Changes in Free Radical Processes under the Influence of Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field in Rats.

We studied the effect of a low-frequency (LF) electromagnetic field (EMF) on the state of the antioxidant system of Wistar rats in vivo. It was found that changes in activity of antioxidant enzymes and H2O2 content in the blood plasma of rats exposed to LF EMF depended on the frequency of EMF. We propose a mechanism of the protective effects of low doses of ROS the generation of which is stimulated by LF EMF.

THz Smith-Purcell and grating transition radiation from metasurface: experiment and theory.

We report the results of experimental and theoretical studies of monochromatic coherent terahertz radiation generated by a short relativistic electron bunch interacting with a metasurface. The metasurface consists of subwavelength metal elements arranged on a dielectric substrate. The constructed theory explains the experimental spectra of Smith-Purcell radiation and grating transition radiation with very high precision. The orientational distribution of transition radiation shows a fine structure, which, as we suppose, may be due to contribution of coupling between the metasurface's elements.

[Long-Chain Free Fatty Acids Influence Lipid Accumulation, Lysosome Activation and Glycolytic Shift in Various Cells In Vitro].

Hydrophobic molecules may be toxic when present in excess. When dissolved in membranes, hydrophobic molecules disrupt membrane function. Studies on the effects of free fatty acids (FFA) on cultured cells contradict each other. Here we describe the effects of FFA on various human cells in culture. The addition of long-chain FFA (oleic, palmitic, linoleic, linolenic, etc.) to cultured cells led to lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and muscle cells, initiation of autophagy, and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Although treated cells increase their oxygen consumption, metabolic shifts in favor of glycolysis were observed. All these effects were expressed to varying degrees in different cells and with the addition of different FFAs. The mechanisms of these FFA effects are discussed, as well their practical implications.

PECULIARITIES OF EVALUATION OF THE ORAL FLUID ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH LOCAL OR SYSTEMIC DISEASES.

The aim - in the given research, the difficulties in interpreting the study results of oxidative homeostasis of oral fluid are analyzed. Changes in the total antioxidant activity of blood and saliva can be multidirectional - an increase or decrease in the oral fluid indicator and a reduction in the parameter of blood plasma can be recorded. To resolve the emerging difficulties, there was proposed a parallel assessment of the dynamics of changes in the total antioxidant activity of blood plasma and oral fluid in the patients of 4 groups with nosological forms of fundamentally different in the distribution and localization of the pathological process, which include: phlegmons of the maxillofacial region, partial absence of teeth, type 2 diabetes mellitus and the pelvic inflammatory diseases. As a result of the conducted studies, it was shown that a simultaneous decrease in the total antioxidant activity of blood plasma and oral fluid was attributable to the chronic long-term somatic diseases of a systemic character with a significant metabolic disorder, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. A decrease in the total antioxidant activity of blood plasma and the unchanged oral fluid index was characteristic of somatic diseases of limited prevalence without affection of the maxillofacial region's tissues. In our case, such an example was a chronic inflammatory disease of the uterus with a combined course of bilateral salpingoophoritis. An increase in the oral fluid's total antioxidant activity on the background of a normal or even slightly reduced level of the antioxidant potential of blood plasma was characteristic of dental diseases. The latter situation was most likely for the dental profile diseases, in which damage to the oral tissues can provoke the leaching of cellular contents, including endogenous antioxidants or other components of regenerative activity in the oral fluid. Herein, changes in the antioxidant activity of blood plasma may reflect the prevalence of a pathological process at the systemic level or its limitation only to the dentoalveolar system's tissues and elements. As an example of such a situation, the patients with phlegmon of the maxillofacial region or patients with partial absence of teeth can be cited.

[Outcomes of cardiac achalasia grade II-III management]. / Sposoblecheniia akhalazii kardii II-III stadii.

