[Efficacy and safety of undenatured type II collagen in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial].

BACKGROUND: Non-pharmacological treatments based on collagen as a dietary supplement are emerging as a new area of interest to support preventive or therapeutic effects in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). AIM: In a multicenter, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the use of the Artneo complex containing undenatured chicken collagen type II in patients with OA of the knee joints. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 212 outpatients from 12 centers in the Russian Federation with knee OA, stages II and III according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification. The participants included 171 women (80.7%) and 41 men (19.3%), with an average age of 60.2±9.0 years (range: 40 to 75 years). The study population was randomly allocated in equal proportions into two groups using an interactive web response system (IWRS). Group 1 (Artneo) consisted of 106 patients who took one capsule of the drug once daily for 180 days. Group 2 (Placebo) also had 106 patients, with the dosage form and regimen identical to Group 1. During the treatment period, the following outcomes were assessed: WOMAC index, KOOS, pain according to VAS, quality of life using the EQ-5D questionnaire, and the need for NSAIDs. All patients underwent a clinical blood test, general urine analysis, biochemical blood test, and ultrasound examination of the affected knee joint. RESULTS: In a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, it was demonstrated that the Artneo combination, containing undenatured chicken collagen type II, has a positive effect on all clinical manifestations of OA: it effectively reduces pain, stiffness, and improves the functional state of joints and quality of life. It has a good safety profile and is superior to placebo in all parameters studied. CONCLUSION: The results of the study confirm the good effectiveness and safety of the Artneo combination in patients with OA of the knee joints.

Analysis of binding centers in nicotinic receptors with the aid of synthetic peptides.

We studies the receptor-binding specificity of the synthetic peptide HAP (High Affinity Peptide) and its analogues, which are regarded as a model of the orthosteric site nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Using radioligand analysis, electrophysiology tests, and calcium imaging, we assessed the ability of HAP to interact with nAChR antagonists: long α-neurotoxins and α-conotoxins. A high affinity of HAP for α-bungarotoxin and the absence of its interaction with α-cobratoxin and α-conotoxins was found. The synthesized analogues of HAP in general retained the properties of the original peptide. Thus, HAP cannot be a model of a ligand-binding site.

[The role of expired air moisture condensate in assessment of pulmonary inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

AIM: To study biochemical composition of expired air condensate (EAC) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in relation to a phase and severity of the disease and its treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: EAC was investigated in 18 COPD patients and 9 healthy subjects. Basic broncholytic therapy with ipratropium bromide was combined with beclomethasone and fenspiride in 11 and 7 patients, respectively. The condensate was lyophilised, the residue was solved and analysed on the biochemical analyzer Casis (Beringer Manheim, Rosch). EAC was examined for albumin, C-reactive protein, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase (AP), lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, total calcium, magnesium. RESULTS: Compared to healthy subjects, COPD patients' EAC contains significantly higher levels of albumin, C-reactive protein, calcium, bilirubin and more active AP. Quantitative composition of EAC depends on COPD phase and severity. A negative correlation exists between FEV+AEA-1 and albumin concentration, FEV+AEA-1 and CRP concentration. The anti-inflammatory therapy decreases EAC content of both protein and lipid metabolism products, enzyme activity reflecting attenuation of oxidant and inflammatory processes, stabilization of cell membranes in the respiratory zone. CONCLUSION: EAC composition reflects metabolic processes in the lungs and can be used for assessment of airway affection, activity of the inflammatory process and COPD treatment efficacy.

[Impact of endogenous porphyrin-photosensitized exposure on peripheral lymphocytes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].

Peripheral lymphocytes (PL) were studied in 63 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 28 donors. The study revealed the elevated levels of lipid peroxidation products, altered membrane potential, and diminished PL viability in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis as compared with healthy donors. Analysis of the time dependences of cell viability and production of active tuberculosis products after endogenous porphyrin-photosensitized exposure suggests that the lymphocytes from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis are more exposed to the damaging effect of free radicals than the cells from healthy individuals. This is more apparent 18 hours of dark incubation after cell illumination in the presence of ALK-induced porphyrins in doses of 47.4 kJ/m2 or more. The findings suggest that the changes occurring in PL from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis may substantially cause immune disorders and contribute to the progression of a tuberculous process.

[New evidence for the detection of ehrlichia and anaplasma in ixodes ticks in Russia and Kazakhstan]. / Novye dannye o vyiavlenii érlikhii i anaplazm v iksodovykh kleshchakh v Rossii i Kazakhstane.

Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis were used to screen Ehrlichia and Anaplasma DNA in 900 specimens of Ixodes ticks of four genera (Dermacetor, Haemaphysalis, Ixodes, and Hyalomma) collected on 14 administrative territories of Russia and Kazakhstan. Anaplasma phagocytophilia DNA was detected and identified in Ixodes persulcatus ticks gathered in the Altai and Primorye Territories. Ehrlichia muris DNA was genotyped in the I. persulcatus ticks collected in the Tyumen, Omsk, and Novosibirsk Regions and the Altai Territory. Examining the Haemaphysalis concinna collected in the Primorye Territory revealed A. bovis DNA. The I. persulcatus ticks gathered in the Omsk Region were found to have "Ehrlichia-like "Schotti variant" DNA, Studying the ticks of the genera Dermatocentor and Hyalomma gathered in Russia and Kazakhstan failed to detect the representatives of the genera Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. The detection of A. phagocytophilia DNA in the I. persulcatus ticks in the Altai and Primorye territories and the serological verification of cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis among patients with tick-borne infections in these territories lead to the conclusion that there are natural loci of this disease in West Siberia and the Far East of Russia.

[Immunoprophylaxis of acute respiratory diseases with bacterial multicomponent vaccine VP-4 in children at preschool institutions]. / Immunoprofilaktika bakterial'noi polikomponentnoi vaktsinoi (VP-4) u detei v doshkol'nykh uchrezhdeniiakh.

The prophylactic action of polycomponent vaccine B[symbol: see text]-4, prepared from the antigens of opportunistic bacteria, on morbidity rate in acute respiratory diseases (ARD) of bacterial and mixed (bacterial and viral) etiology in 121 children aged 2-5 years, attending pre-school institutions was evaluated. For comparison, a group of 118 children of the same age from the same institutions was formed. The vaccine was introduced after the schedule consisting of 3 intranasal and 6-9 oral administrations made at intervals of 3-4 days. The duration of the course of immunization was 26 +/- 4 days. The prophylactic effect of B[symbol: see text]-4 on ARD morbidity was evaluated by the number of ARD cases and their duration per child. The prophylactic effect of B[symbol: see text]-4 on ARD morbidity lasted 14 months (the term of observation) after immunization and was manifested by a decrease in the number and duration of ARD cases after administration of the preparation, also in a group of highly susceptible children.

[Effect of lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid on the surface charge of the erythrocyte membrane]. / Vliianie lipoksigenaznykh metabolitov arakhidonovoi kisloty na poverkhnostnyi zariad membrany éritrotsitov.

The influence of metabolites of arachidonic acids on the electrophoretic mobility of the rat erythrocytes has been investigated. It is found that they can increase or decrease the surface charge of the erythrocyte membranes.

[The mechanism of an alteration in the erythrocyte electrophoretic mobility of heat-acclimated animals]. / Mekhanizm izmeneniia élektroforeticheskoi podvizhnosti éritrotsitov akklimirovannykh k teplu zhivotnykh.

Electrophoretic mobility of the heat-acclimated rat erythrocytes increased during a prolonged heat exposure and depended of plasma factors.