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The existing methods of disinfection of containers for fermented milk products proved to be ineffective. The present research featured an antimicrobial preparation based on silver, copper, and zinc nanoparticles as a disinfectant solution. The authors studied the properties of the antimicrobial in order to prove its effectiveness in processing containers to increase the shelf-life of fermented milk products. The size of the silver nanoparticles ranged from 1 to 10 nm. The nanoscale particles of copper were obtained by the method of electric explosion. It was established that the mass fraction of the active substance (active metals) in the antimicrobial was 50.1%; the mass fraction of water was 11.2%; the mass fraction of hydrogen peroxide was 1.0%. To assess the ability of the antimicrobial to increase shelf-life of fermented milk products, the authors analyzed the microbiological properties of cottage cheese. The 50-gram samples were packed in pre-treated polyethylene containers that had been cleaned with the antimicrobial. After that the samples were left for storage at minus 4 ± 1°C. The quality and the microbiological state of the cottage cheese was evaluated on days 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13, which was justified by the experimental conditions and regulatory documentation. Eventually, it was established that the product contained no pathogenic bacteria, such as L. monocytogenes, Salmonella, E. coli, staphylococci, yeast, molds or any viable microbial cells. It was proved that the test sample retained its consumer properties for 13 days, while the control sample was found unusable by day 7. Thus, by using the antimicrobial, it was possible to increase the shelf life of the dairy product by more than 5 days.

The present article considers the increasing popularity of beverages containing ethyl alcohol and fermentation products with the population of Russia. Statistical data show that alcoholic beverages with ethanol concentration exceeding 40 vol. % account for the largest share of the market. The development of a procedure for the production of alcohol oxidase from the yeast Candida boidinii is reported; the enzyme is intended for use in the manufacturing of functional foods for withdrawal syndrome alleviation. A procedure for the disruption of cell walls of the yeast Candida boidinii in a planetary ball mill PM 400 and methods for the removal of ballast substances reducing the catalytic efficiency and the specific activity of the enzyme preparation are presented.

ntroduction. Extreme psychrophiles still remain largely understudied. However, they can serve as biological components in drug production, as well as increase the shelf life of food products in food industry. Therefore, the properties of psychrophilic microorganisms are a relevant study object. The present research objective was to isolate new psychrophilic microorganisms in extreme low-temperature conditions of the caves of Gornaya Shoria and Salair (Kemerovo region) and study their antimicrobial properties. Study objects and methods. The research featured psychrophilic microorganisms isolated in the caves of the Kemerovo region. The sampling was performed in triplicate. The samples were placed in sterile paper. Antibiotic resistance was defined according to the area where the antibiotic plate suppressed bacterial growth. The cell suspension was placed in a Petri dish with an agar-based medium. The discs with antibiotics were put on the surface of the medium and incubated in a thermostat at 28°C for 24 h in order to describe the growth of the isolates. Results and discussion. The microbial communities of the Gavrilovskaya and Azasskaya caves produced seven isolates with different morphological characteristics. Isolates 1, 4, and 5 had pronounced suppressive properties at 2 ± 4°C. Isolates 1, 4, and 5 proved resistant to antibiotics. Isolate 1 exhibited high resistance (21–26) to Neomycin and Novogramon, medium resistance (17–22) to Ceparin, Kanamycin, Levomycin, Carbenicillin, and Streptomycin, and low (2–8) resistance to Benzylpenicillin and Clotrimazole. Isolate 1 had no antibiotic resistance to Ampicillin, Gentamicin, and Tetracycline. Isolate 4 showed high resistance (22–27) to Novogramon, medium resistance (10–22) to Tetracycline, Clotrimazole, Neomycin, Zeparin, Kanamycin, Levomycin, and Monomycin, and low resistance (2–8) to Ampicillin, Benzylpenicillin, Streptomycin, and Gentamicin. Isolate 4 demonstrated no antibiotic resistance to Carbenicillin and Polymyxin. Isolate 5 proved highly resistant (27–26) to Ceparin, Benzylpenicillin, Levomycetin, and Novogramon, and medium resistant (12–22) to Clotrimazole, Streptomycin, Neomycin, Gentamicin, Polymyxin, Carbenicillin, and Monomycin. Isolate 5 demonstrated no resistance to Ampicillin, Tetracycline, and Kanamycin. Conclusion. Psychrophiles can serve as microorganisms to create new biological products that suppress the development of diseases in plants. Psychrophiles proved an extremely promising research direction for cultivating and storing agricultural products.

