[Cardiovascular effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: position of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in Russian and international guidelines. Council of Experts].

This Expert Council focuses on the meta-analysis of studies on the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients taking omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and of data on the omega-3 PUFA treatment in patients with cardiovascular and kidney diseases.The major statements of the Expert Council: the meta-analysis of AF risk in patients taking omega-3 PUFA showed an increased risk of this arrhythmia. However, it should be taken into account that the risk of complications was low, and there was no significant increase in the risk of AF when omega-3 PUFA was used at a dose of ≤1 g and a standard dose of the only omega-3 PUFA drug registered in the Russian Federation, considering all AF episodes in the ASCEND study.At the present time, according to Russian and international clinical guidelines, the use of omega-3 PUFA can be considered in the following cases: • for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction as a supplement to the basic therapy (2B class of recommendations according to the 2020 Russian Society of Cardiology guidelines (RSC) and the 2022 AHA / ACC / HFSA guidelines); • for patients with hypertriglyceridemia (>1.5 mmol/l) as a part of combination therapy (IIb class of recommendations and B level of evidence according to the 2021 European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention, etc.); • for adult patients with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease (CKD), long-chain omega-3 PUFA 2 g/day is recommended for reducing the level of triglycerides (2C class of recommendations). Data on the use of omega-3 PUFA for other indications are heterogenous, which can be partially explained by using different form and doses of the drugs.

[Integral tests of the hemostasis system in assessing the efficiency of acetylsalicylic acid in patients with ischemic heart disease]. / Integral'nye testy sistemy gemostaza v otsenke éffektivnosti atsetilsalitsilovoi kisloty u bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa.

Despite the fact that acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is the "gold" standard for the prevention of cardiovascular complications in patients with coronary heart disease (CAD), a number of patients still have risks of atherothrombosis. In the present study, the antithrombotic effect of ASA in patients with CAD was assessed in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) using integral tests of the hemostasis study: the T-TAS system (Total Thrombus-formation Analysis System) and the thrombin generation test (TGT). The study involved 34 patients with stable CAD (11 women, 23 men) and people (15 women, 18 men) in the control group. As a result of assessing the activity of thrombus formation using the T-TAS system, a significant decrease in the area under the curve (AUC10) was found in the group with CAD patients compared with the control (135.6 [88.0-222.3] and 260.5 [217.3-301.9], respectively, p.

[Surgical treatment of mega aorta syndrome: a single-center experience]. / Khirurgicheskoe lechenie sindroma megaaorty: opyt odnogo tsentra.

OBJECTIVE: To present our experience in the treatment of severe patients with mega aorta syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 49 patients with mega aorta syndrome for the period from May 2015 to March 2021. All patients underwent total aortic replacement from sinotubular junction (with staged aortic root repair, if necessary) to abdominal aorta bifurcation. All surgeries were elective. All patients were divided into two groups: group I (n=33; 67.3%) - staged replacement, group II (n=16; 32.7%) - one-staged replacement of the aorta via thoracophrenolumbotomy. The primary endpoints were mortality, perioperative parameters and complications. We also analyzed long-term freedom from aortic redo surgery and survival rate. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable by pre-, intra- and postoperative parameters. The interval between surgeries for staged approach was 7.1±2.3 months. Rehabilitation time considering two stages was longer in group I (13±2 vs. 5.5±1.1 months, p=0.0001). Between-stage mortality rate was 12% (n=4). Intraoperative mortality was absent in both groups. In-hospital mortality was 3% and 12% (p=0.25), overall mortality with between-stage interval - 10.2% and 12% (p=1.000), respectively. The follow-up period was similar (18±22.7 (range 1-71) and 23.3±19.1 (range 1-51) months, respectively (p=0.63)). In group I, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rate considering between-stage mortality was 89% (95% CI 78-100%), 77.1% (95% CI 60.1-98.8%), 77.1% (95% CI 60.1-98.8%), respectively. In group II, 1-year and 3-year survival rate was 86.5% (95% CI 70.5-100%), plog-rank=0.88. Overall freedom from redo surgery was 92.9% (95% CI 80.3-100%) vs. 90.9% (95% CI 75.4-100%), plog-rank=0.072. CONCLUSION: One-stage total aortic replacement via thoracophrenolumbotomy is safe surgical treatment for mega aorta syndrome, especially in young patients with low surgical risk. Favorable outcomes may be expected in specialized centers with extensive experience in aortic surgery. Compared to staged approach, total aortic replacement eliminates the risks of between-stage aortic rupture. Therefore, it is a worthy alternative to other methods.

