Expanding Mn2+ loading capacity of BSA via mild non-thermal denaturing and cross-linking as a tool to maximize the relaxivity of water protons.

Development of nanoparticles (NPs) serving as contrast enhancing agents in MRI requires a combination of high contrasting effect with the biosafety and hemocompatibility. This work demonstrates that bovine serum albumin (BSA) molecules bound to paramagnetic Mn2+ ions are promising building blocks of such NPs. The desolvation-induced denaturation of BSA bound with Mn2+ ions followed by the glutaraldehyde-facilitated cross-linking provides the uniform in size 102.0 ± 0.7 nm BSA-based nanoparticles (BSA-NPs) loaded with Mn2+ ions, which are manifested in aqueous solutions as negatively charged spheres with high colloid stability. The optimal loading of Mn2+ ions into BSA-NPs provides maximum values of longitudinal and transverse relaxivity at 98.9 and 133.6 mM-1 s-1, respectively, which are among the best known from the literature. The spin trap EPR method indicates that Mn2+ ions bound to BSA-NPs exhibit poor catalytic activity in the Fenton-like reaction. On the contrary, the presence of BSA-NPs has an antioxidant effect by preventing the accumulation of hydroxyl radicals produced by H2O2. The NPs exhibit remarkably low hemolytic activity and hemagglutination can be avoided at concentrations lower than 110 µM. Thus, BSA-NPs bound with Mn2+ ions are promising candidates for combining high contrast effect with biosafety and hemocompatibility.

Supramolecular Optimization of Sensory Function of a Hemicurcuminoid through Its Incorporation into Phospholipid and Polymeric Polydiacetylenic Vesicles: Experimental and Computational Insight.

This work presents the synthesis of a new representative of hemicurcuminoids with a nonyloxy substituent (HCur) as a fluorescent amphiphilic structural element of vesicular aggregates based on phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), and 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA). Both X-ray diffraction analysis of the single crystal and 1H NMR spectra of HCur in organic solvents indicate the predominance of the enol-tautomer of HCur. DFT calculations show the predominance of the enol tautomer HCur in supramolecular assemblies with PC, PS, and PCDA molecules. The results of the molecular modeling show that HCur molecules are surrounded by PC and PS with a rather weak exposure to water molecules, while an exposure of HCur molecules to water is enhanced under its supramolecular assembly with PCDA molecules. This is in good agreement with the higher loading of HCur into PC(PS) vesicles compared to PCDA vesicles converted into polydiacetylene (PDA) ones by photopolymerization. HCur molecules incorporated into HCur-PDA vesicles exhibit greater planarity distortion and hydration effect in comparison with HCur-PC(PS) ones. HCur-PDA is presented as a dual fluorescence-chromatic nanosensor responsive to a change in pH within 7.5-9.5, heavy metal ions and polylysine, and the concentration-dependent fluorescent response is more sensitive than the chromatic one. Thus, the fluorescent response of HCur-PDA allows for the distinguishing between Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions in the concentration range 0-0.01 mM, while the chromatic response allows for the selective sensing of Pb2+ over Cd2+ ions at their concentrations above 0.03 mM.

[The experience of interdisciplinary interaction in elimination of midface deformation (clinical observation)]. / Opyt mezhdistsiplinarnogo vzaimodeistviya pri ustranenii deformatsii srednei zony litsa (klinicheskoe nablyudenie).

Fibrous dysplasia is a hamartoma appearing as a benign pathologic process in which normal bone tissue formation is replaced by overgrowth of fibrous connective tissue. The problem of diagnosis and treatment of patients with fibrous dysplasia remains unsolved in the absence of a uniform understanding of its etiology and pathogenesis. Treatment and rehabilitation of patients with midface fibrous dysplasia is a complicated medico-social problem, which requires interaction of specialists of different fields to resolve it. The disease presents a practical interest for doctors of more than 20 specialties, as it can lead to disability. The present article describes a clinical case of interdisciplinary interaction of specialists in the fields of maxillofacial surgery, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, plastic surgery and radiology involved in complex treatment of a patient with midface fibrous dysplasia accompanied by eyeball dislocation, decreased vision, as well as progressive impairment of nasal breathing function. The performed treatment resulted in favorable functional and aesthetic outcomes including elimination of exophthalmos, vertical strabismus, lacrimation disorders, nasal breathing disorders, increase of visual acuity and improvement of external appearance.

