[Trends in the incidence of mental and behavioral disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic in Penza Oblast]. / Dinamika zabolevaemosti psikhicheskimi rasstroistvami i rasstroistvami povedeniya v period pandemii COVID-19 v Penzenskoi oblasti.

OBJECTIVE: An analysis of the trend of overall and primary incidence of mental and behavioral disorders, including those caused by the use of psychoactive substances, in different age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic in Penza Oblast. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data were obtained from statistical report №12 for Penza Oblast. These included the overall and primary incidence of mental and behavioral disorders (MBD), as well as substance use-related MBD (MBDSUR), as calculated per 100.000 people for the period 2015 to 2022. The period 2015 to 2019 was the reference period and 2020 to 2022 was the pandemic period. The calculation was carried out by age groups: children (0-14 years), adolescents (15-17 years), adults (over 18 years), adults over working age (from 55 years for women and from 60 years for men). Statistical processing of the results included regression analysis, calculation of incidence forecast for 2023-2025, and assessment of the significance of the changes using the t-criterion. RESULTS: The decrease in the overall incidence of MBD in adults was highly deterministic (R2=0.82; p=0.012) and significant between 2017-2018 (p=0.009), 2018-2019 (p=0.001) and 2019-2020 (p=0.004). High determination with a logarithmic trend line was characteristic of almost all models, except for the primary incidence of MBD in children and overall incidence of MBDSUR in adults over working age, including after 2020. Among adolescents, the overall incidence of MBDSUR decreased significantly from 2015 to 2022 (p=0.042). CONCLUSION: There was no significant increase in the incidence of MBD, including MBDURS, during the pandemic. At the same time, there was a trend towards the decrease in adults, as well as the increase in the primary incidence of MBD in children and the overall incidence of MBDSUR in adults over working age, which determines the need for further identification of risk factors and development of specific rehabilitation measures for patients in these groups.

Effect of Prolonged Exposure to Short Daylight and a Tryptophan Hydroxylase Inhibitor on the Behavior and Brain Serotonin System in Danio rerio.

We studied the effect of reduced tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) activity and short daylight exposure on the behavior and the 5-HT system of the brain in D. rerio. Male and female D. rerio were exposed for 30 days to standard (12:12 h light:dark) and short (4:20 h light:dark) photoperiods in the presence or absence of TPH inhibitor (p-chlorophenylalanine, pCPA, 5 mg/liter). On day 31, the fish behavior in the "novel tank diving" test, their sex and body weight were determined, and the levels of pCPA, 5-HT, and its metabolite 5-HIAA were measured by HPLC; the levels of the key genes encoding metabolism enzymes (Tph1a, Tph1b, Tph2, and Mao) and receptors of 5-HT (Htr1aa, Htr2aa) were assessed by real-time PCR with reverse transcription. The short daylight exposure caused masculinization of females, reduced body weight, and motor activity in the "novel tank diving" test, but did not affect the 5-HT system of the brain. Long-term pCPA treatment had no effect on sex and body weight, significantly reduced the 5-HIAA level, but increased Tph1a and Tph2 gene expression in the brain. No effects of the interaction of short daylight and pCPA exposure on the sex, body weight, behavior, and 5-HT system of the brain were found. Thus, a moderate decrease in TPH activity cannot potentiate the negative effects of short daylight exposure on the sex, body weight, behavior, and 5-HT system of D. rerio.

Long-Term Continuous Computer Registration and Analysis of Motor Activity of a Group of Zebrafish Danio rerio.

A new algorithm for long-term continuous computer recording and analysis of motor activity of a group of zebrafish in the home tank has been developed. The movements of a group of Danio rerio during the entire light period and for several days are recorded at a frequency of 1 frame/sec in the form of short (15 min) files. Then these files are analyzed by the unique DanioStudo software, which, using a threshold algorithm and appropriate masks, calculates for each frame the sum of pixels associated with fish (the sum of fish silhouettes), and for two consecutive frames, the sum of altered pixels (the sum of altered fish silhouettes). The following indexes are calculated: the rate of sum of silhouettes alteration as the ratio of the sum of altered silhouettes to the sum of silhouettes (1) and the time spent in the selected area of the home tank as the ratio of the sum of silhouettes in this area to the sum of silhouettes in the entire tank (2). The mean rate of silhouette alteration correlates to the length of the path travelled by the fish and, therefore, serves as a correct measure of the motor activity of a group of fish. Using these algorithms, completely new data were obtained: it was shown that the motor activity of fish remains constant throughout the entire light period, but depends on the size of the home tank. The proposed approach, together with the DanioStudio software, can be effective in studying the dynamics of changes in the behavior of fish under long-term exposure to short daylight, drugs and toxic substances.

