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The article analyzes the peculiarities of export activities of small and medium-sized businesses, shows the high involvement of companies belonging to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the high-tech sector. The contribution of SMEs to the creation of the value of a product/service through the introduction of innovations and their adaptation to different contexts by providing new or niche products that meet the diverse needs of customers is noted. Based on the analysis of the world practice of export activities of SMEs, the author concludes that SMEs can contribute to economic diversification and economic sustainability. This is especially true for resource-rich countries that are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in raw material prices. The emphasis is placed on the analysis of the export activity of Russian SMEs, an insignificant share of SMEs in the total volume of exports in comparison with other countries is highlighted. It is concluded that Russian small and medium-sized businesses are in the process of formation, which makes them vulnerable to the influence of both external and internal threats. It is shown what impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on SMEs. It was emphasized that the main problems for such companies were non-fulfillment of contractual obligations and a sharp decline in demand.

The structure and content of the ecological passport of a city water body is proposed on the example of the Laskovsky quarry in the city of Tambov. Experimental studies have been carried out to assess the water quality of an urban water body; a recreational assessment of the coastal zone and an assessment of the recreational suitability of the reservoir has been carried out. Measures are proposed to preserve the ecological well-being of the reservoir.

Modern conditions of the world economy are characterized by a significant restriction of world economic relations, which is caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting decline in economic activity in national economies, which coincided with international sanctions practices and falling oil prices. This created new conditions for international trade and required export-oriented companies to adapt quickly. This ability is most inherent in small and medium-sized businesses, which can become the engine of the national economy, including through the implementation of export potential. The purpose of the analysis: taking into account the global economic trends caused by the coronavirus pandemic, to make recommendations on the development of export support measures for Russian small and medium-sized enterprises. Methodological support was provided by an analysis of the world economic situation and its forecasts, taking into account the opinions of domestic and foreign researchers, as well as an analysis of existing export support measures. The analysis showed that the pandemic factor contributed to the strengthening of geo-economic instability and fragmentation of the economic space. A decrease in economic activity leads to a reduction in exports and imports of countries, which changes the international maps of supply and demand. Under these conditions, state support for exports-informational, legal, consulting, marketing, analytical, and organizational – is valuable for small and medium-sized enterprises, taking into account the possibilities of digitalization, new foreign trade and legal realities, including sanctions practices, technical standards, and restrictions caused by the pandemic, based on industry specifics, and changing international supply and demand maps. Appropriate recommendations are proposed

Research of the last decade, which revealed the relationship of various socially significant diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, etc.) with the impact of heavy metals on the human body, stimulates modern science to create drugs that can quickly and safely remove these toxic substances from the body. The article presents a review of studies on the effectiveness of heavy metal adsorption by modern enterosorbents officially registered in the Russian Federation as drugs. The prospects of using non-starch polysaccharides, which are part of modern biologically active additives, in order to create new medicinal substances for the elimination of heavy metals that pose a threat to public health are indicated.

The article presents the results of neurological examination of 95 patients with drug dependence. Neurological symptoms were evaluated comparatively in patients with non-injecting and injecting forms of dependence (n=17 and n=78, respectively). The obtained data of clinical neurological examination were compared with the indicators of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and neurophysiological assessment of the state of peripheral nerves. A comprehensive analysis of the results of the study indicated that chronic intoxication with injecting drugs leads to the development of more pronounced and polymorphic neurological symptoms. It is also necessary to take into account the key role of intoxication in the formation of a cascade of reactions that change the functions of the nervous system.