[The Maxillofacial Surgery department of the Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery - past, present, and future perspectives]. / Otdelenie chelyustno-litsevoi khirurgii FGBU NMITs «TsNIIS i ChLKh¼ ­ proshloe, nastoyashchee i perspektivy budushchego.

The article presents the history of foundation and development of the Maxillofacial Surgery department of the Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery, as well as main current scientific and clinical achievements.

Role of Chiari osteotomy in treating degenerative hip arthritis: A review.

Chiari pelvic osteotomy (CPO) or medial displacement pelvic osteotomy is a surgical procedure of making a congruent shelf above intact hip joint by using the cancellous bone of ilium along with capsular interpositioning to contain the femoral head and bear weight. CPO is usually considered a salvage procedure indicated in patients with dysplastic acetabular sockets as a part of developmental hip dysplasia. It has been widely performed for several decades but since 1990s number of CPO procedures has decreased because of use of other pelvic osteotomies, total hip arthroplasty (THA), ultrasound screening and narrowing indications for this procedure. However, CPO is not a historical procedure and it has viable indications in modern orthopaedic surgery, especially in patients who prefer joint-conservating procedure or in situations when THA is not feasible. Moreover, keeping the native hip as long as possible should be preferred modern orthopaedic approach. The Chiari osteotomy can produce excellent results in patients who have right indications and when other procedures are not suitable. On the other hand, there are several disadvantages of this procedure such as narrowing of the pelvis, shortening of the limb and risk of sciatic nerve palsy. With in-depth analysis of literature, we discuss indications for CPO, surgical technique of CPO, THA conversion rate after CPO, the interval from the CPO to THA and CPO survival rate.

Free fibula flap for reconstruction of the severely atrophic mandible: a retrospective study.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess the feasibility of using a free fibula flap (FFF) for reconstruction of the alveolar region of the severely atrophic mandible, by determining bone stability after dental implant insertion and prosthetic rehabilitation in a series of eight female patients aged 36-65 years. Dental implant insertion was performed 3-4 months after reconstruction. Prosthetic loading was performed 3-4 months after implant insertion. The height of the reconstructed mandible after surgery was 21.20±1.87mm, with an increase of 8.80±1.71mm from the preoperative height. The height of the FFF immediately after reconstruction was 11.24±1.10mm; this showed a vertical loss of 0.99±0.52mm (8.79%) and maintenance of 91.21% of the initial height at a mean 14 months post-reconstruction. Applying the Wical and Swoope formula to estimate the original mandibular body height, it was found that the difference between this calculated height (21.17±3.76mm) and the reconstructed height (21.20±1.87mm) was only 0.03±3.17mm (0.14%). An overall insignificant decrease of 0.46±1.14 cm3 in FFF volume had occurred at 3-4 months after dental implant functional loading, while in two cases an increase in volume was found (1.22cm3 and 1.71cm3). The good and stable results obtained show that the FFF may be used to reconstruct the whole mandibular alveolar region, with the best possible outcomes.

[The use of autogenous free vascularized fibula transplant for the correction of severe mandibular atrophy]. / Primenenie revaskuliarizirovannogo malobertsovogo autotransplantata dlia ustraneniia vyrazhennoi atrofii nizhnei cheliusti.

