Crystal environment of impurity Nd3+ ion in yttrium and scandium orthosilicate crystals.

The ESEEM spectroscopy was used to determine positions of the 143Nd3+ impurity ions in Y2SiO5 single crystal. It is established that neodymium ions substitute yttrium ions in the Y2 positions with seven nearest oxygen ions. Crystal field parameters of 143Nd3+ impurity centers in isotopically pure Y228SiO5 and Sc228SiO5 single crystals were determined using data of CW EPR spectroscopy and the known energy level schemes.

[Ocular lesions in HIV-infected patients of the ophthalmic hospitals]. / Porazhenie organa zreniia u VICh-infitsirovannykh patsientov oftal'mologicheskikh statsionarov.

PURPOSE: To analyze ophthalmic pathologies in HIV-infected patients of the ophthalmic hospitals of Perm city. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Medical records of 75 HIV patients registered in Perm Regional Centre for Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases who had received treatment in ophthalmic in-patient clinics of Perm in 2005-2015 years were analyzed retrospectively. Patient examination included traditional ophthalmological methods, as well as immunological (determination of CD4 cells and viral load), serological (detection of antibodies to herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, chlamydia, toxoplasma), general clinical methods, and consultations by allied specialists. RESULTS: Ophthalmopathology requiring in-patient care was detected in 75 people (84 eyes). Men comprised 76%, women - 24%; average age was 32.82±8.68 years. The stage of HIV infection was known in 78.66% of patients: stage II - in 5% of cases, stage III - in 32%, stage IV - in 63%. Co-infection (hepatitis B and C, syphilis, tuberculosis) was detected in 81% of patients. HIV-related diseases (cytomegalovirus and herpes infection, candidiasis, toxoplasmosis) were observed in 48% of individuals. The time of emergence of ocular pathology from the time of HIV detection ranged from 1 day to 14 years. Inflammatory ocular diseases occurred in 55% of cases, dystrophic disorders - in 18%, eye traumas - in 24%, and strabismus - in 3% of patients. Reduced level of CD4 (less than 500 cells/mm3) was more prevalent (72.13%) among the study patients. As of the time of the study, only 36.4% of patients were receiving antiretroviral therapy. CONCLUSION: Among the studied individuals, eye lesion was mostly severe, inflammatory in nature; it occurred more frequently in stage IV HIV patients with reduced number of CD4 lymphocytes who was not receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Regulation of the peritoneal macrophage functional activity by the MP-5 and MP-6 myelopeptides under stress.

In mice, two-hour immobilization stress inhibited zymosan-induced production by macrophages of the oxygen radicals and cytokine IL-1ß. After myelopeptides MP-5 and MP-6 were administered into mice, the stress-induced inhibition of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and IL-1ß was abrogated. MP-5 peptide stimulated spontaneous ROS production by macrophages and reduced IL-10 production under stress. Thus, under in vivo conditions and under stress, the effect of MP-5 and MP-6 myelopeptides modulates the peritoneal macrophage activity.

[The concentration of cerebral natriuretic peptide in tear and blood serum.]

The natriuretic peptides regulate pressure and water metabolism in human organism. The concentration of N-thermal cerebral natriuretic propeptide (NT-proBNP) in tear and blood serum was analyzed. The sampling included 49 patients divided on three groups. The group I (main) included 14 patients with primary open-angle sub-compensated glaucoma degree I-III. The group II (comparative group) included 15 patients with age-related immature cataract. The group III (control) included volunteers without any visual organ diseases. The concentration of NT-proBNP in tear and blood serum was detected by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique using test system NT-proBNP - IFA - BEST¼ («Vektor-Best¼, Russia). The median of content of NT-proBNP in tear turned out to be less than in blood serum in all groups (р1 = 0,00763; р2 = 0,00452; р3 = 0,00029) and made up to in patients with glaucoma 41,3 pg/ml, with cataract - 37.5 pg/ml, in healthy people 0 25.0 pg/ml (inter-quartile range made up to 20-60 pg/ml, 20-65 pg/ml, 10-49,5 pg/ml correspondingly). No differences in concentration of NT-proBNP were established in all groups both for blood serum (p = 0,494) and tear (p = 0,388). The concentration of NT-proBNP in tear correlated with its concentration in blood serum (r = 0,694). However, no dependencies were established from value of intra-ocular pressure (r = 0,168). Therefore, the concentration of NTproBNP in tear is not a perspective laboratory arker for diagnostic of increased intra-ocular pressure and stratification of development of glaucoma.

Electronic structure of ß-RbSm(MoO4)2 and chemical bonding in molybdates.

