Treatment of vertebrobasilar insufficiency due to stenosis and aneurysm of the vertebral artery. / Lechenie vertebral'no-baziliarnoi nedostatochnosti, obuslovlennoi stenozom i anevrizmoi pozvonochnoi arterii.

A dissecting aneurysm of the vertebral artery in the extracranial portion is a rare pathology. It may either have a symptom-free course or induce a clinical picture of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. To the main methods of surgical treatment belong endovascular techniques and resection of an aneurysm with shunting of the V3 segment of the vertebral artery. Presented in the article is a clinical case report regarding successful surgical management of a dissecting aneurysm of the extracranial portion in a young woman presenting with a clinical course of vertebrobasilar insufficiency and treated by means of ligation of the vertebral artery in the V1 segment and autovenous shunting from the external carotid artery to the V3 segment of the vertebral artery.

Probiotic strains of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria alter pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines production in rats with monosodium glutamate-induced obesity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus casei IMV B-7280, Bifidobacterium animalis VKL, B. animalis VKB on the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines production in Wistar male rats with monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity. It was established that neonatal administration of MSG to rats leads to increasing levels of the interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-12, and to decreasing ofthe IL-4, IL-10 and tumor growthfactor (TGF)-ß levels in the bloodserum. After administration of the B. animalis VKL - B. animalis VKB - L. casei IMV B-7280 composition to obese rats the level of the IL-lP in blood serum wasn't differ from that in the obese rats, that didn't receive of the probiotic bacteria. But there was no statistically signifcant difference comparing with intact rats. The level of the IL-12B p4O in blood serum was decreased under influence of the B. animalis VKL - B. animalis VKB - L. casei IMV B-7280 composition (18.9%, p < 0.05) and B. animalis VKL (10.5%, p < 0.05) compared with obese rats, not receiving probiotic bacteria, but remained higher than in intact animals. After administration to obese rats ofthe B. animalis VKL - B. animalis VKB - L. casei IMV B-7280 composition the levels ofthe IL-4, IL- 10 and TGF-ß increased in blood serum comparing with obese rats, not receiving probiotic bacteria. The level of the IL-10 also increased under influence of the B. animalis VKB, and IL-4 - under influence of the L. casei IMVB-7280. Our results suggest that these probiotic bacteria and probiotic composition are able to down-regulation the inflammation in rats with MSG-induced obesity but the strongest anti-inflammatory effects have probiotic composition. The ability of lactobacilli and bifdobacteria to alter the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines production, opens perspectives to create new treatments for obesity and metabolic syndrome based on probiotics.

Determination of main low molecular weight antioxidants in urinary bladder wall using HPLC with electrochemical detector.

The aim of the present work was to develop validated HPLC method using electrochemical detector for simultaneous detection of low molecular weight antioxidants (LMWA) in urinary bladder. Furthermore, the method was applied to study the distribution of LMWA in urinary bladder wall. The ascorbic acid (AA), glutathione in reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) form and uric acid (UA) were resolved by isocratic elution from C18 reversed-phase column. The bladder tissue sample preparation involved extraction with meta-phosphoric acid solution for LMWA stabilization. The AA, GSH and UA tissue peak was identified by different approaches. The obtained method validation parameters were in acceptable range: intra-day precision (<4.4%), intra-day accuracy (<8.4%), inter-day precision (<9.4%) and inter-day accuracy (<15.6%). Additionally, the method provided good linearity (r2>0.99) and recoveries (98.9-112.6%). The distribution of LMWA in urinary bladder was determined by measuring their concentration in bladder wall layers: urothelium, lamina propria, muscularis and serosa. The validated method was able to quantify the reduced form of all three LMWA in all four bladder wall layers. The LMWA concentrations were decreasing from urothelium to serosa except of UA. The developed HPLC method with electrochemical detection of LMWA is simple, fast and can be used for simultaneous quantification of LMWA in tissues, which contain low concentrations of antioxidants.

Antioxidative properties of pig vesical mucosa: a comparison with gastric and intestinal mucosa.