Introduction. Increased resistance of microorganisms to traditional antibiotics has created a practical need for isolating and synthesizing new antibiotics. We aimed to study the antibiotic activity and resistance of bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria and other microorganisms. Study objects and methods. We studied the isolates of the following microorganism strains: Bacillus subtilis, Penicillium glabrum, Penicillium lagena, Pseudomonas koreenis, Penicillium ochrochloron, Leuconostoc lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pediococcus acidilactici, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Bacteroides hypermegas, Bacteroides ruminicola, Pediococcus damnosus, Bacteroides paurosaccharolyticus, Halobacillus profundi, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, and Bacillus caldotenax. Pathogenic test strains included Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus mycoides, Alcaligenes faecalis, and Proteus vulgaris. The titer of microorganisms was determined by optical density measurements at 595 nm. Results and discussion. We found that eleven microorganisms out of twenty showed high antimicrobial activity against all test strains of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms. All the Bacteroides strains exhibited little antimicrobial activity against Gramnegative test strains, while Halobacillus profundi had an inhibitory effect on Gram-positive species only. The Penicillium strains also displayed a slight antimicrobial effect on pathogenic test strains. Conclusion. The antibiotic resistance of the studied lactic acid bacteria and other bacteriocin-producing microorganisms allows for their use in the production of pharmaceutical antibiotic drugs.

Introduction. One of the urgent problems of medicine and biology is the use of plant objects as industrial producers of target metabolites in vitro. In vitro cells can be used as pharmaceutical preparations. Study objects and methods. The present research featured medicinal plants that grow in the Siberian Federal district and are a popular source of medicinal raw materials. The physicochemical properties, e.g. total ash content in extracts, the content of heavy metals, the content of organic solvents in the extracts, and the mass loss upon drying was determined by standard methods. The antimicrobial properties of in vitro extracts were determined by the diffusion method and the method based on optical density measurement. The list of opportunistic and pathogenic test strains included the following microorganisms: E. coli ATCC 25922, S. aureus ATCC 25923, P. vulgaris ATCC 63, P. aeruginosa ATCC 9027, and C. albicans EMTC 34. The number of viable cancer cells was determined using the MTT colorimetric method. Results and discussion. The paper describes the physicochemical properties, safety indicators, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, and antitumor properties of extracts of a complex of biologically active substances obtained in vitro from the dried biomass of callus and suspension cell cultures and root cultures. The root extracts proved to have the maximum antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. They could reduce the survival rate of cancer cells to 24.8–36.8 %. Conclusion. The research featured extracts obtained from the dried biomass of callus and suspension cell cultures and root cultures in vitro of safflower leuzea (Leuzea carthamoides L.), Rhodiola rosea (Rhodiola rosea L.), various sorts of skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis L., Scutellaria andrachnoides L., Scutellaria galericulata L.), Potentilla alba (Potentilla alba L.) and ginseng (Panax L.). The results showed that the extracts can be used for the production of pharmaceuticals and biologically active additives with antitumor, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.