AIM: To analyze early and remote results of the new method of cardiac achalasia grade II-III management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Original surgical approach was applied in 21 patients with cardiac achalasia grade II-III. RESULTS: There were no any specific postoperative complications and deaths. Exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, acute stomach ulcer and biliary peritonitis were observed in 3 cases respectively. All patients were followed-up within the period from 1.5 months to 5 years after surgery. Recurrent disease was absent. All employable patients have backed to work. CONCLUSION: According to clinical and instrumental data original surgical repair completely cures the symptoms of cardiac achalasia and restores normal esophageal dimensions and structure early after intervention.

The influence of topological phase transition on the superfluid density of overdoped copper oxides.

We show that a quantum phase transition, generating flat bands and altering Fermi surface topology, is a primary reason for the exotic behavior of the overdoped high-temperature superconductors represented by La2-xSrxCuO4, whose superconductivity features differ from what is predicted by the classical Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory. This observation can open avenues for chemical preparation of high-Tc materials. We demonstrate that (1) at temperature T = 0, the superfluid density ns turns out to be considerably smaller than the total electron density; (2) the critical temperature Tc is controlled by ns rather than by doping, and is a linear function of the ns; (3) at T > Tc the resistivity ρ(T) varies linearly with temperature, ρ(T) ∝ αT, where α diminishes with Tc → 0, whereas in the normal (non superconducting) region induced by overdoping, Tc = 0, and ρ(T) ∝ T2. Our results are in good agreement with recent experimental observations.

[Clinical and metabolic features of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in men and women]. / Klinicheskie i metabolicheskie osobennosti nealkogol'noi zhirovoi bolezni pecheni u muzhchin i zhenshchin.

AIM: To evaluate clinical features and metabolic disorders in men and women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

[The metabolic correction of the experimental alloxan diabetes by means of the antioxidant remedies].

The research concerning the effect of the remedies with the different antioxidant mechanisms on the indices of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism as well as the thiol link of the antioxidant system and the functional detoxication system in modeling conditions of the decompensated alloxan diabetes mellitus have been presented. The research was performed on 105 white nonlinear male-rats with initial body weight (b.w.) 200-230 g, divided into seven groups. Group 1 has consisted of the intact animals. Group 2 (the comparison group) has consisted of the animals suffering from the severe alloxan diabetes mellitus (intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate at 10 mg/100 g b.w. three times, with an interval of one day, against fasting) without correction. In groups 3-7 diabetes mellitus has also been modeled. The animals of group 3 were fed by the diet with the supplement containing the antioxidant complex with high content of carotenoid substances (1 mg lutein per day, orally for a month before simulations of diabetes mellitus and for a month after). The animals of group 4 have been given the sodium dichloroacetate (15 mg/100g bw) with drinking water for the month before and a month after the modeling of diabetes. The animals of group 5 have been injected with the reduced glutathione (15 mg/100 g of b.w.) daily one week prior to administration of alloxan and until the end of the experiment, the animals of group 6 have been injected with the quercithin (10 mg/100 g of b.w.) and the rats of group 7 have been given the water with the reduced content of deuterium (91 mg/l) instead of the usual drinking water. The development of experimental alloxan diabetes mellitus in rats has been accompanied by the increase in blood plasma of glucose concentration by 6.9-fold, cholesterol and lipoproteins of low density by 66 and 100% respectively. The compensatory activity increase of the antiradical protective enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) as well as the concentration decrease of reduced glutathione in erythrocytes by 11% have been revealed. According to the data concerning the level of the molecules with medium and low mass in blood plasma as well as in erythrocytes, the evident endogenous intoxication has taken place. The performed researches have proved the presence of the significant hypoglycemic effect of the usage of sodium dichloroacetate, of the water with the reduced content of deuterium and of quercithin - the glucose concentration in these groups was lower than in the comparison group by 36, 33 and 47% respectively. In the same groups as well as in the group of rats injected with glutathione the hypolipidemic effect of various manifestation degree has been detected, the most evident in animals from group 7 in which all the indices except triglycerides haven't differed from indices of the control group. The usage of various corrective methods has also assisted the adequate functioning of the antioxidant system that has been proved by the normalization of glutathione content except of groups 3 and 6 in which its concentration was lower than the control indices by 25 and 12% respectively. Endogenous intoxication has been significantly lower in groups 4, 5 and 7 in which the level of molecular of medium and low mass in blood plasma was normal and only in erythrocyte mass was increased by 49-74% than in the control group. Thus, the data obtained prove the usage availability of the antioxidant remedies in the complex therapy in patients suffering from the diabetes mellitus. The most interesting is the usage of antioxidants with the indirect mechanism of action, i.e. the water with the reduced content of deuterium and sodium dichloroacetate. Quercithin and the reduced glutathione deserve attention as well, and considering the hypoglycemic effect of the first one and the metabolic effects of glutathione aimed at the functioning maintenance of the non-specific organism resistance, the possibility of the combined usage of both antioxidants should be taken into account.

