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The rapid rate of acquisition and spread of resistance to antibiotics by microorganisms leads to the search and investigation of new ways of combating infectious agents. Being a modern, minimally invasive method with an almost complete absence of side effects, the use of low-intensity laser radiation can be considered as one of the alternatives to traditional antibiotic therapy. At the same time, the search for new chemical compounds with pronounced antimicrobial activity is also promising. The impact of low-intensity laser of the red spectrum (λ = 660 nm) on the sensitivity of a clinical isolate of Staphylococcus aureus to newly synthesized halogen- and chalcogen-halogen-containing derivatives of the quinazoline and benzothiazole series was studied using the serial microdilutions method with the determination of minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations. To evaluate the antimicrobial properties of the investigated substances in dynamic, we investigated their activity two months after the synthesis with subsequent comparison to freshly synthesized compounds. The research results indicate that the most pronounced antimicrobial effect was shown by trichlorotelluromethylthiazoloquinazolinium chloride and propargylthiobenzothiazolium hexachlorotellurate. Evaluating the dynamics of the activity of the studied compounds, it was noted that the absolute majority of substances retained their properties, which indicates their stability. When evaluating the effect of irradiation of microbial inoculum with low-intensity laser radiation on the susceptibility to chemical compounds, an increase in the sensitivity of irradiated microorganisms to some investigated chemicals was noted compared to similar non-irradiated microbial suspensions. In the case of 2 out of 9 studied chemical compounds we noted a 2- to 4-fold decrease in the minimal inhibitory concentration for irradiated microbial suspensions. A decrease in the minimal bactericidal concentration after irradiation was noted for one of the substances. In the cases of butynylthiobenzothiazolium hexabromotellurate, and tribromotelluromethylthiazoloquinazolinium bromide, decrease of both minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations in the irradiated inoculum was observed. The above shows that low-intensity laser radiation under certain parameters increases the susceptibility of microorganisms to antimicrobial agents.

Resistance to antibiotics is considered as a global and unsolved problem in the branch of medicine. That is why the use of novel non-drug methods of treatment of bacterial and fungal infections is of great relevance. One of such methods is photodynamic treatment, which is a treatment procedure that uses light energy to activate a photosensitizing agent in the presence of oxygen. Due to the broad spectrum of action, the efficacy against antibiotic resistant cells and the lack of selection of photoresistant strains, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy compares favourably with traditional drug therapy, and has emerged in the clinical field as a potential alternative to antibiotics to treat microbial infections. In this article results of studies of the complex effect of methylene blue (0.1% aqueous solution) and LED radiation of the red-infrared spectrum as well as methylene blue and polarized incoherent low-energy radiation (PILER) with a red light filter on the growth rate of some opportunistic microorganisms on solid nutrient media are presented. Standardized suspensions of microorganisms were prepared for research with the subsequent determination of direct impact of polarized and non-polarized radiation (at duration of exposure of 5 min), photosensitizer, and also the set of these factors on growth of the studied microorganisms. The growth intensity of bacteria and yeast-like fungi was determined by the number of their colonies after reseeding on nutrient media in Petri dishes. The obtained data were compared with control groups, which were not influenced by any factors. The results indicate a significant antimicrobial effect of the combined action of different types of radiation and methylene blue on microorganisms, which was manifested in a reduction in the number of colonies by on average 35–45%, compared with the control groups. Comparing the effect of exposure when using LED and PILER light, we have noted its similarity. It is also worth noting a certain antimicrobial activity of 0.1% methylene blue solution on the studied strains, but this was much less pronounced than in the complex effect. The direct effect of both LED and PILER radiation with low duration of exposure caused the stimulation of the growth of the studied microorganisms with an increase in the number of their colonies on Petri dishes by 15–35%. Given the rapid growth of resistance to antimicrobial agents, the described technique can be used as an alternative to traditional antibiotic therapy for the treatment of purulent-inflammatory diseases of the skin and mucous membranes.

Skin diseases in dogs and cats occupy one of the leading places among the diseases in these species of animals. The purpose of this work was to monitor the most common contagious skin diseases in dogs and cats (otodicosis, demodicosis, dermatomycosis) during 2018 in Odessa. To solve the goal several tasks were set: to find out the species and breed structure of dogs and cats otodicosis diseases; to find out the breed structure of dogs demodicosis diseases; to find out the species and breed structure of dogs and cats dermatomycosis diseases; to determine the seasonality of otodicosis, demodicosis and dermatomycosis of dogs and cats in Odessa city during 2018. The material was provided by the data concerning sick animals registered in logs on the basis of two veterinary clinics (Gabi and Aibolit) in Odessa. These logs data were entered in the tables and analyzed statistically. For the experimental period, 134 animals were infected with contagious skin diseases, among them 51 animals were infected with otodicosis, 34 animals – with demodicosis, and 49 animals-with dermatodicosis (trichophytosis and microsporia). More cats than dogs suffered from otodicosis and demodicosis. The largest number of animals infected with otodicosis is represented by cats of Metis breed (54.2%), cats of Scottish Fold breed amounted 8.3%, cats of Persian, Maine Coon and British Shorthairs breeds – by 6.3%. Dogs of Métis breed suffered from demodicosis largely, it accounted (29.4%), dogs of Pug breed accounted 14.7%, dogs of French Bulldog breed – 11.8%. Non pedigree cats – 86.2% and non pedigree dogs – 35% suffered with dermatomycosis. Otodicosis was registered every month, except January. The increase of disease was noted in June, August, October and December. Demodicosis was registered every month, except January. The increase of disease was noted in March, September, October and December. Dermatomycosis was registered every month. The increase of disease was noted in March-April and August-December. In order to control the epizootic situation regarding contagious skin diseases of carnivorous animals in Odessa city further systematic monitoring must be carried out.

Objectives. To study the structure and properties of solutions of thermoplastic poly(ether urethane)s (PEUs) to inform their potential use in the production of fibrous-porous polymer composite materials with a given structure and set of performance properties depending on the field of practical application.Methods. The composition of PEUs was studied by attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy using a program for correcting the spectra on an IR Fourier spectrophotometer, as well by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) using a heat flow calorimeter. The viscosity of PEU solutions was determined on a rotational viscometer.Results. The chemical composition of PEUs and the nature of the formation of hydrogen bonds were studied. An analysis of the spectra demonstrates the almost complete identity of the PEUs synthesized from the same 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate. In the studied PEUs of the Vitur and Desmopan® brands, as well as Sanpren, pronounced absorption bands characteristic of urethane groups involved in the formation of hydrogen bonds are visible in the region from 1702 to 1730 cm−1. The temperature transitions and thermal stability of the investigated PEUs were determined by DSC. The influence of the ratio of rigid and flexible blocks, as well as the nature of hydrogen bonds on the melting temperatures of polymers, was shown. Analysis of the DSC curves demonstrated all the studied PEUs to have high melting points ranging from 159 to 215°C. From the studied temperature dependences of the structural viscosity of thermoplastic PEUs solutions, all solutions were established to have a minimum viscosity anomaly; the value of the logarithm of viscosity depends on the chemical composition and structure of the initial PEUs. It is shown that the viscosity anomaly of PEU solutions can be reduced with increasing temperature.Conclusions. A comparison of the chemical composition, structure, thermal and rheological characteristics of thermoplastic PEUs with PEU solutions widely used for the production of fibrous-porous materials and coatings of Sanpren LQ-E-6 and Vitur R 0112 grades demonstrates their practicability as production materials and coatings having a predetermined structure and a set of properties depending on the requirements and operating conditions of finished products.