One of the ways of formation of innovative products is the design of new types of direct application starters on the basis of viable microorganisms for their further use in the dairy industry. The purpose of the study was the isolation of lactobacilli activators of lactic fermentation made of national Kazakh drinks (ayran, koumiss, chegen and kurunga) for the formation of symbiotic consortium to receive a direct application starter. The authors have isolated and studied the following strains of microorganisms: Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus , Lactobacillus acidophilus , Streptococcus thermophiles, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetilactis, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Pediococcus damnosus, Pediococcus acidilactici, Lactobacillus gallinarum. Cultural, morphological and physiological and biochemical properties have been studied, the antibiotic resistance, antagonistic activity and biocompatibility of the isolated microorganisms have been determined. It has been established that the isolated microorganisms have a stick-like shape of 0.6 х 3.5 to6.0 х 0.7 microns in size characteristic of the sort Lactobacillus bacteria, and are Gram-positive and nonspore- forming. Mobility was only observed in the strains Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar diacetilactis, Pediococcus damnosus and Pediococcus acidilactici. The strains differed considerably from each other by the consumption of other carbohydrates, however all the studied strains ferment ribose, D-galactose, D-glucose, D-fructose, D-mannose, N-acetyl-glucosamin, amygdalin, aesculin, salicin, cellobiose, maltose, lactose, D-sucrose which is characteristic of the representatives of the sort Lactobacillus . All the studied strains are sensitive to the effect of β-laktam antibiotics except Streptococcus thermophilus . The analysis of biocompatibility has shown that full compatibility is only characteristic of four strains - Lactobacillus gallinarum (kurunga) , Streptococcus thermophilus (koumiss), Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (ayran) and Pediococcus damnosus (chegen). To create a symbiotic consortium such strains of microorganisms as Lactobacillus gallinarum, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Pediococcus damnosus and optimum conditions of cultivation have been chosen. The maximum growth of microorganisms has been noted in the following culture medium: proteose-peptone - 5.00; meat extract - 10.00; yeast extract - 5.00; glucose - 20.00; Tween-80 - 1.00; ammonium citrate - 1.00; manganese sulfate - 0.05; sodium hydrophosphate - 1.00; agar-agar - 15.00; methyl rosaniline - 0.0002; casein hydrolyzate - 12.50; papain digest of soy flour 2.50; sodium chloride - 3.00; sodium citrate - 0.50; sodium sulfite - 0.20; L-cystine - 0.05; sodium azide - 0.10; potassium phosphate dibasic - 0.50; ammonium citrate dibasic - 0.80.

Bacteriocins are substances of protein nature which have antimicrobial properties. Due to the wide spectrum of antagonistic activity which bacteriocins of some microorganisms have, they have the potential for being used as components of antibacterial drugs. Due to the widespread problem of antibiotic resistance of many bacterial strains that cause human diseases, the studying of bacteriocins is particularly relevant as they may be an alternative to antibiotics. Despite the popularity of researches devoted to the study of bacteriocins properties in recent years, many bacteriocins have not been discovered yet and this field of research is relevant. Thus the aim our research is determination of the optimum conditions for cultivation of Bacillus endopheticus and Bacillus licheniformis strains producing bacteriocins for increasing the efficiency of their synthesis, and studying the stability of bacteriocins. Optimum conditions for cultivation of Bacillus endopheticus and Bacillus licheniformis strains have been determined. They are the temperatures from 25 to 37 °C and the acidity of the medium from 6.5 to 8.0. The maximum growth of strains is observed at the temperature of 30 °C and pH 6.5. The influence of temperature and pH on bacteriocins sensitivity has been studied. Bacteriocins are proved to be stable at a neutral pH and a temperature not higher than 80 °C. Antagonistic activity of bacteriocins subjected to different temperatures and pH towards Escherichia coli strain has been determined using a disk diffusion method. The research results are valuable for the development of novel medicinal preparations based on bacteriocins.

