MICROGREENS AS A RICH SOURCE OF IMMUNOMODULATORY FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 the pathogenic agent of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease has a strong transmission capacity through inhalation of air droplets leading to diseases ranging from asymptomatic to fatal. COVID-19 can cause multi-organ disorders in which inflammatory progression and oxidative stress caused by the storm release of cytokines play crucial roles. Microgreens are newly emerging superfood products in developed countries due to their high content of immunomodulators and antioxidants. consumption of fresh microgreens, shoots of many vegetables have been gaining broad popularity as a culinary trend due to its intense flavor and aroma along with its density of micro- and phytonutrients. In this study, we analysed thirteen variety microgreens content of ascorbic acid, total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols, and chlorophyll content. We outline that fortifying salad dishes with microgreens can provide human's organism with good portion of phytonutrients as an additional barrier for securing our immunity. The results demonstrated in this paper indicate to the fact that the tested microgreens are capable to provide a means for consumer-access to larger quantities of nutrients per portion of even less than 100 grams’ plant biomass including immunomodulating antioxidants, polyphenols and ascorbic acid of which are considered of critical importance for human's immune system. Inducing microgreens to our daily salads and meals could be an easy possible way to fortify our immunity and most probably would increase the effectiveness of the fight against new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and probably his other mutated variants

THE CONTENTS OF VITAMIN D3 AND 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D3 IN DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF DAIRY PRODUCTS IN RUSSIAN MARKET

Vitamin D has received global attention because of its many health benefits. Although there is general agreement about the importance of vitamin D for bone health, there remains skepticism about the nonskeletal health benefits of vitamin D. There is general agreement that vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide health problem. This is due in part to a lack of appreciation that sunlight is an important source of vitamin D. Recent findings in western countries have made new recommendations for vitamin D intake to prevent vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level below 20 ng/ml and vitamin D insufficiency is defined as 21–30 ng/ml. This research focuses on the reasons for vitamin D deficiency and demonstrates the results of the contents of vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in dairy products including natural and pasteurized goat milk; natural, baked, and pasteurized cow milk; fortified cow milk (pasteurized and ultra-pasteurized); butter; homemade butter; and butter made from baked milk (ghee). The greatest concentrations of vitamin D3 and 25(OH)D3 in milk were discovered in goats' milk, according to our findings. Generally speaking, the larger the quantity of butter in a recipe, the higher the concentration of Vitamin D3 and 25(OH)D3

Trace Element Patterns in Shells of Mussels (Bivalvia) Allow to Distinguish between Fresh- and Brackish-Water Coastal Environments of the Subarctic and Boreal Zone

The accumulation of trace metals in the shells of bivalves allows quantitative assessments of environmental pollution and helps to reconstruct paleo aquatic environments. However, the understanding on how marine and freshwater mollusks control the level of trace elements in their shells remains very limited. Here, we compared the trace element composition of marine and freshwater bivalves from boreal and subarctic habitats, using examples of widely distributed species of marine (Mytilus edulis, M. trossulus) and freshwater (Anodonta anatina, Unio sp., Beringiana beringiana) mussels. Sizable differences in several trace element concentrations were detected between different species, depending on their environmental niches. A multiparametric statistical treatment of the shell’s elemental composition allowed to distinguish the impact of external factors (water and sediment chemical composition) from active metabolic (biological) control. In particular, the obtained results demonstrated that Ba:Ca and Pb:Ca ratios in mussels’ shells are closely related to the primary productivity of aquatic ecosystems. The Mn:Ca ratio allowed to constrain the environmental conditions of mussels’ species depending on the trophic state of inhabited waterbody. Overall, the marine mussels exhibited stronger biological control of trace element accumulation, whereas trace element pattern in shells of freshwater mussels was chiefly controlled by environmental factors. The obtained results might help to use the trace element composition of bivalves in distinguishing marine and freshwater habitats of mollusks in paleo environments

Connective Tissue Growth Factor in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: a Pilot Study

