Morphofunctional Characteristics of Erythrocytes and Blood Erythropoietin Level in Patients as Predictors of Severe Course of COVID-19.

Morphological and functional characteristics of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and erythropoietin level in the venous blood were evaluated by laser interference microscopy, Raman spectroscopy with a short-focus extreme aperture lens monochromator, and by ELISA, respectively, in 30 patients with verified moderate COVID-19 at the time of hospitalization and 30 healthy volunteers. The patients whose course of COVID-19 has worsened to critical by day 5 had already had lower (p<0.001) indicators at the time of hospitalization such as the area and thickness of erythrocytes, the hemoglobin distribution and packing density, hemoglobin conformation index (I1355/I1550)/(I1375/I1580) reflecting its oxygen affinity, and blood erythropoietin content. Our findings suggest that these characteristics of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and erythropoietin can serve as potential predictors of COVID-19 aggravation in hospitalized patients.

[Effect of particle size on the enzymatic hydrolysis of polysaccharides from ultrafine lignocellulose particles].

The efficiency of the enzymatic hydrolysis of wood polysaccharides ground into ultrafine particles (UFPs) has been investigated. The content of reducing sugars (RS's) in powdered raw materials and the yield of sugars during enzymatic hydrolysis have been shown to depend on the particle size. Laser interference microscopy and dynamic light scattering studies have shown that increasing the grinding time from 20 to 40 min resulted in the formation of particles ranging from 2 to 200 nm in size. Enzymatic hydrolyzates of UFPs mostly contained glucose and galactose. The grinding intensity (mill rotation rate) and time had a significant effect on the extent of the enzymatic hydrolysis of wood.

[The role of laccase and peroxidase of Lentinus (Panus) tigrinus fungus in biodegradation of high phenol concentrations in liquid medium].

The possibility of the usage of Lentinus tigrinus fungus strain VKM F-3616D for biodegradation of high (up to 5%) phenol concentrations in liquid medium and the involvement of laccase and peroxidase in this process have been studied. L. tigrinus fungus was demonstrated to effectively digrade phenol with easy biomass separation from the liquid. Decrease in phenol concentration was accompanied by increased secretion level and laccase activity at the preliminary stages of biodegradation, while that of peroxidase was at the latest stages of biodegradation. These enzyme secretions in distinct ratios and consequences are necessary for effective phenol biodegradation. An effective approach for phenol concentration decrease in the waste water of smoking shops in meat-processing factories using L. tigrinus fungus was described.

Change in phospholipid composition and phospholipase activity of the fungus Lentinus tigrinus VKM F-3616D during growth in the presence of phenol and lignocellulosic substrates.

Changes in phospholipid composition, phospholipase activity, and accumulation of lipid peroxidation products in mycelium of the lignin-degrading fungus Lentinus (Panus) tigrinus VKM F-3616D in the presence of phenol and lignocellulosic substrates in the cultivation medium are reported. It is shown that in fungal mycelium in the presence of both substrates the share of lysophosphatidylcholine sharply increases. The parity between separate groups of phosphatidylinositols also changes. The lysophosphatidylcholine content increase during cultivation is connected with activation of phospholipase A(2) (EC 3.1.1.4), and phosphatidylinositol parity change is associated with distinctions in affinity of phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (EC 3.1.4.11) to them.

Influence of Resveratrol on Oxidation Processes and Lipid Phase Characteristics in Damaged Somatic Nerves.

It has been shown that the intensification of oxidative processes is observed when somatic nerves of rats are damaged. Accumulation of malondialdehyde occurs, and the phase properties of the lipid bilayer change, especially in the distal part of the nerve. Under the same conditions, there are multidirectional changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreases, and catalase (CAT) activity increases. Under the action of resveratrol, there is a decrease in the number of TBA-active products in both areas of the damaged nerve. Alongside resveratrol action, SOD and CAT activity tends to return towards the control values. Similar patterns are observed in the action of resveratrol on the phase states of lipids with the damage to somatic nerves. By summarizing the data obtained, it can be claimed that when the nerve is damaged, profound changes occur both in the lipid component and in the antioxidant system. Resveratrol has a stabilizing effect on the studied parameters, and a longer period of time is required for their complete recovery.

[The effect of copper ions on the production of laccase by the fungus Lentinus (Panus) tigrinus].

The basidiomycete Lentinus tigrinus was cultured in media containing copper ions added at different growth stages. Copper ions at increased concentrations decelerated of the fungal biomass accumulation. The later Cu2+ ions were added, the better the fungal mycelium developed, and the toxic effect of Cu2+ was less pronounced. The maximum laccase activity (47 U/ml) was observed in the presence of 1.5-2.0 mM Cu2+ added on day 4 of cultivation.