Analysis of the results of studying dynamics of microbiological indicators of perishable food (fresh tomatoes), shows that the control samples (fresh tomatoes without processing a preservative) on the 15th day of storage at 4±2 °C exceeds the QMA&OAMO index, on the 5th day yeast already detected. The activity of yeasts and molds on the surface of tomatoes treated with Nisin is reduced compared with the control. It was found that the new isolated microorganisms synthesizing bacteriocins exhibit the highest bioconservation efficiency compared to nisin and control. It was shown that QMA&OAMO does not exceed the maximum permissible value even at 35 days of storage, yeast and molds, E. coli group bacteria in 1.0 g and pathogenic microorganisms, including L. monocytogenes and Salmonella bacteria in 10.0 g were not detected in fresh tomatoes. As a result of the study of organoleptic quality indicators of perishable foods (fresh tomatoes), treated with selected strains of microorganisms (Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Pseudomonas putida and Psychrobacter immobilis), stored for 35 days at 4±2 °C revealed that fresh tomatoes on the 35th day keep fresh, the fruit is clean, excessive moisture of fruits is not observed. Also fresh tomatoes were characterized by an edible degree of maturity. The taste and smell of the tomatoes were consistent with the botanical variety, while no extraneous taste and smell were observed.

During the study, it was found that an increase in the dose of sweet yellow clover extract from 0.5 to 2.5 mg/kg of live weight per day contributed to an increase in the number of: hemoglobin by 1.83 g/l (1.79%), leukocytes by 0.14 thousand 109/l (2.34%), total protein in blood serum of sheep by 0.43 g/l (0.7%), glucose in blood of sheep by 0.18 mmol/l (4.19%), calcium in blood of sheep by 0.14 mmol/l (5.32%), phosphorus in blood of sheep by only 0.08 mg/100 ml (1.6%), contributed to an increase in the live weight of sheep by 220 g (2.18%). In the control group, two sheep out of six got bronchitis. The percentage of sheep with bronchitis was 33.33%. After feed to the sheep different doses of sweet yellow clover extract, the sheep in groups I and II of the experimental groups had one sheep each (16.67%), while in groups III, IV and V there were no sheep with bronchitis. Thus, increasing the sweet yellow clover dosage in sheep’ diet reinforced their immunity. In the control group and in the first experimental group, one sheep out of six came down with dyspepsia. The percentage of sheep with dyspepsia was 16.67%. After feed to the sheep doses of sweet yellow clover extract, there were no dyspeptic diseases in sheep.

Minimum inhibitory concentrations of lactic acid bacteria and other antagonist microorganisms isolated from natural sources of Kaliningrad region (soil, water bodies, plant objects) were determined. It was shown that the minimum inhibitory concentration of Pediococcus pentosaceus metabolites against Escherichia coli is 1.5·107 CFU/ml; Pseudomonas chlororaphis metabolites have no inhibitory effect against the test strain of Escherichia coli under study. It was found that Pediococcus damnosus metabolites adversely affect the growth of Escherichia coli, but at a concentration of 1.5·107 CFU/ml after 6-24 hours of cultivation. For metabolites isolated by Lactobacillus casei, the characteristic minimum inhibitory concentration with respect to the studied Escherichia coli strain is 1.5-107 CFU/ml, and for metabolites isolated by Lactobacillus fermentum, the minimum inhibitory concentration with respect to the studied Escherichia coli strain is 1.5·105 CFU/ml. At a concentration of Bacteroides hypermegas (Megamonas hypermegale) metabolites equal to 1.5·106 CFU/ml, an optical density lower than that of the control is observed. The minimum concentration of Pseudomonas syringae metabolites inhibiting Escherichia coli culture growth is 1.5-107 CFU/ml. For the metabolites Acetobacter aceti and Psychrobacter urativorans, the concentration of 1.5·107 CFU/ml is the lowest to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli.

