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The structure of the ciliate Balantidium helenae Bezzenberger, 1904 was investigated with the use of optical and electron microscopy. It was demonstrated that, together with the basic dimensional characteristics, main distinguishing features of the studied species include the following characters: the presence of a pointed prominence on the posterior margin of the cell; the presence of elongated cilia on the left margin of the vestibulum; and different shape and size of cortical ridges. Two morphologically different types of electron-dense bodies (supposedly hydrogenosoms) and also endobiotic bacteria were also found in the cytoplasm of B. helenae.

Dynamic analysis of the histochemical reaction of Karnovsky-Roots for acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) is reported. Two methods were used. The first method was videography and densitometric analysis of frames from the film. The second method was direct microphotometric analysis of the reaction dynamics by the plug-method (measurement of average light transmission through a limited area of preparation or image). Special microchambers were used on the stage of an inverted microscope. The results showed the dynamics of final product accumulation in two structures of rat caudate nucleus: AChE-positive neuropil and the AChE-negative myelin bundle during histochemical incubation. Videography and densitometry of the digital images allowed morphologic and microphotometric analysis of changes in tissue sections during incubation, and the dynamic analysis permitted the study of enzyme kinetics in situ. Problems associated with microphotometric analysis of digital images for quantitative histochemical studies of the enzyme activity are discussed.

Endobiotic ciliates of native Yakut horse are investigated. 57 ciliate species have been found. From 17 up to 43 species of ciliates have been revealed in each host specimen. The specimens of Alloiozona trizona Hsiung, 1930 and Triadinium caudatum Fiorentini, 1890 were present in 100 % of the horses. The endemic genus and species of allantosomides, Strelkowella urunbasiensis Kornilova, 2004, has been found in 11 horses. Allantoxena japonensis (Imai, 1979) and Cycloposthium ishikawai Gassovsky, 1919 being recorded previously in Japan only were found for the first time in Russia. The species Cycloposthium ponomarevi Kornilova, 2001 peculiar to the Turkmenistan koulan has been found in the Yakut horses.

The opportunity of the use of formalin-fixed endobiotic ciliates from old collections in transmission electron microscopic investigations (TEM) has been studied. Ciliates from the following species were examined: Ditoxum funinucleum Gassovsky, 1919 from the hindgut of Equus hemionus kulan Groves et Mazak, 1967 preserved in a collection during 19 years, Blepharoprosthium pireum Bundle, 1895 and Cochliatoxum periachtum Gassovsky, 1919 from the hindgut of the Yakut horse Equus caballus L. stored during 1.5 years, and Triplumaria heterofasciculata Timoshenko et Imai, 1995 from faeces of the Asian elephant Elephas maximus L. stored during 2.5 years. It is shown, that the main taxonomically important characters of the cortex ultrastructure, ciliature, and internal fibril structure of the cell of Trichostomatia keep well during a long-term storage in formalin.

Background: Achievement of target BP is a challenge in patients attending family practice. The long duration between administration of the last bedtime dose of antihypertensive medication and the physiologic early morning surge in BP makes it difficult to achieve satisfactory BP control., Objective: To determine whether a new graded-release preparation of diltiazem (diltiazem XC), taken once daily at bedtime, will show an acceptable adverse-effect profile as well as improved BP control., Study Design/setting: This is an open label, observational study in an ambulatory care setting., Patients: 954 patients with mild to moderate hypertension and BP not at target levels were attended by 85 physicians. Group 1 patients were receiving a diltiazem preparation and group 2 patients were not receiving any diltiazem preparation at baseline., Intervention: Group 1 patients were given diltiazem XC at the same dose as the prestudy diltiazem. Treatment with diltiazem XC 180 mg was initiated in group 2 patients. Diltiazem XC was taken once daily at bedtime in both groups., Main Outcome Measure: The predetermined main outcome measure was the development of adverse events with diltiazem XC when changing or adding the study medication. The secondary outcome measure was the proportion of patients who achieved target BP levels., Results: Moderate or severe adverse events occurred in 8.7% of patients. Although 21.8% of patients reported either new or worsening adverse events after starting diltiazem XC, the large majority of adverse events were mild in severity. The most frequent moderate or severe adverse events were headache (2.0%) and constipation (1.7%). More patients in group 2 reported adverse events compared with patients in group 1. Target BP levels were achieved in 47.8% (95% CI 44.3, 51.3) of patients completing the 8- to 12-week treatment. No difference was found in the proportion of patients at target BP levels in groups 1 and 2., Conclusion: Diltiazem XC, when used in an ambulatory care setting for patients who have not achieved BP targets, shows an acceptable adverse-effect profile and results in an important improvement of BP control.

The occurrence, distribution and activity of archaeal populations within two aerated, activated sludge wastewater treatment systems, one treating domestic waste and the second treating mixed domestic and industrial wastewater, were investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified ribosomal RNA gene fragments and process measurements. In the plant receiving mixed industrial and domestic waste the archaeal populations found in the mixed liquor were very similar to those in the influent sewage, though a small number of DGGE bands specific to the mixed liquor were identified. In contrast, the activated sludge treating principally domestic waste harboured distinct archaeal populations associated with the mixed liquor that were not prevalent in the influent sewage. We deduce that the Archaea in the plant treating mixed wastewater were derived principally from the influent, whereas those in the plant treating solely domestic waste were actively growing in the treatment plant. Archaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences related to the Methanosarcinales, Methanomicrobiales and the Methanobacteriales were detected. Methanogenesis was measured in activated sludge samples incubated under oxic and anoxic conditions, demonstrating that the methanogens present in both activated sludge plants were active only in anoxic incubations. The relatively low rates of methanogenesis measured indicated that, although active, the methanogens play a minor role in carbon turnover in activated sludge.

Carbostimulin is studied for the effect it exerts on indices of the acid-base equilibrium of blood, content of certain tricarboxylic-cycle metabolites and free amino acids and formation of antibodies in rats. It is established that carbostimulin feeding increases the total carbon dioxide, pyruvate and lactate concentration in blood, the content of ammonium, glutamine and certain free amino acids being decreased. Oxidation processes in the liver mitochondria and biosynthesis of antibodies in experimental animals are shown to be more intensive than in the control ones.