[Overactive bladder in the structure of somatized depression].

In everyday practice, urologists often encounter clinical manifestations of overactive bladder (OAB), without of organic or infectious disease. In such cases, OAB may appears in the structure of a somatized (more often depressive) disorder, and therefore an integrated psychosomatic approach to such patient management is becoming increasingly relevant. The relevance of studying the topic is due to the high prevalence of OAB symptoms, its recurrent course, insufficient effectiveness of urological treatment, a significant decrease in the quality of life and working capacity of the socially active part of the adult population. Our clinical observation illustrates the development of symptoms of OAB with massive "pseudo-urological" symptoms within the framework of recurrent somatized depression in a woman of involutional age.

[The comparison of tests for qualitative evaluation of Ureaplasma parvum, Mycoplasma hominis: "Mycoplasma duo", "Ureaplasma microtest", "Mycoplasma microtest" and "AmpliSens-Florocenosis-mycoplasma-FL"].

The genital mycoplasma is an opportunistic bacteria and its detection is to be implemented in qualitative format. The study was organized to compare reagents kits "Mycoplasma Duo", "Ureaplasma Microtest", "Mycoplasma microtest" and "AmpliSens-Florocenosis-Mycoplasma-FL". The study resulted in high indicators of diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity for all kits. At that, the lowest indicators were registered under application of "Mycoplasma Duo" kit. The study reveled correlation of qualitative values detected by using cultural analysis and polymerase chain reaction. The reproducibility of qualitative values of cultural method occurred significantly lower in comparison with "AmpliSens-Florocenosis-Mycoplasma-FL " kit.

[Effects of relic microorganism B. sp. on development, gaseous exchange, spontaneous motor activity, stress resistance and survival of Drosophila melanogaster].

The effect of relic microorganism B. sp., living in severe environment of Siberian permafrost during thousands and millions of years, on development and stress resistance of Drosophila melanogaster has been studied. In manipulating with such objects with practically "eternal life span", molecular carriers of the unprecedented longevity potential and possibilities of their transmission to other biological objects should primarily be addressed. Here we discuss for the first time the influence of B. sp. application on development, survival, stress resistance and the gross physiological predictors of aging rate in D. melanogaster. To establish optimal and toxic doses, wide range of B. sp. concentrations were tested (1-500 million cells of B. sp. per 1 ml of the flies feeding medium). Surprisingly, no toxic effects of B. sp. could be registered even on such a "sensitive" model as the developing larvae. In fact, the rate of development, survival and body mass gradually increased with elevation of B. sp. concentration. The gain of higher body mass within shorter periods of development could indicate enhanced anabolic and/ or declined catabolic effects of B. sp. Higher motor activity and gaseous exchange rates were observed in imagoes developed on the mediums with B. sp. application. Survival of these flies at the heat shock (30 min at 38 degrees C) and ultraviolet irradiation (60 min, 50W UV lamp) was increased, indicating elevated stress resistance, apparently due to stimulation of DNA-repair and chaperone-mediated protection of macromolecules. Further research is clearly warranted to identify more efficient anti-stress and antiaging preparations and schemes of B. sp. application on models of laboratory mammals and human cell cultures.

Design, recruitment, logistics, and data management of the GEHA (Genetics of Healthy Ageing) project.

In 2004, the integrated European project GEHA (Genetics of Healthy Ageing) was initiated with the aim of identifying genes involved in healthy ageing and longevity. The first step in the project was the recruitment of more than 2500 pairs of siblings aged 90 years or more together with one younger control person from 15 areas in 11 European countries through a coordinated and standardised effort. A biological sample, preferably a blood sample, was collected from each participant, and basic physical and cognitive measures were obtained together with information about health, life style, and family composition. From 2004 to 2008 a total of 2535 families comprising 5319 nonagenarian siblings were identified and included in the project. In addition, 2548 younger control persons aged 50-75 years were recruited. A total of 2249 complete trios with blood samples from at least two old siblings and the younger control were formed and are available for genetic analyses (e.g. linkage studies and genome-wide association studies). Mortality follow-up improves the possibility of identifying families with the most extreme longevity phenotypes. With a mean follow-up time of 3.7 years the number of families with all participating siblings aged 95 years or more has increased by a factor of 5 to 750 families compared to when interviews were conducted. Thus, the GEHA project represents a unique source in the search for genes related to healthy ageing and longevity.

Orion: a glimpse of hope in life span extension?

