57Fe Mössbauer study of unusual magnetic structure of multiferroic 3R-AgFeO2.

We report new results of a 57Fe Mössbauer study of hyperfine magnetic interactions in the layered multiferroic 3R-AgFeO2 demonstrating two magnetic phase transitions at T N1 and T N2. The asymptotic value ß * ≈ 0.34 for the critical exponent obtained from the temperature dependence of the hyperfine field H hf(T) at 57Fe the nuclei below T N1 ≈ 14 K indicates that 3R-AgFeO2 shows quasi-3D critical behavior. The spectra just above T N1 (T N1 < T < T * ≈ 41 K) demonstrate a relaxation behavior due to critical spin fluctuations which indicates the occurrence of short-range correlations. At the intermediate temperature range, T N2 < T < T N1, the 57Fe Mössbauer spectra are described in terms of collinear spin-density-waves (SDW) with the inclusion of many high-order harmonics, indicating that the real magnetic structure of the ferrite appears to be more complicated than a pure sinusoidally modulated SDW. Below T < T N2 ≈ 9 K, the hyperfine field H hf reveals a large spatial anisotropy (ΔH anis ≈ 30 kOe) which is related with a local intra-cluster (FeO6) spin-dipole term that implies a conventional contribution of the polarized oxygen ions. We proposed a simple two-parametric formula to describe the dependence of H anis on the distortions of the (FeO6) clusters. Analysis of different mechanisms of spin and hyperfine interactions in 3R-AgFeO2 and its structural analogue CuFeO2 points to a specific role played by the topology of the exchange coupling and the oxygen polarization in the delafossite-like structures.

Toxicological characteristics of the main lipid oxidation products.

This article gives a brief overview of the available scientific data on the toxicity of lipid oxidation products. The description is logically divided into two parts: the toxicity of primary oxidation products (lipid peroxides) and toxicity of secondary oxidation products (carbonyl compounds). Mechanisms of their toxic effect, indicating the most sensitive target organ, as well as the metabolic pathways and main products of their metabolism and half-lethal doses of the main products of oxidation are characterized. It is noted that the most toxic products among them are secondary products of lipid oxidation, in particular, the acrolein with a half-lethal dose of 7-46 mg per kg body weight. It is concluded that the accent in the control of lipid and lipid containing food safety must be shifted to identify specific, the most toxic, secondary lipid oxidation products.

The Role of Polymorphisms of Key Genes of DNA Base Excision Repair in Terms of Lung Cancer Predisposition in "Mayak" Workers.

An association between polymorphic variants of key genes of base excision repair (BER) and lung cancer was studied in "Mayak" workers occupationally exposed to prolonged external y-rays and internal α-radiation from incorporated (239)Pu. The study was "case-control". The group of "cases" consists of 75 "Mayak" workers with the verified diagnosis of "lung cancer". At the moment of diagnosis the mean total absorbed dose from external y-rays to whole body was 1.19 Gy; the mean total absorbed dose from internal α-radiation due to incorporated (239)Pu in lung was 0.31 Gy. The group of "controls" includes "Mayak" workers matched by sex and birth year without lung cancer and other cancers during the study period (141 individuals). Increased lung cancer risk was revealed in workers-carriers of homozygous minor genotype of genes OGG] Ser326Cys (OR - 4.67, p = 0.007), APEI Asp148Glu (OR = 1.82, p = 0.063) and XRCC1 Gln399Arg (OR = 2.86, p = 0.026). Increased lung cancer risk was revealed in carriers of different pairwise combinations of minor genotypes of the studied genes of BER or in carriers of pairwise combinations with one homozygous minor mm-genotype and the other homozygous major ww genotype. Thus, OR of lung cancer in carriers of pairwise genotypes of mm genes OGG] Ser326Cys and APE] Asp 148Glu was 12.17.

[Molecular mechanisms of lung cancer development at its different stages in nuclear industry workers].

OBJECTIVE: to assess mutational events in exons 5, 7, and 8 of the p53 gene and to reveal mutant p53 protein in verified cases of morphologically altered (proliferative and precancerous changes, lung cancer) and histologically unaltered, lung tissues in workers exposed to occupational radiation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigation used formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded unaltered and altered lung tissue blocks (FFPBs) obtained from the human radiobiological tissue repository. The shelf-life of FFPBs was 5-31 years. An immunohistochemical technique using mouse antibodies against p53 protein (<>, Denmark), stained with diaminobenzidine (DAB) chromogen, was employed to determine p53 protein. DNA was isolated from lung tissue FFPBs with QIAmp DNA FFPE Tissue Kit, (<>, USA). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the p53 gene exons 5, 7, and 8 selected for examination, by applying the sequences of genes and primers, the specificity of which was checked using the online resource (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/blast). PCR products were detected by temporal temperature gradient gel-electrophoresis and the Sanger sequencing method. The obtained DNA fragments were analyzed on a sequencer ABI Prism 3100 Genetic Analizer (<>, USA). Computer-aided DNA analysis was made using the BLAST program. A package of applied Statistica 6.0 programs was employed for statistical data processing. Results. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that mutant p53 protein was absent in the cells of unaltered lung tissue and the number of cells with mutant p53 protein increased in all the patients with proliferative and precancerous changes and lung cancer, suggesting p53 protein dysfunction. The total number of p53 gene mutations in exons 5, 7, and 8, if there were proliferative and precancerous lung tissue changes and lung cancer, were 25, 20, and 40%, respectively. All the found mutations were transversions (the substitution of purine for pyrimidine or, conversely), indicating the action of exogenous mutagens. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation have confirmed other investigators' data showing that p53 gene mutations in lung cancer are observed in 40-70% of cases. The differences in the number of cases of altered lung tissue with mutations in the p53 gene (not more than 40%) and in those of p53 protein expression were found in 100%, suggesting the regulation of p53 gene function in the cell at multiple levels.

