[Role of NO/cGMP signaling cascade in the development of opium dependency].

This study was aimed at evaluating the role of nitric oxide (NO)/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) cascade in mechanisms of morphine dependency formation. Morphine was introduced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections in rats twice per day over six days in doses increasing from 10 to 100 mg/kg, For evaluating the role of NO/cGMP cascade, NO synthase inhibitor L-N(G)-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was introduced (10 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 h prior to every injection of morphine. The L-NAME introduction led to enhancement of spontaneous withdrawal syndrome manifestations, which was accompanied by more pronounced decrease in the cGMP levels in midbrain and striatum. It is suggested that the region specific decrease in NO/cGMP cascade signaling activity in the brain can be among mechanisms determining the development of opium dependency.

[Pentylenetetrazole kindling in rats: whether neurodegeneration is associated with manifestations of seizure activity?].

Structural changes in neurons and oxidative stress in hippocampus were studied in rats "tolerant" (TR) and susceptible (SR) to tonic and clonic seizures in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling. The number of normal neurons was significantly decreased in CA1 subfield of TR hippocampus after 11 injections of PTZ, while in SR neuronal cell loss was evident in CA1 and fascia dentata. In both groups, neuronal cell loss was accompanied by increase in damaged neuron number in CA4 subfield. After 21 injections of PTZ, the decrease in normal neuron number was revealed in CA1 subfield of both TR and SR, while the number of damaged neurons was above the control level in hippocampal subfields CA1 and CA4 in TR only. Glutathione level was decreased in hippocampus of both TR and SR as compared with control rats. Thus, rats tolerant to PTZ-induced convulsions demonstrated oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in hippocampus. The results suggest that, in PTZ kindling model, oxidative damage of neurons resulting in neurodegeneration in hippocampus is not directly related to the convulsive activity.

[Characterization of enterobacteria producing the low-molecular-weight antibiotics microcins]. / Kharakteristika énterobakterii, produtsiruiushchikh mikrotsiny--nizkomolekuliarnye antibiotiki.

A comparative study of the morphological, cultural, physiological, and biochemical properties of the microcinogenic strains EcS 5/98, EcS 6/98, and EcB 214/99 with the known microcin C51 producer Escherichia coli M17(p74) showed that these strains belong to the species E. coli. The strains produced microcins with molecular masses lower than 10 kDa. Microcin biosynthesis was stimulated by a deficiency of nutrients in the cultivation media. Microcins were found to be resistant to thermolysin, but were degraded by pronase, protolichetrem, and the Bacillus mesentericus metalloproteinase. This indicated that microcins are peptides or contain peptides in their molecules. The study of cross immunity to microcins and the sequence of their genetic determinants showed that the microcins of strains EcS 5/98 and EcS 6/98 are of B type, whereas the microcin of strain EcB 214/99 presumably belongs to another type, since it suppresses the growth of the producers of C-type and B-type microcins. The new microcin producers possess antibacterial activity against natural isolates belonging to the genera Escherichia and Salmonella, against a wide range of colicinogenic Escherichia strains, and against the collection Salmonella cultures.

[Expression vector pLF22 for the lactic acid bacteria]. / Vektor pLF22 dlia ékspressii genov v molochnokislykh bakteriiakh.

The construction of the expression vector pLF22 for lactic acid bacteria is described. The vector contains a replicon of the cryptic plasmid pLF1311 from Lactobacillus fermentum and a multiple cloning site of the lacZ' gene integrated with the plasmid rep operon. Such a construction of the vector provides for the constitutive transcription of the cloned sequences lacking the terminators of transcription in all the strains that maintain the replication of the vector. The vector is suitable for a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including probiotic strains. The efficiency of the vector was verified by expressing the beta-galactosidase gene in a laboratory Escherichia coli strain and the synthetic gene of somatotropin releasing factor (SRF) in the probiotic strains of lactobacilli and enterococci. A recombinant strain with the SRF gene included in the diet of laboratory animals exerted an effect on their physiological and anthropometric parameters and on the histological characteristics of animal tissues.

[Unit of electrochemical oxidation of hemodialysis products--development and research]. / Blok élektrokhimicheskogo okisleniia produktov gemodializa--razrabotka i issledovanie.

Some aspects related with research and development of a key functional unit of the hemodilysis apparatus with the electrochemical regeneration of dialyzate, i.e. the electrochemical oxidation unit which enables a regulated electrochemical oxidation of the main organic hemodilysis products in the waste dialyzate, are described.

[Principles for constructing and electrochemical regenerator for dialysis solutions for the "artificial kidney" apparatus]. / Issledovanie printsipov postroeniia élektrokhimicheskogo regeneratora dializiruiushchego rastvora dlia apparata "iskusstvennaia pochka".

Controlled removal of the present quantities of renal metabolites from the waste dialysate can be effected by electrochemical regeneration of the worked-out dialysate, which is based on the use of a dialyzing solution electrolyzer (DSE). A theoretical rationale for DSE functioning modes has been provided. A reaction model of urea oxidation on bimetallic titanium-platinum electrodes has been drawn up. A procedure for calculating the basic technical data of DSE is proposed. The paper presents the design and experimental findings of a 4-section monopolar electrolyzer with electrode parallel-series connection that ensures discrete control of the electrolyzer's anode current provided that the preset anode current density is preserved.

[Etiological connection between juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and the chronic form of coxsackie virus infection]. / Etiologicheskaia sviaz' iuvenil'nogo revmatoidnogo artrita s khronicheskoi formoi koksaki-virusnoi infektsii.

