[Problems in organizing neurosurgical care for patients with Parkinson's disease in the Russian Federation]. / Problemy organizatsii neirokhirurgicheskoi pomoshchi patsientam s bolezn'yu Parkinsona v Rossiiskoi Federatsii.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are some problems in the Russian Federation complicating development of neurosurgical care for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2022, neurologists - movement disorders specialists were surveyed to analyze situation with PD pharmacological treatment and referral of patients for surgical treatment in Russian constituent entities. Data on neurosurgical treatment of PD were obtained by collecting information on the surgical activity of medical institutions in the Russian Federation. Most hospitals involved in PD treatment took part in this study. RESULTS: The state of neurosurgical care for patients with PD is analyzed and possible ways to improve the quality of treatment are discussed. CONCLUSION: Over the past 20 years, a system of neurosurgical care for patients with PD has been formed in 14 centers in the Russian Federation (2022). Obstacles to its further development can be divided into 3 categories: problems of patient selection and routing, complexity of organization and financing surgeries, and imperfect postoperative patient management. Ways to overcome these obstacles imply expanding the network of centers for extrapyramidal diseases, development of domestic neurostimulation systems, improving the distribution of quotas taking into account the capabilities of hospitals, specialized training of neurologists for extrapyramidal centers and neurosurgeons for deep brain stimulation centers, adequate financing and systematization of postoperative management of patients with PD.

The influence of social and medical factors on the quality of life in elderly and senile people.

The object of the study was senile people, who sought dental orthopedic care in municipal healthcare institutions of the town of Cheboksary, the Chuvash Republic. The sample size was 1 000 people. The obtained quantitative indicators were subjected to statistical processing using parametric and nonparametric statistical methods. The analysis of mounted orthopedic dent prosthetic structures manufactured and installed in elderly and senile patients shows that the choice of material and method of manufacture is largely determined by such a social factor as the average monthly income. This, in turn, largely depends on income-generating employment and the possibility of obtaining additional financial support from family members in which the patient lives. Social factors have a significant impact on the quality of life in elderly and senile people.

Lithium-Modified Sorbent: Effects on Hemostatic Responses In Vitro.

The effects of a lithium-modified sorbent based on aluminum oxide and polydimethylsiloxane (Al2O3@PDMS/Li) and a lithium-free sorbent (Al2O3@PDMS) on some indicators characterizing blood clotting under hemosorption conditions were compared in vitro. Sorbent Al2O3@PDMS/Li had significantly lower reactogenic effect on the blood passed through the column than the sorbent without lithium. This was seen from the degree of platelet reduction (66×109 vs 19×109/liter) as well as a less pronounced hypercoagulation shift in chronometric indicators. In contrast to lithium-free sorbent, Al2O3@PDMS/Li demonstrated the ability to reduce the concentration of fibrinogen. However, this had no impact on the density characteristics of the blood clot assessed by thromboelastometry such as maximum clot firmness, angle and fibrin clot formation time, amplitudes at 10 and 15 min after clotting time, which are known to depend on the quantity of platelets and the concentration of functionally active fibrinogen.

Characteristics of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates from cystic fibrosis patients in Russia.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a common opportunistic microorganism and an important respiratory pathogen in cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of this study was to determine antimicrobial resistance phenotypes, sequence-types (ST) and genetic determinants of antibiotic resistance in S. maltophilia strains recovered from CF patients in Russia. S. maltophilia isolates recovered from 170 CF patients were analyzed. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of antibacterial agents were determined using Sensititre Gram Negative GNX2F plates and the results were interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) criteria. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on MGISEQ-2000 platform. SPAdes software, Galaxy, ResFinder, Integrall and PubMLST were used for analysis of WGS data. S. maltophilia strains were identified from 24/170 (14%) CF patients. In total, 25 isolates were detected, two strains were isolated from the same patient. The isolates belonged to 17 different STs, including 5 new STs; ST4 was the most prevalent ST. Resistance to ceftazidime was observed in 60% of strains, to ticarcillin-clavulanate - in 32%, to levofloxacin - in 24%, to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole - in 12% of strains. All isolates were susceptible to minocycline. All ST4 isolates were resistant or intermediate to ceftazidime and ticarcillin-clavulanate. In two isolates, the sul1 gene was detected. In one isolate, sul1 was part of a class 1 integron. The detected integron also contained the blaGES-7 and aac(6')-Ib-cr genes. The ST4 sequence-type was the most prevalent ST among S. maltophilia strains recovered from CF patients in Russia. Antibiotic resistance genes, including sul1, blaGES-7, aac(6')-Ib-cr, were detected in single strains.

