Age Differences in Psychoactive Substance Abuse in Population of the Republic of Belarus

Background. The recent epidemiological studies conducted in Belarus point to a fall in the average age of registered drug abusers and in the age of drug use onset, an increasing proportion of injecting drugs, and addicted persons. The aim of the study was to evaluate the age differences in the prevalence of psychoactive substance abuse in the Republic of Belarus  using the official data of the Ministry of Health.Material and methods. The data on registered drug abusers, who were recorded in the Narcological Register in health care institutions between 2000 and 2014, were analyzed. Results. During that period the number of drug abusers under observation increased almost 3 times, and the situation with the spread of psychoactive substances changed towards appearance of synthetic drugs. The spread of particular drugs (opioids, cannabinoides, inhalants, and Spice based designer drugs) was shown to be depended upon the age of registered drug abusers. Conclusion. The data obtained indicate necessity of the age-related studies on drug abuse prevalence, and might be useful for working up preventive measures to stop the spread of drug addiction

Solid-phase concentration of phenolic compounds from the aqueous extracts of Hypericaceae and Lamiaceae families of medicinal plants on sorbents of different nature

Работа посвящена твердофазному концентрированию различных типов фенольных соединений из водных экстрактов лекарственного растительного сырья семейств Зверобойные (Hypericum perforatum L.) и Яснотковые (Thymus serpyllum L., Salvia officinalis L.) с использованием различных сорбционных материалов для их дальнейшей идентификации. В качестве твердофазных сорбционных материалов использовали известные в аналитической практике октадецилсиликагель (Strata C18-E), сополимер стирола и дивинилбензола, химически модифицированный N-винилпирролидоном (Strata X), сополимер дивинилбензола и N-винилпирролидона, проявляющий гидрофильно-липофильную двойственность (Oasis HLB), а также непористый графитированный углерод (Supelclean ENVI-Carb). Для каждого из сорбентов получены основные сорбционные характеристики по отношению к целевым соединениям, а также их десорбционные параметры. Использование полимерных материалов Strata X и Oasis HLB позволяет извлекать из водных экстрактов растений целевые соединения при пяти-, а в случае с гидрофильно-липофильным сорбентом при 32- и 20-кратном концентрировании. Октадецилсиликагель показывает полноту десорбции флавоноидов (R ≥ 90 %), однако по отношению к фенолкарбоновым кислотам его использование нецелесообразно ввиду низких значений степеней извлечения аналитов (R ≤ 40 %). Достаточно универсальными сорбционными свойствами обладают гидрофильно-липофильные материалы (Oasis HLB), обеспечивающие высокие значения коэффициентов концентрирования при приемлемых значениях степеней извлечения фенолкарбоновых кислот (R ≤ 96 %) и флавоноидов (R ≤ 91 %). Сорбция фитокомпонентов непористым углеродным сорбентом Supelclean ENVI-Carb дает достаточно высокие характеристики, но процесс десорбции данных соединений затруднителен и требует дальнейшего изучения. Использование различных типов сорбентов показывает, что минорные компоненты, которые не детектируются в обычных условиях их хроматографического определения, могут быть сконцентрированы ТФЭ для дальнейшей их идентификации, что обеспечит расширение круга определяемых соединений в составе различных лекарственных растений. Предложенная схема ТФЭ фенольных компонентов может быть в дальнейшем использована для анализа растительных материалов других семейств.The current work is devoted to the solid-phase concentration of phenolic compounds from the aqueous extracts of medicinal plant raw materials using the various sorbents for their further identification. Plants of the Hypericaceae (Hypericum perforatum L.) and Lamiaceae (Thymus serpyllum L., Salvia officinalis L.) families were selected as samples in this effort. For each of the sorbents, the main sorption characteristics («breakthrough volumes» and dynamic sorbents capacities) in relation to the target compounds, as well as their desorption parameters (concentration factor and recoveries) were obtained. Strata X and Oasis HLB polymeric materials allowed extracting the target compounds from the water extracts of plants at five-, and in the case of hydrophilic-lipophilic sorbent at 32- and 20-fold concentration. Strata C18-Е showed complete desorption of flavonoids (R ≥ 90%), but in relation to the phenolic acids, its use was impractical due to the low values of recovery analytes (R ≤ 40%). The Oasis HLB sorbent had universal sorption properties, which provided high concentration coefficients at acceptable values of recoveries of phenolic acids (R ≤ 96%) and flavonoids (R ≤ 91%). The sorption of phytocomponents with the Supelclean ENVI-Carb sorbent gave quite high characteristics, but the process of desorption of these compounds was difficult and requires further study. The use of the various types of sorbents showed that minor components that were not detected under the usual conditions of their chromatographic determination could be concentrated by SPE for their further identification, which would provide an extension of the range of definable compounds in various medicinal plants.Исследования проводили при финансовой поддержке РФФИ (проект № 18-33-20009-мол_а_вед), с использованием научного оборудования ЦКП “Эколого-аналитический центр” Кубанского госуниверситета.Current work was funded by RFBR according to the research project № 18-33-20009-mol_a_ved. The scientific equipment belonging to the Ecological and Analytical Center of the Kuban State University was used

