Serum Mineral Levels in Dairy Cows Transiting from Feedlot to Pasture.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate trace element and minerals levels in the serum of cows transiting from diets consumed in feedlot or under grazing. A total of 30 healthy 5-6 years old cows of the Red Steppe breed were involved in the study. Blood samples were collected at the end of the feedlot period (end of April) and during the pasture period (end of June). Serum essential trace element and mineral levels were evaluated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The obtained data demonstrate that serum K levels in cows during the feedlot period exceeded those in the pasture period by 50%, whereas serum P values in the pasture period were significantly higher than in the feedlot period by 20%. Serum Li levels in cows during the feedlot feeding period were nearly 3-fold higher than the respective values in a pasture period. In addition, serum B, Sr, and Zn concentrations in cows during a pasture period exceeded those observed upon feedlot feeding by 38%, 40%, and 13%, respectively. In contrast, serum I and V levels in a feedlot period were 32% and 77% higher when compared to the respective values in a pasture period. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that Cr, Cu, I, Na, and V are positively associated with feedlot feeding. At the same time, serum Zn and to a lesser extent Sr values were directly associated with the pasture period. Therefore, the results of the present study demonstrated that feedlot and pasture rations have a significant impact on trace element and mineral metabolism in dairy cows.

Serum and Hair Trace Element and Mineral Levels in Dairy Cows in Relation to Daily Milk Yield.

The objective of the present study was to assess hair and serum trace element and mineral levels in dairy cows in relation to daily milk yield. A total of 70 healthy 5-6-year-old Simmental cows were divided into two groups (n = 35) with high and low daily milk yield using median as a cut-off value. Hair and serum trace element and mineral content was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. A nearly twofold difference in daily milk yield (43.8 ± 9.7 vs 21.3 ± 7.1 L/day, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with 11% lower hair Cu (p = 0.043) and 35% higher Se levels (p = 0.058) content when compared animals with lower daily milk yield. Serum trace element levels were found to be more tightly associated with milk productivity in dairy cows. Particularly, serum levels of Se and Zn were found to be 73 and 35% higher in cows with higher milk productivity in comparison to animals with lower milk production, respectively. Serum Co levels also tended to increase with higher milk productivity. Serum minerals including Ca, Mg, and P were also found to be higher in highly productive cows by 6%, 14%, and 71%, respectively. The overall regression model based on serum trace element and mineral levels accounted for 38% of daily milk production variability. Generally, improvement of essential trace element and mineral supply, as well as prevention of copper overload in dairy cows, may be considered the potential tool for modulation of milk productivity.

Speciation of Serum Copper and Zinc-Binding High- and Low-Molecular Mass Ligands in Dairy Cows Using HPLC-ICP-MS Technique.

The objective of the present study was assessment of the major copper and zinc species in dairy cow blood serum using a hybrid high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) technique. A total of seventeen 5-6-year-old female Simmental cows, cultivated in the Southern Ural region, were examined. Speciation of serum Cu and Zn was performed using chromatographic PerkinElmer Series 200 system equipped with Agilent Bio SEC-5 Column and docked with NexION 300D mass spectrometer. Analysis of serum 63Cu species revealed four major fractions containing 2.5% (A), 15.6% (B), 75.6% (C), and 11.9% (D) of total copper levels. The revealed fractions could be assigned to tetrameric and dimeric macroglobulin, ceruloplasmin, albumin, and low molecular mass (LMM) copper compounds, respectively. Minor fraction (E) containing <1% of total serum Cu levels may be represented by low-molecular mass Cu species. Speciation analysis also revealed four Zn fractions containing 6.3% (A), 16.9% (B), 71% (C), and 3% (D) of total Zn levels that may be attributed to zinc-bound tetrameric and dimeric macroglobulin, albumin, and Zn-amino acid compounds. Correlation analysis demonstrated that relative levels (%) of Zn-B (dimeric α2-macroglobulin), Zn-C (albumin), and Zn-D (LMM) fractions correlate inversely with Cu-A (monomeric α2-macroglobulin) (r = -0.600), Cu-D (albumin) (r = -0.696), and Cu-C (ceruloplasmin) (r = -0.652), respectively. The obtained data demonstrate the particular features of Zn and Cu transport in dairy cows that may be used for assessment of dietary status of trace elements.