[Perhydroxyl Radical (HO2

The nonenzymatic isoprostane pathway of lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids results in formation of products, termed isoprostanes, which have very large positional and stereo isomerism, possess various biological activities, produce adducts with proteins, and thus contribute to pathogeneses of the age-dependent diseases. However, it was unclear what mechanism drives this type of lipid autoxidation, and why the products have very large isomerism. We propose a mechanism when perhydroxyl radicals (HO2^(•)) react with polyunsaturated fatty acids in the hydrophobic milieu of membranes. In the membrane HO2^(•) initiates a chain of reactions with formation first H2O2, which undergoes homolytic fission producing two ^(•)OH radicals, thus very rapidly abstracting three H atoms from a polyunsaturated fatty acid. As a result, the HO2^(•) molecule is converted to two molecules of water, and the molecule of a polyunsaturated fatty acid loses two double bonds, becomes highly unstable and undergoes peroxidation and random intramolecular re-arrangements causing a very large isomerism of the final products. The extremely high reactivity of ^(•)HО2 with polyunsaturated fatty acids is the cause of very subtle and slow accumulation of damages in the membrane and membrane associated proteins, even though the concentration of ^(•)HО2 relative to superoxide radical may be very low.

Observation of the de Vries behavior in SmA* phase of a liquid crystal using polarised Raman scattering and infrared spectroscopy.

Two approaches exist in the literature for describing the orientational distribution function (ODF) of the molecular directors in SmA* phase of liquid crystals, though several models are recently proposed in the literature for explaining the de Vries behaviour. These ODFs correspond to either the conventional unimodal arrangements of molecular directors arising from the mean field theory that leads to the broad or sugar-loaf like distribution or to the "diffuse-cone-shaped" type distribution proposed by de Vries. The hypothesis by de Vries provides for a realistic explanation as to how at a molecular level, a first-order SmA* to SmC* transition can occur where the uniform molecular director azimuthal distributions condense to values lying within a narrow range of angles; finally these condense to a single value while at the same time ensuring a little or no concomitant shrinkage in the layer spacing. The azimuthal distribution of the in-layer directors is probed using IR and polarized Raman spectroscopic techniques. The latter allows us to obtain the ODF and the various order parameters for the uniaxial and the biaxial phases. Based on the results of these measurements, we conclude that the "cone-shaped" (or volcano-shaped) de Vries type of distribution can most preferably describe SmA* where "a first-order phase transition from SmA* to SmC*" and a low layer shrinkage can both be easily explained.

Chiral smectic-A and smectic-C phases with de Vries characteristics.

Infrared and dielectric spectroscopic techniques are used to investigate the characteristics of two chiral smectics, namely, 1,1,3,3,5,5,5-heptamethyltrisiloxane 1-[4^{'}-(undecyl-1-oxy)-4-biphenyl(S,S)-2-chloro-3-methylpentanoate] (MSi_{3}MR_{11}) and tricarbosilane-hexyloxy-benzoic acid (S)-4'-(1-methyl-hexyloxy)-3'-nitro-biphenyl-4-yl ester (W599). The orientational features and the field dependencies of the apparent tilt angle and the dichroic ratio for homogeneous planar-aligned samples were calculated from the absorbance profiles obtained at different temperatures especially in the smectic-A* phase of these liquid crystals. The dichroic ratios of the C-C phenyl ring stretching vibrations were considered for the determination of the tilt angle at different temperatures and different voltages. The low values of the order parameter obtained with and without an electric field applied across the cell in the Sm-A^{*} phase for both smectics are consistent with the de Vries concept. The generalized Langevin-Debye model introduced in the literature for explaining the electro-optical response has been applied to the results from infrared spectroscopy. The results show that the dipole moment of the tilt-correlated domain diverges as the transition temperature from Sm-A^{*} to Sm-C^{*} is approached. The Debye-Langevin model is found to be extremely effective in confirming some of the conclusions of the de Vries chiral smectics and gives additional results on the order parameter and the dichroic ratio as a function of the field across the cell. Dielectric spectroscopy finds large dipolar fluctuations in the Sm-A^{*} phase for both compounds and again these confirm their de Vries behavior.

