Signatures of a magnetic field-induced unconventional nematic liquid in the frustrated and anisotropic spin-chain cuprate LiCuSbO4.

Modern theories of quantum magnetism predict exotic multipolar states in weakly interacting strongly frustrated spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains with ferromagnetic nearest neighbor (NN) inchain exchange in high magnetic fields. Experimentally these states remained elusive so far. Here we report strong indications of a magnetic field-induced nematic liquid arising above a field of ~13 T in the edge-sharing chain cuprate LiSbCuO4 ≡ LiCuSbO4. This interpretation is based on the observation of a field induced spin-gap in the measurements of the 7Li NMR spin relaxation rate T 1-1 as well as a contrasting field-dependent power-law behavior of T 1-1 vs. T and is further supported by static magnetization and ESR data. An underlying theoretical microscopic approach favoring a nematic scenario is based essentially on the NN XYZ exchange anisotropy within a model for frustrated spin-1/2 chains and is investigated by the DMRG technique. The employed exchange parameters are justified qualitatively by electronic structure calculations for LiCuSbO4.

[Immunogenetic predisposition to chronic nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease].

Immunology has grown beyond the classic doctrine of immunity to infectious diseases, and gradually covered the problems of general physiology and pathology, genetics, embryology, transplantation, oncology and many other disciplines. A new direction has appeared--immunogenetics, which should help to answer questions the disposition and/or resistance to disease, as well as influence of environmental factors on implementation of predisposition to the development of pathology. Much attention is paid to investigation of HLA in IBD. These data indicate a significant polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex antigens in this disease in different countries. The aim of our study was to investigate the immunogenetic susceptibility and resistance to the development of ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn's disease (CD), the character of their flow, as well as the associated extraintestinal manifestations, in particular predisposition development of bronchial obstruction (BO) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A study of DNA frozen blood samples of 75 patients with IBD of both sexes has been conducted. The obtained results have been compared with the results of the study 1700 of samples of umbilical cord blood of newborns (apparently healthy children), born at 37-41 weeks' gestation in Moscow (control). The group of patients with UC revealed a positive association of HLA specificities-B*38, HLA-Cw*12 and HLA-DRV1*15, which can be regarded as potentially high risk of developing the disease. The presence of the specificity of HLA-DQV1*02 can be considered as a factor in resistance to the development of UC. High risk of developing Crohn's disease among residents of Moscow associated with groups of alleles of HLA B*41, HLA-B*56, HLA-Cw*05, HLA-Cw*08, HLA-DRV1*01, HLA-DRV1*11, HLA-DQV1*04, and the presence of specificity of HLA-DQV1*05 can be considered as a factor of resistance to the development of BC. High risk of developing BO in patients with IBD is associated with specificities HLA-DQB1*02, DQB1*03, DRB1*15.

[Nutritional factors of inflammation induction or lipid mechanism of intestinal endotoxin transport].

Food behavior disorderes (high fat diet) and systematic strong drinks use could be the most important causes of excess intake of intestinal endotoxin (ET) in circulation (endotoxin aggression development) and induction of inflammation. In this work we investigated antiendotoxin immunity activity, ET level and some biochemical parameters in two group of patients, which were treated with orlistat or medical starvation. We suggest that lipid component of food takes a part in mechanism of ET delivery in bloodstream and its recycling in hydrophobic form. High serum ET level in obesity patients could be direct corollary of excess fat intake and strong drinks use. It provides increased lipid absorption in circulation. Fatty tissue could be depot of ET hydrophobic form in organism. We also suggest that lipid mechanism takes a part in ET deposition in bloodstream. Prolonged starvation and anorexia leads to development inflammatory changing like systematic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

[Importance of the immunogenetic factors in the development of glutensensitive celiac disease in adults of Moscow region].

The study examined the genetic predisposition to the development of glutensensitive celiac disease (CD). Were analyzed samples of peripheral blood of 17 adult patients diagnosed with CD, as well as samples of umbilical cord blood of 1700 newborns of healthy children. HLA-typing was performed using two basic methods of molecular typing--SSO and SSP. The studies revealed the specificity of HLA-B*08; HLA-DRB1*2003; HLA-DRB1*07 and HLA-DQB1*02, which are the genetic markers of CD. Was identified a combination of HLA-markers of CD, each of which is a genetic marker for CD: HLA-B*08; HLA-DRB1*2003; HLA-DQB1*02 and HLA-DRB1*2007; HLA-DQB1*02/HLADQB1*03. In addition, negative associations were identified with CD specificity of HLA-DQB1*05. Thus, the results indicate the possibility of individual risk predicting of CD developing in a healthy population and in families of patients with CD.

A miniature mass analyser for in-situ elemental analysis of planetary material-performance studies.

