[The implication of Chlamydia pneumoniae in damage to human aortic endotheliocytes in atherosclerosis].

A cytological technique was used to study the impressions of the aortic intima of dead patients. Endothelial cell Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP) was detected in 26 (56.5%) of 46 dead patients; the bacterium was found in the unaffected intact intimal areas in 9 (19.6%) cases. Three morphological forms of CP--inclusions, spots, and aggregates were described. The whole life cycle of CP and the specific features of disintegration of the host cell--the endothelium were observed. CP leads to extensive infection and aponecrotic death of all types of endothelial cells above the fatty streaks and plaques. Focal chlamydial destruction of an endothelial layer results in intimal surface erosion and thrombogenesis. An inflammatory response to damaged endothelial cells may be responsible for the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis and plaque destabilization.

[Endothelial cell changes preceding the formation of intimal erosions in coronary arteries and aorta in atherosclerosis in humans].

The cytological technique was used to study autopsy specimens from 39 patients aged 35-85 years. Above the atherosclerotic strips and plaques there were multiple destruction microfoci (MDMs) of endothelial cells (EC), which were divided into three types. EC MDMs were detected in the aortic intima in 79.5% of the patients. A total of 107 MDM of different types were found in 63.2% of cases. A total of 53 MDMs were identified. The detection rate for EC MDMs in the aorta and coronary arteries in acute and recurrent myocardial infarction was 1.3 and 2 times greater than that in large-focal and diffuse small-focal cardiosclerosis. EC microfocal destruction is a sign of progressive atherosclerosis and may be a critical step in the transition from stable endothelized to eroded plaque and thrombosis.

[Analysis of the heterogenicity of cytological and morphometric indices of the endothelial nuclei of the aorta and pulmonary artery in atherosclerosis].

The authors made a qualitative cytological analysis of the percentage of the heterogenic endothelium and its association with the severity of atherosclerosis. A total of 15,000 endotheliocytes (usual-type, giant uninucleated, binucleated, trinucleated, multinucleated, and horseshoe-shaped nuclei) were studied above different forms of atherosclerotic lesion of the human aorta and pulmonary artery. The material was obtained from 5 deceased patients aged 35 to 85 years. Both uninucleated and multinucleated cells were identified as the endothelium by an immunohistochemical test in the detection of specific factor VIII antigen in their cytoplasm. The proportion of heterogenic cells above the intact portions of the pulmonary artery and aorta was ascertained to be 13.7 and 24.8%, respectively; at the same time that of this endothelium above the fatty streaks increased up to 56.1 and 58.7%, respectively; and that above fatty plaques did up to 72.2 and 73.1%, respectively. Thus, the total number of endotheliocytes with the usual type of nuclei statistically significantly decreased above atherosclerotic lesions (fatty streaks and plaques) of the pulmonary artery and aorta to 35.8 and 31.8%, respectively. Extrusion of a population of cells with the usual type of nuclei with the progress of atherosclerotic lesions is attended by an increase in the proportion of the heterogenic endothelium up to 64.2 and 68.2%, respectively. It is suggested that the optimum combination of variable dimensions of the endothelium and the size and number of their nuclei is an adaptive reaction and an essential prerequisite to the most effective endothelial function when atherosclerotic lesion of the arterial intima progresses.

NO synthase-dependent increases in extracellular citrulline levels in the nucleus accumbens in an emotional conditioned reflex.

Intracerebral microdialysis/HPLC studies in Sprague-Dawley rats showed that the acquisition and execution of an emotional conditioned reflex was accompanied by an increase in the extracellular citrulline level in the nucleus accumbens; citrulline is a co-product of nitric oxide synthesis. The increase in the citrulline level evoked by execution of this reflex decreased after injection of 7-nitroindazole (0.5 mM), a selective inhibitor of neuronal NO synthase, into the nucleus accumbens, and was completely blocked by injection of N-nitroarginine (0.5 mM), a non-selective inhibitor NO synthase. The increase in the nucleus accumbens citrulline level seen during execution of the emotional conditioned reflex was prevented by administration of both of these NO synthase inhibitors. These data suggest that during the acquisition and execution of the emotional conditioned reflex, there is an increase in nitric oxide production in the nucleus accumbens, which arises predominantly as a result of activation of neuronal NO synthase.