В развитии рака предстательной железы (РПЖ) макрофаги играют важную роль. Многие опухоли выделяют противовоспалительные цитокины, которые перепрограммируют М1 фенотип макрофагов на проопухолевый М2 фенотип. М2 макрофаги подавляют противоопухолевый иммунитет, способствуют делению и метастазированию опухолевых клеток. Предыдущие исследования позволили нам обосновать предположение, что деление опухолевых клеток РПЖ человека может быть ограничено особым М3 фенотипом макрофагов. Фенотип М3, в отличие от М1 фенотипа, реагирует на противовоспалительные цитокины увеличением продукции провоспалительных противоопухолевых цитокинов, что способствует сохранению их противоопухолевых свойств в зоне опухоли. Цель исследования - проверка гипотезы о способности М3 макрофагов останавливать деление клеток предстательной железы больного РПЖ. Методика. В работе использовали макрофаги мышей, выделенные из перитонеального лаважа и макрофаги человека, полученные из моноцитов крови больных РПЖ. Фенотип М3 макрофагов получали добавлением в среду культивирования IFN-γ, ингибиторов STAT3, STAT6 и SMAD3 с последующей стимуляцией липополисахаридом. Результаты. Показано, что М3 макрофаги мышей и человека ограничивали деление клеток предстательной железы больных РПЖ в условиях 2D (на плоскости) культивирования на 43% и 93%, соответственно. При 3D (в объеме) культивировании М3 макрофаги мышей не ограничивали, а М3 макрофаги человека лишь незначительно ограничивали деление клеток предстательной железы у больных РПЖ. Заключение. Результаты работы делают обоснованными дальнейшие исследования и разработку клинической версии биотехнологии лечения рака предстательной железы с использованием М3 макрофагов.Macrophages play an important role in the development of prostate cancer (PCa). Many tumors, including PCa, secrete anti-inflammatory cytokines that reprogram the M1 macrophage phenotype into the pro-tumor M2 phenotype. M2 macrophages suppress antitumor immunity and promote division and metastasis of tumor cells. We hypothesized that the division of human PCa cells may be restricted by a specific M3 macrophage phenotype. The M3 phenotype, in contrast to the M1 phenotype, responds to anti-inflammatory cytokines by increasing the production of inflammatory anti-tumor cytokines and retains its anti-tumor properties in the tumor area. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis on the ability of M3 macrophages to stop division of prostate cells from patients with PCa. Methods. This study used murine macrophages isolated from the peritoneal lavage and human macrophages obtained from blood monocytes of patients with PCa. The M3 macrophage phenotype was obtained by adding IFN-γ, STAT3, STAT6, and SMAD3 inhibitors to the cultural medium followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Results. Murine and human M3 macrophages restricted the division of patients’ PCa cells in the conditions of 2D cultivation by 43% and 93%, respectively. In 3D cultivation, murine M3 macrophages did not restrict whereas human M3 macrophages only slightly limited the division of prostate cells from PCa patients. The results of the study warrant further research and development of a clinical biotechnology for PCa treatment with reprogrammed M3 macrophages.

The purpose of fundamental research in agricultural ecology is to solve complex problem of the establishment of patterns of mass transfer in agricultural systems and regulation of these processes in agricultural soil use. The chemical composition of soil is the result of soil-forming processes. The characteristics of the soil-forming material play decisive role. The investigation of the content of macro- and microelements in soils of different types has been quite relevant in recent decades due to their large physiological role in the life of plants and animals and the active transformation of soils during agricultural use. Fertilization is a process of certain soil cultivation and includes a set of measures aimed at the regulation of macro- and microelements, the lack of which can be determined by zonal conditions of soil formation or soil degradation, as a result of irrational agricultural nature management. The paper presents the results of a study of the content of individual macro- and microelements in some types of soils of the Central Black Soil regions. The studies of the aspects of the impact of fertilization existing in the scientific literature are controversial. The consideration of ecologically and economically justified levels of changes in soil properties during cultivation is necessary to control negative transformations of chemical elements in soil and their accumulation in depositing media. A quantitative assessment of the total content of water-soluble salts, their qualitative composition and dynamics under the influence of agrotechnical factors, the study of their spatial differentiation in soil cover allows optimizing the use of fertilizers and increasing the stability of agropedocenoses.

The liver enzyme paraoxonase 1 (PON1) plays an important role in protecting the body from the toxic effects of organophosphorus compounds (OPs) through their hydrolysis. PON1 activity is determined by the polymorphic loci of the PON1 gene. In this work, the polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction analysis was used to type the polymorphic loci Q191R, L54M, and C(–108)T of the PON1 gene, and PON1 activity was measured in 68 male factory workers having long-term contact with OPs and in the control group (N = 37). PON1 activity among factory workers relative to the substrate of paraoxone was increased in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). It is shown that the increase in PON1 activity in factory workers having long-term contact with OPs is modulated by genotypes of the PON1 gene.