[Increased secretion of lignolytic enzymes by the Lentinus tigrinus fungus after addition of butanol and toluene in submerged cultivation].

We studied the effects of butanol and toluene on secretion of lignolytic enzymes by the Lentinus tigrinus fungus during submerged cultivation. Addition of butanol and toluene during the trophophase was followed by an increase in laccase and peroxidase activity of the culture and change in the composition of phospholipids and fatty acids. The ratio of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidic acid decreased, while the amount of lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphoinositides, phosphatidylserine, and unsaturated fatty acids decreased. These changes resulted in an increase in the unsaturation index.

[Optimizing the conditions of dextran synthesis by the bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides grown in a molasses-containing medium].

Maximal dextran production (54-55 g/l) by the bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain V-2317D was observed in molasses-containing media in the presence of 17.5% glucose at pHinit 6.75. The beginning of dextran production depended on the amount of inoculate; maximum yield was observed at a shaker rate of 200 rpm. The dextran produced by L. mesenteroides grown in the molasses-containing medium was representative of three fractions differing in the molecular weight and composition: the high- (approximately 54.5%), medium- (approximately 27.9%), and low-molecular-weight (approximately 2.85%) fractions.

[Annexin I-induced aggregation of human neutrophil gelatinase granules]. / Anneksin I-induced agregatsiia zhelatinaznykh granul neitrofilov cheloveka.

The ability of neutrophil cytosol to induce the aggregation of gelatinase granules of human neutrophils was studied. The cytosol was found to induce the Ca(2+)-dependent aggregation of granules. The stimulatory effect of cytosol was considerably reduced in the presence of the monoclonal antibody recognizing annexin I. Annexin I is a mediator of Ca(2+)-dependent aggregation of gelatinase granules and probably participate in granule secretion.

[Levels of free fatty acids and calcium absorption in giant squid axons at rest and upon stimulation]. / Soderzhanie svobodnykh zhirnykh kislot i pogloshchenie Ca v gigantskom aksone kal'mara v pokoe i pri vozbuzhdenii.

Nine free fatty acids (FFA) were discovered in the squid axons at rest: 12:0, 14:0, 15:0, 16:0, 16:1, 18:0, 18:1, 20:3, 20:4. The relative amount of FFA equaled 14.1 micrograms per mg of lipids. Stimulation of nervous conductors decreased the amount of acids--14:0, 15:0, 16:1, 20:3. Simultaneously a considerable increase of the content of 20:4 was observed and three new fatty acids 20:0, 20:1, 22:2 appeared. The content of FFA increased to 27.2 micrograms/mg of lipids. Calcium absorption in the squid axons was equal to 23 nmol/g, but under stimulation this parameter increased to 37 nmol/g. Exogenous fatty acids brought about also an increase of calcium absorption. The accumulation of FFA under excitation was suggested to be the result of the increase of phosphoinositides content and related to the regulation of Ca transport.

[Changes in the permeability of nerve fiber membranes during the initiation of lipid peroxidation]. / Izmenenie pronitsaemosti membran nervnykh volokon v usloviiakh initsiatsii perekisnogo okisleniia lipidov.

The role of lipid oxidation in the mechanism of ion transport was investigated. During initiation of lipid oxidation by actin "Fe2+--ascorbic acid" in the crab nerve 45Ca and 22Na accumulation and level of lipid oxidation were increased, but electric stimulation of the nerve greatly changed ion accumulation. Increased Na+Ca2+ accumulation during the initiation of lipid oxidation is explained not only by changes in the lipid phase of excitable membranes but by the effects of rhythmic excitation on potential-dependent channels.

[A biophysical approach to the investigation of physiological processes]. / Biofizicheskii podkhod k issledovaniiu fiziologicheskikh protsessov.

It was shown that understanding the mechanism of rhythmic excitation in cells and tissues requires the combination of physiological and biophysical approaches. Systemic studies of changes in the physicochemical characteristics of the object were carried out by a protocol that takes into account the mode of rhythmic excitation and the functional sate of the object being studied. The validity of the approach was proved in studies of rhythmic excitation in somatic nonmyelinic and myelinic nerves, and in model systems. The approach can be used in studies of many physiological processes.

[Modification of wood lignin by the fungus Panus tigrinus]. / Modifikatsiia lignina drevesiny gribom Panus tigrinus.

