[Influence of essential oils of plants on the psycho-emotional state of elderly people.]

The possibility of improving the psycho-emotional state of the elderly by inhaling the vapors of essential oils (EO) of plants at a low concentration (1 mg/m3 of air) has been established. To obtain a quick short-term result, mainly in terms of psychological well-being, EOs of coriander and mountain savory are most suitable. A distant, but more pronounced result in terms of both psychological well-being and psychological tone is given by EO of hyssop officinalis and clove tree.

АNTIMETASTATIC EFFECT OF B. SUBTILIS IMV B-7724 LECTIN OBSERVED IN LEWIS LUNG CARCINOMA MODEL.

AIM: To study the antitumor and antimetastatic effects of B. subtilis IMV B-7724 lectin used in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies were performed on C57Bl/6J mice; Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) was used as an experimental tumor. В. subtilis ІМV В-7724 lectin was administered to tumor-bearing mice or to mice which underwent surgical resection of the primary tumor. The lectin was injected subcutaneously, 10 times, at a single dose of 5 or 1 mg/kg of body weight. The standard indicators of tumor growth and metastasis were evaluated. RESULTS: Independently of the application settings, the lectin at a dose of 1 mg/kg of b.w. caused more pronounced effect than at a dose of 5 mg/kg of b.w. The administration of B. subtilis IMV B-7724 lectin to the mice with LLC in neoadjuvant setting did not cause notable antitumor effect but led to a significant decrease in the number and volume of lung metastases. The lectin administration in adjuvant setting significantly inhibited metastasis: the metastasis inhibition index reached 63.0% and 100% in the mice treated with the lectin at a dose of 5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg respectively. The mean survival time of the treated animals significantly increased. CONCLUSION: A pronounced antimetastatic effect of B. subtilis IMV B-7724 lectin administered in an adjuvant setting was demonstrated.

The heparin binding domain of von Willebrand factor binds to growth factors and promotes angiogenesis in wound healing.

During wound healing, the distribution, availability, and signaling of growth factors (GFs) are orchestrated by their binding to extracellular matrix components in the wound microenvironment. Extracellular matrix proteins have been shown to modulate angiogenesis and promote wound healing through GF binding. The hemostatic protein von Willebrand factor (VWF) released by endothelial cells (ECs) in plasma and in the subendothelial matrix has been shown to regulate angiogenesis; this function is relevant to patients in whom VWF deficiency or dysfunction is associated with vascular malformations. Here, we show that VWF deficiency in mice causes delayed wound healing accompanied by decreased angiogenesis and decreased amounts of angiogenic GFs in the wound. We show that in vitro VWF binds to several GFs, including vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) isoforms and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), mainly through the heparin-binding domain (HBD) within the VWF A1 domain. VWF also binds to VEGF-A and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) in human plasma and colocalizes with VEGF-A in ECs. Incorporation of the VWF A1 HBD into fibrin matrices enables sequestration and slow release of incorporated GFs. In vivo, VWF A1 HBD-functionalized fibrin matrices increased angiogenesis and GF retention in VWF-deficient mice. Treatment of chronic skin wounds in diabetic mice with VEGF-A165 and PDGF-BB incorporated within VWF A1 HBD-functionalized fibrin matrices accelerated wound healing, with increased angiogenesis and smooth muscle cell proliferation. Therefore, the VWF A1 HBD can function as a GF reservoir, leading to effective angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.

von Willebrand factor regulation of blood vessel formation.

Several important physiological processes, from permeability to inflammation to hemostasis, take place at the vessel wall and are regulated by endothelial cells (ECs). Thus, proteins that have been identified as regulators of one process are increasingly found to be involved in other vascular functions. Such is the case for von Willebrand factor (VWF), a large glycoprotein best known for its critical role in hemostasis. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that lack of VWF causes enhanced vascularization, both constitutively and following ischemia. This evidence is supported by studies on blood outgrowth EC (BOEC) from patients with lack of VWF synthesis (type 3 von Willebrand disease [VWD]). The molecular pathways are likely to involve VWF binding partners, such as integrin αvß3, and components of Weibel-Palade bodies, such as angiopoietin-2 and galectin-3, whose storage is regulated by VWF; these converge on the master regulator of angiogenesis and endothelial homeostasis, vascular endothelial growth factor signaling. Recent studies suggest that the roles of VWF may be tissue specific. The ability of VWF to regulate angiogenesis has clinical implications for a subset of VWD patients with severe, intractable gastrointestinal bleeding resulting from vascular malformations. In this article, we review the evidence showing that VWF is involved in blood vessel formation, discuss the role of VWF high-molecular-weight multimers in regulating angiogenesis, and review the value of studies on BOEC in developing a precision medicine approach to validate novel treatments for angiodysplasia in congenital VWD and acquired von Willebrand syndrome.

A Method for Microencapsulation of Cells and a Device for Its Realization.

The device for cell encapsulation makes it possible to fabricate microcapsules of a preset size with even smooth surface, without defects or adhesion to each other, with viable cells inside the capsule. The cells were derived from newborn piglet pancreases.

Planning for an annual episodic mass gathering: emergency department and clinic utilization in Yellowstone.

