Screening, identification, and antibiotic activity of secondary metabolites of Penicillium sp. LPB2019K3-2 isolated from endemic amphipods of Lake Baikal

This study aimed to assess the influence of nutrient media content on the production of antibiotics and the ability of water fungi isolated from lake Baikal to synthesize novel natural products. Interest in this topic stems from the high demand for new drugs, and studies are carried out via the screening of new natural products with biological activity produced by unstudied or extremophilic microorganisms. For this study, a strain of Penicillium sp. was isolated from endemic Baikal phytophagous amphipod species. Here, we identified natural products using the following classical assays: biotechnological cultivation, MALDI identification of the strain, natural product extraction, antimicrobial activity determination, and modern methods such as HPLC-MS for the dereplication and description of natural products. It was found that many detected metabolites were not included in the most extensive database. Most of the identified metabolites were characterized by their biological activity and demonstrated antibiotic activity against model Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The isolated strain of water fungus produced penicolinate B, meleagrin A, austinoneol A, andrastin A, and other natural products. Additionally, we show that the synthesis of low-molecular-weight natural products depends on the composition of the microbiological nutrient media used for cultivation. Thus, although the golden age of antibiotics ended many years ago and microscopic fungi are well studied producers of known antibiotics, the water fungi of the Lake Baikal ecosystem possess great potential in the search for new natural products for the development of new drugs. These natural products can become new pharmaceuticals and can be used in therapy to treat new diseases such as SARS, MERS, H5N1, etc

Thomson scattering diagnostics at the Globus M2 tokamak

The paper is devoted to the Thomson scattering (TS) diagnostics recently developed for the Globus-M2 spherical tokamak and prototyping the ITER divertor TS diagnostics. The distinctive features of the system are the use of spectrometers, acquisition system and lasers that meet the base requirements for ITER TS diagnostics. The paper describes the diagnostic system that allows precise measurements of TS signals, as well as the results of the first measurements of electron temperature and density in both central region of the plasma column and scrape-off layer. The system provides measurements of electron temperature $T_{e}$ in the range of 5 eV to 5 keV and density $n_{e}$ in the range of $5{\cdot}10^{17}{\div}3.25{\cdot}10^{20} m^{-3}$. The use of two ITER-grade probing lasers of different wavelengths (Nd:YAG 1064.5 nm and Nd:YLF 1047.3 nm) allows reliable measurement of $T_{e}$ in multi-colour mode, i.e., assuming that spectral calibration is unknown

Experience of using sibutramine in combination with microcrystalline cellulose in clinical practice

For many years, interest in the issue of obesity has not faded, as obesity is now one of the most common pathologies in the world that directly affects quality of life and lifespan. Even a slight weight loss (5-10% of baseline values) in obese patients is known to improve metabolism and reduce the risk of a range of comorbidities. The article reflects the importance of comprehensive treatment of obesity, presents positive experience of using Reduxin (sibutramine in combination with microcrystalline cellulose) to reduce body weight and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a specific clinical example in a patient with exogenous-constitutional obesity and eating disorders. The case of obesity in a young man of 24 years old is presented, when other components of the metabolic syndrome (except for arterial hypertension) were not formed. Thus, following the results of 24-week complex treatment, clinically significant reduction of body weight (by 21.7% of initial values) was observed in the patient. The data of psychological researches have shown that the patient has no increase of anxiety and depression level during treatment, but at the same time the indicators of quality of life according to the results of health questionnaire testing have improved. This clinical case corresponds to the results of the PrimaVera program and demonstrates that weight loss during sibutramine therapy in combination with microcrystalline cellulose has a positive impact on the overall health and emotional status of patients and leads to improved quality of life. Therefore, successful treatment of obesity and the maintenance of other outcomes are key to preventing cardiovascular disease

