Complex estimation of mitochondrial changes of immunocompetent blood cells in pregnant women with urgent and premature birth

Inflammation is among the factors promoting development of premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM). Upon the conditions of physiological immune imbalance in pregnancy, inflammation modifies its course and can even change the immune response. Appropriate indexes may be quantitative and functional. We used a marker of mitochondrial membrane potential (MPM, Ay) as an integral index of the functional state of immunocompetent blood cells (IBC) in 159 women who were examined at 8-14 weeks of gestation; they were observed up to 34-36 weeks. Of these cohort, 121 women were referred to a comparison group. The main group (n = 46) consisted of pregnant women with PPROM at the term of 28-33 weeks. The examination was carried out according to current medical standards, with informed consent, being approved by the Ethics committee at the Khabarovsk branch of Far Eastern Scientific Centre of Physiology and Pathology of Respiration — Research Institute of Maternity and Childhood Protection. Additionally, MPM and lymphocyte populations were determined by flow cytometry. The degree of disturbed energy supply in the IBC was based on the data of simultaneous determination of lymphocyte, granulocyte and monocyte numbers with reduced MPM values (application for invention No. 2020115963), thus revealing 3 degrees of energy deficiency: 1st degree, monovariant IBC composition with reduced MPM; 2nd degree, bivariant composition, 3rd degree, total changes. A relative and absolute decrease in CD3 (72% vs 78% and 1624 vs 1980), CD8 (28% vs 33% and 651 vs 851), an increase in CD19 (14% vs 9% and 304 vs 219) were revealed in pregnant women with PPROM. When assessing MPM values in the IBC populations, a decreased proportion of women without energy deficiency from the 1st to the 2nd trimester (from 41% to 30%), due to the 3rd degree of energy deficiency (from 17% to 26%) was detected. A shift of affected pools at the 2nd degree of energy deficiency in favor of lymphocytic-granulocytic association (from 7% to 25%) from lymphocytic-monocytic compartment (from 73% to 50%) was found. From the 2nd to 3rd trimester, we have detected redistribution of granulocyte pools at the 1st degree (0 to 8%) and from the lymphocytic-granulocytic association (25% and 5%) to monocytic-granulocytic (25% and 40%). In the group with PPROM, there was a decreased proportion of pregnant women without energy deficiency (13% and 27%), as well as with the 1st and 2nd degrees (17% vs 31% and 9% vs 17%), due to the 3rd degree of energy deficiency (61% and 26 %), relative to the comparison group. The IBC pools of in the main group were redistributed at the 1st degree in favor of granulocytes (25% and 8%), at the 2nd, in favor of the lymphocytic-monocytic association (100% and 55%) from the granulocytic-monocytic (0% and 40%). Such imbalance of bioenergetic processes in the IBC can be an important factor of pathologically ongoing inflammation. These changes could be caused by both higher incidence of infections in such patients and by alloimmune interactions between mother and fetus. However, they may also determine the pathological course of inflammation. Preterm birth, which is usually caused by PPROM, is a multifactorial pathological condition. However, independent on specific triggers, the changes in energy supply of IBC, at least, may serve as a significant biomarker of probability for this disorder

The effect of magnetophoresis and Brownian diffusion on the levitation of bodies in a magnetic fluid

New aspects related to the redistribution of magnetic particles concentration in a magnetic fluid caused by magnetophoresis and Brownian diffusion in a nonuniform magnetic field are considered. These aspects deal with the influence of these processes on pressure redistribution and levitation of bodies in a magnetic fluid. It is shown that due to these processes the pressure force acting on bodies changes significantly with time and can be reduced dozens of percent if compared to a homogenous flui

ЭЛЕКТРОПРОВОДНОСТЬ ТКАНЕЙ В ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТЕ КАК СОВРЕМЕННЫЙ СПОСОБ ДИАГНОСТИКИ ЖИЗНЕСПОСОБНОСТИ СКАЛЬПИРОВАННЫХ

В экспериментальном исследовании разработаны способ определения жизнеспособности тканей и устройство для его реализации, позволяющие улучшить результаты лечения скальпированных повреждений конечностей

Assessment of breeding lines of rice (Oryza sativa L.) carrying the Pi-40 gene for resistance to rice blast strains from Krasnodar region

Blast caused by fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae B.C. Couch, 2002, is one of the most harmful diseases of rice (Oryza sativa L.), and so the development of resistant varieties is important in rice breeding. Evaluation of the efficiency of blast resistance genes against local populations of the blast pathogen is an important preliminary stage in the formation of the breeding program. In the course of the study, the level of resistance to blast pathogen was estimated for hybrid lines BC1F3 derived from local rice variety Khazar and containing the Pi-40 gene. Plants carrying the dominant allele of the Pi-40 gene in the homozygous state were used in the study. A synthetic population of Magnaporthe oryzae consists of six strains selected at different rice-growing regions in the Krasnodar territory and Rostov region in the season with epiphytotic development of blast disease was used for phytopathological evaluation. Resistance to neck and panicle blast was estimated. Phytopathological testing revealed that the disease had high prevalence in domestic rice varieties Diamant, Courage and Khazar (74.4 %, 57.9 % and 83.3 %, respectively). Khazar/IR 83260-2-10-5-2-1-B hybrid plants from population BC1F3 carrying the target gene showed a high level of resistance (7.6 % prevalence). They are valuable for breeding blast resistant varieties. These findings confirmed a wide spectrum of blast resistance of the Pi-40 gene and promise for use for development of rice cultivars resistant to the population of Magnaporthe oryzae common in the Krasnodar territory

