Evaluation of arterial hypertension risk under exposure to noise and chemical occupational hazards.

The article covers studies on determining priority risk factors for health of female workers of heat-and-power engineering enterprise, risk groups revealed, suggestions for medical examinations with investigations in early diagnosis of cardiovascular system dysadaptation.

[Metabolism of designer drugs. The fentanyl derivatives].

This literature review is focused on the studies of metabolism of designer drugs, with special reference to fentanyl derivatives. Certain physicochemical characteristics of the main metabolites most frequently encountered in the illegal trade of the fentanyl group analgesics have been calculated. The proposed recommendations include the methods for the identification of certain fentanyl derivatives during analysis of biological media.

[Metabolism of designer drugs. Piperazine derivatives].

The present review is focused on the specific features of metabolism of designer drugs based on piperazine derivatives. Selected physicochemical properties of the key metabolites of these compounds are described with special reference to their effect on the behavior of these drugs in the human organism.. Recommendations on the analysis of the markers and methods of sample preparation for the identification of the main psychoactive piperazine derivatives are proposed.

[Lethal intoxication with baclofen].

The objective of the present study was to select and develop simpler methods for the quantitative determination of baclofen in blood with the use of HPLC and tandem MS (MS-MS) techniques and its qualitative determination in cadaveric organs by the GC/MS technique. These mathods were shown to be suitable for the purpose of forensic medical analysis, clinical, toxicological, and therapeutic monitoring. The special emphasis is laid on the methods used to investigate the biological materials obtained from the subjects who died from baclofen intoxication.

Experimental osteoporosis and its correction.

Osteoporosis was modeled in rats by chronic (6 months) treatment with omeprazole or serotonin, and bone tissue status was studied in experimental hepatic fibrosis and during serotonin treatment under conditions of hepatic fibrosis. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, albumins, and creatinine and bone tissue levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron were measured. Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells over 6 months reduced the severity of osteoporosis.

[The detection of isoniazide in the cadaveric blood and plasma by high performance liquid chromatography with a diode matrix detector].

The authors describe the analytical procedure for the rapid detection of isoniazide in the cadaveric blood and plasma using high performance liquid chromatography with a diode matrix detector (HPLC-DAD). The method is designed for toxicological and forensic medical analyses. The preliminary preparation of the samples includes protein precipitation with trichloroacetic acid, formation of isoniazide derivatives with cinnamic aldehyde, and chromatographic analysis on an Eclipse XDB-C18 column with registration of absorption at a wavelength of 340 nm. The mobile phase is a mixture of methanol and 0.05 M ammonium acetate buffer (50:50 v/v), pH 3.8. The detection limit is 0.5 mcg/ml in plasma and 1 mcg/ml in blood hemolizate. The qualitative determination is possible in a concentration range from 2 to 200 mcg/ml. Mean square deviation does not exceed 12% in a concentration interval from 2 to 50 mcg/ml.

[The genes of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases].

The aim of the work was to study polymorphism of atherosclerosis-related genes in patients with different forms of coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI) in comparison with long-living subjects. Analysis included the distribution of genotypes and alleles of functional polymorphisms of lipid metabolism genes, viz. HindIII--polymorphism of lipoproteinase (LPL) gene; HhaI--polymorphism of apoE gene; TaqIB--polymorphism of cholesterol ether transfer protein (CETP) gene; I/D--polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in CHD and CCI patients of different age groups including long livers and those presenting with different clinical variants of CHD and CCI (FC II-III stable angina of effort, acute myocardial infarction, post-infarction cardiosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome) and control subjects. The study revealed potential molecular-genetic markers for primary and secondary prophylaxis of CHD and CCI. It was shown that DD genotypes of ACE gene, H+/+ of LPL gene and E3E4 are associated with an enhanced probability of myocardial infarction (IM) in CHD patients and can be regarded as high risk markers. The DD genotype is associated with an increased risk of recurrent MI, life-threatening post-IM complications and severe cardiac insufficiency as well as peculiar personality and behavioural traits (animosity and type A behaviour)--psychological risk factors of CHD and predictors of delayed application for medical aid. E2 allele of the ApoE gene and H allele of the LPL gene occur much more frequently in CHD patients aged above 90 years (long livers) than in younger subjects; hence, their value as markers of stable ischemic disease. Protective effect in terms of favourable clinical course of CCI and life expectancy is especially pronounced in subjects with a combination of genotypes with E2E3 + H+H-, E2E2 + H+H-, E3E3 + H-H-genes of ApoE and LPL. B2B2 genotype of CETP gene increases the risk of stable CCI and B1B1 genotype of CETP gene enhances predisposition to cardiovascular pathology.

[Biopolymer of alginate nature with a predominance of L-guluronic acid].

