[From the history of health resort treatment in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation]

The health resort treatment takes an important place in the system of treatment and prophylaxis activities aimed to conservation and restoration of the health of military personnel. It is ninety years since the foundation of the first military health resorts. During this time a unique system of resort treatment in the armed forces of the Russian Federation has been formed and is neatly functioning. It is nowadays one of the component parts of medical support of military personnel, retirees and members of their families.

Single mutations in the transmembrane envelope protein abrogate the immunosuppressive property of HIV-1

Background

The mechanism by which HIV-1 induces AIDS is still unknown. Previously, synthetic peptides corresponding to the conserved immunosuppressive (isu) domain in gp41 of HIV-1 had been shown to inhibit proliferation and to modulate cytokine expression of immune cells. The question is, whether the viral gp41 can do the same.

Results

We show for the first time that two trimeric forms of glycosylated gp41 released from transfected human cells modulated expression of cytokines and other genes in human PBMCs in the same manner, but at least seven hundred-fold stronger compared to that induced by the isu peptide. Single amino acid substitutions in the isu domain of gp41 introduced by site-directed mutagenesis abrogated this property. Furthermore, replication-competent HIV-1 with a mutation in the isu domain of gp41 did not modulate the cytokine expression, while wild-type virus did. Interestingly, most of the abrogating mutations were not reported in viral sequences derived from infected individuals, suggesting that mutated non-immunosuppressive viruses were eliminated by immune responses. Finally, immunisation of rats with gp41 mutated in the isu domain resulted in increased antibody responses compared with the non-mutated gp41. These results show that non-mutated gp41 is immunosuppressive in immunisation experiments, i.e. in vivo, and this has implications for the vaccine development.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that the isu domain of gp41 modulates cytokine expression in vitro and suppresses antibody response in vivo and therefore may contribute to the virus induced immunodeficiency.

[DNA vaccine encoding alpha-fetoprotein with fused ornithine decarboxylase degradation signal significantly suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma growth in mice]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most frequent malignancies in humans. HCC therapy is not efficient and the usual outcome is poor. In this regard, novel approaches to treat and prevent HCC are urgently needed. The Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a serological marker of HCC. Recently it has been shown, that the DNA vaccines expressing AFP are capable in generating immune response against AFP. However, both, the immunization procedures and DNA vaccines used before were complex and not always very effective. We have shown that DNA vaccine encoding HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) with fused ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) degradation signal induced a strong Th-1 immune response against RT in mice. Using this approach we designed a set of novel DNA vaccines bearing AFP and ODC degradation signal. Results obtained on transfected cells demonstrated efficient expression and fast proteasomal degradation of the recombinant AFP. The anti-tumor immune response stimulation was shown in immunized animals and most importantly a notable retardation of tumor growth was observed as a result of protective vaccination.

[Critical amino acids of ornitin decarboxylase degron: the presence and C-terminal arrangement is insufficient for alfa-fetoprotein degradation]

Mouse ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) degrades in proteasome in an ubiquitin-independent manner with an averagehalf-life of 2 h. The 37 amino acid long C-terminal fragment known as a degradation signal (degron) is responsible for the effective degradation of ODC. Recently, amino acids being critical for degradation in the ODC-degron have been mapped. Mutations of Cys441 and Ala442 led to protein stabilization, while a substitution of other amino acids composing ODC-degron had almost no effect on the protein turnover; whereas insertions or deletions in region between Ala442 and ODC C-terminus diminished greatly rate of protein degradation, e.g. positioning of the key amino acids from the C-terminus was shown to be crucial. Using these data we introduced both key amino acids into the alfa-fetoprotein with truncated exportation signal (deltaAFP), at the same distance from the C-terminus as they being in the ODC (deltaAFPCAG and deltaAFPLCAG). Removal of N-terminal exportation signal prevented secretion of modified proteins. Using in silico approach we demonstrated no significant difference in hydrophobicity or secondary structure between C-terminus of deltaAFP and mutated proteins. The degradation kinetics of deltaAFP, deltaAFPCAG, deltaAFPLCAG in cyloheximide-chase and proteasome inhibition assay (using MG132) was identical. Obtained results suggest that introduced substitutions are insufficient for effective recognition of mutated deltaAFP by26S proteasome. We assume thatadditional amino aci ds composing ODC-degron or their combine action could also affect degradation. Besides that, one cannot exclude that conformation of the mutated deltaAFP limits its C-terminus accessibility to proteasome.

