The Effect of Vitamin D3 on Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation in High-Glucose Conditions

NETosis, i.e., the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET), and neutrophil autophagy are important elements in the pathogenesis and the development of complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, the search of drugs that can regulate the level of NETosis and autophagy in T2DM is relevant. Here we studied an ex vivo NET formation and neutrophil death in whole blood from healthy subjects upon the addition of glucose up to a high concentration of 15 mM or/and the phorbol ester PMA (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate). Their individual and combined action caused neutrophil death and an increase in NET content. It can be hypothesized that this resulted from activation of NETosis and autophagy. It was also shown that this activation of NETosis and autophagy is completely prevented by daily intake of 1000 IU vitamin D3 for 14 days. Therefore, vitamin D3 supplementation can be considered as a preventive measure against the development of T2DM complications.

A method for estimating magnetic field of TEM objective lens

We propose a method for calibration of magnetic field in the objective lens of transmission electron microscope. The calibration process is based on classical Fresnel imaging of Permalloy disks and measuring the displacement of the magnetic vortex core when the sample is tilted at various excitations of the objective lens. We adopted the Carl Zeiss LIBRA 200 MC transmission electron microscope for Lorentz electron microscopy using this method. The objective lens magnetic field evaluation is tested on the Co/Pt multilayered films with known magnetic properties.

Features of Ductular Reaction in Rats with Extrahepatic Cholestasis

Ductular reaction develops during liver regeneration, fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. However, the types, stages of formation, and topography of ductular profiles in various pathologies remain insufficiently studied. Using the model of common bile duct occlusion, we showed that the number and topography of ductular profiles are closely related to the duration of biliary obstruction. The ductular profiles can be located inside the portal tract, along the existing bile ducts, and/or intramurally, around the portal vein, periportally, inside the lobules, in the portocaval fibrous connections, in the adventitia of the hepatic veins, in the septs connecting the portal tracts, and also in the "portal plate" of the liver. The ductular profiles can be formed as a result of expansion of existing bile ducts, cholangiocyte proliferation, as well as transdifferentiation of hepatocytes and activation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Spatial Organization of the Transport of Interstitial Fluid and Lymph in Rat Liver (Scanning Electron Microscopy of Injection Replicas)

Using the method of scanning electron microscopy of injection replicas, we studied the movement of a new injection mass between the blood microcirculation system, interstitial space, lymphatic system, and bile transport system in rat liver under normal conditions and 3 days after the occlusion of the common bile duct. The casts of the perisinusoidal spaces of Disse's after injection of the injection mass through the portal vein and common bile duct were obtained. Their direct transition not only in "leakages" structurally related to lymphatic capillaries in interlobular spaces, but also in perivascular spaces around the portal and hepatic veins. The flow of the injection mass through the perivascular spaces leads to the formation of peculiar "sheaths" around hepatic veins and components of the portal complex. The proposed approach allows effective visualization of the structural basis of interaction of various compartments of the fluid microcirculation in the liver under normal and pathological conditions.

[Neutrophils as a source of factors that increase the length of the inflammatory phase of wound healing in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus]

Oxidative stress and neutrophil activation leading to an increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO), elastase and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) levels in blood are considered as pathogenic mechanisms responsible for the development of extremity damage in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between factors, associated with neutrophil activation, and the length of the initial phase of wound healing (the inflammatory phase) in T2DM patients. Patients were divided retrospectively into three groups depending on the damage extent: group 1 (wound on toe) < group 2 (wound on foot) < group 3 (wound on lower leg). Compared to the control group (healthy volunteers), T2DM patients at admission to hospital had significantly (p<0.05) increased levels of blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (groups 1-3), ESR (groups 1 and 3), blood neutrophil count (groups 2 and 3), plasma MPO concentration (groups 1-3) and blood NET concentration (group 3) and decreased levels of plasma thiols (groups 1-3) and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity (groups 2 and 3). The length of hospital stay after surgical procedures corresponded to the length of the inflammatory phase of the wound healing process and correlated with the number of blood neutrophils in patients before surgery (r=0.72, p<0.05). Leukocytic intoxication index depended on wound area (r=0.59, p<0.05), and it was significantly higher for groups 2 and 3 compared to the control group and group 1. The neutrophil count before surgery in T2DM patients with damage in the lower extremities correlated with the length of the inflammatory phase of wound healing. The correlation found can be attributed to an increase in extracellular MPO and NETs, which, in its turn, results from the activation and degranulation of neutrophils and netosis. Thus, the duration of the inflammatory phase of wound healing depends on specific aspects of systemic inflammation increasing oxidative/halogenative stress and intoxication.

