Studying Properties of Prospective Biologically Active Extracts from Marine Hydrobionts

Biologically active substances (BAS) extracted from marine hydrobionts are characterized by high diversity and efficiency. They are represented by carotenoids, phospholipids, saponins and other compounds possessing high antioxidant (AOA), antitumor, immunomodulatory, radioprotective, and hypolipidemic activities. Because of extremely high marine BAS activity, the BAS dose necessary for treatment and prevention of many diseases is very small.  The aim of present work was to assess biological properties of BAS complexes extracted from Black Sea marine inverterbrates for their following using in pharmacological preparations including liposomal drug delivery. BAS complexes were extracted from marine invertebrate tissues by two-phase extraction in combination with ultrasonication. Antioxidant activity of BAS extracts was determined with potassium permanganate discoloration method in an aqueous sulfuric acid medium. Antimicrobial activity was investigated by germination of BAS extracts.  BAS influence on lymphocyte proliferative activity was studied with help of cytogenetic analysis. In this paper, the assessment of antioxidant, antimicrobial and mitogenic activities of biologically active complexes extracted from marine invertebrate tissues is presented. BAS properties in the oil  and alcohol-water phases are compared. For the first time BAS complexes from Black Sea invertebrates are extracted by the resource-light method of two-phase extraction in combination with ultrasonication. Conditions for obtaining BAS extracts with optimal characteristics are proposed

NEW DATA ON AGE AND NATURE OF CARBONIZATION WITHIN SOUTHERN FLANK OF THE BAIKAL LEDGE OF THE SIBERIAN CRATON BASEMENT

The Baikal ledge rock formations in the Siberian craton structure are included in the Akitkan mobile belt which is considered as the Late Paleoproterozoic independent island arc system moved up to the ancient basement during the terrains amalgamation 1.91–2.00 Ga ago (Fig. 1) [Rosen, 2003; Gladkochub et al., 2009; Didenko et al., 2013].The Baikal ledge rock formations in the Siberian craton structure are included in the Akitkan mobile belt which is considered as the Late Paleoproterozoic independent island arc system moved up to the ancient basement during the terrains amalgamation 1.91–2.00 Ga ago (Fig. 1) [Rosen, 2003; Gladkochub et al., 2009; Didenko et al., 2013]

GEOCHEMICAL FEATURES OF DIKE AILLIKITES AND ALKALINE ROCKS OF THE BOLSHETAGNINSKY MASSIF (URIK-IYA GRABEN, EAST SAYAN REGION)

The ICP-MS determinations have been made on microelement content of ~650–640 Ma ultramafic lamprophyre-aillikite dikes and alkaline silicate rocks and carbonatites from the Bolshetagninsky ijolite-syenite massif, spatially overlapped in the northern Urik-Iya graben on the southwestern margin of the Siberian craton. There have been identified two types of spectra of microelement distribution, typical of the Bolshetagninsky massif aillikites and alkaline silicate rocks, respectively; both types of spectra demonstrate significant (more than two orders of magnitude) enrichment in most incompatible elements relative to the primitive mantle. Aillikites have tilt-left distribution spectra of rare elements with Rb, К, Pb, Sr-P, Zr-Hf, ±U minimums and less-pronounced Y minimum. Multi-element spectra of ijolites-melteigites are characterized by Th, Та, Pb, Hf, ±Zr, ±Ti minimums which is also reflected in nepheline syenite and carbonatite spectra. The Bolshetagninsky massif aillikites and alkaline rocks differ also in Nb/Ta, Zr/Hf, Th/Nb, Th/U ratios. Geochemical differences imply that the parental melts of dike aillikites and alkaline rocks are derived from different mantle sources

Local pedagogical history in training bachelors of education

The main aim of the study is to investigate the issues of pedagogy and technology of local history studies applied in training Bachelors of Education at a pedagogical University. The authors describe results of experimental work carried out at Stary Oskol branch of Belgorod State National Research University and approbation of local pedagogical history technology. Regarding the methods used in the study, we consider the training system containing local history concepts is made up by the following components: the training process, educational activities and research, teacher’s internship, extracurricular and outreach activitie

ISOTOPE COMPOSITION OF CARBON AND OXYGEN IN CALCITES OF ALKALINE ULTRAMAPHIC DYKES WITHIN THE URIK-IYA GRABEN

The isotope composition of carbon and oxygen was studied in calcite of dykes and veins of ultramafic lamprophyres, kimberlite, alkaline mica picrites from the Yarma above-intrusion zone, and pyroxene-free picrites intruding the rocks of the Bolshetagninsky carbonatite massif within the Urik-Iya graben hosted by the East Sayan Mountains. The data on δ13C (from −6.6 to −3.9 ‰ relative to VPDB) disclose the ideas on the mantle origin of the carbonate substance of dykes. High values of δ18O (from +13.9 to +11.8 ‰ relative to VSMOW) suggest the impact of deuteric fluids, i.e. magmatic fluids separated from melts, at later stage of formation of the calcite-bearing alkaline ultramafic rocks

Role of immunotherapy in complex treatment of acute optic neuritis associated with herpesvirus infection