The antioxidative properties of pig urinary bladder mucosa were compared with those of gastric and intestinal mucosa using nitroxide radicals. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method was used to monitor the metabolic processes of nitroxides in mucosae. The reduction of nitroxides was measured on intact luminal surfaces of gastric, intestinal, and urinary bladder mucosa, as well as in homogenates of mucosa surface layer. Furthermore, N-ethylmaleimide and ascorbate oxidase have been used to characterize the reducing agents in urinary bladder mucosa homogenates. The nitroxide concentration decrease on intact mucosa of the urinary bladder was significantly different from those of the gastric and the intestinal mucosa. The concentration decrease was the largest for intestinal mucosa and the smallest for bladder mucosa. On the other hand, homogenates exhibit the largest nitroxide reduction rates for the bladder mucosa and the smallest for the gastric mucosa. In the bladder surface layer homogenates ascorbate and thiol-containing reducing agents were found and their coupled action in the nitroxide reduction process was established. The mucosa of urinary bladder is protected against nitroxide free radicals by a relatively low permeability and very active endogenous reducing agents. The gastric and intestinal mucosa are more permeable and/or have greater antioxidant activity on their surface. The reduction of nitroxides in the urinary bladder mucosa occurs via the ascorbate-thiol coupled reducing system.

Identification of monoclonal antibody At5 as a new member of HNK-1 antibody family: the reactivity with myelin-associated glycoprotein and with two brain-specific proteoglycans, phosphacan and neurocan.

Monoclonal antibody At5 was primarily developed against chordin, a notochord-specific antigen of Acipenseridae (sturgeon fishes). In higher vertebrates the antibody reacted mainly with neural tissue antigens. In this study we have shown that the specificity of monoclonal antibody At5 is similar to that of antibodies of HNK-1 family which react with two glycolipids and with several high molecular weight glycoconjugates of neural tissue. We have demonstrated by protein sequencing and immunoblotting that one of At5 target antigens of human brain is dMAG, a derivative of myelin-associated glycoprotein. In the preparations of At5 antigens proteoglycans phosphacan and neurocan were identified by immunoblotting with specific monoclonal antibodies 6B4 and 1G2, respectively. The distribution of At5 and 6B4 immunoreactivity was studied on sections of mixed oligoastrocytoma. Oligodendroglioma area of this tumor was intensely stained with both antibodies, whereas astrocytoma area did not exhibit any At5 or 6B4 immunoreactivity.

[Ontogenetic expression of neurochordin D--a specific glycoprotein from human brain]. / Ontogeneticheskaia ékspressiia neirokhordina D--spetsificheskogo glikoproteina mozga cheloveka.

Neurochordins constitute a family of several immunologically interrelated nervous tissue glycoproteins occurring in the soluble protein fraction of the brain of all vertebrate species including human. The only exception is neurochordin D which, as it has been shown in the present study, is present in human brain but not in the brains of rats and chickens. Human neurochordin D is first detected in the brain at the age of 18 months and further persists through life. A highly purified neurochordin D preparation has been obtained by immunoaffinity chromatography combined with biochemical protein fractionation. Quantitative carbohydrate analysis revealed the presence of Gal, Man, GlcNAc, Fuc and GalNAc in the neurochordin D preparation. The sensitivity of neurochordin D to neuraminidase suggests the presence of sialic acids.

[Insertion mutants of the vaccinia virus. The effect of inactivating E7R and D8L genes on the biological properties of the virus]. / Insertsionnye mutanty virusa ospovaktsiny. Vliianie inaktivatsii genov E7R i D8L na biologicheskie svoistva virusa.

The integrative plasmids with the expressive marker gene for beta-galactosidase were constructed for insertional inactivation of nonessential genes E7R and D8L of vaccinia virus located in the central region of the viral genome. Inactivation of the D8L gene in the strains WR and LIVP results in smaller viral plaques in the culture of chicken embryo cells, decreases the viral ability to propagate in mouse brain and has no effect on the size and character of damage in intracutaneous infection of rabbits. Inactivation of E7R gene did not affect the known biological properties of the virus. The existence of the nonessential genes in the central region of the viral genome, inactivation of which does not result in viral attenuation, can be used for increase of antigenic activity of the live attenuated vaccines.

