Quantitative evaluation of learning and memory trace in studies of mnemotropic effects of immunotropic drugs.

Apart from restoration of disordered immunological parameters, tactivin and derinat exhibit a pronounced effect on the higher integrative functions of the brain. Experiments on Wistar rats have shown that these drugs accelerated conditioning of food and defense responses. New methods for quantitative evaluation of memory trace consolidation are proposed.

Strategies to deliver microRNAs as potential therapeutics in the treatment of cardiovascular pathology.

Context: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important and powerful mediators in a variety of diseases including cardiovascular pathology. Thus, they emerged as interesting new drug targets. However, it is important to develop efficient transfer tools to successfully deliver miRNAs or antisense oligonucleotides (antagomirs) to the target tissue.

Correlation between biological activity and conformational dynamics properties of tetra- and pentapeptides derived from fetoplacental proteins.

In this work, using molecular dynamics simulation, we study conformational and dynamic properties of biologically active penta- and tetrapeptides derived from fetoplacental proteins such as alpha-fetoprotein, pregnancy specific β1-glycoprotein, and carcinoembryonic antigen. Existence of correlation between flexibility of peptide backbone and biological activity of the investigated peptides was shown. It was also demonstrated that flexibility of peptide backbone depends not only on its length, but also on the presence of reactive functional groups in amino acid side chains that participate in intramolecular interactions.

Modeling of three dimensional structure of human alpha-fetoprotein complexed with diethylstilbestrol: docking and molecular dynamics simulation study.

It has been long experimentally demonstrated that human alpha-fetoprotein (HAFP) has an ability to bind immobilized estrogens with the most efficiency for synthetic estrogen analog - diethylstilbestrol (DES). However, the question remains why the human AFP (HAFP), unlike rodent AFP, cannot bind free estrogens. Moreover, despite the fact that AFP was first discovered more than 50 years ago and is presently recognized as a "golden standard" among onco-biomarkers, its three-dimensional (3D) structure has not been experimentally solved yet.

Serum IgG-like glycoferroprotein: identification of its final dissociation form of thermostable protein coupled with albumin.

Human serum IgG-like glycoferroprotein identical to ascitic IgG-like glycoferroprotein that binds labeled monoclonal antibodies to CA125 is a complex consisting of three proteins: IgG, human serum albumin, and unidentified thermostable protein. Final dissociation form of serum IgG-like glycoferroprotein also appears as a complex of three nonidentical polypeptides with a molecular weight of 55 kDa (PC55) migrating in the albumin zone of thermostable protein coupled with albumin and structures chemically identical to human serum albumin and IgG heavy chains. Under denaturing conditions of electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel, IgG-like glycoferroprotein and PC55 have the same molecular weight (about 55 kDa), while under reducing conditions their weight is about 75 kDa.

Effect of nitric oxide on mechanoelectric feedback in rat right atrium.

In situ microelectrode examination of rat right atrium showed that in physiologically prestretched tissue, NO donor SNAP modifies the repolarization phase of cardiomyocyte AP in a "hump-like" way provoking the development of arrhythmia. Gadolinium both prevents and eliminates this effect attesting to involvement of stretch-activated channels in the development of NO-induced abnormalities. Elevation of SNAP concentration or further stretch of the tissue (presumably, it increases NO concentration) eliminated the hump depolarization induced by moderate SNAP stimulation.

Cloning and expression of human neuron-specific enolase cDNA in Escherichia coli.

cDNA fragment encoding neuron-specific enolase was amplified from the cDNA library of human brain. Then the fragment was cloned for expression in E. coli using the vector pET28-a.

Change in platelet monoamine oxidase activity in the acutest period of ischemic stroke is associated with the degree of neurological recovery.

We studied monoamine oxidase activity (MAO) in platelets of patients in the acute period of ischemic stroke. Neurological deficit was evaluated by the data of clinical examinations and scales. In 80% patients MAO activity was considerably increased on 3-5 day after stroke.

Ligand-receptor assay for evaluation of functional activity of human recombinant VEGF and VEGFR-1 extracellular fragment.

cDNA encoding VEGF and Ig-like extracellular domains 2-4 of VEGFR-1 (sFlt-1(2-4)) were cloned into prokaryotic expression vectors pET32a and pQE60. Recombinant proteins were purified (metal affinity chromatography) and renatured. Chemiluminescent study for the interaction of recombinant VEGF and sFlt-1(2-4) showed that biotinylated VEGF specifically binds to the polystyrene-immobilized receptor extracellular fragment.

Rhythms of cell division of different periodicity in small intestinal cryptic epithelium and their contribution to circadian rhythm formation.

We used an improved method of chronobiological information processing enabling not only to detect oscillations with different frequencies, but also to determine the significance of each harmonic. This has made it possible to identify significant high-power harmonics present in the majority of cell positions in the crypt. These harmonics make the major contribution to the formation of diurnal rhythm of cell division in the crypt and hence determine spatial and temporal organization of the proliferative system in the crypt.

Study of the nature of sympathetic trunk nerve fibers enhancing gastric motility.

Stimulation of the sympathetic nerve in the thoracic cavity often does not inhibit, but increases stomach contractions in dogs. Blockade of α- and β-adrenoceptors potentiates this stimulatory effect, while blockade of S(1,2)-receptors localized mainly in smooth muscle cells eliminates it. It is concluded that sympathetic nerve includes serotonergic fibers stimulating gastric motility.

Pathways of bone marrow mononuclear cell differentiation after transplantation into postinfarction heart.