Evaluation of monomeric prolactin level by TRACE method and precipitation with polyethylene glycol.

Prolactin exists in various forms including the monomeric biologically active form (23kDa) and a higher molecular weight form, bound most commonly to IgG, known as macroprolactin (>100kDa). Macroprolactin lacks biological activity and is one of the causes of false-positive results. In Russian Federation the most common method for macroprolactin determination is PEG precipitation test. We had conducted a retrospective analysis of 37 samples of patients with hyperprolactinemia (3 of them were males). The mean age was 30 [25;35] years. Prolactin level was measured by the immunoenzyme method with manual PEG precipitation and TRACE. The mean values found by the immunoenzyme method with manual PEG precipitation were 461,6 [375,0;821,2] mU/l, by TRACE - 449,9 [357,2;749,2] mU/l. The number of patients with normal prolactin levels was 30% (11) confirmed by two methods, high prolactin level at 46% (17). The prevalence of clinical symptoms of hyperprolactinemia was not differ depend the groups. The phenomenon of macroprolactinemia was registered in 32% (12) of patients. In 8 persons of this group normal prolactin level was revealed and in 4 patients hyperprolactinemia was found by TRACE. Measurements of prolactin levels by the TRACE method is useful for correct diagnosis in patients with equivocal results received by traditional method with PEG precipitation.

Genome features and antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated in patients with cystic fibrosis in the Russian Federation.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common genetic disease, manifested by airway obstruction and chronic respiratory infection. The most prevalent infectious agent in airways of CF patients is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study aimed to determine sequence-types, antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and genes defining adaptive antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa isolates recovered from CF patients in Russia. In total, 84 P. aeruginosa strains from 64 CF patients were analyzed. Susceptibility to antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion test. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on MGISEQ-2000 platform. SPAdes software, Galaxy, ResFinder, PubMLST were used for analysis of WGS data. Examined P. aeruginosa isolates belonged to 53 different sequence-types (STs), including 6 new STs. High-risk epidemic clone ST235 (10%) and clonal CF P. aeruginosa strains ST17, ST242, ST274 (7%) were detected. Non-susceptibility to ticarcillin-clavulanate, cefepime, imipenem was observed in 63%, 12% and 25% of isolates, respectively; to tobramycin - in 24%, to amikacin - in 35%; to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin - in 35% and 57% of strains, respectively. Multidrug-resistant phenotype was detected in 18% of isolates. In examined strains, genes of beta-lactamases VIM-2 (5 ST235 strains), VEB-1 (two ST2592 strains), GES-1 (1 ST235 strain), PER-1 (1 ST235 strain) were found. Ciprofloxacin-modifying enzyme CrpP gene was detected in 67% of isolates, aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes AAD, ANT, AAC genes - in 7%, 4%, 12% of strains, respectively. P. aeruginosa isolates from CF patients in Russia demonstrate a high clonal diversity, which is similar to other P. aeruginosa infections. The isolates of high-risk clone and clonal CF P. aeruginosa strains are detected.