The performance of a laser ablation mass analyser designed for in-situ exploration of the chemical composition of planetary surfaces has been investigated. The instrument measures the elemental and isotopic composition of raw solid materials with high spatial resolution. The initial studies were performed on NIST standard materials using IR laser irradiance (< 1 GW cm(-2)) at which a high temporal stability of ion formation and sufficiently low sample consumption was achieved. Measurements of highly averaged spectra could be performed with typical mass resolution of m/Δm ≈ 600 in an effective dynamic range spanning seven decades. Sensitive detection of several trace elements can be achieved at the ~ ppm level and lower. The isotopic composition is usually reproduced with 1% accuracy, implying good performance of the instrument for quantitative analysis of the isotopic fractionation effects caused by natural processes. Using the IR laser, significant elemental fractionation effects were observed for light elements and elements with a high ionization potential. Several diatomic clusters of major and minor elements could also be measured, and sometimes these interfere with the detection of trace elements at the same nominal mass. The potential of the mass analyser for application to sensitive detection of elements and their isotopes in realistic samples is exemplified by measurements of minerals. The high resolution and large dynamic range of the spectra makes detection limits of ~100 ppb possible.

[The immune status changes in patients with inflammatory bowel disease under the influence of mesenchymal stromal cells and infliximab therapy].

Out of 28 patients with inflammatory bowel disease in 11 (39.3%) revealed the presence of autoantibodies to gastric parietal cells. Appointment of MSC and infliximab did not lead to a reduction in antibody levels, in fact, in 6 (21.4%) patients had a further increase in the content of mentioned autoantibodies. Identification of autoantibodies to gastric parietal cells is considered as adherence to IBD autoimmune gastritis (formation of a systemic process) that requires use of corticosteroids. Transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells in IBD reduces enhanced circulation of autoantibodies against antigens of neutrophils cytoplasmic structures, thereby reducing the severity of autoimmune reactions. Transplantation of MSCs reduces autoaggression in patients with ulcerative colitis, reducing the autoreactive clone of B lymphocytes (CD19+CD5+). Analysis effectiveness of the therapy. Transplantation of MSCs in IBD has a systemic immunoregulatory effect: on the one hand, stimulates oppressed cytokine synthesis, on the other--reduses the intensity of the autoimmune reactions and activity of pathological processes. Infliximab selectively blocks TNF-alpha, without affecting other proinflammatory cytokines.

[Cytological classification of nontoxic nodular goiter].

By comparing the cytological and histological data on thyroid nodular lesions in 715 patients, the authors have arrived at the conclusion that with a cytological response of colloidal goiter and colloidal goiter with adenomatosis, the cancer detection rate is not greater than 4%. With a cytological response of adenomatosis with atypia and follicular tumor, a malignancy occurs in 9 to 13%. It is recommended that cytological data should be grouped by the type of a morphological classification of thyroid nodular diseases: colloidal goiter (with regression, proliferation, adenomatosis, cystic cavity); tumors (adenomatosis with atypia, follicular tumor); cancer.

[Detection of carotenoids in the vitreous body of the human eye during prenatal development].

Carotenoids were found for the first time in the vitreous body of human eye during the fetal period from week 15 until week 28. Their maximum content was timed to week 16-22. No carotenoids were found the vitreous body of 31-week fetuses, as well as adult humans, which corresponds to the published data. It was shown using HPLC that chromatographic characteristics of these carotenoids correspond to those of lutein and zeaxanthin, characteristic pigments of the retinal yellow macula.

[Collagenolytic activity in several species of deuteromycetes under various storage conditions].

The ability of deuteromycetes of the genera Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Botrytis to retain collagenolytic activity was studied after both 2 and 10 years of storage on a Czapek medium under a layer of mineral oil at 4 degrees C, as well as in silica gel granules at 20 and -60 degrees C. The enzymatic activity of several species, including Botrytis terrestris, Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Penicillium citrinum, was retained under both conditions of storage. Aspergillus repens retained enzymatic activity only if stored under a layer of mineral oil. The viability of conidia and the collagenolytic activity of Botrytis terrestris, P. janthinellum, P. chrysogenum, and Penicillium citrinum, maintained on silica gel for 10 years, depended on the storage temperature. The viability of the test strains improved after storage on a silica gel at -60 degrees C. A strain of Aspergillus repens lost its ability to dissolve collagen at various storage temperatures on the silica gel. The index of lysis for three strains of Penicillium deuteromycetes (Penicillium janthinellum, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Penicillium citrinum) increased after a 10-year storage on silica gel at -60 degrees C.

[Carvedilol in combined therapy of patients with Q myocardial infarction].

