The cholesterol-lowering properties of a psyllium-based breakfast cereal in hamsters

Hamsters were fed high fiber diets containing cellulose, wheat bran or psyllium. The psyllium was incorporated into high fiber, ready-to-eat (RTE) flakes that were used to formulate the test diet. All the diets contained 0.125% cholesterol. The study was terminated after three weeks. Food intake, weight gain and feed efficiency were not significantly different in the three groups. Serum total and HDL cholesterol levels were reduced significantly by the psyllium diet. Serum triglycerides were 26% lower in the hamsters fed psyllium but because of the large variation the difference did not reach statistical significance. Liver total cholesterol and cholesteryl ester levels were significantly lower in the hamsters fed psyllium. Liver triglycerides were highest in the psyllium-fed hamsters and liver phospholipid levels were similar in the three groups. Liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels were higher in hamsters fed cellulose than in those fed wheat bran. Psyllium formulated into an RTE cereal was effective in reducing serum and liver cholesterol levels in hamsters.     

Ligands with affinity to specific sequences of DNA base pairs. X. Synthesis and binding of netropsin analogs, containing a chelating copper ion peptide, with DNA

An analogue of netropsin has been synthesized consisting of two N-propylpyrrolcarboxamide units linked covalently to a copper-chelating tripeptide Gly-Gly-L-His by means of two and three glycine residues. Binding to DNA and synthetic polynucleotides of netropsin analogue containing three glycine residues between Gly-Gly-L-His tripeptide and the N-end of netropsin analogue (His-Nt) has been studied. It is shown that this netropsin analogue chelates a copper ion with 1:1 stoichiometry, similar to a free Gly-Gly-L-His peptide. It is found that this netropsin analogue occupies 3 to 4 base pairs upon binding to poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly[d(AT)].poly[d(AT)] polymers, irrespective of whether it binds in Cu(2+)-ligated or unligated forms. Binding constants and binding site sizes have been calculated for netropsin analogue complexes with DNA, poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly[d(AT)].poly[d(AT)] polymers at the [Cu2+]/[His-Nt] ratio equal to 0 and 1.0. In the three-component system including His-Nt and Cu(2+)-His-Nt, cooperative effects are recognized which can be explained by heterodimer generation on interaction of His-Nt and Cu(2+)-His-Nt at adjacent binding sites.     

The Bi2O3-SrO phase diagram

The phase relations in the Bi₂O₃-SrO system have been examined in air at temperatures above 740 °C. Intermediate phases were found to agree with previous work, but the homogeneity ranges and high-temperature phase relationships were in some cases at variance. A modified phase diagram is proposed.     

The early diagnosis of the severity of blast trauma to the brain and auditory system]

This paper presents the information on the early period of an explosive head trauma and trauma to the auditory system. Different types of hearing impairment, the staging of the pathological process were determined along with various immunological and biochemical changes occurring in this group of patients. The results of the study call for necessity of the early ENT observation of all patients in whom an explosive trauma is suspected.     

An experimental study of the possibilities of using pentoxifylline for the prevention of cancer at different sites

Three models of cancerogenesis were used to test the anti-cancerogenic effects of pentoxiphylline. In female rats, breast adenocarcinoma was induced by intramammary injections of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) or colonic and rectal adenocarcinomas by intrarectal instillations of MNU. In female mice, squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix uteri and vagina were induced by intravaginal applications of 7,12-dimethyl-benz(a) anthracene (DMBA). Pentoxifylline was given with drinking water at a concentration of 500 mg/l long at the stage of carcinogenesis promotion/progression. Pentoxifylline exerted a strong inhibitory effect on the development of mammary tumors and a moderate inhibitory effect on the development of colonic and rectal tumors induced by MNU in rats. However, the drug did not affect the development of cervical and vaginal tumors caused by DMBA in mice.     

Perfection of methodical approaches to designing vaccines against tick-borne encephalitis

Nine female patients with a urethral diverticulum were admitted to our center over a six period: The clinical symptomatology was not specific. The diagnosis has been performed by voiding and retrograde cysto-uretrogram. The surgical treatment consisted in the excision of the diverticula, with the patient in the supine position. No perioperative morbidity was observed.     

The role of dopamine in the mechanism of the regulation of the digestive-transport functions of the enterocyte membrane during stress

The L-DOPA and sulpiridinum effects on the enzymatic transporting function of the enterocytes' membrane, were studied in rats under stress. The L-DOPA was shown to hinder the absorption rate of glucose, whereas sulpiridinum was shown to suppress the main enzymes excepting snerase and alkaline phosphatase, to increase the monomeric and hydrolysate glucose transport. The L-DOPA seems to play a modifying role in the regulation and integration of the digestive-transporting function of the enterocytes' membrane in rats under stress.