Retraction Note: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deprivation in rats decreases frontal cortex BDNF via a p38 MAPK-dependent mechanism.

This article1 has been retracted by the editor because an investigation by the National Institutes of Health concluded that the data represented by Figures 2a-c and 3e and Figure 4a were falsified. JT Arnold, SI Rapoport, RN Ertley, and RP Bazinet agree with this retraction. JS Rao and H-J Lee could not be reached for comment.

Chronic fluoxetine upregulates activity, protein and mRNA levels of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in rat frontal cortex.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/sj.tpj.6500391.

["HELICARB" - the first Russian breath test kit with 99 % C-urea for Helicobacter pylori: from idea to registration].

The present study was aimed to develop and introduce in medical practice the first Russian kit for the C-urea breath test of Helicobacter pylori. The newly created kit was given the commercial name «HELICARB¼ and successfully passed technical, toxicological, clinical, and laboratory testing. The optimal dose of 13C-urea was determined and various devices needed to perform the test were compared. The results were approved by the Federal Service for Supervision in the health sector Roszdravnadzor) that issued the Registration certificate № RZN 2016/3773 (order № 1641 of 02.29.2016), which gives the right to manufacture and use the «HELICARB¼ test kit at the territory of the Russian Federation.

[STATE-OF-THE-ART OF REALIZATION OF THE FERTILITY POTENTIAL IN THE WOMEN OF LATE REPRODUCTIVE AGE].

Biological potential of childbearing in the women of late reproductive age is limited by natural impairment and loss offertility. Despite a considerable progress in clinical application of new diagnostic and reproductive technologies, the problem of infertility remains a most serious challenge. Women's age is one of the main factors responsible for the outcome of in vitro fertilization. The low effectiveness of in vitro fertilization programs is attributed to discoordination in the hypothalamic-pituitary system, depletion of ovarian resources, and deterioration of quality of reproductive material. Bearing in mind the role of melatonin in synchronizing circadian and seasonal biorhythms and regulating physiological and pathological processes, it is natural to suggest its role in the enhancement of efficiency of in vitro fertilization programs for women of late reproductive age.

[Obesity: the modern view of a problem].

The article is a review of recent epidemiological observations concerning the prevalence of overweight and obesity in different countries among people of different gender, age. social and ethnic groups. It also presents and analyses health risks and comorbidities leading to disability and death as reported by domestic and foreign researchers. It was found that obesity has multifactorial pathogenesis directly related to energy balance, consumed and expended calories. The need of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment and prevention of the disease is emphasized taking into consideration the influence of the environment and increasing urbanization on the development of the pathology as well as the role of government efforts to stimulate physical activity of the population in the framework of integral interdisciplinary programs and control over the quality of food. The priority areas for the correction of overweight include optimization of motor activity and diet correction.

[Peculiarities of the psychic state and quality of life in patients with duodenal ulcer in the context of chronomedicine].

Most clinicians consider duodenum ulcer as a psychosomatic disease. Objective: To show the interdependence of this condition and mental disorders and their relation to disturbances of melatonin production . Materials and Methods: 15 patients with seasonal DU and 15 healthy subjects of the control group were examined during 3 years using laboratory, endoscopic, and standard psychodiagnostic methods. Results. It was found that all patients with exacerbation of DU experienced enhanced anxiety, reduced background mood, and impaired quality of life based on general health and mental health scoring scales. The circadian rhythm of melatonin production was markedly distorted throughout the observation period but especially during exacerbations of the disease. Conclusions. The results indicate a high degree of correlation between DU and mental disorders caused by impaired production of melatonin. It suggests common etiological mechanisms of DU and psychosomatic symptom complex.

The role of cytokine gene polymorphism in the formation of arterial hypertension associated with metabolic syndrome.