Orion is a multicomponent drug based on derivatives of taurocholic acid and several other compounds. Application of Orion into the feeding medium of Drosophila melanogaster resulted in increased life span and survival at stressful conditions. Two paradoxical features of the drug should be stressed: The "age-threshold" (life span extension was observed only when the drug was applied starting from the second half of life) and induction of "centenarian" flies (older 100 days). Orion enhanced survival at heat shock (38 degrees C) and acidic (pH = 1.6) or alkaline (pH = 11.8) feeding mediums, but not at oxidative stresses modeled by 100% oxygen or application of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)).

[The activity of gas metabolism, thermoregulation, and antioxidant enzymes in aging C57Bl/6 mice].

The distribution type and correlative links between physiological and biochemical indices characterizing functional condition of the systems of gaseous exchange (V(O2) and V(CO2)), thermoregulation (body temperature and coefficient of thermoconductivity) and antioxidant defense have been studied in 62 young (3-5 mo.) and 58 old (23-26 mo.) male C57Bl/ 6 mice. The coefficients of variation differed significantly depending on the variable but not the age-group. Mean values of V(O2) and V(CO2), body temperature and thermoconductivity, but not activities of the antioxidant enzymes, declined in aging. Moreover, the activities of catalase, glutathione-peroxidase and glutathionereductase, i.e. enzymes involved in regulation of hydrogen peroxide level, increased in aging. The correlations between V(O2) and V(CO2), V(O2) and body temperature or V(O2) and the liver pH, as well as between the antioxidant enzyme activities exhibited little age-changes. However, three-dimensional non-linear models revealed significant age-changes in relations between the studied variables.

[The dynamics of chromosomal instability of welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.): the influence of seed storage temperature].

The age-related dynamics of chromosomal instability and germination capacity of welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) seeds have been studied under two different storage temperatures during six years after harvesting. Seeds that were kept at the room temperature (14-28 degrees C) during 6 years of storage have lost their germination capacity. The frequencies of aberrant anaphases grew from 2% on the first month of storage up to 80% on the 75th month of storage. The germination capacity of seeds kept at the lower temperature (4-9 degrees C) was 73-77% on the 6th year of storage and the frequency of aberrant anaphases remained within the limits of 2-4%. Thus, storage of welsh onion seeds during 6 years at the lower temperature allows to retain germination capacity and restrains the augmentation of chromosomal instability in root meristem cells of seedlings during this period.

[The micronuclei frequencies in the buccal cell epithelium of young people of different age and gender in Ukraine].

The results of study of micronuclei (MN) frequencies among the participants of Ukrainian school biological olympiads are presented. Totally 266 persons have been inspected. The distribution of MN frequencies correspond to the Poisson's distribution with lambda = 2.5. The average frequency of micronuclei in males was 2.4 +/- 0.15%, in females it was 2.7 +/- 0.14%. The difference of the average MN frequencies for these two groups was statistically insignificant. The individual micronuclei frequencies varied from 0 to 8.3%, the average MN frequency in the general group was 2.5 +/- 0.11%, (limits 2-5%). The micronuclei frequencies in different age groups of males and females were compared. Significantly higher MN frequencies in females than in males at the age of sixteen were detected. The age-related changes of micronuclei frequencies (14-18 age) were different for females compared to males.

[Dynamics of the induced chromosomal instability in welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.): gamma irradiation of the seeds of different storage periods].

The chromosome aberrations in root meristem cells of welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) seeds after gamma-irradiation (5 and 10 Gy) of different-aged seeds (7, 19, 31, 43 and 55 months of storage) were studied. The irradiation dose of 5 Gy significantly increased the frequency of aberrant anaphases (FAA) for 31- and 43-months seeds; the dose of 10 Gy significantly increased the FAA in seeds of all age groups. The irradiation of young (7 months) seeds resulted in decreasing of the fraction of bridges to the control level of the old (55-months) seeds for the dose of 5 Gy and below the control level of the old seeds--for the dose of 10 Gy. Some peculiarities of cytogenetic parameters of genome instability and the germinating capacity of the seeds made it possible to suppose that the third year of storage is a critical period for the welsh onion seeds.

Genetic diversity in populations of Gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua).

RAPD analysis was used to examine the extent of genetic polymorphism in two populations of Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) from Antarctic Islands (Petermann and Livingston). The chosen two of three 10 mer oligonucleotide primers accordingly to preliminary results showed different levels of polymorphism in Gentoo penguins at Petermann Island (from 23.53 to 42.86%) and Livingston Island (from 52.94 to 57.14%). Nei's similarity coefficients were in range from 0.5606 (when Gentoo genome profiles were compared with RAPD profiles of two related penguin species: Pygoscelis adeliae (Adelie) and Pygoscelis antarctica (Chinstrep)) to 0.9281 among observed Gentoo penguin populations. Nei's distances values ranged from 0.0746 to 0.5787 among the populations and species. The obtained results will be used for further estimation of genetic diversity of Gentoo penguins and determination of their taxonomic status.

