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Functional state of the pool of erythrocytes was evaluated in ten essentially healthy male subjects before, during and in 2 months after a series of 15 exposures to normobaric intermittent hypoxia (NIH). The erythrocyte pool dynamics, hemoglobin content, low and highly resistive fractions of erythrocytes were analyzed using a modified acidic histogram technique. It was demonstrated that the erythrocyte pool was either in the state of destruction (concurrent to the NIH exposure) or ensuing persistent improvement of the functional characteristics under study.

A team of eight triathlon athletes was tested for endurance to extreme physical stress during training session. Two new functional parameters were analyzed, i.e. the cell membrane beta-adrenoreactivity (beta-ARM) and activity of leukocyte tyrosine hydroxilase (TH) as a key enzyme of the dophaminergic system. In four athletes who had been included in the national team at a later date beta-ARM and Kth values were 2-3-fold beyond the physiological norm, whereas in the other four (reserves) the parameters were below the upper limits. These data suggest that abnormal beta-ARM and Kth values can be treated as biochemical prognostic criteria for endurance of extreme phyical stress.

Activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (hyaloplasmic and mitochondrial: alpha-GPDHH and alpha-GPDHM) in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and the response of SDH activity to exogenous epinephrine in vitro (the epinephrine test) were studied in 20 healthy subjects and 46 patients with hypertensive neurocirculatory dystonia. Activities of SDH, alpha-GPDHH, and alpha-GPDHM in blood lymphocytes and SDH adrenoreactivity in epinephrine test were higher in patients than in healthy controls. Treatment with hypotensive agents (isradipin and pyrroxan) moderated adrenoreactivity. Phytotherapy normalized the baseline activities of succinate oxidase system and alpha-glycerophosphate pathway in blood lymphocytes.

It has been suggested that the rol genes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes could play an essential role in the activation of secondary metabolite production in plant transformed cultures. This study investigated whether the content of anthraquinone phytoalexins was changed in callus cultures of Rubia cordifolia transgenic for the 35S-rolB and 35S-rolC genes in comparison with a non-transformed callus culture. The anthraquinone content was shown to be significantly increased in transgenic cultures, thus providing further evidence that the rol-gene transformation can be used for the activation of secondary metabolism in plant cells. Methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid strongly increased anthraquinone accumulation in both transgenic and non-transgenic R. cordifolia calluses, whereas ethephon did not. A treatment of the cultures by cantharidin, the protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor, resulted in massive induction of anthraquinone accumulation in the transgenic cultures only. We suggest the involvement of a cantharidin-sensitive protein phosphorylation mechanism in anthraquinone biosynthesis in transgenic cultures.

Influence of bioactive food supplements (BFA) intake on intestinal barrier permeability to macromolecules of polyethylene glycol 4000 was studied in rats with intestinal anaphylaxis and after external gamma-irradiation. BFA studied included autolysed baker's yeast ("Vitasil") and edible algae Spirulina platensis. Intake of complex additive Vitasil + Spirulina resulted in significant diminution of permeability before irradiation and its partial normalization (24% decrease) after irradiation. Spirulina additive intake led to practically complete normalization of permeability (1.84 times decrease) in anaphylactic rats. It is concluded that Spirulina and Vitasil are promising BFA for organism general resistance elevation.

A single whole-body gamma irradiation (4 Gy) of rats with the initial deficiency in vitamins B1 and B2 had no effect on the contents of vitamins C, A, and B1 in the blood plasma, liver, or testicles within 42 h after irradiation. The content of vitamin E remained unchanged in the blood plasma but increased in testicles. The contents of vitamin B2 remained unchanged in erythrocytes and liver, decreased in testicles, and its excretion with urine increased more than twice. The content of reduced glutathione in liver, small intestine mucosa, and erythrocytes decreased.

The main directions in the use of nutrients to enhance human resistance to unfavorable occupational factors in order to promote flying health and longevity are considered. The prime tasks of each direction are analyzed and the ways of their solution are identified by taking into account the available approaches.

The article deals with data obtained from studies of operators' activity changes caused by artificial hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia of operator appeared to markedly alter the quality, psychologic and physiologic intensity, subjective appraisal of intellectual activities. Overall, hypoglycemia leads to intensified signs of fatigue during mental work. In this case hypoglycemia affects the processes of verbal and logic decision more than perceptive and identification activities. Besides that, hypoglycemia appeared to worsen the processes of operators' cooperation in decision. The studies showed that in order to support the necessary level of capacity to work the mechanisms of adaptation and mobilization of psychologic and physiologic resources become activated in hypoglycemia.

Laboratory experiments in rats had shown that the standard ration of the structural food concentrate obtained from milk processing could increase the body resistance of animals by 20-30%. The estimation of the influence exerted by the concentrate was made on the basis of hypoxic and radiobiological models. The authors make a conclusion that application of this concentrate for prophylaxis has good prospects for the future.

The experience of computer technology application at the Phthisiology Department of the Kazan Medical Institute over the last 5 years was generalized. Four classes of the teaching programs were described: program control of the accumulated experience, diagnostic search, a mathematical model of an emergency situation and expert medical systems. Preference is given to the latter two types of programs. It is emphasized that application of the IBM-compatible systems as the most prevalent in clinical practice is promising. Description of the specific programs is presented.