[The responses of frog vestibular neurons to the combined temperature microstimulation of the semicircular canals]. / Otvety vestibuliarnykh neironov liagushki na kombinirovannuiu temperaturnuiu mikrostimuliatsiiu polukruzhnykh kanalov.

Controlled temperature microstimulation of the frog semicircular canal (heating of 2 sec duration, peak amplitude from 0.5 to 5.0 degrees C above the temperature level of the labyrinth, 17-19 degrees C) may be considered as an analogue of angular acceleration in the plane of the canal. Combined temperature microstimulation of some canals may be considered as a physical model of complicated space rotations. Responses of the frog vestibular nuclei's neurons (n = 278) to temperature microstimulation showed that 80% of them had inputs from 1-2 canals and only 20% of neurons--from 3-6 canals. 201 neurons (72.3%) had ipsilateral inputs only; 14 neurons (5%)--contralateral ones only; 63 neurons (22.7%) had both inputs. The most effective excitatory inputs were ipsilateral horizontal, ipsilateral posterior and contralateral posterior canals; the least effective were contralateral horizontal and contralateral anterior canals. Latent canal inputs (excitatory as well as inhibitory) seem to exist as revealed in combination with the effective inputs.

[Vaccinia and ectromelia recombinant viruses, causing an infection, characteristic for ectromelia, in mice]. / Rekombinanty virusov ospovaktsiny i éktromelii, vyzyvaiushchie kharakternye dlia virusa éktromelii porazheniia u myshei.

Ten recombinants between the viruses of vaccinia and ectromelia were isolated that cause the ectromelia virus specific lesions in mice. The structure of recombinant viral genomes, the efficiency of viral propagation in mice, the nature of lesions induced by viruses have been studied. Eight of obtained recombinants have a DNA insertion originating from the right end of ectromelia viral genome, nine recombinants have an insertion originating from the left end, seven recombinants possess both insertions. The latter recombinants have more pronounced pathogenicity for mice. Both revealed regions are supposed to define the specific pathogenicity of ectromelia virus for mice.

Biologic properties and genome structure of the recombinants between ectromelia and rabbitpox viruses.

Administration of rabbitpox virus (RPV) DNA, cleaved into 2 fragments by SmaI restrictase, into ectromelia virus (EMV)-infected chick fibroblast cells yielded recombinants whose properties were characteristic of both parents. Some recombinants capable of producing RPV-type lesions upon intracutaneous (i.c.) infection of rabbits could also produce EMV-specific lesions upon footpad inoculation of mice. The analysis of some recombinants as well as vaccinia virus strains has shown that the ability of the virus to reproduce when injected into the mouse footpad is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for production of EMV-type lesions. According to restrictase analysis of recombinant DNA, the genome of recombinants mainly consists of RPV DNA sequences with insertions of small EMV DNA fragments.

[Physical mapping of DNA-temperature-sensitive mutations of vaccinia virus]. / Fizicheskoe kartirovanie DNK-temperaturochuvstvitel'nykh mutatsii virusa ospovaktsiny.

Four DNA-temperature-sensitive (ts) mutations were mapped in the genome of vaccinia virus (VV). Physical mapping of these mutations was performed by restriction analysis of the genomes of recombinants between VV DNA- ts mutants and ectromelia virus as well as by the marker rescue with cloned restriction fragments of VV DNA. One of the mutations was mapped on the HindIII-E-fragment. Biochemical studies of this mutant indicate that the mutation is not in the DNA polymerase gene which is located on the same fragment. The other three mutations were mapped in a 10 kilobase region in the middle of the HindIII-D-fragment. As shown previously, these mutations inactivate different genes, and the products of these genes participate directly in the DNA synthesis. Thus, at least three proteins involved in the VV DNA synthesis are encoded by neighboring genes in the central part of the viral genome.

