[Forensic value of the odontoid process of the second cervical vertebra as the initial object for DNA identification]. / Sudebno-meditsinskoe znachenie zuba II sheinogo pozvonka kak iskhodnogo ob"ekta dlya identifikatsionnykh DNK-issledovanii.

Aim of this study is to evaluate the suitability of the fragments of the skeleton obtained from the burials from more than 50 years ago for identificational DNA-analysis. Anatomical and structural features of the odontoid process of the second cervical vertebra are presented, as well as the data of histological examination of the odontoid process and the body of the second cervical vertebra. We conclude that odontoid process of the second cervical vertebra have practical significance as starting material for obtaining high-molecular DNA in identification cases of skeletal human remains.

Number, Proliferative Activity, and Expression of Thyroid Hormone Receptors in Dermal Fibroblasts in Mice with Changed Thyroid Status.

We studied the intensity of age-specific changes in the dermis (number and proliferative activity of fibroblasts) in mice with normal and experimentally changed level of thyroid hormones. Receptors of thyroid hormones, TR-α and TR-ß, in mouse dermal fibroblasts were identified by immunohistochemical methods. The relative expression of Thra, Thrb, and Dio2 genes was assessed by real-time PCR analysis. From the second to fifth month of life, the number of fibroblasts in the connective tissue layer of mouse skin decreased by 42.3%. The number of fibroblasts in the dermis of 5-month-old mice treated with Thyrozol significantly decreases by 25.9% (p<0.05), and vice versa, in mice receiving thyroxin this parameter increased by 4.7% in comparison with the control (p>0.05). TR-α and TR-ß were identified in dermal fibroblasts in all groups of mice. No differences in the content TR-α and Thra gene expression in 2- and 5-month-old mice of the control and experimental were revealed. TR-ß content in dermal fibroblasts of 2-month-old animals was maximum and exceeded this value in 5-month-old control mice by 25%. The number of these receptors decreased by 33.3% in mice treated with Thyrozol and increased by 25% in animals receiving thyroxin injection in comparison with the control. Relative expression of Thrb gene significantly increased only in mice treated with thyroxin. Comparative analysis of the relative expression of Dio2 gene revealed no differences between the experimental and control groups. Changes in the level of thyroid hormones, content of TR-ß, and relative Thrb gene expression contribute to agerelated shifts in the number and proliferative activity of mouse dermal fibroblasts.

[Plasma Renin Activity and Potential of Indapamide Retard to Improve Control of Hypertension].

PURPOSE: to study plasma renin activity (PRA) as a predictor of antihypertensive response to addition of diuretic to combination of angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and calcium antagonist (CA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 72 patients (39% men, mean age 62.0 ± 8.3 years) with uncontrolled despite use of ACEI and CA arterial hypertension (AH) without overt associated clinical conditions (AH criteria of national guidelines, 2010). After 4 weeks of therapy with ACE inhibitor (quadropril 6 mg/day) and CA (felodipine 5 mg/day) in all patients who did not reach target level of blood pressure (BP) (clinical BP≥140/90 mm Hg, daytime BP according to ambulatory BP monitoring [ABPM] >135/85 mm Hg) indapamide retard (1.5 mg/day) was added to combination therapy for 6 months. Examination included measurement of baseline and on treatment PRA and repetitive ABPM. RESULTS: More pronounced antihypertensive response was observed in the group of patients with volume dependent AH. Baseline BP was 156.6 ± 14.1/86.7 ± 1.5 and 151.9 ± 17.1/78.0 ± 7.8 mm Hg, on treatment level of clinical BP - 126.2 ± 10.6/72.5 ± 11.6 and 132.2 ± 9.1/71.9 ± 7.2 mm Hg (p<0.05) in patients with volume dependent and renin dependent AH, respectively. Target clinical BP was achieved in 95 and 80% of patients, respectively (χ2= 10.3; p<0.05). According to ABPM both daytime and nighttime on treatment BP was lower in the group of patients with volume dependent AH (130.0 ± 11.0/74.1 ± 9.9 vs. 136.5 ± 7.3/78.8 ± 8.2 mm Hg, p<0.05; and 127.9 ± 15.8/71 ± 13.5 vs. 132.6 ± 13.0/74.5 ± 10.2 mm Hg, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: PRA is an independent predictor of antihypertensive response to addition of a diuretic to combination therapy with ACEI and CA.

[Plasma Renin Activity and Potential of Indapamide Retard to Improve Control of Hypertension].