An important component in the production of starters for food and biotechnology industries is the ability to store them over a long period without losing their properties. Long-term storage of biological products with the conservation of valuable properties and viability can only be ensured by methods of preservation which are able to inhibit metabolic processes without disturbance to biomaterial integrity. The article describes methods of deep-freezing of biomaterials, freeze-drying, L-drying, in particular their advantages and disadvantages, and gives more concrete description of the lyophilization method. The aim of this research was to choose a method of drying and optimum stabilization parameters for obtaining a starter of direct inoculation. To do this, freeze-drying method allowing the primary cell structure to be fully preserved was used. The experiment indicated that this method makes the object of drying independent from external influences and is able to retain its useful properties over a long period of time. The drying process itself was carried out using domestic freeze-drier INEY-6M". To prepare the drying object for lyophilization bacterial cells were suspended with 20% skimmed milk, 12% solution of sucrose, the serum of animal blood, sorbitol, albumin solution, gelatin solution, peptone, monosodium glutamate and its salts, polyvinylpyrrolidone. The choice of optimum modes of technological process such as freeze temperature, freeze-drying temperature and drying layer thickness was also carried out experimentally. According to the results of the experiment, optimum parameters for freeze-drying were chosen, in particular: freezing temperature of minus 25°C; heating temperature of 25°C; drying time of 240 min; the drying layer thickness of 3.0 mm.

The history and theory of Russian Formalism began to attract the attention of Western literary scholars as early as the 1920s. Western journals at that time published descriptive articles by Russian scholars such as Viktor Zhirmunskii, Boris Tomashevskii, A.N. Voznesenskii, and Nina Gourfinkel who were close to the Formalist movement. The works on Russian Formalism published in the 1930s and 40s and the early 1950s such as the articles by Manfred Kridl and William Harkins were also of a descriptive nature. However, following the appearance of René Wellek and Austin Warren's Theory of Literature, a work widely known in the West which confirmed its authors' close ties to Formalist and Structuralist methodology, interest in the Russian Formalist school of the 1920s began to grow sharply. Major studies devoted to an investigation of the history and theory of this critical movement began to appear. Among such works were two which in our view exemplify the attitude of Western literary scholarship toward Russian Formalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The secondary metabolites that marine sponges create are essential to the advancement of contemporary medicine and are often employed in clinical settings. Over the past five years, microbes associated with sponges have yielded the identification of 140 novel chemicals. Statistics show that most are derived from actinomycetes (bacteria) and ascomycotes (fungi). The aim of this study was to investigate the biological activity of metabolites from marine sponges. Chlocarbazomycins A-D, which are a group of novel chlorinated carbazole alkaloids isolated from the sponge Neopetrosia fennelliae KUFA 0811, exhibit antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and enzyme inhibitory activities. Recently, marine sponges of the genus Neopetrosia have attracted attention due to the unique chemical composition of the compounds they produce, including alkaloids of potential importance in drug discovery. Fridamycin H and fridamycin I are two novel type II polyketides synthesized by sponge-associated bacteria exhibit antitrypanosomal activity. Fintiamin, composed of amino acids and terpenoid moieties, shows affinity for the cannabinoid receptor CB 1. It was found that out of 27 species of Neopetrosia sponges, the chemical composition of only 9 species has been studied. These species mainly produce bioactive substances such as alkaloids, quinones, sterols, and terpenoids. The presence of motuporamines is a marker of the species Neopetrosia exigua. Terpenoids are specific markers of Neopetrosia vanilla species. Although recently discovered, secondary metabolites from marine sponges have been shown to have diverse biological activities, antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimalarial, and anticancer properties, providing many lead compounds for drug development. The data presented in this review on known and future natural products derived from sponges will further clarify the role and importance of microbes in marine sponges and trace the prospects of their applications, especially in medicine, cosmeceuticals, environmental protection, and manufacturing industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of a simple kidney cyst on kidney function and to determine indications for surgical treatment., Materials and Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we analyze data on 109 patients who sought counseling with a simple kidney cyst. Patients with solitary cyst of the right or left kidney, grade I-IIF according to the Bosniak classification, were included. Split glomerular filtration rate (sGFR) was calculated. The maximum size of the cyst, single kidney volumes (SKV) and the volume of the lost (atrophied) parenchyma were estimated with computed tomography (CT) scan of the urinary tract with contrast., Results: The average difference between the sGFR of a healthy and affected kidney cyst was 11 [8.70; 13.44] ml/min, which is a statistically significant value ( p  = 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between the proportion of lost parenchyma and the maximum cyst size: p  = 0.37 with 95% CI [0.20; 0.52] ( p  = 0). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that a statistically significant factor influencing the likelihood of a significant decrease in sGFR is the percentage of lost kidney parenchyma (OR = 1.13; p  = 0)., Conclusion: The growth of kidney cyst causes atrophy of the renal parenchyma and a decrease in the sGFR of the affected kidney. An increase in the volume of the atrophied parenchyma leads to a decrease in the sGFR of the affected kidney., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Malkhasyan, Makhmudov, Gilfanov, Semenyakin, Sukhikh, Grigoryan and Pushkar.)

