Antioxidant System Response of Freshwater Mussel Anodontacygnea to Cadmium Exposure

Cadmium is one of the widespread toxic substances being hazardous for man as it capable to enter from the environment into animal and plant tissues and spreading along the food chain. We have studied the effect of Cd on the gills and hepatopancreas of the fresh water bivalve mollusks Anodontacygnea. After 12-day acclimation the mollusks were kept for 24 and 72 hours in aquariums with Cd2+ concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 μg/L. Mass-spectrometric analysis has shown that Cd accumulation rate increased with increasing metal concentration in the water. At cadmium concentration of 100 μg/L the mollusk was capable of accumulating up to 0.44 μg of Cd per day. The accumulation of such high metal concentrations in the mollusk tissues did not kill the animals, but signs of oxidative stress, more pronounced in the gills than in the digestive gland, were observed. Exposure to cadmium ions decreased GSH concentration and increase Рx activity in the mollusk gills as early as 24 hours after the beginning of the experiment. Changing the water in the aquarium had a considerable influence on SOD activity in the gills comparable with the effect of the addition of Cd

Поглотительная и ферментативная активность фагоцитирующих клеток при хроническом обструктивном бронхите

We studied the phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils in the peripheric blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in 37 patients affected with chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB) and healthy persons to determine the activity of elastase and collagenase in BALF cells and their supernate.The peripheric blood of COB patients revealed normal neutrophilic and monocytic phagocytosis, while the monocytes of complementary pulmonary emphysematous patients revealed an increased absorbing activity.BALF demonstrated an acute depression of alveolar macrophagal phagocytosis, which a remission of the inflammatory process raised close to normal only with persons not affected with pulmonary emphysema. COB patients revealed increased activities of elastase and collagenase both in an acute inflammatory process and during remissions. COB patients not affected with pulmonary emphysema displayed the greatest activity increase of elastase.Исследовалась фагоцитарная активность альвеолярных макрофагов и нейтрофилов периферической крови и жидкости бронхоальвеолярного лаважа (ЖБАЛ) у 37 больных хроническим обструктивным бронхитом (ХОБ) и здоровых лиц. Определялась активность эластазы и коллагеназы как в клетках ЖБАЛ, так и в супернатанте клеток ЖБАЛ.Показано, что у больных ХОБ в периферической крови фагоцитоз нейтрофилов и моноцитов был в норме, однако у больных со вторичной эмфиземой легких отмечалось повышение поглотительной активности моноцитов.В ЖБАЛ наблюдалось резкое угнетение фагоцитоза альвеолярных макрофагов, который повышался почти до нормы в ремиссии воспалительного процесса только у лиц без эмфиземы легких. У больных ХОБ как в обострении, так и ремиссии воспалительного процесса усилена активность эластазы и коллагеназы. Наиболее выраженное увеличение активности эластазы наблюдалось у больных ХОБ без эмфиземы легких

The effect of a high-protein and high-carbohydrate diet on the content of D-lactate in the blood plasma and intestines of a model organism – rainbow trout

D-lactic acid stereoisomer (D-lactate) is produced by the intestinal microflora and can enter the bloodstream and cause in some cases a condition of acute D-lactic acidemia known as short gut syndrome. The level of D-lactate in blood and in the contents of the intestine is considered as a promising marker of the development of inflammation associated with microflora disorders, as well as with the development of a bacterial infection, while the mechanism of its entry into the blood of vertebrates from the intestine has not been studied in detail.The aim of the study. To investigate the relationship between the level of D-lactate in blood and in the intestine, taking into account the permeability of the intestinal epithelium.Materials and methods. As a model object of the study, we used juvenile rainbow trout O. mykiss. For 54 days, they were high-carbohydrate or high-protein fed. Since different types of bacteria prefer different substrates, it was expected that at the end of the experiment, the composition of the intestinal microflora would be significantly different in fish fed with different diets. The content of D-lactate in blood plasma in vitro was assessed by the Larsen method with modifications; intestinal permeability was assessed by the intensity of fluorescence of the FITС-Dextran stain in the blood of fish. The analysis of the metagenome of samples of the contents and epithelium of the fore and hind intestine was carried out. The hematological profile was partially characterized using blood smears taken immediately after fish blood sampling. By the means of a different diet, it was possible to obtain two groups of fish that differ significantly in the permeability of the intestinal epithelium and in the content of D-lactate in the intestine. At the same time, despite the differences between the experimental groups in the content of D-lactate in the intestine and in intestinal permeability, no significant differences in D-lactate level in blood were found between them. Analysis of the composition of the intestinal microbiome by metabarcoding for the 16S rRNA gene revealed the absence of lactobacilli in the production of D-lactate in fish.Results. It was shown that the mechanism of accumulation of D-lactate in the blood plasma in fish is less associated with increased intestinal permeability or hyperproduction of this metabolite by the intestinal microflora and is more associated with the utilization of D-lactate in the body. In the experiment, it was not possible to achieve a significant change in the species composition of the intestinal microflora of trout under the influence of a highcarbohydrate diet for 54 days compared to fish that received high-protein diet. Some tendencies towards changes in the composition of the microflora were found in the contents of the hindgut, and perhaps with a longer exposure, these changes could reach a statistically significant level

