[Determination of cobalt in plasma blood samples by the ICP-MS method after oral intake of dietary supplements containing low doses of cobalt].

Salts of inorganic cobalt (Со) prevent the degradation of the alpha subunit of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), imitating the state of hypoxia in the body and increasing the production of the endogenous hormone erythropoietin (EPO), and are used as doping substances that increase blood oxygen capacity and endurance, which give competitive advantages in sports. Currently, a large number of dietary supplements, including Co-containing ones, are offered on free sale. Their uncontrolled intake can affect not only the professional career of athletes, but also their health, due to the fact that this trace element and its salts are the strongest inorganic poisons and carcinogens. Despite this, their availability on the pharmaceutical market, a noticeable effect of erythropoiesis stimulation and a convenient oral form of administration lead to the need for their detection in modern doping control. The purpose of this research was to develop an approach to differentiate cobalt from vitamin B12, present in the body in its natural state, from the intake of cobalt salts by quantifying and comparing blood levels of vitamin B12 and total cobalt. Methods. The study involved 9 healthy volunteers (women and men) aged 25 to 45 years, leading an active lifestyle. Three of them took 2500 µg/day of cobalamin for 20 days (comparison group), three - dietary supplement containing cobalt asparaginate (100 µg/day in terms of pure cobalt), and the rest - dietary supplements with cobalt sulfate heptahydrate (100 µg/day in terms of pure cobalt) (administration groups) at the same time after meals. Blood samples were taken at baseline and on days 5, 9, 14 and 20. The concentrations of total cobalt in blood plasma samples of volunteers were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS), the levels of cobalamin were determined on a Cobas 6000 immunochemical analyzer using the Elecsys Vitamin B12 II Assay ELISA kits. Results. It was found that oral intake of of cobalamin at a therapeutic dose significantly exceeding the recommended daily intake (3 µg), there was a regular slight increase in the blood concentration of total cobalt (1.1 times). At the same time intake of dietary supplements containing cobalt in the form of sulfate or asparaginate (about 100 µg per day in terms of pure cobalt) was accompanied by 4-6.7 fold increase in the concentration of total cobalt while unchanged vitamin B12 plasma concentration was observed. The detection of such changes can reliably indicate the use of prohibited salts and, of course, will be in demand for anti-doping control. Conclusion. Long-term monitoring of vitamin B12 and total cobalt levels, similar to hematological module of the Athlete Biological Passport program, will unambiguously detect possible abuse of cobalt salts and can be an additional evidence of the presence of these doping substances to other analytical methods, such as a combination of liquid chromatography and ICP-MS (LC-ICP-MS).

[The role of the individual nutrition for high sport achievements].

It is established that individual menu, corresponded for personal nutritional need is a key factor for sport success of top athletes. A lot of questions and real approach for formation of the personal menu for top athletes are observed.

[Flavonoid correction of functional elasticity of erythrocyte membranes and hemorheological disorders during oxidative stress caused by chronic physical overstrain in mice].

Effect of a course of treatment by bioflavonoids quercetin and diquertin on the physical work capacity, oxidant and antioxidant status of organism, and hemorheological parameters and deformability of erythrocytes have been studied under conditions of chronic physical overstrain in mice caused by sequential extraordinary running load. The drugs effectively prevent the development of oxidative stress, loss of elasticity of erythrocyte membranes and growth in dynamic blood viscosity in microcirculatory link of hemodynamics. It is established that both bioflavonoids significantly increase the physical work capacity of animals and prevent from the development of physical overstrain syndrome.

[Nanotechnology applications in pharmacology].

The applications of nanotechnology to pharmacology are reviewed. The potential applications of biochips, nanosensors, bioreactors, neural stem cells, immune nanoparticles, biodegradable polymers, and convection-enhanced drug delivery in the diagnostics and treatment of diseases are discussed. Specific attention is given to developments in chemotherapeutic means, including advanced drug delivery systems and targeted nanotherapy, which will form the basis of the future nanomedicine. Numerous novel medicinal forms are discussed, including polymeric nanoparticles, nanotubes, micelles, liposomes, dendrimers, fullerenes, and hydrogels. In particular, highly stable glycosphyngolipid nanotubes and nanoliposomes are proposed as drug delivery systems. For this purpose, the model of stimulation of skin vasomotor reactions by nitroglycerin application is developed. The effect of nitroglycerin is shown to increase 1.5 times when used in the form of a dispersion with nanotubes as carriers and almost 2.5 times in the case of a dispersion with nanoliposomes as carriers. Nanotechnologically manufactured biologically active substances Apiton-25 (containing apis products) and Microhydrin (containing SiO 2 nanoparticles, silicon hydrogen bonds Si-H, and free negative charges for free radical neutralization) have been studied. The results indicate that both Apiton-25 and Microhydrin upon peroral administration enhance the cyclic trial performance during prolonged submaximal exercise in endurance-trained cyclists.