Phase behavior and characterization of heptamethyltrisiloxane-based de Vries smectic liquid crystal by electro-optics, x rays, and dielectric spectroscopy.

A heptamethyltrisiloxane liquid crystal (LC) exhibiting I-SmA^{*}-SmC^{*} phases has been characterized by calorimetry, polarizing microscopy, x-ray diffraction, electro-optics, and dielectric spectroscopy. Observations of a large electroclinic effect, a large increase in the birefringence (Δn) with electric field, a low shrinkage in the layer thickness (∼1.75%) at 20 °C below the SmA^{*}-SmC^{*} transition, and low values of the reduction factor (∼0.40) suggest that the SmA^{*} phase in this material is of the de Vries type. The reduction factor is a measure of the layer shrinkage in the SmC^{*} phase and it should be zero for an ideal de Vries. Moreover, a decrease in the magnitude of Δn with decreasing temperature indicates the presence of the temperature-dependent tilt angle in the SmA^{*} phase. The electro-optic behavior is explained by the generalized Langevin-Debye model as given by Shen et al. [Y. Shen et al., Phys. Rev. E 88, 062504 (2013)10.1103/PhysRevE.88.062504]. The soft-mode dielectric relaxation strength shows a critical behavior when the system goes from the SmA^{*} to the SmC^{*} phase.

Design and investigation of de Vries liquid crystals based on 5-phenyl-pyrimidine and (R,R)-2,3-epoxyhexoxy backbone.

Calamitic liquid crystals based on 5-phenyl-pyrimidine derivatives have been designed, synthesized, and characterized. The 5-phenyl pyrimidine core was functionalized with a chiral (R,R)-2,3-epoxyhexoxy chain on one side and either siloxane or perfluoro terminated chains on the opposite side. The one involving a perfluorinated chain shows SmA^{*} phase over a wide temperature range of 82 °C, whereas the siloxane analog exhibits both SmA^{*} and SmC^{*} phases over a broad range of temperatures, and a weak first-order SmA^{*}-SmC^{*} transition is observed. For the siloxane analog, the reduction factor for the layer shrinkage R (relative to its thickness at the SmA^{*}-SmC^{*} transition temperature, T_{AC}) is ∼0.373, and layer shrinkage is 1.7% at a temperature of 13 °C below the T_{AC}. This compound is considered to have "de Vries smectic" characteristics with the de Vries coefficient C_{deVries} of ∼0.86 on the scale of zero (maximum-layer shrinkage) to 1 (zero-layer shrinkage). A three-parameter mean-field model is introduced for the orientational distribution function (ODF) to reproduce the electro-optic properties. This model explains the experimental results and leads to the ODF, which exhibits a crossover from the sugar-loaf to diffuse-cone ODF some 3 °C above T_{AC}.

[Disulfiram inhibites the development of cataract in OXYS rats].

Surgical treatment remains the only way to restore vision in patients with cataract; this disorder is the most common reason for vision decline and vision loss in people older than 65 years. It is estimated that a 10-year delay in the development of cataract will reduce the need for surgery twofold. In 2012, Nagai and colleagues reported an anticataract effect of an inhibitor of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase-a widely used antialcoholism drug disulfiram (DSF) - in ICR/f rats with hereditary cataracts. Accordingly, the goal of the present study was to evaluate the influence of DSF on the cataract in OXYS rats, which develop lens alterations similar to senile cataract in humans. Instillation of DSF from age 1,5 to 3,5 months did not prevent but significantly slowed the development of cataracts in OXYS rats. At concentrations of 0,25 % and 0,5 %, DSF reduced the severity of pathological changes in the lens 1,8-fold and was more effective than at the concentration 1 %. These data were consistent with the results of ophthalmoscopic histomorphological examination: the pharmacotherapy strongly reduced the (typical of cataract) structural damage to the capsule of the lens epithelium and to organization of its fibers. Thus, disulfiram is a promising drug for the prevention of senile cataract in humans.