The authors of the paper found that the nature and direction of the seasonal dynamics of the content of microbial biomass in typical black soil in grain-fallow crop rotation differ depending on the slope direction, the cultivation system and the soil layer. The characteristics of the dynamics of the content of microbial biomass in typical black soil in the agroecosystem of grain-fallow crop rotation, depending on the slope direction and the type of soil cultivation are revealed. The influence of the slope direction on the dynamics of the microbial biomass in the soil is more pronounced in the layer of 10-20 cm. The need to ensure the supply of a sufficient amount of post-harvest residues and organic fertilizers to the soil is shown. The increase in the uniformity of the upper layer of typical black soil is associated with the constant mechanical man-made impact on it. The obtained results about the nature of the impact of the studied factors on the seasonal and spatial variability of microbial biomass can be used in the development of systems for the management of the biological activity and reproduction of organic matter in black soils in order to improve their ecological state. The results of studies of the ecologically and agronomically important soil component i.e. microbial biomass are necessary for the development of systems for the regulation of soil fertility in order to increase their productivity, as well as for the development of a control system for the content of microbial biomass in black soils. The experimental data can serve as the basis for a database on the microbial pool of various soils and ecosystems, which is advisable to use for model predictive calculations, including in different ecological scenarios. The assessment of the state of organisms living in the soil and their biodiversity are important in the solution of the problems of environmental practice: identification of zones of ecological disadvantage, calculation of damage caused by man-made activities, determination of the stability of the ecosystem and the impact of certain anthropogenic factors.

Studies have shown that exposure to organophosphates (OPs) is associated with increased frequency of gastrointestinal diseases. In order to evaluate the effect of dysfunction of detoxification system on the development of gastrointestinal pathology, we studied «esterase status» (activity of acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and paraoxonase 1 (PON1)) among workers at the plants providing storage and disposal of OPs. The enzymatic activity of PON1 was significantly increased in individuals who had prolonged direct contact with the OPs. It was shown that among all gastrointestinal diseases included in this study PON1 activity was increased in patients with chronic esophagitis and chronic gastritis as compared to workers without gastrointestinal diseases (p

The success of the development of lands disturbed by open pit mining largely depends on the correct selection of the assortment of master plants, which are distinguished by good survival rate and high productivity. Overburden rocks, turned up on the day surface, in the initial years are insignificantly overgrown with natural vegetation. They are affected by water and wind erosion under the influence of climate, environmental conditions and anthropogenic impacts. Perennial grasses have the ability to grow rapidly, accumulate a large amount of aboveground and underground mass, improve the physical properties of rocks and accumulate soil fertility in them. When selecting different types of grasses for sowing on overburden rocks, it is necessary to take into account their biological characteristics.

Machine building is a leading industry in advanced countries. It provides many industries with machines and equipment as it is the main link in the system of intersectoral linkages. Thus, it secures full employment for highly skilled employees, promotes the growth of the level of educational background of the population and contributes to the development of the scientific and technological potential of the country. However, underinvestment in innovation technologies and processes, a limited character of the import substitution model and an insufficient support of the export model greatly hinder rapid and effective development of the machine-building industry. Specific peculiarities of the machine building development such as R&D intensity, labor intensity, and metal intensity, a need in cooperation and consumer orientation influence their geographic location.

Automated vehicles (AV) are a rapidly developing technology. It is expected that completely self-driving cars in the largest cities of the world will be by 2040-2050. All over the world technical, political, legal and economic issues of self-driving technology are being explored. Self-driving cars will not only affect daily trips, but also will change the appearance of cities. Automobiles — their size, accessibility, and environmental impact — are an important factor in urban planning in the last century. This article describes the problems of introducing self-driving cars and its impact on urban form and architecture. The technology of self-driving cars will change the urban environment. Those changes will be irreversible, so it is important to have an idea about the consequences of its implementation, in order to avoid negative developments and try to get the maximum benefit from the introduction of automated vehicles. Following the analysis of the scientific literature, two main scenarios for the introduction of automated vehicles according to the form of ownership — individual and public, including the system of a mass self-driving taxi — were considered. For these scenarios, the factors of spatial influence of AV on the urban form were combined into three groups of principles: the impact on urbanization; the impact on road infrastructure; the influence at the local level. The question of how the introduction of AV will affect the density and structure of the city, as well as the quality of human life. The problem of early obsolescence of infrastructure projects has been raised. Priority of an integrated approach is shown when choosing a strategy for further development.

The research is devoted to the issues of information openness of machine-building companies in the sphere of environment protection. The contemporary state of environmental legal awareness calls for the need to consciously opt for environmentally-effective enterprises, which refers equally to consumers, investors, partners, and governmental bodies. The research objective is to reveal the contemporary state of disclosing environment information in enterprises’ open sources. To achieve the set goal, 14 leading machine-building companies were selected and their annual reports were studied as public sources of the company information. The comparative analysis of empirical documents allowed identifying the best practices in the sphere of disclosing environmental information by the Russian machine-building sector.