[Aviation medicine: yesterday, today and tomorrow]

The article describes the history and current state of medical support of the Air Force. On December 1, 2009 Air Force Medical Service was renamed into the service of aviation medicine of Command Air Forces, and many of the functions of medical support of the Air Force transferred to the newly formed Air Force Center of Aviation Medicine. April 29, 2011 office of Aviation Medicine of the High Command of the Air Force has stepped 95-year milestone. The changes affected all structures entrusted with the issues of medical support of the Air Force. Today, the medical service of the Air Force faces challenges--ensuring safety, the study of flight conditions and their impact on health, job performance and psychological characteristics of flight personnel.

[Psychological and medical rehabilitation of servicemen in sanatorium-treatment institutes of the Defense Ministry of Russian Federation during the current stage of building of the Armed Forces]

Defense and promotion of health of strong and almost strong persons--is one of priorities tasks of health services, including military medicine. Federal law from the 8.11.2008 No 203-FL has made changes in federal law from 1998 No 76FL "About status of military servicemen". These changes allow, in conditions of existing of indications, effectuating psycho-medical rehabilitation less then 30 days free. To execute this federal law the Defense Ministry issued a law No 385 from 8.05.2008 "About psycho-medical rehabilitation of military servicemen of the Defense Ministry of Russian Federation". The law defines catalogue of categories of military servicemen, who are liable to psycho-medical rehabilitation and order of it's effectuating. The article is devoted to comment this law. There was examined in details the role of sanatorium stage in system of medical rehabilitation, and organization of it's effectuating in conditions of sanatorium.

[Difference in amino acid sequences of B. afzelii P66 surface-exposed loop region]

In the present work, we performed a phenotyping analysis of 45 B. afzelii 89-a.a. long amino acid sequences of 7 different allele variants, corresponding to the surface-exposed loop region of P66. 45 investigated isolates showed 5 phenotypically different variants; 2 phenotypically different variants of loop region, in particular, also showed mutations in the putative monoclonal antibody H1337 binding site; the similarity between the amino acid sequences taken from different variants is about 96.66% to 98.88%; in one natural locus up to 3 different phenotypes of P66 could circulate simultaneously.

Endogenous JSRV-like proviruses in domestic cattle: analysis of sequences and transcripts

Jaagsiekte retrovirus is an exogenous (exJSRV) beta-retrovirus with a simple genome. It causes lower airway epithelial cell tumors in small ruminants. Endogenous (enJSRV) counterparts of exJSRV are present in different copy numbers in numerous Bovidae family members. This work has focused on enJSRV in Simmental (Germany) and Limousine (France) beef breeds of domestic cattle and domestic goat. Of the enJSRV sequences in cattle, the orf-x sequences were about 99% identical, the LTR sequences were about 97% identical and the env sequences were nearly 95% identical to the corresponding endogenous sequences in sheep. A significant polymorphism of the proviral sequences between the cattle breeds was noted. Clonal analyses of the amplicons suggest two enJSRV proviruses in cattle genome. The endogenous sequences revealed in goat were closer to enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV) from goat rather than to enJSRV from sheep. The expression of enJSRV in cattle was partial (env only) and detected exclusively in bone marrow.