We investigated the association of polymorphisms of genes tumor necrosis factors and their receptors (-308G/A TNFa, +250A/G Lta, +36 A/G TNFR1, +1663 A/G TNFR2) with the predisposition to the development of essential hypertension (EH) and the features of its clinical course in patients with metabolic syndrome. It has been demonstrated that the molecular genetic marker +36G TNFR1 (OR=1,25) is involved in the formation EH in individuals with metabolic syndrome. The risk of stage III EH in patients with metabolic syndrome is enhanced by genetic variants -308GA TNFa (OR=2,72), -308A TNFa (OR=2,72), +250G Lta (OR=1,80), and combinations thereof -308A TNFa with +1663G TNFR2 (OR=3,85), +250G Lta with +36G TNFR1 (OR=3,85), +250G Lta with +1663G TNFR2 (OR=3,85) while protective properties are inherent in -308GG TNFa (OR=0,32), +250AA Lta (OR=0,45), -308G TNFa (OR=0,37), +250A Lta (OR=0,56) and a combination of genetic markers -308GG TNFa with +250A Lta (OR=0,31), -308G TNFa with +250AA Lta (OR=0,39), -308G TNFa with +250A Lta (OR=0,31).

[Association between depression and metabolic syndrome--a two-way street].

The study with the use of the CES-D scale revealed the combination of depression and metabolic syndrome in 24% of the examined patients. The HADS scale showed depression in 16% of the interviewed patients. Based on the two scales, depression was documented in 32% of the patients. The chance of development of metabolic disorders in case of depression was estimated as 2.4 (95%); CI--1.3-4.6. Urinary 6-COMT level at 4.00 correlated with its total nocturnal and daytime concentrations and with sleep disorders (r = -0.41; r = -0.48; r = -0.43 respectively). Daytime sleepiness correlated with the daytime 6-COMT level (r = -0.32). The score values by the CES-D scale correlated with daytime 6-COMT level (r = -0.23). Multiple regression analysis showed that reduced melatonin level deteriorates quality of nocturnal sleep and increases the risk of depression (R = 0.4. coefficient ß = -0.413 (p<0.04) and F = 4.5).

[13-year period of application of the 13C-urease breath test for determining Helicobacter pylori in Russian clinical practice].

13C-urease breath tests have been extensively used in world-wide gastroenterological practice since the 1990s. We have been using them since 2000, but their clinical application in Russia is far from being universal. Moreover, their results are significantly different from those obtained by other methods for determining H. pylori. The authors report original data on the peculiarities of occurrence of this pathogen in its carriers.

[Stable isotope diagnostics in Russia; results and prospects, 13C-preparations, instruments, methods].

The basis of the highly effective method for diagnostics of many dangerous diseases with the use of breathing tests and stable 13C isotope-labeled preparations has been developed in Russia during the past years. The technology for manufacturing 13C-preparations using domestically produced starting materials satisfies the requirements for isotopes in this and many foreign countries. New instruments for respiratory tests and diagnostic methods make it possible to carry out diagnostics in large populations including that in the course of regular medical examination. This paper reports high efficacy of 13C-based breath tests for diagnostics of gastrointestinal disorders, possibilities and prospects for their further application in oncology, endocrinology, pulmonology, neurology, cardiology, surgery, etc. Special attention is given to the use of 13C-magnetic resonance techniques for visualization of tumours and blood vessels, studies of metabolic processes and energy balance in man and animals with the use of 13C-biomarkers. The main advantages of these new diagnostic approaches are high accuracy, safety (for both patients and personnel), simplicity, and possibility of application in different fields of medicine.

[Current views of psychosomatic diseases].

This review is designed to analyse current views of physicians representing different fields of medicine (psychoanalysis, pathological anatomy, psychiatry, etc.) on the problem of psychosomatic diseases with reference to its history, past and present concepts, etiopathogenetic mechanisms of these conditions. The authors propose to use the results of analysis as a basis for considering psychosomatic diseases as a singular etiopathogenetic entity resulting from dysregulation of rhythm-organizing structures.

[Melatonin and arterial hypertension: from understanding pathogenesis to therapeutic modalities].