Solution Structure, Self-Assembly, and Membrane Interactions of the Matrix Protein from Newcastle Disease Virus at Neutral and Acidic pH.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an enveloped paramyxovirus. The matrix protein of the virus (M-NDV) has an innate propensity to produce virus-like particles budding from the plasma membrane of the expressing cell without recruiting other viral proteins. The virus predominantly infects the host cell via fusion with the host plasma membrane or, alternatively, can use receptor-mediated endocytic pathways. The question arises as to what are the mechanisms supporting such diversity, especially concerning the assembling and membrane binding properties of the virus protein scaffold under both neutral and acidic pH conditions. Here, we suggest a novel method of M-NDV isolation in physiological ionic strength and employ a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering, atomic force microscopy with complementary structural techniques, and membrane interaction measurements to characterize the solution behavior/structure of the protein as well as its binding to lipid membranes at pH 4.0 and pH 7.0. We demonstrate that the minimal structural unit of the protein in solution is a dimer that spontaneously assembles in a neutral milieu into hollow helical oligomers by repeating the protein tetramers. Acidic pH conditions decrease the protein oligomerization state to the individual dimers, tetramers, and octamers without changing the density of the protein layer and lipid membrane affinity, thus indicating that the endocytic pathway is a possible facilitator of NDV entry into a host cell through enhanced scaffold disintegration.IMPORTANCE The matrix protein of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is one of the most abundant viral proteins that regulates the formation of progeny virions. NDV is an avian pathogen that impacts the economics of bird husbandry due to its resulting morbidity and high mortality rates. Moreover, it belongs to the Avulavirus subfamily of the Paramyxoviridae family of Mononegavirales that include dangerous representatives such as respiratory syncytial virus, human parainfluenza virus, and measles virus. Here, we investigate the solution structure and membrane binding properties of this protein at both acidic and neutral pH to distinguish between possible virus entry pathways and propose a mechanism of assembly of the viral matrix scaffold. This work is fundamental for understanding the mechanisms of viral entry as well as to inform subsequent proposals for the possible use of the virus as an adequate template for future drug or vaccine delivery.

Characterization of Tobacco Mosaic Virus Virions and Repolymerized Coat Protein Aggregates in Solution by Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering.

The structure of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) virions and stacked disk aggregates of TMV coat protein (CP) in solution was analyzed by synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and negative contrast transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TMV CP aggregates had a unique stability but did not have helical symmetry. According to the TEM data, they were stacked disks associated into transversely striated rod-shaped structures 300 to 800 Å long. According to modeling based on the crystallographic model of the 4-layer TMV CP aggregate (PDB: 1EI7), the stacked disks represented hollow cylinders. The calculated SAXS pattern for the disks was compared to the experimental one over the entire measured range. The best correlation with the SAXS data was found for the model with the repeating central pair of discs; the SAXS curves for the stacked disks were virtually identical irrespectively of the protein isolation method. The positions of maxima on the scatter curves could be used as characteristic features of the studied samples; some of the peaks were assigned to the existing elements of the quaternary structure (periodicity of aggregate structure, virion helix pitch). Low-resolution structural data for the repolymerized TMV CP aggregates in solution under conditions similar to natural were produced for the first time. Analysis of such nano-size objects is essential for their application in biomedicine and biotechnology.

Resistance of THP-1 Leukemia Cells Infected with Cytomegalovirus to Anti-tumor Antibiotic Doxorubicin and Restoration of the Sensitivity by Inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Molecular Pathway.

Results obtained showed that infection with HCMV prevented the death of THP-1 cells treated with DOX in both active and latent forms of infection. In the presence of mTOR inhibitors (rapamycin and Torin2), the sensitivity of the infected cells to DOX was restored. Rapamycin inhibited the expression of the HCMV protein IE1-p72 and increased sensitivity to DOX. Molecular targets for the creation of new drugs for the treatment of leukemia in patients infected with HCMV were determined.

[Structure of Potato Virus A Coat Protein Particles and Their Dissociation].

This paper reports on a complex structural analysis of the potato virus A coat protein using a set of complementary physico-chemical methods. We have demonstrated previously that this protein does not exist as individual subunits in solution and undergoes association into oligomers with subsequent transition to ß-conformation. The purpose of the present work was to study the possible mechanisms of this transformation and to search for methods that dissociate protein oligomers. To analyze the low resolution protein structure in solution, small-angle X-ray scattering was used. Stable particles representing clusters of 30 coat protein subunits were present even in an aqueous salt solution with a high ionic strength and pH (pH 10.5; 0.5 M NaCl). The particles did not dissociate in the presence of 10 mM dextran sulfates (15 and 100 kDa). Dissociation in the presence of 5.2 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate results in the formation of the subunit-detergent complexes consisting of 10-12 small particles joined together like "beads on a string". Similar effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate were shown for serum albumins (bovine and human). Denaturation of the potato virus A coat protein molecules occurs in the presence of detergent concentrations that are seven times lower than that in albumins (5.2 and 35 mM), which confirms low stability of the potato virus A coat protein. Using spectral methods, preservation of the secondary structure and loss of the tertiary structure of the protein in its complex with sodium dodecyl sulfate have been demonstrated. Possible mechanism for protein particle formation through the interaction between unordered terminal domains and their transformation into ß-structures has been suggested.