We studied homing and differentiation fate of transplanted bone marrow mononuclears after non-selective intracoronary injection on day 30 after acute myocardial infarction in rats. Mononuclear cells migrated to the cicatrix zone where they differentiated into fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Mononuclear cells did not differentiate into cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, or smooth muscle cells of vascular media.

Effect of transplantation of bone marrow monomuclears on angiogenesis in rats.

We studied the effect of non-selective intracoronary transplantation of bone marrow mononuclears on day 30 after acute coronary infarction on angiogenesis in rats. On days 14 and 30 after transplantation of mononuclear cells, stable formation of new vessels was observed. The number of venules considerably increased after transplantation of mononuclear cells, which was seen from increased volume density of blood vessels and their caliber.

Histoenzymological characteristics of the contractile myocardium in experimental stenosis of the aorta.

Contractile cardiomyocyte metabolism was studied by histochemical methods in experimental stenosis of the aorta complicated and not by heart failure. Acceleration of the citric acid cycle, more intense oxidation of free fatty acids and their metabolites, glycolysis intensification, and higher activity of shuttle mechanisms were found in the contractile cardiomyocytes in stenosis of the aorta not complicated by heart failure. The presence of these metabolic shifts in the myocardium of all studied compartments suggests their association with not only more intense heart work, but also with the effects of total systems neurohumoral factors.

Changes in the levels of inhibitory and excitatory amino acids in the brain structures of female rats with cobalt epileptogenic focus during different phases of the estrous cycle.

We studied changes in the levels of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in female rat brain structures during different phases of the estrous cycle in health and after creation of a cobalt epileptogenic focus at stage I of epileptogenic system development. The most pronounced shifts were found in the contralateral cortex, where the levels of GABA and glycine decreased significantly during the diestrus-2 phase (corresponding to menstruation), which attests to a convulsive threshold decrease during this period.

Catecholamines, α-, and β-adrenoceptors are not responsible for activation of duodenum motility induced by sympathetic nerve stimulation.

Stimulation of sympathetic nerve in anesthetized dogs not treated with adrenergic blockers more frequently exerted stimulating rather than inhibitory effect on duodenal motility. Blockade of α- and β-adrenoceptors with phentolamine and propranolol, respectively, did not prevent the excitatory action of the sympathetic nerve stimulation, but even potentiated this effect. The data showed that catecholamines as well as α- and β-adrenoceptors are not involved in the excitatory effect of sympathetic origin.

Effects of laser and LED radiation on mitochondrial respiration in experimental endotoxic shock.

Effects of low-level laser therapy (442 and 532 nm) and LED radiation (650 nm) on mitochondrial respiration in experimental endotoxic shock have been studied. A model of experimental endotoxic shock in rats was obtained by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide B. It was found that low-level laser therapy and LED radiation dramatically affected the rate of mitochondrial respiration in third and fourth states both in LPS-treated animals and in control experiments.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial DNA mutations in atherosclerotic complications in diabetes.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is particularly prone to oxidation due to the lack of histones and a deficient mismatch repair system. This explains an increased mutation rate of mtDNA that results in heteroplasmy, e.g.

Incidence and survival of pediatric soft tissue sarcomas in moscow region, Russian Federation, 2000-2009.

The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and survival rates of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) in children 0-14 years of age in Moscow Region, Russian Federation. The database of childhood population-based cancer registry of Moscow Region was used as a data source. Tumors were stratified according to International Classification of Childhood Cancer, 3d ed.

Magnetic resonance imaging of endothelial cells with vectorized iron oxide nanoparticles.

We propose a method for obtaining superparamagnetic nanoparticles based on iron oxide and their water suspensions. The structure and size of nanoparticles were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The nanoparticles also contained a fluorescent dye Dil C18.

Bifidobacterium longum modified recombinant HU protein as a vector for nonviral delivery of DNA to HEK293 human cell culture.

Creation of effective nontoxic highly specific systems for nonviral transportation of DNA is one of the priority problems in the development of genotherapeutic methods. Chimerical recombinant proteins consisting of Antp and Tat protein cell-penetrating domains and Bifidobacterium longum DNA-binding histone-like protein HU were obtained. The resultant recombinant proteins bind to plasmid DNA in vitro and provide intracellular delivery and expression of the reporter genetic construction with GFP gene in cultured HEK293 human cells.

Contribution of microRNAs to radio- and chemoresistance of brain tumors and their therapeutic potential.

Glioblastomas, particularly high grade brain tumors such as glioblastoma multiforme, are characterized by increased anaplasy, malignancy, proliferation, and invasion. These tumors exhibit high resistance to radiation therapy and treatment with anti-cancer drugs. The radio- and chemoresistance of gliomas is attributed to cancer stem cells (CSCs) that are considered as major contributors for maintenance and propagation of tumor cell mass, cancer malignancy and invasiveness, and tumor cell survival after courses of radiotherapy and medical interventions.

Pathomorphology of the heart conduction system: comparative study during increase in left or right ventricular afterload.

Pathomorphology of the peripheral compartments of the heart conduction system under conditions of increased left or right ventricular afterload is characterized by interstitial edema, hemorrhages, and reversible and irreversible focal lesions. The percentage of damaged conduction cardiomyocytes increases in the wall of hemodynamically overloaded ventricle and in the ventricular septum. These changes are more pronounced in cases when the afterload increase is complicated by heart failure development.

Effects of amikacin on maturation of the auditory analyzer in rabbits.

We studied the dynamics of maturation of the hearing function by records of short-term latent brainstem evoked potentials and the effect of amikacin on maturation of the hearing function. The peripheral compartment of the auditory analyzer matures sooner than the central structures. Amikacin in therapeutic doses exhibited an ototoxic effect on the peripheral compartment of the auditory analyzer without impairing its central structures.