Highly viscous polysaccharide (250-350 kDa) of an alginate nature with a predominance of alpha-L-guluronic acid (M/G = 0.22) was obtained from Azotobacter vinelandi. The yield ofpolysaccharide was 20.5 +/- 0.5 g/l when cultured in a medium containing molasses at a viscosity of the cultural liquid of over 30000 cSt. The biopolymer is stable at pH 4.0-9.0 in a wide temperature range and well soluble in highly mineralized water; it retains a high viscosity level and can be used in the petroleum industry for enhanced oil recovery.

[Clinical and diagnostic value of heart rate variabilities in workers exposed to noise and vibration].

Noise and vibration cause disorders of vegetative regulation of cardiovascular system. Daily ECG monitoring with heart rate variabilities analysis enables quanitative evaluation of disordered vegetative control over heart rate and diagnosis of cardioneuropathy caused by long occupational exposure to noise and vibration.

[Detection of blood atropine by gas chromatography with a mass-selective detector].

A method for the detection of atropine in cadaveric blood has been developed using a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass-selective detector. The concentration range of the method is 20-1000 ng/ml, the limit of sensitivity 10 ng/ml. Maximum intra-assay error does not exceed 12% and 6% for concentrations of 20 and 300 ng/ml respectively. The method was validated using material for forensic chemical examination.

[Antagonistic activity of bacteria from Bacillus genus against dermatophyte fungi].

Antagonistic properties of the strain Bacillus subtilis IB-54 with respect to dermatophyte fungi Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. gypseum, Microsporum canis was studied. The studied strains of bacilli effectively inhibited growth and development of dermatophytes when were cultivated on the media containing different carbon sources. Experiments on laboratory animals showed that B. subtilis IB-54 displayed no virulence, toxicity, and toxigenicity and can be considered as perspective object for development of antimycotic drugs.

[Preparation of chitosan microparticles and study of their interaction with interferon].

Chitosan with viscosity average molecular weights of 340, 281, 199, 137, and 42 kDa was used to prepare microparticles by precipitation coacervation. Acid and enzymatic hydrolysis yielded chitosan samples with a deacetylation degree of 0.85 +/- 0.03. The chitosan microparticles were 0.85-1.7 microm in size and had a zeta-potential of 30.7-38 +/- 0.1 mV. Testing the microparticles for toxicity showed that they caused no death of animals. Interaction of recombinant alpha-2 interferon with the microparticles was studied by sorption from solutions. The maximum adsorption efficiency of interferon was 88% and the capacity of microparticles was 11.8-12.7 microg/mg.

[The study of mycolytic properties of aerobic spore-forming bacteria producing extracellular chitinases].

The mycolytic activity of 27 strains of antagonistic bacilli belonging to two taxonomic groups (18 strains of Bacillus subtilis and 9 strains of Paenibacillus ehimensis) capable of induced synthesis of chitinolytic enzymes was studied. Most of the B. subtilis strains neither displayed visible mycolytic effects on the phytopathogenic fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana in vitro, nor produced chitinases in the presence of an auto-claved mycelium. On the contrary, P. ehimensis strains grown under conditions favorable for induction of chitinases and other hydrolases exhibited a pronounced lytic effect on B. sorokiniana and actively grew by utilizing mycelium as the sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Comparison of the mycolytic activities of extracellular hydrolases in the studied strains demonstrated low correlation between chitinase production and the ability of the strains to degrade the cell walls of B. sorokiniana. Characterization of enzyme profiles in the studied strains revealed that beta-1,3-glucanase was a more significant factor than chitinase for determining the mycolytic potential of bacteria and their ability to utilize the mycelium of phytopathogenic fungi as a growth substrate.

[Extracellular hydrolases of strain Bacillus sp. 739 and their involvement in the lysis of micromycete cell walls].

The mycolytic bacterial strain Bacillus sp. 739 produces extracellular enzymes which degrade in vitro the cell walls of a number of phytopathogenic and saprophytic fungi. When Bacillus sp. 739 was cultivated with Bipolaris sorokiniana, a cereal root-rot pathogen, the fungus degradation process correlated with the levels of the beta-1,3-glucanase and protease activity. The comparative characteristic of Bacillus sp. 739 enzymatic preparations showed that efficient hydrolysis of the fungus cell walls was the result of the action of the complex of enzymes produced by the strain when grown on chitin-containing media. Among the enzymes of this complex, chitinases and beta-1,3-glucanases hydrolyzed most actively the disintegrated cell walls of B. sorokiniana. However, only beta-1,3-glucanases were able to degrade the cell walls of native fungal mycelium in the absence of other hydrolases, which is indicative of their key role in the mycolytic activity of Bacillus sp. 739.

[An improved method of photometric determination of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase activity].

