Diagnostics possibilities of erythrocytes analysis by the method of laser interference microscopy.

The morphofunctional state of erythrocytes significantly changes by the onset and progression of various diseases, as well as in critical conditions, injuries, accompanied by severe tissue damage. This leads to a violation of microcirculation and has an effect on hemorheology in general. In connection with this, there is a need for the development of adequate methods for assessing the functional activity of erythrocytes. The aim of the work was to study the possibilities of laser interference microscopy in the analysis of the functional state of erythrocytes. The results allowed us to quantify the state of the phase height and phase diameter of erythrocytes. Analysis of the surface nanostructure gave a qualitative assessment of the functional activity of cells. The following patterns were revealed: the action of adrenaline causes the appearance of echinocytes with an increase in phase height and decrease phase diameter and the appearance of spicules on the surface of cells. The action of cortisol leads to a decrease in the phase height and the phase diameter with the appearance of numerous loosening of the structure of the cell surface. Moreover, the traditional method of analyzing the distribution of erythrocytes in a population by morphology (discocytes, stomatocytes, and degeneratively altered cell forms) did not reveal statistically significant differences. Thus, the results indicate that the interference microscopy method allows a qualitative assessment of the morphofunctional activity of native cells. This increases the information content of the analysis and leads to the objectification of data on the functional capabilities of erythrocytes.

SPS technique for ionizing radiation source fabrication based on dense cesium-containing core.

The work presents a novel method for fabrication of the high-quality ionizing radiation source (IRS), which is promising to replace unsafe commercial products based on 137CsCl prohibited by IAEA. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique has been applied to produce dense ceramic and glass-ceramic matrixes from Cs-containing (˜13.5 wt.%) zeolite yielding in non-dispersible cores sealed in the container of radiation-resistant steel (J93503, US standard). One-stage SPS regimes to provide high-quality product have been optimized: sintering temperature <1000 °C, heating and holging duration 13 and 5 min, respectively, pressure 24.5 MPa. XRD, SEM, EDX, BET, XFS and solid-state MAS NMR 133Cs methods prove exceptional physico-chemical and mechanical characteristics of the obtained materials, namely: density 99.8% from theoretical, compressive strength ˜477 MPa, leaching rate 10-4-10-6 g cm-2 day-1. Results of the investigation can be promising for fabrication of the IRS cores on a large scale as done for similar Russian products RSL, IGI-C, M37C, GID-C.

[The evaluation of genotoxic effects in buccal epithelium under disorders of adaption status of organism.]

The cyto-morphologic analysis of buccal epithelium is one of technique of evaluation of adaptation status of organism and xenogeneic intoxication. The analysis of reactivity of cells of buccal epithelium is used to obtain information concerning genetic alterations in human cells that is extremely important for proper decision making related to issues of population health protection. The smoking results in manifestation of tension of adaptation mechanisms and significant increasing of risk of development cytogenetic disorders in cells of buccal epithelium of oral cavity. The study was carried out concerning morphology of buccal epithelial cells of smoking youths. The cytogram demonstrated a reliable decreasing of number of normal cells and increasing of percentage of cells with various cytogenetic alterations. The cells with micro-nuclei are observed twice more often that can be considered as an integral indicator of genetic disorders in inter phase. In smokers, among cells with signs of completion of nucleus destruction the cells with karyorrhexis are registered reliably more often. The results of micro-nucleus test are an unfavorable prognostic indication testifying high degree of genotoxicity of tobacco smoke and meaning a disorder of cytogenetic homeostasis and decreasing of adaptation reserve of organism.

[Theoretical study of fluorescence of photosynthetic pigments at complex dependence of intensity of exciting light on time].

Now the methods using the radiance with complex dependence of light intensity on time are applied to research of photosynthesis by means of fluorescence, exciting photosynthetic pigments. One of these methods is applied in PAM-fluorometers--the commercial devices currently widely used to investigate a state of photosynthesizing systems. However, if excitation is performed in this way, the question, what components of fluorescence are registered at an output of such devices, remains to be open-ended. In this work an attempt to analyse this task has been made.