Microalgae are known to be the richest natural source of polysaccharides. The study aimed to evaluate the ability of microalgae from the Chlorella sp. genus to synthesize polysaccharides. Brody & Emerson max medium proved to be the most effective; the average cell content in the culture fluid at the beginning and at the end of cultivation for IPPAS Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick was 1.23 ± 0.03 g/L and 1.71 ± 0.20 g/L, respectively. With a high average dry weight of IPPAS Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick (4.45 ± 0.10 g/L), it produced the least amount of neutral sugars (0.75 ± 0.02 g/L) and uronic acids (0.14 ± 0.01 mg/L). The microalga IPPAS Chlorella vulgaris with the lowest average dry weight (1.18 ± 0.03 g/L) produced 0.80 ± 0.02 g/L of neutral sugars and 0.17 ± 0.01 mg/L of uronic acids. Microalgal polysaccharides have the potential to be used as a source for biologically active food additives, as they contain various types of polysaccharides that can be beneficial to human health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The marine environment has remained a source of novel biological molecules with diversified applications. The ecological and biological diversity, along with a unique physical environment, have provided the evolutionary advantage to the plant, animals and microbial species thriving in the marine ecosystem. In light of the fact that marine microorganisms frequently interact symbiotically or mutualistically with higher species including corals, fish, sponges, and algae, this paper intends to examine the potential of marine microorganisms as a niche for marine bacteria. This review aims to analyze and summarize modern literature data on the biotechnological potential of marine fungi and bacteria as producers of a wide range of practically valuable products (surfactants, glyco-and lipopeptides, exopolysaccharides, enzymes, and metabolites with different biological activities: antimicrobial, antitumor, and cytotoxic). Hence, the study on bioactive secondary metabolites from marine microorganisms is the need of the hour. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the first time, the data on new resources for obtaining biologically active natural products - metabolites of marine bacteria and fungi - were generalized. The review investigates the various kinds of natural products derived from marine microorganisms, specifically focusing on marine bacteria and fungi as a valuable source for new natural products. It provides a summary of the data regarding the antibacterial, antimalarial, anticarcinogenic, antibiofilm, and anti-inflammatory effects demonstrated by marine microorganisms. There is currently a great need for scientific and applied research on bioactive secondary metabolites of marine microorganisms from the standpoint of human and animal health., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Barzkar, Sukhikh and Babich.)