[Radiological Aspects of Transition of Russian Areas Affected by the Chernobyl Accident to Normal Activities].

Dynamics of radiation situation in settlements, agriculture and forestry on the Russian Federation areas af- fected by the Chernobyl accident is presented. A set of challenging problems on public radiation protection and rehabilitation of territories was determined. The main objective at a long-term period after the accident is a stage-wise return of the affected areas to normal activity without any radiological criteria restrictions. For practical realization of this process it is necessary to change the national statutes and regulations consid- ering the contemporary international approaches, to pass to the current exposure situation and to establish reference levels, to define criteria of transition of the areas affected after the Chernobyl accident to normal activity. The change of conceptual approaches will allow one to revise the boundaries of settlement zoning and to develop the regulatory framework on procedures of changing their status from radioactively contami- nated zone to normal activity zone; to develop the regulatory framework on the procedures of transition of agricultural and forest lands classified as radioactively contaminated zones to territories where the traditional husbandry is possible. The Russian Federation has positive experience of transition of areas contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl accident to normal activity.

[Rosuvastatin in Coronary Bypass Surgery: Whether Only Secondary Prevention?]

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The increasing number of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is associated with a need for active introduction of methods improving immediate and long-term results of these interventions. Results of a number of studies conducted during recent years allow to consider high dose statin therapy one of such methods. In this article we present results of rosuvastatin administration to patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) prior to surgery. METHODS: Rosuvastatin (40 mg/day) was given for 4 weeks before CABG to patients who had previously taken simvastatin (20 mg/day). RESULTS: This regimen was assocaed with reduction of desquamation of endothelium of the intima, reduction of the number of smooth muscle cells in the media, as well as the proliferation index according to the immunohistochemical analysis in sections of the great saphenous vein selected for the coronary anastomosis. CONCLUSION: It is assumed that the antiproliferative effects of high-dose rosuvastatin therapy may have a positive impact in relation to the viability of a remote arterio-venous grafts.

[The Antihypertensive Effect of the Fixed Combination of Lisinopril and Amlodipine in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting].

Literature data and results of our own register have indicate that hypertension is one of the most common risk factor in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). But despite proven benefits of control of hypertension after CABG adherence of patients to corresponding recommendations remains low. Fixed combinations of antihypertensive drugs are associated with better compliance. In 30 IHD patients after CABG we studied effects of fixed lisinoprillamlodipine combination. This combination was safe and had high antihypertensive activity. Practically all patients responded to therapy and achieved target level of arterial pressure.

[General Brain Structure of Newly Hatched Larva and Neuroblasts in Larval Mushroom Bodies in Pterostichus niger Deg. (Coleoptera: Carabidae)].

It is revealed that the larval brain of Pterostichus niger, an active predator with well-developed long-distance sense organs (the set of antennal sensilla and lateral ocelli, or stemmata) at hatching already contains optic lobes, which include two groups of optic neuropils and complex antennal lobes of glomerular neuropil. It is shown that the central complex of the protocerebrum is represented by a bipartite protocerebral bridge and the upper part of the central body and the mushroom bodies include, numerous Kenyon cells, a well-developed calyx, a peduncular apparatus, and numerous neuroblasts.

[The Antihypertensive Effect of the Fixed Combination of Amlodipine and Lisinopril in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting].

Literature data and results of our own register have indicate that hypertension is one of the most common risk factor in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). But despite proven benefits of control of hypertension after CABG adherence of patients to corresponding recommendations remains low. Fixed combinations of antihypertensive drugs are associated with better compliance. In 30 IHD patients after CABG we studied effects of fixed lisinopril/amlodipine combination. This combination was safe and had high antihypertensive activity. Practically all patients responded to therapy and achieved target level of arterial pressure.