OBJECTIVE: Planning and providing emergency and primary care for a large transient population of visitors and employees in a national park can be problematic. Furthermore, planning for emergency and primary health care needs of visitors and itinerant workers in a wilderness area national park has not been well documented. A study was performed to analyze emergency and primary health care utilization in a national park. METHODS: Data was gathered from all patients presenting to Lake Hospital Emergency Department in Yellowstone in 1995, and a retrospective chart review was performed. RESULTS: Two distinct populations with different health care needs were identified. CONCLUSION: Utilization analysis revealed differences between conventional mass gatherings and the mass gatherings in Yellowstone. Because of the unique conditions and populations found in a wilderness area, conventional mass gathering emergency medical service models may not be an appropriate model for planning health care in a national park. Analysis of utilization data can help plan resources for emergency and primary health care for a park population.

[Disordered cerebral hemodynamics in diabetic patients (based on myelographic data)]. / Narushenie tserebral'noi gemodinamiki u bol'nykh sakharnym diabetom (po dannym mielografii).

Overall seventy-six patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who ranged from 16 to 65 years old were examined. Of these, 62 subjects were given a diagnosis of insulin-dependent DM, 14 insulin-nondependent DM. Moderate severity course of the illness was documented in 32, severe--in 44 patients. All patients revealed a change in the condition of the cerebrovascular system. This was manifested by predominance of hypertonic type rheograms, increased vasomotor tone with vessels of all calibres, changes in the level of pulse blood filling, signs of varying degree venous hypertension. DM duration, severity, level of compensation were all related to the degree of cerebrovascular disturbances.

[A lipid metabolic disorder in diabetics]. / Narushenie lipidnogo obmena u bol'nykh sakharnym diabetom.

A total of 52 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who ranged from 15 to 60 years old were examined. Of these, 44 had type I DM, eight patients were afflicted with type 2 DM. 77 percent of the examinees were found out to develop hyperlipoproteinemia (HLP), with type 2b HLP having been diagnosed in 80 percent of the patients, type 4 HLP in 20 percent. The latter abnormality was seen in that group of patients presenting with a severe course of diabetes. In patients with type 1 DM HLP was not age-associated; it was developing in the presence of non-compensated carbohydrate metabolism, with duration of diabetes aggravating the severity of HLP. Type 2 DM patients revealed type 2b HLP with metabolic compensation being unsatisfactory. The above study suggests that lipid metabolism may be caused to return to normal by correction of carbohydrate metabolism, and leads to the belief that treatment of HLP is a worth-while exercise.

[The interrelationship between immune status characteristics and the trace element level in men with ischemic heart disease]. / Vzaimosviaz' mezhdu osobennostiami immunnogo statusa i soderzhaniem mikroélementov u muzhchin, bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa.

A comparative analysis was carried out between the hair content of basic trace metals in patients with atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and findings from their immunogrammes. Close correlation was found out between changes in concentrations of Mn, Cu, Fe, Si, Zn, Ca and processes of activation of basic leucocyte populations characteristic of IHD course and alterations in humoral immune response peculiar to the above patients. Conclusions were reached about presence of the aforementioned changes in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, IHD.

[Microbial contamination in a water-treatment system]. / Mikrobnoe zagriaznenie v sisteme vodopodgotovki.

Microorganisms destructors of organic compounds contained in the Kremenchug reservoir and water treatment system of heat power station have been distinguished and identified. This system does not completely remove microflora at all stages of technological process that results in infestation of ion-exchange resins of the 1st stage filters for water desalting with microorganisms. The reasons have been established of the 1st stage desalting filters infestation by the reservoir water microflora. It is necessary to form a complex approach to solution of the problem of preventing the accident situations: microbe infestation of ion-exchange resins of water-desalting filters in the system of chemical water treatment of heat power stations.

[Dermatomycoses in workers in enterprises of the microbiological industry]. / Dermatomikozy u rabochikh predpriiatii mikrobiologicheskoi promyshlennosti.

Mycologic examination of 54 patients with clinical manifestations of dermatomycosis, engaged in glucose oxidase and catalase production has found a producer fungus, Penicillium vitale in 31 (38%); 3 out of 37 people contacting with producers of glucamylase and pectofetidine appeared to be infected by Aspergillus awamori (1.1%) and Aspergillus foetidus (1.1%), respectively. The producers were isolated from the skin of 40 (16.44%) out of 243 workers having no clinical signs of dermatomycosis, mainly in drying, granulating and microbiology lab workers. Dermatophytes (50.9%), yeast fungi (1.8%) and other agents were isolated from the skin of patients with clinical manifestations of dermatomycoses. Age and sex of personnel, length of service and infectious contamination of technological premises were found to influence the skin disorder caused by dermatophytes in combination with producer fungi. Prophylactic measures to prevent the contamination of air and skin by producer fungi and their metabolite are to be developed.

[Detection of Coelomomyces psorophorae Couch in the Ukraine]. / Obnaruzhenie Coelomomyces psorophorae Couch na Ukraine.

The narrow-specialized pathogen of blood sucking mosquitoes Coelomomyces psorophorae Couch, which has not been previously found in the territory of the Ukraine, was detected on Aedes cantans and Al. communis larvae in water bodies located in the forest belt of Pushcha-Voditsa (Kiev Polessie, Ukrainian SSR). Evidence on its morphology and ecology is presented.