Dexras1 a unique ras-GTPase interacts with NMDA receptor activity and provides a novel dissociation between anxiety, working memory and sensory gating.

Dexras1 is a novel GTPase that acts at a confluence of signaling mechanisms associated with psychiatric and neurological disease including NMDA receptors, NOS1AP and nNOS. Recent work has shown that Dexras1 mediates iron trafficking and NMDA-dependent neurodegeneration but a role for Dexras1 in normal brain function or psychiatric disease has not been studied. To test for such a role, mice with germline knockout (KO) of Dexras1 were assayed for behavioral abnormalities as well as changes in NMDA receptor subunit protein expression. Because Dexras1 is up-regulated during stress or by dexamethasone treatment, we included measures associated with emotion including anxiety and depression. Baseline anxiety-like measures (open field and zero maze) were not altered, nor were depression-like behavior (tail suspension). Measures of memory function yielded mixed results, with no changes in episodic memory (novel object recognition) but a significant decrement on working memory (T-maze). Alternatively, there was an increase in pre-pulse inhibition (PPI), without concomitant changes in either startle amplitude or locomotor activity. PPI data are consistent with the direction of change seen following exposure to dopamine D2 antagonists. An examination of NMDA subunit expression levels revealed an increased expression of the NR2A subunit, contrary to previous studies demonstrating down-regulation of the receptor following antipsychotic exposure (Schmitt et al., 2003) and up-regulation after exposure to isolation rearing (Turnock-Jones et al., 2009). These findings suggest a potential role for Dexras1 in modulating a selective subset of psychiatric symptoms, possibly via its interaction with NMDARs and/or other disease-related binding-partners. Furthermore, data suggest that modulating Dexras1 activity has contrasting effects on emotional, sensory and cognitive domains.

Animal models of eating disorders.

Feeding is a fundamental process for basic survival and is influenced by genetics and environmental stressors. Recent advances in our understanding of behavioral genetics have provided a profound insight on several components regulating eating patterns. However, our understanding of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating, is still poor. The animal model is an essential tool in the investigation of eating behaviors and their pathological forms, yet development of an appropriate animal model for eating disorders still remains challenging due to our limited knowledge and some of the more ambiguous clinical diagnostic measures. Therefore, this review will serve to focus on the basic clinical features of eating disorders and the current advances in animal models of eating disorders.

[Effects of the parameters of washing in Haemonetics Cell Saver 5 on the quality of the obtained erythrocyte mass at different rates of centrifuge rotation].

The aim of the investigation was to study effectiveness of washing autoblood by Cell Saver 5 (Haemonetics ) device in using different rates of washing and centrifuging. Autoblood was washed with 1000 ml 0.9% NaCl with different rates (500, 800 and 1000 ml/min) at different rates of centrifuge (5650 r/min and 4350 r/min). It was shown that Haemonetics Cell Saver 5 secured the optimum composition of the end product when using high rates of washing (800 and 1000 ml/min) and standard rate of the centrifuge rotation (5650 r/min).

[The cardiac performance recovery pattern and central hemodynamics in patients with coronary heart disease during coronary bypass surgery under extracorporeal circulation].

Central hemodynamic parameters were retrospectively studied in 284 patients. After aortic declamping, sinus rhythm spontaneously restored in 179 patients (Group 1), ventricular fibrillation occurred in 105 (Group 2). The preoperative parameters were similar in both groups. The number of grafts and the time of aortic clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were higher in Group 1. In the groups, the volume of cardioplegic solution and the average dose of phenylephrine and nitroglycerin per perfusion did not differ. After CPB, the values of cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2. At the end of an operation and 3 hours after its termination, there were no differences between two groups. Twelve hours after surgery, cardiac output and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher in Group 1. Following 24 hours of surgery, heart rate was significantly greater in Group 1 than in Group 2 After surgery, all hemodynamic parameters were within normal physiological values. The mean duration and the degree of inotropic support did not differ in the groups. The incidence of atrial fibrillation, perioperative myocardial infarction, and low cardiac output syndrome were comparable in both groups. Thus, various modes of cardiac performance recovery affect perioperative hemodynamics; however, this impact is insignificant and does not make management policy be changed in such patients. After aortic declamping, ventricular fibrillation requiring for defibrillation is not a clinical sensitive factor that negatively affects the intra- and postoperative period.

[Characteristic features of allogenic transfusions in elderly patients with ischemic heart disease in operations under conditions of extracorporeal circulation and using cell saver].

It was shown that in spite of using different methods of saving the autologous patient's blood, cell saver included, in elderly patients operated upon under conditions of extracorporeal circulation the frequency and volume of allogenic transfusions was higher as compared with the younger patients, in elderly women the allogenic transfusions being necessary more frequently.

