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Biomedical subjects

R Iliescu

Publications and source records attributed to R Iliescu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Some physico-chemical and biological properties of egg-Sendai virus with altered haemagglutinin-neuraminidase protein.

Some physico-chemical and biological properties of egg-cultivated Sendai (egg-Sendai) virus particles with altered haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein were studied. These particles were obtained accidentally from purified egg-Sendai virus stored at +4 degrees C. Egg-Sendai with altered HN protein was not infectious for cultured cells, but could still infect embryonated eggs. Though egg-Sendai virus with altered HN protein and glycoproteins had no haemagglutination activity, it unexpectedly possessed a relatively high neuraminidase (NA) activity representing about 70% of the activity of normal particles. Since polyacrylamide gel and rocket immunoelectrophoresis indicated that the altered particles contained only F protein, possibly the native HN was converted into a molecule of the same molecular mass as F protein.

Antigens, Viral↗

Effect of some anthracycline antibiotics on the neuraminidase activity of Sendai virus and its isolated glycoproteins.

Anthracycline antibiotics violamycin BI (VBI) and adriamycin (Adr) strongly inhibited the neuraminidase (NA) activity of Sendai virus and of its isolated glycoproteins, occurring either in solution or associated in liposome-like particles. NA did not exhibit the classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics: the plot of reaction velocity versus substrate concentration was sigmoidal, while Hill's plotting indicated that the enzyme has at least two binding sites for the substrate. The reaction kinetics obtained suggested that Sendai virus NA acts as an allosteric enzyme, when its material support, the HN is located on the virus surface. The inhibitory effect of the anthracycline antibiotics in question on the NA activity seemed to be similar to that of negative effectors.

Allosteric Site↗

Preliminary research on possible relationship of NO with agmatine at the vascular level.

The comparative study of the vascular effects of agmatine and L-arginine as physiological precursors of NO indicated the following: When administered intravenously, both vasoactive substances produced a decrease of the systemic blood pressure in rats and rabbits, diminished in the case of agmatine and suppressed in that of arginine by the previous administration of L-NAME. Myorelaxing vascular effects were obtained in isolated thoracic aorta rings, precontracted with phenylephrine and noradrenaline. Endothelium removal suppressed the myorelaxing properties of L-arginine, without affecting the effects of agmatine, both before and after administration of L-NAME or yohimbine. The persistence of the relaxing effects of agmatine after NOS and guanylate-cyclase inhibition with methylene blue excludes the participation of NO and cGMP in their occurrence. The enhancement of agmatine myorelaxation by moxonidine pleads for the stimulation of imidazoline receptors.

Agmatine↗

Research concerning the radioprotective and immunostimulating effects of deuterium-depleted water.

Mice fed for 15 days with Deuterium-Depleted Water (30 ppm deuterium) had a statistically significant increased survival rate compared with control groups fed with normal distilled water (150 ppm deuterium), after 8.5 Gy irradiation (61% survival in the test group versus 25% in the control group). The hematological picture showed that normal WBC, RBC and platelet counts were maintained in the test groups. Immunological parameters (serum opsonic and bactericidal capacity, bactericidal capacity of the peritoneal macrophages) showed a marked increase in the test groups compared to a severe decrease in the control groups. Auxiliary tests using chemical radiomimetics (hydrochloric embihine) and immunosuppressors (cyclophosphamide) showed a strong protective effect of deuterium-depleted water against the decrease of the leukocyte counts and other immunologic parameters. In conditions of experimental inflammation induced with subcutaneous-implanted pellets, deuterium-depleted water feeding resulted in a statistically significant increase of the inflammatory response, demonstrated by increased percentages of PMN and lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and the increased phagocytic capacity of the peripheral blood PMN. Experimental infections induced with K. pneumoniae 506 and S. pneumoniae 558 in mice irradiated or treated with cyclophosphamide showed increased, non-specific immunity parameters. All results show a marked intensification of the immune defenses and increased proliferation of the peripheral blood cells, probably accounting for the radioprotective effects.

Animals↗

[Implications of oxidative stress in senescence].

