of its radioprotective action are discussed.

[The pathomorphology of the kidneys in the fetuses of mothers suffering from late gestosis, type-1 diabetes mellitus and chronic glomerulonephritis]. / Patomorfologiia pochek plodov ot materei, stradaiushchikh pozdnim gestozom, sakharnym diabetom I tipa i khronicheskim glomerulonefritom.

Fetal kidneys from mothers with late gestosis, diabetes mellitus-1 and chronic glomerulonephritis were studied. There were features of the maturation slowing down and some disturbances in differentiation of rental tissue were revealed. Local degenerative, membranous, proliferative and fibroplastic changes with formation of immune complexes including IgM and C3-complement in late gestosis, IgA, G, C3-complement fractions IgG, M, C3-complement fraction and traces of membranous and proliferative alteration were observed in chronic glomerulonephritis, they were less frequent in diabetes mellitus in mothers, and not so often in late gestosis. Activation of collagen production of types I, III, IV and V was most commonly observed in diabetes mellitus, in chronic glomerulonephritis and late gestosis, it being more rare.

[The effect of x-ray irradiation on UDP glucuronyltransferase activity in the liver microsomes of rats]. / Vliianie rentgenovskogo oblucheniia na aktivnost' UDF-gliukuroniltransferazy v mikrosomakh pecheni krys.

It was shown that X irradiation of male and female rats with dose of 7 Gy causes phase alterations of UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity (p-nitrophenol glucuronidation was analysed) in liver microsomal fraction: 24 hr after irradiation decrease (to 45.7 +/- 6.4 and 60.2 +/- 8.6% of norm correspondingly) followed by 72 hr after irradiation increase (to 190.5 +/- 4.8 and 155.4 +/- 12.2% of norm) and normalization of the enzyme activity 120-168 hr after irradiation. Direct dependence of the 24 hr after irradiation enzyme activity decrease on exposure dose (for males in the dose range of 2-10 Gy, for females in the range of 5-12 Gy) due to reducing of active form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) was established. It was found that glucuronyltransferase activity increase 72 hr after irradiation occurred against the background of normalization of UDPGT active form level.

[The effect of carnosine on the liver enzyme system in the irradiated body]. / Vliianie karnozina na fermentnye sistemy pecheni v obluchennom organizme.

The effect of carnosine on post-radioactive changes in lipid peroxidation (LPO) products in blood serum and cytochrome P-450 content in liver microsomes has been studied. Per os administration of carnosine 24 hours prior to irradiation in a minimal lethal dose (7 Gr) markedly decreases the post-radioactive accumulation of LPO products in rat blood serum one hour after irradiation and fully restores the post-radioactive decrease in the cytochrome P-450 content in rat liver microsomes on day 5 after irradiation. Besides, the ability of carnosine to prevent the post-radioactive decline in the activity of UDP-glucuronyl transferase. Another key enzyme of the liver detoxifying system, has been demonstrated. The data obtained testify to the ability of carnosine to provide effective protection against post-radioactive intensification of LPO in irradiated organisms.

[Results of a comparative study of intestinal microflora in viral hepatitis patients]. / Rezul'taty sravnitel'nogo izucheniia mikroflory kishechnika u bol'nykh virusnymi gepatitami.

The data obtained in the bacteriological study of fecal microflora in 27 patients with hepatitis A and 44 patients with hepatitis B in the dynamics of the disease are presented. The study has established the presence of essential changes in the composition of intestinal bacterial flora in viral hepatitis patients, especially in cases of hepatitis B, due to the suppression of the growth of normal symbionts, mainly anaerobes, and to the multiplication of opportunistic ones.