Wound healing activity of aqueous dispersion of fullerene C60 produced by "green technology".

In addition to exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, fullerene C60 is a promising wound healing agent. An important stage in the production of fullerene-based ointments is the stability of the aqueous fullerene dispersion (AFD) with minimum size of colloidal fullerene aggregates and sufficiently high concentration. To achieve these parameters tangential flow filtration of fullerene C60 was used ("green technology"). As estimated by small-angle neutron scattering and dynamic light scattering purified AFDs with narrow-size distribution nanoclusters have a size of 6 nm and are assembled into agglomerates which reach a size of 150 nm. The ability of the AFD to exhibit regenerative activity was studied using the animal wound model. This study shows for the first time that the fullerene-based composition stimulates the healing of wounds of various origins. We assume that the mechanism of the AFD wound-healing activity is associated with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and macrophages activity.

[Experience of using dupilumab in the treatment of severe asthma].

The article provides data on modern approaches to the treatment of patients with severe uncontrolled bronchial asthma with an emphasis on the use of dupilumab, a human recombinant monoclonal antibody to the alpha subunit of the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor, which inhibits signal transmission from both IL-4 and IL-13. The results of dupilumab pivotal randomized clinical trials DRI12544, QUEST and VENTURE are summarized. Indications for use of this medicinal product are listed in Federal Clinical Guidelines on the management of asthma (year of revision 2019). Clinical cases with various clinical course of bronchial asthma are described, including cases with frequent exacerbations. In conclusion, dupilumab could be a treatment of choice for the patients with severe bronchial asthma and it is reasonable from an economic, clinical and pathogenetic point of view.

Novel Polycationic Photosensitizers for Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy.

Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (APDT) is a promising method of treating local infected foci, in particular, surgical and burn wounds, trophic and diabetic ulcers. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is able to effectively destroy bacterial cells without them developing resistance in response to treatment.This work was dedicated to the study of photophysical and antibacterial properties of new photosensitizers (PS) based on polycationic phthalocyanines and synthetic bacteriochlorins for photodynamic inactivation of P. aeruginosa bacteria and their biofilms. Gram-negative bacteria P. aeruginosa are often found in infected wounds, presumably in biofilm state and are characterized by rather low susceptibility to APDT, which is a problem. PS were studied for possible aggregation at various concentrations by means of absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The results of studies of the ZnPcChol8, (3-PyHp)4BCBr4 and (3-PyEBr)4BCBr4 in water and serum confirm the assumption of a low degree of their aggregation at high concentrations.Consequently, their photodynamic efficiency is high enabling to use these PS at high concentrations to sensitize pathological foci for APDT.It was shown that all the investigated PS had a high efficiency of photodynamic inactivation of Gram-negative bacteria P. aeruginosa, as well as their biofilms. Tetracationic hydrophilic near-infrared photosensitizer (3-PyEBr)4BCBr4 with reduced molecule size had significantly higher efficacy of photodynamic inactivation of P. aeruginosa biofilms compared with other studied photosensitizers.

[Attitudes toward aging prevention: results of a focus groups study].

Emerging life extension technologies, as well as some already existing biomedical interventions to prevent ageing-related pathological processes, have significant potential to alleviate the burden of disease in the aging world. However, promoting these technologies requires research in public opinion and the use of marketing techniques. We studied social attitudes towards life extension technologies and geroprotective medicine use with 3 focus groups. The total sample included 18 people with university degrees, 25-70 years old, and living in Moscow (Russia). The tested messages were obtained in advance by the survey of 30 experts in gerontology. The focus group participants got most convinced with the messages that aging prevention is a way to live longer and healthier lives. Despite the concerns of the experts, the idea that aging is a disease convinces considerable share of the informants when the scientific evidences of the connection between aging processes and aging-related health damage are provided. Research details in general made the human life extension feasibility more convincing. Introducing new agendas into discussion (pensions, overpopulation, etc.) turned out to be counterproductive due to new counterarguments emerging in the group discussions. The idea of radical life extension (i.e. reaching lifespan of 200+ years) was perceived skeptically. Some skepticism was attributed to mistrust and disappointment in the modern healthcare system in general. Gene therapies were perceived with caution. The word «geroprotector¼ is not well known even to the educated general public.

Dynamics of behavioral disorders in transgenic mice with modeled Alzheimer's disease.

Age-related development of behavioral disorders in transgenic mice with modeled Alzheimer's disease carrying V6S3-Tg(APP695)85Dbo Tg(PSENI)85Dbo) genotype was assessed at the age of 7.5, 10 and 20 months in the following tests: open-field, plus maze, T-maze, conditioned passive avoidance response, rotarod, conflict situation with water deprivation, behavioral despair, and arecoline tremor. The main behavioral disorder in transgenic mice at all observation terms was memory impairment in conditioning with positive (but not negative) reinforcement. At the age of 7.5 and 10 months, transgenic mice also showed signs of nonspecific excitement and anxiety, depression-like state, and symptoms of cholinergic deficit. Our results suggest that appropriate age for behavioral tests in studies of effects of potential anti-Alzheimer drugs in transgenic V6S3-Tg(APP695)85Dbo Tg(PSENI)85Dbo) mice is 7.5-10 months.

[PhD theses on gerontological topics in Russia 1995-2012: scientometric analysis].

The paper presents a scientometric analysis of PhD theses on gerontological topics in Russian humanities (excluding economics) for the period from 1995 to 2012. During this period, 253 PhD theses (238 of "candidate dissertations," and 15 of "doctoral dissertations") were defended in Russia. Almost half of them were defended during the boom years (2005-2006; 2009-2010). The number of theses defended in the 2000-s has increased significantly compared to the second half of 1990-s. However for gerontological PhD-s overall as a percentage of all theses defended in Russian humanities, the number hardly changed and remained small (less than 0.3%). The leading discipline in the study of aging (within the humanities) is sociology accounting for more than a third of all defended theses. Though the theses were defended in 48 cities, more than half of them were defended in 3 cities, which are Moscow, St. Petersburg and Saratov. Thematic analysis showed that the leading position was occupied by two topics: "the elderly and the state" (42%) and "(re)socialization/adaptation of the elderly" (25%). 14% of the works are devoted to intergenerational relations and social status of the elderly. Other topics (old man/woman's personality, self-perceptions of aging, violence and crime against the elderly, loneliness, discrimination, etc.) are presented by very few studies.

Soliton propagation in a medium with Kerr nonlinearity and resonant impurities: a variational approach.

Using a variational approach we have studied the shape preserving coherent propagation of light pulses in a resonant dispersive medium in the presence of the Kerr nonlinearity. Within the framework of a combined nonintegrable system composed of one nonlinear Schrödinger and a pair of Bloch equations, we show the existence of a solitary wave. We have tested our analytical solution through numerical simulations confirming its solitary wave nature.