Powdery mildew resistance of barley accessions from Dagestan.

Powdery mildew caused by the parasitic fungus Blumeria graminis (DC.) Golovin ex Speer f. sp. hordei Marchal is one of the most common diseases of barley. Growing resistant varieties can signif icantly minimize harmful effects of the pathogen. The specif icity in the interaction between the fungus and its host plant requires a continuous search for new donors of the resistance trait. The powdery mildew resistance of 264 barley accessions from Dagestan and genetic control of the trait in resistant forms were studied under f ield and laboratory conditions. Forty-seven barley lines carrying previously identif ied powdery mildew resistance genes were also examined. During three years, the experimental material was evaluated under severe infection pressure at the Dagestan Experiment Station of VIR (North Caucasus, Derbent). Juvenile resistance against the Northwest (St. Petersburg, Pushkin) pathogen population was evaluated in a climatic chamber. The genetic control of B. graminis resistance in the selected accessions was studied with the application of hybridological and molecular analyses. The level of genetic diversity of Dagestan barley for effective resistance to powdery mildew is very low. Only two accessions, VIR-23787 and VIR-28212, are resistant against B. graminis at both seedling and adult plant stages. The high-level resistance of breeding line VIR-28212 originating from barley landrace VIR-17554 (Ep-80 Abyssinien) from Ethiopia is controlled by the recessive gene mlo11. Accession VIR-17554 is heterogeneous for the studied trait, with the powdery mildew resistant genotypes belonging to two varieties, dupliatrum (an awnless phenotype) and nigrinudum (an awned phenotype). In accession VIR-23787, a recessive resistance gene distinct from the mlo11 allele was identif ied. This accession is supposed to be protected by a new, effective pathogen resistance gene.

[Results of palliative thermochemotherapy for colorectal cancer metastases to the liver].

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of thermochemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer metastases to the liver in palliative mode. Loco-regional hyperthermia in combination with chemotherapy was applied to 33 patients. The comparison group was of 40 patients who underwent only chemotherapy. 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine over standard regimens were used for chemotherapy in both groups. Loco-regional hyperthermia was carried out by capacitive method for 40-90 minutes at a maximum temperature within 41-44 ° C in tumor. No significant differences in dynamics of the overall status, clinical symptoms of the disease and biochemical parameters between the groups were revealed. In the group of patients with thermochemotherapy there were received a complete response in 3 patients (9%), partial response - in 14 patients (44%) while in the group of patients with chemotherapy - in 1 patient (3%) and 11 patients (28%), respectively. The significant difference was found in terms of objective response, i.e. summarized parameters of complete and partial regression (p=0.04). Thermochemotherapy compared with chemotherapy significantly increased survival rates of patients.

[Possibilities of local hyperthermia in treatment for edematous breast cancer patients].

The paper presents an analysis of literature on the results of treatment of edematous breast cancer as well as own data on the use of local hyperthermia for this pathology. Local hy- perthermia in combination with chemotherapy (thermochemo- therapy) was applied in 14 patients with secondary edematous breast cancer. Age of patients ranged from 37 to 72 years (mean 53 years). The study results indicate promising applica- tions of thermochemotherapy in edematous breast cancer: for operable patients as neoadjuvant, for inoperable patients as palliative method of treatment.

[Forensic medical diagnostics of the impact of the ligatures made from different materials in the cases of strangulation asphyxia].

The identification of the instruments of injury resulting from neck compression not infrequently encounters difficulties. We developed an experimental model allowing to evaluate the impact of ligatures made from different materials on non-biological objects. The use of spectral techniques including X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and emission spectral analysis made it possible to detect and identify the chemical elements transferred from the loop material onto the object's surface. Specifically, the transfer of the elements contained in the rubber of the electric cable braid was demonstrated. The presence of these elements together with microparticles of rubber at the surface of the study objects proved to be a diagnostic sign giving evidence of the impact of the rubber sheath of the electric cable leaving the strangulation mark on the object's surface.. The results of the present experiments confirm the possibility of using spectral methods along with other techniques for the identification of a ligature employed as the instrument of strangulation injury.

[Occupational risk of cardiovascular diseases in workers engaged into underground mining].

The article presents results of evaluation of a priori and a posteriori occupational risks for workers engaged into underground mining. Evidence is that work conditions of major occupational groups of workers engaged into underground mining, according to workplace certification, correspond to 3 class 3 jeopardy degree. A priori risk of diseases development corresponds to high (unbearable). Evaluation of cause-effect relationship between health disorders and work conditions revealed a medium degree of occupational conditionality for vascular regulation disorders and metabolic disorders, that can be considered as cardiorisk indicators.

[Analysis of changes in characteristics of arterial hypertension occupational risk in workers of nonferrous metallurgy].

