[Strategies for Conservation of Endangered Amphibian and Reptile Species].

Strategies for conservation of endangered amphibian and reptile species are discussed. One-fifth of all vertebrates belongs to the category of "endangered species," and amphibians are first on the list (41%). Every fifth reptile species is in danger of extinction, and insufficient information is characteristic of every other fifth.

[Structure of the microbial community in soil catena of the right bank of the Oka River].

The structure of the microbial community (the fungal-bacterial ratio) has been assessed by selective inhibition of the substrate-induced respiration (SIR) using streptomycin sulfate and cycloheximide antibiotics in the gray forest soil of eluvial, transite, transite-accumulative, and accumulative (meadow alluvial) facies of slope landscape on the right bank of the Oka River (near Pushchino, Moscow oblast) which represents an abandoned field, small-leaved wood, spruce forest, and meadow. The concentrations of bactericide and fungicide were selected experimentally for each landscape facies which provide the greatest SIR inhibition of the soil upon their individual application and in combination. Fungi were established to be predominant in the contribution to the total SIR which was found to be 82-97%.

[Fungal to bacterial biomass ratio in the forest soil profile].

The carbon content in microbial biomass (Cmic-BM) was determined in various horizons of the soil profile (sod-podzo, gray, podzol, and rzhavozem) of various forests (oak, spruce Yellow Archangel, spruce moss, aspen, spruce broadleaf) in the southern taiga of European Russia (Moscow and Kaluga oblasts) by the substrate induced respiration (SIR) and direct microscopy (DM) methods. The fungi-to-bacteria ratio was measured by the selective inhibition technique and DM. A quantitative differentiation of the fungal mycelium was suggested.

[Characteristics of tooth system in gekkonid lizards ( Teratoscincus, Gekkonidae) and other lizards (Gekkota, Sauria, Reptilia)].

The dentition and tooth crown microstructure of gekkonids and eublepharids are examined. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the lingual surface of teeth in these lizards has one, two, or, occasionally, several cusps separated by grooves. The teeth of geckoes usually have two (lingual and labial) cusps in the apical region.

[Species of Acanthosaura gray, 1831 (Agamidae: Sauria, reptilia) of Vietnam: results of molecular and morphological study].

On the basis of morphological and molecular data, taxonomic diversity of the agamid genus Acanthosaura in Vietnam is discussed. This genus is represented in Vietnam by four species of two complexes, A. capra and A.

[Use of postmortem brain magnetic resonance imaging at autopsy].

The study was undertaken to define the possibilities of using postmortem MRI for examining the brain. A complex study was made to explore 21 neutral formalin-fixed gross brain specimens from patients with neurosurgical pathology. Macroscopic and target histological studies of the changed signal areas detected by MRI were performed using histochemical stains.

[Comparative assessment of soil microbial biomass determined by the methods of direct microscopy and substrate-induced respiration].

The content of microbial biomass (MB) was determined in samples of gray forest, chestnut, and tundra soils with different physicochemical properties (0.4-22.7% Corg; 8.

[The ratio of fungi and bacteria in the biomass of different types of soil determined by selective inhibition].

Tundra, chernozem (virgin and arable), sod-podzolic (coniferous forest, meadow, and arable), and grey forest (larch forest) soils were used to separate the contributions of fungi and bacteria to substrate-induced respiration (SIR) with the help of antibiotics. For soils with a high content of organic matter (tundra and chernozem: 12 and 8%, respectively), the procedure of selective inhibition of SIR has been optimized. The optimized procedure includes the application of high concentrations of streptomycin (50-120 mg/g of soil) and cycloheximide (50-80 mg/g of soil) and decreasing the weight of the analyzed soil sample.

[The antibiotic-aided separation of fungal and bacterial substrate-induced respiration in various soil ecosystems].

Fungal and bacterial substrate-induced respiratory activities have been distinguished in gray forest and chestnut soils in various ecosystems (forest, grassland, tillage, unused land, and shelterbelt) using the antibiotics cycloheximide and streptomycin. The optimal inhibitory concentrations of the antibiotics, added separately and in combination; the preincubation time of the antibiotics with the soil before glucose addition; and the mass of added inert material (talc) have been determined. Based on the results obtained, the inhibitor additivity ratio (IAR) has been calculated for the antibiotics.

[The results of brain MRI in patients with vascular and posttraumatic encephalopathy: a comparative study].

Using clinical, psychological methods and MRI, 199 patients with vascular (VE) and posttraumatic encephalopathy (PE) have been studied. It is shown that atherosclerosis, essential hypertension and their combination become relevant at the age of 40 years. Multiple microfocal white matter lesions, leukoaraiosis, extensive bilateral atrophic changes and dilatation of subarachnoid spaces were characteristic of patients with VE (mean age 67+/-10 years).

[Postural imbalance in patients with vascular brain pathology].

Using MRI survey, 163 patients with various brain pathology of vascular genesis were studied. Vascular dementia according to NINDS-AIREN classification was diagnosed in 15% of patients. Cognitive disturbances in other patients did not reach a level of dementia.

[A cytological study as a part of integrated examinations of patients with the mammary gland pathologies in the ambulatory and clinical settings].

An integrated system of examination of female patients was used to detect the mammary-gland pathologies at the Central Clinic of Russia's Federal Security Service in the ambulatory and clinical settings. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy monitored by ultrasound as well as target aspiration biopsy based on the "Mammodiagnost-400" X-ray unit with the "Cytoguide" stereoscopic attachment (pistol-needle system) were applied to obtain the cell samples in nonpalpable neoplasms of the mammary gland; fine-needle aspiration biopsy without ultrasound monitoring was used in palpable neoplasms. Diagnosis was morphologically verified in all cases.

[Use of US-contrast media in the diagnosis of carotid artery stenosis].

With the advent of ultrasound diagnostic devices that provide a possibility of colored mapping, regimes of energy Doppler regimens, and procedures of second harmonic, conditions for using ultrasound contrast agents occurred. The drug Levovist was used during carotid Doppler study in 16 patients in whom primary vascular scanning was of poor quality. The use of Levovist improved the accuracy of diagnosing the degree of arterial stenosis from 40 to 95%.

[An unusual course of viral hepatitis A in children].

To determine the present-day specific clinical features of viral hepatitis A (HA) in children, observation on 447 children aged 1 year and 10 months to 14 years with verified HA monoinfection was carried out. At the season of 1993 essential differences were observed in the clinical picture of HA: the disease took a more severe course with the prevalence of medium-severe (59.3%) and severe (3.

[Clinical aspects and course of extrapulmonary sarcoidosis].

Follow-up results (3-15 years) are available for 95 patients with extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. The disease presented with multiple lesions and recurrent course. Peripheral lymph nodes were the most frequent location.

[Synthesis and secretion of human atrial natriuretic factor in Escherichia coli cells].

A recombinant plasmid providing for the synthesis and secretion of the human atrial natriuretic peptide (hANP) as a C-terminal hybrid with the St. aureus protein A was constructed. The level of secretion of the chimeric proteins and their proteolytic stability were shown to depend upon the genotype of the recipient strains and the cultivation conditions.

[The physical development and adaptational potentials of schoolchildren].

During 1982-1991, a longitudinal study was made of 246 children from the beginning of going to school to leaving it. Specific features of formation of physical development and adaptative potentialities during their education were identified with regard to sexual dimorphism, constitutional features, morbidity and some sociohygienic factors.