[Genotypic and phenotypic similarity between bacteria of Brucella genus and Rhizobiaceae family as a basis for reconsideration of Brucella taxonomy].

Accumulated data on assessment of genome of bacteria from Brucella genus and Rhizobiaceae family (results of sequencing, DNA-rRNA hybridization, 16S rRNA gene sequencing etc.) as well as their phenotypic characteristics (first of all, composition of cell fatty acids) were summarized. Data point to phylogenetic proximity of these bacteria and possibility to unite them in one Rhizobiaceae family together with the closest relatives of Brucella--first of all, with bacteria from Ochrobactrum genus). This seems to be more objective than recreation of Brucellaceae family (Rhizobiales order) with genera Brucella, Ochrobactrum and, possibly, others.

[Beta-thalassemia and Hb D in patients with anemia]. / Beta-talassemiia i Hb D u bol'nykh s anemiei.

Twelve patients with anemias and their close relatives were examined: 8 adults (3 men and 5 women) and 4 children (3 boys and 1 girl). Six of them were Armenians, 1 woman was Russian, and the rest were of mixed origin: 3 Russian-Azerbaijan-Ukrainian, 1 child Russian-Ukrainian-African, and 1 woman Russian-Ukrainian. Hemoglobinopathies were detected in 10 subjects from 4 families (3 families from Donetsk and 1 from Moscow). Homozygotic beta-thalassemia major (Hb F 98.9%) was diagnosed in a 2-year-old Armenian girl from Donetsk. The girl lags behind in development and suffers from anemia with hepatosplenomegaly and jaundice. Heterozygotic beta-thalassemia minor with increased levels of Hb A2 and Hb F was diagnosed in her parents (Armenians from Azerbaijan). A 15-year-old Russian-Azerbaijan-Ukrainian boy from another family in Donetsk had beta-thalassemia with HbD (94%). The boy suffers from anemia with hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, and chronic hepatitis. Heterozygotic beta-thalassemia with increased levels of Hb A2 and Hb F was revealed in proband's mother and brother; the father was not examined. alpha-Thalassemia is suspected in a 3-year-old boy from a Russian-Ukrainian-African family in Donetsk; he presented with a very small "fast" abnormal hemoglobin fraction. The boy suffers from anemia with splenomegaly and systolic murmur. Blurred form of thalassemia minor is diagnosed in the mother. The father, an African from Zaire, was not examined. Heterozygotic beta-thalassemia with increased Hb A2 level was revealed in a 20-year-old Armenian boy from Moscow. He presented with manifest splenomegaly, chronic gastritis, and mitral valve prolapse. His mother suffers from thalassemia minor, was anemic during pregnancy, and there are cases of anemia in the family. No hematologic disorders were found in the father. No hemoglobinopathies were detected in a 59-year-old Russian women from the town of Tver with very grave anemia; apparently, her condition was acquired, but not hereditary. Data on patients in the city of Donetsk are of special interest, for there are virtually no reports about hemoglobinopathies in the Ukraine.

New strains of rabies-related viruses isolated from bats in the Ukraine.

Two strains (UB-1 and UB-2) of rabies-related viruses were isolated from the brain of Nyctalus noctula and Vespertilio murinus captured from the hollows of tall trees on the left bank of Pripyat river in the Volynsky region of Ukrainian S.S.R. The viruses were isolated by means of intracerebral inoculation to white mice. The isolates were identified as rabies-related viruses of Duvenhage type in an indirect test of fluorescent antibodies with the panels of nucleocapsid monoclonal antibodies (NC Mab) provided by Wistar Institute (Philadelphia) and by Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL, Weybridge). During the typing with the Wistar panel of NC Mab complete antigenic similarity was established between the newly isolated strain and Yuli virus. The reaction with CVL NC Mab revealed group-specific antigenic similarity between Yuli virus on one hand, Duvenhage-6 and Duvenhage-66 on the other hand, as well as between UB-1 and UB-2 and Duvenhage-26. The reaction with antibodies to clones DB-3,4,6,9, and 10 detected antigenic similarity between the viruses of chiropteric origin isolated in the U.S.S.R., North-West Europe as well in Africa, although some differences were discovered. Yuli, UB-1, and UB-2 viruses isolated in the U.S.S.R. were proved to belong to Duvenhage group of viruses (serotype 4).

[Lipid composition, activity and isoenzyme spectrum of certain lymphoid cell enzymes and the effect of hydrocortisone on them]. / Lipidnyi sostav, aktivnost' i izofermentnyi spektr nekotorykh fermentov limfoidnykh kletok i vliianie na nikh gidrokortizona.

Activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as lipolytic activity were decreased in lymphoid cells of lymphatic glands from rabbit mesentery as compared with corresponding levels of the enzymatic activity in cells of bone marrow. The isozyme spectra of G6PD, LDH and unspecific esterases were dissimilar in lymphoid and bone marrow cells. Content of total lipids, triglycerides, free fatty acids as well as the hexokinase and lipolytic activities were decreased in the cells after treatment with hydrocortisone.

[Fatty acid makeup of various Brucella species and its relationship to the culture medium]. / Sostav zhirnykh kislot brutsell razlichnykh vidov i ego sviaz' so sredoi vyrashchivaniia.

Gas chromatographic method was applied to the study of the fatty acid composition (in Br. melitensis, Br. abortus, Br. suis, and Br. ovis strains. Fatty acid composition was similar in the mentioned brucellae species, except Br. suis No. 1330 significantly differing by this sign. Methyleneoctadecanoic acid content was considerably elevated, and that of octadecenoic -- reduced in brucellae grown on liver agar with the addition of serum and on meat-peptone agar in comparison with brucellae grown on liver agar; apparently this represents one of the mechanisms of the microorganism adaptation to the less favourable conditions of the nutrient medium. Passage of Br. ovis strain through the guinea pig organism led to the appearance of brucellae forming two types of colonies when grown on liver agar with the addition of serum. The fatty acid composition of brucellae forming small transparent colonies was the same as that of the initial culture with the prevalence of methyleneoctadecanoic acid; as to brucellae with larger colonies with irregular margin and nontransparent centre of the colony--octadecenoic acid prevailed in their fatty acid composition, i.e. their composition was similar to such in brucellae of the melitensis and abortus species grown on liver agar.

[Morphological and biochemical changes in the myocardium after sudden death from ischemic heart disease]. / Morfologicheskie i biokhimicheskie izmeneniia miokarda pri vnezapnoi smerti ot ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa.

The myocardium was examined in 44 persons who had suddenly died of ischemic heart disease, in 37 who had died of injury, and in 28 who had died of alcohol poisoning. Those with ischemic heart disease had foci of necrosis of the muscle fibers, severe disturbances in microcirculation, changes in the activity of certain myocardial enzymes and in the content of lipids in the myocardium. Biochemical changes similar to these in many respects were revealed in individuals who had died of alcohol poisoning, in view of which alcohol poisoning may be a factor conducive to sudden death in ischemic heart disease.

[Hepatic and myocardial glucokinase, hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in rabbits with pyrogenal fever]. / Aktivnost' gliukokinazy, geksokinazy i gliukozo-6-fosfatdegidrogenazy pecheni i miokarda krolikov pri pirogenalovoi likhoradke

The activity of glucokinase, hexokinase and glucose-6- phosphoric dehydrogenase of the liver and myocardium of rabbits was tested at different stages of pyrogenal fever with the aid of spectrophotometry. A marked decrease in the activity of the enzymes under study was observed in fever. After the subsidence of fever the activity of the enzymes became normal.