Investigation of the thermo stability of aluminum thin-film filters with protective MoSi2 cap layers

Aluminum thin-film spectral filters are widely used in telescopes for space observations of the Sun in the extreme ultraviolet range of wavelengths. The main purpose of film filters is to block radiation in the UV, visible, and near-IR spectral ranges. In connection with the development of new projects for the observation of the Sun from close distances, the thermal stability of the entrance film filter is an important characteristic. In this paper, the thermal stability of Al films with 2.5 nm thick MoSi₂ protective cap layers has been studied. MoSi₂ was chosen as a coating material because MoSi₂ caps effectively protect the Al film from oxidation and simultaneously increase the mechanical strength of the Al film. Vacuum annealing of MoSi₂/Al/MoSi₂ films was carried out at temperatures up to 300°C. It has been demonstrated that at an annealing temperature of more than 200°C for 24 h, a noticeable decrease in the blocking properties of the MoSi₂/Al/MoSi₂ film is observed in the visible wavelength range, which is caused by the appearance of semi-transparent crystalline silicon dendritic structures that are tens of micrometers in size in the film. In the annealed area of the film specimen, the intermetallic Al₁₂Mo phase was detected by electron diffraction structure analysis, indicating a possible reason for the appearance of silicon atoms needed for dendrite growth as a result of the chemical interaction of Al and MoSi₂. Due to the requirements for a high degree of visible radiation blocking (10⁶ to 10⁷ times), the appearance of even one dendritic structure significantly reduces the blocking properties of the film filter and is, therefore, not permissible. Based on the measurement of the transmission of MoSi₂-2.5  nm/Al-72  nm/MoSi₂-2.5  nm films at 633 nm for isothermal annealing at 200°C-250°C, the activation energy for the formation of dendritic structures (E=1.55±0.1  eV) was measured and the maximum permissible film temperature (130°C) at which dendritic structures did not appear during a 5-year mission was predicted.

Influence of barrier interlayers on the performance of Mo/Be multilayer mirrors for next-generation EUV lithography

A comparative study was carried out of the structure and reflection performance of four types of multilayer mirror for extreme ultraviolet lithography at 11.2 nm; these were a pure Mo/Be structure and three Mo/Be-based structures with thin B₄C, C and Si interlayers. It was demonstrated that Mo/Be mirrors show maximum reflectance at normal incidence, while maximum structural perfection is shown by Mo/Be/Si mirrors. The introduction of B₄C and C layers into the structure increases the interlayer roughness and reduces the sharpness of the interfaces, adversely affecting the target coating characteristics. Results are presented for studies using four techniques: X-ray reflectometry, small-angle X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.

Binding of Mucin by E. coli from Human Gut

Cells of E. coli isolates from the gut of healthy volunteers (N=5) and patients with Crohn's disease (N=5) and laboratory E. coli strain DH5α bound mucin in vitro in similar amounts ranging from 0.02 to 0.12 mg/mg of bacterial dry weight. Binding was evaluated by the decrease in optical absorption of mucin solution at 214 nm after incubation with bacteria. Detailed analysis of mucin binding by one of isolates showed that during incubation of 0.09 mg/ml bacteria in 0.15 M NaCl containing 0.1 mg/ml mucin at 25^oC, maximum binding was reached in 30 min, while in the presence of 14 mM α-methyl mannoside, mucin binding decreased by 46% (p<0.05). Confocal microscopy revealed intensive binding of FITC-labeled mucin to the surface of a small number of bacterial cells. Mucin binding did not significantly affect zeta potential of bacteria and their energetic status assessed by ATP content; at the same time, ATP content in the extracellular environment slightly increased.

[Glutathione-dependent regulation of platelet aggregation with neutrophils and tumor cells]

It is shown that in the presence of reduced glutathione at low concentrations (1-5 microM) the extent of platelet aggregation with neutrophils increases and the lag period of platelet aggregation induced by tumor cells decreases. At the same time in the presence of reduced glutathione at high concentration (3 mM) the extent of platelet aggregation with neutrophils decreases, and the lag period of platelet aggregation induced by tumor cells increases. It is established that glutathione-dependent regulation of the intercellular contact formation between platelets and neutrophils depends on the ratio of glutathione oxidized and reduced forms: at fixed total glutathione concentration of 5 microM, increase of glutathione redox potential from -175 mV to 0 mV led to reduction in platelet aggregation with neutrophils. Thus, it is shown for the first time, that GSH has priming effect on the platelet aggregation with neutrophils and tumor cells, which may contribute to the regulation of inflammatory diseases and cancer.