Coxsackie group enteroviruses, mainly Coxsackie A13 virus, were detected in involved joints of 76% children with rheumatoid arthritis, adenoviruses (mainly adenovirus 5) in 68%, and rubella virus in 52%. Mixed virus infection was diagnosed in 80% patients. At least one of the above viruses was detected in 23 out of 25 examinees (92%). The authors discuss the contribution of different viruses to the etiology of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and consider that chronic Coxsackie virus infection is the most probable primary etiological factor of this disease.

[Various indices of collagen metabolism in children with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Nekotorye pokazateli obmena kollagena u detei, bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom.

To study collagen metabolism, 113 children aged 3 to 14 years afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis and 43 conventionally normal children were examined. The patients were examined for free and protein-bound hydroxyproline in the blood serum and synovial fluid and for total hydroxyproline in diurnal urine. The blood serum and synovial fluid showed a decline of free and a rise of protein-bound hydroxyproline, more marked in severe rheumatoid arthritis, its higher activity and damage to numerous joints. Excretion of free and total hydroxyproline with urine was significantly lower than in the normal children whatever the form of rheumatoid arthritis, its activity or number of the joints involved into the process. In view of the lack of hydroxyprolinuria in the sick children, the authors discuss a hypothesis of a potential initial decrease of collagen formation in children afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting its relationship to the "ligand pathology".

[Amyloidosis in children with rheumatoid arthritis and the results of its long-term treatment with colchicine]. / Amiloidoz u detei, bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom, i rezul'taty dlitel'nogo ego lecheniia kolkhitsinom.

The authors provide materials of a clinical follow-up of 23 children suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with an outcome of amyloidosis of the internal organs, supported by morphological examination in 13 patients. 10 patients were treated with colchicine in a dose of 1-2 mg/day lasting from 6 months to 2 years and 7 months. The beneficial effect was attained in 7 children. In 3 patients with RA standing over 8 years, the results were negative. Colchicine merits attention as an effective drug for the treatment of secondary amyloidosis in RA patients.

[Prostanoids in children with joint diseases]. / Prostanoidy pri zabolevaniiakh sustavov u detei.

The radiological method was used to study the level of prostaglandins E + E, GF2 alpha and LTB4 in the blood plasma and the synovial fluid in 138 children with rheumatoid and other arthritis and noninflammatory diseases of the joints. The role of PGE + A and LTB4 in the pathogenesis of arthritis and low participation of PGF2 have been established. Determination of prostanoids in biological fluids can be used as an additional laboratory index to reveal the general and local activity of the pathological process in rheumatoid and other arthritis and distinguish them from noninflammatory diseases of the joints.

[The evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of auranofin in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (the results of Soviet-American research)]. / Otsenka terapevticheskoi éffektivnosti auranofina pri iuvenil'nom revmatoidnom artrite (rezul'taty sovetsko-amerikanskogo issledovaniia).

The authors describe the results of prospective multicenter Soviet-American placebo-controlled 6-month investigations concerned with assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of auranofin in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). 231 patients with JRA were placed under observation. Auranofin was found to be slightly superior to placebo. The drug was tolerated well. It is noted that in the treatment of JRA, of importance are long (6-month) courses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

[Scintigraphy in the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylarthritis in children]. / Stsintigrafiia v diagnostike ankiloziruiushchego spondiloartrita u detei.

Scintigraphic examination of the joints and spine was performed in 42 children with Bekhterev's disease and rheumatoid arthritis to establish different accumulation of 99mTc-pyrophosphate. In Bekhterev's disease, elevated concentration of the radio-indicator was detected was detected in the joints of the lower limbs, including hip joints, in the sacroiliac parts of the spine and in heels. In rheumatoid arthritis, it was mainly detectable in the joints of the upper limbs and sometimes in the cervical part of the spine. Scintigraphy of the joints may be helpful in differential diagnosis of the above-indicated disease entities.

[Characteristics of microcirculatory changes in various forms of rheumatoid arthritis in children]. / Osobennosti mikrotsirkuliatsii pri razlichnykh formakh revmatoidnogo artrita u detei.

Using the method of biomicroscopy of bulbar conjunctiva with application of vessel gaging the authors made observation of 125 patients: 110--with RA and 15--with reactive arthritis. Marked vascular and intravascular changes in combination with dilatation of the capacitive vessels and narrowing of the resistive ones in vasculo-visceral form of RA correlated with the increase of immunological indices of the blood. In patients with vascular form of RA less marked changes of the vessels in dilatation of the capacitive part correlated with immunological indices of the synovial fluid.

[Clinical and morphologic parallels in children with rheumatoid mono- and oligoarthritis]. / Kliniko-morfologicheskie paralleli pri revmatoidnom mono- i oligoartrite u detei.

Altogether 88 children with rheumatoid arthritis were examined. Of these, 36 patients were with an injury to one articulation and 52 with an injury to one to three articulations. The clinical features of the articulation syndrome, the data obtained as a result of studying synovial fluid and of the morphological picture of synovial biopsy specimens made it possible to denote rheumatoid mono- and oligoarthritis in children as benign varieties of the disease with primarily local (in articulations) inflammatory process. The difference found was only qualitative as regards the intensity of the clinico-laboratory signs (more pronounced in patients suffering from oligoarthritis). This fact provides basis for making the diagnosis of monoarticular or oligoarticular rheumatoid arthritis.

[Yersinia arthritis in children]. / Iersinioznyi artrit u detei.

Clinical and laboratory evaluation of arthritis in 36 children with diagnosed enteric yersiniosis is presented on seven-years' follow-up data. Twenty-eight patients were found to have an active course of the disease developing in cycles with a favourable outcome and no residual effects. In eight cases arthritis took a protracted (up to 8-10 months) or chronic (over 12 months) course which ended in clinical and laboratory remission; in three of the eight cases the clinical picture was similar to that of rheumatoid arthritis, in two of which the diagnosis was not excluded by the morphological study of the synovial biopsy sample.