AIM: To evaluate effects of carvedilol (Akridilol, AKRIKHIN, Russia) on central hemodynamics, microvascular bed, hemorheology, von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity, clinical efficacy of the drug and influence on exercise tolerance in patients with Q myocardial infarction (QMI) compared to therapy with atenolol. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial covered 90 patients with acute QMI. All the patients had cardiac failure and were divided into 3 comparable groups. Group 1 received carvedilol in a dose 6.25-50 mg/ day. Group 2 received atenolol in a dose 12.5-50 mg/day. Group 3 had contraindications to therapy with beta-adrenoblockers. The patients were followed up for 60 +/- 2 days. The following methods were employed in the study: clinical examination, echocardiography, laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), Holter ECG monitoring, examination of platelet-vessel hemostasis, VWF activity, treadmill-test, statistical processing with the program Excel 7.0. RESULTS: Inclusion of beta-adrenoblockers in combined therapy of QMI patients with cardiac failure considerably improves treatment efficacy. These drugs, carvedilol in particular, inhibit postinfarctional remodeling and thus development and progress of cardiac failure. Carvedilol reduces stasis in the microcirculatory bed, corrects abnormal response of microhemodynamics to sympathic activation and operation of venuloarteriolar mechanisms of capillary blood flow regulation. High clinical efficacy of the combined therapy of QMI patients is explained by marked antianginal and antiischemic effects of carvedilol. Treadmill test showed that the addition of beta-adrenoblockers to therapy raised exercise tolerance in the postinfarctional period.

[Role of superoxide dismutase in maintaining cellular homeostasis upon exposure to gamma-rays and nickel sulfate]. / Rol' superoksiddismutazy v podderzhanii kletochnogo gomeostaza pri vozdeistvii gamma-izlucheniia i sul'fata nikelia.

It was shown that the inhibition of one of the main enzymes of antioxidant system--superoxide dismutasw (SOD)--increased the level of damage in gamma-irradiated and NiSO4-treated human cells. The viability of cells pretreated with inhibitor of SOD (TRIEN) decreased in the experiments with gamma-radiation and with NiSO4. DNA repair and replication involved in cell homeostasis also were suppressed in the cells with inhibited SOD. These data are served as proof of participation of SOD in the defence of human cells against oxidative radicals.

[Differences in individual sensitivity to the antimutagenic effect of retinol in lymphocytes from workers in contact with nickel compounds]. / Razlichiia v individual'noi chuvstvitel'nosti k antimutagennomu deistviiu retinola v limfotsitakh rabochikh, kontaktiruiushchikh s soedineniiami nikelia.

Individual sensitivity to nickel compounds was studied in workers employed in nickel industry. The mutagen sensitivity was inferred from the number of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), which was used to characterize the structural alterations of the chromosomes in workers' lymphocytes before and after administration of retinol for a month. The SCE number decreased after retinol administration in nine out of eleven workers.

[Proteolysis of collagen by several species of micromycetes and spore-forming bacteria]. / Proteoliz kollagena nekotorymi vidami mikromitsetov i sporoobrazuiushchikh bakterii.

The capability of lysing collagen was studied in 4 species of spore-forming bacteria of the genus Bacillus and 9 species of micromycetes of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Alternaria. A specific medium was developed for determining the degree of collagen proteolysis. The spore-forming bacteria possessed the higher index of collagen lysis as compared to micromycetes. The maximum value of the lysis index was 4 times higher in B. licheniformis than in C. herbarum. The latter showed the highest degree of collagen proteolysis among the micromycetes studied. The pH optima of collagen proteolysis were determined for 5 species of Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi. It is shown that a submerged culture of A. chrysogenum used fragments of the Achilles tendon as a sole source of carbon. The specific proteolytic activity of the collagen-containing medium was 0.8 units of proteinase activity.min.mg protein on the 7th day of cultivation.

[Testing the activity of enzymes responsible for biosynthesis of purine nucleotides AIR-carboxylase and SAICAR-synthetase in human cell extracts]. / Testirovanie aktivnosti fermentov biosinteza purinovykh nukleotidov AIR-karboksilazy i SAIKAR-sintetazy v ékstraktakh kletok cheloveka.

Activities of AIR-carboxylase (ES 4.1.1.21) and SAICAR-synthetase (EC 6.3.2.6) were found in lysates of human erythrocytes, thrombocytes and leukocytes and in homogenate of the stomach biopsy sample. However, these activities were absent in blood plasma and bile. The human erythrocyte enzyme preparation, which had both activities, was isolated and purified about 200 times. The copurification of both activities and properties of the enzyme preparation suggest that two consecutive reactions of purine biosynthesis de novo (from AIR to SAICAR) in human cells are catalyzed by one bifunctional enzyme which is probably encoded by one gene.