Optical and magneto-optical resonances in nanocorrugated ferromagnetic films

We report here on optical and magneto-optical spectra investigations of nanostructured Co and Ni films deposited on top of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) colloidal crystal. Resonant peculiarities have been observed in both spectra; their positions are scaled with the PMMA sphere diameter and depend on incident angle. Asymmetry of the resonance lineshapes as well as change of the direction of magneto-optical rotation has been observed. Both the surface plasmon resonance and the interference between reflections from the colloidal crystal and from the nanostructured film should be considered to explain the obtained results.

[Knowledgebases in postgenomic molecular biology]

Knowledgebases can become an effective tool essentially raising quality of information retrieval in molecular biology, promoting the development of new methods of education and forecasting of the biomedical R&D. Knowledge-based technologies should induce "paradigm shift" in the life science due to integrative focusing of research groups towards the challenges of postgenomic era. This paper debates concept of the knowledgebase, which exploits web usage mining to personalize the access of molecular biologist to the Internet resources.

[Effects of infusion media on human red blood cell morphology]

The effect of various infusion media on the structure of human red blood cells was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro experiments used 10% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution, 10% glucose solution, 20% albumin solution, Rheopolyglucin, HyperHAES solution (18 g of NaCl in combination with 60 g of hydroxyethylstarch (HES), 200/0.5), Voluven (HES 130/0.4/9:1), and a combination of hypertensive NaCl solution and Rheopolyglucin. The morphofunctional response of red blood cells was studied in the clinical setting when 6% Voluven solution (HES 130/0.4/ 9:1) and hypertensive NaCl and glucose solutions were used. It was established that 10% NaCl solution caused considerable changes in the morphology of red blood cells both in the experiment and in patients with severe brain injury. The magnitude of structural changes increased as blood NaCl concentrations became higher. 10% glucose solution, Voluven, Rheopolyglucin, and albumin did not virtually affect the structure of red blood cells. Infusion of Voluven (500 ml of 6% solution for 40 minutes) induced no changes in the morphology of red blood cells in the clinical setting. Among the test solutions used to correct intracranial hypertension (HyperHAES, 10% NaCl, a combination of rheopolyglucin and 10% NaCl), HyperHAES exerted the least effect on the morphology of red blood cells.

[Structural-functional motifs of sterol 14-alpha demethylases (CYP51)]

CYP51 family of cytochromes P450 (sterol 14-alpha-demethylases) comprises the representatives from different kingdoms of living world, thus positioning itself as the most ancient member of the superfamily. In the course of the present research the collection of 36 full-length CYP51 amino acid sequences was submitted to cluster analysis. Each node of the clustering dendrogram corresponds to the groups of proteins, located on the branches descending from the node. By making the multiple alignment of each group of protein sequences we obtained the node-specific consensus sequences. The informational content of the consensus was defined as the presence of the compact conserved sites, the motifs. The assessment of informational content was computed using Sherman's non-parametric statistical criterion. The high informational content was observed for the 100% conserved consensus sequences of the following CYP51,s groups: fungi, animal+plant, plant+protista and bacteria. These selected consensus sequences were next aligned all together to get the final consensus for the whole family. To enrich the informational content of the CYP51 consensus the level of its conservation was dropped to 75%. Regions of statistically significant conservation were unraveled in the CYP51 consensus sequence. These regions (motifs) were then correlated with the information on secondary structure elements and substrate recognition sites reported for CYP51 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Seven motifs appeared to be obligatory for every CYP51 protein. The motifs thus obtained were searched for among all the known cytochrome P450 proteins. Some motifs were found to be absolutely specific for 14-alpha-demethylases, whereas others were common to different species of cytochromes P450.

[Intracranial cavernous angiomas: ultrastructural and immunochemical study]

43 brain cavernous angiomas (CA) were clinically and morphologically studied. The presence of smooth muscles and endotheliocytes in the trabeculae was confirmed. The sources of blood supply and the nature of medullary changes at the CA periphery were clarified. The hypothesis of CA hormonal dependence has been rejected.

Cytochrome P450 database

This paper describes a specialized database dedicated exclusively to the cytochrome P450 superfamily. The system provides the impression of superfamily's nomenclature and describes structure and function of different P450 enzymes. Information on P450-catalyzed reactions, substrate preferences, peculiarities of induction and inhibition is available through the database management system. Also the source genes and appropriate translated proteins can be retrieved together with corresponding literature references. Developed programming solution provides the flexible interface for browsing, searching, grouping and reporting the information. Local version of database manager and required data files are distributed on a compact disk. Besides, there is a network version of the software available on Internet. The network version implies the original mechanism, which is useful for the permanent online extension of the data scope.