Microcrystals of orthorhombic rubidium samarium molybdate, ß-RbSm(MoO4)2, have been fabricated by solid state synthesis at T = 450 °C, 70 h, and at T = 600 °C, 150 h. The crystal structure has been refined by the Rietveld method in space group Pbcn with cell parameters a = 5.0984(2), b = 18.9742(6) and c = 8.0449(3) Å (R(B) = 1.72%). Thermal properties of ß-RbSm(MoO4)2 were traced by DSC over the temperature range of T = 20-965 °C, and the earlier reported ß â†” α phase transition at T ∼ 860-910 °C was not verified. The electronic structure of ß-RbSm(MoO4)2 was studied by employing theoretical calculations and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It has been established that the O 2p-like states contribute mainly to the upper part of the valence band and occupy the valence band maximum, whereas the Mo 4d-like states contribute mainly to the lower part of the valence band. Chemical bonding effects have been analysed from the element core level binding energy data. In addition, it was found that the luminescence spectrum of ß-RbSm(MoO4)2 is rather peculiar among the Sm(3+) containing materials. The optical refractive index dispersion in ß-RbSm(MoO4)2 was also predicted by the first-principles calculations.

[THE ANALYSTS OF PROCALCITONIN IN LACRIMAL FLUID AND BLOOD SERUM UNDER UVEITIS].

The analysis was applied to concentration of procalcitonin in lacrimal fluid and blood serum in 15 healthy persons (control group), 16 patients with uveitis (main group) and 14 patients with non-inflammatory pathology of organ of vision (comparison group). The concentration of procalcitonin was detected by immunoenzyme method using commercial test-system "Procalcitonin-IFA-BEST" ("Vector-Best", Russia). The content of procalcitonin in blood serum was low (75% quartile--0.031 ng/ml) and had no significant difference between groups (H-criterion of Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.0872). The level of procalcitonin in lacrimal fluid 8-11 times exceeded its concentration in blood serum of all groups (Wilcoxon criterion, p < 0.005). The least content of procalcitonin is detected in lacrimal fluid of patients of comparison group (0.072 ± 0.064 ng/ml). In main and control groups its level was reliably higher (H-criterion of Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.0002) and amounted to 0.257 ± 0.146 and 0.198 ± 0.151 ng/ml correspondingly. The correlation analysis established no dependencies between concentration of procalcitonin in tear and blood serum (Spearman correlation coefficient had no exceeding |0.1| in all groups). The development of uveitis is not accompanied by alteration of concentration of procalcitonin in both blood serum and lacrimal fluid. The absence of correlation and higher concentration of procalcitonin in tear as compared with blood serum testify availability of additional source of this protein in lacrimal fluid.

[Ovarian vein thrombophlebitis during pregnancy--with a contribution of one clinical case].

Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is a rare, but serious condition that affects mostly postpartum women but may also be associated with pelvic inflammatory disease, malignancies and pelvic surgical procedures. Concerning ovarian vein thrombosis in earlier stages of pregnancy there are only very few case reports. The authors consider this rare but potentially deadly disease and describe the clinical case study.

Defects in GaSe grown by Bridgman method.

Optical quality GaSe crystals have been grown by vertical Bridgman method. The structural properties and micromorphology of a cleaved GaSe(001) surface have been evaluated by RHEED, SEM and AFM. The cleaved GaSe(001) is atomically flat with as low roughness as ∼0.06 nm excepting local hillock type defects. The hillock-type formations are round-shaped with a bottom diameter of ∼200 nm and a height of ∼20-35 nm. The drastic depletion of the hillock material by gallium has been indicated by EDX measurements.

Therapeutic implications of activation of the host gene (Dleu2) promoter for miR-15a/16-1 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Genetic lesions and other regulatory events lead to silencing of the 13q14 locus in a majority of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. This locus encodes a pair of critical proapoptotic microRNAs, miR-15a/16-1. Decreased levels of miR-15a/16-1 are critical for the increased survival exhibited by CLL cells. Similarly, in a de novo murine model of CLL, the NZB strain, germline-encoded regulation of the syntenic region resulted in decreased miR-15a/16-1. In this paper, we have identified additional molecular mechanisms regulating miR-15a/16-1 levels and have shown that the transcription factor BSAP (B-cell-specific activator protein) directly interacts with Dleu2, the host gene containing the miR-15a/16-1 loci, and by negative regulation of the Dleu2 promoter, results in repression of miR-15a/16-1 expression. CLL patient B-cell expression levels of BSAP were increased compared with control sources of B cells. With the use of small interfering RNA-mediated repression, the levels of BSAP were decreased in vitro in the NZB-derived malignant B-1 cell line, LNC, and in ex vivo CLL patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). BSAP knockdown led to an increase in the expression of miR-15a/16-1 and an increase in apoptosis, and a cell cycle arrest in both the cell line and patient PBMCs. Moreover, using Dleu2 promoter analysis by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we have shown that BSAP directly interacts with the Dleu2 promoter. Derepression of the Dleu2 promoter via inhibition of histone deacetylation combined with BSAP knockdown increased miR-15a/16-1 expression, and also increased malignant B-cell death. In summary, therapy targeting enhanced host gene Dleu2 transcription may augment CLL therapy.

[Monitoring of enterovirus circulation in Irkutsk region].

