Specific Features of TLR4 Expression in Structural Elements of Placenta in Patients with Preeclampsia.

We studied the expression of TLR4 (Toll-like receptor 4) in the syncytiotrophoblast and vascular endothelial cells of terminal and stem placental villi in severe preeclampsia and normal pregnancy. In women of both groups, the expression of TLR4 was higher in the syncytiotrophoblast that in placental endothelial cells. In patients with severe preeclampsia, TLR4 expression in endothelial cells of terminal villi was 1.3-fold lower than in normal pregnancy. Lower TLR4 expression in the terminal villi endothelium in preeclampsia can underlie impaired recognition of damaging molecules with subsequent development of endothelial dysfunction and changes in immunological tolerance.

[The placental growth factor and fms-similar tyrosine kinase-1 as markers of pre-eclampsy in dynamics of pregnancy].

The article presents reference limits of concentrations of placental growth factor and fms-similar tyrosine kinase-1 and values of their ratio in dynamics of physiologic pregnancy and in female patients with pre-eclampsy of different degree of severity in 1 and III trimesters of pregnancy. It is established that in female patients with pre-eclampsy ratio of fms-similar tyrosine kinase-1 and placental growth factor significantly exceed ratio in female patients with physiological course of pregnancy. The degree of increase of values of ration between fms-similar tyrosine kinase-1 and placental growth factor correlates with degree of severity of pre-eclampsy.

Population dynamics of an algal-bacterial cenosis in closed ecological system.

The paper deals with microalgae-bacteria interrelationships in the "autotroph-heterotroph" aquatic biotic cycle. Explanations of why and how algal-bacterial ecosystems are formed still remain controversial. The paper presents results of experimental and theoretical investigations of the functioning of the algal-bacterial cenosis (the microalga Chlorella vulgaris and concomitant microflora). The Chlorella microbial community is dominated by representatives of the genus Pseudomonas. Experiments with non-sterile batch cultures of Chlorella on Tamiya medium showed that the biomass of microorganisms increases simultaneously with the increase in microalgal biomass. The microflora of Chlorella can grow on organic substances released by photosynthesizing Chlorella. Microorganisms can also use dying Chlorella cells, i.e. form a "producer-reducer" biocycle. To get a better insight into the cenosis-forming role of microalgae, a mathematical model of the "autotroph-heterotroph" aquatic biotic cycle has been constructed, taking into account the utilization of Chlorella photosynthates and dead cells by microorganisms and the contribution of the components to the nitrogen cycle. A theoretical study showed that the biomass of concomitant bacteria grown on glucose and detritus is larger than the biomass of bacteria utilizing only microalgal photosynthates, which agrees well with the experimental data.

Interferon system in women with genital papillomavirus infection receiving immunomodulatory therapy.

The interferon system was studied in women with genital papillomavirus infection. In most patients the interferon system was activated, while the ability of lymphocytes to respond to inductors decreased. Laserotherapy and immunomodulatory therapy with larifan, ridostin, and viferon for 1 month normalized blood interferon concentration (39.4% patients) and interferon-gamma production by lymphocytes in response to inductors (87.9% patients). After laser monotherapy these parameters returned to normal only in 13.2 and 7.6% patients, respectively. Correlation and regression analyses showed that changes in the interferon system were synchronized after immunomodulatory therapy. These data indicate that immunomodulatory therapy produces a complex effect on the interferon system. Measurements of blood interferon level can be used to predict the effect of further treatment with interferon-gamma inductors.

[Effects of interferon inducers on chemically-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis]. / Vliianie induktorov interferona na khimicheski indutsirovannyi mutagenez i kantserogenez.

The murine bone marrow cellular chromosomal aberration technique was used to reveal anticlastogenic effects of the natural interferon inductors ridostin and larifan, as well as the synthetic ones polyguacil and amyxin. The action of the interferon inductors was timed to the maximum production of interferon in the body. Anticarcinogenic, antitumor, and antimetastatic properties of the above interferon inductors were found by using classical experimental models of carcinogenesis. Some mechanisms of antimutagenic and coupled anticarcinogenic action of interferon inductors were considered. The natural interferon inductor larifan was found to have an antipromoter activity. The treatment regimen by using interferon inductors in combination with the immunomodulator thymosin, a thymic hormone, was under discussion.

[The effect of the interferon inducer ridostin on photrin-induced mutagenesis in bone marrow cells in mice]. / Vliianie induktora interferona ridostina na indutsirovannyi fotrinom mutagenez v kletkakh kostnogo mozga myshei.

The number of aberrant metaphases was used to assess the influence of a highly active interferon inducer--ridostin, a two-spiral RNA, on spontaneous mutagenesis and that induced by an antitumor drug photrin. A new property of ridostin, viz. the antimutagenic effect, was established. The effect may be important for protection of cells from potent mutagens such as cytotoxic drugs used for cancer treatment.