[The ultrastructural changes in the collagenous-elastic skeleton of the wall of the cerebral vessels in spasm in the acute period of a subarachnoid hemorrhage]

Electron microscopic study of arteries in spasm and ischemia of the brain revealed substantial ultrastructural changes in the vascular wall. The changes are characterized by varying thickness, edema, dissociation of fibrillar and amorphous components of internal elastic membrane of the arterial wall, by lesion in the network of collagen fibers on its inner surface, by the presence of defibrotic and uncoiled collagenous fibers of the adventitia. The changes are followed by the impairment of the arterial skeleton and hence they lead to their altered elastic properties.

[Alpha-fetoprotein suppresses keratinocyte proliferation in vitro]

The influence of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on the proliferation of human epidermal keratinocytes in vitro has been studied. AFP (1p microgram/ ml) inhibits the proliferation of keratinocytes cultivated in a serum-free medium. The addition of fetal bovine serum significantly enhances the effect of AFP in this culture. A similar effect of AFP is observed in a medium with a low content of calcium ions.

[The characteristics of the absorption in the small intestine of 2 casein hydrolysates and of an equivalent amino acid mixture]

Using casein hydrolysates and the amino-acid mixture applied to mucosal or serosal surfaces, their effect on the transport of free glycine, glycine formed during glycyl glycine hydrolysis, and galactose, was studied in the small intestine. The data obtained suggest a mechanism of peptide transport in the enterocytes as well as a possibility of a regulatory effect of the peptides contained in casein hydrolysates on the transport of some basic nutrients.

[The hydrolases of the mucosal, submucosal and muscular layers of the small intestine and their functions]

Proceeding from the newly obtained evidence on the distribution of digestive enzymes in mucosal, submucosal and muscular layers of the small intestine in rats, a hypothesis has been formulated: in addition to the enterocyte enzyme complex forming the epithelial barrier, there seems to exist a postepithelial barrier formed by the enzymes localized in subepithelial structures. The efficiency of this second barrier was manifested by the study of the peptide hydrolysis and transport using everted intact and de-epithelialized intestinal sacs.

[Morphological substantiation of selection of the method of surgical treatment of patients with prolapse of internal genital organs]

Morphology of uterine ligaments and the vaginal mucosa has been examined in 61 patients with uterine prolapse in order to provide guidelines for an optimum management with respect to tissue functional status. Specimens were obtained intraoperatively and examined in a usual microscope and a S-570 Hitachi scanning electron microscope (Japan). The study suggests that morphologic evaluation of the vaginal walls and uterine ligaments provides an exact measure of tissue status, offering an optimum choice of treatment in these patients.

[Laser irradiation: study of general and local mechanisms of its action in irradiation of the eyeball. An experimental study. 3]

Rabbit ocular tissues, brain, and blood were examined before and after irradiation of the eyeball with He-Ne laser. Scanning electron microscopy, radioimmunoassay, and biochemical methods were employed in the study. The findings evidence that irradiation of the eyeball results in reduced lipid peroxidation activity and elevated antiradical defense enzymes activity not only in ocular tissues but in the corresponding brain hemisphere and blood, which fact appears to be due to direct effect of laser radiation on the blood and brain via the optic nerve that may be a light conductor for a certain wavelength. Local increase of the eyeball corneal permeability in laser irradiation may be explained by activation of membrane phospholipases, combined with electrolyte shifts; morphologically and functionally it manifests by changed endotheliocyte stereotopography.

Localization of peptide hydrolysis in the enterocyte and the transport mechanisms of apical membrane

1. The absence of the effect of anoxia on the hydrolysis rate of a number of dipeptides and one tripeptide by the intact and homogenized mucosa of the small intestine in different mammals (rat, mouse and guinea pig) has been demonstrated. 2. It has been shown that in rats anoxia inhibits intestinal transport both of free glycine and glycine formed during the hydrolysis of Gly-Leu, Leu-Gly, Gly-Pro but not Pro-Gly. 3. Data obtained using the anoxic criterion suggest that the systems of membrane hydrolysis of peptides with the subsequent absorption of released amino acids presents a dominant mechanism of protein assimilation under normal physiological conditions. 4. However, they do not exclude the possibility of the transport of peptides across the apical membrane of enterocytes.

Normal-incidence multilayer mirrors for the 120-450 å wavelength region

An electron-beam deposition method is used to fabricate spherical and flat mirrors with a peak reflectivity of 20% for wavelengths between 120 and 450 Å. It is experimentally shown that the fabricated mirrors can be employed to form an image with a resolution of 1 μm for ultrasoft x rays. The possibility of producing intense directional high-temperature plasma radiation by spherical multilayer mirrors is demonstrated. A radiation intensity of 107 W/cm2 around 182 Å has been experimentally obtained in the laser plasma image plane.

