Spurious states in the Faddeev formalism for few-body systems

We discuss the appearance of spurious solutions of few-body equations for Faddeev amplitudes. The identification of spurious states, i.e., states that lack the symmetry required for solutions of the Schroedinger equation, as well as the symmetrization of the Faddeev equations is investigated. As an example, systems of three and four electrons, bound in a harmonic-oscillator potential and interacting by the Coulomb potential, are presented.Comment: 11 pages. REVTE

The regulatory role of cystatin C in autophagy and neurodegeneration

Autophagy is a dynamic cellular process involved in the turnover of proteins, protein complexes, and organelles through lysosomal degradation. It is particularly important in neurons, which do not have a proliferative option for cellular repair. Autophagy has been shown to be suppressed in the striatum of a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Cystatin C is one of the potent regulators of autophagy. Changes in the expression and secretion of cystatin C in the brain have been shown in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and in some animal models of neurodegeneration, thus proving a protective function of cystatin C. It has been suggested that cystatin C plays the primary role in amyloidogenesis and shows promise as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases). Cystatin C colocalizes with the amyloid β-protein in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease. Controlled expression of a cystatin C peptide has been proposed as a new approach to therapy for Alzheimer’s disease. In Parkinson’s disease, serum cystatin C levels can predict disease severity and cognitive dysfunction, although the exact involvement of cystatin C remains unclear. The aim: to study the role of cystatin C in neurodegeneration and evaluate the results in relation to the mechanism of autophagy. In our study on humans, a higher concentration of cystatin C was noted in cerebrospinal fluid than in serum; much lower concentrations were observed in other biological fluids (intraocular fluid, bile, and sweat). In elderly persons (61–80 years old compared to practically healthy people at 40–60 years of age), we revealed increased cystatin C levels both in serum and intraocular fluid. In an experiment on C57Bl/6J mice, cystatin C concentration was significantly higher in brain tissue than in the liver and spleen: an indication of an important function of this cysteine protease inhibitor in the brain. Using a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson’s disease (5 months old), we demonstrated a significant increase in osmotic susceptibility of brain lysosomes, depending on autophagy, while in a murine model of Alzheimer’s disease, this parameter did not differ from that in the appropriate control

Prospects in Analytical Atomic Spectrometry

Tendencies in five main branches of atomic spectrometry (absorption, emission, mass, fluorescence and ionization spectrometry) are considered. The first three techniques are the most widespread and universal, with the best sensitivity attributed to atomic mass spectrometry. In the direct elemental analysis of solid samples, the leading roles are now conquered by laser-induced breakdown and laser ablation mass spectrometry, and the related techniques with transfer of the laser ablation products into inductively-coupled plasma. Advances in design of diode lasers and optical parametric oscillators promote developments in fluorescence and ionization spectrometry and also in absorption techniques where uses of optical cavities for increased effective absorption pathlength are expected to expand. Prospects for analytical instrumentation are seen in higher productivity, portability, miniaturization, incorporation of advanced software, automated sample preparation and transition to the multifunctional modular architecture. Steady progress and growth in applications of plasma- and laser-based methods are observed. An interest towards the absolute (standardless) analysis has revived, particularly in the emission spectrometry.Comment: Proofread copy with an added full reference list of 279 citations. A pdf version of the final published review may be requested from Alexander Bol'shakov <[email protected]

Multifactor clinical-laboratory valuation of endogenic intoxication in chronic hepatitis B

For the determining of the role of clinical data and integral laboratory indices in the valuation of endogenic intoxication (EI) in chronic hepatitis B (HHB) 100 patients and 20 healthy adults were examined. The present symptoms of the disease and the facts about the character and communication of somatic diseases were studied and the effective concentration of albumin (ECA) and the reserve of albumin binding (RAB) were defined by fluorescence method twice at 18—20 days interval. The lowering of average indices of ECA and RAB was revealed in HHB patients in comparison with control group (p &lt; 0,05), and this lowering was stable during the treatment. ECA and RAB levels reducing was more marked in HHB patients with negative changes of acute infectious diseases character and in patients with definite chronic somatic diseases in comparison with the opposite groups (p &lt; 0,05)

Obmen glikozaminoglikanov i aktivnost' lizosomal'nykh fermentov u bol'nykh s diabeticheskoy nefropatiey

Цель: изучение взаимосвязи экскреции ГАГ с качеством гликемического контроля, стадией ДН и активностью вовлеченных в катаболизм протеогликанов лизосомальных ферментов. Материалы и методы: Обследовано 46 больных СД 1 типа, 25 мужчин и 21 женщина в возрасте от 16 до 50 лет (30,3+1,7 г), с длительностью заболевания от 2 мес до 28 лет (9,4?1,4 года). В состоянии декомпенсации углеводного обмена находились 40 человек. Больные, получали ГАГ-содержащие (гепарины, сулодексид), антиоксидантные и лизосомотропные препараты. Результаты: формирование ДН сопровождается изменениями обмена протеогликанов. Фракционный состав ГАГ мочи изменяется на ранних (доклинических) стадиях ДН и характеризуется увеличением доли гепарансульфата и (реже) дерматансульфата в составе экскретируемых фракций. Исследование экскреции ГАГ с мочой может быть дополнительным тестом в ранней диагностике нефропатии. Полученные данные являются патогенетическим обоснованием для включения в комплекс лечения ДН препаратов ГАГ (сулодексид и гепарины)