The total accumulation of heavy metals in body in connection with the dairy productivity of cows.

Monitoring of health status and metabolism of dairy cows is essential for modern milk production. At the current level of productivity of dairy cows, in addition to essential elements, increasing attention must be paid to controlling the exchange of toxic elements, a significant number of which belong to the category of heavy metals. In this regard, the objective of our research was to study the relationship of pools of heavy metals in the body of dairy cows, evaluated according to hair composition and elemental composition of blood serum and milk productivity of animals. Assessment of trace element content in the samples was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Fat and protein content in milk was assessed by the FIL-IDF procedure. In order to assess the metabolic load of chemical elements in body of cows, the coefficient of total load Cload was calculated. It allowed us to divide all animals into three groups. Assessment of the content of 25 chemical elements in hair of cows revealed a general regularity of increase in average statistical values of concentrations of some elements with increasing load from 6.9 in group I to 10.7 in group II and 15.8 in group III. As Cload grew from 10.7 in group II to 15.8 in group III, the content of 20 chemical elements in the coat of animals from group III exceeded that in group II. Exceptions were only Ca, K, P, Se, and As. Thus, the productivity of dairy cows turned out to be interconnected not so much with the level of heavy metals (9 elements), but with a wider list of 20-23 chemical elements. Thus, the optimal course of metabolic processes in animal organism, coupled with the highest productivity, is possible when the internal environment of body is saturated with a certain amount of chemical elements. Accordingly, a lack or excess of these substances will be associated with a decrease in the efficiency of metabolism and animal productivity.

Data on rumen and faeces microbiota profiles of Yakutian and Kalmyk cattle revealed by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons.

It is known that the rumen microbiome directly or indirectly contributes to animal production, and may be a prospective target for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions [1]. At the same time, feed types and components of diet can influence the composition of the rumen microbiome [2,3]. Fluctuations in the composition of the digestive tract microbiota can alter the development, health, and productivity of cattle [4]. Many studies of cattle microbiomes have focussed on the rumen microbiota, whereas the faecal microbiota has received less attention [5], [6], [7]. Therefore, the features of the faecal and the ruminal microbiomes in different cattle breeds are yet to be studied. Here, we provided 16S rRNA gene amplicon data of the ruminal and the faecal microbiomes from Yakutian and Kalmyk cattle living in the Republic of Sakha, Yakutia, Russia. Total DNA was extracted from 13 faecal and 13 ruminal samples, and DNA libraries were prepared and sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq platform. Paired-end raw reads were processed, and final operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were assigned to the respective prokaryotic taxa using the RDP (Ribosomal Database Project) database. Analysis of the microbiome composition at the phylum level revealed very similar faecal microbiota between the introduced Kalmyk breed and the indigenous Yakutian breed, whereas the ruminal microbiomes of these breeds differed substantially in terms of relative abundance of some prokaryotic phyla. We believe that the data obtained may provide new insights into the dynamics of the ruminal and the faecal microbiota of cattle as well as disclose breed-specific features of ruminal microbiomes. Besides, these data will contribute to our understanding of the ruminal microbiome structure and function, and might be useful for the management of cattle feeding and ruminal methane production.

Elaboration of Screening Scales for Mental Development Problems Detection in Russian Preschool Children: Psychometric Approach.