[Pituitary lactotroph adenomas resistant to dopamine agonist treatment: histological and immunohistochemical characteristics]. / Laktotrofnye adenomy gipofiza, rezistentnye k lecheniiu agonistami dofamina: gistologicheskaia i immunogistokhimicheskaia kharakteristika.

OBJECTIVE: To present the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of pituitary lactotroph adenomas (PLAs) resistant to dopamine agonist treatment. SUBJECT AND METHODS: The investigators examined paraffin-embedded blocks and histological sections obtained from 19 patients (13 women, 6 men), whose median age was 29 (19, 38) years, after surgical treatment (adenomectomy) for PLAs resistant to dopamine agonist treatment. Immunohistological examination was performed using antibodies against prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), type 2 dopamine receptors (DR2), estrogen receptors-α (ERα), the proliferation marker Ki-67, and the endothelial cell marker CD34. RESULTS: The expression of PRL by adenoma cells was revealed in all the patients. The coexpression of PRL and GH without clinical and laboratory signs of acromegaly was established in 3 cases. No expression of TSH, ACTH, LH, or FSH was revealed in any cases. Positive immunoreaction using antibodies against DR2 and ERα was detected in 8 and 6 cases, respectively. No expression of any of the studied receptors was found in 6 patients. Ki-67 was more than 3% in 3 patients and higher in patients with supra- or retrosellar growth. There was a positive correlation between the serum level of Ki-67 and that of PRL at the onset of the disease. There were 37 (25, 85) adenoma vessels, as measured by CD34 immunoexpression. It was ascertained that the patients with parasellar adenoma had more tumor vessels than those without parasellar growth of adenoma and that with the latter invading the cavernous vessels, the number of vessels was statistically significantly more. CONCLUSION: PLAs resistant to dopamine agonists in addition to PRL (100%) can express GH in 16% of cases are characterized by the immunoexpression of DR2 (42%) and ERα (32%), a low proliferative activity, increased angiogenesis in the adenomas with parasellar growth and invasion into the cavernous sinus.

pH-Dependent Formation and Disintegration of the Influenza A Virus Protein Scaffold To Provide Tension for Membrane Fusion.

UNLABELLED: Influenza virus is taken up from a pH-neutral extracellular milieu into an endosome, whose contents then acidify, causing changes in the viral matrix protein (M1) that coats the inner monolayer of the viral lipid envelope. At a pH of ~6, M1 interacts with the viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) in a putative priming stage; at this stage, the interactions of the M1 scaffold coating the lipid envelope are intact. The M1 coat disintegrates as acidification continues to a pH of ~5 to clear a physical path for the viral genome to transit from the viral interior to the cytoplasm. Here we investigated the physicochemical mechanism of M1's pH-dependent disintegration. In neutral media, the adsorption of M1 protein on the lipid bilayer was electrostatic in nature and reversible. The energy of the interaction of M1 molecules with each other in M1 dimers was about 10 times as weak as that of the interaction of M1 molecules with the lipid bilayer. Acidification drives conformational changes in M1 molecules due to changes in the M1 charge, leading to alterations in their electrostatic interactions. Dropping the pH from 7.1 to 6.0 did not disturb the M1 layer; dropping it lower partially desorbed M1 because of increased repulsion between M1 monomers still stuck to the membrane. Lipid vesicles coated with M1 demonstrated pH-dependent rupture of the vesicle membrane, presumably because of the tension generated by this repulsive force. Thus, the disruption of the vesicles coincident with M1 protein scaffold disintegration at pH 5 likely stretches the lipid membrane to the point of rupture, promoting fusion pore widening for RNP release. IMPORTANCE: Influenza remains a top killer of human beings throughout the world, in part because of the influenza virus's rapid binding to cells and its uptake into compartments hidden from the immune system. To attack the influenza virus during this time of hiding, we need to understand the physical forces that allow the internalized virus to infect the cell. In particular, we need to know how the protective coat of protein inside the viral surface reacts to the changes in acid that come soon after internalization. We found that acid makes the molecules of the protein coat push each other while they are still stuck to the virus, so that they would like to rip the membrane apart. This ripping force is known to promote membrane fusion, the process by which infection actually occurs.