[A novel, unusual (at least for beetles) mode of Kenyon cell production in the diving beetle Cybister laterlimarginalis Deg. (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)].

Kenyon cell production in the mushroom bodies of Cybister lateralimarginalis is a peculiar process. It has been found that each proliferative center contains one giant neuroblast, which divides unequally, and its smaller daughter cell becomes the 2nd order neuroblast dividing unequally as well. The smaller daughter cell of this neuroblast becomes a ganglion mother cell. The latter, as usual, divides equally producing two Kenyon cells.

[IncP-7 plasmids' classification based on structural diversity of their basic replicons].

The structural diversity of basic replicons and repB gene of the IncP-7 plasmids' collection was firstly assessed on the basis of PCR, restriction analysis and partial sequencing. It has been revealed that DNA fragment containing gene for UvrD-like helicase RepB is a part of all known P-7 replicons, but often serves as hot place for diverse IS-elements invasion. The first system of P-7 plasmids' classification has been worked out on the basis of determined repA-oriV-par WABC nucleotide divergency. Most degradation plasmids established to be belonging to large beta-subgroup, streptomycin resistance plasmid Rms148 (IncP-7 archetype)--to alpha-subgroup, carbazole degradation plasmid pCAR1 and NAH/SAL-plasmids from pY-line (Yamal oil deposits)--to gamma-subgroup and CAP-plasmid pBS270 with potentially reduced P-7 replicon--to delta-subgroup. It has been observed that the type of IncP-7 basic replicon molecular organization does not correlate with fixed phenotypic character in most cases, that is plasmids encoding different phenotypic markers could be members of the same P-7 subgroup.

[The new gene encoding TrfA-type replication initiator has been found on caprolactam/salicylate degradation plasmid pBS270].

The mini-replicon of pseudomonads' caprolactam/salicylate degradation plasmid pBS270 (105 kb, contains incompatibility determinants of P-7 group) has been obtained and its nucleotide sequence has been determined. The new gene encoding TrfA-like replication initiator has been found on this replicon. Poor homology of this replication initiator with known proteins of TrfA-family allows us to classify obtained replicon as IncP-1-like. The pBS270mini reveals chimeric nature.

[Comparative histology of mushroom bodies in carnivorous beetles of the suborder polyphaga (Insecta, Coleoptera)].

Mushroom bodies in beetles of the families Histeridae, Staphylinidae, Cantharidae, Trogossitidae, Peltidae, Cleridae, Malachiidae, and Coccinellidae are shown to be rather poorly developed. The calyx region of the mushroom bodies in these beetles never forms two separate cups, and the peduncular apparatus includes a unified shaft almost over its entire length. Only the pedunculus contains two separate shafts in a few cases. Two proliferative centers consisting of one to three neuroblasts are often found in each Kenyon cell group. The shift from carnivorous to feeding on pollen or leaves, which has taken place in some taxa, does not visibly affect the degree of mushroom body development.

[scpA the new salicylate hydroxylase gene localized on salicylate/caprolactam degradation plasmids].

Both caprolactam and salicylate biodegradation by Pseudomonas salicylate/caprolactam degraders is controlled by large conjugative plasmids (SAL/CAP). Some of these plasmids determined to be the members of IncP-7 group. The new salicylate 1-hydroxylase gene (scpA) on SAL/CAP-plasmids has been detected and partially sequenced. Gene scpA was equally related to closest homologs nahG (NAH7), salA (P. reinekei MT1) and nahU (pND6-1), but identity of scpA to these genes did not exceed 72-74%. Synthesis of salicylate 1-hydroxylase ScpA was not induced by salicylate. This enzyme had wide substrate specificity and exhibited highest specific activity with 4-methylsalicylate and nonsubstituted salicylate. Besides pseudomonad's salicylate degradative conjugative plasmids without "classical" nah2-operon and harboring only salicylate 1-hydroxylase gene nahU have been firstly described.