[Molecular genetic determinants of intraspecific polymorphism of the phytopathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica].

The review summarizes the current evidence on the phytopathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica, which is a classic object for studying hypovirulence. Phenotypic manifestations of hypovirulence and themolecular mechanisms of action of the mycovirus Cryphonectria hypovirus (CHV) infecting the fungus are described in detail. Genetic determinants of vegetative incompatibility in C. parasitica (a phenomenon increasing polymorphism of the fungus and preventing CHV expansion) are considered. The data on C. parasitica polymorphism are correlated with the data on the distribution of different CHV species in the European, American, and Asian populations of the fungus.

[The role of altered respiratory mechanics and systemic inflammation in the development of dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Evaluation of the state of respiratory muscles during lung hyperinflation and their role in the development of dyspnea in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease involved 18 patients with stage III-IV disease (mean age 66.1 +/- 6.5 yr; mean duration of the disease 16.7 +/- 8.4 yr). It included measurements of static lung volume, bronchodilatation response to beta-2 adrenomimetic, strength of respiratory muscles (from maximum inhalation and exhalation pressure) and levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-alpha) combined with high-resolution CT. It was found that markedly decreased muscular strength and enhanced dyspnea in more than half of the patients were more closely associated with bronchospastic reaction and systemic inflammatory oedema than with hyperinflation. These data confirm priority of anti-inflammatory therapy in patients with severe COPD suffering marked decrease of respiratory muscle strength and positively responding to beta-2 adrenomimetic.

[Comparative assessment of electroencephalographic readings and perfusion index in patients in the perioperative period and coma].

Different monitoring modes are used to estimate the depth of anesthesia. Electroencephalography (EEG) is employed as a method of an electrophysiological study of brain function both during anesthesia and at the neuroresuscitative stage and changes in the peripheral vascular bed are evaluated by means of the perfusion index (PI). The purpose of the study was to comparatively analyze the use of EEG readings and PI at different stages of surgery and in coma of various etiologies. Thirty female patients aged 30-70 years (Group 1) operated on under general anesthesia were examined. Group 2 consisted of 14 intensive care unit patients of both sexes and different ages (range, 3 to 60 years) who had depressed consciousness to the comatose level. The association established between the changes in EEG reading and PI in the perioperative period allows estimation of the depth and adequacy of anesthesia, by analyzing the changes in both EEG and PI. Unlike central hemodynamic parameters, PI shows an earlier response to nociception. Group 2 patients had also synchronous changes in EEG and PI characteristics in various clinical conditions.

[The textile materials containing chitosan and proteolytic complex from hepatopancreas of the crab, for the medical purposes].

Positively charged carriers were synthesized on the basis of the cellulose, oxidized cellulose and chitosan; they were used for immobilization of the proteolytic complex from crab hepatopancreas (CHP). Optimum conditions, a method of updating and a degree of updating of the textile carrier for immobilizations at which practically does not occur inactivation the CHP in process immobilizations were found. Under optimal conditions inactivation kinetics during storage of CHP immobilized on the textile carriers was similar to the inactivation kinetics of immobilized pancreatic trypsin. Experiments on rats have shown, that employment of a new material accelerated wound healing process.

[Estimation of the sweat composition of fatty acids].

Changes in the fatty acid composition of sweat lipid were studied in persons whose activity was associated with military service. There were significant changes in essential fatty acids of sweat lipids, which made it possible to use this noninvasive biological object as a criterion for rating dysadaptive processes in armed forces personnel.

[A mathematical model of delayed luminescence oscillations of higher plants and analysis of the reaction rates calculated by the model].

The oscillatory regime of delayed millisecond luminescence was obtained by the model developed earlier. We compared the rates of changes in the concentrations of some of the metabolites calculated by the model with the rates calculated by other known models. The results of calculations for the changes in metabolite concentrations after switching off the light were compared with experimental data.