Aim. To compare the dynamics of various parameters of circadian blood pressure profile (BP CP) and to assess the selection criteria for two combinations of the first-choice antihypertensive agents (AHA): angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor plus thiazide diuretic (TD) or angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARA) and calcium antagonist (CA) in patients with moderate to severe arterial hypertension (AH). Material and methods. This randomised study included 66 men aged 35-60 years with Stage 2-3 AH. Group I (n=37) received the combination of enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide (ENP + HCT; 20/12,5 mg/d), while Group II (n=29) was administered the combination of valsartan and S-amlodipine (VAL + S-AMD; 160/5 mg/d). All medications were taken daily, once a day. At baseline and after 12 weeks of the treatment, all participants underwent 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (BPM). The analysed parameters included: mean values and variability of systolic and diastolic BP (SBP, DBP), time index and pressure load index for SBP and DBP over 24 hours, dayand night-time, magnitude and velocity of SBP and DBP morning surge (MS), and diurnal/nocturnal BP ratio. Results. Twelve-week therapy with combinations significantly reduced mean SBP and DBP levels in patients with moderate to severe AH, regardless of the time of the day/night. It was also associated with reduced BP variability, mostly during the day-time. The ENP+HCT combination was more effective in terms of SBP MS reduction, while the VAL+S-AMD combination effect was more pronounced for DBP MS prevention. The VAL+S-AMD combination significantly improved diurnal/nocturnal BP ratio. Conclusion. The results obtained should be considered in the design of the antihypertensive combination therapy for Stage 2-3 AH patients with “non-dipper”, “night-peaker”, and “over-dipper” types of the two-phase BP CP.

The presence of circulating tumor cells in the blood of patients with triple negative breast cancer (early and locally advanced cancer) before and after preoperative chemotherapy was assessed using expression markers. Before therapy, circulating tumor cells were detected in 5 of 13 (38%) patients with early cancer and in 7 of 17 (41.2%) patients with locally advanced cancer. After therapy, the circulating immune cells were detected in one patient with locally advanced cancer, who had no circulating cells before therapy. The tumor was resistant to chemotherapy and the disease progressed. The detected circulating tumor cells were HER-2-positive, while the primary tumor was HER-2-negative. It was concluded that the circulating immune cells can be a potential marker of the efficiency of therapy and predictors of the disease course, while their phenotype can differ from the phenotype of the primary tumor.

Oxidation of magnesium and thallium with bis(η5-cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmolybdenum) in dimethyl sulfoxide and of indium with octacarbonyldicobalt in tetrahydrofuran was studied. The formal-kinetics relationships of the processes were revealed, and the intermediate and final products were identified. The apparent equilibrium constants, enthalpies and entropies of adsorption of reactants on the metal surface, and rate constants and activation energies of the reactions were determined. The reaction scheme was suggested.

Combination of bronchial asthma (BA) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a widespread clinical situation. The two pathologies are known to influence each other leading to disturbances in immune responsiveness. We studied phenotypes and phenotypic plasticity of immune cells (alveolar macrophages) in patients with BA and GERD. It was shown that BA and GERD are largely associated with AM of proinflammatory M2 and anti-inflammatory M1 phenotypes respectively. Population of AM with MI phenotype increases in patients having both BA and GERD compared with that in BA alone. In vitro experiments showed that acidic milieu promotes shifting the phenotype toward the predominance of M1, i.e. simulates the situation characteristic of GERD. Combination of BA and GERD narrows the interval within which AM can change MI phenotype (i.e. makes them more "rigid") but broadens the range in which they can change M2 phenotype. Also, GERD promotes the development of morphological rigidity of AM. Patients with BA given steroid therapy undergo inversion of phenotypic plasticity of AM. These data characterize the immunological component of BA and/or GERD pathogenesis. They help to better understand mechanisms of development of broncho-pulmonary pathology in GERD patients and can be used to work out new methods for the treatment of these diseases.

Here we summarized the results of our studies and the data on the role and protective effects of heat-shock proteins, mechanisms of activation of their synthesis, and the role of nitric oxide in this process. The role of heat-shock proteins in preconditioned and adaptive cardioprotection and the possibility of their use as prognostic criteria in cardiology are discussed

We studied the role of nitric oxide in the stress response and apoptosis. Intracellular nitric oxide potentiated the stress response. However, intracellular nitric oxide suppressed the stress response in macrophages of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory phenotypes. Intracellular nitric oxide promoted apoptosis in macrophages of the proinflammatory phenotype, but inhibited this process in cells of the antiinflammatory phenotype. Exogenous nitric oxide synthesized by macrophages protected them from lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis. Our results indicate that nitric oxide produces various effects on the stress response and apoptosis in macrophages, which depends on modus operandi.