PURPOSE: to study plasma renin activity (PRA) as a predictor of antihypertensive response to addition of diuretic to combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and calcium antagonist (CA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 72 patients (39% men, mean age 62.0+/-8.3 years) with uncontrolled despite use of ACEI and CA arterial hypertension (AH) without overt associated clinical conditions (AH criteria of national guidelines, 2010). After 4 weeks of therapy with ACE inhibitor (quadropril 6 mg/day) and CA (felodipine 5 mg/day) in all patients who did not reach target level of blood pressure (BP) (clinical BP more or equal 140/90 mm Hg, daytime BP according to ambulatory BP monitoring [ABPM] >135/85 mm Hg) indapamide retard (1.5 mg/day) was added to combination therapy for 6 months. Examination included measurement of baseline and on treatment PRA and repetitive ABPM. RESULTS: More pronounced antihypertensive response was observed in the group of patients with volume dependent AH. Baseline BP was 156.6+/-14.1/86.7+/-1.5 and 151.9+/-17.1/78.0+/-7.8 mm Hg, on treatment level of clinical BP - 126.2+/-10.6/72.5+/-11.6 and 132.2+/-9.1/71.9+/-7.2 mm Hg (p<0.05) in patients with volume dependent and renin dependent AH, respectively. Target clinical BP was achieved in 95 and 80% of patients, respectively (2=10.3; p<0.05). According to ABPM both daytime and nighttime on treatment BP was lower in the group of patients with volume dependent AH (130.0+/-11.0/74.1+/-9.9 vs. 136.5+/-7.3/78.8+/-8.2 mm Hg, p<0.05; and 127.9+/-15.8/71+/-13.5 vs. 132.6+/-13.0/74.5+/-10.2 mm Hg, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: PRA is an independent predictor of antihypertensive response to addition of a diuretic to combination therapy with ACEI and CA.

[Polymorphism of the CETP gene promoter region and its influence on protein activity in coronary heart disease].

The paper shows the lack of association of two polymorphic loci localized in the promoter region of the gene CETP (rs1800775 and rs4783961) with the risk of coronary heart disease in the population of the Republic of Tatarstan. Also, there are no differences in the activity of the enzyme among the carriers of different genotypes.

[Population structure of Volga Tatars inferred from the mitochondrial DNA diversity data].

The data on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in two populations of Volga Tatars, representing the population of Buinsk and Aznakaevo districts of the Republic of Tatarstan are presented. Comparative analysis of the data on mtDNA variation in the populations of Eastern Europe showed that Volga Tatars were characterized by low interpopulation differentiation (F(ST) = 0.33%), while the level of interethnic differentiation in Eastern Europe is 1.8%. Genetic similarity of Tatars from the eastern regions of Tatarstan to Bashkirs, as well as of Tatars from western regions to Chuvashes, with whom they share territorial borders, was revealed. Positive correlation between population genetic structure in Eastern Europe and linguistic affiliation of the ethnic groups studied was observed.

[Biochemical and immunological markers of autoimmune thyroiditis]. / Biokhimicheskie i immunologicheskie markery khronicheskogo limfotsitarnogo tireoidita.

Correlations between biochemical and immunological markers of programmed cell death (apoptosis), and the functional state of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism, euthyroidism, hypothyroidism) have been investigated in autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) (also known as chronic autoimmune thyroiditis). Annexin V, TRAIL and TNF-a, as well as DNA-hydrolyzing antibodies were used as the main markers. Increased levels of TRAIL were found in the serum of AT patients (hyperthyroidism>hypothyroidism>euthyroidism) compared with healthy individuals. The highest frequency of antibodies to denatured DNA (Abs-dDNA) had the highest frequency in AT patients (97%) compared with healthy controls. Among these patients, 75% had hyperthyroidism, 85% had hypothyroidism, and 84.7% had euthyroidism. Abs hydrolyzing activity demonstrated correlation dependence with symptoms of the thyroid dysfunction.

SOD2 gene polymorphism and muscle damage markers in elite athletes.

Exercise-induced oxidative stress is a state that primarily occurs in athletes involved in high-intensity sports when pro-oxidants overwhelm the antioxidant defense system to oxidize proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. During exercise, oxidative stress is linked to muscle metabolism and muscle damage, because exercise increases free radical production. The T allele of the Ala16Val (rs4880 C/T) polymorphism in the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) gene has been reported to reduce SOD2 efficiency against oxidative stress. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that the SOD2 TT genotype would be underrepresented in elite athletes involved in high-intensity sports and associated with increased values of muscle and liver damage biomarkers. The study involved 2664 Caucasian (2262 Russian and 402 Polish) athletes. SOD2 genotype and allele frequencies were compared to 917 controls. Muscle and liver damage markers [creatine kinase (CK), creatinine, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)] were examined in serum from 1444 Russian athletes. The frequency of the SOD2 TT genotype (18.6%) was significantly lower in power/strength athletes (n = 524) compared to controls (25.0%, p = 0.0076) or athletes involved in low-intensity sports (n = 180; 33.9%, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the SOD2 T allele was significantly associated with increased activity of CK (females: p = 0.0144) and creatinine level (females: p = 0.0276; males: p = 0.0135) in athletes. Our data show that the SOD2 TT genotype might be unfavorable for high-intensity athletic events.