BACKGROUND: computer-based screenings are usually used for early detection of a child's mental development problems. However, there are no such screenings in Russia yet. This study aimed to elaborate scales for rapid monitoring of mental development of 3-year-olds. METHODS: 863 children took part in the study, among them 814 children of the group Norm, 49 children with developmental delay (DD), including 23 children with symptoms of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). The multifactor study of mental development tool was used as a part of a software complex for longitudinal research for data collection. This study used a set of 233 tasks that were adequate for 3-year-olds. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used for the elaboration and factor validation of the scales. The structure of the relationship between scales and age was refined using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: as a result of the research, screening scales were elaborated: "Logical reasoning", "Motor skills", "General awareness", "Executive functions". The factor validity and reliability of scales were proved. The high discriminability of the scales in distinguishing the "Norm" and "DD" samples was revealed. The developed test norms take into account the child's age in days and allow identifying a "risk group" with an expected forecast accuracy of at least 90%. The obtained scales meet psychometric requirements for their application and allow creating an online screening system for wide application.

Use of nanoscale metals in poultry diet as a mineral feed additive.

The research was aimed at studying the efficiency of a nanoscale alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) to be used as a mineral additive for feeding broiler chickens, compared to inorganic and organic forms of these elements. Biochemical studies of the blood serum were performed using an automated analyzer. The mineral composition was determined by atomic emission and mass spectrometry (MS-ISP). The study was performed on broiler chickens of cross Smena 7 (n = 72) in the conditions of a vivarium. There were 3 treatment groups with 24 chickens in each. Replacing the inorganic form of mineral supplements with the nanosized alloy resulted in a positive productive effect, with a tendency to increasing the content of serum protein. The nanoscale form of metals improved (P ≤ 0.05) the activity of aminotransferases. At the same time, the liver microstructure of experimental groups is similar to that of the control. There was a moderate plethora and poor polymorphoncellular infiltration around the interlobular triads with a clear morphological organization of the stromal and parenchymal components of the liver. However, the lack of oxidative stress was confirmed by the dynamics of catalase (CT), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and the concentrations of which did not exceed the reference level. Replacing Cu and Zn sulfates with the nanoscale alloy (group 1) and organic form (group 2) of these elements in the diet of broiler chickens was accompanied by the increasing pool of these elements in the organisms at the end of the experiment. Copper was accumulated throughout the experiment in experimental group 1, compared to the reference, with the maximum difference in the liver of 36.5% (P ≤ 0.05), in the feathers 2.5 times (P ≤ 0.01). Assessment of the Zn level dynamics in the feathers revealed a well noticeable tendency to reducing its concentrations during the experiment in all groups. Against the background of feeding a nanoscale alloy, Zn concentration in the liver exceeded the reference by 66.8% (P ≤ 0.01) only at the end of the experiment. Thus, nanoscale forms of Cu and Zn have a cumulative effect, and may become an alternative to inorganic and organic forms of these elements in poultry nutrition.

The total content of toxic elements in horsehair given the level of essential elements.

Elemental status of 214 mares aged 3-7 years from 11 breeds was studied: Arabian purebred (n = 20), Bashkir (n = 20), Kabarda (n = 20), Vyatka (n = 20), Tuva (n = 19), Yakutsk (n = 30), Mezenskaya (n = 20), Thoroughbred (n = 20), Akhal-Teke (n = 20), Russian trotter (n = 15), Soviet Heavy Draft (n = 10) bred in 13 regions of Russia. The research objective is to study the content of chemical elements in hair from the horse's mane, depending on the sum of toxic elements in animal hair expressed in moles. The elemental composition of the hair was defined by atomic emission and mass spectrometry (AES and MS). Elemental composition of biosubstrates was studied by 25 indicators (Al, As, B, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, I, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Si, Sn, Hg, Sr, V, Zn). In the studies, an estimate of the total toxic load of the horse's body (∑tox) was given as the sum of mmoles of Al, Cd, Pb, Sn, Hg, and Sr in horsehair. Based on ∑tox percentile calculations, animals were divided into three groups up to 25 percentile (n = 54) with concentrations up to 1.09 mmol/kg, within the 25 and 75 percentile limits (n = 105) and over 75 percentile (n = 55) with a concentration above 6.08 mmol/kg. As follows from the obtained results, the ∑tox indicator in the mane's hair is closely connected with the total hair mineralization. For the studied range of ∑tox values, the relationship of this indicator with 13 essential and conditionally essential chemical elements is described. Moreover, as ∑tox increases, it indicates an increase in the concentration of eleven (Ca, P, Co, Cr, Fe, I, Mn, Li, Ni, V, As) and a decrease of two elements in hair (B, Si); for six elements (K, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn, Sn), such a connection was not revealed. At ∑tox values higher than 75 percentile, a critical increase in the exchange pools of two or more toxic elements in the body was observed in 85% of cases. Intensive exchange of selenium and iodine is observed; it is expressed by an increase in the number of animals with the content of these elements in hair beyond the "physiological standard," estimated as the range of 25-75 percentile.