[Influence of linseed oil and deiterium depleted water on isotopic D/H composition and functional antioxidant defense of the hepatobiliary system in rabbits with carbon tetrachloride intoxication].

The article presents results of studying the influence of linseed oil and drinking diet with a modified isotopic composition with low deuterium content on indicators of prooxidant-antioxidant system during modeling of liver toxicity. The research was performed on 36 rabbits (weighing 3.1-3.5 kg) which were divided into 4 groups. Group 1 consisted of control animals; in group 2, 3 and 4 in rabbits the liver toxicity was modeled by administration of CCl4 (intraperitoneally, in the form of a 50% oil solution, 1 ml per kg bw, 2 times a week for 30 days); nutritional correction using flaxseed oil (0.1 ml per 100 g bw) and drinking diet with deuterium depleted water (50 ppm) was carried out in animals from groups 3 and 4 respectively, for 30 days prior to simulation of toxic hepatitis and more throughout the experiment. Using the method of nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry the influence of deuterium depleted water on D/H composition of the blood plasma, bile and liver tissues was determined: the deuterium concentration in these biological materials significant decreased. The most significant decrease in the deuterium content (30.2% compared with the control group) was found in bloodplasma in animals from group 4. The study of the state of prooxidant-antioxidant balance of the liver and bile showed oxidative stress at the local level, with the toxic effects of carbon tetrachloride. This was followed by EPR spectroscopy data pronounced increase of the number of paramagnetic centers in the hepatocytes by 5.4, 1.9 and 2.8 fold in animals of 2, 3 and 4 groups, respectively (compared to the indicators of the first group). There was also increase in the intensity of free radical oxidation processes in the bile with a simultaneous reduction of its antioxidant activity, which was significantly less distinct (on average 51.18-59.8%, p<0.05) in animals treated with nutritional correction, indicating that higher functional activity of protective systems involved in recycling prooxidant factors using dietary lipophilic antioxidants and water with low deuterium content. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that existing in the liver and bile autonomous mechanisms of regulation of the state of prooxidant-antioxidant systems are quite sensitive to the effects of antioxidant factors of lipophilic nature and shifts of isotopic D/H gradient, and suggest usefulness of the products that can affect these indicators to increase adaptive capabilities of the organism during intoxication.

NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN ELDERLY.

AIM: The study of the clinical course and metabolic disorders in patients nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) elderly. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 153 patients with NAFLD was investigated, including 97 men and 56 women. In comparative terms we studied clinical manifestations of NAFLD. All patients NAFLD was verified for the first time. We studied the functional state of the liver function, lipid, carbohydrate and porphyrin metabolism, insulin resistance. RESULTS: Revealed comorbid pathology, which is predominantly observed in elderly patients. Disturbances in lipid metabolism and insulin resistance hyperinsulinemiya and proved to be more significant in young patients. Disorders of porphyrin metabolism observed in most patients. Disorders are variable. Do young people have dominated the initial disorder, on the other hand more often in elderly patients were observed faction (later) porphyrin metabolism disorders. CONCLUSION: Studies suggest that the main pathophysiologic and pathogenetic processes of formation of NAFLD (insulin resistance and dyslipidemia) significantly more pronounced in younger patients. This fact suggests that NAFLD is mainly formed at a young age. Elderly patients have comorbid pathology.