[Aprotinin in the correction of the hemodynamic syndrome of systemic inflammatory response in surgeries with extracorporeal circulation]. / Aprotinin v korrektsii gemodinamicheskogo syndroma sistemnogo vospalitel'nogo otveta pri operatsiiakh s iskusstvennym krovoobrashcheniem.

Seventy-three patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with artificial circulation (AC), were examined within a prospective randomized study. The patients were randomized between three groups. The group-1 patients were administered trasilol (T) according to the below scheme: 1 mln KIU from patient's admission to the surgery room to the time the skin incision is made plus 2 mln KIU from the moment the surgical approach is preformed to the beginning of AC. KIU was added to the artificial circulation apparatus (ACA) when it was initially filled (total T dose of 6 min KIU). T was administered in the group-2 patients similarly to the scheme used in group 1; however, it was not added to the ACA (total T dose of 3 mln KIU). And T was not used at all in the group-3 patients. The dose of mezatone administered at the AC stage was reliably higher in groups 3 and 4 versus group 1 (p < 0.05 and p < 0.1, respectively). Doses of mezatone that were used for the vasopressin management did not differ significantly between the groups after surgery. A statistically more significant increase of stroke index (deltaSI) and a decrease of general peripheral vascular resistance (GPVR--deltaGPVR) were registered in 12 hours after surgery in group 3 versus group 1, p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively. The negative deltaGPRV was also more pronounced versus the parameters observed in group 1 and 2 (p < 0.01 and p < 0.02, respectively). Therefore, T, when used at 6 mln KIU in AC, provides for a smaller-scope vasopressin management in AC. And, when it is used before AC at 3 mln KIU, T dose not diminish the dose of vasopressin management in AC. The intraoperative use of T (6 or 3 mln KIU) arrests a pronounced decreased postoperative deltaGPRVR and an increased postoperative CI irrespective of a dose.

[Efficacy of intraoperative reservation of auto-blood in surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease using Cell-Saver]. / Effektivnost' intraoperatsionnogo rezervirovaniia autokrovi pri khirurgicheskom lechenii ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa v usloviiakh primeneniia "Cell-Saver".

A prospective randomized study was made for 109 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with artificial blood circulation. Fifty-five (55) patients (Group 1--controls) were operated on without intraoperative autoblood reservation. Blood was sampled (7.6 +/- 0.3 ml/kg) at the surgery beginning in 54 patients (Group 2) with its subsequent transfusion after the artificial blood circulation was over. Cell saver was used in all patients intraoperatively (and, depending on indications--postoperatively). The dynamic content of hemoglobin, counts of erythrocytes, hematocrit parameters as well as the content of blood platelets and the content of blood-plasma total protein were examined postoperatively. The intraoperative autoblood reservation (7-8 ml/kg) made in CABG with cell saver for IHD patients maintains higher values of hemoglobin, erythrocyte counts and of hematocrit parameters during the early postoperative period, however, it does not reduce the frequency use or transfusion volume of donor blood.

[Oxygen transport and hemodynamic reactions in ischemic heart disease patients when reserving and reinfusing massive volumes of autoblood]. / Transport kisloroda i gemodinamicheskie reaktsii bol'nykh s ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa pri rezervirovanii i reinfuzii massivnykh ob"emov autokrovi.

The prospective randomized investigation was carried out in 61 patients with ischemic heart disease who were subjected to planned operations of coronary shunting under conditions of extracorporeal circulation. In the first group of patients autoblood as much as 24% of the calculated circulating blood volume (CBV) was reserved at the stage of isolation of the mammary artery, before systemic heparinization. The volume of the reserved blood of the patients of the second group was about 12% of CBV. It was shown that the reserving and reinfusion of massive (about 24% of CBV) volumes of autoblood in surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease under conditions of extracorporeal circulation failed to cause a substantial change of indices of central hemodynamics as compared to the reserving and reinfusion of autoblood in volume of about 12% of CBV.

[Blood-saving effectiveness of preoperative reservation of autoblood for surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease]. / Krovosberegaiushchaia éffektivnost' dooperatsionnogo rezervirovaniia autokrovi pri khirurgicheskom lechenii ishemicheskoi bolezni serdtsa.

A randomized prospective investigation included 143 patients (coronary shunting for IHD under conditions of extracorporeal circulation--EC). In 55 patients exfusion of autoblood followed by its transfusion after finishing EC was made before operation in 88 patients. A cell saver was used in all the patients from the moment of cutting the skin for the collection of blood and for the collection of perfusate left in the EC apparatus after finishing EC and for autotransfusion of the drainage fluid released after operation. The preoperative reservation of autoblood in patients with IHD for operations of coronary bypass under conditions of EC and using the cell saver gives higher values of hemoglobin and erythrocytes by the moment of discharge of the patients from the hospital, but non the less does not reduce the frequency of using homologous blood.