Effect of Short Photoperiod on the Behavior and Brain Serotonin System in Zebrafish Danio rerio.

Reduced daylight duration causes the development of seasonal affective disorder (SAD; depression-like disorders characterized by depressed mood, apathy, bulimia, and weight gain) in sensitive individuals. Neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) is involved in the mechanism of SAD. Zebrafish (D. rerio) is a promising model for translational studies. We studied changes in the behavior, content of 5-HT and its major metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and the expression of genes encoding the key enzymes of 5-HT metabolism, tryptophan hydroxylases TPH1A, TPH1B, TPH2, monoamine oxidase (MAO), 5-HT transporter, and 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors in the brain of zebrafish reared for 60 days under short (04:20 h) compared to those reared at normal (12:12 h) photoperiod. Exposure to short photoperiod decreased locomotor activity in the novel tank diving test, increased the level 5-HIAA, and reduced the level of Mao gene mRNA, but did not affect the level of 5-HT and expression of Tph1a, Tph1b, Tph2, Slc6a4a (transporter), Htr1aa, and Htr2aa (receptors) genes. Thus, zebrafish can be used as a promising model to study the involvement of 5-HT in the SAD mechanism.

Effect of Photoperiod and Lethal Yellow Mutation on Depression-Like Behavior and Expression of Proinflammatory Cytokines in the Hypothalamus in Mice.

We studied the influence of obesity caused by lethal yellow (AY) mutation in the agouti gene, short photoperiod (4/20 h light/darkness), and combination of these factors on depressive-like behavior in the forced swimming test and expression of genes encoding proinflammatory cytokines in the hypothalamus of heterozygous male C57Bl/6-AY/a mice and their wild-type littermate controls (C57Bl/6-a/a). It was shown that AY mutation as well as short photoperiod increased depressive-like behavior in mice. No effect of the interaction of AY mutation and photoperiod on immobility in the forced swimming test was revealed. In wild-type mice, increased depressive-like behavior caused by short photoperiod was accompanied by enhanced expression of Tnf gene. Exposure to short daylight increased the expression of Nos2.

Inhibitor of Striatal-Enriched Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, 8-(Trifluoromethyl)-1,2,3,4,5-Benzopentathiepin-6-Amine hydrochloride (TC-2153), Produces Antidepressant-Like Effect and Decreases Functional Activity and Protein Level of 5-HT2A Receptor in the Brain.

The serotoninergic 5-HT2A receptor is involved in the mechanism of depression and antidepressant drugs action. Earlier we showed that striatal-enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase (STEP) inhibitor - 8-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,3,4,5-benzopentathiepin-6-amine hydrochloride (TC-2153) affects both the brain serotoninergic system and the brain-derived neurotropic factor that are known to be involved in the psychopathology of depression. In the present study we investigated the effects of chronic TC-2153 administration on behavior in the standard battery of tests as well as the effects of acute and chronic TC-2153 treatment on the brain 5-HT2A receptors in mice. We obtained a prominent antidepressant-like effect of chronic TC-2153 treatment in the forced swim test without any adverse side effects on locomotor activity, anxiety, exploration, motor skill and obsessive-compulsive-like behavior. Moreover, both acute and chronic TC-2153 administration inhibited the functional activity of 5-HT2A receptors estimated by the number of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI, agonist of 5-HT2A receptors)-induced head-twitches. TC-2153 treatment also attenuated the DOI-induced c-fos expression in cortical and hippocampal neurons and reduced the 5-HT2A receptor protein level in the hippocampus and frontal cortex, but not in the striatum. Taken together, our combined data demonstrate that the antidepressant effect of STEP inhibitor TC-2153 could be mediated by its inhibitory properties towards the 5-HT2A receptor-mediated signaling.

[Impact of neutron radiation on the viability of tumor cells cultured in the presence of boron-10 isotope].