[Experimental evaluation of the pathogenicity of Lassa virus variants]. / Eksperimental'naia otsenka patogennosti variantov virusa Lassa.

Pathogenicity for guinea pigs and white mice of various Lassa virus variants: native, having had 1 passage in Vero cell culture and 4 passages in newborn white mouse brain; a virus having gone through 10 passages in Vero cells and 8 mouse brain passages (variant No. 10); a small-plaque clone derived from variant No. 10 by the method of plaque-to-plaque cloning (variant No. 11k), was studied. Both the native virus and variant No. 10 were found to be similarly pathogenic for susceptible laboratory animals, while the small-plaque variant of Lassa virus became non-fatal for guinea pigs and white mice. The decline of pathogenic properties in variant No. 11k was shown not to be associated with the presence of temperature-sensitive mutants or defective interfering particles.

Studies on heterotypic interference between influenza A and B viruses: a differential inhibition of the synthesis of viral proteins and RNAs.

Mixed infection of MDCK cells with influenza A and influenza B viruses leads to a reduction in the rate of synthesis of haemagglutinin (HA) and nucleoprotein (NP) as compared to their rate of synthesis in cells separately infected with these viruses. The reduction is much stronger for influenza A virus proteins. The synthesis of the nonstructural NS1 protein of both viruses is relatively resistant to the heterotypic interference. The synthesis of virus-specific mRNAs exhibits the same pattern: the formation of the transcripts of HA and NP genes is much more drastically reduced than the synthesis of NS gene transcripts. The effect is strongly dependent on the multiplicity of infection and on the ratio of influenza A and B viruses in the inoculum. Primary transcription in the presence of cycloheximide is almost unchanged in doubly infected cells as compared to single infection, and no indication of differential inhibition has been observed. The results are discussed in connection with the mechanism of heterotypic interference and the regulation of influenza virus protein synthesis.

Processing of influenza HA protein in MDCK cells: components with different mobilities in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and their precursor-product relationships.

In influenza virus-infected MDCK cells labelled with 14C-chlorella hydrolysate or 35S-methionine a virus-specific protein component is revealed migrating slightly faster than HA protein in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Under chase conditions the component disappears either completely or partially, with a concomitant intensification of the HA band. The rate and extent of this transition are strain-dependent. Both the HA band and the faster moving component are not revealed if the cells are labelled in the presence of 20 mM of D-glucosamine. In primary cell cultures of chick embryos a single HA band with a mobility similar to that of the faster moving component in MDCK cells has been observed. It is suggested that the transition of the label from the faster moving component to the HA band reflects the final step of HA processing specific for MDCK cells.

Stability in Newcastle disease virus-infected cells of HN protein which lost its functional activity under conditions of protein synthesis inhibition by cycloheximide.

Chick embryo cell cultures were infected with Newcastle disease virus (strains Italia, Beaudette and B1), labelled with 14C-amino acids from 5 to 6 hr post infection (p.i.), incubated in chase conditions from 6 to 10 hr p.i. in the presence or absence of cycloheximide (100 microgram/ml) and analyzed by slab polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. In chase experiments the HN protein was stable in all three strains. The haemagglutinating activity of cell homogenates was greatly reduced after the addition of cycloheximide in tests with Beaudette and B1 strains; treatment of the homogenates with neuraminidase from Vibrio cholerae did not influence this effect.

[Differences in the polypeptide composition of virulent and avirulent strains of Newcastle disease virus in reproduction in chick embryo fibroblast culture]. / Razlichiia v polipeptidnom sostave virulentnykh i avirulentnykh shtammov virusa bolezni N'iukasla pri reproduktsii v kul'ture fibroblastov kuringo embriona.

The loss of the capacity for secondary infection of the cells in reproduction of avirulent Newcastle disease virus strains in chick embryo fibroblast cultures was found. This loss was shown to be associated with changes in the polypeptide composition of the virions. In virions of the avirulent Queensland strain incapable of infection CEF cultures an additional polypeptide was found with molecular mass of 67,000 daltons which was lacking in virions of the virulent Beaudette strain and corresponded to F0 protein of paramyxoviruses.