[Dynamics of elements distribution in blood, depending on age, by example of Moscow Region residents].

Elemental status of a person determines the qualitative and quantitative content of chemical elements in the human body. This marker allows us to estimate the level of imbalance of chemical elements and therefore health risks. The method for simultaneous quantitative and qualitative analysis of 67 elements in biomaterials has been proposed. The detailed elemental analysis of whole blood samples of 1711 healthy people (age range 0-100 years) of Moscow Region has been performed. A number of patterns of age-related changes of the element status conditionally healthy people has been estimated. Na content in the samples increased with the age of the person. Presumably, this result reflects the studied populations nutrition disorders associated with immoderate consumption of table salt. The maximum content of Ca was observed in blood samples of people age range 0-20 years (66-69 mg/kg), the Ca content in the blood samples of people age range 26-85 years was significantly lower (59-62 mg/kg). The maximum decrease of Ca was detected in blood samples of people age range of 85-100 years (57-59 mg/kg). Thisreductionin the concentration of Ca, apparently due to age-related changes of Ca balance, correlates with decrease of bone mineral density and bone mass. Iron content decreased in the blood samples of people age range 10-100 years from 480 to 390 mg/kg. Selenium content in blood of people age range 0-25 years linearly increased, remained stable high in the blood of people age range 25-55 years (0,13-0,136 mg/kg) and then gradually decreased. A graph of As content dependence from a person's age is a mirror image of the graph of Se content dependence from a person's age, which is evidence of the antagonistic effects of these elements. Graphic changes in the content of rare earth elements Eu and Ho reflect the unidirectional trend of these elements accumulation. The maximum content of these elements was observed in blood samples of people age range of 25-65 years. Perhaps a reduction of Eu and Ho in the age range 65-100 years age reflects a downward trend in bone mineral density and decrease in bone mass, which correlates with the Ca content in the blood depending on the age of people. The data obtained showed a significant increase of U and V in the blood of people age range of 85-100 years. The compounds of vanadium and uranium normally relatively easily filtered by the kidneys and excreted in the urine. This result seems to demonstrate age-related deterioration in the functioning of the excretory system. A list of recommendations for nutrition correction of elemental imbalance of the observed population has been proposed.

[Comparative analysis of ergogenic efficacy of energy drinks components (caffeine and bitter orange extract) in combination with alcohol].

Estimation of ergogenic effects of caffeine and bitter orange exract combined with alcohol is presented in the article. Investigations were performed on 3 groups (8 animals in each group) of male Wistar rats aged 4 months. Animals in group 1 were treated orally for 7 days, the mixture comprising caffeine and alcohol (0.6 g of caffeine, 72 ml of ethanol, water to 1 liter) in an amount equivalent to 4.28 mg caffeine per kg of body weight. Animals in group 2 received a mixture containing bitter orange extract and alcohol (1 g bitter orange extract, 72 ml of ethanol, water to 1 liter) in an amount equivalent to 0.43 mg of synephrine per kg body weight. Animals in the control group received the same volume (7.1 ml/kg) 7.2% aqueous solution of ethanol. Group of animals consumed caffeine in mixture with alcohol and the control group exhibited a significant weight gain, while the body weight of animals treated with the extract of bitter orange didn't significantly change. Using the methodology of the open field the effects of caffeine and bitter orange extract in combination with alcohol on the ratio of the active components of the orienting-exploratory behavior and passive-defensive behavior have been determined. Administration of mixture with caffeine increased locomotory activity by 164%, administration of bitter orange extract didn't affect this performance. Introduction of caffeine containing mixture significantly reduced the level of situational anxiety, which was manifested in the reduction of time spent by the animal in the center of the arena. The effects of ergogenic components on the performance of static and dynamic muscle endurance have been investigated. Single administration of the mixture containing caffeine, after 30 min caused a significant increase in performance and, consequently, endurance of glycolytic muscle fibers measured using the "inverted grid" test. Animals from this group produced 186% more work compared with control animals. Acute administration of bitter orange extract did not cause significant changes in static endurance. At the same time after 7 days of its daily administration a slight increase in dynamic endurance (test "treadmill") has been determined, which was expressed in some increase in the amount of work done by animals fed bitter orange extract compared with the control group of animals. Death of 1 animal in the group consumed bitter orange exract mixture with alcohol indicates potential risks of synephrine consumation together with alcohol.

[Histone-like proteins of bacteria (review)].

Four major families of bacterial histone-like proteins (HU, IHF, H-NS, FIS), united on the basis of structural similarity and performing specific structural and regulatory functions in the cell, are discussed. Histone-like proteins perform topological modification of the chromosome (twisting, bending, and folding) and directly regulate the functioning of promoters of individual operons. Histone-like proteins are critical for the regulation of cell metabolism, are involved in the response to environmental changes, and play a key role in the transition to and maintenance of the quiescent state of bacteria.

[The model of resting forms of mycobacteria for testing of drugs for latent forms of tuberculosis].

The new model of obtaining of ovoid resting forms Mycobacterium smegmatis, which are morphologically different from vegetative (rod-like) cells, was developed. Ovoid forms were characterized by a drastically decreased level of metabolic activity, an increased stability to heat processing and antibiotics action, and also by prolonged (more than 2 months) storage time preserving colony-forming ability. Obtained resting forms of mycobacteria may be used in test-systems for checking efficiency of new medical agents against latent forms of tuberculosis and determination of role of these of those genes in entering rest state.

[Effects of monoamine neuromediators on the growth-related variables of Escherichia coli K-12].

The monoamine neuromediators serotonin (5-HT), histamine, dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE), added to an Escherichia coli K-12 strain MC 4100 culture upon inoculation, stimulate cell proliferation (determined from CFU formation) and biomass accumulation (monitored nephelometrically) during the late lag phase and the early exponential growth phase. These effects are less significant in the late exponential and stationary phase cultures. According to the concentration dependence of the stimulatory effects, the neuromediators can be classified into two groups: (i) the catecholamines DA and NE, whose effects increase almost linearly with increasing concentrations within the range of 0.1-100 microM, and (ii) histamine and 5-HT, which are characterized by bell-shaped concentration dependence curves with maxima at 0.1 (histamine) and 1 microM (5-HT). On an agar-containing medium, the growing E. coli population includes solitary cells and compact cell groups (microcolonies). In this system, both tested catecholamines exert a relatively weak stimulatory influence that manifests itself as an increase in the number of both solitary cells and cell groups, and occurs at concentrations of 10 microM and higher. In analogy to the culture grown on the liquid medium, 5-HT and histamine are distinguished by nonlinear concentration dependence curves: their effects peak at 0.1 microM (histamine) or 1 microM (5-HT); an increase in the neuromediator concentrations results in a decrease in effects that are enhanced by further increasing the concentrations to the submillimolar range. DA increases the percentage of solitary cells, whereas the other tested amines promote cell group formation. The results are interpreted in terms of specific (probably receptor-dependent) mechanisms of action of the neuromediators involved.