Objective: To investigate the impact of a neutron beam formed with the accelerator-based epithermal neutron source designed at the G.I. Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (INP) on the viability of human and animal tumor cells cultured in the presence of boron-10 isotope. Material and Methods: Human U251 and T98G glioma cells and Chinese hamster CHO-K1 and V-79 cells were incubated at various concentrations in the culture medium containing 10B-enriched L-boronophenylalanine. The cells were irradiated with a neuron beam using the accelerator-based epithermal neuron source. A clonogenic assay was used to evaluate the viability of the irradiated cells. The absorbed doses obtained from elastic scattering of fast neutrons by substance nuclei and the doses obtained from boron neutron capture were calculated using the NMS code. The absorbed doses of gamma-radiation were measured with a mixed radiation dosimeter. Results: The viability of boron-containing and intact human U251 and T98G cell lines and Chinese hamster CHO-K1 and V-79 cells was analyzed after neutron beam radiation. Irradiation of all four cell lines were cultured in the presence of 10B was shown to reduce their colony-forming capacity compared with the control. Elevated boron levels in the culture medium resulted in a significant decrease in the proportion of survived cells. Radiation had the most pronounced impact on the proliferative capacity of the human U251 glioma cell lines. Conclusion: The cultures of human tumor cells and mammalian cells demonstrated that the neutron beam formed with the accelerator-based epithermal neutron source designed at the INP, was effective in reducing the viability of tumor cells in the presence of 10B.

A new concept of a vacuum insulation tandem accelerator.

A tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation has been proposed and developed in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics. Negative hydrogen ions are accelerated by the positive 1 MV potential of the high voltage electrode, converted into protons in the gas stripping target inside the electrode, and then the protons are accelerated again by the same potential. The potential for high voltage and intermediate electrodes is supplied by the sectioned rectifier through a sectioned bushing insulator with a resistive divider. In this work, we propose a radical improvement of the accelerator concept. It is proposed to abandon the separate placement of the accelerator and the power supply and connect them through the bushing insulator. The source of high voltage is proposed to be located inside the accelerator insulator with high voltage and intermediate electrodes mounted on it. This will reduce the facility height from 7 m to 3m and make it really compact and attractive for placing in a clinic. This will significantly increase the stability of the accelerator because the potential for intermediate electrodes can be fed directly from the relevant sections of the rectifier.

Current progress and future prospects of the VITA based neutron source.

At the BINP, a pilot accelerator based epithermal neutron source is now in use. Most recent investigations on the facility are related with studying the dark current, X-ray radiation measuring, optimization of H(-)-beam injection and new gas stripping target calibrating. The results of these studies, ways of providing stability to the accelerator are presented and discussed, as well as the ways of creating the therapeutic beam and strategies of applying the facility for clinical use.

BINP accelerator based epithermal neutron source.

Innovative facility for neutron capture therapy has been built at BINP. This facility is based on compact vacuum insulation tandem accelerator designed to produce proton current up to 10 mA. Epithermal neutrons are proposed to be generated by 1.915-2.5 MeV protons bombarding a lithium target using (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be threshold reaction. In the article, diagnostic techniques for proton beam and neutrons developed are described, results of experiments on proton beam transport and neutron generation are shown, discussed, and plans are presented.

Effect of epithermal neutrons on viability of glioblastoma tumor cells in vitro.

We studied in vitro effect of epithermal neutrons in various doses on viability of glioblastoma U87 tumor cells. Increasing the dose from 1.9 to 4.1 Sv promoted cell death. Cytofluorimetric analysis revealed no activation of apoptosis in the irradiated cells, which attested to necrotic death of the tumor cells exposed to epithermal neutron radiation.

First neutron generation in the BINP accelerator based neutron source.

Pilot innovative facility for neutron capture therapy was built at Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk. This facility is based on a compact vacuum insulation tandem accelerator designed to produce proton current up to 10 mA. Epithermal neutrons are proposed to be generated by 1.915 MeV protons bombarding a lithium target using (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be threshold reaction. The results of the first experiments on neutron generation are reported and discussed.

Natronobacillus azotifigens gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic diazotrophic haloalkaliphile from soda-rich habitats.