Fermentation of both microalgae and macroalgae is one of the most efficient methods of obtaining valuable value-added products due to the minimal environmental pollution and the availability of economic benefits, as algae do not require arable land and drift algae and algal bloom biomass are considered waste and must be recycled and their fermentation waste utilized. The compounds found in algae can be effectively used in the fuel, food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, depending on the type of fermentation used. Products such as methane and hydrogen can be produced by anaerobic digestion and dark fermentation of algae, and lactic acid and its polymers can be produced by lactic acid fermentation of algae. Article aims to provide an overview of the different types potential of micro- and macroalgae fermentation, the advantages and disadvantages of each type considered, and the economic feasibility of algal fermentation for the production of various value-added products., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Biologically active compounds, including polysaccharides isolated from microalgae, have various properties. Although Nannochloropsis spp. have the potential to produce secondary metabolites important for biotechnology, only a small part of the research on these microalgae has focused on their ability to produce polysaccharide fractions. This study aims to evaluate the physicochemical growth factors of Nannochloropsis spp. microalgae, which ensure the maximum accumulation of polysaccharides, as well as to optimize the parameters of polysaccharide extraction. The optimal nutrient medium composition was selected to maximize biomass and polysaccharide accumulation. The significance of selecting the extraction module and extraction temperature regime, as well as the cultivation conditions (temperature and active acidity value) is emphasized. Important chemical components of polysaccharides responsible for their biological activity were identified., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Introduction: Renal cysts are a common disease that occurs at a rate of 7-10%. Currently there are no clinical recommendations for the treatment of patients with simple renal cysts. In the current literature there is some evidence that a simple renal cyst has negative effects on renal function. Decreased renal function occurs due to partial atrophy and loss of the renal parenchyma (in the "crater" area at the base of the cyst) caused by compression. Therefore, the efforts to analyze the effect of simple kidney cysts on kidney function and identify the characteristics of the cyst that affect renal function to determine the indications for surgical treatment remains a substantial task. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of simple renal cysts on renal function, to investigate the relationship between cyst size, atrophied parenchyma volume, and renal function, and to determine indications for surgical treatment of simple renal cysts., Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study. The study included 109 patients with simple renal cysts. Patients with a solitary cyst of the right or left renal kidney, grade I-II according to Bosniak classification, were included in the study. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of the patients was calculated using various formulas. A contrast CT scan of the urinary tract was also performed to determine the maximum size of the cyst, calculate the volume of the renal parenchyma, and the volume of the lost (atrophied) parenchyma. Patients underwent renal scintigraphy with calculation of total GFR and split renal function. We analyzed the symmetry of the function of both kidneys by comparing the GFR of the affected and healthy kidneys, analyzed the relationship between the presence of a kidney cyst and a decrease in GFR, between the maximum size of a renal cyst and a decrease in its function compared with that of a healthy kidney. We also analyzed the correspondence of total GFR values obtained in renal scintigraphy and GFR values calculated according to the formulas., Results: Data from 109 patients were available for analysis; the mean blood creatinine was 87.4 mol/L. The median maximum cyst size was 80 mm. The median baseline volume of the affected kidney parenchyma was 174 ml, the median volume of the lost parenchyma was 49 ml, and the median proportion of the lost parenchyma was 28%. The median total GFR was 77.07 ml/min. The median GFR of the healthy kidney was 45.49 mL/min, and the median GFR of the kidney affected by the cyst was 34.46 mL/min. The median difference in GFR of the healthy and affected kidney units was 11 mL/min and was statistically significant. Comparison of the eGFR values obtained by the formulas with the reference values of GFR obtained by scintigraphy showed that the Cockcroft-Gault formula with standardization on the body surface area calculated closest eGFR values to the reference ones. Correlation analysis revealed a statistically significant association between the proportion of lost parenchyma volume and the maximum cyst size: =0.37 with 95% CI [0.20; 0.52] (p-value = 0). A multivariate logistic regression model revealed that a statistically significant factor influencing the probability of a significant decrease in GFR was the percent of lost renal parenchyma volume (OR=1,13; =0)., Conclusions: Our study showed that growth of renal cysts associated with renal parenchyma atrophy and decrease of GFR of the affected kidney. An increase in the volume of atrophied parenchyma leads to the decrease in GFR of the affected kidney. The obtained data suggest that performing dynamic renal scintigraphy to assess the decrease in affected renal function and determine the indications for surgical treatment of renal cysts is a reasonable recommendation. According to the results of the study, the loss of 20% of the renal parenchyma can be considered an indication for renal scintigraphy. The Cockcroft-Gault formula with standardization on the body surface area allows to calculate closest GFR values to those obtained by scintigraphy and, therefore, can be recommended as the optimal formula for calculating eGFR in daily clinical practice.