Biological rhythms are driven by the hypothalamic circadian pacemaker. Its action is mediated through epiphyseal melatonin that transmits regulatory signals directly to target organs. Circadian fluctuations of arterial pressure suggest participation of melatonin in regulation of this important indicator of cardiovascular activity. Melatonin is a key endogenous hypotensive factor. Some studies demonstrated that additional prescription ofmelatonin to patients with nocturnal hypertension refractory to traditional hypotensive agents significantly lowered arterial pressure during sleep. Moreover, melatonin was shown to exert meteo- and magnetoprotective action and thereby reduce the dependence ofpatients with arterial hypertension on the adverse environmental factors.

[Peculiarities of the strategy for the treatment of elderly patients with duodenal ulcer and concomitant metabolic syndrome].

The study showed that ulcer disease in patients with metabolic syndrome is characterized by painless clinical course, bowel disorders in the form of constipation, enhanced appetite, unmotivated requirement for hypoglycemic therapy predisposition to complications along with activation of the inflammatory process in duodenal mucosa, high H. pylori count. The data obtained were used to develop the age-specific strategy for the treatment of elderly patients with duodenal ulcer and concomitant metabolic syndrome.

[Orthostatic reactions in prognosis of the risks of arterial hypertension as a component of metabolic syndrome].

It was shown that parameters of metabolic syndrome as predictors of lethal vascular outcomes of arterial hypertension (AH) in Belarus are significantly different fiom those proposed in WHO recommendations (1999). The glucose level of informative value in WHO recommendations is 6.1 mmol/l versus 5.6 mmol/l in Belarus, total cholesterol 5.0 and 5.9 mmol/l respectively. A more detailed verification of the value of both parameters is needed for the patients in Belarus and Russia depending on age and sex using non-linear models. We used a comprehensive approach to prognosis of the risk of vascular lethal outcomes of AH as a component of metabolic syndrome with the evaluation of results of clinical and laboratory examination as well as orthostatic reactions in patients of different age groups. Construction of the prognostic algorithm "Classification tree" taking account of orthostatic reactions enhances the correctness of lethal outcome prognosis up to 81.8%. The study revealed the prognostic value of systolic and diastolic arterial pressure in the supine position (15 min of active aortostatic sample) for prognostication of vascular lethal outcomes. Further studies are needed on the role of orthostatic reactions in AH patients of old age together with clinical and laboratory parameters in the prognostication of outcomes of various cardiovascular diseases.

[Diurnal food intake rhythm and gustatory sensitivity in patients with obesity and dyspepsia].

Disordered eating behavior, nutritional regime, and food habits lead to deterioration of quality of life especially in patients with digestive problems. The role of nutrition in etiology and pathogenesis of dyspepsia is currently the subject of increasing research interest that extends to gustatory sensitivity, diurnal nutritional rhythms, and psychological characteristic of the patients with dyspeptic syndrome and obesity This study included 68 patients (42 women and 26 men) aged 20-60 (mean 46.2 +/- 4.6) years with dyspeptic syndrome and 26 practically healthy subjects (1st control). Study group 1 included 28 patients with dyspepsia and normal BMI, group 2 was comprised of 40 dyspeptic patients with obesity. Disordered diurnal nutritional rhythms and food intake regime were documented in 24 (86%) and 36 (90%) patients of study groups 1 and 2 respectively compared with 10 (50%) in the 1st control group. Gustatory thresholds were changed in 21 (75%) and 38 (95%) patients of study groups 1 and 2. These data suggest that changes in diurnal nutritional rhythm and gustatory sensitivity are related to eating preferences and can play a role in pathogenesis of obesity and dyspepsia. It implies the necessity of their correction by relevant therapeutic and preventive treatments.

[A comprehensive analysis of incidence of myocardial infarction in Vladikavkaz depending on solar and geomagnetic activity].