The content of toxic elements in hair of dairy cows as an indicator of productivity and elemental status of animals.

The study was conducted on a model of dairy cows of the Holstein breed. At the first stage of research, the elemental composition of cow hair was studied (n = 198). Based on this study, the percentile intervals of chemical elements concentrations in hair were established; values of 25 and 75 percentiles were determined, and they were considered as "physiological standard." At the second stage, the elemental composition of hair from the upper part of withers of highly productive Holstein cows during the period of increasing milk yield was analyzed (n = 47). The elemental composition of biological substrates was studied according to 25 indicators, using the methods of atomic emission and mass spectrometry (AES-ICP and MS-ICP). An assessment of productivity parameters of cows depending on the level of toxic elements in hair revealed a negative statistically significant relationship with the level of lead. Lead content in hair was negatively correlated with the yield of fat (r = - 0.50), protein (r = - 0.37), and dry matter (r = - 0.48) in milk. Based on these data, cows were divided into three groups: group I, with Pb concentration in hair 0.0245-0.0449 mg/g, group II-between 0.0495 and 0.141 mg/kg, and in group III-between 0.145 and 0.247 mg/g. It was established that increasing Pb content decreases daily production of milk fat by 18.8 (P ≤ 0.05) and 25.3% (P ≤ 0.05), protein by 9.7 (P ≤ 0.05) and 10.7% (P ≤ 0.05), and dry matter by 8.0 and 13.0% (P ≤ 0.05) in cows. Average daily milk yield, adjusted for 1% of fat, decreased by 19.2 (P ≤ 0.05) and 25.3% (P ≤ 0.05), respectively. As the concentration of lead in hair increased, the content of toxic elements (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sn, Sr) increased from 0.07 to 0.235 mmol/kg in group I, in group II from 0.082 to 0.266 mmol/kg, and in group III-from 0.126 to 0.337 mmol/kg. It was concluded that it is necessary to further study the use of physiological standard indicators of the content of toxic chemical elements in hair of dairy cows to increase productivity and maintain animal health and to create an effective system of individual health monitoring of highly productive cattle.

Assessment of the structural reorganization of liver and biochemical parameters of blood serum after introduction of zinc nanoparticles and its oxides.

The demand for nanoparticles of metals and their oxides in medicine and biology is indisputable. To ensure the safe use of the unique capabilities of nanostructures, in particular, essential metals and their oxides, and to further search for ways leveling side effects of toxic effects in biomedical applications, a multifaceted approach to the study of their properties is needed, primarily affecting the effects on the organism level. In this connection, the purpose of the present research was to study the effect of zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on structural reorganization of the liver and morpho-biochemical parameters of rat blood. The test substances exhibit a hepatotoxic effect upon their single intraperitoneal administration to rats. In the experiment, increased activity of gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), increased expression of caspase-3, the presence of signs of oxidative stress, inflammation, and capillary-trophic insufficiency, and induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and colony stimulating factor 2 (granulocyte-macrophage) (GM-CSF) were registered in the experiment. The level of interferon-γ in the experimental groups tended to decrease in comparison with the control group. The observed effects progressed in time, most noticeably manifested in the case of ZnONPs. Comparing the dosages, ZnNPs are less toxic than ZnONPs.