The purpose of the study was to increase the effectiveness of surgical treatment and rehabilitation of patients with severe mandibular atrophy by means of autogenous free vascularized fibula transplant use with subsequent dental implants placement in the reconstructed mandible and implant-retained fixed dentures. In 2017 5 female patients underwent surgical treatment of severe mandibular atrophy with autogenous free vascularized fibula transplant in Maxillofacial Surgery department of CRID with additional nonvascularized iliac bone grafts and functional rehabilitation with implant-supported constructions in two of the cases. Due to its form, length and vascularization fibular bone represents a good plastic material for full length mandibular alveolar part reconstruction. The inclusion of the skin paddle in the autogenous free vascularized fibula transplant promotes secure primary closure of the surgical wound in the oral cavity. The use autogenous free vascularized fibula transplant in patients with severe mandibular atrophy with demands a thorough presurgical planning and intraoperative modeling.

[{Re6Q8}(SO3)6]10- (Q = S or Se): Facile Synthesis and Properties of the Most Highly Charged Octahedral Cluster Complexes and High Magnetic Relaxivity of Their Colloids with Gd3+ Ions.

New octahedral rhenium cluster complexes [{Re6Q8}(SO3)6]10- (Q = S or Se) were synthesized starting from [{Re6Q8}(H2O)4(OH)2]·12H2O. The complexes were crystallized as sodium salts and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and elemental analyses, IR, UV/vis and luminescence spectroscopies. Magnetic relaxation data demonstrate the complex formation of the cluster units with gadolinium ions. The analysis of the magnetic relaxation rates measured at various Gd:cluster ratios and different concentrations revealed the conversion of the aggregates (Gdx[{Re6Se8}(SO3)6]y)n- into a nanoparticulate form even at x = 1 and y ≥ 1. Thus, the self-assembly of the cluster units into the nanoparticles is greatly facilitated by counterion binding with sodium cations. The concentration conditions were optimized for the formation and hydrophilization of NaxGdy[{Re6Q8}(SO3)6]-based colloids with the magnetic relaxivity values of r1(2) = 21.0(24.1) and r1(2) = 25.9(29.8) mM-1 s-1 for the {Re6S8}2+ and {Re6Se8}2+ derivatives, respectively.

[Evolution of the mandibular defects reconstruction with free fibula flapx]. / Évoliutsiia v planirovanii i modelirovanii revaskuliarizuemogo malobertsovogo autotransplantata pri ustranenii defektov nizhnei cheliusti.

One of the most important steps in achieving aesthetical and functional result in mandible reconstruction with fibula free flap is positioning of the bony part relative to the basis of the native mandible. Positioning fibular bony part continuing inferior mandible border may produce a high discrepancy between the residual mandible and fibula bone that results in difficulty in denture rehabilitation. Positioning fibular bony part continuing alveolar mandible border creates asymmetric jowls and changed shape of jawline in border-line zone. The double-barrel technique solves this problem, but needs a meticulous preoperative planning and precision free fibula flap modelling.

AltORFev facilitates the prediction of alternative open reading frames in eukaryotic mRNAs.

Motivation: Protein synthesis is not a straight forward process and one gene locus can produce many isoforms, for example, by starting mRNA translation from alternative start sites. altORF evaluator (altORFev) predicts alternative open reading frames within eukaryotic mRNA translated by a linear scanning mechanism and its modifications (leaky scanning and reinitiation). The program reveals the efficiently translated altORFs recognized by the majority of 40S ribosomal subunits landing on the 5'-end of an mRNA. This information aids to reveal the functions of eukaryotic genes connected to synthesis of either unknown isoforms of annotated proteins or new unrelated polypeptides. Availability and Implementation: altORFev is available at http://www.bionet.nsc.ru/AUGWeb/ and has been developed in Java 1.8 using the BioJava library; and the Vaadin framework to produce the web service. Contact: ak@bionet.nsc.ru.

[Archaeal diversity in permafrost deposits of Bunger Hills Oasis and King George Island (Antarctica) according to the 16S rRNA gene sequencing].