Insecticides of neonicotinoides class: determining exposure via workers' urine.

For biomonitoring of exposure in workers with insectocaricides, the authors created a method of multi-component assessment oflowlevels of neonicotinomides in workers' urine, based on last generation tandem liquid mass-spectrometry (triple quadrupole) with ionization source - electrostatic dispersion (positive ionization) in dynamic multi-reaction monitoring with two transitions of parent ions (for quantitative assessment and ionic ratio confirmation). After the work, the operators gave urine samples (about 100 ml in average) that were frozen and kept under -20°C before analysis. Samples were defrozen before analysis, and each urine portion of 5 ml was diluted by equal volume of 0,1% formic acid. To extract substances out of the samples, solid-phase extraction (cartridges based on octadecylsilane) was applied, elution was performed with 1 ml of methanol. Lower limit of the substances detection in urine - 0,02-0,05 ng/ml, lower limit of the quantitative assessment - 0,1-0,2 ng/ml. The method was tested on monitoring of the workers' exposure to preparations based on imidaclopride and clotianidine in natural conditions of pesticides use in agriculture with various processing technologies. midacloprid was identified in urine of 3 professional operators after wheat and oat seeds treatment and after subsequent seeding at lower limit of detection (0,02 ng/ml), lower limit of quantitative assessment (0,1 ng/ ml) and 0,34 ng/ml.

[The values of cardio-ankle vascular and ankle-brachial indices in patients with carbohydrate metabolic disorders: The ESSE-RF study in the Kemerovo Region]. / Znacheniya serdechno-lodyzhechnogo sosudistogo i lodyzhechno-plechevogo indeksov u patsientov s narusheniyami uglevodnogo obmena (issledovanie ESSE-RF v Kemerovskoi oblasti).

AIM: To investigate factors associated with pathological cardio-ankle vascular and ankle-brachial indices (CAVI and ABI) in patients with carbohydrate metabolic disorders (CMD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the framework of the multicenter epidemiological study "Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and Their Risk Factors in the Russian Federation" (ESSE-RF) in March to October 2013. The standard ESSE-RF protocol was extended by an additional study of peripheral arterial stiffness, by estimating CAVI and ABI automatically. A sample of 1619 people was formed in several stages, in which 311 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes were identified and divided into 3 groups: 1) 41 patients with pathological CAVI values (≥9.0); 2) 241 with normal CAVI (<9.0); 3) 29 with pathological ABI (<0.9). RESULTS: In the population-based sample of patients with CMD, the pathological CAVI values (≥9.0) were detected in 14.5%, and the pathological ABI was in 9.3% of the examinees. Regression analysis showed that the pathological vascular indices (both CAVI and ABI) were significantly associated with increases in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), and a decrease in glomerular filtration rate. At the same time, only the pathological CAVI was associated with advancing age (odds ratio (OR), 1.111; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.050-1.176; p < 0.001), visceral obesity (OR, 3.088; 95% CI, 1.001-10.495; p=0.038), smoking duration (OR, 1.093; 95% CI, 1.008-1.185; p=0.009), prior stroke (OR, 4.695; 95% CI, 1.408-15.658; p=0.018), and a need for insulin therapy (OR, 18.947; 95% CI, 1.902- 87.783; p=0.006). The pathological ABI was associated with male sex (OR, 2.227; 95% CI, 1.040-4.765; p=0.039), prior myocardial infarction (OR, 8.646; 95% CI, 2.174-34.378; p=0.005), obesity (OR, 2.439; 95% CI, 1.010-5.889; p=0.034); hyperglycemia (OR, 2.439; 95% CI, 1.010-5.889; p=0.034), hyperuricemia (OR, 4.009; 95% CI, 1.850-8.684; p=0.033), and increases in triglyceride levels (OR, 2.984; 95% CI, 1.376-6.470; p=0.004) and CAVI (OR, 1.193; 95% CI, 1.034-1.377; p=0.005). CONCLUSION: The pathological vascular indices CAVI and ABI are associated with different risk factors for cardiovascular events in a cohort of patients with CMD. The common factors associated with both CAVI and ABI are increases in blood pressure and HR and a reduction in glomerular filtration rate. The common factors associated with both CAVI and ABI are increases in blood pressure and HR and a reduction in glomerular filtration rate.