The data on myocardial infarction morbidity in Vladikavkaz for 2007-2010 were analysed with reference to solar and geomagnetic activity. Time series of morbidity in men and women were constructed and their seasonal constituent was distinguished. It was found that the number of myocardial infarctions increases on day with enhanced geomagnetic activity especially among subjects aged 50-69 years. Regression analysis of the relationship between the number of sunspots and myocardial infarctions yielded the equation of piecewise linear regression showing that 42% of the cases were due to the changes in the number of sunspots. Medium strength negative correlation was found between the number of myocardial infarctions and the recurrence index of Bz-component of the interplanetary magnetic field. It suggests an important role of chaotic dynamics of external factors in the development of myocardial infarction.

[Melatonin secretion in women of advanced reproductive age].

The patient's age is a key factor determining success of in vitro fertilization. The ovarian reserve and oocyte quality are known to decrease with age. Much attention has been given recently to the role of epiphysis and its hormone, melatonin, in synchronization of daily and seasonal biorhythms in anti-stress protection and neuroregulation of reproductive processes. The aim of our work was to study melatonin levels in infertile women of reproductive age. We also measured sex hormones, anti-Mullerian hormone, FSH, and LH in blood and melatonin sulfate in urine at 8 points (RIA). Women of advanced reproductive age showed markedly reduced melatonin secretion due to functional disorders in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Results of the study suggest the necessity of prescription of exogenous melatonin to the patients included in assisted reproduction programs for the improvement of their efficacy.

[Metabolic syndrome and melatonin].

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by the following symptoms: obesity, AH, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance. Pathophysiologically, MS is underlain by disorders of many biochemical and physiological processes, such as elevated levels of low density lipoproteins, hyperstimulation of pancreatic b-cells, increased insulin secretion, substitution of lipid metabolism for carbohydrate one, overgrowth of adipose tissue, excess production of adiponectin, leptin and other signal molecules and a rise in their local intravascular concentration, weight gain. Endogenous and exogenous melatonin inhibits these pathophysiological mechanisms, normalizes metabolism, equilibrates insulin secretion, prevents pancreatic hyperfunction, phosphorylates insulin receptors, inactivates active oxygen and nitrogen species including those produced in LDLP metabolism. Melatonin has specific MT1 and MT2 receptors localized in all body cells. Due to this, it exerts combined preventive action in patients with MS. Recently, melatonin has been reported to have therapeutic effect in MS; it may be recommended to treat this condition.

[The role of respiratory tests in diagnostics of Helicobacter pylori infection].

The clinical significance and potential of respiratory tests for diagnostics of Helicobacter pylori infection was estimated in 76 patients. Results of 13C and 14C-urease tests were in especially good agreement with those oh histological studies. The 13C-urease test should be preferred in the examination of both in-patients and out-patients whereas NH3-urease test is much inferior to 13C and 14C-urease tests in terms of informative value.

Altered arachidonic acid cascade enzymes in postmortem brain from bipolar disorder patients.

Mood stabilizers that are approved for treating bipolar disorder (BD), when given chronically to rats, decrease expression of markers of the brain arachidonic metabolic cascade, and reduce excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation-induced upregulation of these markers. These observations, plus evidence for neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity in BD, suggest that arachidonic acid (AA) cascade markers are upregulated in the BD brain. To test this hypothesis, these markers were measured in postmortem frontal cortex from 10 BD patients and 10 age-matched controls. Mean protein and mRNA levels of AA-selective cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) IVA, secretory sPLA(2) IIA, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and membrane prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES) were significantly elevated in the BD cortex. Levels of COX-1 and cytosolic PGES (cPGES) were significantly reduced relative to controls, whereas Ca(2+)-independent iPLA(2)VIA, 5-, 12-, and 15-lipoxygenase, thromboxane synthase and cytochrome p450 epoxygenase protein and mRNA levels were not significantly different. These results confirm that the brain AA cascade is disturbed in BD, and that certain enzymes associated with AA release from membrane phospholipid and with its downstream metabolism are upregulated. As mood stabilizers downregulate many of these brain enzymes in animal models, their clinical efficacy may depend on suppressing a pathologically upregulated cascade in BD. An upregulated cascade should be considered as a target for drug development and for neuroimaging in BD.