The article covers changes in occupational cardiovascular risk for workers of nonferrous,metallurgy. Findings are that exposure to noise up to 94 dB with length of service increases possible atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. With 5 years of service, risk of the predicted conditions increases by 40.5%. When occupational exposure lasts over 5 years, risk of arterial hypertension increases. A group of workers without exposure to occupational factors appeared to have no connection between length of service and metabolic syndrome and arterial hypertension. Risk evolution modelling proved that risk of functional disorders in nonferrous metallurgy workers becomes unacceptable after 5 years of service (cardiovascular disorders are critical).

[The results of combined treatment of patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer using preoperative chemoradiotherapy].

The combined treatment with preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) was performed in 28 patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer (T3-4N0-3M0). Radiation therapy (RT) was carried out according to the scheme "1 + 1 Gy" (interval 4-5 hours) 5 times a week till 30-40 Gy. RT was accompanied by simultaneous polychemotherapy: vincristine (1.4 mg/m² per day), cisplatin (20 mg/m²--2-4 days) bleomicetin (10 mg/ m²--5, 6 days), cyclophosphamide (200 mg/m²--7, 8 days). Surgical treatment was carried out in 2.5-3 weeks after CRT. CRT allowed conducting organ-saving surgery on the larynx in 11 (52%) of 21 patients with T3 of primary tumor. All other patients underwent laryngectomy at a different volume. Five-year disease-free survival for the whole group in total (T3-4) was 88%. Relapses of regional metastases (MTS) occurred in 7 of 9 patients including in 4 of 5 patients after lymphadenectomy. The overall survival of patients with T3N02 was 71%, with T4N0-3--20%. Thus we have developed a method of treatment allowing to achieve high local relapse-free survival in patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer. However organ-saving effectiveness of preoperative CRT and its effect on regional MTS remain low, which requires further research in this direction.

[On the method of forensic medical examination of the injuries inflicted and traces left by the objects having the rubber surface].

A method of forensic medical examination of the injuries inflicted and traces left by the objects having the rubber surface is proposed. The method permits to reveal the facts of contact of injurious rubber things with biological and non-biological objects. Its application extends the possibilities for determining the direction of movement and the weight of a vehicle running over the body of the victim.

[Role of opportunistic infection causative agent in etiology of obstructive bronchitis and prolonged subfebrility in children].

AIM: Determine the role of opportunistic infections causative agents in ethology of obstructive bronchitises and prolonged subfebrilities in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 56 children with the diagnosis of obstructive bronchitis and 46 children with the diagnosis of prolonged subfebrility were examined for the presence of herpes, mycoplasma and pneumocystic infections. EIA, IIF, rapid culture method, PCR were used. RESULTS: The highest number of cases of mixed infection was detected in children with HHV-6 infection. Mixed infection was diagnosed 6 times more frequently in children with obstructive bronchitis and 9 times in children with prolonged subfebrility. The number of children with pneumocystosis in combination with other infections was 2.4 and 2 times higher than with monoinfection; with CMV infection--4 and 2 times; with HSV infection--5 and 4 times; EBV infection--6 and 3.7 times. The only exception was mycoplasmosis detected in children with obstructive bronchitis where the difference between the number of mono and mixed infection cases was insignificant. CONCLUSION: The data obtained give evidence of wide spread of opportunistic infections.

Resolution of HLA class I sequence-based typing ambiguities by group-specific sequencing primers.

The increasing demand for allele-level human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing has led the sequence-based typing (SBT) to become the preferred method. In turn, the steady increase in the number of HLA alleles driven by the adoption of SBT as the ultimate typing method leads to the ever increasing number of cis/trans ambiguities. Over the last few years, additional sequencing with the commercially available group-specific sequencing primers (GSSPs) has replaced sequence-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction and group-specific amplification as the means of resolving cis/trans ambiguities in many laboratories. Here we summarize our 3-year experience in designing and utilizing GSSPs for resolution of HLA class I ambiguities. The panel of GSSPs used in our laboratory includes 14 primers for HLA-A, 18 for HLA-B, and 13 primers for HLA-C. The panel resolves 99.9% of all ambiguities.

[Application of spectral methods for the identification of rubber-sole footwear as a trauma implement].

Kicking to death is estimated to account for nearly 0.5% of all forensic medical autopsies and an appreciable share of murders. Meanwhile, the true number of such cases seems to be much in excess of these statistical data due to the difficulty of ascertaining the nature of injuring tools. This paper reports the results of a comprehensive medico-criminalistic investigation of the traces left by kicking with rubber-sole footwear. It is shown that in certain cases the use of spectral techniques (X-ray fluorescence and emission-spectral analysis) in combination with autopsy data, results of comparative forensic biological studies, and inquest information makes it possible to identify a concrete trauma weapon.

[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: the role of parent and teacher questionnaire in the assessment of patient's social-psychological adaptation].