Features of mitochondrial membrane potential of immunocompetent blood cells in children with chronic nonspecific lung diseases accompanied by pneumofibrosis

Pneumofibrosis is a pathological outcome of pulmonary tissue inflammation. It can complicate any lung and bronchial disorder. The mitochondrial membrane potential reflects functional state of immunocompetent blood cells that influence progression of a chronic inflammatory process. The aim of this work was to study the features of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of immunocompetent blood cells in children with chronic nonspecific lung diseases (CNPD), accompanied by pneumofibrosis. We have examined 79 children with CNPD manifesting with symptoms of focal pneumofibrosis. The group of patients included children with congenital lung malformations (43%), consequences of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (41%), chronic bronchitis (10%), post-pneumonic pulmonary fibrosis (6%). The average age of children was 6.5±1.2 years, including 43 boys (54%) and 36 girls (46%). The comparison group included 46 children with COPD without signs of pulmonary fibrosis, the control group consisted of 30 apparently healthy children. The contents of cells with reduced MMP among lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes in peripheral blood was determined with JC-1 dye, using the BD FACSCalibur instrument and Cell Quest Pro software (Becton Dickinson, USA). The proportion of lymphocytes with reduced MMP in patients with COPD was similar in the children of the main and comparison group, exceeding the indexes of the control group by 1.7 times (p < 0.001). Decreased MMP of granulocytes in children with pneumofibrosis was detected 1.9 times more often than in children with fibrosis-free CNPD cases (p < 0.05), and 3.4 times more common than in children from the control group (p < 0.001). Monocytes with reduced MMM in children with pulmonary fibrosis were detected 2 times more often than in children with COPD without fibrosis (p < 0.05), and 7.3 times more frequent than in the control group (p < 0.001). The changes were more expressed in children during exacerbation of the disease. The revealed features suggest a decreased level of metabolic activity of blood cells, thus, probably, presenting an immunopathogenetic basis for development of pneumofibrosis

Bipolaron Binding in Quantum Wires

A theory of bipolaron states in quantum wires with a parabolic potential well is developed applying the Feynman variational principle. The basic parameters of the bipolaron ground state (the binding energy, the number of phonons in the bipolaron cloud, the effective mass, and the bipolaron radius) are studied as a function of sizes of the potential well. Two cases are considered in detail: a cylindrical quantum wire and a planar quantum wire. Analytical expressions for the bipolaron parameters are obtained at large and small sizes of the quantum well. It is shown that at $R\gg 1$ [where $R$ means the radius (halfwidth) of a cylindrical (planar) quantum wire, expressed in Feynman units], the influence of confinement on the bipolaron binding energy is described by the function $\sim 1/R^{2}$ for both cases, while at small sizes this influence is different in each case. In quantum wires, the bipolaron binding energy $W(R)$ increases logarithmically with decreasing radius. The shapes and the sizes of a nanostructure, which are favorable for observation of stable bipolaron states, are determined.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, E-mail addresses: [email protected]; [email protected]

Ultrastructural changes in the chorioretinal complex of the rat after inducing form-deprivation axial myopia only, diabetic retinopathy only and diabetic retinopathy in the presence of myopia

Purpose: To determine the features of the microstructure of choreoretinal complex in rats with diabetes induced by streptozotocin in the presence of axial myopia. Material and Methods: Fifty-five Wistar rats (110 eyes; age, 2 weeks to 14 weeks) were used in experiments. Four groups were formed: group 1 (axial myopia only); group 2 (diabetes only); group 3 (both myopia and diabetes); and group 4 (controls; intact animals). High form-deprivation myopia was produced in two-week animals by surgically fusing the eyelids of both eyes and these animals were maintained under conditions of reduced illumination for two weeks to induce a more intense myopization of the globe. Eyelid sutures were removed on completion of these two weeks. Two weeks thereafter, type 2 diabetes mellitus was induced in rats with induced axial myopia and intact rats. A 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection for 5 days was used for this purpose. Elongated axial length and increased anterior chamber depth as measured by in vivo ultrasound were an objective criterion of the development of myopia in experimental animals. A glucose level of ≥ 4.5 mmol/L was a criterion of the development of diabetes. Two months after inducing diabetes, 14-week rats were sacrificed, and their eye tissue samples were processed by a routine method and assessed by electron microscopy. Ultrastructure of the choroid, RPE, and retinal photoreceptor cells were examined. Ultra-thin sections were cut, stained with lead citrate according to the procedure described by Reynolds, and observed with a PEM-100-01 Transmission Electron Microscope. Results: Our ultrastructural study found that myopization of the rat globe with elongation of the axial length somewhat reduced the severity of some ultrastructural changes in the choreoretinal complex in induced type 2 diabetes due to reduced choroidal swelling and dominance of compensatory processes with increased energy producing, protein synthesis and other functions in the endothelial vessels and choriocapillaries as well as RPE cells. Out findings seem to corroborate the concept that myopized eyes have capacity to somewhat buffer the development of severe diabetic retinopathy, likely due to some compensatory-and-restorative processes

