Non-coding RNA as a trigger of neuropathologic disorder phenotypes in transgenic Drosophila

At most, many protein-misfolding diseases develop as environmentally induced sporadic disorders. Recent studies indicate that the dynamic interplay between a wide repertoire of noncoding RNAs and the environment play an important role in brain development and pathogenesis of brain disorders. To elucidate this new issue, novel animal models which reproduce the most prominent disease manifestations are required. For this, transgenic Drosophila strains were constructed to express small highly structured, non-coding RNA under control of a heat shock promoter. Expression of the RNA induced formation of intracellular aggregates revealed by Thioflafin T in embryonic cell culture and Congo Red in the brain of transgenic flies. Also, this strongly perturbed the brain control of locomotion monitored by the parameters of sound production and memory retention of young 5-day-old males. This novel model demonstrates that expression of non-coding RNA alone is sufficient to trigger neuropathology.     

Precocious expression of T cell functional response genes in vivo in primitive thymocytes before T lineage commitment

The genes encoding effector molecules of mature T cells, IL-2, perforin and IL-4, were found to be expressed in vivo in the most primitive subsets of thymocytes of adult mice. These subsets have previously been identified by their cell surface markers and by their expression of other T lineage-associated genes. While IL-2, perforin and IL-4 are expressed in distinct patterns, all three are expressed before the induction of RAG-1 and pre-TCR alpha mRNA expression, and are confined to subsets of cells that apparently have not yet undergone commitment to the T lineage. Thus, expression of T cell response genes appears to be one of the earliest markers of lymphocyte differentiation. Activation events marked by CD69 induction occur in these early cell types, but the response gene expression by these cells is separable from CD69 expression. IL-2 and perforin are induced again much later in thymocyte development, during TCR-dependent repertoire selection. At those stages, IL-2 protein and RNA levels per cell are higher, but the fraction of cells expressing IL-2 appears to be much lower than in the most immature stages. In addition, a striking feature of the immature populations is the robust IL-2 expression by presumptive immature NK cells. These findings are discussed in terms of the developmental origins of lineage specificity in T cell response gene regulation.      

Bioluminescent method in studying the complex effect of sewage components

The inhibition of bacterial luminescence has been used in testing industrial enterprises sewage. The toxicity of the sewage is less than the total toxicity of separate components due to neutralization of quinone products of polyphenol oxidation in the reactions with the other phenol components of sewage. Toxicity increase is due to their influence on the cell membrane. Studies of cell ultrastructure confirm this fact. The studied mechanism of the complex effect allowed a more accurate forecast of the ecological situation during the discharge of phenol compounds and metals. It also showed the necessity of taking into account the complex effect of sewage components on contaminant discharge into water reservoirs.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of antipyrine derivatives

Translated from Khimiko-farmatsevitcheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 26, No. 5, pp. 5–53, May, 1992.     

Efficacy of neuroprotectors in patients with tension headaches

Studies were performed on 126 patients with chronic tension headache (CTH). Patients were divided into two groups — an experimental group (64 patients) and a control group (62). Control patients received standard treatment (tizanidine, fluoxetine, vinpocetin, and manual acupressure of active points in the trapezius muscles and the temporomastoid area of the head); the experimental group also received Mexidol. Clinical and neurophysiological studies, including electromyography, were performed before and after treatment. Comparison of the treatment outcomes in the two groups showed that inclusion of Mexidol into the complex therapy of chronic CTH led to faster and more marked clinical effects. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Nevrologii i Psikhiatrii imeni S. S. Korsakova, Vol. 106, No. 5, pp. 38–41, May, 2006.     

预断溃疡性结肠炎自然史的可能性

在提高炎症性肠病(1BD)疗效的同时,因治疗产生的毒性也可能增加,因此筛选出高危患者尤为重要.我们首先需要确定与溃疡性结肠炎(UC)自然史最为相关的临床终点事件,然后明确能预测严重后果的危险因素.