Regulation of c-Fos gene expression in the rat olfactory bulb during olfactory learning.

An immunohistochemical method was used to study the expression of transcription factor c-Fos in the mid part of the main olfactory bulbs in 18-day-old rats after training to seek their mothers using an olfactory orientation cue (propionic acid) in a Y-maze. On the next day, rat pups demonstrated a significant preference for the propionic acid odor in behavioral tests, as compared with control animals trained to the skill without the olfactory orientation cue and pups familiarized with the odor without forming any association between it and any kind of reinforcement. The propionic acid odor evoked an insignificant increase in c-Fos expression, predominantly in the granular layer of the dorsomedial area of the olfactory bulb. Training in a maze lacking the odor signal evoked diffuse activation of c-Fos, in both the mitral and granular layers of all areas of the olfactory bulb. Training with the olfactory orientation cue was also accompanied by an increase in c-Fos expression to a level significantly exceeding that seen after odor-free training, in the granular layer of the dorsomedial area, i.e., the area in which the unreinforced odor acting alone induced insignificant activation of expression. These data provide evidence that, at the level of the regulation of neuronal transcription, associative learning is manifest as summation of the effects of a new neutral stimulus and excitation initiated by the motivational state. In the olfactory bulb, this summation is seen in areas on which non-specific centrifugal excitation and specific afferentation from the signal odor converge.

[Regulation of c-Fos expression in the rat olfactory bulbs during olfactory learning].

The distribution of c-Fos-immunopositive neurons was examined in the mitral/tufted and granular cell layers in the medium part of the main olfactory bulbs of 18-day-old rats after they had been trained for propionic acid vapour-guided search for dam in the Y-maze. On the next day these pups exhibited a strong preference for the propionic acid odor as compared to the control pups trained for this task without the odor cue and odor-familiarized pups exposed to propionic acid as a novel neutral stimulus. Exposure to propionic acid produced a moderate activation of c-Fos expression, mainly in the granular layer of the dorsomedial part of the bulb. Training in the Y-maze devoid of odor cues resulted in diffuse increase in the number of c-Fos-positive neurons both in the mitral and granular cell layers in all parts of the olfactory bulb. Maze training with the odor cue produced activation of c-Fos expression (which significantly exceeded the non-odor Y-maze group) in the dorsomedial olfactory bulb. These data suggest that associative olfactory conditioning results in activation of c-Fos expression that combines the effect of diffuse motivational excitation and specific olfactory input to the neurons which process odor cues.

[NO-synthase dependent increase in citrulline extracellular level in the nucleus accumbens during acquisition and expression of conditioned emotional response].

In Sprague-Dawley rats, by means of in vivo microdialysis combined with HPLC analysis, it was shown that acquisition and expression of conditioned emotional response resulted in increase in extracellular level of citrulline: a nitric oxide co-product, in the nucleus accumbens. The rise extracellular citrulline caused by the acquisition of the response was significantly reduced by intraaccumbens infusion of 7-nitroindasole (0.5 mM), a selective inhibitor of neuronal NO-synthase, and completely prevented by intraaccumbens infusion of N-nitroarginine (0.5 mM): a nonselective NO-synthase inhibitor. The increase in citrulline extracellular level cased by expression of the conditioned emotional response is completely prevented by infusion of both NO-synthase inhibitors. The data obtained suggest that the acquisition and the expression of the conditioned emotional response increase the production of nitric oxide in the n. accumbens, predominantly due to activation of the neuronal NO-synthase.

Glutamate release in the nucleus accumbens during competitive presentation of aversive and appetitive stimuli.

In vivo intracerebral microdialysis/HPLC studies on Sprague-Dawley rats showed that simultaneous presentation of food and a tone previously combined with a pain stimulus was accompanied by transient elevation of the glutamate level in the extracellular space of the nucleus accumbens, the extent of this increase being proportional to the latent period of initiation of the act of eating. Conversely, sequential presentation of the conditioned aversive signal followed by food and isolated presentation of the conditioned aversive signal alone were not accompanied by changes in the level of extracellular glutamate. It is suggested that glutamate release in the nucleus accumbens in conditions of competition between presentation of food and a tone previously combined with pain stimulation is not related to the process of selecting between the aversive and appetitive strategies of behavior, but may be associated with inhibition of preparation to perform or performance of the food-related behavior.