[Preparation stimulating hair growth possibly acts by inhibiting hair follicle ageing experiments on mice and transcriptome analysis].

Preparation stimulating hair growth (PSHG) was studied on mice of various strains (Balb/c, CBA, C57BI/6, and outbred). It was shown that a long-term (44 months) application of PSHG does not reliably affect the appearance of young healthy mice but does induce increase in the hair follicle size. No adverse consequences of the PSHG application were observed. Naturally occurring propagating regenerative hair waves peculiar to mice were preserved. In older mice (more than 2 years) with signs of alopecia, application of PSHG caused an overgrowing of bald patches within two months. Transcriptome analysis of the PSHG effect performed in fibroblast cell culture showed that PSHG stimulates processes of tissue development and remodeling. These observations together with previous findings showing that PSHG stimulates autophagy and induces death of cells subjected to oxidative stress may suggest that the mechanism of the PSHG effect involves stimulation of regeneration of skin and its derivatives owing to more efficient elimination of senescent and damaged follicle cells.

Modification of human fibroblast properties in microtransplant.

We studied the properties of human skin fibroblast in filamentous polyglycolic microtransplant. Fibroblast adhesion to the microtransplant filaments is followed by the formation of a network cross-linked with fibroblasts. The cells rapidly proliferate during the first few days; after transfer of the microtransplant to the standard culture flask, the cells migrate to the plastic and continue proliferation. The cells are uniform and exhibit high colony-formation capacity. The bundles of microtransplant filaments persist in the culture for several days and through the cells completely leave them, the area around these filaments remains the most populated for 40 days. Mitotic cells are seen in the immediate proximity to the degrading filaments of the transplant. The effect of cell "rejuvenation" in the microtransplant can be explained by selection of cells by their adhesion to relatively thin (about 15 µ) filaments, which excludes large old cells.

Changes in Cabernet Sauvignon yield and berry quality as affected by variability in weather conditions in the last two decades in Lebanon.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted cultivar in Lebanese vineyards. This study investigated the variation of its production at two vineyards 'Kanafar' (West Bekaa at 1020 m.a.s.l) and 'Taanayel' (Central Bekaa at 800 m.a.s.l) and their interactions with weather conditions from 2006 till 2018. Evaluation of climate records denoted interannual variability in weather conditions occurring in 2015 in Kanafar and in 2008 in Taanayel. Average yield peaked in 2009 in Kanafar (19,187.0 kg ha-1) and in 2011 in Taanayel (14,279.0 kg ha-1), both years marked a turning point after which values of average yield shifted downwards (by 31-67% in Kanafar, and 14-82% in Taanayel). At Kanafar, after 2015, averages of yield, weight of 200 berries (W200B), potential alcohol (PA), and total polyphenolic richness (TPR) decreased by 35%, 1.5%, 36.2 g, and 50%, respectively. In Taanayel, only TPR content in berries was significantly affected by varying weather conditions (decrease by 20%). Also, TPR values followed a progressive decreasing pattern starting from 2006 at both vineyards with minor exceptions. Multiple regression analysis assessed the relationship between various indicators and weather variables at each vineyard. It showed that the decrease in yield at Kanafar correlated with higher temperature during the growing season (by 0.6 °C), higher solar radiation from early-spring to early-summer (by 13.9-27.1 W m-2), and lower values of maximum wind speed during mid to late summer (by 0.4 m s-1), occurring during 2016, 2017, and 2018 at Kanafar. The model explained 60% of yield variations at this vineyard. Further, weather variables accounted for 61% (R2 = 0.61) of changes in PA and for 58% (R2 = 0.58) of TPR of berries at Kanafar. Conclusively, interannual variability in weather conditions had more serious negative influence on Cabernet Sauvignon production at Kanafar than at Taanayel, but had a similar negative influence on polyphenols accumulation in berries, and thus on potential wine quality produced at both vineyards.