The treatment of sawdust with the fungus Panus tigrinus VKM F-3616 D changed the contents of functional groups in lignin from wood raw material. These changes are accompanied by the release of carboxyl and phenyl hydroxyl groups involved in chemical bond formation between wood particles in pressed materials manufactured from wood wastes.

[Effect of wood modification on lignin consumption and synthesis of lignolytic enzymes by the fungus Panus (Lentinus) tigrinus]. / Vliianie modifikatsii drevesiny na potrebleniie lignina i sintez lignoliticheskikh fermentov gribom Panus (Lentinus) tigrinus.

Lignin consumption and synthesis of lignolytic enzymes by the fungus Panus (Lentinus) tigrinus cultivated on solid phase (modified and unmodified birch and pine sawdusts) were studied. The fungus grew better and consumed more readily the birch lignin than the pine wood. Peroxidase activity was higher in the case of pine sawdust; laccase and lignolytic activities, in the case of birth sawdust. Treatment with ammonia or sulfuric acid decreased lignin consumption by the fungus cultivated on either medium. Modification of sawdust by ultrasound increased lignin consumption and may be recommended for accelerating biodegradation of lignocellulose substrates.

[Use of Panus tigrinus fungi for production of pressed materials from cotton plant waste]. / Ispol'zovanie griba Panus tigrinus dlia proizvodstva pressovannykh materialov iz otkhodov khlopchatnika.

Changes in the chemical composition of cotton plant stems used as a substrate for solid-phase cultivation of the fungus Panus tigrinus were studied as well as the effect of these changes on properties of the pressed materials made of these stems. During the first 3 days of growth, the fungus better consumed cellulose; then, the rate of cellulose consumption was comparable with that of lignin. Intensity and pattern of these changes depended on the age of inoculum. The rate of cotton plant waste biodegradation was higher when a 3-day-old incoculum was used. The pressed materials made of the raw stuff treated with a 3-day-old inoculum of P. tigrinus for 2-3 days displayed better characteristics. Annually, large amounts of lignocellulose stuff is lost while processing of agricultural waste: straw, awn, plant stems, etc. In the countries with developed cotton growing, the annual amount of only guza-paya (dry cotton plant stems) reaches several million tons. To solve this problem, bioconversion of these wastes is studied to manufacture useful products and materials.

[Mycelial wastes of penicillin fermentation as glue components]. / Mitselial'nye otkhoy proizvodstva penitsillina kak komponenty kleia.

A new trend in the rational use of micelial wastes after antibiotics fermentation was elaborated. The modification of P. chrysogenum micelium by means of acid and alkaline solutions allows to use it as bone glue component. As a result physico-mechanical characteristics of the mixture increase, while the ratio cost-price decreases. The obtained glue composition can be used in the production of glue paper tape, for paper and wood glue.

[Effect of the quality of fat substrate on the dynamics of fatty acid utilization during biosynthesis of cephalosporin C]. / Izuchenie vliianiia kachestva zhirovogo substrata na dinamiku potrebleniia zhirnykh kislot v protsesse biosinteza tsefalosporina C.

Influence of the quality of the fats used on their utilization in the process of cephalosporin C fermentation and accumulation was studied. A decrease in the level of all the fractions of the fatty acids was observed during the fermentation process. The antibiotic yield with the use of oxidized fats was lower. Treatment of the fats with gaseous nitrogen prevented their oxidation. It was supposed that the decreased yields of the antibiotic were associated with the influence of the oxidized fats on the biosynthetic processes.

[Relation between ligninolytic and phospholipase activities in the fungus Lentinus tigrinus].

Effect of hydrocortisone, NaF, and FeSO4 on ligninolytic and phosphatase activity of the fungus Lentinus (Panus) tigrinus VKM F-3616D was investigated, Hydrocortisone and NaF were shown to inhibit the enzymes of the ligninolytic complex-laccase (EC 1.10.3.2), secretory peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), and Mn peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.13). FeSO4 exhibited no significant effect on the activity of these enzymes. Decreased activity of the enzymes of the ligninolytic complex was associatedwith inhibition of the activity and changes in the substrate specificity of phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4) in the presence of hydrocortisone of NaF. Cultivation of L. tigrinus in the presence of these compounds resulted in higher affinity of this enzyme to saturated fatty acids, while in the control and in the presence of FeSO4 affinity to unsaturated fatty acids was higher.

Lipid composition of rat somatic nerves under the effect of damaging factors.

Ligation of the sciatic nerve in rats led to reversible decrease in excitability and changes in lipid composition of myelinated nerve fiber: increase in the content of lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and free fatty acids and phospholipase A2 activity. Xymedon and laminin accelerate nerve regeneration and restore its lipid composition.