Sitagliptin: the world’s first DPP-4 inhibitor

The prevalence of T2D is steadily increasing annually, which resulted in an active search for a way to control the disease. The last decade has seen a rise in the number of new groups of glucose-lowering drugs, which not only proved effective in the management of hyperglycemia and safe against hypoglycemia, but also joined the ranks of the drugs of the first-line therapy. Among them is incretin-active agents - type 4 dipeptidyl peptidases inhibitors (IDPP-4, glyptines). Sitagliptin was the world's first approved IDPP-4, and began to be used successfully in Russia since 2007. The review presents data on the efficacy, safety (including cardiac safety) of sitagliptin use and accumulated experience of its use in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes

Сучасні принципи діагностики і лікування м’язової дистрофії дюшенна (update 2018)

The article describes the course of progressive muscular dystrophy due to the mutation of 52 exons of the dystrophin gene as well as differential clinical and biochemical markers of various types of muscular dystrophy. The authors presented their own clinical observation of the severe form of progressive muscular dystrophy — Duchene's dystrophy in maternal probands. The disease onset among the brothers differed in terms of the first manifestations: the cousin had the onset at four years of age and the disease in the proband started in 18 months that was evidenced by the well-known phenomenon of anticipation — «rejuvenation» of the disease in younger relatives. The modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of the disease in children, which is supported by excerpts from the world protocols, and the results of clinical trials are demonstrated in the article.В статье описаны течение прогрессирующей мышечной дистрофии, обусловленной мутацией 52 экзона гена дистрофина, а также дифференциальные клинические и биохимические маркеры различных видов мышечных дистрофий. Авторы продемонстрировали собственное клиническое наблюдение тяжелой формы прогрессирующей мышечной дистрофии — дистрофии Дюшенна у пробандов по материнской линии. Дебют заболевания у братьев отличался сроками появления первых признаков заболевания: в 4 года у двоюродного брата, в полтора года — у пробанда, что свидетельствовало об известном феномене антиципации — «омоложения» заболевания у более молодых родственников. На клиническом примере показаны современные методы диагностики и лечения заболевания у детей, что подкреплено выдержками из мировых протоколов и результатами клинических испытаний.У статті описано перебіг прогресуючої м'язової дистрофії, зумовленої мутацією 52 екзона гена дистрофіна, а також диференціальні клінічні та біохімічні маркери різних видів м'язової дистрофії. Автори продемонстрували власне клінічне спостереження важкої форми прогресуючої м'язової дистрофії — дистрофії Дюшенна у пробандів по материнській лінії. Дебют захворювання у братів відрізнявся термінами появи перших ознак захворювання: у 4 роки у двоюрідного брата, у півтора року — у пробанда, що свідчило про відомий феномен антиципації — «омолодження» захворювання у більш молодих родичів. На клінічному прикладі показані сучасні методи діагностики та лікування захворювання у дітей, що підкріплено витягами зі світових протоколів і результатами клінічних випробувань

Three decades of remote sensing subarctic vegetation in northern Russia: A case study in science diplomacy

Abstract The vegetation at and beyond the northern edge of the world’s boreal forest plays an important though imperfectly understood role in the climate system. This is particularly true within Russia, where only a small proportion of the boreal land area has been studied in depth, and little is known about its recent evolution over time. We describe a long-term collaboration between institutions in Russia and the United Kingdom, aimed at developing a better understanding of high-latitude vegetation in Russia using remote sensing methods. The focus of the collaboration has varied over time; in its most recent form, it is concerned with the dynamics of the Russian boreal forest during the 21st century and its relation to climate change. We discuss the support framework within which it has been developed and reflect on its relationship to science diplomacy. We consider the factors that have contributed to the success of a decades-long international collaboration and make recommendations as to how such joint efforts can be encouraged in future.British Council Institutional Links grant 352397111; Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation grant 14.616.21.0099; Russian Government Assingnment AAA-A19-119022190168-8; Global Britain and International Funds of the UK FCD