The content of NO in the kidneys, heart, and spleen of intact August rats surpasses that of Wistar rats. After heat shock the content of NO rises: in the kidneys 15.5-fold, in the liver 3.2-fold, in the heart 10-fold, in the spleen 6.4-fold, in the intestine 2.8-fold, and in the brain 1.9-fold. Thus, August rats, which are less resistant to heat shock than Wistar rats, are characterized by a more pronounced activation of NO synthesis in response to heat shock.

Polynuclear organometallic compounds [CpMo(CO)3]2BiCl and [CpMo(CO)3]BiCl2 were prepared by reaction of bismuth with tricarbonylcyclopentadienylmolybdenum chloride in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). [CpMo(CO)3]2BiCl is reduced with magnesium or indium in tetrahydrofuran to give bismuth, [CpMo(CO)3]3Bi, and magnesium or indium chloride. In the presence of DMSO, the reaction of [CpMo(CO)3]2BiCl with magnesium or indium yields bismuth and the organomolybdenum derivative of magnesium or lithium, respectively.

The reactions of some organobimetallic chlorides [CpMo(CO)3]2BiCl, [CpM(CO)3]2SnCl2 , [CpMo(CO)3]2InCl (Ср = η5-C5H5; M = Mo, W) with sodium 3,6-di-tert-butyl-ortho-benzosemiquinolate in toluene were studied using the EPR spectroscopy. The possibility of formation of organoheterometallic complexes containing о-semiquinone ligand was shown.

The aim of study was to investigate the effect of hypoxia on the macrophage phenotype and phenotypic plasticity and to determine the resistance to acute hypoxia in C57/BL mice, which have the pro-inflammatory M1 macrophage phenotype, and in BALB/c mice, which have the anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage phenotype. The following results were obtained. 1) The response of macrophages to acute hypoxia has two successive phases, the immediate, anti-inflammatory phase, and the delayed, pro-inflammatory phase. This response was more distinctly inverted in C57/BL6 M1 macrophages than in BALB/c M2 macrophages; 2) the effect of acute hypoxia on macrophage phenotypic plasticity depends on the genetically predetermined, original macrophage phenotype. In this process, a clear regularity was observed: hypoxia increased the capability of macrophages for changing into the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype, while their capability for changing into the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype remained virtually unaffected. 3) BALB/c mice were more resistant to acute hypoxia than C57/BL6 mice. Taken together, these data expand our understanding of mechanisms for pathogenetic effects of hypoxia.

Periodic exposures of Wistar rats to a stressor resulted in the accumulation of five isoforms of heat-shock proteins (hsp70) in their myocardia and, as a consequence, in increased resistance to thermal damage shown by their isolated hearts, whereas in rats of the August strain such exposures did not lead to hsp70 accumulation and the heart's resistance was not increased. It is concluded that the ability of a given genetic strain to develop adaptive protection of the heart appears to depend on the ability of that strain to boost the expression of hsp70 genes in response to stressors.

It was examined a capability of evaluation of functional condition of air staff by indexes of natrium, kalium, cortisol and glucose in saliva. There were realized 5 series of examinations with participations of 71 airplane pilot of the same level in conditions of realizing flies of different difficultness. Saliva sampling was effectuated before and after the flies not later then 10-15 minutes after landing. On pre-flight medical examination and after performance of task of air relay there was registration of systolic, diasystolic blood pressure and cardiac rate. It was posed the correlation of physiological indexes with percentage of examined ingredients in saliva in different flight loads. The results of examinations speak for capability of using of indexes of percentage of natrium, kalium, cortisol and glucose in saliva for evaluation of functional condition of airplane pilots during effectuating the flies and rating of value of flight load with account of individual peculiarities.

Variations in saliva biochemical characteristics of parachuting sportsmen were analyzed after flight duty. The investigation revealed three types of saliva biochemical reactions to the stresses of parachuting. Our data point to the possibility to judge about the level of tension in organism of people engaged in difficult and extreme activities by saliva concentrations of Na+, K+, cortisol and glucose along with the physiological and psychological investigations traditionally employed by aviation and sport medicine.

