Consequences of the α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase inhibition for neuronal metabolism and survival: implications for neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are accompanied by reduced activity of mitochondrial α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (KGDHC). We present a new cellular model to study molecular mechanisms of this association. By application of the highly specific and efficient inhibitor of KGDHC, succinyl phosphonate (SP), to cultured neurons, we characterized the concentration- and time-dependent consequences of decreased KGDHC activity for neuronal metabolism and viability.

Up-regulation of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase as a stress response.

2-Oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (OGDHC) operates at a metabolic cross-road, mediating Ca(2+)- and ADP-dependent signals in mitochondria. Here, we test our hypothesis that OGDHC plays a major role in the neurotransmitter metabolism and associated stress response. This possibility was assessed using succinyl phosphonate (SP), a highly specific and efficient in vivo inhibitor of OGDHC.

[Existence of two different active sites on thiamine binding protein in plasma membranes of synaptosomes].

The current work is aimed at understanding the structure and functionality of thiamine binding protein (TBP) in neural cells plasma membranes. The influence of thiamine triphosphate on thiamine binding by TBP in synaptic plasma membranes (SPM) isolated from the rat brain was investigated. It was shown that thiamine triphosphate inhibits thiamine binding activity of SPM in concurrent manner (K(i) = 1.

[Hygienic requirements for the sizes of furniture for junior pupils].

The paper gives the results of anthropometric surveys in present-day junior pupils. It shows the distribution of junior pupils by the height groups and the ergonomic signs that determine the required functional sizes of furniture for pupils.

[The specific features of present-day children's physical development in the estimation of the functional sizes of furniture for pupils].

The authors made mass anthropometric surveys in 923 first-to-fourth-form pupils and determined the values of 5 variables for height groups 2, 3, and 4, used to justify the functional sizes of furniture for pupils: the length of a shoulder slope above the seat, that of an elbow slope above the seat, that of a popliteal space slope above the floor, the distance from the chair hack to the popliteal space, and the highest pelvic width. Differences were found in the anthropometric values in the present-day junior pupils and the equals in age of the early 1970s. The present-day children are characterized by changes in body proportions (a decrease in height and an increase in the length of the shin and femur), which should be kept in mind on optimizing the working place of pupils.