[The submolecular mechanism of the initial stage of the electron coupling in the water oxidizing center of higher plants]. / Submolekuliarnyi mekhanizm nachal'nogo étapa sopriazheniia élektronnogo transporta v komplekse razlozheniia vody vysshikh rastenii.

The results of quantum chemistry calculations of the total energy and proton position in tyrosine-histidine system in a water-oxidizing complex are presented. On the basis of these calculations, the submolecular mechanism of the initial stage of the electron coupling was proposed.

[Rheography of extracorporeal circulation: verification of method and calibration of the monitor]. / Reografiia iskusstvennogo krovoobrashcheniia: proverka metoda i kalibrovka monitora.

Cardiopulmonary bypass as a reference flow model for impedance cardiography monitoring is described in 34 children during open-heart surgery. Such an approach not only proved the accuracy and precision of impedance cardiac output measurement, but also gave a possibility to make intra-operative calibration of any cardiac output monitor which maintains its accuracy during the post-bypass period.

[24-Hour arterial pressure profile in chronic obstructive lung diseases in combination with arterial hypertension treated with enalapril]. / Dinamika sutochnogo profilia arterial'nogo davleniia pri khronicheskikh obstruktivnykh bolezniakh legkikh v sochetanii s arterial'noi gipertoniei na fone lecheniia énalaprilom.

AIM: To evaluate peculiarities and trends in 24-hour arterial pressure (AP) profile and bronchoobstructive syndrome (BOS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and arterial hypertension (AH) on combined treatment including enalapril maleate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Changes in BOS as shown by clinical data, data of peakflowmetry and external respiration function as well as in AP 24-hour profile according to 24-hour monitoring were studied in 50 patients with exacerbation of bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis treated for 4 weeks with conventional broncholytic and antiinflammatory modalities, in 28 patients with mild and moderate AH receiving combined therapy including enalapril maleate. RESULTS: In exacerbation of COPD, 24-h AP profile is characterized by high frequency of the curve "non-dipper". Concomitant mild and moderate AH was diagnosed in more than half of the examinees. The addition of enalaprile maleate to the treatment in many cases lowered systolic and diastolic AP, normalized sympathicoadrenal system and 24-hour AP rhythm, reduced dyspnea, improved exercise tolerance, sleep. Good tolerance of the drug was seen in patients with exacerbation of COPD. CONCLUSION: In exacerbation of COPD it is recommended to monitor AP for 24 hours for early detection of AH and initiation of combined treatment with correction of bronchoobstructive syndrome and hemodynamic disorders. As a hypotensive drug, enalapril maleate is adequate in such patients.

[Types of structural-functional disorders in severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Tipy strukturno-funktsional'nykh narushenii pri tiazhelom techenii khronicheskikh obstruktivnykh zabolevanii legkikh.

To differentiate approaches to assessment of treatment and prognosis specificities in a severe course of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), a study was made of 30 patients with long-term COPD. The patients were divided into groups by the severity of respiratory insufficiency which was investigated by saturation of 0(2) and gas composition of arterialized capillary blood, flow-volume curve and bodyplethysmography, ECG, echo-CG. High resolution computed tomography of the lungs was used to evaluate diffuse changes of pulmonary tissue and its morphological rearrangement. Basing on the rhoentgenomorphological picture, most typical variants of pulmonary tissue changes were identified. Comparison with the clinical and laboratory-instrumental data allowed to characterize four structural-functional types which occur in severe COPD. Etiological and pathogenetic features of the above types (the role of smoking, in particular) and their contribution to development of pulmonary hypertension, treatment and prognosis are discussed.

[Thermodilution and rheography: the coincidence and reproducibility of results]. / Termodiliutsiia i reografiia: sovpadenie i vosproizvodimost' rezul'tatov.