After a short review of the literature concerning the paradox of oxygen and the participation of the oxidative stress created by the prevalence of its reactive radical species over the antioxidant enzymes, the main experimental arguments favoring the hypothesis of the implication of free radicals in senescence will be exposed. The amplification of degrading processes of lipid peroxidation and altering of the protein thiol groups in the presence of reactive oxygen species will be outlined. Both the aging of mitochondria due to the alteration of the electron transport chain and the oxidative attack on the mitochondrial DNA and the activation of the apoptosis as programmed cell death phenomenon in the presence of free radicals of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon will be given a particular interest. Finally, the implication of radical species in the production of some cardiovascular degenerative diseases of elderly patients will be discussed, together with the protective role of antioxidant compounds and diet, as factors that confine the progressive degradation of the senescent human body.

Aged↗

[The detection of human papillomaviruses in histological preparations by using dot-blot hybridization].

The 56 tissue samples were obtained from female patients with anogenital tumors, benign or malign, subsequently confirmed through pathomorphological analysis. The investigations were aimed at the discovering of HPV presence using hybridization techniques with biotinylated molecular probes and monitorisation through enzymatic reaction. The presence of ADN types 11, 16 and 18 was detected on about 52% of all the cases; the ADN HPV incidence was 57% among the patients with a neoplasm and/or cervix uteri papillomatosis diagnosis.

Adult↗

[Demonstration of viral proteins by silver staining].

Investigations were conducted to establish the optimal conditions for silver staining of polypeptides separated by polyacryle-amide gel electrophoresis. The thickness of the gel layer was of 1.5 mm. The experiments showed that the modified Hankeshover and Dernick's technique (4) (replacement of the fixative for the electrophoretically separated polypeptides and extension of the bleaching by Farmer's reagent time) had the best sensitivity and reproducibility. This technique can be performed also on polyacryle-amide gel preparations already stained by the Coomassie Brilliant Blue method. To check the efficiency of this silver staining technique, the authors used it to detect the Sendai virus and B hepatitis virus surface antigen polypeptides.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗

[The protector effect of ribosomal preparations against experimental influenza infection in mice].

A study was conducted on the protective effect of some ribosomal preparations, isolated from chorionic-allantoic membranes of chicken embryos, infected or not with parainfluenza (Sendai) or influenza (AoPR8) virus, in mice experimentally inoculated with influenza virus strain AoPR8 adapted to the mouse. Results showed that the tested preparation, containing ribosomes and polysomes isolated from chorio-allantoic membranes of Sendai virus inoculated chicken embryos, ensure the mice complete protection against AoPR8 virus, if administrated before the control infection.

Allantois↗

Cationic anticancer drugs and their modes of action.

This report focuses on two groups of cationic cancerostatics, anthracycline antibiotics and 1,4-benzoquinone-guanylhydrazone-thiosemicarbazone (ambazone), lining up biophysical and biochemical effects on the level of membranes and membrane constituents. The interaction of both drugs with multilamellar liposomes consisting of phosphatidylcholine used as a simple model membrane system could be ensured by means of steady state and nanosecond time-resolved fluorometric investigations. The biochemical effect on membranes is underlined by the inhibition of the neuraminidase activity of the Sendai virus, modification of the CAMP phosphodiesterase activity of leukemia L 1210 cells of mice and reduction of the lymphocyte blast transformation.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

[Research conducted at the Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology of Bucharest in the area of nucleic acids and genetic engineering].

A brief review is done of some of the most important studies realised by the "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute researchers in the field of nucleic acids. It is worth mentioning among these the investigations about interactions between nucleic acids and some biologically active substances, the recombinant DNA, as well as the most recent works on DNA-DNA hybridization in the avidine-biotine system.

Academies and Institutes↗

[Study of the encapsulation and transport of several proteins to different organs by means of liposomal type particles of viral origin].

Liposomal particles may be more efficiently incorporated by cells through mechanisms still incompletely elucidated. This property allowed to use them as a vehicle for macromolecules. Research was conducted to obtain liposomal type particles of viral origin charged with various proteins (bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, ribosomes, human 125I-immunoglobulin G) and to establish the distribution of proteins encapsulated in viral envelopes among various organs after inoculation to laboratory animals.

Animals↗

Research in the field of nucleic acids performed in the "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology.

A review is made of the research in the field of nucleic acids performed in the "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology. The results obtained as regards the infectivity of viral nucleic acids, the oncogenic capacity of nucleic acids extracted from tumors, the isolation, characterization, physicochemical and biological activity of viral and cellular nucleic acids, as well as some achievements in recombinant DNA technology, are briefly presented.

Academies and Institutes↗