AIM: Monitoring of circulation of enteroviruses (EVI) in Irkutsk Region and study of regional specter of circulating enteroviruses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1419 samples from patients with suspected EVI, contact in foci ofenterovirus infection, acute intestine infections and 964 samples of sewage water were studied in total. In 2011 isolation of viral agents from 97 samples positive on enterovirus by RT-PCR from patients with preliminary EVI diagnosis and 5 samples of sewage water of Irkutsk city was carried out. Transplantable line of human rhabdomyosarcoma RD cell culture was used for isolation of enteroviruses. Infection of cells and 2 serial passages of the studied material were carried out. The isolates were typed in neutralization reaction (NR) with a set of 32 diagnostic type-specific immune sera against viral poliomyelitis I-III; Coxsackie B1-6; Coxsackie A2, A4, A7, A9, A10; ECHO 68 - 71; ECHO 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 20, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33. RESULTS: In 2011 circulation of enterovirus serotypes that were previously absent on the territory of the region was established: ECHO 68, ECHO 70, ECHO 71. These strains were isolated from patients, circulation of ECHO 70 serotype was established also in samples of sewage water. The analysis of enterovirus landscape carried out showed the possibility of complication of epidemic situation on the territory of the region due to change of serovariants of causative agents of non-polioenterovirus infections and detection ofepidemically significant enteroviruses - ECHO 68, 70 and 71 serotypes. CONCLUSION: Determination of specter ofenterovirus serotypes, detection of serotypes that had not previously circulated in Irkutsk Region allows to prognose epidemic situation on morbidity of enterovirus infections and timely develop and make decisions for ensuring epidemiologic welfare of the population.

Proliferative response of lymphocyte to pokeweed mitogen depends on the concentration of endogenous cortisol in the early post-traumatic period in patients with penetrating eye injury.

The intensity of lymphocyte proliferation in response to pokeweed mitogen depends on cortisol level in the peripheral blood in the early post-traumatic period of penetrating eye injury. Lymphocyte proliferation in 72- and 96-h cultures from patients with high levels of endogenous hormone was suppressed. In 120-h cultures, the intensity of proliferation remains unchanged. Lymphocyte blast transformation was increased in 120-h cultures from patients with normal cortisol concentration and remained unchanged in case of low cortisol level.

Expression of TLR9 and BD-2 protein genes in corneal cells of mice of different strains with herpetic keratitis.

The dynamics of gene expression of two proteins, TLR9 (one of the key receptors recognizing CpG repeats of herpes virus DNA) and ß-defensin 2 (antibacterial peptide), was studied on the model of herpetic keratitis in C57Bl/6 and BALB/c mice. New data on differences in TLR9 gene expression in mice of the two strains infected with the virus were obtained. Reduced TLR9 gene expression in the cornea of C57Bl/6 mice was associated with their high sensitivity to infection caused by herpes simplex 1 virus.

[Effect of myelopeptides on reactive oxygen species generation and IL-1beta and TNF-alpha production by peripheral blood cells].

Myelopeptides MP-3, MP-5, and MP-6 were found to suppress zymosan-induced production of reactive oxygen species by leukocytes both under one-way introduction and under pretreatment. All of myelopeptides under examination in case of one-way introduction in cultures with zymosan demonstrated a decrease in zymosan-stimulated (1500 mkg/ml) production of IL-1beta, and activation of spontaneous production of this cytokine by whole blood cells. TNF-alpha production under myelopeptide effect was lowered in cultures with 150 mkg/ml zymosan. Under pretreatment myelopeptides did not render effect on IL-1beta and TNF-alpha production, with the exception of single stimulating effect of MP-5 on IL-1beta level in spontaneous cultures. Using comparative analysis the difference in direction and expressivity of effects of various myelopeptides was not revealed that suggests the existence of common mechanism of action in this group of peptide bioregulators.

[Changes in expression level of TLR9 and BD-2 genes in cornea of mice with viral keratitis].

AIM: Study of innate immunity genes expression (TLR9 and BD-2) in epithelial cells of mice cornea on the model of viral keratitis during the application of immunotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RNA isolation from cornea cells was performed by using RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen) and "RIBO-sorb" (ILS, Russia) reagent kits. "Kit for performing PCR-RT in the presence of intercalating dye SYBR Green I" (Syntol, Russia) was used for performing PCR. Data on gene expression is presented in decimal logarithms (relatively to 1 million of beta-actin gene copies). RESULTS: In C57B1/6 mice line at day 1 post infection the virus was detected in 33% of animals, at 3 days - in 90%, at 7 days the number of infected mice started to decline. In cornea of the mice infected with HSV-1 a significant decrease of TLR9 gene expression was observed. Administration of a complex of natural cytokines and antimicrobial peptides (Superlimf preparation) caused statistically significant increase of expression levels of the studied TLR9 and BD-2 genes. CONCLUSION: The model of viral keratitis and expression analysis of recognizing receptor TLR9 and defensin (BD-2) genes can be used to study mechanism of action of various preparations during infection in eye tissues and evaluation of possibility of their use in complex therapy of ophthalmic herpes.