Post-agrogenic evolution of soils in ancient Greek land use areas in the Herakleian peninsula, southwestern Crimea

The paper examines the regularities of the post-agrogenic evolution of soils of differing age in the Herakleian Peninsula (southwestern Crimea, Ukraine), which developed under conditions of the sub-Mediterranean climate and have been cultivated since ancient timesyesBelgorod State Universit

THE GENDER FEATURES OF THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN-ALDOSTERONE SYSTEM IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Aim. To study the correlation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity with the female sex hormone levels and markers of target organ damage in patients with arterial hypertension (HT).Material and methods. Patients with HT (20 men and 39 postmenopausal women) were involved into the study. The dynamic renal angioscintigraphy and echocardiography were performed, plasma rennin activity (PRA), levels of aldosterone, estradiole and 17-hydroxiprogesterone were determined by radioimmunoassay.Results. Higher aldosterone level was found in women in comparison with men (212,5±123,9 pg/ml and 148,9±82,5 pg/m, respectively, р=0,03). Negative relations between aldosterone and estradiol levels (r=-0,3; p=0,04), and between aldosterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels (r=-0,318; p=0,04), and positive relations between aldosterone concentration and PRA (r=0,555; p=0,04) was found in women. Besides, correlation between levels of female sex hormones, aldosterone and renal blood flow indicators, glomerular filtration rate, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were found in women. These correlations were not found in men.Conclusion. The gender differences of RAAS activity were revealed with higher aldosterone level in postmenopausal hypertensive women in comparison with men. Relationships between PRA, levels of aldosterone and female sex hormones and renal blood flow indices, LVMI were also found in women

Involvement of the ERK MAPK Cascade in the Formation of Adhesions in the Abdominal Cavity

Background. ERK1 and ERK2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) are related protein serine / threonine kinases that are involved in the regulation of the cell cycle, cell migration and survival, differentiation, metabolism, and proliferation. Evaluation of this cascade is promising to determine the possibility of influencing  pathological conditions through the regulation of ERK1/2.Aim of the study. To assess the involvement of the ERK MAPK cascade in the development of adhesions in the abdominal cavity.Methods. The experiments were carried out on male Wistar rats. The adhesion process in the abdominal cavity was simulated (n = 40). The research time is from 2 hours to 30 days. Tissue samples from 5 intact animals were examined as a control. Histological sections were prepared and stained histochemically for ERK1. The expression of ERK1 and ERK2 was assessed by PCR.Results. Using the PCR method, the involvement of both the ERK1 and ERK2 cascades in the process was established, and, judging by the change in gene expression, the latter is more actively involved in the process. Histochemical study confirmed the role of ERK cascades in the management of repair in serous membrane injury. Histochemically revealed an increase in ERK1 expression with two peaks of activity – at 1 and 30 days.Conclusion. Our data establish multichannel control of the reparative process in the area of damage to the serous membrane with the involvement of both the p38 and ERK MAPK cascades, which is important to consider when developing methods of influencing the wound healing process in the abdominal cavity

An examination of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity of a new antiadhesive preparation (experimental study)

Adhesive process in the abdominal cavity was simulated in Wistar rats. The animals were divided into two groups: the main one - simulation of adhesive process in the abdominal cavity and introduction of 3 ml of saline into the abdominal cavity; and the controls - simulation of adhesive process in the abdominal cavity and introduction of 3 ml of new antiadhesive preparation. We evaluated biochemical parameters at eight time points during the period from 2 hours to 28 days. The introduced drug for adhesion prevention did not affect the protein-synthetic function of the liver: the blood level of whole protein was the same in both groups and remained within the normal range throughout the follow-up period. The blood level of creatinine, which is the end product of protein metabolism reflecting the renal excretory function, was within normal values in both groups throughout the observation period. Significant differences between the groups were noted only on the 28th day of the experiment: in the main group creatinine level was higher as compared to the control group (p = 0.014), but remained within the normal range. The same pattern was observed when evaluating the blood urea level, which reflects the renal excretory function - the blood urea level remained normal in both groups throughout the experiment. Hence, the new antiadhesive drug does not produce toxic effect on liver and kidneys in a single intraperitoneal introduction in experiment. Biochemical indices are the same as in single intraperitoneal infusion of saline

INVOLVEMENT OF JNK MAPK CASCADES IN THE FORMATION OF ADHESIONS IN THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY

