Synthesis of biocompatible composite material based on cryogels of polyvinyl alcohol and calcium phosphates

At the moment, the field of biomedical materials science is actively developing, which aims at creating new functional materials. A developing direction in biomedical materials science is that towards the treatment of diseases associated with bone tissue disorders, using biodegradable composite materials based on polymer and calcium phosphate materials. We developed a material based on polyvinyl alcohol cryogel, mineralized with calcium phosphate. A material based on cryogel of polyvinyl alcohol mineralized with calcium phosphate was developed. The composites were obtained by the method of cyclic freezing–thawing, and the synthesis of calcium phosphates was carried out in situ with heating, stirring, and exposure to microwave radiation. The phase composition, as well as the composition of functional groups, was determined by IR spectroscopy and X-ray phase analysis. Monocytes isolated from human blood showed higher viability compared to the controls

БИОХИМИЧЕСКИЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ МЕТАБОЛИЧЕСКИХ ПРОЦЕССОВ У БОЛЬНЫХ ХРОНИЧЕСКИМ ОПИСТОРХОЗОМ С НАЛИЧИЕМ ГЕНЕТИЧЕСКИХ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМОВ, АССОЦИИРОВАННЫХ С ПРЕДРАСПОЛОЖЕННОСТЬЮ К РАЗВИТИЮ ОСТЕОПОРОЗА

A comparison of the biochemical parameters of the main metabolic processes and liver functions in subgroups of patients with opisthorchiasis caused by Opisthorchis felineus, with the presence and absence of mutations in loci associated with a predisposition to osteoporosis, was made.Проведено сопоставление биохимических показателей основных обменных процессов и функций печени в подгруппах больных описторхозом, вызванным Opisthorchis felineus, с наличием и отсутствием мутаций в локусах, ассоциированных с предрасположенностью к остеопорозу

Synthesis of Biocompatible Composite Material Based on Cryogels of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Calcium Phosphates

At the moment, the field of biomedical materials science is actively developing, which aims at creating new functional materials. A developing direction in biomedical materials science is that towards the treatment of diseases associated with bone tissue disorders, using biodegradable composite materials based on polymer and calcium phosphate materials. We developed a material based on polyvinyl alcohol cryogel, mineralized with calcium phosphate. A material based on cryogel of polyvinyl alcohol mineralized with calcium phosphate was developed. The composites were obtained by the method of cyclic freezing–thawing, and the synthesis of calcium phosphates was carried out in situ with heating, stirring, and exposure to microwave radiation. The phase composition, as well as the composition of functional groups, was determined by IR spectroscopy and X-ray phase analysis. Monocytes isolated from human blood showed higher viability compared to the controls

Differences in the Fate of Surface and Subsurface Microplastics: A Case Study in the Central Atlantic

Plastic is recognized as a threat to marine ecosystems, and estimating the level of plastic and microplastics (MPs) pollution of the World Ocean is, nowadays, the goal of many studies. However, the use of different methods for the sampling and analysis of MPs leads to the problem of comparing the results obtained. Studies on surface MPs pollution of the surface sea water are based on the application of the manta or neuston nets that collect water from the upper 10–20 cm layer (the “surface” MPs) or submersible pumping systems that collect water from the water layer 3 to 5 m below the sea surface (the “subsurface” MPs). These two techniques allow the collection of particles of different size fractions, i.e., >300 µm for the surface MPs and >100 µm for the subsurface MP. However, it is shown that microplastics found in the surface and subsurface layers differ not only in the size of the items found, but also in morphology, types of polymers, abundance, weight concentration and their spatial distribution. Different hydrodynamic processes affect the fate of the plastic found exactly at the sea surface and several meters deeper. The aim of this work was to study the distribution of surface and subsurface MPs and to reveal an influence of oceanographic conditions on their spatial distribution, using as an example the open ocean waters of the Central Atlantic

Bismuth-Germanate Glasses: Synthesis, Structure, Luminescence, and Crystallization

Bismuth-germanate glasses, which are well known as a promising active medium for broadband near-infrared spectral range fiber lasers and as an initial matrix for nonlinear optical glass ceramics, have been synthesized in a 5–50 mol% Bi2O3 wide concentration range. Their structural and physical characteristics were studied by Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, optical, and luminescence methods. It has been found that the main structural units of glasses are [BiO6] and [GeO4]. The growth in bismuth oxide content resulted in an increase in density and refractive index. The spectral and luminescent properties of glasses strongly depended on the amount of bismuth active centers. The maximum intensity of IR luminescence has been achieved for the 5Bi2O3-95GeO2 sample. The heat treatment of glasses resulted in the formation of several crystalline phases, the structure and amount of which depended on the initial glass composition. The main phases were non-linear Bi2GeO5 and scintillating Bi4Ge3O12. Comparing with the previous papers dealing with bismuth and germanium oxide-based glasses, we enlarge the range of Bi2O3 concentration up to 50 mol% and decrease the synthesis temperature from 1300 to 1100 °C

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICINE Complex Dietary Supplements from Raw Plants Provide Nutrition for Athletes

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mechanically activated complexes from plant substances to enhance athletes' adaptability to intense physical activity. Methods: The object of the study was the dietary supplement Kladorod, which is based on the reindeer lichen Cladonia rangiferina and Rhodiola rosea in weight ratio of 10:1. To test the dietary supplement, 10 elite athletes (boxers and mixfighters) were divided into 2 groups. Athletes of the experimental group were given the dietary supplement Kladorod (capsule of 0.4 g by mouth between meals 4 times a day for 28 days). The control group was given placebo (Ringer-Locke powder) capsules in the same terms in a similar way. During the experiment, the athletes were medically examined 3 times: at the beginning, in the middle, and after the course of intervention. We measured muscle performance, fat mass, muscle mass, and serum concentrations of cortisol and total testosterone. Results: Administration of Kladorod for 28 days stabilized the absolute and relative muscle mass, preventing its reduction, in comparison with the placebo group. At the same time, indicators of fat mass decreased significantly in the experimental group; we did not observe a significant decrease in testosterone/cortisol ratio, compared to the control group. Thus, the use of biologically active supplements based on lichen raw materials and complexes of lichen raw materials with different plant substances enables the body to increase its adaptive potential and physical capacity. (Int J Biomed. 2017; 7(1):60-62.

Endothelial dysfunction in patients with lymphoproliferative disorders and its changes in the course of polychemotherapy

The article is dedicated to contemporary views on the change of endothelial function in the patients with lymphoproliferative disorders prior to, and in the process of, chemotherapeutic treatment. Considering that possibilities of standard examination do not always help identifying subclinical endothelial dysfunction, it is necessary to use specific methods, in particular, to determine the levels of endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor to monitor endothelial function. The objective of this review is to identify problems and prospects for recognizing early subclinical changes of endothelial function in the patients with lymphoproliferative disorders before and after chemotherapy. Assessing presence and severity of endothelial dysfunction may be useful for determining subclinical stages of cardiovascular damage, stratifying the risk of the patients with confirmed cardiovascular disease, and reducing the likelihood of cardio- and endotheliotoxic effects in patients long after chemotherapy. That is why early detection and immediate therapy of cardiovascular toxicity is currently the most important task in the patients with lymphoproliferative disorders, receiving chemotherapy