Tetrodotoxin-dependent glycine release in the rat nucleus accumbens during correction of feeding behavior.

Studies on male Sprague-Dawley rats using vital intracerebral microdialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography addressed changes in glycine levels in the intercellular space of the nucleus accumbens during forced correction of feeding behavior. The results showed that presentation to food-consuming rats of a tone previously combined with pain stimulation induced increases in extracellular glycine levels in the nucleus accumbens, which was completely prevented by administration of the sodium channel blocker tetrodotoxin (1 microm) into this structure. Isolated presentation of the tone previously combined with pain stimulation and combined presentation of food and a tone not associated with pain stimulation were not accompanied by glycine release. These data provide evidence for the involvement of glycine mechanisms of the nucleus accumbens in processes associated with forced correction of feeding behavior.

[Glutamate release in the nucleus accumbens during competitive presentation of aversive and appetitive stimuli].

By means of in vivo microdialysis combined with HPLC analysis, we have shown that extracellular glutamate level in the rat n. accumbens increases during a simultaneous presentation of a palatable diet and a tone previously paired with a footshock, the magnitude of the extracellular glutamate increase being proportional to the latency of food taking. In contrast, extracellular glutamate level remains unchanged when the diet is presented after the conditioned aversive stimulus or when the tone is given alone. These data suggest that the glutamate release evoked by the competitive presentation of the diet and the conditioned aversive stimulus appears to be related to the inhibition of a planned feeding response, whereas the choice between behavioural strategies may not contribute to this phenomenon.

[Tetrodotoxine-dependent glycine release in the rat nucleus accumbens during correction of feeding behaviour]. / Tetrdotoksinzavisimyi vybros glitsina v prilezhashchem iadre (N.accumbens) krys v khode korrektsii pishchevogo povedeniia.

Presence of a tone previously paired with a foot-shock in rats during food intake increases the glycine extracellular level in the n. accumbens. The increase will be completely prevented by intra-accumbal infusion of Na-channel blocking agent tetrodotoxine. The findings suggest that glycine mechanisms in the n. accumbens are involved in the correction of feeding behaviour.

[Methionine sulfoximine and phosphinothricin--glutamine synthetase inhibitors and activators and their herbicidal activity (A review)]. / Metioninsul'foksimin i fosfinotritsin--ingibitory i aktivatory glutaminsintetazy i ikh gerbitsidnoe deistvie (Obzor).

Derivatives of methionine sulfoximine (MSO) and phosphinothrycin (PPT), which are analogues of glutamate, exhibit selective herbicidal activity. This effect is accounted for by impairments of nitrogen metabolism, resulting from inhibition of its key enzyme in plants, glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2). Inhibition of the enzyme causes ammoniac nitrogen to accumulate and terminates the synthesis of glutamine. Changes in the content of these two metabolites (excess ammonium and glutamine deficiency) act in a concert to cause plant death. However, low concentrations of MSO, PPT, and their metabolites produce an opposite effect: glutamine synthetase is activated, with concomitant stimulation of plant growth and productivity. The mechanisms whereby MSO and PPT affect glutamine synthetase activity are discussed in the context of nitrogen metabolism in plants.

[Diagnosis and surgical treatment of primary hyperaldosteronism]. / Diagnostika i khiururgicheskoe lechenie pervichnogo giperal'dosteronizma.