Adhesive process in the abdominal cavity is one of the most frequent complications of intra-abdominal surgery.The aim of the study was to evaluate the activation of the JNK MAPK cascade during the experimental adhesion process.Materials and methods. Experimental studies were performed on 40 male Wistar rats (9 months old). We modeled the adhesive  process in the abdominal cavity. At the time from 2 hours (2, 6, 12  hours) to 30 days (1, 3, 7, 14, 30 days), a JNK MAPK cascade was  evaluated in the zone of damage to the serosa using  immunohistochemical methods (painting on JNK1 Phospho (pT183) /  JNK2 Phospho (pT183) / JNK3 Phospho (pT221)) and real-time  PCR (the MAP Kinase Signaling Pathway RT2 - Profiler ™ PCR Array  (Qiagen) kit). Results. We have found that the expression of the  phosphorylated part of the JNK MAPK cascades has an undulating dynamics with two  peaks on the 3rd and 14th day. It has been determined that all  three JNK cascades are involved in the process, and all JNK cascades are synchronously activated on the 3rd day (JNK1 increases 12-fold  in comparison with the group of intact animals, JNK2 is 8-fold, JNK3  is 10-fold). On the 14th day, the activity of the JNK3 cascade is the  most intensively increased – 30 times (for JNK1 – about 6 times,  JNK2 – 12 times).  Conclusion. Significant activation of MARK cascades has been established on the 14th day after traumatic injury, which indicates the need for long-term prevention of posttraumatic changes, in particular, the formation of adhesions

EXPRESSION OF COLLAGENS IN THE DAMAGE AREA AT ABDOMINAL ADHESIONS

Background. Postoperative adhesions are a serious problem in surgery. However, at the present time molecular mechanisms of the adhesion process are insufficiently studied. Aim. To study the dynamics of expression of genes encoding the synthesis of collagen in case of damage to the serosa on the example of the peritoneum in conditions of aseptic inflammation. Materials and methods. Aseptic inflammatory process in the abdominal cavity was modeled (Wistar rats, n = 40). A micro- and macroscopic picture of the damage area was studied. Immunofluorescent staining for Type I collagen (Col 1A1) was performed. The expression of genes encoding collagen of different types was evaluated using the RT2-Profiler PCR kit Array Rat Wound Healing. Results. It has been established that the adhesion process with peritoneal damage in aseptic conditions reaches its maximum by the 30th day of observation. The same period coincides with the maximum of collagen synthesis in fibroblasts in the repair area, revealed by immunofluorescence study. The interrelation of synthesis of type I and III collagens went as expected - the onset of expression of type III collagen (from day 3) is ahead of the expression of collagen type I (from day 7). Peak gene expression of collagens type I, Alpha-1 and -2; type III Alpha-1, type IV Alpha-1 and -3, type V Alpha-1, -2 and -3; type XIV Alpha-1 (Col14a1) falls on the 14th day. For the first time, active involvement of type V alpha-3 collagen in the adhesion process was noted - we detected both early (from day 1) and maximum intensive (up to 166.96 times increase in comparison with intact animals). Conclusion. Perhaps, the hyperexpression of collagen V alpha-3 that we revealed is an important link in the pathogenesis of adhesion in the abdominal cavity

EXPRESSION OF COLLAGENS IN THE DAMAGE AREA AT ABDOMINAL ADHESIONS

Background. Postoperative adhesions are a serious problem in surgery. However, at the present time molecular mechanisms of the adhesion process are insufficiently studied. Aim. To study the dynamics of expression of genes encoding the synthesis of collagen in case of damage to the serosa on the example of the peritoneum in conditions of aseptic inflammation. Materials and methods. Aseptic inflammatory process in the abdominal cavity was modeled (Wistar rats, n = 40). A micro- and macroscopic picture of the damage area was studied. Immunofluorescent staining for Type I collagen (Col 1A1) was performed. The expression of genes encoding collagen of different types was evaluated using the RT2-Profiler PCR kit Array Rat Wound Healing. Results. It has been established that the adhesion process with peritoneal damage in aseptic conditions reaches its maximum by the 30th day of observation. The same period coincides with the maximum of collagen synthesis in fibroblasts in the repair area, revealed by immunofluorescence study. The interrelation of synthesis of type I and III collagens went as expected - the onset of expression of type III collagen (from day 3) is ahead of the expression of collagen type I (from day 7). Peak gene expression of collagens type I, Alpha-1 and -2; type III Alpha-1, type IV Alpha-1 and -3, type V Alpha-1, -2 and -3; type XIV Alpha-1 (Col14a1) falls on the 14th day. For the first time, active involvement of type V alpha-3 collagen in the adhesion process was noted - we detected both early (from day 1) and maximum intensive (up to 166.96 times increase in comparison with intact animals). Conclusion. Perhaps, the hyperexpression of collagen V alpha-3 that we revealed is an important link in the pathogenesis of adhesion in the abdominal cavity

