Investigation of sialic acids and sialyltransferase activity in blood of patients with systemic scleroderma.

Systemic scleroderma (SSd) is a connective tissue disorder accompanied by generalized fibrosis. A disturbance of the synthesis and production of matrix glycoproteins, such as collagens, fibronectin, and proteoglycans, by connective tissue cells is typical for this disease. We previously demonstrated a decrease in the ganglioside content of cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with SSd.

Phospholipids and glycosphingolipids in cultured skin fibroblasts from patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

Objective: A comparative investigation of glycosphingolipids and phospholipids of cultured skin fibroblasts from healthy donors and patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc) was performed.

Methods: Culture techniques, qualitative and quantitative lipid analyses, determination of neuraminidase activity, and immunofluorescence microscopy were used.

Results: The quantitative content of individual phospholipids in the fibroblasts of SSc patients (PF) was equally elevated, on the average 2.

[Phospholipids and glycosphingolipids in cultured skin fibroblasts from healthy donors and patients with systemic scleroderma].

A comparative study of phospho- and glycosphingolipids of cultured skin fibroblast from healthy donors and from patients with systemic sclerodermia (SSD) was carried out. It was shown that the total phospholipid content in SSD fibroblasts is elevated. No significant changes in the concentration of neutral glycosphingolipids were observed.

[An automated method of detecting bacteriuria].

A screening test for bacteriuria was developed, based on the use of the Bioscreen microbiological system (Labsystem, Finland) and nutrient media manufactured in the USSR. The diagnostic characteristics of the new test were assessed in screening of inpatients; the test has proved to be not inferior to similar methods realized in the microbiological systems manufactured in Western Europe and USA.