[Prion disease and brain amyloidosis].

Human prion disorders include Kuru, Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD), Gerstman-Straussler-Scheinkler syndrome (GSS), fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and prion protein cerebral amyloid angiopathy (PrPCAA). Prion diseases manifest as infections, genetic and sporadic disorders. In these diseases an abnormal form of the host's protein, prion protein protease-resistant (PrPres), is essential for pathogenic process.

[Identification of components of the extracellular matrix in trophoblastic cell columns of human placenta].

The distribution of five components of the extracellular matrix was studied in human placenta (9-12 and 39-40 weeks of gestation) by an indirect immunofluorescence method with polyclonal monospecific antibodies. In trophoblastic cell columns fibronectin, collagen types IV and V formed homogeneous deposits, whereas collagen types I and II comprised small conglomerates and scanty, discrete granules. The origin of these macromolecules was discussed.

Immunofluorescent localization of collagen types I, III, IV, V, fibronectin, laminin, entactin, and heparan sulphate proteoglycan in human immature placenta.

The distribution of eight components of the extracellular matrix in immature human placenta was studied by an indirect immunofluorescence method with monospecific antibodies. In the stroma of the term chorionic villi, collagen types I, III, IV, V, and fibronectin formed a mesh of fibers and conglomerates. Heparan sulphate proteoglycan formed multiple conglomerates, whereas laminin comprised small, scanty, discrete granules.

Confocal and conventional immunofluorescent and immunogold electron microscopic localization of collagen types III and IV in human placenta.

Confocal and conventional indirect immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopic methods were applied to examine the distribution of extracellular matrix constituents (collagens types III and IV) in the villi of immature and term human placentae. The immunofluorescence study revealed that collagen type III is more distinct in the villous stroma of term placenta as compared with that of the first trimester. Collagen type IV was detected mainly in endothelial and epithelial basement membranes and interestingly also to a certain extent in the stroma.

Immunohistochemical investigation of autoantibodies to nerve fibers in cardiomyopathy.

The immunofluorescence technique was used to trace auto-antibodies to neural structures in the blood serum of 180 patients with various cardiomyopathies and 20 healthy probands (controls). Incubation of cryostat slices of heart, kidney, spinal cord and medulla oblongata of Wistar-rats or of cell cultures of embryonal spinal cord with the blood serum of patients with cardiomyopathies resulted in immunofluorescence of nerve fibres and neuronal perikaryon. The controls were negative.

[Treatment of non-healing wounds and trophic ulcers by low- intensity laser irradiation in an outpatient clinic].

Experience in treating 351 patients with persistent wounds and trophic ulcers by low-intensity laser radiation in out-patient clinics is generalized. Complete epithelialization of the wound or ulcer surface occurred in 236 patients. There were 246 patients aged 60, all were treated without leave from work.

[Distribution of myosin, desmin and vimentin in smooth muscle cells of human embryonic vessels].

Immunofluorescent study of embryonal vessels of man using antibodies to myosin, desmin and vimentin showed heterogeneity of smooth muscle cells. It is supposed that the use of desmin as a marker of cell differentiation can increase the role of modified phenotypes in the development of the pathological process in the vascular wall.

[The viral and immunological characteristics of cardiomyopathies and myocarditis].

As many as 97 patients with myocardial lesions: congestive and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (CMP), postmyocarditis CMP (PM CMP), myocarditis (MC), alcoholic heart injury (AHI), coronary heart disease (CHD), vegetodysovarian myocardiodystrophy were examined by means of a complex of the virological tests (for Coxsackie B, Epstein-Barr and hepatitis B viruses) and immunoassays (for antibodies to different components of the myocardium, leukocyte migration inhibition test, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity test, measurements of T and B lymphocytes and their subpopulations, and so forth). Virus infection was shown to be of a role for the onset of acute MC (usually reversible) and congestive CMP. At the same time the autoimmune mechanisms of the lesions were conclusively ascertained in MC associated with heart failure and in PM CMP.

Participation of collagen types I, III, IV, V, and fibronectin in the formation of villi fibrosis in human term placenta.

The indirect immunofluorescence method was used to study the human term placenta in pathological pregnancy for the distribution of collagen types I, III, IV, V, and fibronectin in fibrosis stromatis villi. All collagen types and fibronectin were shown to participate in fibrosis villorum formation. Fibronectin was also detected in the fibrinoid that surrounded villi at stroma.

[Immunofluorescence study of the extracellular matrix of the human placenta].

Distribution of collagen types I, III, IV, V and fibronectin in human placental villi has been studied by indirect immunofluorescence. During 9-12 weeks of pregnancy the extracellular matrix of villi represents a network of filaments organized in bundles and aggregates that contain collagen types I and III and finer filaments of collagen types IV and V. Collagen type IV is regularly detected in basal membrane of capillaries and particularly in villous epithelium, collagen type V and fibronectin are occasionally detected there.

[Distribution of collagen types III and IV in human placental villi].

Immunofluorescent examination showed more significant accumulation of interstitial collagen type III in the stroma of mature placenta compared with immature one. Localization of membrane collagen type IV was found neither in basal membranes of epithelium and villous vessels of mature term placenta, nor in their stroma. The described patterns of distribution of collagen types III and IV in human placenta villi were proved by immunoelectronmicroscopic method.