Parents and teachers of 342 school children, aged from 7 to 11 years, were questioned with the <> (SDQ) using non-randomized method. The following comparative analysis of SDQ items measured in parents and teachers of children with ADHD and age-matched controls was carried out. It has been shown that the spectrum of disturbances characteristic of ADHD is not confined only to main symptoms of ADHD. The results of questionnaire of both parents and teachers indicated the marked intensity of emotional disturbances, behavioral problems and difficulties in interactions with peers as well as the underdevelopment of social trends in behavior in children with ADHD compared to the controls. The data obtained confirm the necessity of treatment extension beyond the core symptoms with considering more general parameters of the patients quality of life.

DQB1 intron 3 sequences provide an insight into the evolution of DQB1 alleles and form the basis for intron-based sequencing.

The goal of this project was to obtain sequences of intron 3 of DQB1 in order to develop a sequencing-based typing protocol that provides a complete DQB1 exon 3 sequence. Current protocols do not provide complete sequences of exon 3, thus not allowing to differentiate common and well-documented alleles DQB1*0301 and *0319 and resolve some common trans-ambiguities with group-specific sequencing primer (GSSP) sequencing using positions 641 and 650. Samples homozygous for the most common DQB1 alleles were used to obtain intron 3 sequences, which were used to design intron-based primers for exon 3 amplification. The protocol was extensively validated; no allele dropouts were observed. The presented protocol allows differential typing of DQB1*0301 and *0319 and resolves some common trans-ambiguities.

[Effects of magnetolaser radiation on pathologic process in the kidneys in experimental renal colic].

The experiments were made on 22 rabbits with induced single or recurrent renal colic. Ten animals after renal colic were exposed to magnetolaser radiation. The histological examination of renal tissue demonstrated colic-related changes both in renal body corpuscle and ductules. Parenchimal edema, parabiotic processes in epitheliocytes and even necrosis of some cells were found. In case of recurrent colic the changes were severe, much more epitheliocytes were damaged, inflammatory leucocyte infiltration appeared. Magnetolaser radiation reduces the damage, eliminates leucocyte infiltration. Lymphocytic infiltrates formed in renal interstitium after two sessions of magnetolaser therapy indicate stimulation of cell immunity. The same processes develop also in the contralateral kidney. Their activity depends on the number of colics. Therefore, magnetolaser radiation has a protective action both on the isolated organ and body as a whole.

New HLA-C alleles identified in minority populations.

Twenty new human leukocyte antigen C alleles identified in 2200 minority individuals characterized by sequence-based typing.

[Influence of low intensive laser irradiation on ultrastructural changes in kidney tissue in experimental colic].

This investigation aimed at estimation of the influence of low-intensive laser irradiation on ultrastructural changes in renal tissue according to electronic microscopy data in case of experimental renal colic. The experiment was made on twenty rabbits with a single or recurrent colic. Ten animals after a single colic were exposed to low intensive laser therapy. Electronic microscopy showed that single renal colic is associated with marked ultrastructural changes in the proximal tubules. In recurrent colic the edema and destruction were more expressed in all nephron parts. Low intensive laser irradiation suppresses pathological processes in nephrocytes both after a single renal colic and after a recurrent renal colic; has a systemic effect on the body; stimulates compensatory processes in the contralateral kidney.

[Genetic control of the wheat Triticum monococcum L. resistance to powdery mildew].

Using hybrid analysis and test-clone method, 102 accessions of Triticum monococcum L. from the collection of the Vavilov All-Russia Institute of Plant Industry have been studied. This species of wheat has been found to by considerably polymorphic with respect to the resistance to the fungus Erysiphe graminis DC. f. sp. tritici Marchal. causing powdery mildew. The resistance of most accessions to the fungus population and clones is determined by dominant genes. In rare cases, the resistance was determined by recessive genes or one, two, or three oligogenes. A group of einkorn wheat accessions has been found in which the resistance to powdery mildew was determined by the same dominant factor or different but closely linked ones. Recessive resistance genes of T. monococcum differ from the recessive gene pm5 determining the resistance of T. aestivum plants. The genome of T. monococcum contains various genes of resistance to powdery mildew and is a potential source of effective genes to be used when selecting cultivated species of wheat for immunity.

The recombinant HLA-B*5518 allele supports the evidence of conserved haplotype association of rare alleles.

Allelic polymorphism of the major histocompatibility complex arises mostly from gene recombination. Intralocus gene recombination usually involves short fragments of DNA leading most commonly to single-nucleotide substitutions and rarely involves large fragments. Here, we report a new recombinant human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*5518 allele that has arisen via recombination of a large fragment of DNA spanning more than 70 nucleotides. During routine HLA typing of potential volunteer donors for the National Marrow Donor Program((R)), a new HLA-B allele was identified in two donors from Guam. The allele, B*5518, appears to be a product of recombination between B*5502 and B*40. Exons 1, 3, and 4 of the new allele belong to B*5502, whereas part of exon 2 belongs to one of B*40 alleles. Introns 1 and 2 appear to belong to B*55, suggesting that the recombination event may have occurred within the homologous parts of exon 2.