Oxidative derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine of smokers during transition to e-cigarettes

Introduction: The use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) is rapidly evolving as an alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. While ECs are likely less harmful than tobacco use, they are not considered completely harmless to human health. However, there is increasing evidence supporting their efficacy in smoking cessation. In our study, we investigated the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) biomarkers and their oxygenated and nitrated derivatives in the urine of tobacco smokers who switched to exclusive EC use for 28 days. Methods: We employed the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method to efficiently extract the targeted analytes and quantified them using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). High extraction efficiency and sensitivity was achieved by directly immersing the SPME PDMS/DVB fiber into diluted urine samples, incubated at 70°C for 30 min. A total of 100 urine samples were analyzed from 20 participants aged 20–68 years. Results: In 80% of the analyzed samples, the concentrations of PAH biomarkers and their derivatives in participants' urine decreased by up to 90% after switching to EC. Two PAH biomarkers, 2-naphthol and 1-OH-pyrene, were quantified in 88 urine samples. Two oxygenated PAHs (1,4-naphthoquinone and 9-fluorenone) were quantified in 19 urine samples, while two nitrated PAHs (1-nitronaphthalene and 2-nitrofluorene) were quantified in 15 urine samples. The concentration of PAH biomarkers before and after switching to EC ranged 0.04–174.8 ng/mg creatinine and 0.1–115.8 ng/mg creatinine, respectively. PAH derivative concentrations in smokers ranged 0.1–26.4 ng/ mg creatinine, while after switching to EC, PAH derivative concentrations were mostly below the limit of detection and quantification. Conclusions: EC consumers must be aware that using EC alone is not harmless. The presence of PAH derivatives in urine needs more assessment studies to understand both their mechanism of formation in the human body and risk to health

Особенности накопления флавоноидов в сырье кипрея узколистного (Epilobium angustifoliumL.) в зависимости от происхождения и морфологической группы сырья

The aim. Today we are witnessing the actualization of research on plant sources for the pharmaceutical and food industries. It is caused by a significant increase in demand for these types of resources. Therefore, a variety of case studies aimed at identifying the characteristics of plant resources, are becoming more actual too. In accordance with this need, the present work aims to identify a relationship between the content of flavonoids in the raw material of such important source of plant raw material as Epilobium angustifolium and soil and climatic conditions and group of raw materials.Methods. At the first stage of this work were applied cartographic, geographical methods and methods of geobotanical description of phytocenoses to determine the most suitable locations for the purposes of the study. At the second stage were applied the method of spectrophotometry to determine the amount of flavonoids in terms of rutin and the method of correlation analysis.Results. As a result of the application of these methods were obtained data on the content of flavonoids in the Epilobium angustifolium raw materials, collected in various soil and climatic conditions, as well as in various morphological groups of raw materials. These data were compared by the method of correlation analysis and after that a positive correlation between the content of flavonoids in the leaves and inflorescences of Epilobium angustifolium was found.Conclusion. It was determined, that the content of flavonoids fluctuation, depending on the Epilobium angustifolium place of growth, was 2.05% in the leaves and 2.5% in the inflorescences of this plant. An average positive correlation of 0.65 was found between the content of flavonoids in the leaf and inflorescences of Epilobium angustifolium. However, the correlation between the content of flavonoids and the latitude of Epilobium angustifolium growth wasn’t identified.Цель. Актуализация исследований ресурсов источников растительного сырья для фармацевтической и пищевой промышленности, связанная с существенно возросшим за последнее время спросом на эти виды ресурсов, приводит к потребности проводить разнообразные тематические изыскания, направленные на выяснение характеристик растительных ресурсов. В соответствии с данной потребностью в представленной работе поставлена цель выявить возможную взаимосвязь между происхождением образца и количественным содержанием флавоноидов в сырье кипрея узколистного, а также их содержанием в зависимости морфологической группой сырья.Метод. В данной работе на первом этапе применены картографический, сравнительно-географический методы, а также методы геоботанического описания фитоценозов для определения наиболее подходящих для целей исследования точек отбора образцов. На втором этапе применены метод воздушно-теневой сушки, метод спектрофотометрии для определения содержания суммы флавоноидов в пересчёте на рутин, метод корреляционного анализа.Результат. Получены данные количественного содержания флавоноидов в сырье кипрея узколистного, собранного в различных точках ареала, а также в различных морфологических группах сырья. Проведено сопоставление полученных данных путём корреляционного анализа. Выявлена положительная корреляция между количественным содержание флавоноидов в листьях и соцветиях кипрея.Заключение. Выявлено, что в зависимости от места произрастания кипрея колебание содержания флавоноидов составили 2,05% в листьях и 2,5% в соцветиях данного растения. Выявлена средняя положительная корреляция - 0,65 между содержанием флавоноидов в листе и соцветиях. Однако корреляция между количественным содержанием флавоноидов и широтой произрастания кипрея не выявлена

CARDIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE JOINT HYPERMOBILITY SYNDROME

Objective: to identify the capacities of a Cardiovisor-06C device in the diagnosis of the cardiological aspects of the joint hypermobility syndrome (JHMS). Subjects and methods. The study covered 12 students with JHMS. All the respondents were examined using a Cardiovisor-06C device. Results. All the students were found to have deviations from the normal integral indicators: Myocardium, Rhythm, Pulse, Specification code, as well as some electrocardiogram indicators: the durations of P-Q and Q-T intervals and P wave. Conclusion. The early and preclinical manifestations of possible heart abnormalities in the JHMS can be detected by a Cardiovisor-06C device

Depressions with eating disorders: clinical manifestations and therapy

Depression is a common comorbid diagnosis in patients with eating disorders (EDs). The development of pathogenetic therapy for depression with EDs is far from being completed.The objective of the psychopharmacotherapeutic study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of melatonergic monotherapy with the antidepressant agomelatine (25–50 mg/day at night) for depressions with two ED variants: hyperphagic (n=32) and hypo- and aphagic (n=31) EDs.Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled patients of both sexes, aged 18 to 65 years. The investigators performed clinical psychopathological and experimental psychological studies, as well as psychometric examination using the 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21), the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), the Supplemental Hospital Offset Payment Program (SHOPP), the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and statistical data processing.Results and discussion. There was a significant pronounced antidepressant effect of 6-week agomelatine therapy for depressions occurring with different ED variants both in the pattern of the depressive symptom complex and in that of concurrent with and preceding the latter. At the same time, the efficacy of the drug did not depend on the clinical presentations of the leading hypothymic syndrome, the variants of EDs, and the duration of actual depression. However, by the end of the study period, a larger effect was achieved in the therapy for depressions with the hyperphagic variant of EDs, as well as in patients with EDs manifesting in the pattern of depressive symptom complex. Agomelatine has a favorable tolerance profile. BMI tends to become normal in patients with different variants of EDs during the therapy. The adverse events are transient and/or unclear; they do not require therapy discontinuation.Conclusion. Agomelatine is an effective and relatively safe drug that can be recommended to treat depressions concurrent with EDs in therapeutic dosages for at least 6 weeks

Polarized X-band Doppler radar scatterometer for investigation of microwave scattering of the wavy water surface in laboratory conditions

The paper describes an experimental model of continuous wave X-band Doppler radar scatterometer (sine frequency modulation) designed for physics investigation of radio waves scattering from sea surface in controlled conditions. The prototype is developed and fabricated at the IAP RAS. Its main feature is adaptation to the conditions of a laboratory modeling in the wind-wave flumes to investigate the dependence of the normalized radar cross-section (NRCS) on the wind speed. The design of the microwave and antenna systems allows measurement of scattered radiation power and its Doppler spectrum both at linear co- and cross-polarizations (in a sequential switching mode). This is important from the viewpoint of studying the waves at high wind speeds. The detailed description of the design and its specifications are presented. Also the problems of calibration and results of experimental operation on the high-speed wind-wave flume of IAP RAS are discussed

Features of the Intestinal Microbiota in Patients with Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases

Introduction. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) occupy a leading position in the structure of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), as they are a progressive chronic pathology with an autoimmune type of inflammation. Changes in the composition of the gut microbiota can determine morphological changes at the latent stage of the disease. Aim of the study. To assess the genus-­species biodiversity of the microbiota in patients with IBD. Patients and methods. 16S rRNA sequencing of the intestinal microbiota was performed in 15 patients with confirmed ulcerative colitis (UC) and 20 healthy controls. The parameters of the full blood count and the serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) were analyzed. The analysis of the obtained data was carried out using Microsoft Excel and Statistica software. Results. Among the studied laboratory parameters in patients with IBD, there was a significant increase in CRP, leukocyte and neutrophil counts compared to the control group. Sequencing of the gut microbiota showed a decrease in the normobiota, as well as an increase in the representatives of the pathogenic cluster. Conclusion. In the present study, we demonstrated a decrease in the biodiversity of the gut microbiota in patients with IBD compared to the control group, a significant change in the pathogenic cluster, and an imbalance between the representatives of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes

MECHANISM OF ANTIVIRAL ACTION AND EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF THE NEW PREPARATION FORTEPREN^® IN THE COMPLEX THERAPY OF CHRONIC RECURRENT HERPESVIRUS INFECTION OF GENITAL LOCALIZATION

Aim. The study of the mechanism of antiviral action and evaluation of the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of therapy with Fortepren® in patients with chronic recurrent herpesvirus infection of genital localization (CRHVI). Materials and methods. Clinical studies were carried out of a drug Fortepren® (0.4% sodium polyprenyl phosphate solution), which was administered to patients who underwent a basic therapeutic course of the drug Acyclovir-Acry® to relieve the acute phase of the disease. The study was performed on 80 male and female patients selected during the screening with a confirmed diagnosis of CRHVI. Two groups were formed. Patients of group 1 (experimental) were intramuscularly injected with Fortepren® at a dose of 2 ml (8 mg) three times at intervals of 21 days by 3 ± 2, 24 ± 2 and 45 ± 2 days following the 10-day basic course of treatment of the acute phase of diseases with the use of the acyclovir tablets of 400 mg - 13 ± 2, 34 ± 2 and 55 ± 2 days from the beginning of the study. Patients of the 2nd group (control) were intramuscularly injected with placebo solution at a volume of 2 ml instead of Fortepren®. To evaluate Fortepren® efficacy, the following criteria were used: increase in the duration of the inter-recessive period, a decrease in the frequency of relapses over the entire observation period; decrease in the severity of relapses, estimated in points, changes in immunological parameters according to the dynamics of changes in the production of the main cytokines. Results. In patients treated with Fortepren®, the inter-recurrence period for the entire study period increased statistically from 29.36 ± 2.16 to 42.98 ± 3.29 days, while in the control group this indicator have not changed. Accordingly, in patients treated with Fortepren®, a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of recurrence of CRHVI from 3.03 ± 0.02 before treatment to 1.94 ± 0.19 was observed during treatment in the absence of a decrease in the frequency of relapses in the control. Evaluation of the severity of CRHVI relapses in patients treated with Fortepren® indicates the efficacy of this protocol. The sum of the scores of the mean values of CRHVI symptoms signs was statistically significantly decreased in the group 1 from 7.36 ± 0.35 points at the 1 st visit before the start of treatment to 4.75 ± 0.35 points during the treatment. No changes were seen in the control group. The level of leukocyte virus-induced interferon (LVI-IFN) in the patients of the group 1 increased from 36% to 64% in the end of the clinical trial compared to the control group, in which the increase in LVI-IFN titers was not observed. To further justify the possibility of increasing the immune response of cells, establishing possible mechanisms that determine the efficacy of treatment for CRHVI with Fortepren®, evaluation of the production of IFNz, IFNy, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-2, IL-4, MIF-Fz, TNFа was made. In the of the study levels of all these cytokines was increased in patients treated with Fortepren® compared with the control group. Conclusion. The efficacy of using Fortepren® in a dose of 2 ml (8 mg) with intramuscular administration to patients with chronic recurrent herpesviral infection of genital localization at the stage of remission three times with an interval of 21 days by 3 ± 2, 24 ± 2 and 45 ± 2 days after the end of 10 day basic course of treatment of the acute phase of the disease with the use of the drug acyclovir