Gram-positive bacteria capable of nitrogen fixation were obtained in microoxic enrichments from soda soils in south-western Siberia, north-eastern Mongolia, and the Lybian desert (Egypt). The same organisms were obtained in anoxic enrichments with glucose from soda lake sediments in the Kulunda Steppe (Altai, Russia) using nitrogen-free alkaline medium of pH 10. The isolates were represented by thin motile rods forming terminal round endospores. They are strictly fermentative saccharolytic anaerobes but tolerate high oxygen concentrations, probably due to a high catalase activity. All of the strains are obligately alkaliphilic and highly salt-tolerant natronophiles (chloride-independent sodaphiles). Growth was possible within a pH range from 7.5 to 10.6, with an optimum at 9.5-10, and within a salt range from 0.2 to 4 M Na(+), with an optimum at 0.5-1.5 M for the different strains. The nitrogenase activity in the whole cells also had an alkaline pH optimum but was much more sensitive to high salt concentrations compared to the growing cells. The isolates formed a compact genetic group with a high level of DNA similarity. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S-rRNA gene sequences placed the isolates into Bacillus rRNA group 1 as a separate lineage with Amphibacillus tropicus as the nearest relative. In all isolates the key functional nitrogenase gene nifH was detected. A new genus and species, Natronobacillus azotifigens gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate the novel diazotrophic haloalkaliphiles.

First experimental results from 2 MeV proton tandem accelerator for neutron production.

A 2 MeV proton tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation was developed and first experiments are carried out in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (Novosibirsk). The accelerator is designed for neutron production via reaction (7)Li(p,n)(7)Be for the boron neutron-capture therapy of the brain tumors, and for explosive detection based on 9.1724 MeV resonance gamma, which are produced via reaction (13)C(p,gamma)(14)N, absorption in nitrogen.

Off-diagonal correlations of the Calogero-Sutherland model.

We study correlation functions of the Calogero-Sutherland model in the whole range of the interaction parameter. Using the replica method we obtain analytical expressions for the long-distance asymptotics of the one-body density matrix in addition to the previously derived asymptotics of the pair-distribution function [D.M. Gangardt and A. Kamenev, Nucl. Phys. B 610, 578 (2001)]. The leading analytic and nonanalytic terms in the short-distance expansion of the one-body density matrix are discussed. Numerical results for these correlation functions are obtained using Monte Carlo techniques for all distances. The momentum distribution and static structure factor are calculated. The potential and kinetic energies are obtained using the Hellmann-Feynman theorem. Perfect agreement is found between the analytical expressions and numerical data. These results allow for the description of physical regimes of the Calogero-Sutherland model. The zero temperature phase diagram is found to be of a crossover type and includes quasicondensation, quasicrystallization and quasisupersolid regimes.

[Antioxidant activity of flaxseed oil]. / Antioksidantnaia aktivnost' l'nianogo masla.

Effective concentration of antioxidants and its reactivity toward peroxil radicals (constant k7) have been measured by the chemiluminescence technique for flaxseed oil. Effective concentration of antioxidants is shown to depend on the technology of producing flaxseed oil; period of seed storage before use; and storing duration of flaxseed oil also. Minor component content of flaxseed oil, which may be the members of antioxidant pool, has been quantitatively estimated.

[Organization of mobile medical care for the rural population]. / Organizatsiia vyezdnoi meditsinskoi pomoshchi sel'skomu naseleniiu.

Mobile medical care for people in rural areas well developed in the 1980s has lost its initial meaning and become only formal in a number of areas. The paper gives different organizational forms of medical care for rural population in some areas (the Nizhni Novgorod and Rostov Regions, the Republic of Komi, the Jewish Autonomous Region) of the Russian Federation.

[The effect of direct x-ray contrast lymphography on pulmonary perfusion function]. / Vliianie priamoi rentgenokontrastnoi limfografii na sostoianie legochnoi perfuzii.

Overall twenty-five persons (8 males and 17 females) were enrolled in a study on the influence of straight radiopaque lymphography with an oily substance, on the condition of pulmonary microcirculation, as evidenced by perfusion pulmoscintigraphy. There was a significant decrease in the accumulation of 99m-Tc-macroaggregate (TCK-8) in lower portions of both lungs 24 hours after the lymphography and normal dispersal 10 days after the study made. The authors suggest that the radiopaque substance might stimulate the inflammatory processes in chronic nonspecific diseases of the lungs.

[Use of plasmapheresis in the complex treatment of patients with endogenous psychoses]. / Primenenie plazmafereza v kompleksnom lechenii bol'nykh éndogennymi psikhozami.

The results of the use of plasmapheresis in multimodality treatment of patients with endogenous psychoses are provided for the first time. The use of plasmapheresis was shown to be highly effective in overcoming resistance to psychotropic agents as well as in the treatment of lingering and chronic extrapyramidal neuroleptic disorders. The beneficial effect on the mental and neurologic status of the patients is coupled with pronounced immunocorrective action of the procedure.