[Assessment of biological age and body composition in people involved in hardening]. / Otsenka biologicheskogo vozrasta i komponentnogo sostava tela u lyudei, zanimayushchikhsya zakalivaniem.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To assess the biological age of persons belonging to the group of the second mature age, who are engaged in different types of hardening, using the method of bioimpedance analysis, depending on gender, age and additional sports activities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 36 women and 27 men of the second mature age involved in hardening. The division into groups took place taking into account gender and the presence/absence of any sports activities. Anthropometric and hemodynamic parameters were measured, the qualitative composition of the body was studied by the method of bioimpedance analysis, and the biological age was determined by the method of V. Sukhov. RESULTS: The body mass index of the examined women and men was above the normal range. According to bioimpedance analysis, in men, the indicators of fat, lean, active cell and skeletal muscle mass, total water, waist/hip index had higher values than in women. In a comparative analysis of the calendar and biological age, it was found that the biological age in all the studied groups was reduced relative to the calendar. It should be noted that both in women and men in the «hardening¼ groups, the difference between biological and calendar age was more pronounced (p≤0.01) than in the «hardening-sport¼ groups (p≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite the fact that hardening is associated with a high level of stress (both emotional and physical), it helps to slow down the rate of aging of the body and leads to a decrease in the wear and tear of the functioning of natural physiological processes. Due to hardening, a decrease in the biological age of a person is observed, which can be associated with both a high level of health and lifestyle.

[The dynamics of hemodynamic, psychophysiological parameters and adaptive potential of men of working age engaged in water-cold hardening]. / Izmenenie gemodinamicheskikh, psikhofiziologicheskikh pokazatelei i adaptatsionnogo potentsiala muzhchin trudosposobnogo vozrasta, zanimayushchikhsya vodno-kholodovym zakalivaniem.

The article shows the influence of repeated repetition of contrasting temperature effects on hemodynamic, psychophysiological parameters and the adaptive potential of men of working age. OBJECTIVE: To assess changes of hemodynamic and psychophysiological parameters, as well as the adaptive potential in healthy men of working age under the influence of repeated contrasting temperature exposures, the difference of which is about 70 °C. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood pressure, heart rate and Luscher test were measured 20 minutes before and 20 minutes after repeated exposure of contrasting temperature changes (alternation of temperature cycles). The following parameters were calculated: dynamics of pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure, Stroke volume (SV), Cardiac output (CO), the Kerdo vegetative index (KVI). Assessment of adaptive potential (AP) was carried out according to the Baevsky's Stress Index and Robinson index. Also, integral parameters of psychophysiological status were evaluated by the Luscher test. RESULTS: In the course of the study, it was proved that 20 minutes before repeated contrast temperature exposure, the level of SBP and heart rate was increased (p<0.01), and 20 minutes after the completion of procedures the decrease of SBP level was observed (p<0.05). The CO level before the start of temperature exposure was decreased (p<0.01), and 20 minutes after the finish of the contrasting effects this dynamics was preserved (p<0.01). The AP level before the start of contrasting exposure was 2.79±0.10, and after contrasting exposure it was decreased (p<0.05). The Robinson index (RI) was higher than the established normal values before temperature effects (112.53±6.82), then its decrease was noted (p<0.01). According to Luscher's test, the integral parameters «Heteronomy-autonomy¼, «Balance of personal properties¼, «Vegetative coefficient¼ significantly changed psychophysiological characteristics. The parameter «Total deviation¼ indicated an average level of unproductive neuropsychic tension (before - 14.71±2.19, after - 14.36±2.26) both before and after repeated temperature exposures. The VIC parameter of the study participants testified to the predominance of parasympathicotonia (before - -2.07±5; after - -7.23±5.62). At the same time, correlations were established only before repeated contrast exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Repeatedly repeated contrasting temperature effects cause ambiguous reactions of the body. Changes in hemodynamic, psychophysiological parameters and adaptive potential are observed some time before the alternation of cycles of contrasting exposures. Most likely, this reaction of the body is a reaction to the upcoming temperature stress. If the model of stress exposure, when the temperature variation is about 70 °C, occurs regularly and systematically (once a week throughout the entire winter season), in this case, the main recommendation is to control the blood pressure level before the start of contrast exposure as a precautionary measure to prevent the development of adverse cardiovascular reactions.