[Possible role of autophagy activation in the stimulation of regeneration].

Human cell senescence occurs unevenly and senescent cells in tissues frequently can disturb the function of neighbouring nonsenescent ones. Setting of tissues regeneration can have profound practical significance in medicine, especially in geriatrics. One of the approaches to solve the problem is selective elimination of senescent and damaged cells from the tissues that can be the first phase of the process. During the investigation of the mechanisms of action of the preparation for hair growth stimulation it was discovered that this preparation does not stimulate proliferation of various human cells and does not increase the resistance of cells to stress. On the contrary the preparation becomes cytotoxic at the conditions of oxidative stress although on its own account it did not induce elevation of production of reactive oxygen species. Further investigations showed that the preparation increases transcriptional activity of p53 gene, increase autophagy level and induce weak adipogenic differentiation. The hypothesis of autophagic regeneration is discussed. As a result, the selective autophagic cell death of any senescent and damaged cells that undergoes oxidative stress triggers the regeneration process which can be increased by both the rejuvenation effect of increased autophagy and at the expense of nutrients released during the autophagy.

[Status epilepticus in a pregnant patient with a previously unrecognized POLG-associated disease]. / Epilepticheskii status u beremennoi patsientki s vpervye vyyavlennym POLG-assotsiirovannym zabolevaniem.

POLG-associated diseases are rare causes of pharmacoresistant epilepsy and status epilepticus, especially in adult patients. Phenotypic and genotypic variability in these conditions causes the complexity of their diagnosis. In the study, we report a case of a 33-year-old female patient who developed recurrent convulsive status epilepticus with focal clonic onset at the week 22/23 of pregnancy. Intensive anti-seizure therapy was administered, including the use of valproic acid, as well as the treatment of somatic complications. Given the acute onset, the semiology of seizures, the presence of psychopathological symptoms, autoimmune etiology of the disease was initially suspected. A month after the withdrawal of valproic acid, the patient began to show signs of toxic hepatitis, which eventually led to death. According to the results of whole-exome sequencing obtained later, the patient was a carrier of a pathogenic homozygous variant c.2243G>C (p.W748S) in the POLG gene. The presented case highlights the importance of molecular genetic testing and the risk associated with valproic acid hepatotoxicity in patients with cryptogenic epileptic status.

Image formation in CARS and SRS: effect of an inhomogeneous nonresonant background medium.

We investigate the role of a spatially inhomogenous nonresonant background medium on several Raman-based imaging modalities. In particular, we consider a small resonant bead submerged in a spatially heterogeneous nonresonant χ(3) background. Using detailed 3D electrodynamic simulations, we compare coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), frequency-modulated CARS, amplitude-modulated stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), and frequency-modulated SRS. We find that only FM-SRS is background-free.

Channeling of relativistic laser pulses, surface waves, and electron acceleration.

The interaction of a high-energy relativistic laser pulse with an underdense plasma is studied by means of 3-dimensional particle in cell simulations and theoretical analysis. For powers above the threshold for channeling, the laser pulse propagates as a single mode in an electron-free channel during a time of the order of 1 picosecond. The steep laser front gives rise to the excitation of a surface wave along the sharp boundaries of the ion channel. The surface wave first traps electrons at the channel wall and preaccelerates them to relativistic energies. These particles then have enough energy to be further accelerated in a second stage through an interplay between the acceleration due to the betatron resonance and the acceleration caused by the longitudinal part of the surface wave electric field. It is necessary to introduce this two-stage process to explain the large number of high-energy electrons observed in the simulations.