A comparison of the pulmonary artery thermodilution and tetrapolar impedance cardiography of cardiac output measurements based on 312 dual determinations has shown a good general coincidence, but better reproducibility of the impedance cardiography data and more evident character of the errors and artifacts. The authors' analysis of the mechanisms and causes of such phenomena is based both on their own conclusions and on a wide spectrum of the data of previous investigations.

[Effect of light of various spectral composition on kinetics of changes in a green leaf resistivity]. / Kinetika izmenenii soprotivleniia zelenogo lista pod deistviem sveta razlichnogo spektral'nogo sostava.

The kinetics of changes in the resistance of a green leaf by the action of exciting light was studied. It was shown that the illumination-induced changes in leaf conductance are mainly due to an elevation of temperature caused by the absorption of light energy. Based on the experimental results, the fraction of absorbed light energy converted into heat calculated under assumption that heating of the leaf across the thickness is uniform. It was found that the fraction of absorbed energy converted into heat does not depend on the intensity of radiation in the IR range and increases with decreasing intensity of photosynthetically active radiation. An explanation of the phenomenon is proposed, which is based on that in reality the heating of the leaf across the thickness is nonhomogeneous and this inhomogeneity of heating becomes more pronounced upon photoinduced changes in absorption resulting from a decrease in photosynthetically active radiation. It was shown that nonphotochemical fluorescence quenching does not substantially affect the leaf conductance at intensities of photosynthetically active radiation not higher than 200 Wt/m2.

[Theoretical study of the pulse method for the quenching analysis of photosystem II fluorescence]. / Teoreticheskoe issledovanie impul'snogo metoda analiza tusheniia fluorestsentsii fotosistemy II.

The kinetics of photochemical (qQ) and nonphotochemical (qE) fluorescence quenching during induction was studied in terms of the earlier developed theoretical model of photosynthesis. Photochemical and nonphotochemical quenching was calculated from the parameters of fluorescence induction upon simultaneous excitation with continuous light and by high-intensity light pulses by the method used in a PAM fluorometer. It is shown that the fraction of closed reaction centers during the pulse can change in the course of induction. In consequence, even when none of supposed mechanisms of photochemical quenching is taken into account, the value of qE during induction varies and is not equal to zero.

[Electron structure of plastoquinone and coupling of electron and proton transport in thylakoids of the higher plants]. / Elektronnaia struktura plastokhinona i sopriazhenie élektronnogo i protonnogo transporta v tilakoidakh vysshikh rastenii.

The energy dependence on hydrogen position for a system, consisting of plastoquinone (in different redox states) and histidine molecules was studied. The distance between the atoms forming the hydrogen bond, an oxygen of the quinone molecule and a nitrogen of histidine, was supposed to be fixed. It was shown that for neutral quinone the total energy is minimal when the hydrogen is bound to histidine; for reduced quinone, the probability of hydrogen binding to quinone and histidine is approximately equal (so that a hydrogen bond is formed) and on secondary reduction of plastoquinone, the hydrogen binds to it.

[Induction of delayed luminescence of pea photosystem II with genetically changed level of starch in the seeds]. / Induktsiia zamedlennoi liuminestsentsii fotosistemy II rastenii gorokha s geneticheski izmenennym urovnem soderzhaniia krakhmala v semenakh.

We studied the curves of delayed luminescence induction in leaves of pea plants with mutations affecting the starch branching enzyme (r locus) and ADPG pyrophosphorylase (rb locus). In mutated pants, a 75% reduction of starch content in seeds was observed. The half-decay time of delayed luminescence intensity during induction for double mutants was shown to be longer than for wild type plants.

[Processes of modification of lipoproteins. Physiological and pathogenetical role of modified lipoproteins]. / Protsessy modifikatsii lipoproteinov, fiziologicheskaia i patogeneticheskaia rol' modifitsirovannykh lipoproteinov.

The review is devoted to modification of lipoproteins (Lp) connected with various biological processes. Possible mechanisms of Lp oxidation and the nature of oxidants involved in to these processes are considered. Specific attention is paid to the participation of proteolytic enzymes in modification of Lp.