Assessment of Gender Effects and Reference Values of Mane Hair Trace Element Content in English Thoroughbred Horses (North Caucasus, Russia) Using ICP-DRC-MS.

The objective of the present study was assessment of gender differences in hair trace element content in English Thoroughbred horses (North Caucasus, Russia) using ICP-DRC-MS and calculation of the reference values. Trace element content in mane hair of 190 stallions and 94 mares (3-7 years old) bred in North Caucasus (Russia) was assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Mane hair Co, Cr, Mn, Li, Si, and Sr levels in mares exceeded those in stallions by 77%, 63%, 64%, 42%, 39%, and 64%, respectively. Hair Fe and Si content was nearly twofold higher in female horses as compared to the males. Only hair Zn content was 5% higher in stallions as compared to mares. In addition, mares were characterized by 63%, 65%, 29%, and 40% higher levels of As, Pb, Sn, and Ni levels in hair as compared to the respective values in stallions. In turn, hair Al and Hg were more than twofold higher in mares than in stallions. The reference intervals of mane hair content (µg/g) for Co (0.006-0.143), Cr (0.028-0.551), Cu (4.17-6.84), Fe (10.11-442.2), I (0.026-3.69), Mn (0.551-12.55), Se (0.108-0.714), Zn (97.43-167), Li (0.011-0.709), Ni (0.060-0.589), Si (0.665-29.12), V (0.006-0.584), Al (1.98-168.5), As (0.006-0.127), Cd (0.002-0.033), B (0.494-16.13), Pb (0.018-0.436), Sn (0.002-0.144), Sr (1.0-9.46), and Hg (0.0018-0.017) in the total cohort of horses were estimated using the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standard Guidelines. The reference intervals were also estimated for stallions and mares bred in North Caucasus (Russia) and may be used for interpretation of the results of hair trace element analysis in horses.

The content of essential and toxic elements in the hair of the mane of the trotter horses depending on their speed.

A study on the Russian trotting breeds was conducted to assess the impact of horses' sporting results and the degree of accumulation of chemical elements in the hair. In the first phase of the research, the elemental composition of the mane hair of trotter horses (n = 215) was studied. Based on these studies, percentile intervals for the distribution of concentrations of chemical elements in the hair have been established, and the values of 25 and 75 percentile adopted as a "physiological standard" have been defined. In the second stage of the research into clinically healthy Russian trotting breeds (n = 56), it was estimated that the sporting results were dependent on the elemental status defined by the hair. The elemental composition of the hair was defined by 25 chemical elements using atomic emission and mass spectrometry. It is established that the mane hair is closely related to the sporting results of trotter horses. Thus, in animal wool with the highest sporting achievements, there were reliably less I, Cr, Co, Li, V, Al, Pb, and Cd, and reliably more Si than the low ones. Differences in individual elements exceeded 200%. As sporting performance diminished, the number of elements within the standard increased. For example, for mares with average speed, there were deviations from the physiological standard by 6 elements (P, Fe, Mn, I, Co, Si), with the low one by 13 elements (P, Fe, Cu, Mn, I, Co, Si, K, Cr, Ni, V, Al, Pb). A comparative estimate of the mineralization of the horses' mane measured by the sum of the amount of substances showed that there was a negative correlation between the accumulation of toxic elements and the speed (r = - 0.59). On the basis of the above, a conclusion is reached on the future use of the mane hair to assess the speed qualities of trotter horses.

Intestinal microbiome of broiler chickens after use of nanoparticles and metal salts.