AIM. To determine the concentration of connective tissue growth factor and assess the relationship of this index with a number of pathological conditions in elderly patients with CHD. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study enrolled 50 patients older than 75 years with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CAD); most of them (71%) were women. The patients ranged in age from 75 to 96 years (mean age -87.8 years). The concentration of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in blood was determined by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. In the group of CHD patients, the average CTGF concentration was 357.2 pg/ml, whereas in healthy young adults it was 1076.7 pg/ml (p=0.07). Only 7.9% of patients with CHD had CTGF level exceeding 1000 pg/ml, whereas in young subjects CTGF level exceeded 1000 pg/ml in 25% of cases. In patients with clinically significant CHD, CTGF concentration was significantly higher than in patients without CHD (p=0.001). A negative correlation was registered between the CTGF levels and the systolic (r = -0.25; p = 0.1) and diastolic (r = -0.36; p = 0.02) blood pressure. In the subgroup of patients with pneumosclerosis, the median CTGF concentration reached 190.7 pg/l, without it – 34.7 pg/ml (p = 0.03). A significant inverse correlation was found between the CTGF levels and glucose (r = -0.34; p = 0.03), total cholesterol (r = -0.49; p = 0.002) and LDL cholesterol (r = -0.40; p = 0.01) concentrations. This pilot study found a significant effect of CTGF on echocardiographic parameters and the course of CHD, and higher levels of CTGF in patients with pneumosclerosis. However, a small sample of patients and extremely variable CTGF values do not currently allow unequivocal conclusions to be drawn at this time about the role of this factor in various comorbid conditions. CONCLUSION. Further research is needed to establish the clinical significance of CTGF

Dependence of Anterior Active Rhinomanometry Indices on Nasal Obstructive Disorders in Children with Atopic Bronchial Asthma Complicated by Nasal Symptoms

Background. Atopic bronchial asthma (BA) in children is associated with upper airways pathology (UAP). Among them, a combination of allergic rhinitis (AR) and nasal obstructive disorders (NOD), including hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil (HPT) and anomalies of the intranasal structures (AINS), is abundant. In such patients, anterior active rhinomanometry (AARM) is an important method of examining nasal patency. However, NOD can influence the AARM parameters in children with BA and nasal symptoms, and this effect must be taken into account in clinical practice. Study goal was to elucidate the effect of NOD on rhinomanometric parameters in this group of patients. Methods. Total of 66 children with BA and AR were examined with AARM, rhinovideoendoscopy, spirometry, and standard clinical tests allowing revealing the structure of comorbid pathologies. In order to avoid the influence of anthropometric parameters of children and their age on AARM parameters, a special index of reduced total nasal airflow was used. Results. It has been established that NOD, especially HPT, have a significant negative impact on the indices of anterior active rhinomanometry during the periods of both AR remission and AR exacerbation. The effect of AINS is much weaker and was remarkable only in combination with HPT

Taxonomic Reassessment of Freshwater Mussels from the Western Balkans Reveals an Overlooked but Critical Refugium and Defines Conservation Priorities

Freshwater mussels are an endangered group of animals, especially in the water bodies of Central and Western Europe. Conservation priorities were established for many endangered freshwater mussel species in the last decade. Here, we present new data on a cryptic refugium of freshwater mussels in the Western Balkans. Two species, Anodonta exulcerata Porro, 1838 and Unio elongatulus Pfeiffer, 1825, were discovered in Montenegro for the first time. The phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of freshwater mussel species from Montenegro were studied by means of an integrative approach, combining morphological data and COI gene sequences. Unio carneus Küster, 1854 stat. rev. represents a species with a restricted range, which is endemic to the Western Balkans. A viable population of Microcondylaea bonellii (Férussac, 1827) was discovered in the Zeta River. This species was not mentioned in Montenegro since the 1900s. A significant level of genetic diversity was revealed for the studied species. In the Skadar Lake basin, freshwater mussels from diverse ecological groups were discovered. Rheophilic species of freshwater mussels may represent ancient lineages, which need special conservation planning. Conservation priorities should be aimed at the protection of freshwater mussel habitats on the Balkan Peninsula

Taxonomic Reassessment of Freshwater Mussels from the Western Balkans Reveals an Overlooked but Critical Refugium and Defines Conservation Priorities

