Responses of Aquatic Organisms to Cyanobacteria and Elodea in Microcosms.

The aim of the present study is investigation of the impact of mass development of cyanobacteria and Elodea on population characteristics (abundance, biomass, fecundity) and "health" parameters (the state of embryos, heart rate, and thermal resistance) of aquatic invertebrates in experiments with controlled conditions. In July-August 2018, in four variants of microcosms, the conditions were modeled characteristic of the coastal zone of the Rybinsk Reservoir in the period of mass development of cyanobacteria. Mass species were placed in microcosms of planktonic (with domination (80%) Daphnia longispina) and bottom animals (Unio pictorum, Gmelinoides fasciatus, Asellus aquaticus), as well as Elodea canadensis. In the variants with cyanobacteria, the toxic microcystins LR were revealed (24-53% of the sum of toxins, or from 6.6-66.5 µg/L). The presence of cyanobacteria (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Gloeoitrichia spp.) influenced structural parameters of plankton: the quantity to green algae decreased, small-sized crustaceans increased. Influence of cyanobacteria caused reliable changes in parameters of aquatic animal from those of the control: thermal resitance of mollusks and amphipods decreased, time of restoration of heart rate after loads (salinity test) in mollusks increased; in amphipods, individual fecundity decreased, frequency of abnormalities and of mortality of embryos increased. The presence of Elodea intensified these effects. Thus, mass development of cyanobacteria and Elodea influences ecological-physiological parameters of aquatic animals, decreasing their adaptivity to natural stresses and deteriorating the quality of the progeny.

[Population dynamics of Daphnia longispina (O.F. Müller, 1785) and Diaphanosoma brachyurum (Lievin, 1848) (Crustacea, Cladocera) under stable and graded temperature regimes].

Laboratory experiments have been performed to study the effects of different temperature regimes-constant (16.3 +/- 0.8, 20.3 +/- 0.8, and 24.6 +/- 0.7 degrees C) and graded, with temperatures changing at intervals of 4.4 or 8.8 degrees C within the range of 15.1-25.4 degrees C--on the population dynamics of two dominant species of littoral zooplankton, Daphnia longispina and Diaphanosoma brachyurum. The results show that aperiodic stepwise changes in temperature within the ranges of 16.3-20.4, 20.4-25.1, and 16.3-25.1 degrees C, which may take place in water bodies of the temperate zone in the summer period, can exert either stimulating (direct or delayed) or inhibitory effect on the natural development of D. longispina populations. The development of D. brachyurum, a more stenothermic thermophile, is stimulated only by a stable elevated temperature (24.5 +/- 0.9 degrees C). All temperature changes within the above range, except for rapid heating from 16.3 to 25.1 degrees C, either inhibit the development of D. brachyurum populations or have no significant effect on them.

[Nerve regulation of cardiac rhythm in rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis patients]. / Izuchenie nervnoi reguliatsii serdechnogo ritma u bol'nykh revmatoidnym artritom i rasseiannym sklerozom.

AIM: To study nervous regulation of cardiac rhythm (CR) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nervous regulation of cardiac rhythm was studied in 57 patients with RA and MS vs 40 healthy subjects. RESULTS: It was found that nervous regulation of CR in RA and MS patients at rest is characterized by imbalance of functions of the autonomic nervous system with enhancement of ergotropic effects in patients with RA and deficiency of trophotropic impacts in growing ergotropic component in patients with MS. Stress tests led to dysfunction of CR central regulation with disturbed activity of the subcortical nervous centers (SNC) and autonomic maintenance of the processes, were characterized in emotional stress by insufficient activity of SNC and enhancement of parasympathetic effects in RA patients, hyperactivation of SNC with intensification of sympathetic impacts in MS patients manifesting in destabilizing effect of the sympathetic nervous system in both groups of patients. CONCLUSION: The findings should be taken into consideration when vegetotropic drugs are used in the treatment of RA and MS patients.

Circadian variations of melatonin concentration in saliva and blood content of immunocompetent cells in healthy individuals.

Salivary content of melatonin and parameters of the immune status were studied in young healthy individuals. Morning and evening levels of melatonin showed different correlations with some immunity parameters. It was assumed that the degree and type of correlation between the immune system and melatonin depend on the phase of circadian cycle, which should be considered during evaluation of immunoendocrine status.