Pararenalfat Tissue: Rate of Pararenal Obesity and Relation with Anthropometric Indices of Obesity

Aim. To study a rate of excessive pararenal fat tissue (PRFT) thickness and its relationship with anthropometric obesity indices.Material and methods. 372 patients (152 men and 220 women) were included in the study, the average age was 63.5±13.3 years. There were measured: height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), body mass index (BMI), WC/height ratio, sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), body fat percentage (BFP), body surface area (BSA), body adiposity index (BAI) and visceral obesity index (VAI). All subjects underwent abdominal multispiral computed tomography. PRFT thickness was detected on a single slice at the level of the left renal vein.Results. 27% of the examined group had BMI<25 kg/m2, 28% – excessive body mass, 45% – obesity. The median PRFT thickness was 1.61 (1.03; 2.46) cm. There were correlations between PRFT thickness and glucose (r=0,64, p<0,05) and uric acid (r=0,46, p<0,05) levels. The threshold of referential PRFT thickness was 1,91cm. The rate of pararenal obesity was 9,9% among those with normal body mass, 29,3% in excessive body mass, 66,1% – in 1 class obesity, 67,7% – in 2 class, and 90,1% – in 3 class. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the PRFT thickness and obesity indices with exception of VAI and BAI: with BMI (r=0.43, p<0.05), WC (r=0.57, p<0.05), SAD (r=0.58, p<0.05), BFP (r=0.48, p<0.05), WC/height ratio (r=0.46, p<0.05), and BSA (r=0.58, p<0.05).Conclusion. Excessive PRFT may be detected isolated without any external anthropometric signs of obesity, wherein it is an active component of metabolic disorders typical for obesity. The most significant indices for the detection of pararenal obesity may be WC, SAD, and BSA

Meixner class of non-commutative generalized stochastic processes with freely independent values I. A characterization

Let $T$ be an underlying space with a non-atomic measure $\sigma$ on it (e.g. $T=\mathbb R^d$ and $\sigma$ is the Lebesgue measure). We introduce and study a class of non-commutative generalized stochastic processes, indexed by points of $T$, with freely independent values. Such a process (field), $\omega=\omega(t)$, $t\in T$, is given a rigorous meaning through smearing out with test functions on $T$, with $\int_T \sigma(dt)f(t)\omega(t)$ being a (bounded) linear operator in a full Fock space. We define a set $\mathbf{CP}$ of all continuous polynomials of $\omega$, and then define a con-commutative $L^2$-space $L^2(\tau)$ by taking the closure of $\mathbf{CP}$ in the norm $\|P\|_{L^2(\tau)}:=\|P\Omega\|$, where $\Omega$ is the vacuum in the Fock space. Through procedure of orthogonalization of polynomials, we construct a unitary isomorphism between $L^2(\tau)$ and a (Fock-space-type) Hilbert space $\mathbb F=\mathbb R\oplus\bigoplus_{n=1}^\infty L^2(T^n,\gamma_n)$, with explicitly given measures $\gamma_n$. We identify the Meixner class as those processes for which the procedure of orthogonalization leaves the set $\mathbf {CP}$ invariant. (Note that, in the general case, the projection of a continuous monomial of oder $n$ onto the $n$-th chaos need not remain a continuous polynomial.) Each element of the Meixner class is characterized by two continuous functions $\lambda$ and $\eta\ge0$ on $T$, such that, in the $\mathbb F$ space, $\omega$ has representation \omega(t)=\di_t^\dag+\lambda(t)\di_t^\dag\di_t+\di_t+\eta(t)\di_t^\dag\di^2_t, where \di_t^\dag and \di_t are the usual creation and annihilation operators at point $t$