Archaeal communities of permafrost deposits of King George Island and Bunger Hills Oasis (Antarctica) differing in the content of biogenic methane were analyzed using clone libraries of two 16S rRNA gene regions. Phylotypes belonging to methanogenic archaea were identified in all horizons.

Quantification of dissolved organic carbon at very low levels in natural ice samples by a UV-induced oxidation method.

The study of chemical impurities trapped in solid precipitation and accumulated in polar ice sheets and high-elevation, midlatitude cold glaciers over the last several hundreds of years provides a unique way to reconstruct our changing atmosphere from the preindustrial era to the present day. Numerous ice core studies of inorganic species have already evaluated the effects of growing anthropogenic emissions of SO(2) or NO(x) on the chemical composition of the atmosphere in various regions of the world. While it was recently shown that organic species dominate the atmospheric aerosol mass, the contribution of anthropogenic emissions to their budget remains poorly understood. The study of organics in ice is at the infancy stage, and it still is difficult to draw a consistent picture of the organic content of polar ice from sparse available data. A UV oxidation method and IR quantification of CO(2) was optimized to obtain measurements of dissolved organic carbon content as low as a few ppbC. Stringent working conditions were defined to prevent contamination during the cleaning of ice. Measurements in various ice cores corresponding to preindustrial times revealed dissolved organic carbon content of less than 10 ppbC in Antarctica and up to 75 ppbC in alpine ice.

Evolutionary relationships within 'pygmaeus' group microphallids using genetic analysis and scanning electron microscopy.

There are four species of 'pygmaeus' microphallids, namely Microphallus pygmaeus, M. piriformes, M. pseudopygmaeus and M. triangulatus (Trematoda: Microphallidae) which are parasites of marine birds and their sporocysts give rise to transmissible metacercariae inside littoral gastropods (mostly littorines). Universally primed polymerase chain reaction (UP-PCR) showed no apparent pattern between genetic diversity of the metacercariae as estimated by genomic banding profiles and their geographic region or molluscan host species. At the same time UP-PCR product cross-hybridization showed that M. pseudopygmaeus and M. triangulatus are genetically very similar, indicating that these taxa represent one species complex. In contrast, M. pygmaeus and M. piriformes are genetically well separated from each other and also from the pseudopygmaeus-triangulatus complex. Scanning electron microscopy of ventral spines, and analyses of spine angles and the number of teeth per spine, showed that all species differed significantly from one another. It was concluded that M. piriformes represents the original western member of the 'pygmaeus' group. Microphallus pygmaeus probably diverged from M. piriformes as it progressively specialized for sea duck final hosts. Microphallus pseudopygmaeus and M. triangulatus diverged from each other and the piriformes-pygmaeus ancestral line relatively recently. Microphallus pseudopygmaeus specialized for adoption of a wide range of gastropod host species and M. triangulatus developed morpho-functional specialization associated with final host exploitation.

Phylogenetic relationship of Fusarium langsethiae to Fusarium poae and Fusarium sporotrichioides as inferred by IGS, ITS, beta-tubulin sequences and UP-PCR hybridization analysis.

Fusarium langsethiae was recently described to accommodate "powdery" isolates of Fusarium poae, which morphologically resemble F. poae, but whose metabolite profile is similar to that of Fusarium sporotrichioides. In order to investigate the phylogenetic relationship of F. langsethiae to closely related species, we sequenced the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions 1 and 2 and part of the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of the rDNA cluster and part of the beta-tubulin gene from 109 strains of F. poae, F. sporotrichioides, F. langsethiae and Fusarium kyushuense from different geographic origin. Sequence analysis of ITS1 and 2 was unable to separate all F. sporotrichioides strains from F. langsethiae strains. Sequence analysis of beta-tubulin distinguished all four species, but it did not resolve the phylogenetic relationship between these two species. Sequence analysis of the IGS region distinguished the four species and led to a higher number of subgroups of the individual species, of which that of F. sporotrichioides var. minus isolates was even better supported than that of F. poae and F. langsethiae. Neighbor-joining and POY analyses of all combined sequences reliably separated all species studied, including F. langsethiae, clearly from F. sporotrichioides. The high intraspecific variability of the IGS sequences were found useful to group isolates according to their geographic origin. These results are in accordance with the results of the UP-PCR hybridization analysis. In summary, our data offer molecular support for the description of F. langsethiae as a new species in section Sporotrichiella.