Characterisation of native Dagestan grape cultivars using SSR-analysis and the main ampelographic features of the leaves

Local, ancient grape cultivars of different cultivation regions are important part of grapevine genetic resources. Dagestan is one of the oldest regions of viticulture in the Russian Federation. Some Dagestan aboriginal grape varieties are cultivated on an industrial scale, while others are found in single numbers. The study of the native gene pool is given special attention in all grapes producing countries of the world. Currently, the most informative method of plant genotypes analysis is the study at the DNA level. The main features of the leaves of grape varieties are a key ampelographical characteristic. We studied cultivars Agadai, Alyi terskyi, Bor kara, Buday shuli, Gok ala, Gok izyum, Mahbor cibil, Yai izyum beliy, Yai izyum rozovyi by using these approaches. DNA profiles of 9 local Dagestan grape cultivars were obtained on microsatellite loci VVMD5, VVMD7, VVMD27, VVS2, VrZAG62 and VrZAG79 using an automated genetic analyzer ABI Prism 3130. The SSR-markers are recommended as the main for Vitis vinifera L. genotyping. The cultivars analyzed have different sets of allele combination by the loci studied. Evaluation of the genetic similarity of cultivars according to the results of microsatellite analysis showed that the genotypes of Mahbоr cibil and Aliy terskiy are closer to the Western European gene pool of V. vinifera L. than any other native varieties in the sample studied. In addition, the grapevine cultivars studied were described for the main features of the formed leaves according to the method of the international organization of vine and wine. The similarity of cultivars Gok Ala and Agadai was shown by the results of analysis of the leaves characteristics and according to SSR-profiling

Nomenclatural standards and genetic certificates for apple-tree cultivars developed at the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, wine-making

Background. The development of genetic certificates and nomenclatural standards for newly released cultivars of Malus domestica Borkh. (apple tree) ensures an opportunity to preserve the original and authentic genetic and morphological information on domestic cultivars promising for the south of Russia. The purpose of this study was to develop genetic certificates and nomenclatural standards for 7 apple-tree cultivars developed at the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Wine-making (NCFSCHVW), five of which were released jointly with the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK).Materials and methods. The materials included apple-tree cultivars resistant or immune to scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter) from the NCFSCHVW collection stock. Conventional herbarization and DNA fingerprinting methods were used. For cultivar certification, an improved technique of DNA sampling and 12 microsatellite markers were applied.Results. Unique DNA profile certificates and nomenclatural standards were produced for 7 apple-tree cultivars: ‘Vasilisa’, ‘Karmen’, ‘Krasny Yantar’, ‘Soyuz’ and ‘Rassvet’ (with the Rvi6 gene) released jointly by the NCFSCHVW and VNIISPK, plus ‘Zolotoye Letneye’ and ‘Feya’ developed at the NCFSCHVW. The apple-tree herbarium specimens were placed for perpetual storage in the WIR Herbarium of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR).Conclusion. The results obtained are promising for identification and authenticity verification of new domestic apple-tree cultivars during their reproduction and cultivation

Exploring Flavor Structure of Supersymmetry Breaking at B factories

We investigate quark flavor signals in three different supersymmetric models, the minimal supergravity, the SU(5) SUSY GUT with right handed neutrinos, and the minimal supersymmetric standard model with U(2) flavor symmetry, in order to study physics potential of the present and future $B$ factories. We evaluate CP asymmetries in various B decay modes, $\Delta m_{B_s}$, $\Delta m_{B_d}$, and $\epsilon_K$. The allowed regions of the CP asymmetry in $B\to J/\psi K_S$ and $\Delta m_{B_s}/\Delta m_{B_d}$ are different for the three models so that precise determinations of these observables in near future experiments are useful to distinguish the three models. We also investigate possible deviations from the standard model predictions of CP asymmetries in other B decay modes. In particular, a large deviation is possible for the U(2) model. The consistency check of the unitarity triangle including $B\to \pi\pi,\rho\pi,D^{(*)}K^{(*)},D^{(*)}\pi,D^{*}\rho$, and so on, at future high luminosity $e^+e^-$ $B$ factories and hadronic $B$ experiments is therefore important to distinguish flavor structures of different supersymmetric models.Comment: revtex4, 31 pages, 7 figure