Mega-ampere submicrosecond generator GIT-32

The GIT-32 current generator was developed for experiments with current carrying pulsed plasma. The main parts of the generator are capacitor bank, multichannel multigap spark switches, low inductive current driving lines, and central load part. The generator consists of four identical sections, connected in parallel to one load. The capacitor bank is assembled from 32 IEK-100-0.17 (0.17 microF, 40 nH, 100 kV) capacitors, connected in parallel. It stores approximately 18 kJ at 80 kV charging voltage. Each two capacitors are commuted to a load by a multigap spark switch with eight parallel channels. Switches operate in ambient air at atmospheric pressure. The GIT-32 generator was tested with 10, 15, and 20 nH inductive loads. At 10 nH load and 80 kV of charging voltage it provides 1 MA of current amplitude and 490 ns rise time with 0.8 Omega damping resistors in discharge circuit of each capacitor and 1.34 MA530 ns without resistors. The net generator inductance without a load was optimized to be as low as 12 nH, which results in extremely low self-impedance of the generator ( approximately 0.05 Omega). It ensures effective energy coupling with low impedance loads like Z pinch. The generator operates reliably without any adjustments in 40-80 kV range of charging voltage. Maximum jitter (relative to a triggering pulse) at 40 kV charging voltage is about 7 ns and lower at higher charging voltages. Operation and handling are very simple, because no oil and no purified gases are required for the generator. The GIT-32 generator has dimensions of 3200 x 3200 x 400 mm(3) and total weight of about 2500 kg, thus manifesting itself as a simple, robust, and cost effective apparatus.

[A direct uretero-enteroanastomosis: a return to the past?]

The authors analyse their experience with ureter implantations into a small intestinal retaining reservoir--both direct and antireflux. From 1994 to 2004 orthotopic replacement of the urinary bladder (UB) with an ileal segment was performed in 62 patients (59 males, 3 females) for UB cancer (n = 55), microcystis (posttraumatic, radiation-induced, tuberculous) (n = 7). Orthotopic replacement of the UB was made according to VIP (vesica ileale Padovano) technique with creation of antireflux uretero-enteroanastomoses by Le Duc (group 1, 43 patients, 82 anastomoses) and Hautmann technique in modification of Lippert-Theodorescu (group 2, 14 patients, 28 direct uretero-enteroanastomoses). A direct uretero-enteroanastomosis was performed by Nesbit and Bricker technique. Five patients were withdrawn from the final analysis: 3 of them died early after the surgery because of complications, 2 patients died due to progression within 3 and 4 months after the operation. A total length of the ileac segment used for UB repair in both groups was 60 cm. Upper urinary tracts (UUT) and kidneys after the operation were assessed by the results of ultrasonic investigation of the caliceropelvic system, kidneys, UB, residual urine, serum creatinine, excretory urography, spiral CT (on demand), etc., after recovery of miction (3-4 weeks after operation), 3 and 6 (+cystography) after the operation, 12 months after the operation and annually. Comparison of the results of direct and antireflux anastomoses suggests a conclusion that a high rate of strictures due to antireflux anastomoses provoking UUT and renal dysfunction makes their benefit doubtful. Antireflux bypass ureteral surgery with neocystis of low pressure seems unjustified. In creation of capable uroreservoir of low pressure a direct implantation of the ureter into it is simple to do and less risky in respect to development of anastomotic stricture and damage to the renal function.

[Surgical treatment of acquired defects and ruptures of interventricular septum]

Surgical repair of posttraumatic ventricular septal defects, aortic-right ventricular fistulas and postinfarction ruptures of interventricular septum was carried out in 15 patients aged 18-75 years. Methods of radical correction included suturing, plastic repair with synthetic and autopericardial patches, and amputation of cardiac apex. Procedures were performed 14 days - 12 months after myocardial infarction and 1-12 months after penetrating knife wounds of the chest and the heart. Duration of follow-up was from 1 month to 9.5 years. There were no cases of defect recanalization and deaths.

[Surgical access in interventions on the kidney, adrenal gland and upper and middle third of the ureter]

The paper presents indications for, techniques and feasibility of different approaches--thoracophrenolaparotomy (TPL), vertical median and transverse subcostal laparotomy as well as anterolateral lumbotomy--in various retroperitoneal surgical conditions. TPL approach providing maximal radicality and safety in serious operations is thought basic in operative urology. The authors believe that the rest approaches are variants of abdominal part of TPL performed isolated. Thus, if one of the abdominal approaches meets with technical difficulties and a risk of serious complications, these difficulties are overcome by conversion of the approach to TPL.

[Orthotopic reconstruction of urinary bladder by intestinal flaps]

The technique of complete or partial replacement of the urinary bladder (UB) with iliac segment is discussed and principles of creation of small intestinal reservoir are validated. The authors are satisfied with the results of 17 operations for microcystis and to repair UB after radical cysto(prostat)ectomy for UB cancer. Orthotopic reconstruction of the UB is proposed as a new therapeutic standard in UB cancer and microcystis.