Freshwater mussels are an endangered group of animals, especially in the water bodies of Central and Western Europe. Conservation priorities were established for many endangered freshwater mussel species in the last decade. Here, we present new data on a cryptic refugium of freshwater mussels in the Western Balkans. Two species, Anodonta exulcerata Porro, 1838 and Unio elongatulus Pfeiffer, 1825, were discovered in Montenegro for the first time. The phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of freshwater mussel species from Montenegro were studied by means of an integrative approach, combining morphological data and COI gene sequences. Unio carneus Küster, 1854 stat. rev. represents a species with a restricted range, which is endemic to the Western Balkans. A viable population of Microcondylaea bonellii (Férussac, 1827) was discovered in the Zeta River. This species was not mentioned in Montenegro since the 1900s. A significant level of genetic diversity was revealed for the studied species. In the Skadar Lake basin, freshwater mussels from diverse ecological groups were discovered. Rheophilic species of freshwater mussels may represent ancient lineages, which need special conservation planning. Conservation priorities should be aimed at the protection of freshwater mussel habitats on the Balkan Peninsula

Figure 4 in Barbronia borealis sp. nov., the first salifid leech discovered in Russia, with a global checklist of this genus

Figure 4. Dorsal (D) and ventral (V) views of the holotype of Barbronia borealis sp. nov. (RMBH Hir_0405). Abbreviations: PI, prey item (an oligochaete specimen); AS, anterior sucker; PS, posterior sucker; map, male accessory pore; fap, female accessory pore; mg, male gonopore; fg, female gonopore; an, anus. Scale bar = 1.0 mm. Photos: Tatyana A. Eliseeva.Published as part of Bolotov, Ivan N., Eliseeva, Tatyana A., Kondakov, Alexander V., Gofarov, Mikhail Y., Aksenova, Olga V., Bespalaya, Yulia V., Kropotin, Alexander V., Travina, Oksana V. & Vinarski, Maxim V., 2023, Barbronia borealis sp. nov., the first salifid leech discovered in Russia, with a global checklist of this genus, pp. 24-38 in Ecologica Montenegrina 63 on page 31, DOI: 10.37828/em.2023.63.3, http://zenodo.org/record/808290

Theoretical Study of the Hydrogen Interaction Process with Platinum Surface

В работе с помощью квантово-химических расчетов исследованы процессы взаимодействия молекулярного водорода с поверхностью платины, диссоциации молекулы водорода на поверхности переходного металла, взаимодействия атомарного водорода с поверхностью платины, диффузии атомарного водорода по поверхности платины. Рассчитан ряд параметров для данных процессов. Сделан вывод о протекании процесса сорбции водорода на платине.The processes of molecular hydrogen interaction with platinum surface have been investigated in this study by the quantum-chemical methods, as also dissociation of hydrogen molecules on the transition metal surface, atomic hydrogen interaction with and diffusion on the platinum surface. The parameters range of these processes has been calculated. It has been got conclusion about process of hydrogen sorption on the platinum

Host Range and Phylogenetic Position of Acipenserobdella volgensis (Zykoff, 1904) (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae) with a Global Checklist of Bivalve-Associated Fish Leeches

The fish leech Acipenserobdella volgensis (Hirudinea: Piscicolidae) is a rare and poorly known freshwater species, which is thought to be an obligate parasite of sturgeons. This leech has a disjunctive range in Europe and Eastern Siberia. Here, we estimate the phylogenetic affinities and host range of A. volgensis using a set of DNA sequences (COI and 18S rRNA gene fragments), field observation data, and a review of the body of literature. Based on a time-calibrated Bayesian phylogeny, we show that the European and Siberian lineages of A. volgensis have been separated since the latest Pliocene (mean age = 2.7 Ma). The analysis of available host records indicates that this leech is characterized by a broader host range as it was collected from fish belonging to four families (Acipenseridae, Cyprinidae, Salmonidae, and Esocidae). Conversely, only a few suitable primary hosts (six sturgeons, one cyprinid, and one salmonid fish) were confirmed by earlier research. Moreover, this leech could be considered a facultative mussel-associated species that uses bivalves (duck mussel Anodonta anatina; Unionidae) as shelter. Globally, three other piscicolid leeches have been recorded from the mantle cavity of bivalve molluscs, that is, the freshwater taxa Caspiobdella fadejewi and Alexandrobdella makhrovi, and the marine species Austrobdella coliumicus