Drug abuse situation in the republic of Belarus in the period 2009 — 2013

The situation with the prevalence of drug abuse in the Republic of Belarus and its regions was investigated for the period 2009-2013 using the official data of the Ministry of Health Narcological Service. Over that years the number of registered drug abusers raised by 42% in Belarus. The majority of them were injecting drug users (IDU’s), and the persons who abuse opium-based drugs, cannabinoides, and inhalants. In 2013 there was a sudden increase in detecting of the persons who were poisoned by the Spice type smoking mixtures. The number of registered drug abusers varied depending on a region. The data obtained indicate necessity of regional studies on drug abuse prevalence, and might be useful for working up preventive measures to combat the spread of drug addiction.Исследована ситуация с распространением наркопотребления в Республике Беларусь и ее регионах в 2009-2013 гг. на основе анализа официальных данных наркологической службы Министерства здравоохранения. За указанный период численность зарегистрированных потребителей психоактивных веществ (ПАВ) в Беларуси увеличилась на 42%. В структуре учтенного контингента преобладали потребители инъекционных и опийных наркотиков, каннабиноидов и ингалянтов. В 2013 г. значительно выросло выявление случаев употребления курительных смесей типа «Спайс». Установлены различия в распространенности наркопотребления по регионам Беларуси. Представленные данные свидетельствуют о необходимости учета региональных особенностей при разработке профилактических мер противодействия распространению наркоманий

Алгоритм показаний к назначению длительной кислородотерапии для лечения хронической легочной недостаточности

Prolonged oxygen therapy (POT) was administered in addition to basic one in combined treatment of 47 patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis, secondary pulmonary emphysema, diffuse pneumosclerosis, chronic pulmonary insufficiency grade 1 and 2. The patients recieved 38 % oxygen for 15 hours per day during 30 days. Having thoroughly analysed the results of treatment and literary data, the authors suggest their own algorithm of indications for POT. The algorithm is based, aside from initial pa02 , on the value of pulmonary physiological shunt, which is an objective and integral parameter in the authors ’ opinion, and its change pattern under the influence of increased oxygen concentrations. The algorithm contains recommendations aimed at reducing the risk of possible respiratory disorders due to the cessation of hypoxemic stimulation in patients with hypercapnia associated with marked hypoxemia.