[Nerve regulation of the heart rhythm in patients with chronic inflammation]. / Izuchenie nervnoi reguliatsii serdechnogo ritma u bol'nykh s khronicheskim vospaleniem.

AIM: To study nervous regulation of cardiac rate variability (CRV) in patients with chronic inflammation (CI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The computer version of CRV assessment was used in the study of 79 CI patients and 40 healthy controls. RESULTS: Nervous regulation of cardiac rhythm in CI patients at rest is characterized with imbalance of autonomic nervous system functions: potent sympathetic effects and weak parasympathetic effects in patients with herpes simplex virus infection; stability of parasympathetic influences with sympathetic variability in patients with chronic bronchitis. Using the emotional and physical tests it was found that there is a deficiency of sympathetic effects in patients with chronic bronchitis and parasympathetic dysfunction in patients with HSV infection. CONCLUSION: It is thought valid to include vegetotropic drugs in therapy of patients with chronic inflammation.

[Immune status of patients with chronic bronchitis and neurocirculatory asthenia]. / Osobennosti immunnogo statusa bol'nykh khronicheskim bronkhitom s priznakami sindroma vegetativnoi distonii.

AIM: To study changes in immune system of patients with various forms of chronic bronchitis (CB) and neurocirculatory asthenia (NCA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Neurological and immunological examinations were made in 84 patients with CB exacerbation and 51 control subjects. RESULTS: It was found that 60% of CB patients had NCA. No negative effects of NCA on immune system in CB patients were registered. Suppression of immune system and secondary immunodeficiency occurred more frequently in CB patients without signs of NCA. 40% of CB patients had vagotonic NCA in which immunological disorders manifested most clearly. CONCLUSION: Vegetative disorders in CB patients do not affect immunological system. Functional testing of autonomic nervous system is suggested for prediction of immune system condition.

[The immune status characteristics of patients with autonomic disorders]. / Kharakteristika immunnogo statusa u bol'nykh s vegetativnymi narusheniiami.

The state of immune system was examined in 133 patients with different clinical variants of vegetovascular dystonia (VVD). The following disorders were found: T-lymphopenia, increased concentrations of immunoglobulins A and M, elevated functional activity of monocytes in peripheral blood. The most pronounced T-lymphopenia was found in patients with vagoinsular form of VVD. The signs of secondary immunodeficiency were observed in patients with autonomic dysfunction. Their frequency and structure depended on the type and form of VVD. The most frequent laboratory signs of secondary immunodeficiency were registered in sympathoadrenal VVD form without clinical signs of somatic pathology.

[Characteristics of secondary immunodeficiency in patients with neurocirculatory dystonia]. / Kharakteristika vtorichnogo immunodefitsita u bol'nykh tsirkuliatornoi distoniei.

AIM: Investigation of clinical-laboratory parameters of secondary immunodeficiency (SID) in patients with neurocirculatory dystonia (NSD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vegetative and immunological statuses were assessed in 104 males aged 30 to 57 years with NSD exposed to 0.01-0.1 Gy radiation after the Chernobyl accident. RESULTS: The patients were diagnosed to have SID the types and forms of which differed with NSD type. Symptoms of SID were evident in 29, 18, 13 and 83% of patients with mixed, hypotonic, hypertonic NSD, NSD without somatic disorders, respectively. CONCLUSION: As 85% of the examinees had SID, it is necessary to treat NSD with immunomodulation adjusted to each NSD type.

[Seasonal changes of secondary immunodeficiency in patients with vascular dystonia]. / Sezonnye izmeneniia struktury vtorichnogo immunodefitsita u bol'nykh s vegetososudistoi distoniei.

The examination of 60 patients with vascular dystonia (VD) and immunological disorders shows that secondary immunodeficiency is not a stable condition. It is associated with seasons of the year and VD variants. Secondary immunodeficiency is more pronounced in winter. A correlation exists between mixed vegetative vascular dystonia and combined T-lymphocyte secondary immunodeficiency in winter. The findings may help in planning immunotherapy in "critical seasons" for patients with vegetative disorders.