[Blood oxygen transport function during ftorotan application in patients with ischemic heart disease and low cardiac output]. / Kislorodotransportnaia funktsiia krovi pri primenenii ftorotana u bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa so snizhennym serdechnym vybrosom.

A total of 41 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) were retrospectively examined after coronary bypass grafting under the conditions of extracorporeal artificial blood circulation and with a combined anesthesia involving ftorotan. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1--11 patients with an initial cardiac index below 33 l x min-1 x m-2 (3.8 +/- 0.27 l x min-1 x m-2. Group 2--30 patients with an initial cardiac index below 2 l x min-1 x m-2 (1.7 +/- 0.04 l x min-1 x m-2, p < 0.01 as compared to group 1). As for group 1, there were reduced parameters, noted at the examination stages, in the oxygen-transport blood function, while they were found to be increased in group 2. Combined anesthesia with ftorotan was not found, in IHD patients with an initial low-output cardiac state, to disrupt essentially the oxygen transport during the pre-perfusion stage. The dynamic changes of the oxygen-transport parameters were shown to be related, in pre-perfusion stage, mainly with peculiarities of hemodynamic changes, in the early operative stage, in patients with different initial cardiac output states.

[Comparative evaluation of the efficacy of pre- and intraoperative reserving of autoblood in surgical treatment of ischemic heart disease and while using a Cell Saver]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka éffiktivnosti pred- i intraoperatsionnogo razervirovaniia autokrovi pri khirurgicheskom lechenii IBS v usloviiakh primeneniia Cell Saver.

A prospective investigation included 142 patients who had undergone operations of coronary bypass under conditions of extracorporeal circulation for ischemic heart disease. Two methods of taking blood were used: one day before operation and at the beginning of operation. The transfusion of autoblood was performed after cessation of the extracorporeal circulation. Cell saver was used during operations on all the patients. The preoperative reserving of autoblood promoted the greater degree of hemodilution (both during extracorporeal circulation and at the early postoperative period). The intraoperative reserving of autoblood led to saving higher indices of content of hemoglobin, number of erythrocytes and hematokrit index at the early postoperative period. However, when using the cell saver, the method of reserving blood (7-8 ml/kg of body mass) was of no substantial influence on the frequency of using the allogenic blood.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 alpha isoform in rat testis: cDNA cloning, characterization, and biochemical comparison of the recombinant testis and liver enzymes.

Previous data indicated a tissue-specific regulation of mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex, especially in the brain and testis. The lack of biochemical data on the rat testis PDH limits comparative analysis between testis and liver enzymes. Therefore, we have isolated a cDNA clone encoding rat testis PDH E1 alpha isoform, determined its nucleotide sequence, studied the tissue-specific expression, and characterized the recombinant protein produced in bacteria, compared to the liver counterpart. Our cDNA clone (2.2 kb) contained the identical open reading frame (from nt 974 to 2149) with that previously reported (Cullingford et al., 1993 Biochim Biophys Acta 1216:149-153) but contained a long 5' untranslated region, which has little identity to the other clone. Northern blot confirmed testis-specific expression of this isoform. Genomic DNA analyses by PCR amplification suggested this clone is a gene product distinct from its X-linked somatic counterpart. Our biochemical and kinetic analyses revealed that the purified recombinant rat testis PDH E1 (containing both E1 alpha and E1 beta subunits) was enzymatically active and phosphorylated in vitro by purified PDH-kinase p48 or p45, similar to the recombinant human liver enzyme. Our current data thus indicate that the differential regulation of testis PDH observed in the animal model may result from differential modulation of PDH-kinase or -phosphatase in this tissue rather than the presence of functionally different PDH E1 subunit.

Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the Lactobacillus casei lactate dehydrogenase gene.

An allosteric L-(+)-lactate dehydrogenase gene of Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 was cloned in Escherichia coli, and the nucleotide sequence of the gene was determined. The gene was composed of an open reading frame of 981 bp, starting with a GTG codon and ending with a TAA codon. The sequences for the promoter and ribosome binding site were identified, and a sequence for a structure resembling a rho-independent transcription terminator was also found.

[Central hemodynamics during correction of acquired aortic defects without artificial blood circulation]. / Tsentral'naia gemodinamika pri korrektsii priobretennykh aortal'nykh porokov bez iskusstvennogo krovoobrashcheniia.

The article discusses the results of study of central hemodynamics in patients with acquired aortic valvular diseases who were operated on under conditions of hypothermia without perfusion. The minute circulation volume reduced at a temperature of 26.8 degrees C to 63% of the initial level. The stroke volume did not change practically. The changes of the values of central hemodynamics in the stages of hypothermia (active and passive cooling) were irregular in character. No essential inhibiting effect of hypothermia on the cardiovascular activity was noted.