Surface reactions with participation of oxides of molybdenum and tungsten

The kinetics of surface reactions in one-dimensional and radial (two-dimensional) distribution of diffusant MoO3 (WO3) on the surface of the substrate MeO (Me is Cd, Ni, Pb, Mn, Cu) were investigated. A kinetic equation satisfactorily describes the rate of surface reactions in the case of radial distribution of diffusant on the substrate. It’s found that when the radial distribution of diffusant the growth of layer on the substrate surface eventually slows down and stops almost completely, due to the outflow of the diffusant deeps into the substrate. When the one-dimensional distribution of diffusant the surface interaction is not slowed down and does not stop at an arbitrarily large times

Surface reactions with participation of oxides of molybdenum and tungsten: the influence of external factors

This work is a continuation of the article “Surface reactions with participation of oxides of molybdenum and tungsten”, published in the previous issue of the journal. The influence of the electric field and the pressure of oxygen in the gas phase on the rate of surface reactions for the synthesis of molybdates of manganese and copper were investigated. It’s found that for the synthesis reaction of molybdate of copper the nature of the dependency of the rate of synthesis and rate of surface reactions from the external parameters are the same, indicating the crucial contribution of surface diffusion to the reactive mass transfer. For the synthesis reaction of molybdate of manganese the dependences of the rate of synthesis and of rate of surface reactions by external parameters differ, indicating that for this reaction, surface diffusion isn’t the main mechanism of mass transfer

Contextual and Individual-Personal Predictors of Russians’ Adaptation in Estonia and Kyrgyzstan

Background. Acculturation strategy choice and success of adaptation to new cultural environment depend both on individual characteristics of participants of intercultural interaction and on characteristics of the context. In this regard, it is important to apply an integrated approach to study the mutual contribution of contextual and individual-personal predictors of acculturation. Objective. The study aims at identifying complex contextual and individual-personal predictors of adaptation of Russians in Estonia and Kyrgyzstan, and revealing relationship between these complex predictors, acculturation strategies, and psychological well-being of Russians in these republics. Study Participants. The sample consisted of 302 Russians in Estonia (Mage = 37.51; SD = 16.55; 52% females) and 300 Russians in Kyrgyzstan (Mage = 35.56; SD = 17.40; 64,8% females). Methods. We used scales from the MIRIPS questionnaire, instruments for measuring identities and intercultural attitudes developed in CSCR of HSE, and local identity scale by O. Droseltis and V.L. Vignoles. Results. The study revealed three complex predictors of adaptation in each country: perceived inclusiveness of context, ethnocultural identity and closeness to host country. These three complex factors in both countries were positively associated with life satisfaction, and in Estonia with self-esteem as well. Perceived inclusiveness of the context and closeness to host country negatively related to separation and positively related to integration, ethno-cultural identity positively related to separation. In Kyrgyzstan we also revealed culture-specific positive links between ethno-cultural identity and integration and between closeness to host society and assimilation. Conclusion. The study of the mutual contribution of personal and contextual characteristics to success in adaptation to new cultural environment contributes to a deeper understanding of acculturation as a complex dynamic process, the components of which are in constant interaction with each other

Detection of Functional Significance of Coronary Stenoses Using Dynamic 13N-Ammonia Stress-PET/CT with Absolute Values of Myocardial Blood Flow and Coronary Flow Reserve