[Dynamics of the emotional state and physiological parameters of the organism during long-term aqua-thermal impact]. / Dinamika émotsional'nogo sostoianiia i fiziologicheskikh parametrov organizma pri dlitel'nom akvatermal'nom vozdeistvii.

The data presented in this article illustrate the dynamics of the affective sphere of the mental processes associated with the higher nervous activity and the characteristics of the neuroendocrine system (including the vegetative index of Kerdo, cortisol and serotonin levels) in the participants of the marathon swimming competition covering the distance of 101.4 km. We investigated the relationship between the levels of the above hormones and the functional activity of the vegetative nervous system. AIM: The objectives of the present study were (1) to determine the dynamics of the changes in the psychophysiological characteristics of the participants in the marathon swimming competition during which the world record for the covering of the 101,4 km distance in the ice water was set and (2) to follow up the development of the stress response at different levels of the life support system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 22 participants in the competition were available for the examination designed to evaluate their psychological status and hemodynamic parameters as well as to determine the cortisol and serotonin levels in the blood sera of these subjects. RESULTS: The data obtained in this study give evidence that before the start and during the marathon distance swimming, only positive emotions prevailed among the participants whereas the setting of the world record was followed by the progressive development of the state of indifference. The dynamics of the Kerdo vegetative index suggests the balance between the functioning of the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of the autonomous nervous system at the start of the competition and the prevalence of sympathetic activity in the autonomic nervous system at its finish. The dynamics of the level of cortisol in the serum indicates the presence of a stress. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lack of the proper sports training, the participants in the marathon distance swimming competition proved capable of overcoming a variety of physical and psychological workloads which made it possible to set the world record. On the one hand, this confirms that the experience with winter swimming gained during a few years is sufficient to enable the swimmers to participate in such events. On the other hand, the results of the study give the idea of the 'price' to be paid by the physiological and psychological components of the life support system of the participants in the marathon distance swimming competitions seeking to set a world record.

Experimental study of the effects of permafrost microorganisms on the morphofunctional activity of the immune system.

The immunobiological potential of a new microorganism species isolated from permafrost specimens (PMO strain 3M) collected from the Mammoth Mountain in Yakutia was studied in laboratory mice. PMO injected intraperitoneally in doses of 2500 to 50 × 10(6) microbial bodies caused characteristic dose-dependent effects on the structure and functions of the immune system (thymus and spleen indexes, functional activity of splenic macrophages, cellular and humoral immunity). Doses of PMO stimulating functional activities of both cellular and humoral immunity were detected.

[Influence of permafrost microorganisms on the quality and duration of life of laboratory animals].

Microorganisms of genus Bacillus strain 3M (permafrost microorganisms--PM), allocated from the samples of permafrost soils from Mamontova Mountain (Yakutia) are influenced by the quality and duration of life of elderly mice. PMs were injected intraperitoneally to CBA mice at the age of 17 months. Motion activity, muscular force (lifting of cargo test), food instinct activity (dosed starvation test) and cellular immunity activity (reaction of delayed-type hypersensitivity in vivo) of animals have increased, and psychoemotional condition of animals has improved under influence of PM. Average duration of life has increased by 9.19%, minimal duration of life--by 41.93%, maximal duration of life--by 7.68%. Duration of survival (the remaining life after injection of microorganisms) has increased more significantly: minimal--by 141.9%, on the average--by 28.0%, maximal--by 20.4%. Mechanisms of PM influence on increase of laboratory mice duration of life up to the top specific limit through the positive influence on quality of their life are discussed.

