[Dynamic surface tension of blood and synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis]. / Dinamicheskoe poverkhnostnoe natiazhenie krovi i sinovial'noi zhidkosti pri revmatoidnom artrite.

AIM: Assessment of the dynamic surface tension (DST) of blood serum (BS), synovial fluid (SF) in various courses of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty three patients with RA and 63 apparently healthy individuals were examined. DST of BS and SF was determined in the computer-aided tensiometer and some blood biochemical parameters were also measured. RESULTS: DST of BS in patients with RA were found to be higher than the normal values and some parameters c beta 2 and beta 3) of BS DST did not significantly differ from the normal values whereas others (beta 1 and gamma proved to be much lower. Depending on the disease course variants, there were some differences in these DST changes. There was a feedback between DST parameters and the levels of immunoglobulins, beta 2-microglobulin, and lipids in blood. CONCLUSION: Assessment of BS and SF DST may be useful in the differential diagnosis of RA, in the determination of its intensity and prognosis, and therapeutical efficiency.

[Changes in the dynamic surface tension of the blood and urine during the development of visceritis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Izmeneniia dinamicheskogo poverkhnosnogo natiazheniia krovi i mochi pri razvitii vistserita u bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom.

The condition was studied of the dynamic surface tension of biologic fluids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using a method of maximum pressure in the vesicle with the aid of computerized tensiometer MPT-1 "Lauda" (Germany). Rise in indices of blood serum surface tension with diminution of the slope of tensiogram curves may suggest the development of pathology of the heart and liver, while increase in the same parameters of urine might be indicative of the coming nephropathy.

[The dynamic surface tension of the blood and urine in chronic glomerulonephritis]. / Dinamicheskoe poverkhnostnoe natiazhenie krovi i mochi pri khronicheskom glomerulonefrite.

Dynamic surface-tension (S-T) was investigated of blood and urine of healthy individuals and patients with chronic glomerulonephritis by the proposed method of maximum pressure in a bubble with the aid of the computer-assisted device tensometer MPT-1 (Lauda, Germany). Patterns of changes in dynamic and static S-T were found out as were those of the slope of the curve in patients with mesangioproliferative and mesangiocapillary variants of the condition, in nephrotic syndrome and chronic renal insufficiency. Correlation type comparison was performed of physical-and-chemical properties of biological fluids to parameters characterizing protein and fat exchange. Relationship between dynamic S-T and biochemical composition of blood and urine was revealed. Diagnostic value of results of the studies made is discussed.

Inhibitory effect of calf fetuin on the cytotoxic activity of LAK cell-derived factors and tumor necrosis factor.

A protein-inhibiting LAK cell-mediated cytotoxicity was isolated from a LAK cell-conditioned medium. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of this protein appeared to be identical to fetal calf fetuin. Pure isolated fetuin, as well as commercially available preparations of this protein, were shown to inhibit cytotoxic activity of both cytotoxic proteins released by LAK cells and TNF.

A farnesylated domain in the G protein gamma subunit is a specific determinant of receptor coupling.

The interaction between receptor and a heterotrimeric G protein (alpha beta gamma) is thought to involve the intracellular loops of receptors and specific domains on the G protein. Here we show that a chemically farnesylated peptide (P5far) specific to the carboxyl-terminal domain (amino acids 60-71: DKNPFKELKGGC) of the gamma subunit of the G protein, Gt, directly stabilizes the active form of rhodopsin, metarhodopsin II (M II), and also uncouples rhodopsin-Gt interaction. Peptide activity is significantly affected by the absence of the isoprenoid moiety. Moreover, we show that altering the amino acid sequence of the farnesylated peptide by randomizing the sequence, substituting hydrophobic with hydrophilic residues (F64T; L67S) or deleting amino acids 60-66 significantly reduces the ability of the peptide to stabilize M II. This indicates that both the farnesyl moiety and the structure of the gamma subunit tail are specific determinants of receptor-G protein interaction. These results also suggest a general function for the family of G protein gamma subunits in signaling.

[Isolation and characteristics of catalytic antibodies to DNA in systemic lupus erythematosis]. / Vydelenie i kharakteristika kataliticheskikh antitel k DNK pri sistemnoi krasnoi volchanke.

A method for purifying DNA-specific catalytic antibodies based on affinity chromatography on protein A Sepharose and on both modified and non-modified DNA-cellulose as well as HPLC has been developed. The elution conditions with high yields of DNA-hydrolyzing activity of antibodies have been optimized. The biochemical and immunological properties of catalytic antibodies have been examined. The kinetic parameters of the enzyme interaction with an oligonucleotide substrate have been determined. The influence of effectors on DNA hydrolysis by antibodies has been investigated.