[Telomere length, telomerase activity, stress and aging].

The review is dedicated to analysis of data available at present time concerning possible influence of stress upon telomere lengths and telomerase activity, as well as various ways of counteracting it. Present-day telomerase theory of aging gains a new impetus, shedding light upon the influence of psychological state of humans and their ability to counteract stress, upon the process of aging. It also tends to regard telomere shortening and the decrease in the activity of telomerase as a marker of level of the ability to adapt to both inner and outer influences. Both aging and age-dependent diseases are proved to be substantially retarded not only by the administration of drugs, but also by psychological means, which forms a good way towards healthy longevity. With complete understanding of the impossibility to prevent or even to slow down natural senescence itself, these methods allow to remove causes, which accelerate senescence, and to increase the average human longevity.

[The factor analysis results of the relationship of socio-demographic, clinical and functional indicators with the likelihood of identifying age-related disorders in the population in North-Western Russia].

By using the method of factor analysis (principal component method) the determinants of disease in elderly and senile patients were searched with an estimate of their influence degree in the population of the North-West Russia. The data from medical records of 712 patients of both sexes aged 59 to 98 years were analyzed. The factor 1 proved to be associated with: marital status, living conditions, family relationships, bad habits, appearance, cough, diet, hearing and vision, laxatives, joint health, ability to move and sleep disturbances. Factor 2 combined diseases of older: cerebral stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia, diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, thyroid disease, Parkinson's disease, lung disease, anemia, arthritis, osteoporosis, the number of surgeries and joint diseases. The factor 3 was found to self-association ability before and after admission to the assessment of the patients' mental state for MMSE test after admission. It is concluded that the development of age-related (especially the musculoskeletal system pathology) is associated with social characteristics and living conditions of patients, and treatment of the most age-related diseases requires consideration of comorbidity.

[Telomere length in the population of long-lived persons of North-West region of Russia].

Interdisciplinary study of telomere length, polymorphism of genes of renin-angiotensin (ACE) and serotonin (5HTR2A and 5HTTPR) systems in population of aged and old inhabitants of the North-West of Russia was conducted, in their relations to data from clinical and geriatric anamnesis, and psychological functioning. Regular link between telomere length and respondent's age was demonstrated in subgroups of old respondents and long-livers, by method of factor analysis.

[Distribution of serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism in population of the North-West of Russia].

Genetic polymorphism of the promotor zone of the gene of serotonin transporter (5HTT) is related to adaptive ability of humans, along with ability of conducting emotional control. Consequently, 5HTT polymorhisms form a constructive model of enhanced resistance to psychoemotional strain in aged humans. The paper is dedicated to tracing back relations between 5HTT polymorphic variants, and psychological characteristics of the long-livers of the North-Western Russia, as well as the geriatric ones.

[Distribution of structural polymorphisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme and serotonin receptor 5-HT2A genes among long-livers of North-Western Russia].

In the group of long-livers of the North-West of Russia, I/D polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and C102T polymorphism of serotonin receptor (5-HT2A) gene were studied. No reliable differences in allele frequency of these genes between long-livers and young people were detected. Nevertheless, highly pronounced difference in the A1/A2 allele frequency of 5-HT2A gene between populations of the North-West of Russia, on the one hand, and of the USA, on the other hand, was discovered (i.e. 0.397(A1), 0.603(A2), and 0.615(A1), 0.385(A2), respectively). Differences of this kind between the two populations deserve special consideration, conditioning the necessity of further detailed analysis of other genes of the serotonin system in the populations of other regions of Russia.

[Polymorphisms of genes of rennin-angiotensine system and their correlation with psychological manifestations of birth stress].

Study of correlation of polymorphisms of genes of the rennin-angiotensine system--insertion-deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensine-converting enzime (ACE), and the polymorphism of angiotensinogen (AGT), consisting in submission of T into C in the 704 position (M235T)--with various characteristics of psychological functioning and clinical characteristics in women giving birth, was conducted. The group consisted of 56 young female Ss, without chronic diseases in the anamnesis, no complication in the course of pregnancy, birth normal and timely, state of the child normal in all cases. Basing on factor analysis of 7 psychological induces, providing integral assessment of state of the Ss in the course la late pregnancy, giving birth, and the immediately following post partum period, statistically reliable correlation between such first-rate psychological process as creativity, and polymorphism of the gene of angiotensinogene, was demonstrated, as well as difference in distribution of genotypes between the group of women giving birth, and general population. Statistically relevant correlation between presence of the deletion (D) allele of the ACE gene, and heightened level of neuroticization, reported by us earlier, was observed in this case, as well. No significant links between religiosity/spirituality, and genetic data was found. These results are in concordance with present-day views concerning the role of the rennin-angiotensine system in the providing of active adaptation to stressful conditions; they tend to provide fresh outlook upon the comparative study of input of heredity, and education, into the ontogenesis of higher psychological functions in normal humans.

[Possible correlation of polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene with psychological aspects of birth stress].

The paper presents results of a pilot study of genetic correlates of adaptive strategies characteristic for religious and (or) spiritual people in stress, induced by unusual and (or) extreme conditions. Birth stress, experienced by 79 young normal female urban dwellers Ss in the course of late pregnancy, giving birth, and the immediately following period post partum, was chosen as model of stress in general. Their state, as well as the state of the child, was monitored in each case by professional physicians, and assessed according to standard obstetric procedures. 3 kinds of standard psychological tests, providing assessment of neurotization, creativity, and the scope of religious/spiritual sensations, were conducted. The latter formed focal point of our research. As in has recently been supposed, religious/spiritual people tend to be more adaptive in illness and stress, which is quite important for clinical practice. The first aim of our study was to test whether religious/spiritual sensations in stress tend to occur as part of general neurotization; or, as part of creative response in the service of the ego; or, finally, they form a specific dimension of adaptive strategies. In home to simultaneously assess possible genetic determination of each of these options, we have introduced intro our study a module of assessment of genetic I/D polymorphisms of ACE gene, primarily linked to the status of the renin-angiotensin system. As a result of factor analysis, existence of 3 strong trends was demonstrated. 1. Neurotization, creativity, religious/spiritual processes tend to form 3 independent aspects of response of normal humans to birth stress. 2. Frequency of occurrence of D-allele tends to reveal strong correlation with only one of these 3 options, which is the generall level of neurotization. The latter conclusion corresponds well to what is currently known about the role of renin-angiotensin system primarily in regulation of cardiovascular system, and probably adaptation to stress. 3. Frequency of occurrence of D-allele in the mother tends to reveal inverse correlation with the Apgar index of the child (assessment of its physiological state in the course of the first several minutes after birth, based upon such characteristics as heart beat rate, ability to independent breathing, state of the skin, etc.), and is not linked to usual standard biometric parameters of newborn children. Continuing to work on this model, we intend to formally assess possible impact of heredity via other genes upon psychological, especially religious and spiritual aspects of adaptation to stress of women in birth; and also approach to possible genetic correlates of the state of newborn children.