The research included the study of influence of ultrafine particle preparations (nanoparticles of copper, zinc, iron, CuZn alloy) and metal salts (iron pyrophosphate, copper asparginate, zinc asparginate) on the composition of cecal microbiota of broiler chickens. Before adding the studied nanoparticles and metal salts to the diet, cecal microbiota of broiler chickens was represented by 76% Firmicutes taxon and 16% Bacteroidetes. Numerous among them were the bacteria of the taxa Anaerotruncus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Blautia spp., Alistipes spp., and Bacteroides spp.; they constituted 18, 17, 11, and 6%, respectively. A peculiarity of action of the most analyzed metals in nanoform and in the form of salts was a decrease in the number of phylum Firmicutes bacteria and an increase in the number of microorganisms of the phylum Bacteroidetes. The number of bacteria belonging to the families Ruminococcaceae (III, IV, V, VII, and VIII groups), Bacteroidaceae (in all experimental groups), and Lachnospiraceae (I, IV, V, and VII groups) was registered within the taxa of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. At the same time, in some experimental groups, the number of bacteria of the family Lachnospiraceae (II, III, and VIII) decreased in the intestine. The data obtained can be used to assess the possibility of using metal nanoparticles in the poultry diet, as a micronutrient preparation, to correct dysbiosis and to improve the utilization of fodder energy.

The Reference Intervals of Hair Trace Element Content in Hereford Cows and Heifers (Bos taurus).

The objective of the present study was to assess hair trace element content in Hereford heifers and cows (Bos taurus) living in South Ural region and calculate the site-specific reference intervals. Hair trace element content in 150 cows and heifers farmed in the Southern Urals of Russia was assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. Dietary trace element content corresponded to the adequate values as estimated by recommendations of USSR State Agriculture Committee and U.S. National Research Council. Comparative analysis demonstrated that heifers are characterized by significantly higher hair Se (3-fold), Hg (4-fold), and Sn (46%) content, whereas cows had significantly higher levels of hair Co (56%), I (33%), Si (2-fold), V (27%), B (55%), Cd (19%), Pb (47%), and Sr (23%). At the same time, no significant group difference in hair Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Zn, As, and Ni was detected between Hereford cows and heifers. The reference intervals and 90% confidence intervals for the lower and upper limits were calculated in agreement with the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology Quality Assurance and Laboratory Standard Guidelines.

Influence of zinc nanoparticles on survival of worms Eisenia fetida and taxonomic diversity of the gut microflora.

The study was conducted to examine the effect of zinc nanoparticles on survival of worms Eisenia fetida and composition of the gut microflora. Analysis of the survival data has shown that the introduction of high doses of the nanoparticles causes death of worms in the second group with 35 % mortality rate and activates protective mechanisms realized as mucous film. DNA from the worm guts was extracted and 16S metagenomic sequencing was fulfilled using MiSeq (Illumina). Regarding the gut microflora of worms in the control group, high diversity of microorganisms (303 OTUs) was noted. Most of those belong to the taxa Firmicutes (51.9 % of the total high-quality united reads), Proteobacteria (24.1 % of the total), and Actinobacteria (13.3 % of the total), which were represented by numerous species of gen. Clostridium (C. saccharobutylicum, C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum, C. beijerinckii), gen. Pseudomonas (P. hydrogenovora, P. aeruginosa, and P. putida), gen. Bacillus (B. megaterium, B. silvestris), gen. Cellulomonas (B. megaterium, B. silvestris), and other numerically smaller genera. Adding of zinc nanoparticles to the substrate decreased the diversity of bacteria (78 OTUs) as well as percentage of bacteria belonging to the taxon Firmicutes (-41.6 %) and increased the proportion of Proteobacteria due to growth in abundance of gen. Verminephrobacter (+46 %) and gen. Ochrobactrum (+19.5 %).

Effective Treatment of Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome with Platelet Microbicidal Protein in CBRB-Rb(8.17)1Iem Mice Model.