We studied the role of extracellular and intracellular NO in the regulation of the stress response and apoptosis in macrophages of proinflammatory and antiinflammatory phenotypes under the influence of S. aureus and heat shock. Blockade of extracellular nitric oxide synthesis in cells with antiinflammatory phenotype inhibited the stress response induced by S. aureus and heat shock. The decrease in extracellular nitric oxide concentration around antiinflammatory macrophages potentiated the stress response induced by S. aureus, but had no effect on the stress response induced by heat shock. Hence, intracellular NO mediates the stress response induced by S. aureus and heat shock, while extracellular NO inhibits the stress response induced by S. aureus, but has no effect on the stress response induced by heat shock. In cells with antiinflammatory phenotype, intracellular NO plays an antiapoptotic role. S. aureus and heat shock did not cause apoptosis in macrophages with proinflammatory phenotype, while intracellular NO did not play a role in antiapoptotic activity of the proinflammatory phenotype. Extracellular NO synthesized by macrophages protects these cells from apoptosis induced by S. aureus and heat shock.

Caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK potentiated heat shock-induced apoptosis in macrophages. Z-VAD-FMK did not activate HSP70 synthesis, but significantly increased the intensity of this process during heat shock. It cannot be excluded that caspases abolish HSP70 accumulation under these conditions. The HSP70 synthesis inhibitor quercetin potentiated DNA fragmentation in macrophages cocultured with Z-VAD-FMK after heat shock. HSP70 play an important role in the protection of macrophages from caspase-independent apoptosis.

We showed that stress response and apoptosis in macrophages depend on the phenotype of their secretory activity and specific biological and physical characteristics of the factor inducing stress-response or apoptosis.

In response to heat shock five isoforms of hsp 70 are accumulated in the myocardium of Wistar rats highly resistant to stress in comparison with only 3 isoforms of hsp 70 in August rats with a lower resistance to stress. This suggests that genetic mechanisms which determine the stress resistance of a particular strain are probably related to transcription of hsp 70 genes.

Heat shock was found to induce a drop in the AP due to the endothelium-dependent relaxation of the vessels and potentiation of the endothelium suppression of the vasoconstrictor responses. The responses were more obvious in the August rats as compared with the Wistar line. No lines or rats revealed any changes in the sensitivity of adrenoceptors to the agonist which suggests a leading role of the nitrogen oxide hyperproduction in these effects of the heat shock. The data obtained show that inherent endothelial-dependent vascular responses to heat shock may play a role in resistance against the shock in rats of different genetic lines.

It is known that HSP70 plays an important role in the antiischaemic effect of adaptation to stress. The aim of our study was to verify the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) may contribute to the activation of HSP70 synthesis and to enhance thereby the resistance of organism to the ischaemic and reperfusion damages. We observed that heat shock potentiated NO production in the heart. NO formation was completely blocked by the NO synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). L-NNA also significantly attenuated the heat shock-induced accumulation of HSP70 (by 45% in heart). Both heat shock and NO donor induced time- and concentration-dependent HSP70 synthesis in the culture of human hepatoblastoma cells Hep G2. Prior injection of NO donor (30-100 mg per rat) exerted a dose-dependent protective effect on the isolated heart in ischaemia and reperfusion within 24 hours. We suggest that NO is involved in the activation of HSP70 synthesis which can play an important role in the delayed protective effect of NO donors.

To find out the spread of urogenital Mycoplasma carriership urogenital mycoplasmosis (UGM) among women living and working under similar conditions and making up risk groups with respect to these infections, pregnant women, gynecological patients and clinically healthy women were specially surveyed. As revealed in this survey, UGM and Mycoplasma carriership were found in clinically healthy female workers significantly more often than in other similar groups of the same region. In the group of pregnant women the occurrence of Mycoplasma carriership and UGM reached 90%. In cases of sterility the facts of asymptomatic Mycoplasma carriership and UGM were registered.

Oxidation of magnesium and tin with bis(η5-cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmolybdenum)indium and -bismuth chlorides in polar solvents yielded no organic heteropolymetallic complexes; instead, metallic indium and bismuth were isolated from the reaction mixture.

Control and acutely stressed August rats have corticosterone levels 62% and 15% higher, respectively, than their Wistar counterparts, indicating that the activity of stress-mediating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system in August rats is higher. On the other hand, the intensity of stress reactions and, consequently, the degree of activation of this system in August rats are 40–50% lower, as is the blood level of creatine phosphokinase. During adaptation to stress, August and Wistar rats show a similar decrease in the stress reaction and in its damaging effects. However, judging from the blood corticosterone/insulin ratio, adaptation to stress in August rats coincides with intensification of catabolic processes and a reduction in the efficiency of energy production.