[The localization of the components of the extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton in myocardial biopsies in alcoholic cardiomyopathy].

Distribution of I, III, IV and V-type collagen, fibronectin, vimentin, filamin, and desmin in myocardial biopsy specimens of 8 patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy was studied by indirect immunofluorescence. It is found that all types of collagen and fibronectin participate in formation of diffuse cardiosclerosis while small cardiosclerosis is formed by interstitial types of collagen and to a lower extent of fibronectin. Filamin and desmin distribution in cardiomyocytes proves deformation and destruction of Z-lines and intercalated discs.

[Characteristics of the extracellular matrix in the formation of sclerosis of the chorionic villi (immunofluorescence studies)].

Distribution of the eight components of extracellular matrix in small villi of human placenta was studied with indirect immunofluorescence. Normal full-term pregnancy was found to present rough fibers and type I collagen conglomerates accumulated in the stromal center, while type III and V collagens occurred all over the villous surface. Stromal localization of type IV collagen was recorded as well as its presence in basal membranes of the epithelium and vessels.

[Epstein-Barr virus infection and congestive cardiomyopathy (serologic and immunomorphologic aspects)].

In serums of patients with congestive cardiomyopathy (CCM), patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and those of healthy subjects, presence of antibodies to capsid and early antigens of Epstein-Barr's virus (EBV) and to various structural components of myocardium was determined in order to study seroepidemiologic relations between the infection and CCM as well as immunopathogenic reactions against myocardium in this disease. Seroepidemiologic relation between EBV and CCM consisted in significant (compared to healthy subjects and patients with IHD) increase in average geometrical titres of antibodies to virus-associated antigens. Half of the patients with CCM had active EBV infection proved by presence of antibodies to early EBV antigen.

Monoclonal antibodies against chordin. Use in structural and immunohistochemical studies.

Eight MAbs have been developed against chordin and designated as At2-At9. It is shown that all antibodies are directed against identical, spatially overlapping or closely positioned epitopes of chordin. The chordin molecule has repetitive sites wherein epitopes for the eight MAbs are located.

Relative distribution of fibronectin and type I, III, IV, V collagens in normal and atherosclerotic intima of human arteries.

Spatial distribution of fibronectin and type I, III, IV and V collagen has been investigated in normal arterial intima, fatty streaks, and atherosclerotic plaques by indirect immunofluorescence on transverse sections. Two distinct types of extracellular matrix were revealed in atherosclerotic lesions. The fibrous plaques consisted mostly of interstitial collagen types I and III, contained moderate amounts of type V and none of type IV collagen or fibronectin.

[Pathohistology of costal cartilage and immunomorphologic characteristics of collagen in funnel chest].

Biopsy samples from the costal cartilage tissue were studied for 68 children with funnel deformity and from 20 children with normally formed chest. The authors present general morphologic features characteristic of the costal cartilage structure in norm and in case of funnel chest. These features include vast acellular sites, map-like areas, unmasked chondrin fibers and "marrow" cavities.

Distribution of type I, III, IV and V collagen in normal and atherosclerotic human arterial wall: immunomorphological characteristics.

35 autopsies--aged 30 to 75 years--were investigated in order to establish trends of collagen localization in various types of arteries depending on age, arterial size and degree of atherosclerosis. Cryostat sections stained with highly specific antibodies to human types I, III, IV or V collagen, or with the antiserum to smooth muscle myosin were examined by the indirect immunofluorescence technique. Localization of type III collagen was very similar to that of type I.

[Fibronectin content of the intima of normal and atherosclerotic arteries].

An immunofluorescent study demonstrated the localization of fibronectin and collagen of types 1, 3, 4 and 5 in normal arterial intima and atherosclerotic patches. In the atherosclerotic patches, fibronectin is mostly grouped among cells of smooth-muscle origin together with collagen of type 4, while the fibrous tissue of the patches contains little fibronectin. It is assumed that changed extracellular matrix composition reflects the development of atherosclerotic patches, and fibronectin can be regarded as a marker of early stages of atherosclerosis.

[Localization of glycoconjugates in the tissue structures of man and animals].

By means of concanavalin A (Con A) labelled with fluorescein isotiocyonate in cryostate sections of some human and animal organs (skin, heart, thymus) localization of clycoconjugates containing hexoses and reacting with this lectin has been studied. Glycoconjugates are revealed along the periphery of all cellular elements, in Z-lines and in intercalated disks of the myocardial muscle fibers, in the connective tissue ground substance and also in that of the basal membranes of epithelium, endothelium, muscle fibers (sarcolemma), in cytoplasm of epithelioreticulocytes of the thymus. In fibroblasts of the L-cells culture, glycoconjugates are also localized in cytoplasm.

[Distribution of collagen types I, III, IV and V in the walls of human arteries].

Using immunofluorescence the localization of I, II, IV, V type collagen in different layers of the artery wall was established. The adventitia was shown to contain only I and III type collagen. All collagen types studied were identified in the media.

[Distribution of myosin in a primary culture of human aortic intimal cells].

Using antiserum against smooth muscle myosin of human uterus the distribution of myosin was investigated in primary cell culture of human aortic intima. It was discovered that during the first 5 days of cultivation, 74.5% of cells manifested homogenous distribution of myosin.