Effects of short-term hypothermal and contrast exposure on immunophysiological parameters of laboratory animals.

Experiments on inbred animals showed that short-term exposure in cold water significantly modified structural and functional parameters of the immune system at different levels of its organization, from bone marrow hemopoiesis to effector stage of the immune response to antigen. The thermal factor caused changes in nonspecific and specific mechanisms of the immune system. Hypothermal exposure (7-9 degrees C, 5 sec) increased the thymic index and bone marrow lymphocyte count, reduced absorption capacity and stimulated metabolic activity of phagocytes, stimulated cell-mediated and suppressed humoral immunity. Contrast exposure in cold and hot water (7-9 degrees C, 5 sec/40-42 degrees C, 30 sec) increased monocyte count in bone marrow and reduced it in the their peripheral blood, reduced metabolic activity of phagocytes, stimulated cell-mediated and suppressed humoral immunity. These data demonstrate physiological mechanisms of interactions between the thermoregulatory and immune systems.

Specific and nonspecific reactions of mouse immune system under the effect of short-term exposure in warm and/or cold water.

Transient changes in environmental temperature produce a short-term, but significant effect on the immune system reactions in laboratory mice. Activities of nonspecific resistance factors (peritoneal macrophages) in mice exposed in warm or cold water were characterized by similar reactions, while the reactions of cellular and humoral immunity were opposite. Exposure to cold water activated cellular immunity, while warm water activated humoral immune system. The most significant changes in the immune system reactions were observed during the first 3 days of thermal exposure. Temperature alteration from cold to warm leads to activation of cellular and suppression of humoral components of the immune system. Alteration of water temperature from warm to cold leads to activation of nonspecific resistance factors, cellular and humoral immunity.

Investigating lymphadenopathy--report on the first 12 months of the lymph node diagnostic clinic at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

The lymph node diagnostic clinic was set up at the Royal Marsden Hospital to provide a direct access service for general practitioners. In the first year 82 patients were seen. The malignancy pick-up rate was 19.5% which compares very favourably to rates in breast and colorectal clinics. Patient and general practitioner satisfaction with the service was high.

Mechanisms of vascular growth-promoting effects of neuropeptide Y: role of its inducible receptors.

We have previously reported that neuropeptide Y (NPY), a sympathetic cotransmitter and vasoconstrictor, is mitogenic for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and now report on the mechanisms mediating these effects. In rat aortic A10 cell line, NPY's potency was greater than that of norepinephrine, and efficacy similar to that of platelet-derived growth factor, but less than that of the full serum, in stimulating cell proliferation; this effect was optimal in cell 60-80% cell density. At lower cell density and serum content, NPY stimulated DNA fragmentation/apoptosis. In rat aortic primary VSMCs (RASMCs), mitogenic effect of NPY was bimodal with the first peak at 1 pM, a decline at 1 nM, and a second peak at 10-100 nM; peptide YY had similar but less efficacious effects. The first NPY's peak was mimicked by Y2 agonists, and blocked by Y2 antagonist (T4-[NPY(33-36]4), and the second mimicked by Y1 agonist and partially blocked by Y1 antagonist, BIBP3226, suggesting a multireceptor mode of action. In A10 and in RASMCs, the expression of NPY receptors, Y1, Y2 and Y5, using RT-PCR was undetectable in quiescent cells but detected after pre-treatment with NPY. The receptor induction was NPY dose-dependent and also affected by incubation time and presence of serum. The NPY mitogenic effects were attenuated by calcium channel blockers, particularly verapamil. In primary cultures of rat coronary endothelial cells (where NPY is also mitogenic), NPY stimulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. Thus, the growth-promoting effects of NPY in vascular cells occur at concentrations lower than vasoconstrictive, and appear to be mediated by inducible Y1, Y2, and Y5 receptors, calcium entry and possibly MAPK activation.