[Using carnosine and natural antioxidants for the prophylaxis of acute post-loading oxidative stress].

The effects of a submaximum single physical load with a mixed aerobic-anaerobic character (combined rowing test) on the intensity of lipid peroxidation (LPO) processes, antioxidant state of the organism, and rheological properties of blood have been studied in a group of athletes. The administration of natural antioxidants significantly decreased the LPO stress induced by the physical load, reduced the suppression of the antioxidant system of the organism, and normalized the LPO-disturbed hemorheological parameters. Antioxidants such as carnosine, cytamine, and apilac can be used as non-doping means for the accelerated recovery and increase in the physical work capacity in athletes.

[Spontaneous compensation of severe mitral insufficiency secondary to rupture of chordae tendineae in an athlete].

The article describes an observation of spontaneous compensation of severe mitral insufficiency due to chordal avulsion in a 52-year-old sportsman adapted to hard physical load. After a physical load, the sportsman developed symptoms of acute mitral insufficiency. EchoCG revealed myxomatous degeneration of mitral cusps, chordal avulsion, severe mitral insufficiency, and volume overload of the left heart. The patient refused surgical treatment; conservative therapy was conducted. A three-year follow-up revealed an unexpectedly fast decrease in the size of heart cavities and the speed of regurgitation. The authors reckon that the these fast changes took place due to the sportsmen's heart adaptation to volume overload.

[Comparative study of the effect of vitamax, synergin and alpha-tocopherol on physical endurance of highly trained athletes]. / Sravnitel'noe issledovanie vliianiia vitamaksa, sinergina i alpha-tokoferola na fizicheskuiu rabotosposobnost' sportsmenov vysokoi kvalifikatsii.

The influence of vitamax, synergin, and alpha-tocopherol on the exercise performance (ultimate run on a tretbahn with increasing load) of high-rank athletes has been studied. Peculiarities of the drug action upon lipid peroxidation (LPO) in unsaturated fatty acids were studied by a chemiluminescence technique and by monitoring the malonic dialdehyde in the course of a 21-day treatment-training session and within a 5-day period after termination of the drug administration. Vitamax and synergin increase the working capacity of high-rank athletes on the 10th and 11st day of administration, respectively, while alpha-tocopherol produces such effect only on the 21st day. All the drugs studied possess antioxidant properties, which are also more pronounced for vitamax and synergin.

[Effect of sulodexide on hemocoagulation and lipid peroxidation in athletes during physical load]. / Vliianie sulodeksida na gemokoaguliatsiiu i pereokislenie lipidov u sportsmenov pri fizicheskoi nagruzke.

High physical loads lead to an increase in the blood coagulation rate and inhibit fibrinolysis in athletes. At the same time, the fibrin-stabilizing factor activity and the fibrinogen concentration tend to increase. Sulodexide produces an anticoagulant effect, thus preventing from hypercoagulation. An increase in the working capacity of athletes caused by suloxide administration is accompanied by the antioxidant action.

[Comparative study of anabolizing activity of apilac and methandrostenolone on a model of isolated overload of the rat skeletal muscle]. / Sravnitel'noe izuchenie anaboliziruiushchei aktivnosti apilaka i metandrostenolona na modeli izolirovannoi peregruzki skeletnoi myshtsy goleni krys.

The anabolic activity of apilac was studied in rats in comparison to methanrdostenolone A 10-day administration of apilac (200 mg/kg) produced a pronounced anabolic effect manifested by a hypertrophy of m. soleus. Methanrdostenolone (10 mg/kg) also favored a gain in the muscle weight. The anabolic action of apilac was comparable to that of methanrdostenolone.