Влияние тиотропия бромида на эффективность легочной реабилитации у больных хронической обструктивной болезнью легких

Efficacy of combination of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and tiotropium bromide (TB) was studied in the open prospective randomized comparative trial in 87 patients with moderate and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the mean FEV1 , 1.70 ± 0.43 L (49.1 ± 10.7 %pred. ). Of them, 46 patients received TB (Spiriva) 18 μg daily plus 8-wk PR course (the PR+TB group) and 41 patients received the PR alone (the PR group). Physical tolerability was assessed using 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD), dyspnea was evaluated with the baseline (BDI) and transitional (TDI) dyspnea indices, quality of life (QoL) was assessed using St.George's Respiratory Questionnaire. We also assessed rate and length of exacerbations of COPD. The TB+PR group had FEV1 higher compared with the PR group after the 92nd day of the study. The 6-MWD increased by 24.6 % (60.2 ± 9.5 m, р = 0.03) and by 19.8 % (50.4 ± 9.1 m), respectively, to the end of the study. In a year, the total dyspnea score was 0.75 ± 0.25 in the TB + PR group and 0.44 in the PR group (р < 0.05). The exacerbation rate reduced by 22.5 %, the number of exacerbations per one patient per a year decreased by 31.6 %, and the number of days of exacerbation per one patient per a year decreased by 25.3 % (p < 0.05) in the TB + PR group compared with the PR group. To the end of the study clinically significant improvement in QoL was found in 49 % of the TB + PR patients and in 27 % of the PR patients (р = 0.001). Therefore, the results have demonstrated the combinations of TB+PR to be superior to the PR alone in moderate and severe COPD patients that was as better lung function, higher physical tolerance, clinically significant improvement of dyspnea, less use of salbutamol as-needed, higher QoL, longer (up to 6 months) maintenance of the rehabilitation success.В годичном открытом проспективном рандомизированном сравнительном исследовании изучали эффективность комбинации легочной реабилитации (ЛР) и тиотропия бромида (ТБ) у 87 больных хронической обструктивной болезнью легких (ХОБЛ) средней и тяжелой степени (средний ОФВ1 1,70 ± 0,43 л, или 49,1 ± 10,7 %долж. ): 46 больных группы ТБ + ЛР получали ТБ (Спирива) 18 мкг/сут. и 8-недельный курс ЛР, 41 пациент группы ЛР — только ЛР. Оценивали толерантность к физической нагрузке с помощью 6-минутного теста (6-МТ), одышку — по исходному (ИИО) и транзиторному (ТИО) индексам одышки, частоту и длительность обострений, качество жизни (КЖ) — по вопроснику госпиталя Св. Георгия. У больных группы ТБ + ЛР после 92-го дня исследования ОФВ1 был выше, чем в группе ЛР (р < 0,05). Расстояние, пройденное в 6-МТ, увеличилось к концу исследования на 24,6 % (60,2 ± 9,5 м, р = 0,03) и 19,8 % (50,4 ± 9,1 м) соответственно. Общая оценка одышки по ТИО через 1 год лечения составила в группе ТБ + ЛР 0,75 ± 0,25 балла, в группе ЛР — 0,44 балла (р < 0,05). Сочетание ТБ и ЛР приводило к сокращению частоты обострений по сравнению с группой ЛР на 22,5 %, числа обострений на одного пациента в год — на 31,6%, числа дней обострений на одного пациента в год — на 25,3 % (р < 0,05). КЖ клинически значимо улучшилось к концу исследования у 49 % больных в группе ТБ + ЛР и у 27 % в группе ЛР (р = 0,001)

