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Soluble human leukocyte antigen G (sHLA-G) plays a key role in pregnancy through interaction with decidual natural killer (dNK) cell inhibitory receptors at the maternal-fetal interface. To demonstrate the possible role of sHLA-G during the pregnancy with Toxoplasma gondii infection, we compared the concentration of a murine functional homolog of sHLA-G, Qa-2, in T. gondii infected and non-infected pregnant C57BL/6 mice, and that of sHLA-G in BeWo culture supernatant. In addition, the levels of KIR2DL4 expressed on human dNK cells and NKG2A in pregnant mice were evaluated. We showed that T. gondii infection result in significant increase in the level of Qa-2 and NKG2A in pregnant mice. sHLA-G and KIR2DL4 in human samples were also significantly upregulated under the condition of T. gondii infection. The further treatment with sHLA-G antibody could reduce the expression level of KIR2DL4 which was upregulated by T. gondii infection. In summary, sHLA-G could upregulate the expression level of KIR2DL4 which lead to excessive immunological tolerance, and further contributed to T. gondii immunity escaping and affecting fetus via vertical transmission which may lead to adverse outcomes.

Two cases with congenital total ectropion of the upper eyelids are reported (1 bilateral and 1 unilateral). There were no associated ocular or general abnormalities nor any apparent causes. One child was born normally, the other by cesarean section. The disease is not caused by difficult labor through natural birth passages. The condition is usually cured by conservative therapy. If surgery is carried out, it should be performed as early as possible in order to rule out secondary infections, amblyopia, epidermization of the conjunctiva, etc.

Consumption of 15 g of 40% eicosapentaenic acid within 3 days resulted in 3-fold increase of its content in blood serum of healthy persons and of patients with heart ischemic disease, whereas concentration of arachidonic acid was unaltered. Administration of blood serum containing increased content of eicosapentaenic acid into cell culture of human aorta intima caused a decrease in accumulation of the intracellular cholesterol and in 3H-thymidine incorporation. Simultaneous addition of the blood serum containing eicosapentaenic acid and the structure derivative of A2 thromboxane V 46619 into the aorta intima cell culture led to a distinct decrease in the atherosclerotic effect of the latter drug. Combination of the blood serum with carbocycline or with prostaglandin I2 resulted in the most pronounced lowering of intracellular cholesterol content and of the cell proliferating activity. The antiatherosclerotic effect of eicosapentaenic acid appears to relate not only to the fact that the drug is precursor of prostaglandine I2 and I3 but also to the regulating effect on a balance of various prostaglandins.

The activity of cathepsins A, B, C, D, phospholipases A1 and A2, and aryl sulphatases A and B was studied in hepatic lysosomas, adipocytes of epididymal fatty tissue and in platelets of rats aged 2,5 and 24 months differing in the character of milk feeding. It was found that excessive feeding in the neonatal period resulted in a decrease of the lysosomal proteinase activity by 18-33% in 24-month animals, while phospholipase A2 activity rose 1,4-2.2-fold. Phospholipase A2 activity proved to be also increased in adipocytes of obese rats. Obese rats' platelets were characterized by a drastic (2-3.5-fold) activation of cathepsin C, and phospholipase A1 activity rose by 55% at all the stages of the ontogenesis. It is suggested that the changes in the lysosomal hydrolases activity may reflect the platelet function in the disordered lipoprotein metabolism.

The effect of the growing phase of Streptomyces albus G. and the components of the culture medium on the biosynthesis of restriction endonuclease Sal GI was studied. The conditions of DNA sedimentation with streptomycin sulfate and polyethylenimine and separation of proteins with ammonium sulfate were investigated as well. A maximal quantity of the enzyme was observed in the cells in 18-20 h of cultivation in flasks on a shaker. The optimal concentrations of the medium components (g/l) were found by mathematical methods of the experiment planning: glucose--19,0; pepton--5.2; K2HPO4 X 3H2O - 5.0. The optimal concentrations for DNA sedimentation with streptomycin sulfate and polyethylenimine were found to be 1.8-2.0% and 0.2-0.3%, respectively. The optimal concentration of ammonium sulfate for protein separation is 70% of saturation.

Administration of alizole, berberine, pheonol and pheoniphlorine in doses of 30-100 micrograms/ml in the culture of the atherosclerotic human aortic intimal cells decreased the content of intracellular cholesterol by 35-41% and reduced the proliferative activity of the cells. In healthy donors administration of single doses of berberine and pheoniphlorine (0.9 g) increased the antiatherogenic potential of the serum which was estimated on the primary culture of the intimal cells.

Two and 4 hours after a single intake of 50 g of protein isolate soy 500 E in the food, the activity of lysosomal hydrolases in blood platelets, the cholesterol (CS) content in lipoprotein-containing immune complexes, and the accumulation of CS in the subendothelial cells of human aorta intima reduced in introduction into a culture of serum obtained after intake of protein isolate soy. Direct introduction of a isolate 500 E water-alcohol extract into a culture of atherosclerotic plaques of human aorta intima caused decrease of the CS content in the cells and their proliferation. Protein isolate soy, therefore, produces an antiatherogenic effect in a cell culture and causes the antiatherosclerotic properties of serum.

Glucagon and concanavalin A were administered into cell cultures of mice peritoneal macrophages and human intima aorta simultaneously with atherogenous blood serum, obtained from patients with ischemic heart disease, or with acetylated and native low density lipo-proteins. Their effect was dissimilar: glucagon decreased accumulation of intracellular cholesterol and the rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation into these cells, while concanavalin A increased the patterns studied. Cellular lysosomes appear to participate in atherogenesis, these results suggest that regulation of lysosomal apparatus may occur at the step of secondary lysosomes formation.

Group 1 rabbits received cholesterol (CS) in a dose of 0.5 g/kg/day, per os, during 4, 8 and 12 weeks that resulted in a significant increase of the total CS level in the blood serum of the total lipids (TL), phospholipids and beta-lipoproteins (3-10 times). Combined administration of CS and 40% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), 0.6 ml/kg, to group 2 rabbits led to a decrease in the values studied by 20-70%. By the end of the experiment the content of CS and TL in the liver of group 2 rabbits comprised 65-71% of that recorded in group 1 animals. It was also shown that the degree of sclerotic degeneration of the thoracic aorta in group 2 was lower by 55% as compared to group 1 animals. The data obtained have evidenced the hypolipidemic and antiatherosclerotic effect of EPA.