[Dry jelly concentrate with vitamins and dietary fiber in patients with IBS with constipation: a comparative controlled study].

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is highly prevalent functional gastrointestinal disorder associated with decrease in quality of life and a high social cost. Diet is one of several therapeutic options in IBS treatment; therefore the development and clinical evaluation of innovative functional food for IBS patients is useful. Dry jelly concentrate containing 3 g inulin, 10 mg curcumin and 1.8 mg of pyridoxine was developed and clinically evaluated. Fifty patients fulfilling the Rome III criteria for IBS-C were randomly assigned into two groups: one received standard diet plus two jelly drinks a day for 2 weeks and control group received standard diet. Response to therapy was recorded on a daily basis using Likert scale of abdominal pain, bloating and feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, frequency of bowel movement, Bristol stool scale, and quality of life assessed by IBSQoL questionnaire before and after the treatment. Intake of functional food product (jelly) containing inulin and curcumin is associated with a significant positive effect on the stool parameters (from 0.6±0.24 to 1.15±0.65 t/d in stool frequency, p=0.001, from 2.62±1.23 to 3.99±1.27, index Bristol scale, p=0.001), a reduce of the severity of abdominal pain (from 1.69±0.71 to 1.36±0.44 Likert scale points, p=0.001), bloating (from 2.03±0.89 to 1.55±0.81 points of Likert scale, p=0.02) and a sense of incomplete bowel emptying (from 2.25±0.98 to 1.68±0.92 points of Likert scale, p=0.001), as well as an increase in quality of life (from 64.5±13.5 to 81.2±9.1%, р=0.05). Patients in control group have improvement in abdominal pain (from 2.16±0.58 to 1.8±0.61 Likert scale points, p=0.05) and bloating (from 2.42±0.83 to 2.16±0.71 Likert scale points, p=0.05) only. During the treatment period no significant adverse events were found. These results indicate that jelly concentrate containing inulin, curcumin and pyridoxine improves abdominal pain score, Bristol scale index and quality of life in patients with IBS-C.

[The role of the food industry in dietetic therapy of the population. Specialized confectionery diabetic food].

Diabetes mellitus is a serious health and social problem of modernity, which in the future will increase and experts predict that the number of patients in 2030 will exceed 438,4 million. Taking into account the seriousness of the problem, and the fact that diabetes hurts an increasing number of young adults, the problem of creating diabetic food products, the positive effect of which on the organism is confirmed by experimental and clinical studies, is very relevant. The overview briefly covers information about the role of diet and ways to modify the composition and formulations of confectionery products of industrial production. The results of industry work towards the development of diabetic confectionery products in Russian Federation and peculiarities of their production and implementation in the framework of the Customs Union countries are summarized. Monitoring of the information entered in the register of specialized food products has been carried out, the lack of common approaches and tools in regulation imposed on the diabetic products in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan has been revealed. The necessity of objective regulatory impact assessment has been established. Its results will form the basis of the development of a unified approach to the production, handling and identification of diabetic confectionery and of the introduction of the General principle in relation to the probative value of the data, confirming their quality and safety. To improve the quality of population life and to reduce losses from socially significant diseases is possible through the development of personalized diets and their filling with products with attractive sensory properties. These data indicate the need for training highly qualified specialists with interdisciplinary knowledge in the field of food technology, nutrition and medicine.

[Possibility of DNA isolation from archived autopsy tissues for molecular genetic studies].

Optimal conditions were defined for DNA isolation from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) archived autopsy lung tissue slices. The quality of DNA preparations isolated from the FFPE archived slices was assessed and their suitability for further molecular genetic analysis estimated. DNA isolated from the FFPE slices stored less and more than 10 years was suitable for molecular genetic studies in 100 and 66.7% of cases, respectively.

[Role of gene polymorphisms of phase II of xenobiotic biotransformation from glutathione-S-transferase and N-acetyltransferase families in susceptibility to lung cancer among Mayak workers].

