Role of vascular endothelial growth factor in non‑small cell lung cancer pathogenesis.

Unlabelled: The angiogenesis is an important process in the pathogenesis of malignancies. It is regulated by various growth factors, with the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) playing the central role. The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible associations of functional VEGF -2578C>A, -634G>C, and +936C>T polymorphisms with the risk for occurrence and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients living in Republic of Belarus.

[Evaluation of connection of combinations of polymorphic variants of genes of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes with a predisposition to lung cancer].

Imbalance between the phases of the biotransfotmation system (activation, detoxication and removal of toxic compounds) is one of the causes of multifactorial pathology developing. That is why study on the influence of the total contribution of polymorphic gene variants of xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes of all three phases on predisposition to lung cancer emergence is important. The aim of the work was to determine polymorphic variants of genes of xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes of lung cancer patients and to identify markers of predisposition to lung cancer.

[GST polymorphism and cytogenetic changes in lung tissues of lung cancer patients].

Carriers of GSTTI gene deletion were found to be more subjected to a risk of emerging non-small-cell lung cancer (NSLC) than those of normal GSTT1(+) genotype. Study on the relation between GST gene polymorphism and cytogenetic indices in lung cancer patients has shown a significant excess of the group average level in cells with micronuclei in NSLC patients with GSTTI(-). The frequency of cells with micronuclei was higher in smoking patients with a mutant genotype than in smoking carriers of the GSTT1(+) genotype.

Microsatellite mutations show no increases in the children of the Chernobyl liquidators.

We performed a study on Belarusian "liquidators", exploring whether increase in the frequencies of germline mutations at microsatellite loci could be found in their progeny. The liquidators, mostly young males, were those involved (during 1986 and 1987) in clean-up operations in the radioactively contaminated area following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986. Many liquidators fathered children during the clean-up period and after the work had been terminated.

The level of aberrant cells in various tissues of bank vole depending on doses and radionuclide balance in organism.

A regression analysis shows the direct linear relation between 137Cs accumulation in rodents and the level of aberrant cells. For 90Sr this trend was negative. The dose relationship was the same with 137Cs.

[Chromosome aberrations in different tissues of the murine rodents and amphibians from radionuclide-contaminated regions of Belarus].

Cytogenetic investigations of amphibian and rodent populations from the contaminated by radionuclides regions of Belarus was conducted. A significant increase in the levels of cytogenetic anomalies in bone marrow cells and intestinal epithelium of amphibians and rodents, the levels of alveolar macrophages of rodents, and micronuclei in peripheral blood erythrocytes of amphibians was revealed. Presence of chromosome type aberrations indicates that radiation as a mutagenic factor was involved.

[Parasympathetic regulation of the heart in teleosts and factors determining the regulatory direction of the chronotropic effect].

Changes in the sinus rhythm of the cod heart in response to single brief bursts of stimuli (50-200 msec) delivered to the vagus with different intervals after P-wave, were investigated. The moment of vagal stimulation in respect to cardiac cycle, the duration of free running cardiac period and intensity of nerve activity were found to be the factors determining the regulatory direction of chronotropic effects (acceleration or inhibition of the heart). Possible mechanisms of parasympathetic acceleration of the cardiac rhythm are discussed.

[Influence of ethacizin (the diethyl analog of ethmozine) on phase-dependent parasympathetic effects on the heart].

The influence of ethacizin (a diethylamine analog of ethmozine) (1.10(-7)-1.10(-6) g/ml) upon the phase-dependent chronotropic parasympathetic effects was studied on the perfused frog heart.

[Characteristics of the phase-dependent vagus effects in the heart of the frog Rana temporaria and of the cod Gadus morhua].

In experiments on the heart of the cod Gadus morhua and frog Rana temporaria in situ, studies have been made of changes in the heart rate induced by stimulation of the vagal nerve by single brief bursts delivered at various intervals after P wave of the ECG. Certain differences were found in changes of the heart rate between these animals. In the cod, maximum chronotropic effect was equal to 65% of the duration of initial cardiac cycle, the latency of this effect being equal to 290 ms; in the frog, corresponding figures were 12-13% and approximately 940 ms.