BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

The program falls into propulsive fields of molecular endocrinology and molecular radiobiology. The studies explain insufficiently known effects of steroid hormones, ionizing and non-ionizing irradiation, and other stressor factors on the structural and functional integrity of normal and malignantly transformed cells. Mentioned effects are studied on the level of cell signals, as well as, on the structural and functional changes of biomolecules.

The immobilization of cell membranes on a solid support has been studied. It has been determined that the membrane enzymes retain their unchanged activity while becoming sensitive to the inhibitory effects of metals. Enzymes immobilized in this way may be applied as bioindicators for the presence of harmful agents.

Research has been continued on the molecular mechanisms of cellular signal transduction in the brain and liver during ageing. Age related changes have been detransduction in the brain and liver ageing. Age related changes have been detected in GR and AP-1-mediated transcriptional activity as well the weakening of the regulatory mechanisms at the level of hormone action.

Molecular mechanisms of apoptotic under the effects of different irradiation sources (gamma, protons) have been studied. With the aim of determining the most efficient therapeutic approach for the elimination melanoma cells, beside glucocorticoid hormones, various antiproliferative agents were studied and the effect of different ionizing radiations have been monitored.

The distribution of trace elements in various mammalian tissues have been studied after exposure to gamma rays. Irradiation resulted in differential tissue distribution of magnesium. The role of selenium as an antioxidative agent has been studied in plants animals and humans.

Research on the project BOI-1953 was carried was out in three areas related to the detrimental effects of environment factor.

Example : 

1. Physical

2. Chomical agents and internal factor

a. Neuron

a. Endocrine stress

On animal and human systems

1) The first area of research encompassed the effects of ionizing radiation on human cancer cell lines in culture (uterus, prostate) human blood and tissue biopsy samples from cancer patients buried cancer, breast cancer, and animal (rat) model system. The major aim in this area was to define pertinent cellular biomakers (xtotoxicity, cell death) and molecular biomakers (total antioxidant enzyme status, TAS) that would help in clinical oncology concerning better individual adjustment in diagnostic, preventive and treatment protocols.

2) The second area of research is dedicated to neuro-endocrine stress which is studied on animal (rat) model.

a. The Effects of physical

1. Cold

2. Physical effort

b. Emotional (immobilization)

c. Social (isolation, crowding)

Stress are followed at the level of sympathoddrenal system (SAS) and hypothaiomo - hypophysis - adrenal (HPA) axis, with the special emphases on feed back regulatory, mechanisms in acute stress, and its deregulation in chronic, or combined stress. The goal of the study is to expand the current catecholamine assay (CA) used for diagnostics in cardiology, to catecholamine – steroid – poptide hormone – assay (CSPA) that could be used for individual diagnostic and treatment protocols in stress related neuro psychiatric diseases (anxiety, depression).

3) The third area of research is dedicated to preservation of natural food quality ingradients, such as antioxidants. The antioxidant characteristics are determined in full milk, industrially processed milik, and baby food, and also in human milk, and colostrums. The aim the research is to suggest the best processing procedures that would preserve the antioxidants in food. Such food is considered to be the best preventive and profilactic agent against cardiovascular, and hormonal disorders, as well as against development of neoplasma. 

Conclusion  

We have studied the effect of total body x-irradiation and partial hepatectomy on the acute phase protein gene expression in rat liver. Changes in liver mRNA concentration for positive acute-phase reactions including cysteine protease inhibitor, a 1-acid glycoprotein, fibrinogen and haptoglobin, and albumin as anegative reactant were nonitored by Northern blot and slot-blot hybridizations.