[Air pollution by particulate matter as the risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases].

In the review there highlighted contemporary concepts about the relation between the air pollution by the particulate matter (PM) and human morbidity and mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases. There are considered results of the short- and long-term PM impact on the human cardiovascular system in the dependence on size, origin, chemical composition, and concentration in the air. Authors performed the formalized description of the action and possible effects of PM on vascular endothelium presented as an example of systemization. Summarizing data respective knowledge collected in the literature were used in the article as an example.

A modular model of the apoptosis machinery.

UNLABELLED: Using a modular principle of computer hardware as a metaphor, we defined and implemented in the BioUML platform a module concept for biological pathways. BioUML provides a user interface to create modular models and convert them automatically into plain models for further simulations. Using this approach, we created the apoptosis model including 13 modules: death stimuli (TRAIL, CD95L, and TNF-α)-induced activation of caspase-8; survival stimuli (p53, EGF, and NF-κB) regulation; the mitochondria level; cytochrome C- and Smac-induced activation of caspase-3; direct activation of effector caspases by caspase-8 and - 12; PARP and apoptosis execution phase modules. Each module is based on earlier published models and extended by data from the Reactome and TRANSPATH databases. The model ability to simulate the apoptosis-related processes was checked; the modules were validated using experimental data. AVAILABILITY: http://www.biouml.org/apoptosis.shtml .

[Prediction of a non-small cell lung cancer sensitivity to cisplatin and paclitaxel based on the marker genes expression].

The goal of the present study was to define gene expression signatures that predict a chemosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to cisplatin and paclitaxel. To generate set of candidate genes likely to be predictive a current knowledge of the pathways involved in resistance and sensitivity to individual drugs was used. Forty four genes coding proteins belonging to following categories: ATP-dependent transport proteins, detoxification system proteins, reparation system proteins, tubulin and proteins responsible for its synthesis, cell cycle and apoptosis proteins were considered. Eight NSCLC cell lines (A549, Calul, H1299, H322, H358, H460, H292, and H23) were used in our study. For each NSCLC cell line a cisplatin and paclitaxel chemosensitivity as well as an expression level of 44 candidate genes were evaluated. To develop a chemosensitivity prediction model based on selected genes expression level a multiple regression analysis was performed. The model based on the expression level of 11 genes (TUBB3, TXR1, MRP5, MSH2, ERCC1, STMN, SMAC, FOLR1, PTPN14, HSPA2, GSTP1) allowed us to predict the paclitaxel cytotoxic concentration with high level of correlation (r = 0.91, p < 0.01). However, none model developed was able to reliably predict a sensitivity of the NSCLC cells to cisplatin.

[Analysis of polymorphism of the number of tandem repeats in the aggrecan gene exon G3 in the families with idiopathic scoliosis]. / Izuchenie polimorfizma chisla tandemnykh povtorov v ékzone G3 gena agrekana v sem'iakh s idiopaticheskim skoliozom.

In our previous study we showed that the inheritance of pronounced forms of idiopathic scoliosis was described by an autosomal-dominant major gene model assuming incomplete sex- and age-dependent penetrance. In the present study a search for the major gene was carried out by means of testing candidate genes. The aggrecan gene with known polymorphism of the number of tandem repeats in exon G3 was considered to be one of these candidate genes. Various alleles of this gene provide attachment of different number of chondroitin sulfate chains to a proteoglycan core protein, thereby changing functional properties of cartilage. Using the TDT analysis of 33 unrelated families consisting of a proband and his parents, we examined the existence of associations between the aggrecan alleles and the disease. Among nine alleles identified, three alleles with tandem repeats numbers of 25, 26, and 27 prevailed. We did not reveal preferable transmission of any of these alleles to the proband (TDT-statistics for different alleles varied from 0 to 0.71). There was also no correlation between the number of tandem repeats and the disease severity. Thus, either the polymorphism of the number of tandem repeats is not the direct reason for development of idiopathic scoliosis in the families tested, or its effect is too low to be detected using the samples examined.