Objectives. The aim of the study was to compare the values of myocardial blood flow (MBF) at stress, MBF at rest and coronary flow reserve (CFR) obtained by 13Nammonia stress-PET/CT in patients with various degrees of coronary stenosis and in healthy patients. And thus to estimate the possible contribution of the stress-PET/CT quantitative data to the detection of functionally significant coronary stenoses in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and methods. 63 patients (mean age 64±9 years) with known CAD underwent dynamic 13N-ammonia stress-PET/CT followed by calculation of MBF both at stress and at rest in absolute units and CFR. We compared quantitative values in two groups of patients with coronary artery stenosis: 1) ≥75% (n = 36) and 2) <75% (n = 27) confirmed by invasive coronary angiography and in group of healthy patients (n = 11). Results. MBF at stress was significantly lower in group with ≥75% diameter stenoses (median 1,44 [1,21; 1,85] mL/min per g) compared with group with <75% diameter stenoses (2,42 [1,75; 2,89] mL/min/g) and the normal group (2,54 [2,31; 2,86] mL/min/g), (p <0,001). There was no reliable difference in MBF at rest between the three groups (p = NS). CFR was significantly lower in the group of patients with severe ≥75% stenoses (1,85 [1,54; 2,31]) in comparison with patients group with stenoses of intermediate <75% severity (2,73 [2,19; 3,21]), and also in comparison with the normal group (3,12 [2,75; 3,23]), (p <0,001). Conclusion. The values of MBF at stress and CFR are significantly lower in patients with severe coronary arteries stenoses comparing with the group of patients with mild and moderate stenoses. The value of MBF at rest used independently has no diagnostic utility for detection of functional significance of coronary artery stenoses. Keywords: myocardial blood flow, coronary flow reserve, PET/CT, 13N-ammonia, coronary stenosis

BLOOD LIPOPROTEINS AS A PLATFORM FOR TRANSPORT OF HYDROPHILIC AND HYDROPHOBIC COMPOUNDS

The paper discusses the transport functions of the main classes of blood plasma lipoproteins (LP) that are not associated with the metabolism of lipids that make up their composition. The aim of the study was to study the ability of various plasma LP fractions (very low (VLDL), low (LDL) and high density (HDL)) to interact with certain hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds and show the role of LP as transport forms of xenobiotics in the organs and tissues of the body. Material and methods. The studies were performed with tritium-labeled cytochalasin B, benzylpenicillin, benzanthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, ultracentrifugation of human plasma LP fractions, column chromatography; in vivo experiments with intravenous injection of LP complexes with tritium-labeled benzanthracene were conducted. Results. The ability of various classes of LP to form complexes with hydrophilic (cytochalasin B, benzylpenicillin) and hydrophobic (benzanthracene, benzo(a)pyrene) compounds is shown by the method of ultracentrifugation. More than 50 % of the radioactivity of hydrophilic compounds in human blood plasma was represented in the composition of the LDL and HDL fractions, and in the composition of the VLDL fractions it was minimal – 6.3 and 5.1 %, respectively. A significant part of cytochalasin and benzylpenicillin was also present in the protein infranatant – 43.6 and 40.9 %, respectively. The distribution in blood plasma for hydrophobic (benzanthracene, benzo(a)pyrene) compounds was different. More than 80 % of the radioactivity was represented in the composition of the LP fractions. The polar protein infranatant contained 16.1 % of the radioactivity of benzantracene and 13.6 % of benzo(a)pyrene. The features of the lipophilic xenobiotics uptake by organs and tissues were shown in vivo experiments with intravenous injection of complexes of LP with tritium-labeled benzanthracene to rats. The highest specific radioactivity was found in the liver and adrenal glands after the intravenous injection of 3H-benzanthracene in the composition of VLDL and LDL. Twice less uptake of the labeled drug was observed in the testis and kidneys. Radioactivity decreased in the series: lungs,adipose tissue, thymus, heart, and spleen. A feature of the use of HDL as a platform for 3H-enzanthracene is the intense accumulation of lipophilic xenobiotics in steroid-producing organs: the adrenal glands and testis. Conclusion. The results obtained allow us to consider the real possibility of using blood plasma PL as transport platforms for hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds into the cells of organs and tissues

Uptake of cholesterol esters being a part of the different fractions of blood plasma lipoproteins by rats organs and tissues