Longevidad centenaria en Europa / Centenarians in Europe

Objetivo: revisar la tasa de prevalencia de las personas centenarias de los países europeos y su relación con el grado de desarrollo socioeconómico, el contexto cultural e histórico, así como los factores individuales de longevidad. Material y métodos: análisis de los datos demográficos presentados en la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU), la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y diversas fuentes de carácter nacional, así como los resultados obtenidos en estudios relativos a las personas centenarias en Europa. Resultados: según el Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) de la ONU, el número total de personas centenarias en la Europa del año 2000 era de 46.600, es decir, 65 por cada millón de personas de la población general (23 en Europa oriental, 50 en Europa del sur, 106 en Europa occidental y 135 en Europa del norte). La tasa de prevalencia de personas centenarias osciló entre la cifra más baja de 10-30 por cada millón (en la República Checa, Bulgaria, Rumanía, Polonia, Rusia, Ucrania, Portugal, España), la cifra intermedia de 80-120 (Italia, Alemania, Dinamarca, Bélgica, Suecia) y la cifra más alta de 140-160 (Noruega, Grecia, Francia, Reino Unido). Desde el punto de vista demográfico, el grado de longevidad y el número de personas centenarias dependen en gran medida de la tasa de natalidad y de supervivencia infantil. Hay diversos factores sociales e individuales que contribuyen a la longevidad: nivel socioeconómico, entorno social, nutrición y estilos de vida, además del factor hereditario y el sexo. Por ejemplo, la proporción de varones entre las personas centenarias es mucho más baja, y el cociente varón:mujer oscila en los diferentes países entre 1:8 y 1:3. La segunda guerra mundial influyó de manera espectacular en el grado de longevidad y en las diferencias de sexo entre las personas centenarias de los distintos países en los que hubo una gran pérdida de vidas humanas (como los países de Europa oriental y central). Esta misma tendencia se observó respecto al efecto del nivel de desarrollo socioeconómico sobre la esperanza de vida y la longevidad. Conclusión: la longevidad está ampliamente extendida en Europa pero con una distribución desigual, lo que está relacionado con la confluencia de factores históricos (guerras u otras convulsiones políticas), culturales, biológicos, psicoconductuales y socioeconómicos

Objective: to review the prevalence rate of centenarians (C) in European countries and its relation to socioeconomic development, cultural and historical background as well as individual factors of longevity. Material and methods: analysis of demographic data presented in UN, WHO and national sources and results of studies on centenarians in Europe. Results: according to UN DESA, the total number of C in Europe 2000 made 46,6 thousand, or 65 per 1 mln of the total population (23 in Eastern Europe, 50 in Southern, 106 in Western and 135 in the Northern Europe). The prevalence rate of C varied from the lowest 10-30 per mln (in Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Portugal, Spain), to 80-120 (in Italy, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden) and to the highest 140-160 per mln (Norway, Greece, France, UK). From the demographic standpoint, the level of longevity and numbers of C greatly depend on birthrates and survival of children up to advanced old age. Societal and individual factors were contributing to longevity ­socioeconomic status, social environment, nutrition and lifestyles, heredity and gender. For example, proportion of males among C is much lower: males/females ratio among C in various countries made 1:8­1:3. World War II dramatically affected the level of longevity and gender differences in C numbers in countries with huge human losses (like Eastern and Central European countries). The same was true for the effect of the level of socioeconomic development on the lifespan and longevity level. Conclusion: longevity in Europe is a wide but unequally spread phenomenon, which is determined by a constellation of historical (wars and other upheavals), cultural, biological, psychobehavioral and socioeconomic factors

[The evaluation of the diagnostic value of PCR test systems according to the results of state trials].

The method for the diagnostic value evaluation of preparations, based on the calculation of the accuracy of test results and taking into account the spread of the diagnosed disease (the comparison of the PCR test systems for the diagnostics of hepatitis B and ureaplasmosis) is proposed. As shown in this work, evaluations obtained with the use of this method coincide with those obtained on the basis of prognostic value, but are more convenient in use and provide additional information.

[Effects of blood substitutes of different pharmacological groups and the mode of their injection on the bloodflow of rats]. / Vliianie krovezamenitelei razlichnykh farmakologicheskikh grupp na sostoianie sistemnogo krovotoka u krys pri razlichnykh sposobakh vvedeniia.