Background. An increase in the incidence of optic neuritis (ON) among the workingage population, the complexity of etiological diagnosis and the choice of adequate etiotropic therapy, as well as a disappointing prognosis for vision due to the development of optic nerve atrophy determines the high social significance of this problem.The aim. Comprehensive clinical, functional, morphometric and laboratory-immunological evaluation of results of using the drug Imunofan® in combined treatment of ON associated with herpesvirus infection (HVI).Materials and methods. The study involved 39 people (39 eyes) with acute ON associated with HVI. The standard treatment regimen for the patients included the appointment of solutions: dexamethasone in a decreasing scheme, a 1 % Emoxypine® preparation 0.5 ml and 12.5 % Dicynone® preparation 0.5 ml through an irrigation system implanted into the retrobulbar space, with subsequent appointment of medicinal means of neuroprotection (Picamilon® and Semax®). All patients were divided into two groups. The main group – 22 patients, whose standard inpatient treatment was supplemented with intramuscular administration of the drug Imunofan®, 50 μg daily for 10 days. The control group consisted of 17 patients, who were treated only according to the standard method.Results. Analysis of obtained data showed that more significant positive dynamics was noted in patients of the main group.Conclusion. The clinical efficacy of the drug Imunofan® in the complex therapy of ON associated with HVI was characterized by relief of signs of inflammation in the optic nerve in the main group immediately after the end of the course of treatment, while in the control group – only after 3 months; an increase in the best corrected visual acuity by 1.3 times, a decrease in the incidence of postneuritic optic nerve atrophy at a follow-up period of 12 months

Aluminum tolerance in maize is associated with higher MATE1 gene copy number

Genome structure variation, including copy number variation and presence/absence variation, comprises a large extent of maize genetic diversity; however, its effect on phenotypes remains largely unexplored. Here, we describe how copy number variation underlies a rare allele that contributes to maize aluminum (Al) tolerance. Al toxicity is the primary limitation for crop production on acid soils, which make up 50% of the world's potentially arable lands. In a recombinant inbred line mapping population, copy number variation of the Al tolerance gene multidrug and toxic compound extrusion 1 (MATE1) is the basis for the quantitative trait locus of largest effect on phenotypic variation. This expansion in MATE1 copy number is associated with higher MATE1 expression, which in turn results in superior Al tolerance. The three MATE1 copies are identical and are part of a tandem triplication. Only three maize inbred lines carrying the three-copy allele were identified from maize and teosinte diversity panels, indicating that copy number variation for MATE1 is a rare, and quite likely recent, event. These maize lines with higher MATE1 copy number are also Al-tolerant, have high MATE1 expression, and originate from regions of highly acidic soils. Our findings show a role for copy number variation in the adaptation of maize to acidic soils in the tropics and suggest that genome structural changes may be a rapid evolutionary response to new environments

Dislocation of the Cervical Anastomosis toward the Mediastinum after McKeown Esophagectomy: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background: This study aimed to assess the frequency of cervical anastomosis dislocation toward the mediastinum after McKeown esophagectomy and the significance of this phenomenon for postoperative complications. Methods and Results: The study included 82 patients with stage I-III esophageal cancer who underwent surgical intervention using McKeown esophagectomy in a completely open version (thoracotomy, laparotomy, cervicotomy) or hybrid esophagectomy (thoracoscopy on the right, laparotomy, cervicotomy). After McKeown esophagectomy, dislocation of the cervical anastomosis (DCA) toward the posterior mediastinum was noted in 26.8% of cases. The overall incidence of anastomotic leakage was 18.3%. The groups of patients with and without DCA did not differ statistically in the incidence of anastomotic leakage (P=0.205). Mediastinal complications (mediastinitis, pleural empyema) were observed in 100% (6/6) of cases in the group with DCA and 33.3% (3/9) of cases in the group without DCA (P=0.013). Pulmonary complications (pneumonia, atelectasis) occurred in 5(22.7%) and 8(13.3%) of cases in groups with DCA and without DCA, respectively (P = 0.304). Conclusion: After McKeown esophagectomy, DCA toward the posterior mediastinum was noted in 26.8% of cases. Dislocation of the cervical anastomosis toward the posterior mediastinum does not significantly impact the anastomotic leakage. Mediastinal complications are more common in patients with DCA, but the incidence of pulmonary complications is not associated with this phenomenon

Zebrafish Models for Dyskeratosis Congenita Reveal Critical Roles of p53 Activation Contributing to Hematopoietic Defects through RNA Processing

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare bone marrow failure syndrome in which hematopoietic defects are the main cause of mortality. The most studied gene responsible for DC pathogenesis is DKC1 while mutations in several other genes encoding components of the H/ACA RNP telomerase complex, which is involved in ribosomal RNA(rRNA) processing and telomere maintenance, have also been implicated. GAR1/nola1 is one of the four core proteins of the H/ACA RNP complex. Through comparative analysis of morpholino oligonucleotide induced knockdown of dkc1 and a retrovirus insertion induced mutation of GAR1/nola1 in zebrafish, we demonstrate that hematopoietic defects are specifically recapitulated in these models and that these defects are significantly reduced in a p53 null mutant background. We further show that changes in telomerase activity are undetectable at the early stages of DC pathogenesis but rRNA processing is clearly defective. Our data therefore support a model that deficiency in dkc1 and nola1 in the H/ACA RNP complex likely contributes to the hematopoietic phenotype through p53 activation associated with rRNA processing defects rather than telomerase deficiency during the initial stage of DC pathogenesis