Description: A strain of a dinoflagellate belonging to the genus Azadinium was obtained by the incubation of sediments collected from Shiwha Bay, Korea. This report of the genus Azadinium is the first outside of northern Europe and furthermore from thePacific Ocean. The diagnostic morphological features of the isolate very closely resemble the recently described species Azadinium poporum isolated from the North Sea. However, the shape of the 3′ apical plate and the occasional morphological variations unreported from A. poporum bring minor distinctions between strains from different locations. The DNA sequences of small subunit, ITS, and large subunit (LSU) rDNA differed by 0.2%, 2.6%, and 3.6%, respectively, from those of A. poporum, whereas the COI gene was identical to those found in all strains of Azadinium. Phylogenetic analyses of the ribosomal DNA regions generally positioned the Korean strain as a sister taxon of A. poporum. However, the Korean isolate tends to occupy a basal position within Azadinium species with ITS rDNA and LSU rDNA. Using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, no known azaspiracids were detected. The slight but discernible morphological differences, the distinct rDNA sequences, and the tendency of the Korean strain to diverge phylogenetically based on ITS rDNA and LSU rDNA from A. poporum do not enable us to clearly assign the isolate to A. poporum. However, these characteristics do not allow us to classify it as a distinct species, and it is therefore designated as Azadinium cf. poporum. The examination of more strains to find more diagnostic characteristics might enable the attribution of this material to a well-defined taxonomic position.

Description: Strategies to promote angiogenesis can benefit cerebral ischemia. We determined whether liposomal delivery of angiogenic peptides with a known biologic activity of vascular endothelial growth factor benefitted cerebral ischemia. Also, the study examined the potential of 18 F-FDG PET imaging in ischemic stroke treatment. Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats ( n = 40) underwent 40 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion. After 15 min of reperfusion, the rats ( n = 10) received angiogenic peptides incorporated into liposomes. Animals receiving phosphate-buffered solution or liposomes without peptides served as controls. One week later, 18 F-FDG PET imaging was performed to examine regional changes in glucose utilization in response to the angiogenic therapy. The following day, 99m Tc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime autoradiography was performed to determine changes in cerebral perfusion after angiogenic therapy. Corresponding changes in angiogenic markers, including von Willebrand factor and angiopoietin-1 and -2, were determined by immunostaining and polymerase chain reaction analysis, respectively. Results: A 40-min period of middle cerebral artery occlusion decreased blood perfusion in the ipsilateral ischemic cortex of the brain, compared with that in the contralateral cortex, as measured by 99m Tc-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime autoradiography. Liposomal delivery of angiogenic peptides to the ischemic hemisphere of the brain attenuated the cerebral perfusion defect compared with controls. Similarly, vascular density evidenced by von Willebrand factor–positive staining was increased in response to angiogenic therapy, compared with that of controls. This increase was accompanied by an early increase in angiopoietin-2 expression, a gene participating in angiogenesis. 18 F-FDG PET imaging measured at 7 d after treatment revealed that liposomal delivery of angiogenic peptides facilitated glucose utilization in the ipsilateral ischemic cortex of the brain, compared with that in the controls. Furthermore, the change in regional glucose utilization was correlated with the extent of improvement in cerebral perfusion ( r = 0.742, P = 0.035). Conclusion: Liposomal delivery of angiogenic peptides benefits cerebral ischemia. 18 F-FDG PET imaging holds promise as an indicator of the effectiveness of angiogenic therapy in cerebral ischemia.

Description: The “Lomonosov” space project is lead by Lomonosov Moscow State University in collaboration with the following key partners: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Russia, University of California, Los Angeles (USA), University of Pueblo (Mexico), Sungkyunkwan University (Republic of Korea) and with Russian space industry organizations to study some of extreme phenomena in space related to astrophysics, astroparticle physics, space physics, and space biology. The primary goals of this experiment are to study: - Ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR) in the energy range of the Greizen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff; - Ultraviolet (UV) transient luminous events in the upper atmosphere; - Multi-wavelength study of gamma-ray bursts in visible, UV, gamma, and X-rays; - Energetic trapped and precipitated radiation (electrons and protons) at low-Earth orbit (LEO) in connection with global geomagnetic disturbances; - Multicomponent radiation doses along the orbit of spacecraft under different geomagnetic conditions and testing of space segments of optical observations of space-debris and other space objects; - Instrumental vestibular-sensor conflict of zero-gravity phenomena during space flight. This paper is directed towards the general description of both scientific goals of the project and scientific equipment on board the satellite. The following papers of this issue are devoted to detailed descriptions of scientific instruments.