[Are the sequelae predictable for sectional and multiple partial nephrolithotomies of completely intrarenal coral stones? (experimental and clinical research)]

In the assessment of surgical intervention for fully intrarenal stone casts, different kinds of nephrotomies (sectional or multiple partial ones, those supplementing pyelolithotomy or performed in the kidneys with marked parenchyma) should be compared in terms of functional outcomes, severity and incidence of complications (intraoperative or postoperative bleeding from the violated kidney), postoperative urinary fistulas, aggravated renal failure and postoperative mortality. It is these milestones that have determined the scope of the present study. An experimental assessment of the degree of trauma, associated with sectional nephrolithotomy as well as its functional sequelae was made in dogs after a stone-like structure was simulated and the kidney reached the necessary degree of secretory deficiency. The comparison of pre- and postoperative renographic parameters over different spans of follow-up of animals after sectional nephrolithotomy was made to assess the latter's organ-damaging effect and, in part, functional results of surgery in a kidney with a profound functional deficiency by the time of the operation. A similar methodology was used in clinical patients, subjected to nephrolithotomy (either sectional or multiple partial procedure) for fully intrarenal coral stones. Functional results of nephrolithotomies in animals and in patients are presented in Figs 1-3. For cases where postoperative results were good or satisfactory at 1-2 months, follow-up results are presented in Tables 4-5. Postoperative complications of sectional and partial nephrolithotomies are reflected in Figs. 4-5. The incidence of paranephritis and postoperative mortality are reported in Tables 6-7. Therefore, functional results of sectional nephrolithotomy are indicative of its considerable organ-sparing effect in experimental animals. Functional outcomes of the clinical sectional and multiple partial nephrolithotomies are similar, yet partial nephrolithotomies are more detrimental to the kidney and the upper urinary tract in terms of the pattern and rate of postoperative complications, as compared to sectional nephrolithotomy. As the sequelae of sectional and partial nephrolithotomies are largely unpredictable, indications for surgical removal of intrarenal stereometrically-composite coral stones should be as limited as possible.

[Urinary enzymes induced in rats by intensive physical loading and the effect of the antioxidant potassium fenozan]

The rats subjected to repeated heavy exercises (swimming with the load equal to 10% of body weight) had an increased activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in the urine. Both the percentage of the rats with hyperenzymuria and the level of enzyme were the highest after the fifth swimming. Water-soluble antioxidant (potassium fenozan) administered intraperitoneally 30 minutes before the swimming abolished the increase of enzymuria and maintained the enzyme activity to the normal level.

[The information value of rheography and loading tests in the functional assessment of the ureter (experimental research)]

Functional tests, using electro-ureterography, ureteral rheography, electromanometry and electromagnetic flowmetry in the presence of diuretic and perfusion load tests, were performed at surgery in dogs. Ureteral rheography is shown to be a valuable method for the assessment of ureteral motility (as evidenced by ureteral volume changes), and have certain advantages over other techniques so that it can be used clinically for preoperative functional assessment of ectatic ureters. Load tests are necessary at functional tests of the upper urinary system in order to assess the pattern of ureteral wall contractility and reserves.

[Changes in the lipid levels of the liver, plasma, aorta and cholesterol esterase activity of the rat liver during exposure to tetrachloromethane]

Content of cholesterol esters was increased 2.3-fold, triglycerides--4.7-fold, phospholipids--1.5-fold in liver tissue of CCl4-treated rats. The increase in the content of cholesterol esters and triglycerides correlated with a decrease in activity of lysosomal cholesterol esterase from liver tissue. After CCl4 intoxication content of free cholesterol was decreased 2.1-fold, free fatty acids--2-fold, phospholipids--2.3-fold, triglycerides--1.75-fold in blood. In aorta an increase in content of cholesterol esters and triglycerides was found to be 2-fold as well as activation of the cytosolic cholesterol esterase was noted. The data obtained suggest that intoxication with CCl4 affected the accumulation of cholesterol esters in the arterial wall.