The paper deals with the functions of the main classes of blood plasma lipoproteins (LP) that are associated with the transport of cholesterol esters included in their composition. The aim of the study was to investigate the features of the uptake of cholesterol esters associated with plasma LP fractions (very low (VLDL), low (LDL), and high density LPs (HDL)) by rat organs and tissues, and to show the participation of various subfractions of HDL (HDL2 and HDL3) as specific cholesterol carriers in the main steroid-producing organs of rats.Material and methods. The in vivo studies with intravenous LP injection of 14C labeled cholesterol oleate (14C-OCh) associated with plasma LP fractions have been carried out.Results. Intravenous injection of a 14C-OCh) in the composition with VLDL led to the maximal mark uptake by the liver. Three times less uptake of labeled cholesterol was observed in the adrenal glands, testes and heart muscle. In other tissues radioactivity gradually decreased in the raw: spleen > lungs > kidneys > thyroid gland and adipose tissue. After the injection of 14C-OCh in the composition of LDL marked predominant uptake of the label by the adrenal glands, testes, and liver. A feature of the use of HDL as a carrier platform for 14C-OCh is the high accumulation of label in steroid-producing organs: the adrenal glands and testis. The dynamics of uptake of 14C-OCh in the composition of HDL by the adrenal glands and testes of rats in different time intervals after injection (30 min, 3, 6 and 12 h) was studied. Adrenal cells actively uptake 14C-OCh from HDL, as a result of which the radioactivity of the tissue increased rapidly and after 30 minutes almost reached its maximum. In contrast to the adrenal glands uptake of the testis was characterized by a gradual increase in radioactivity with a maximum of 6 hours and a rather sharp decrease to 12 hours from the beginning of the experiment. In vitro experiments showed the differences in the effect of HDL2 and HDL3 on the corticosterone production by the adrenal glands of rats.Conclusions. The paper presents the features of uptake of cholesterol esters by organs and tissues of rats depending on the used LP-transporter (VLDL, LDL, HDL). In addition, the results suggest that HDL3 subfraction may be the more preferred source of cholesterol for steroid synthesis in the adrenal cortex of rats compared to HDL2 subfraction

11C-Choline Pet/Ct in the Detection of Prostate Cancer Relapse in Patients After Radical Treatment With Psa Level < 10 Ng/Ml

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of 11C-Choline PET/CT in the detection of recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) in patients with biochemical relapse after radical treatment. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 217 PCa patients who underwent 11C-Choline PET/CT in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of Bakoulev Scientific Centre. All patients had biochemical relapse 3±2 years after radical treatment for locally advanced PCa (T1–3 N0–1 M0): radical prostatectomy (n = 159) and radiation therapy (n = 58). The mean PSA value in the group was 2.1±2.5 (0.2–9.7) ng/ml, median – 1.9 ng/ml. Imaging was performed on PET/CT scanner (Biograph-64, Siemens) 10 min after injection of 11C-Choline (400–550 Mbq). Results: Overall, according to 11C-Choline PET/CT results PCa relapse was detected in 56% (121/217) of cases: in 50% (80/159) after radical prostatectomy and in 71% (41/58) after radiation therapy. The mean PSA value in PET-positive cases was 3.1±2.2 (0.2–9.7) ng/ml, while in PETnegative cases – 1.8±1.7 (0.2–4.6) ng/ml. The majority – 68% (65/96) patients with PET-negative scan had low PSA levels (&lt; 2 ng/ml). PET/CT results were positive in 43% (50/115) patients with PSA of &lt; 2 ng/ml, in 63% (45/72) with PSA of 2 to 5 ng/ml, and in 87% (26/30) with PSA of &gt; 5 ng/ml. Local relapse was detected in 51% (62/121) patients, distant metastases – in 28% (34/121) of cases, both local and distant metastases – in 21% (25/121) of cases. Lymph node metastases were detected in 38% (86/217) of all patients included in the analysis, of which 28% (24/86) had lesions in lymph node of normal size (median 7 mm). Of all PET-positive patients bone metastases were detected in 33% (40/121), of which 60% (24/40) had isolated skeletal involvement. Importantly, that 27% (11/40) of PETpositive patients with bone metastases had no structural abnormalities on CT images (CT-negative cases), corresponding to isolated involvement of bone marrow. And half of these CT-negative patients (5/11) had single lesions. The mean PSA value in patients with bone metastases was 5.0±3.7 (0.4–9.1) ng/ml, median – 3.8 ng/ml. According to 11C-Choline PET/CT results oligometastatic PCa recurrence was revealed in 38% (82/217) of all patients, of which 62% (51/82) had local relapse only. Distant oligometastatic lesions were detected in 38% (31/82), of which 13% (4/31) were presented by normal-size lymph nodes and 19% (6/31) – by early bone marrow metastases. 48% (58/121) of PET-positive results were confirmed by data of repeated PET/CT examinations. Conclusion: 11C-Choline PET/CT has been shown to be a single noninvasive accurate technique for detection of recurrent PCa in patients with rising PSA after radical treatment, which allows to differentiate patients with local and distant metastases in one study, as well as identify oligometastatic process, and therefore was useful in determining the further personalized therapeutic approach. Keywords: prostate cancer, PET/CT, 11C-Choline, biochemical recurrence, PSA

