[Nitrogen and oxygen levels in placenta - a predictor for retinopathy of prematurity].

Purpose: To study the distribution of chemical elements in the placenta of pregnant women at 24-35 and 39-40 weeks of gestation, and to assess the possibility of using data on the levels of principle chemicals for predicting clinical manifestation of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Material And Methods: The study examined 375 placenta tissue fragments of pregnant women for levels of the following chemical elements: carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), calcium (Ca), chlorine (Cl), potassium (K), sodium (Na) and phosphorus (P). Subjects were divided into 3 groups: 1st group consisted of 41 pregnant females (205 fragments of placenta tissue) at weeks 24-35 of gestation, whose children would not develop ROP; 2nd group included 14 mothers (70 fragments of placenta tissue) at weeks 39-40 of gestation; 3rd group - 20 pregnant (100 fragments of placenta tissue) at weeks 24-35 of gestation, whose children would be diagnosed with ROP.

Deoxygenation Affects Composition of Membrane-Bound Proteins in Human Erythrocytes.

Background/aims: ATP release from erythrocyte plays a key role in hypoxia-induced elevation of blood flow in systematic circulation. We have previously shown that hemolysis contributes to erythrocyte ATP release triggered by several stimuli, including hypoxia, but the molecular mechanisms of hypoxia-increased membrane fragility remain unknown.

Methods: In this study, we compared the action of hypoxia on hemolysis, ATP release and the composition of membrane-bound proteins in human erythrocytes.

[Anatomical parameters of emmetropic and varyingly myopic eyes].

This article summarizes the results of a study on ocular anatomy in emmetropia and different degrees of myopia conducted in the Smolensk State Medical Academy. Data of 233 patients (408 eyes) is presented. Five size parameters were measured in all cases.

Probing cytochrome c in living mitochondria with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Selective study of the electron transport chain components in living mitochondria is essential for fundamental biophysical research and for the development of new medical diagnostic methods. However, many important details of inter- and intramembrane mitochondrial processes have remained in shadow due to the lack of non-invasive techniques. Here we suggest a novel label-free approach based on the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to monitor the redox state and conformation of cytochrome c in the electron transport chain in living mitochondria.

Effects of GSM-Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation on Some Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Rats.

Single exposure of white outbred rats to electromagnetic radiation with a frequency 905 MHz (GSM frequency) for 2 h increased anxiety, reduced locomotor, orientation, and exploration activities in females and orientation and exploration activities in males. Glucocorticoid levels and antioxidant system activity increased in both males and females. In addition to acute effects, delayed effects of radiation were observed in both males and females 1 day after the exposure.

[Non-thermal effect of GSM electromagnetic radiation on quality of pea seeds].

The seeds with low level of room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) were selected from a lot of air-dry peas (Pisum sativum) with 62% germination. These strong seeds (95-97% germination percentage) in air-dry, imbibed or emerged states were exposed to 905 MHz GSM-band electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The following effects of EMR were observed.

[Possibilities of using MIGI-K protective activity under conditions of radionuclide contamination].

Experimental studies of the mussel hydrolyzate (MIGI-K) have shown that this preparation can enhance both general and radiation resistance of the organism. Moreover, MIGI-K promotes elimination of incorporated radionuclides from the organism. Some properties of this preparation, in particular, the absence of toxicity or harmful side effects, have made it possible to apply MIGI-K as an adaptogen, that is, a food supplement oftherapeutic and preventive action used to increase radionuclide excretion in the Chernobyl emergency clean-up workers.

[Comparative analysis of retinotomographic and histological examinations of retina in health and primary open-angle glaucoma].

Comparative analysis of retinal structure was performed in patients with POAG and control healthy group using spectral OCT and histology. An apparent similarity of tomographic and histological patterns of retinal changes was found in patients with POAG. These results make OCT potentially appropriate method for vital examination of retinal structure in glaucomatous eyes including early stages of the disease.

[Synthetic peptides -- analogs of biologically active fragment of the differentiation factor from HL-60 cells show radioprotective and adaptogenic activities].

It was shown that the addition of synthetic six-membered peptide (HLDF-6) and its Tyr-analog (HLDF-Y) to cultural medium significantly increased the survival of cells HL-60, treated by cold shock. The prophylactic administration of HDLF-Y (1 mg/kg, 4 hours prior to applied actions) decreased the response of hypothalamushypophysis-adrenal glands system and sympathicoadrenal system of rat males on supercooling and also increased the resistance of mouse males to supercooling and X-irradiation. In the experiences with females HDLF-Y did not show the similar biological activity.

[Protective effects of MIGI-K during UV irradiation of animals].

Prophylactic peroral use of MIGI-K preparation (products of acid hydrolysis of mussels meat) largely or completely prevented intensification of lipoperoxidation and depression of antioxidative systems (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, nonprotein thiols, lipoantioxidants) in skin and liver of UV-irradiated rats.