Содержание альвеоломуцина в крови и клеточный состав бронхоальвеолярных смывов у электросварщиков

The article demonstrates results of study of alveolomucin 3EG5, oncomarkers CA-125 and CA-15.3 in the blood and cell compound of bronchoalveolar washes in 40 welders. Among fhem 18 patients were diagnosed pneumoconiosis, 6 patients suffered from chronic bronchitis, 2 patients had vibration disease and the others exposed to the welding aerosol have not got any occupational diseases. An increased level of alveolomucin was found in 23% of the patients with various diseases including those without pulmonary clinical signs. This fact evidences the hyperplasia of alveolocytes type 2 and moderate interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, sometimes of latent course, in workers exposed to the welding aerosol. The cell compound of the bronchoalveolar washes suspected neutrophil alveolitis in the welders.В статье приведены результаты исследования альвеоломуцина 3EG5, онкомаркеров СА-125 и СА-15.3 в крови, клеточном составе бронхоальвеолярных смывов у 40 электросварщиков, из них у 18 диагностирован пневмокониоз, у 6 — хронический обструктивный бронхит от воздействия сварочного аэрозоля, у 2 — вибрационная болезнь, у остальных, экспонированных к сварочному аэрозолю, профзаболеваний не выявлено. Повышенное содержание альвеоломуцина было выявлено у 23% больных с различными заболеваниями, в том числе без клинических проявлений легочной патологии. Эти данные свидетельствуют о том, что при воздействии сварочного аэрозоля у рабочих наблюдается гиперплазия альвеолоцитов 2-го типа и умеренно активный интерстициальный фиброз, в ряде случаев латентного течения. Цитологический состав бронхоальвеолярного смыва указывает на наличие у электросварщиков нейтрофильного альвеолита

Features of the prevalence of injecting drug use in the Republic of Belarus

Aim: to analyze the situation with injecting drug use in the Republic of Belarus during the period 2000-2014. Material and Methods. The analysis of the official data on the psychoactive substances' abusers, listed in the Narcological Register of the Ministry of Health in 2000-2014. Results. Over last 15 years the number of registered drug abusers increased three times, whereas the number of injecting drug users (IDUs) increased 2,2 times. The majority of recorded IDUs abused opium-based drugs and only 3% of them injected amphetamine-type stimulants. The increase in the number of recorded persons, who abuse synthetic opioids and analogues of well-known drugs, was noted during the last ten years. Conclusion. The data obtained indicate necessity of the studies on IDUs, and might be useful for working up preventive measures to restrain the spread of drug addiction.</p

Stability of some biologically active substances in extracts and preparations based on ST. John's Wort (Hypericum Perforatum L.) and sage (Salvia Officinalis L.)

Quality, authenticity and stability control of medicinal plant materials and preparations based on them is an important challenge in industries using substances and materials derived from plants. St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.) are one of the most common and best-selling medicines in the world. They are composed of phloroglucinols and diterpenes possessing pharmacological properties. However, some of the compounds (hyperforin, carnosic acid, etc.) determining these qualities decompose under the influence of various physical and chemical factors with the formation of stable and unstable intermediates. Considering the importance of utilization of these plants, the stability of hyperforin, carnosic acid and other compounds in their extracts and preparations during extraction and storage was studied in this work. Extracts and preparations were studied by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array and mass spectrometric detection. Plant extracts were obtained by heating (HE) as well as using ultrasonic (USE), microwave (MWE) and supercritical (SSE) extraction. The stability of hyperforins, their degradation, as well as the relationship between hyperforin and furohyperforin contents in extracts and preparations based on H. perforatum L. during storage were studied. Hyperforin to furohyperforin ratio in the extracts ranged from 18 to 5 depending on the origin of the medicinal plant material. The stability and transformation of carnosic acid was evaluated, the relationship between carnosic acid and carnosol contents and conditions of sample preparation and storage as well as industrially manufactured preparations based on S. officinalis L. was revealed. The possibility of applicability of hyperforin to furohyperforin ratio in H. perforatum L. and carnosic acid to carnosol ratio in S. officinalis L. was shown to confirm the quality of extracts and preparations on their basis. Since rutin to hyperforin ratio in H. perforatum L. is constant, this indicator can be used to confirm the quality and authenticity of the feedstock, regardless of where the plant grows