[Diagnostic value of the stimulating growth factor ST2 during hospitalization for myocardial infarction]. / Diagnosticheskoe znachenie stimuliruyushchego faktora rosta ST2 v gospital'nom periode infarkta miokarda.

AIM: To determine the concentration of the stimulating growth factor ST2 and its relationship to the clinical course of myocardial infarction (MI) over time during hospitalization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-eight MI patients whose mean age was 59±8.36 years were examined. On days 1 and 12 of MI, the serum levels of ST2 and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were determined by ELISA. A control group consisted of 30 people. RESULTS: On day 1 of hospitalization for MI, the concentrations of ST2 and NT-proBNP were higher 2.4 and 4.5 times, respectively, than those in the controls; by day 12, there was a statistically significant decrease in the level of ST2 while that of NT-proBNP was unchanged. During hospitalization, the investigators recorded MI complications, according to which the patients were divided into favorable and unfavorable MI groups. On day 1 of hospitalization, the level of ST2 in the patients with unfavorable MI was twice higher than in those with favorable MI and 3.7 times higher than in the control group. On day 12, both favorable and unfavorable MI groups showed a reduction in the level of the marker. On day 1 of MI, the concentration of NT-proBNP in the patients with a poor prognosis was 6.8 times greater than in the controls and 1.8 times more than in the patients with a good prognosis. On day 12, NT-proBNP levels remained elevated in both groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the determination of ST2 in combination with NT-proBNP increased their diagnostic significance (odds ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.7-3.2; area under characteristic curve, 0.89; p=0.004). CONCLUSION: The level of ST2 was a more sensitive indicator of hospitalization for MI than that of NT-proBNP. The combined use of ST2 and NT-proBNP was found to have a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

[Biomonitoring in workers exposed to pesticides: development and application of method detecting imidacloprid in urine].

Imidacloprid is a relatively new insecticide in neonicotinoids chemical class with neuroactivity in insects, being one of the most widely used insecticides in the world. For biomonitoring in workers exposed to pesticides, the authors designed a method detecting low levels of Imidacloprid in urine of operators, based on tandem liquid mass-spectrometry with ionization source--electrostatic dispersion (positive ionization) in multi-reaction monitoring regime with subsidiary ion (mass/charge) 209 for quantitative assessment and ion 175.1 for confirmation onion ratio. The study incorporated diurnal urine, about 100 ml of average sample was frozen and kept at temperature -20C for analysis. Before extraction, the sample was unfrozen, an aliquot of 5 ml was selected, diluted with 5 ml of 0.1% formic acid. The substance was concentrated out of the urine samples via solid-phase extraction with application of cartridges based on octadecylsilane, eluition--1 ml of methanol. Lower limit of Imidacloprid detection in urine is 0.02 ng/ml, of the quantitative assessment--0.1 ng/ ml, linear range of concentrations measured 0.1-10 ng/ml. The method was tested for monitoring in workers exposed to Imidacloprid preparations in natural conditions of pesticides application in agriculture, with various processing technologies. Imidacloprid was identified in urine of two professional operators after work in seed treatment and the subsequent seeding at lower limit of detection (0.02 ng/ml) and 0.34 ng/ml.

[The method of multicomponent determination of herbicides of various chemical classes in water].