On the parasites of genus Angiostrongylus (Nematoda: Angiostrongylidae) and some cases of Angiostrongylus daskalovi in badgers from bulgaria

In the course of studies on filariid infections in wild carnivorous in Bulgaria nematodes of genus Angiostrongylus were found in the heart and pulmonary arteries of badgers. The detected specimens were examined morphologically and metrically, which allowed us to identify them as Angiostrongylusdaskalovi . A morphometrical description of the species is given in accordance with the present materials.В ходе исследования филариидных инвазий в Болгарии в сердце и легочных артериях барсуков обнаружены нематоды рода Angiostrongylus . Эти образцы исследовались морфологически и метрически, что позволило, с учетом также географического и гостального распространения, идентифицировать их как Angiostrongylus daskalovi Janchev et Genov 1988. Приводится морфометрическое описание вида по данным текущих исследований

Apolipoprotein A-I inhibits the increased activities of chitotriosidase and β-glucosaminidase in the liver of mice with BCG-induced tuberculosis inflammation

The aim of the investigation was to study the activity of lysosomal chitinases (chitotriosidase and β-glucosaminidase) in the liver of mice using a model of BCG-induced tuberculous inflammation after intravenous administration of apolipoprotein A-I. Material and methods. The study was carried out on male CBA mice weighing 20–22 g. Disseminated tuberculous inflammation was modeled by a single intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 mg of BCG vaccine. The activity of chitinases was determined using fluorescent substrates 4-methylumbelliferyl β-D-N,N′,N′′-triacetylchitotrioside and 4-methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminide. Results and discussion. BCG-infection of animals after 4 weeks caused a significant increase in the activity of endogenous chitinases in comparison with the control group: chitotriosidase – 3.05 times (p <0.001), β-glucosaminidase – 1.76 times (p <0.01). Intravenous administration of apolipoprotein A-I to animals against the background of BCG infection inhibited the increased enzyme activity, values did not significantly differ from the control values. Conclusions. The results of these studies indicate the ability of apolipoprotein A-I to reduce the increased activity of endogenous lysosomal chitinases in the liver of mice with BCG-induced tuberculous inflammation

Ribonuclease activity as a new prospective disease resistance marker in potato

Disease resistance is an important characteristic for each variety of potato, and the search for pathogen resistance markers is one of the primary tasks of plant breeding. Higher plants possess a wide spectrum of enzymes catalyzing the hydrolysis of nucleic acids; it is believed that protection against pathogens is the most probable function of the enzymes. RNases are actively involved in several immune systems of higher plants, for example, systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and genetic silencing, hence RNase activity in plant leaves, as a relatively easily measured parameter, can serve as a good marker for the selection of pathogen resistant varieties. We have analyzed sixteen varieties of potatoes permitted for use on the territory of the Russian Federation and tested the correlation of the level of variety­specifc ribonuclease (RNase) activity with such economically valuable traits as maturity and resistance to viruses, late blight and common scab. In general, the level of RNase activity was variety­specifc, which was confrmed by very small values of average squared error for the majority of tested varieties. We have detected a statistically signifcant positive correlation of RNase activity in potato leaves with increased resistance of varieties to phytopathogenic viruses, a negative correlation with resistance to scab and an absence of a signifcant connection with maturity and resistance to late blight, regardless of the organ affected by the oomycete. Thus, the level of RNase activity in potato leaves can be used as a selective marker for resistance to viruses, while varieties with increased RNase activity should be avoided when selecting resistance to scab