Simvastatin therapy in patients with hepatic disease

Aim. To assess effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of simvastatin (Vasilip) in patients with IIa and IIb dyslipidemia, as well as with hepatic disease. Material and methods. The analysis included 30 patients receiving Vasilip (20 mg/d). At baseline and after 3, 6, and 14 months of the treatment, fasting levels of total cholesterol (TCH), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein CH (HDL-CH), low-density lipoprotein CH (LDL-CH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, bilirubin and creatinine were measured. Vasilip lipid-lowering effectiveness and tolerability was assessed during 12 months of the therapy. Results. After 12 months of Vasilip therapy, there was a significant reduction in TCH (17,5%), TG (26,3%), and LDL-CH (27,8%) levels; HDL-CH increase (23,3%) was not statistically significant. Atherogenicity index decreased by 36,7%. Vasilip therapy was well tolerated by individuals with hepatic pathology throughout the whole study. No significant increase in AST and ALT activity, glucose, creatinine or bilirubin levels was observed. Conclusion. Long-term (one-year) simvastatin therapy (20 mg/d) in patients with lipid hepatosis was both safe and clinically effective

Integrative Biomarker Indices in A Benthic Indicator Species Modiolus Modiolus (L.) Under A Simulated Oil Spill

The horse mussel Modiolus modiolus (L.) is a sentinel bivalve species used in monitoring programs to assess potential biological exposure to anthropogenic contaminants, including oil hydrocarbons, in benthic environments. In an aquariumbased experiment, these mussels were exposed to a simulated oil spill where crude oil at realistic concentrations (from low to high) interacted with an inert environment (seawater, gravel surface, etc.) and the biota. Using a combination of endpoints that included tissue contaminant load, protease activity, antioxidant enzyme activity, and low-molecular antioxidant profiles, we characterized M. modiolus responses to this simulated crude oil spill. Significant differences were observed in tissue protein reserves, protease activity, and oxidative stress markers including glutathione content and glutathione-S-transferase activity in the hepatopancreas and gill tissues of the bivalves treated with oil. Total concentrations of oil-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in M. modiolus tissues were generally highest under the highest ambient oil concentration with much lower levels at the lowest. This general pattern does match the activity of protein quality control proteases but not the antioxidant enzyme activity profiles. Glutathione-S-transferase activity in bivalves showed decreased activity under the high compared to the lower oil load and oil-free animals, while glutathione content and calpain activity were positively correlated with oil uptake. The data suggest that these benthic organisms were exhibiting biological responses to the oil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and support the bioindicator value of the species. Keywords: M. modiolus, oil spill, PAHs, integrative biomarker approach, protein quality control, GSH, GS

Antioxidant System Response of Freshwater Mussel Anodontacygnea to Cadmium Exposure

Cadmium is one of the widespread toxic substances being hazardous for man as it capable to enter from the environment into animal and plant tissues and spreading along the food chain. We have studied the effect of Cd on the gills and hepatopancreas of the fresh water bivalve mollusks Anodontacygnea. After 12-day acclimation the mollusks were kept for 24 and 72 hours in aquariums with Cd2+ concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 μg/L. Mass-spectrometric analysis has shown that Cd accumulation rate increased with increasing metal concentration in the water. At cadmium concentration of 100 μg/L the mollusk was capable of accumulating up to 0.44 μg of Cd per day. The accumulation of such high metal concentrations in the mollusk tissues did not kill the animals, but signs of oxidative stress, more pronounced in the gills than in the digestive gland, were observed. Exposure to cadmium ions decreased GSH concentration and increase Рx activity in the mollusk gills as early as 24 hours after the beginning of the experiment. Changing the water in the aquarium had a considerable influence on SOD activity in the gills comparable with the effect of the addition of Cd