Primary hyperaldosteroneism (PHA) is one of the main causes of secondary arterial hypertension (AH). Medical histories of 62 patients with PHA were analyzed. aldosterone-produced adenoma (APA) was diagnosed in 37 (59.7%) patients (all of them were operated), idiopathic hyperaldosteroneism (IHA)--in 25 (40.3%) patients, 11 of them were operated. Complex clinical and instrumental examination (hormonal analysis, USI, CT, MRT, in difficult cases in 35 patients--selective phlebography with blood sampling) was carried out in all the patients. Clinical picture in the majority patients with PHA was unclear. Hypokaliemia is not obligatory symptom of PHA. AH is often the only symptom of PHA, therefore all the patients with AH require complex laboratory examination including repeated detection of potassium blood level, examination of serum aldosterone concentration and renin activity, diurnal urinary excretion of aldosterone. In difficult differential diagnosis between APA and IHA it is necessary to perform selective phlebography with blood sampling from inferior cava and adrenal veins with obligatory detection of aldosterone and hydrocortisone concentration. Diagnostic and curative algorithm are developed. Surgical treatment is indicated for patients with APA, and also for ones with IHA who had functionally dominant adrenal gland (based on selective blood sampling analysis) and resistant for drug therapy AH.

[Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer following the short course of treatment with azitromycin and amoxycillin]. / Eradikatsiia Helicobacter pylori u bol'nykh iazvennoi bolezn'iu dvenadtsatiperstnoi kishki posle kratkosrochnogo kursa lecheniia azitromitsinom s amoksitsillinom.

The efficacy of short-term treatment with azithromycin in 17 patients with acute doudenal ulcer associated with H. pylori was evaluated. Bioptats of the gastric mucosa taken at the beginning and after one month of treatment were investigated for H. pylori presence by histological, bacteriological methods, by urease test and by PCR. All the patients with positive H. pylori test were treated with Gastrozol (omeperazole, ICN Pharmaceutical) 40 mg per day for 1 week followed by 20 mg per day for 3 weeks, Sumamed (azithromycin, peira) 0.5 g once daily for 3 days and amoxycillin 0.5 mg four times a day for 10 days. Bioptats analysis before treatment revealed H. pylori in 100% for PCR methods, in 94.1% for urease test, in 88.2% for histological test. After the treatment H. pylori was revealed in 12.5% for urease and histological test, in 18.8% for bacteriological test and in 25% for PCR test. Thus the treatment efficacy was 75%. Side effects for short-term azithromycin therapy were shown in 5.9% cases.

[Methods of Helicobacter pylori detection]. / Metody vyiavleniia Helicobacter pylori.

There is the HP diagnostic methods review. The classification of main methods is presented. Diagnostic significance and defects of all these methods were demonstrated. There are own data of HP and its strains revealing in the patients with duodenal peptic ulcer.

[Structure and functions of chaperones and chaperonins (Review)]. / Struktura i funktsii shaperonov i shaperoninov (Obzor).

Folding and assembling of newly synthesized proteins is directed and effected by a group of relatively recently discovered proteins called molecular chaperones. These proteins not only control the assembling of native structures; they also remodel protein molecules that have wrong conformations. All molecular chaperones perform the same function, but structurally they are divided into groups of chaperones and chaperonins. These proteins are highly conserved in evolution and display an ATPase activity. Certain known chaperones and chaperonins are shown in the table, and their structures and mechanisms of action are described.

[Characteristics of Triticale glutaminase]. / Nekotorye svoistva glutaminazy Tritikale.

The glutaminase (EC 3.5.1.2) isolated from seedlings of triticale (Triticale sp.) had a pH optimum of about 8, was inhibited with excess substrate (glutamine), and reaction products (glutamate and NH4+). A monovalent anion (Cl-) and a multivalent anion (phosphate) were shown to activate the glutaminase. Some features of the glutaminase from triticale were similar to those of animal glutaminase activated by phosphate and were different from features of the enzyme from Escherichia coli.

[Clinical and morphological analysis of adrenal cortex adenomas]. / Kliniko-morfologicheskií analiz adenom kory nadpochechnikov.

Case 31 patients with Cushing syndrome are analysed. On the basis of the number of the atypical cells from dark-cell adrenal cortex adenomas, giant-cell adenomas were differentiated as a separate morphological type. Blood concentration of hydrocortisone depends on the cell composition of adenomas. Clear-cell adenomas can be hormone-active and hormont-inactive. The quantitative parameters oblained NMR-tomography, allow detecting morphological type of the tumor with greaf accuracy.