Differentiation of six sibling species in the Saccharomyces sensu stricto complex by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and UP-PCR analysis.

UP-PCR analysis and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis were used to characterize 37 strains of the sibling species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. bayanus, S. cariocanus, S. kudriavzevii, S. mikatae and S. paradoxus. The results demonstrate that both molecular approaches are useful for discriminating between these phenotypically indistinguishable Saccharomyces species. The data obtained are in excellent agreement with previously reported genetic analyses, sequencing of the 18S rRNA and ITS regions, and DNA-DNA reassociation data.

[Glass slide smears and imprints from infected organs for identification of Leishmania major by polymerase chain reaction methods]. / Vozmozhnost' ispol'zovaniia mazkov i otpechatkov na stekle ot porazhennykh organov dlia identifikatsii Leishmaniia major metodami PTSR analiza.

The paper presents data showing that the DNA isolated from the smears and imprints of L. major-infected hamsters is suitable for use in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the causative agent of leishmaniasis. The most solid data have been obtained with the smears unexposed to staining and examination by using immersion oil and to benzene treatment. The DNA isolated from these smears infected may preserve for at least 1.5 months in a domestic refrigerator. The immersion oil-treated smears may be also used to identify leishmanias, but DNA should be isolated from the infected specimens of these smears just before PCR. The original primer pair L-unit/L-mail that has shown itself well in the experiments on cultured promastigotes may be, if required, used to differentiate L. major and L. turanica in the infected material collected from infected rodents.

Identification of a universally primed-PCR-derived sequence-characterized amplified region marker for an antagonistic strain of Clonostachys rosea and development of a strain-specific PCR detection assay.

We developed a PCR detection method that selectively recognizes a single biological control agent and demonstrated that universally primed PCR (UP-PCR) can identify strain-specific markers. Antagonistic strains of Clonostachys rosea (syn. Gliocladium roseum) were screened by UP-PCR, and a strain-specific marker was identified for strain GR5. No significant sequence homology was found between this marker and any other sequences in the databases. Southern blot analysis of the PCR product revealed that the marker represented a single-copy sequence specific for strain GR5. The marker was converted into a sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR), and a specific PCR primer pair was designed. Eighty-two strains, isolated primarily from Danish soils, and 31 soil samples, originating from different localities, were tested, and this specificity was confirmed. Two strains responded to the SCAR primers under suboptimal PCR conditions, and the amplified sequences from these strains were similar, but not identical, to the GR5 marker. Soil assays in which total DNA was extracted from GR5-infested and noninoculated field soils showed that the SCAR primers could detect GR5 in a pool of mixed DNA and that no other soil microorganisms present contained sequences amplified by the primers. The assay developed will be useful for monitoring biological control agents released into natural field soil.

Intraspecific variation in gamma-radiation resistance and genomic structure in the filamentous fungus Alternaria alternata: a case study of strains inhabiting Chernobyl reactor no. 4.

This is probably the first report on intraspecific variation in radiation resistance for filamentous fungi. It was revealed that natural ("field") strains of the filamentous fungus Alternaria alternata are extremely variable in response to gamma-irradiation ranging from supersensitive to highly resistant to radiation. At the same time nearly all strains originating from the highly radiation-polluted reactor of the Chernobyl (Ukraine) Nuclear Power Plant possessed high radiation resistance. The genome structure of strains studied by universally primed polymerase chain reaction (UP-PCR) was found to be well conserved in "reactor" but not in "control" strains. The "reactor" strains appear to be genetically adapted to this high radiation habitat by means of selection, thus providing a natural source of genetically homogeneous fungal lineages.