[Increasing the resolution of chromosome analysis using pyrido[1,2alpha]benzimidazoles].

We studied the influence of three derivatives of pyrido[1,2alpha]benzimidazoles (PBIs), which have DNA-intercalating properties, on plant mitotic chromosome condensation, in order to increase the resolution of chromosome analysis. The efficiency of the influence of these agents was assessed using the median chromosome length on chromosome slides, as well as by the number and size of chromosome DAPI bands. We used the third chromosome of Linum grandiflorum Desf. in these experiments. The chromosome was identified on the slides using its DAPI band pattern and a molecular marker, viz., the 5S rDNA site, which is located in the proximal region of the long arm of the chromosome. The influence of the well-known 9-aminoacridine (9-AMA) DNA intercalator, which is widely used in karyotype studies of short-chromosome organisms, was used as a control in all of the experiments. It was found that the influence of each of the three PBIs in the study on the root meristem of L. grandiflorum resulted in an increase in the median length of the third chromosome, the linear centromeric DAPI band size, and the number ofintercalary DAPI bands. All three PBIs acted more efficiently than 9-AMA. The median chromosome length was increased by 15-40% and the number of intercalary bands increased by 1.5-3 times after PBI treatment, as compared to 9-AMA treatment. At the same time, 7-CF3-PBI, in a similar manner to 9-AMA, did not change the relative size of the centromeric DAPI band, while 7-NH2-PBI and 7-CF3-9-NH2-PBI gradually increased this parameter. It is concluded that these substances can be used as intercalating agents in cytogenetic studies in order to increase the resolution of chromosome analysis.

[Comparative cytogenetic study of the forms of Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br. from different localities].

A comparative cytogenetic study of two introduced forms of Makleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br. = syn. Bocconia cordata Willd. grown in different ecological and geographical regions (Moscow and Donetsk areas) was carried out. In the study, a complex of methods utilizing various chromosomal markers, i.e., C- and DAPI-banding technique, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes of26S and 5S rDNA, as well as estimation of the total area of C-positive regions (C-HCH) in prophase nucleoli and meiosis analysis, was used. In the karyotypes (2n = 20), each chromosome was identified on the basis of C-banding and FISH patterns and the chromosome ideograms were built. Pericentrometric and telomeric C-positive bands in chromosomes of the Moscow form karyotype were found to be smaller and intercalary bands, larger than the corresponding bands in the M. cordata form grown in Donetsk. It was found that the content of C-HCH in prophase nucleoli in the form of M. cordata grown in Donetsk was higher than in the form grown in Moscow. In both forms sites of 26S rDNA and 5s rDNA were localized on satellite chromosome 1 and on chromosome 4 respectively but the signals were more intensive in the plant form grown in Donetsk. The results of this study enable selecting M. cordata forms for use in pharmacology and recommending them for cultivation in various ecological and geographical regions.

[Control of nanoparticles in food and biological objects. Report 2. Filtration, centrifugation, spectral methods and electrophoresis].

The large number of the analysis methods of engineered nanoparticles and nanoobjects as a part of disperse systems on the basis of principles of a membrane filtration (micro, ultra- and a nanofiltration) ultracentrifugation, spectral methods, including dynamic and static laser light scattering, Raman light scattering, low-angle X-ray scattering, x-ray techniques, laser decomposition spectroscopy, and other methods are developed. Mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma can be successfully used in studying of nanomaterials chemical composition in conditions when there is additional independent information on presence of analyzed substance in a nanoscale form. Methods of electrophoresis in a supportive environment and capillary electrophoresis are beginning to be successfully applied in the study of artificial nanomaterials. However, in terms of the identification of engineered nanoparticles and nanoobjects in complex, multicomponent, heterophase systems, that the objects of the environment and, in particular, food products are, all these methods currently can't compete transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, specified for purpose of certain particular applications, features of which been described in a previous eport in detail.