[Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography Possibilities in "High Risk" Plaque Identification in Patients with non-ST-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome: Comparison with Intravascular Ultrasound].

Aim      To evaluate structural characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques (ASP) by coronary computed tomography arteriography (CCTA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).Material and methods  This study included 37 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). 64-detector-row CCTA, coronarography, and grayscale IVUS were performed prior to coronary stenting. The ASP length and burden, remodeling index (RI), and known CT signs of unstable ASP (presence of dot calcification, positive remodeling of the artery in the ASP area, irregular plaque contour, presence of a peripheral high-density ring and a low-density patch in the ASP). The ASP type and signs of rupture or thrombosis were determined by IVUS.Results The IVUS study revealed 45 unstable ASP (UASP), including 25 UASP with rupture and 20 thin-cap fibroatheromas (TCFA), and 13 stable ASP (SASP). No significant differences were found between distribution of TCFA and ASP with rupture among symptom-associated plaques (SAP, n=28) and non-symptom-associated plaques (NSAP, n=30). They were found in 82.1 and 73.3 % of cases, respectively (p>0.05), which indicated generalization of the ASP destabilization process in the coronary circulation. However, the incidence of mural thrombus was higher for SAP (53.5 and 16.6 % of ASP, respectively; p<0.001). There was no difference between UASP and SASP in the incidence of qualitative ASP characteristics or in values of quantitative ASP characteristics, including known signs of instability, except for the irregular contour, which was observed in 92.9 % of UASP and 46.1 % of SASP (p=0.0007), and patches with X-ray density ≤46 HU, which were detected in 83.3 % of UASP and 46.1 % of SASP (р=0.01). The presence of these CT criteria 11- and 7-fold increased the likelihood of unstable ASP (odd ratio (OR), 11.1 at 95 % confidence interval (CI), from 2.24 to 55.33 and OR, 7.0 at 95 % CI, from 5.63 to 8.37 for the former and the latter criterion, respectively).Conclusion      According to IVUS data, two X-ray signs are most characteristic for UASP, the irregular contour and a patch with X-ray density ≤46 HU. The presence of these signs 11- and 7-fold, respectively, increases the likelihood of unstable ASP.

[Structural and functional state of the erythrocyte membrane in experimental carcinogenesis]. / Strukturno-funktsional'noe sostoianie membrany éritrotsitov pri éksperimental'nom kantserogeneze.

Structural and functional state of erythrocyte surface membrane was studied in C3H and C57B1/6 mice as well as in Wistar rats after 20-methylcholanthrene administration. It is shown that mice genetically susceptible to tumor growth as compared with mice resistant to carcinogenesis are characterized by an increased level of spinous erythrocytes (echinocytosis), higher membrane microviscosity and a tendency to increase polarity of their membrane lipid bilayer in the region of hydrophobic spine sound localization. The growth of chemically induced sarcomas was also accompanied by echinocytosis but with opposite changes in microviscosity and polarity of the erythrocyte membrane lipid bilayer. It is supposed that spinous erythrocyte transformation induced by different causes is based on different physicochemical factors.

[Glycine and alanine synthesis enzymes in the tissues of the silkworm during its development]. / Issledovanie fermentov sinteza glitsina i alanina v tkaniskh tutovogo shelkopriada v protsesse ego razvitiia

The activity of enzymes of glycine and alanine synthesis (glutamate-pyruvate aminotransferase, aspartate-beta-decarboxylase, threonine aldolase, serine hydroxymethyltransferase, alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase) is studied in haemolymph, fat body, fibroin and sericine divisions of silk gland of silkworm Bombyx mori at terminal period of larva development. Alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase activity in fibroin division of silk gland (34,6 mu mole of glycine/mg of protein/min-10(-3)), alanine aminotransferase--in sericine division (36,0 mu mole of alanine/mg of protein/min-10(-3)) aspartate aminotransferase 27,3 mu mole of glutamic acid/mg of protein/min-10(-3)) and alanine aminotransferase (35,8 mu mole of alanine/mg of protein/min-10(-3)) on fat body. The ratio of alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase/glutamate-pyruvate aminotransferase activities in posterior division of silk gland is near to glycine/alanine ratio in silk fibroin. The character of the enzymes activity in silkworm tissues correlates with the silk formation rate.