Depression scores are associated with retinal ganglion cells loss.

Background: Light is a known factor affecting mood and the circadian system. Light deficit is linked to deteriorated transduction of photic information to the brain, and reduced amplitude of the perceived circadian light signaling. Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) loss due to advanced glaucoma can be a factor compromising light perception, with consequences for circadian rhythms, sleep and mood.

[Structural-functional approach to chronic cerebral ischemia in elderly people.].

The aim of the study - experience in implementing a structural-functional approach to chronic brain ischemia (CCI) in elderly people by combining simultaneously produced measurements. Object of research - elderly patients with CCI 1 stage. As a result of the study, the methodological experience of the system study of CCI from the standpoint of the structural and functional approach in the elderly is shown.

Expression of circadian rhythm genes CLOCK, BMAL1, and PER1 in buccal epithelial cells of patients with essential arterial hypertension in dependence on polymorphic variants of CLOCK and BMAL1 genes.

The transcript levels of circadian rhythm genes CLOCK, BMAL1, and PER1 in buccal epithelial cells of the patients with essential arterial hypertension was analyzed in relation to polymorphic variants of CLOCK and BMAL1 genes. These levels were assessed with realtime PCR method at daily hours 9, 13, and 17. The significant differences were revealed in transcript levels of the examined genes in patients with various genotypes at the polymorphic markers 3111TC and 257TG regulatory regions of CLOCK gene.

[Daily temperature gradients and processes of organogenesis in apical meristem of Cucumis sativus L].

We studied the influence of daily temperature gradients on organogenesis in apical and axil shoot meristems at different developmental stages in Cucumis sativus L. The level of organogenic activity of meristems was determined according to the number of leaf primordia on the main and lateral shoots, number of 2nd order shoots, and rudiments of flowers of different levels of development. At the studied ontogenetic stages (mesotrophic seedling or juvenile state), plants were grown under the controlled conditions: photoperiod 12 h, light intensity 100 Wt/m2, range of mean daily temperatures 20 .

[Biochemical properties of the the lipoproteins lipid composition in fishes of the different ecology: trout Salmo irideus L. and whitefish Coregonus lavaretus L].

We studied lipid composition of low- and high-density lipoproteins from serum of female rainbow trout Salmo irideus L. and whitefish Coregonus lavaretus L. Phospholipids are main lipids in all fractions and phosphatidylcholine is the major phospholipid.

[Comparative evaluation of carbohydrate metabolism in perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) from water bodies with different contents of humic acids].

Characteristic features of energy metabolism, related to the adaptation of fish to adverse environmental conditions, were detected in perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) inhabiting the lake with a high humus content, compared to perch from the control lake. We studied a complex of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and assessed the relationship between metabolic pathways using correlation analysis.

[Biochemical characterization of aeromonad strains differing in pathogenicity].

A virulent strain of motile aeromonad (77-18) and an avirulent strain (78-16) differed in the contents of lipids and phospholipids, odd fatty acids, activity of hydrolytic enzymes, and amount of proteins with molecular weights of 47-56 kDa. It is assumed that proteins with molecular weights of 47-56 kDa, proteolytic enzymes active within a wide pH range, and odd fatty acids may act as pathogenicity factors. Each of these compounds or their combination determines certain stage of infection.

[Effect of dietary intoxication by mercury salts on cysteine proteinase activity in rat tissues].

The experiments on dietary intoxication of rats by HgI2 or Hg(NO3)2 show that the activities of lysosomal proteinase cathepsin B and cytosolic Ca(2+)-activated proteinases (calpains I and II) in the liver and kidney depend on the mercury salt solubility and the exposure duration. Mercury iodide and nitrate contribute more to inhibiting cathepsin B and calpains activities in the above tissues, respectively.

[Lipid metabolism of caddisfly larvae at low pH].

The influence of low pH (5.0 and 4.0) on lipid metabolism of caddisworms Hydropsyche contubernalis L.

[Isozyme patterns of lactate dehydrogenase from tissues of mink and arctic fox during postnatal development].

Isozymes of lactate dehydrogenase extracted from heart, kidney, and liver of mink (Mustela vison Briss.) and Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus L.) during postnatal development were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis.

[Comparative study of various biochemical parameters in pathogenic and nonpathogenic Aeromonas strains].

We studied certain biochemical properties of virulent and avirulent strains of mobile aeromonads. The pathogenic strain featured a higher proportion of odd fatty acids in the lipids, increased protease activity, and a high concentration of 55 kDa protein. We propose that these compounds be used as pathogenic markers of these microorganisms.

[Cytoplasmic protein vaccine against bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia (aeromonosis) of fish].

Water-soluble proteins from Aeromonas sobria, a causative agent of bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia of fishes, were separated into six fractions by gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100. Injections of fraction II (67 kDa) provided the highest protection of carps against the disease. Injections of proteins contained in fraction II caused stronger effects on certain biochemical parameters in the fish liver (fatty acids of phospholipids and cathepsin B and D activities) in comparison to infections of the live culture.

[An imbalance in the natural cation ratio in the water as a factor affecting the synthesis of lipids and fatty acids in fish eggs].

The effects on the lipid status of developing embryos of a disturbed natural ratio of cations in water as a result of the pollution of water bodies by waste with a high potassium content (130-140 mg/I) were studied in the laboratory. The results obtained confirm the indication of reduced lipid synthesis and altered formation of phospholipids in embryos developing in a medium with a disturbed natural ratio of cations. In addition, the lysophospholipid fraction increased in these embryos, which indicates activation of phospholipid hydrolysis.

Molecular dynamics investigation of bond ordering of unsaturated lipids in monolayers.

Molecular dynamics simulations of three model lipid monolayers of 2,3-diacyl-D-glycerolipids, that contained stearoyl (18:0) in the position 3 and oleoyl (18:ω9cis), linoleoyl (18:2ω6cis), or linolenoyl (18:3ω3cis) in the position 2, have been carried out. The simulation systems consisted of 24 lipid molecules arranged in a rectangular simulation cell, with periodic boundary conditions in the surface plane. 1 nanosecond simulations were performed at T = 295 K.

[Intramolecular bond ordering of cis-octadecadienoic chains of natural lipids. Monte-Carlo simulation].

The Monte Carlo method is applied in the calculation of C-C and C-H bond orientation distributions rho(theta) with respect to the maximum molecule span axis (theta is the angle between the bond and the axis) and bond order parameters SCC and SCH of isolated unperturbed hydrocarbon chains of cis -C18;2 at T = 298 K. The molecule-fixed coordinate system is used. The relation of the bond orientation distributions rho(theta) to the order parameters S are analysed in terms of angles theta max (a "geometric" factor, rho(theta max) = max) and widths delta theta of the distributions (factor of "fluctuations").

On the conformational, physical properties and functions of polyunsaturated acyl chains.

The conformational properties of the acyls of biological membranes--hydrocarbon chains with isolated cis double bonds--were studied by computer simulation. The Monte Carlo method was used, with continuous variation of bond rotation angles within the (0, 360 degree) range considered. It has been shown, that if all double bonds of molecules are separated only by one methylene group, and their number in the chain is maximum, the molecule is characterized by the highest equilibrium flexibility (at temperatures only encountered by biological systems) as compared to any similar molecules.