Skin and soft-tissue infections are among the most common infections. Staphylococcus aureus may cause a number of toxin-mediated diseases, including staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS). The therapeutic efficacy of some antimicrobial peptides was recently evaluated in a mouse model of SSSS. This study is the first in vivo demonstration of the use of PMP to improve outcome of SSSS. Twenty-four CBRB-Rb(8.17)1Iem female mice naturally infected by endogenous S. aureus with SSSS symptoms were used in this work and divided into two equal groups. From neck of each mouse was isolated and identified endogenous exfoliative producing strain of S. aureus. PMP was obtained from human platelets and tested against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. PMP had bactericidal activity against B. subtilis ATTC 6633 and endogenous strain of S. aureus at 2.0 ± 0.5 and 14.5 ± 0.5 µg/ml, respectively. At 4 weeks, the mice of experimental group were treated subcutaneous near exfoliative zone with 0.2 ml of PMP in final concentration 10 µg/ml every day. Control mice was injected with 0.2 ml 0.9% NaCl. At 1 day of experiment maximal zone of alopecia was at PMP-treating group (380 ± 20 mm(2)) in comparison with control group (167 ± 10 mm(2), p < 0.01). At 50 day of observation (22nd day after the end of treatment), the square of alopecia in control group was 1220 ± 40 mm(2) in comparison with 870 ± 17 mm(2) in experimental group (p < 0.01). The antistaphylococcal in vivo activity of PMP demonstrated in present study makes these molecules potentially useful for treatment of SSSS.

Assessment of morphological and functional changes in organs of rats after intramuscular introduction of iron nanoparticles and their agglomerates.

The research was performed on male Wistar rats based on assumptions that new microelement preparations containing metal nanoparticles and their agglomerates had potential. Morphological and functional changes in tissues in the injection site and dynamics of chemical element metabolism (25 indicators) in body were assessed after repeated intramuscular injections (total, 7) with preparation containing agglomerate of iron nanoparticles. As a result, iron depot was formed in myosymplasts of injection sites. The quantity of muscle fibers having positive Perls' stain increased with increasing number of injections. However, the concentration of the most chemical elements and iron significantly decreased in the whole skeletal muscle system (injection sites are not included). Consequently, it increased up to the control level after the sixth and the seventh injections. Among the studied organs (liver, kidneys, and spleen), Caspase-3 expression was revealed only in spleen. The expression had a direct dependence on the number of injections. Processes of iron elimination from preparation containing nanoparticles and their agglomerates had different intensity.

Evaluation of antitumor activity of platelet microbicidal protein on the model of transplanted breast cancer in CBRB-Rb(8.17)1Iem mice.

Breast cancer is the most common women's cancer in the world. There is considerable current interest in developing anticancer agents with a new mode of action because of the development of resistance by cancer cells towards current anticancer drugs. Mamalian cells have been shown to contain small, cationic, microbicidal peptides. Antimicrobial peptides have drawn attention as a promising alternative to current antitumor agents. Such peptides have been isolated both from animal and human platelets and have been termed platelets microbicidal proteins (PMP). The aim of this work was to study antitumor activity of PMP in vivo on the model of mouse breast cancer in comparison with antitumor hexapeptide Arg-alpha-Asp-Lys-Val-Tyr-Arg (Immunofan). We demonstrated that the tumors treated with PMP were significant smaller than the control groups (P < 0.05). In experiments in vivo using CBRB-Rb(8.17)1Iem mice with transplanted tumors PMP inhibited tumor growth during the treatments and after its discontinuation. These findings indicate that PMP can exert antitumor effects. Therefore, PMP may be used for the development of therapy for the intervention of breast cancer.

Influence of Cu10x copper nanoparticles intramuscular injection on mineral composition of rat spleen.

Spleen mineral composition was studied for 25 elements using atomic emission and mass spectrometry (AES-ISP and MS-ISP) for the first time by one- and manifold intramuscular injection of Cu10x copper nanoparticles. This was done, because the spleen is considered to be the organ most amenable of immunological defense and sensitive to exposure. The research is new and based on the necessity to check the accumulation of elements, which can result in toxic effects, and also the character of the influence of nanoparticles on the change of the natural fluctuation rhythm, as well as the interrelation between them.