The method of spectrophotometric determination of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) activity with the use of phenolphthalein as a colored reagent has been improved. This technique includes an enzymatic reaction at 40 degrees C for 60 min in 2% starch, with subsequent supplementation of the reaction mixture (0.5 ml) with the phenolphthalein reagent (3.0 ml) prepared in 0.1 M potassium carbonate buffer (pH 11.0) according to a special procedure, and measurement of the optical density of the obtained mixture at 553 nm. The activity was calculated using the exponential growth equation that connects a drop in the optical density and the degree of dilution of the enzyme. The described technique is suitable for working in a sufficiently broad range of specific activity of beta-CGTase and does not require precise adjustment of the degree of dilution of solutions analyzed.

[Gas chromatography with mass-selective detector in testing blood for amitriptyline and nortriptyline].

The article describes the method of simultaneous detection of amitriptiline and nortriptilin in cadaveric blood using gas chromatography with mass-selective detection. Preparation includes liquid-liquid extraction and derivation with trifluoroacetic anhydride. Nortriptilin threshold of detectability in the blood is 0.02 mcg/ml, amitriptilin one--0.05 mcg/ml. The range of detectability--0.05-3.0 mcg/ml for both compounds. Maximal error of the compounds detectability was under 12.9% for concentrations 0.10 mcg/ml and 10.6% for concentrations 2.0 mcg/ml. The method was tested on expert material in forensic chemical examinations.

[Antibacterial activity of polyphenolic compounds isolated from plants of Geraniaceae and Rosaceae families].

Polyphenolic compounds present in extracts of plants belonging to the families Geraniaceae (blood-red cranesbill, wood cranesbill, meadow cranesbill, and alfilaria) and Rosaceae (red raspberry, European dewberry, and tormentil) have been tested for their activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria of the genera Azotobacter, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas. The bacteriostatic activity exhibited some species-related features and depended on the polarity of the extracting agent. The bacteriostatic activity of plant-derived phenolic compounds correlated with their antioxidant potential. The plants of the families Geraniaceae and Rosaceae offer promise as a source of raw material for isolation of polyphenolic compounds exhibiting bactericidal activity, including against opportunistic pathogens (B. cereus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus strains).

[Preponderance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains of the family Beijing and risk factors of their transmission in the Samara Region].

Current molecular and epidemiological studies could reveal individual families of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. The purpose of the present study was to reveal the spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains of the family Beijing in the Samara Region and to define risk factors for their transmission. This was a cross-sectional populational molecular epidemiological study that showed that the Beijing genotype prevailed among the obtained isolates (66.6%; 586/880) and it was encountered among convicts and young persons (RR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-1.5 and RR 1.2; 95% CI 1.0-1.3, respectively), which is indicative of active and recent transmission. Multifactorial analysis indicated that male sex (OR 1.5; 95% CI 1.1-1.9), younger age (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.7), homelessness (OR 5.6; 95% CI 1.1-6.3), and prior or current confinement (OR 2.0; 95 CI 1.5-2.7) were substantially associated with the risk of contamination with the strain of the Beijung family. Drug resistance, including multidrug resistance, was twice higher among the strains of this family.

[Application of Bacillus-antagonists for biocontrol of fungi degrading raw wood].

Species composition of micromycete complexes colonizing aspen, birch, and pine wood was studied. Calculation of the Sorens-Tchekanovsky similarity coefficients showed that these complexes shared a high degree of similarity. They were dominated by the representatives of the genera Penicillium, Paecilomyces, Trichoderma, and Rhizopus. Some antagonistic bacilli inhibited growth and development of wood-decay fungi in vitro and led to the formation of spheroplasts on growing hyphae. A study of possible involvement of bacillary mycolytic enzymes in the inhibition of wood-decay fungi demonstrated selectivity of their lytic effect, which was determined by the genus and species of micromycetes and did not correlate with their relative resistance to antagonists.

[Analysis of risk factors of the occurrence of drug resistance in patients with tuberculosis from civil and penitentiary sectors in the Samara Region].

The true prevalence rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRT) are unknown for most regions of Russia. This study was conducted in the Samara Region that differs from other regions in the rapid spread of HIV infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the primary and acquired resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MBT) to first-line antituberculous drugs in patients from civil and penitentiary sectors and to reveal risk factors of drug resistance of MBT. Six hundred patients (309 civilians and 291 prisoners who had been bacteriologically diagnosed as having tuberculosis. The authors have established the following:--in new cases, primary drug resistance is as follows: to isoniazid [38.9% (95% CI, 31.3-36.9%)], to rifampicin [25.9% (95% CI, 19.4-33.4%)] and to MDRT [23.0% (95% CI, 16.7-30.3%)];--in prisoners, the primary resistance of MBT was statistically more significant than in civilians;--male sex, in adequate prior or current treatment for tuberculosis for more than 4 weeks, the presence of fibrocavernous tuberculosis and previous prison stay are essential risk factors of the development of resistance of MBT to both any first-line drug and MDRT;--HIV infection is unassociated with resistance.