Comparative Study of the γH2AX Foci Forming in Human Lung Fibroblasts Incubated in Media Containing Tritium-Labeled Thymidine or Amino Acids.

We compared the formation of γH2AX foci (marker of DNA double-strand breaks) in human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 line) during their 24-h incubation in a medium containing 3H-labeled thymidine or amino acids (glycine, alanine, and proline) with specific radioactivity from 100 to 400 MBq/liter. A linear dependence of changes in the number of γH2AX foci on the specific radioactivity of the medium was revealed. The quantitative yield of DNA double-strand breaks under the influence of 3H-thymidine was more than 2-fold higher than under the influence of 3H-labeled amino acids. Comparative analysis of the yields of DNA double-strand breaks during cell incubation with 3H-labeled amino acids showed that 3H-alanine produced more pronounced effect that 3H-proline, which is consistent with the data on the content of their non-radioactive analogs in chromatin proteins.

Summary and analysis of Russian and international requirements for the safe management of very low level radioactive waste and production waste containing very low active radionuclides.

This article gives an overview of Russian legislation and international recommendations on the safe management regulation of the accumulated very low level radioactive waste (RW), provides the comparison of Russian and international criteria for RW attribution to this or that class and also the existing radiation safety requirements. This article also deals with the difficulties in management of production waste containing radionuclides. Criteria and standards were selected from international (ICRP and IAEA publications) and Russian (Federal Law on Management of Radioactive Waste, Government Decree on Radioactive Waste Classification, The Basic Sanitary Rules of Radiation Safety) documents for comparative analysis. International and Russian criteria for the radioactive materials attribution to RW and production waste containing radionuclides were compared during the analysis. A number of radionuclides for which it is necessary to establish such criteria have been identified. It was found that Russian classification of radioactive materials is generally consistent with IAEA classification. Practices of managing production waste containing radionuclides (protection from contact with the environment, the placement in the long-term storage facilities or disposal) depend on the period of potential hazard of radionuclides. The management of production waste containing radionuclides requires a separate system which should be developed in accordance with the RW management system.

Anomalous multi-order Raman scattering in LaMnO3: a signature of quantum lattice effects in a Jahn-Teller crystal.

The multi-order Raman scattering is studied up to fourth order for a detwinned LaMnO3 crystal. Based on a comprehensive data analysis of the polarization-dependent Raman spectra, we show that the anomalous features in the multi-order scattering could be the sidebands on the low-energy mode at about 25 cm(-1). We suggest that this low-energy mode stems from the tunneling transition between the potential energy minima arising near the Jahn-Teller Mn(3+) ion due to the lattice anharmonicity and that the multi-order scattering is activated by this low-energy electronic motion. The sidebands are dominated by the oxygen contribution to the phonon density-of-states, however, there is an admixture of an additional component, which may arise from coupling between the low-energy electronic motion and the vibrational modes.

[The efficacy of hand desimpatization after sympatectomy by complex regional pain syndrome].

64 patients operated on the reason of complex regional hand pain syndrome were examined with the use of laser spectral Doppler flowmetry and thermography. 33 patients had thoracoscopic Th3 ganglion clipation; 16 patients had brachial artery and vein perivascular sympathectomy; 15 patients periarterial sympathectomy on the level of brachial artery. Desympathisation (microcirculatory hemodynamic improvement and trophotropic microcirculation regulatory changes) was mostly apparent after thoracoscopic clipation and perivascular desympatisation in comparison with isolated periarterial sympatectomy.

[Development of new sinbiotic product with high contents bifidobacteria].

The article informs about influence of gum arabic, baker's yeast extract, solids-non-fat and mixture of gum arabic and insoluble wheat fibres (Equacia) on the amount of bifidobacteria in the milk.

[Animal and human cestoda infection (sparganosis)]. / Spirometroz (sparganoz) zhivotnykh i cheloveka.

Spirometrosis (sparganosis) in animals and man is a serious ecological problem in Russia, which requires the constant attention of veterinary and medical services. The paper presents data on the biology of the parasite Spirometra erinacei europaei Muller, 1937, an account and diagram of a developmental cycle, and original photos of parasitic eggs, plerocercoids, strobiles, and cestode joint from animals.

Monitoring statistical magnetic fluctuations on the nanometer scale.

Statistical fluctuations of the magnetization are measured on the nanometer scale. As the experimental monitor we use the characteristic photoluminescence signal of a single electron-hole pair confined in one magnetic semiconductor quantum dot, which sensitively depends on the alignment of the magnetic ion spins. Quantitative access to statistical magnetic fluctuations is obtained by analyzing the linewidth broadening of the single dot emission. Our all-optical technique allows us to address a magnetic moment of only approximately equal 100 micro(B) and to resolve statistical changes on the order of a few micro(B).

[Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide in systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: the results of an open, parallel, controlled, randomized, 12-month study]. / Pul's-terapiia metilprednizolonom i tsiklofosfamidom pri sistemnom iuvenil'nom revmatoidnom arterite: rezul'taty otkrytogo parallel'nogo kontroliruemogo randomizirovannogo 12-mesiachnogo issledovaniia.

The treatment for systemic JRA is among actual problems of pediatric rheumatology. To evaluate the effectiveness of pulse therapy (PT) with methylprednisolone 25-30 mg/kg/day for 3 consecutive days combined with cyclophosphamide 0.4-0.5 g/sq. m body surface area (BSA) on the 3rd day, repeated quarterly for 12 months, 30 patients with systemic JRA were randomized into 3 groups: 1--those with disease duration (DD) less than 2 years receiving PT (n = 13), 2--with DD 2 years and more (n = 8) receiving PT, and 3--with DD less than 2 years receiving no PT. Children in all 3 groups received concomitant medication (one of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate 10 mg/sq. m BSA/week and oral steroids). A rapid and significant improvement, according to systemic and articular manifestations as well as laboratory indices occurred in the 1st group, in most of the measured parameters exceeded effects in the other two groups and gave the opportunity to avoid the administration of oral steroids or to give the lesser initial dose. Side effects were minor and completely reversible.