In the work there are considered results of the development of the multicomponent method of measurement of concentration of herbicides of various chemical nature under their joint presence in the water. There was justified the optimality of application of HPLC-DAD (the working wavelength of 240 nm) for the determination of levels of 10 active ingredients of herbicides of class of sulfonylurea (metsulfuron-methyl, nikosulfuron, sulfometuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, triflusulfuron-methyl), imidazolinone (imazapyr, imazethapyr), 2,6-Bis[(4,6-dimethoxy-2- pyrimidinyl)oxy]benzoic acid (bispyribac acid), triazol-pyrimidines (Penoxsulam), a benzoylpyrazole compound (Topramenzone). For the concentrating and cleaning of samples of water there were used cartridges for solid-phase extraction of Oasis HLB - the macro porous copolymer made on the basis of the balanced ratio of 2 monomers - lipophilic divinylbenzene and hydrophilic N-vinylpirrolidone. The range of the detected concentrations in water was volatile between 0.0005 and 0.005 mg/L, values of standard deviation vary in the range of 1.8-3.9%. Chlorine-containing acidic herbicides were analyzed by the method of GC-ECD and GC-MS (IE) after preliminary converting of compounds into flying derivatives with the use of diazomethane. Satisfactory extraction of substances from a water sample may be achieved by classical extraction in the system "liquid-liquid" with the application of Methyl tert-butyl ester. For cleaning of the derivatized sample there were used cartridges for solid-phase extraction on the basis of silica gel. The range of the determination of 9 active ingredients referring to classes of phenoxy-acetic acid (2,4- D, MCPA), pyridinecarboxylic (aminopyiralid, picloram, clopyralid), benzoic acids (dicamba), benzothiadiazinone (bentazone), biphenyl ester (acifluorfen) and a chloroacetamide (acetochlor) - 0.0001-0.001 mg/L, SD values vary in the range of 1.8-33%.

[Determination of residual amounts of chlorothalonil in peaches: problems of gas chromatographic identification with the use of electron capture detector].

In the work there are presented results of studies on the validation of the gas chromatographic (GC) methodfor the determination of chlorothalonil residue amounts in peaches with the use of electron capture detector (ECD). For the analytical control there was selected such stone fruit crop as the peach, referring to the crops, the most contaminated with residue amounts ofpesticides. There was justified the necessity of the inclusion in the procedure of the detection of the method of confirmation, based on mass spectrometry detection (MSD) (the type of ionization - electron impact). The significant source of the obtaining of incorrect data in the identification with the use of ECD of ions are shown to be phthalates, visualized in the chromatogram as intense and/or broad peaks. Mass spectra of compounds of the class ofphthalates are characterized by the dominant peak of the ion with the value of (mass/ charge) 149, just on this peak the detection of low molecular weight phthalates occurs in various matrices, on the spectrum there are also recorded typical ions corresponding to fragments of radical residues. The combination of the use of various types of the detection allows to prove that the revealed response (detector signal) is caused just by the analyte, but not the impurities, and optionally to optimize chromatographic conditions towards to the obtaining reliable results. The lower limit of the quantitation of chlorothalonil in peach fruits accounts for 0.01 mg/kg, determined with a signal/noise ratio of 10. The range of measured concentrations is volatile between 0.01-0.1 mg/kg, recovery rate of chlorothalonil from samples of peaches, established according to results of the analysis of model samples with the introduction of the substance in four points along the detection range, was 84-102%, the SD value of the repeatability varies in the range of 2.0-5.8%.

[The possibility of application of stimulant growth factor (ST2) for verifying postinfarction remodeling of myocardium.]

PURPOSE OF STUDY: To detect level ST2 in blood serum of patients with myocardium infarction in dynamics of hospital period and their relationship with remodeling of myocardium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sampling included 87 patients (65 males and 22 females) with myocardium infarction and the ST-segment elevation and average age of 59 years. All patients were allocated in two groups: with adaptive alternative of remodeling of myocardium (67 patients) and deadaptive alternative (20 patients). The control group consisted of 30 individuals. At the first and twelfth days after myocardium infarction in blood serum content of ST2 and NT-proBNP were detected using immune-enzyme technique with application of test-systems produced by Critical Diagnostics (USA) and Biomedica (Slovakia) correspondingly. The data statistical analysis was processed using non-parametric criteria. THE RESULTS: He content of ST2 and NT-proBNP at the first day of myocardium infarction increased in 2.4 and 4.5 times correspondingly as compared with control group. The patients with deadaptive remodeling were characterized by in 1.5 times higher content of ST2 at the first day than in group of adaptive remodeling and in 5.3 times higher that in control group. In the end of hospital period (twelfth day) in both groups decreasing of level of ST2 was observed. The concentration of NT-proBNP at the first day was increased in 1.8 times in patients of both groups and decreased at twelfth day. At that there were no differences between both groups. The high level of ST2 at the first day increases the risk of development of deadaptive remodeling in 4.5 times, NT-proBNP only in 2.3 times. CONCLUSION: The high level of stimulant growth factor ST2 at the first day of myocardium infarction was associated with deadaptive alternative of post-infarction remodeling that permits using ST2 as prognostic marker with high sensitivity and specificity.