[Identification of digitonin binding sites on the plasma membrane of the rabbit aorta endotheliocytes]

Specific reagents comprising digitonin bound to latex spheres were used as visual markers for the detection of cholesterol sites on the endothelial cell surface by scanning electron microscopy. The distribution of latex markers in the plasmolemma of the endothelial cells was investigated. These markers have strong bonds with the ligands. This interaction guarantees high specificity of binding between labeled markers and cellular membrane cholesterol.

[The phenomenon of the accumulation of biological and nonbiological corpuscular particles in mammalian lungs]

When injecting yeast, staphylococcus, polyacrolein microspheres, 3 microns in diameter, into the blood stream of white common rats, it was found that these tend to accumulate in the lumen of pulmonary capillaries, being disposed there in the cytoplasm of macrophages and neutrophils.

[Cholesterol in the plasmalemma of endotheliocytes in the normal aorta and in hypercholesterolemia (scanning electron microscopy research)]

Using a specific latex marker (SLM) and scanning electron microscopy, distribution of cholesterin in plasmolemma of endotheliocytes of the thoracic part of the rabbit aorta has been studied under normal conditions and at experimental atherosclerosis, as well as on the surface of liposomes and flat bilayer films. SLM reacts with a high specificity directly with cholesterin of the membrane. When studying microtopography of cholesterin, it is possible to distinguish microdomains with various density of distribution of SLM particles. Amount of SLM per 1 mcm2 of the artificial membrane surfaces grows at increase of the cholesterin-phospholipid (Ch/Phl) index of the membrane; Ch/Phl can bind with the membranes beginning only with the threshold value of the Ch/Phl index equal to 0.5. At hypercholesterolemia amount of SLM on the luminal surface of plasmolemma of the aortal endotheliocytes increases by 78%. Hence, at hypercholesterolemia in the luminal part of plasmolemma of the aortal endotheliocytes the Ch/Phl index increases; this should be taken into consideration, when observing mechanisms of reorganization of the endothelial cells layer at atherosclerosis.

[The distribution of negative charges on the luminal surface of Descemet's endothelium]

The localization of anionic sites on the surface of corneal endothelium was investigated using colloidal nickel. The distribution of the binding sites of colloidal nickel along the cell surface was examined with the scanning electron microscope. The application a special detector of high sensitivity reflection allows to register a composed contrast determined by colloidal nickel. Colloidal nickel is bound with the surface of endothelium in areas of cell junctions only. A 1 X 10(-4)% sol. adrenaline injection into the anterior rabbit eye chamber in vivo changed the distribution of colloidal nickel. These findings demonstrate that colloidal nickel allows to mark the anionic sites on the cell surface for scanning electron microscopic studies.

[Detection of the intercellular borders of the endothelium using scanning electron microscopy]

Three different approaches for studying aorta endothelial cells by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were compared to expose cell border lines and surface shape simultaneously. Staining of aorta probes with silver nitrate leads to more specific silver deposits at cell junctions, but unsatisfactory image resolution obscures any detail of cell junctions and other fine structural features. Endothelium impregnated with tannin-osmium showed enhanced cell junction detail, but this method resulted in formation of presumably artificial structures. Osmium tetraoxide was most optimal for impregnation of aorta probes, as it exposed well cell border lines, excluded artifacts of tannin-osmium staining, provided a good image resolution in SEM, and allowed to analyse the ultrastructural features of cell surface.

[Regional characteristics of the organization of the aortic endothelium (a quantitative analysis)]

By means of SEM-analysis in 110 microphotos (from 14 aortas of white rats) with the aim to estimate heteromorphism of the thoracic part endothelium, quantitative characteristics of endotheliocytes have been studied in the ventral and dorsal surfaces, and also around the ostia of the intercostal arteries. For the quantitative analysis organization of the lines of the interendotheliocyte borders is taken into account. Endotheliocytes around the ostium are more elongated but occupy less area and have less straight contours in comparison with cells in other regions; they have also greater variability. Essential differences in arranging the endothelial cells into the layer on the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the aorta are revealed.

[Pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders in acute experimental arterial obstruction]

Agents producing toxic myocardial effects are shown to appear in systemic blood flow as a result of acute occlusion of aortal trifurcation with subsequent recovery of blood flow in the limbs. The most pronounced effect was noted following blood infusion in dogs whose ischemia of the limbs had lasted for nine hours, instead of twelve, which must be due to specific features of circulation recovery in the ischemic area.