[Adaptogen MIGI-K in rehabilitation of Chernobyl liquidators].

Experimental studies of the mussels hydrolysate (MIGI-K) have shown that this preparation can enhance the radioresistance and general resistance of the organism. The mechanisms of its action are related mainly with its influence on the components of the biochemical back-ground of the resistance and with its antioxidative activity. Some properties of this preparation, for example, absence of toxicity and harmful side effects, made it possible as an adaptogene and as a remedy, increasing radionuclides excretion.

[Radioprotective properties of carnosine].

In experiments with rats and mice there was shown the ability of carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) to depress accumulation of lipoperoxidative products in blood serum and to increase the yield of spleen endocolonies in irradiated animals. There were investigated duration of the protective action and compared effects of single and prolonged administration of carnosine. Carnozine restores the postradiative decrease in the cytochrome P-450 content in rat liver microsomes.

[Use of a preparation of natural origin to attenuate biological effects under conditions of radioactive pollution and in a radiobiological experiment].

The experiments in animals exposed in the area of increased radiation level around the Chernobyl NPP and the observational data on laringosyndrom and peripheral blood pattern of the people, who worked at the Chernobyl NPP in 1986-1987, have shown that it is possible to use some biogenic preparations (e.g. MIGI-K) for protection under chronic exposure to natural and technogenous ionizing radiation.

[The effect of x-ray irradiation on UDP glucuronyltransferase activity in the liver microsomes of rats].

It was shown that X irradiation of male and female rats with dose of 7 Gy causes phase alterations of UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity (p-nitrophenol glucuronidation was analysed) in liver microsomal fraction: 24 hr after irradiation decrease (to 45.7 +/- 6.4 and 60.

[The effect of carnosine on the liver enzyme system in the irradiated body].

The effect of carnosine on post-radioactive changes in lipid peroxidation (LPO) products in blood serum and cytochrome P-450 content in liver microsomes has been studied. Per os administration of carnosine 24 hours prior to irradiation in a minimal lethal dose (7 Gr) markedly decreases the post-radioactive accumulation of LPO products in rat blood serum one hour after irradiation and fully restores the post-radioactive decrease in the cytochrome P-450 content in rat liver microsomes on day 5 after irradiation. Besides, the ability of carnosine to prevent the post-radioactive decline in the activity of UDP-glucuronyl transferase.

[The possibility of using the preparation MIGI-K in districts exposed to radioactive contamination following the accident at the Chernobyl AES].

A preparation from mussels, MIGI-K, used as an additive to the diet of people working at the Chernobyl power plant has proved to be efficient in increasing the total resistance of the body, including the resistance to ionizing radiation. In experiments with animals, MIGI-K has been shown to accelerate excretion of 45Ca and 86Rb from the body. The combination of these properties of MIGI-K permits us to consider it an efficient drug to be used within the regions affected by the Chernobyl disaster.

[Radiation reactions and the possibilities for their modification in rats exposed in the area of the Chernobyl Atomic Electric Power Station].

A study was made of some embryological, hematological, cytogenetic and biochemical characteristics in Wistar rats exposed within the Chernobyl NPP zone over a period of 30 days (the average radiation background level, 75, and at the soil surface, 115 mR/h; a cumulative dose, 57 rad/30 days, and for pregnant rats, 36 rad/20 days). The quantity of chromosome aberrations in bone marrow metaphases and the embryonal death rate were invariable; some cases of teratogenesis were, however, observed. The total number of karyocytes in the brain and the leukocyte content in the peripheral blood sometimes decreased.

[The radiation modifying properties of carnosine].

The influence of carnosine (beta-alanyl-l-histidine) on the survival rate of albino mice subjected to whole-body X-irradiation has been investigated. Carnosine (50-200 mg/kg/day) administered per os during a period of 20 days before irradiation (5.0 Gy) increased the survival rate by 45-65%, whereas the administration of carnosine within 30 days after irradiation (5.

[The effect of x-ray irradiation on the cytochrome P-450-dependent mono-oxygenase system of the liver in different animal species].

The whole X-irradiation (7 Gy) of male rat, mouse and guinea-pig caused in general similar alterations in the content of cytochrome P-450 and aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity in liver microsomes. On the 5-7th day after irradiation the parameters were 39-79% of the normal level. The same postradiation changes were observed in females of these animal species but in females of rats and guinea-pigs the effect was less expressed.

[Findings of electrophysiological studies at various stages of combined surgical treatment of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy].

Electrophysiological examinations of the pigmented epithelium, retina, and optic nerve have demonstrated the efficacy of combined surgical treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy at various stages of the condition. The findings are indicative of the process stabilization and of a reduction of the exudative component in the retina in late periods of the follow-up. The authors recommend combined electrophysiological examinations for monitoring the treatment results and for assessing the course of the process.