An association between polymorphous (allelic) gene variants of phase II of enzymatic xenobiotic biotransformation (EXB) of multigene families of glutathione-S-transferase (GSTs) GSTM1*0, GSTT1*0, GSTP1*B Ile105Val, and N-acetyltransferase (NAT) NAT2*6 590G>A, NAT2*5 481C>T, as well as lung cancer in Mayak workers exposed occupationally to prolonged external γ-rays and internal α-radiation from incorporated 239Pu was studied. Analysis of the population frequency of genotypes and alleles of the studied genes in the cohort of Mayak workers revealed their compliance with the Hardy-Weinberg principle and with the corresponding frequency in the European population. The study was based on the case-control method. A case-group consisted of 49 Mayal workers with a verified diagnosis of lung cancer. The mean total absorbed dose from external γ-rays at the moment of diagnostics was 1.03 Gy; the mean total absorbed dose from internal α-radiation from incorporated 239Pu to lung was 0.35 Gy. Control consisted of 172 Mayak workers matched by the year of birth, gender, and age at the moment of employment at one of the main facilities with no lung cancer registered within the study period. No increase in the relative risk of lung cancer (odds ratio, OR) was revealed among the individuals with deletion variants of genes GSTM1*0 and GSTT1*0 (pp genotype, complete absence of gene products) as compared to the individuals with ww or wp genotype, which was determined in total for these genes (normal or partly decreased gene activity). An increase in OR of lung cancer in 1.849 times (p = 0.239) and in 2.439 times (p = 0.075) was found in the carriers with a complete absence of the product of genes GSTP1*B and NAT2*6 590G>A, correspondingly (pp genotype). A statistically significant decrease in OR of lung cancer was found in the wp genotype carriers of gene GSTP1*B (OR = 0.50, p = 0.041). Three variants of paired combinations of gene alleles were established in the carriers with a statistically significant increase in OR of lung cancer (ww GSTP1*B + pp GSTM1*0; ww GSTP1*B + pp NAT2*6 590G>A; pp GSTP1*B + pp NAT2*5 481C>T), and one combination in the carriers with a statistically significant decrease in OR of lung cancer (wp GSTP1*B and ww +wp GSTT1*0).

[Sensory analysis. Study of influence of assessors training duration on the panel efficiency].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the assessors group at different stages of training and estimate the influence of the duration of their training on the quality of the data obtained. The optimal training duration to work with descriptive methods, which is necessary and sufficient for reproducible evaluation of sensory properties has been determined. The training was conducted at three stages during 108 hours. It has been demonstrated that statistically significant differences among products can be already determined by assessors after 8 hours of training. By increasing the training duration the effectiveness of assessors was improved. Completion of training course led to a significant reduction in the mean square error for some sensory characteristics of the products and the variability of the scores.

[Analysis of genome instability in offspring of "Mayak" workers families: minisatellite CEB1].

Genome instability transmission in offspring was analyzed in order to evaluate the risk of delayed genetic effects of exposure in 95 family triplets in which only fathers experienced prolonged occupational radiation exposure. The mean total preconceptive absorbed dose (TPAD) of external gamma radiation in the paternal gonads was 1.65 ± 0.08 Gy (dose range of 0.57-5.70 Gy), and the mean TPAD of internal alpha radiation from incorporated plutonium-239 in.the gonads was 0.0015 ± 0.0003 Gy (dose range 0.000-0.015 Gy). The control group consisted of 50 family triplets in which parents were not occupationally exposed. The mutation process was studied using PCR based on hypervariable minisatellite marker CEB 1 (chromosome 2, 2q37.3). The paternal type of inheritance of mutations for minisatellite CEB 1 was found in 80% of cases. The analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in minisatellite CEB1 mutations in the common group of families in which fathers experienced prolonged occupational radiation exposure and in the group of families in which fathers were exposed to radiation in a dosage range of 0.5-1.0 Gy as compared to the control, reaching a significance level of p = 0.109 and p = 0.058, respectively. The dose threshold of mutation detection in the off-spring of Mayak PA workers was estimated.

Electrokinetic remediation of concrete: effect of chelating agents.

Contamination of concrete at various nuclear power plants and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities by radionuclides represents a significant problem for the world's nuclear power industries and nuclear waste management. The present publication summarizes the most recently published data on Electrokinetic Remediation (EK) of various concrete installations and advantageous effects of the combination of EK with different chelating agents. The specific aspects of decontamination of concrete and mortar surfaces are analyzed, such as: (a) effect of chelating agents (EDTA, citric acid), (b) effect of the zeta-potential (zeta) of concrete surface, (c) effects of sorption and complex formation equilibrium, and (d) specific advantages and problems of the electrokinetic decontamination process. The results of laboratory and in situ tests of chelating agent assisted EK removal of radionuclides are reported. It is demonstrated that the correct combination of EK with specific chelating agents can be effectively employed for decontamination of concrete surfaces.