Central and peripheral bloodflow before and after intramuscular and intravenous injections of 0.9% NaCl (control groups, n=20) and perfluothane (n=20) in a dose of 5 ml/kg was studied in 40 Wistar rats. Dopplerographic study of the bloodflow was carried out on a diagnostic device Biomedical AU-5 (Italy). The study showed that intramuscular injections of both 0.9% NaCl and perfluothane did not lead to a significant increase of the bloodflow, but perfluothane caused a significantly greater increase of both arterial and venous bloodflow in the injection zone in comparison with the control. Intravenous injection of perfluothane increased significantly the systemic and local bloodflow in comparison with the baseline level and control, while total peripheral resistance was decreased.

[Number of aberrations per cell as a parameter of chromosome instability. 2. Comparative analysis of the factors of different nature]. / Kil'kist' aberatsii na klitynu iak parametr khromosomnoï nestabil'nosti. 2. Porivnial'nyi analiz vplyvu faktoriv riznoï pryrody.

The average number of aberrations per aberrant cell was concluded to carry out information on chromosome instability peculiarities induced by different mutagens as it was shown in our previous work. The purpose of the current study was to present comparative analysis of intercellular distribution of number of aberrations and their theoretical approximations. Distribution of numbers of aberrations per cell in Allium cepa L. and Allium fistulosum L. root tip cells induced by different mutagenic factors (gamma-irradiation, thiotepa, formaldehyde and seed aging) have been studied. The results were approximated to theoretical Poisson, geometric and negative binomial distributions. The intercellular distribution of aberrations did not correspond to any of the used theoretical distributions when A. cepa seeds were gamma-irradiated. There was some, but not regular, accordance with theoretical distributions when chemical mutagens thiotepa in A. cepa and formaldehyde in A. fistulosum and seed aging in both species were evaluated. During seed aging frequency of aberrant cells increased more quickly in A. fistulosum in comparison with A. cepa.

[Mechanisms of nitric oxide activity in cardiovascular system as a basis of pathogenetic therapy of related diseases]. / Fundamental'ni mekhanizmy diï oksydu azotu na sertsevo-sudynnu systemu iak osnovy patohenetychnoho likuvannia ïï zakhvoriuvan'.

General characteristics and mechanisms of effects of nitric oxide (NO) and its role in the development of pathology are reviewed. Presented are the data about NO participation in the regulation of circulation and cardiovascular system; NO-dependent mechanism of regulation of cardiovascular reactivity against the background of dysfunction of endothelium; cGMP-independent mechanism of NO effect upon Ca homeostasis and the sensitivity of myofibrils of smooth muscle cells to Ca ions; pharmacological correction of disturbances of NO metabolism and related endothelial dysfunction; role of age changes of the endothelial function in the development of cardiovascular pathology.

[Comparative evaluation of diagnostic preparations]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka diagnosticheskikh preparatov.

The diagnostic value of preparations is commonly characterized by sensitivity and specificity. But not all these characteristics make it possible to decide unequivocally which of the preparations to be compared is superior to the other one with respect to its diagnostic value. It is proposed that in the choice of a diagnostic preparation its capacity to provide data for exact diagnosis should be considered, i.e. the additional characteristic indicating the spread of the disease under study. As an example, the comparison of the diagnostic value of conventional methods and the polymerase chain reaction in the diagnostics of helicobacteriosis is presented. The described method for the evaluation of the diagnostic value of the preparation is well-grounded, simple and obvious.

[Variability and dynamics of micronuclei rate in participants of transatlantic march of the VIIth Ukranian Antarctic expedition]. / Izmenchivost' i dinamika chastoty mikroiader uchastnikov transatlanticheskogo perekhoda VII Ukrainskoi antarkticheskoi ékspeditsii.

The estimation of individual variability and group dynamics of micronuclei rate in buccal cells of participants of transatlantic march of the VIIth Ukrainian Antarctic expedition (Sevastopol--UAS "Akademik Vernadsky"--Sevastopol) was carried out. The general average rate of micronuclei was 2.20 per thousand. Individual values of micronuclei frequencies varied in wide limits. The maximum value of CV was 92.4% and the minimal one was 48.4%. Individual averages of micronuclei rates varied from 1.70 to 2.78 per thousand. Dependence of individual and group dynamics of micronuclei rates on environmental factors (temperature, atmospheric pressure and storm activity) was tested. No significant correlation of these parameters was found.