A comparison of finely dispersed mineral components in fossil coals of the Kama and Donets basins

This study presents the results of SEM-EDX analysis of the mineral components of coals from the Kama (Volga-Ural region) and Donets basins and discusses the characteristics of the depositional environments and conditions of coalification. The results reveal differences in the mineral composition of coals from these two basins. © 2013 Allerton Press, Inc

Rare-earth mineralization in early Carboniferous coals of the Volga-Ural region

© 2014, Allerton Press, Inc. This study presents new ICP spectroscopy data on lanthanide concentrations in early Carboniferous coal deposits in the Volga-Ural region. The results confirmed an overall LREE over HREE enrichment and emphasized the role of carbonate host strata as a major factor that is responsible for REE enrichment and geochemical anomalies. The results of this study were also used to identify the modes of REE occurrences in the organic and inorganic constituents of coal

RNA-interference in the regulation of axonal transport

Until now, in the world since literature, there has been no direct evidence indicating that RNA-interference controls local protein synthesis in the mammalian motor neuron axons. In the present review we have summarized the results on intraaxonal protein synthesis, its role in the axonal transport, and mechanisms regulating local protein synthesis in the axoplasm. The new mechanisms regulating axonal transport based on RNA-interference presented in the review let us discuss the questions about pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative diseases. The estimated role of the intraaxonal protein synthesis on axonal transport suggested applying short interfering RNA for degradation of the mutant gene RNA for blocking synthesis of the aberrant protein along the whole axon

Genetically modified human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells as potential stimulators of neuroregeneration in degenerative disorders of central nervous system

Gene-cell therapy is a new step for the treatment of different human disorders including central nervous system degenerative diseases. In this review we focused on the last challenges in the field of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells transplantation - An attempt to support neuronal cells survival and to stimulate the neuroregeneration. As a potential therapy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases we reviewed the latest advances in gene modification of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells as a novel tool for the effective delivery of neuroprotective factors and growth factors in the injured or degenerative areas of the central nervous system under pathological conditions. The main topic of this review is the potential therapy of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - The progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting primarily upper and lower motoneurons - by using genetically modified human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells. The results from the up-to-date experiments indicated the opportunity to obtain differentiated macrophages, endothelial cells, or astrocytes from the genetically modified human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells after their transplantation in the mouse model of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Taken together, these data build the high-capacity platform for the supporting of degenerating neurons, structural and functional recovery of the brain and spinal cord after trauma, ischemia and other neurodegenerative disorders. © Human stem cells institute, 2013

Retrogradely transported siRNA silences human mutant SOD1 in spinal cord motor neurons

The transgenic mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) expressing human mutant (G93A) copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is an attractive model for studying the therapeutic effects of RNA interference (RNAi) because of the specific silencing of the mutant gene expression. We studied small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated down-regulation of human mutant G93A SOD1 gene in lumbar spinal cord of ALS mice. siRNA was applied onto the proximal nerve stump of severed sciatic nerves. One day after surgery the lumbar spinal cords were processed for RT-PCR examination. Treatment with specific siRNA resulted in 48% decrease in human SOD1 mRNA levels in lumbar spinal cord, but had no effect on the abundance of mouse ChAT and SNAP25 mRNAs which were used as randomly selected internal controls, the mark of a specific silencing of SOD1. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that siRNA, targeting mutant human SOD1 mRNA, is taken up by the sciatic nerve, retrogradely transported to the perikarya of motor neurons, and inhibits mutant SOD1 mRNA in G93A transgenic ALS mice. © 2009 Springer-Verlag