Vibriosis and parasitic leech infestations cause the death of various farmed fish, such as groupers, hybrid groupers, sea bass, etc., in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. In the absence of natural control agents, aquaculture operators rely on toxic chemicals to control Vibrio infections and parasitic leeches, which can have a negative impact on the environment and health. In the present study, we investigated the antivibrio and antiparasitic activities of the aqueous extract of giant sword fern (GSF) ( Nephrolepis biserrata , Nephrolepidaceae, locally known as "Paku Pedang") against four Vibrio spp. and the parasitic leech Zeylanicobdella arugamensis , as well as its metabolic composition using the ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry system (UHPLC-HRMS). The data show that the aqueous extract of GSF at a concentration of 100 mg/mL exhibits potent bactericidal activity against V. parahaemolyticus with a zone of inhibition of 19.5 mm. In addition, the extract showed dose-dependent activity against leeches, resulting in the complete killing of the parasitic leeches within a short period of 11-43 min when tested at concentrations ranging from 100 to 25 mg/mL. The UHPLC-HRMS analysis detected 118 metabolites in the aqueous extract of GSF. Flavonoids were the primary metabolites, followed by phenolic, aromatic, fatty acyl, terpenoid, vitamin and steroidal compounds. Notably, several of these metabolites possess antibacterial and antiparasitic properties, including cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, apigenin, quercetin, cynaroside, luteolin, naringenin, wogonin, 6-gingerol, nicotinamide, abscisic acid, daidzein, salvianolic acid B, etc. Overall, our study shows the significant antibacterial and antiparasitic potential of the GSF aqueous extract, which demonstrates the presence of valuable secondary metabolites. Consequently, the aqueous extract is a promising natural alternative for the effective control of Vibrio infections and the treatment of parasitic leeches in aquaculture systems.

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is one of the major medical problems that the modern world is currently facing. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus both result in early disability and death, as well as serious social and financial problems. In some cases, synthetic drugs can be quite effective in the treatment of diabetes, though they have side effects. Plant-derived pharmacological substances are of particular interest. This review aims to study the antidiabetic properties of secondary plant metabolites. Existing review and research articles on the investigation of the antidiabetic properties of secondary plant metabolites, the methods of their isolation, and their use in diabetes mellitus, as well as separate articles that confirm the relevance of the topic and expand the understanding of the properties and mechanisms of action of plant metabolites, were analyzed for this review. The structure and properties of plants used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, including plant antioxidants, polysaccharides, alkaloids, and insulin-like plant substances, as well as their antidiabetic properties and mechanisms for lowering blood sugar, are presented. The main advantages and disadvantages of using phytocomponents to treat diabetes are outlined. The types of complications of diabetes mellitus and the effects of medicinal plants and their phytocomponents on them are described. The effects of phytopreparations used to treat diabetes mellitus on the human gut microbiota are discussed. Plants with a general tonic effect, plants containing insulin-like substances, plants-purifiers, and plants rich in vitamins, organic acids, etc. have been shown to play an important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the prevention of its complications.

Tanacetum vulgare is an herbaceous plant widely used in folk medicine. It is rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids, which have pharmacological and medicinal properties, such as anthelmintic, antispasmodic, tonic, antidiabetic, diuretic, and antihypertensive. This study aimed to confirm the presence of biologically active substances in Tanacetum vulgare and to determine the pharmacological spectrum of biological activity of Tanacetum vulgare extract components. When preparing Tanacetum vulgare extracts, the highest yield was observed when using the maceration method with a mixture of solvents methanol + trifluoroacetic acid (22.65 ± 0.68%). The biologically active substances in Tanacetum vulgare extract samples were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Biologically active substances such as luteolin-7-glucoside (550.80 mg/kg), chlorogenic acid (5945.40 mg/kg), and rosmarinic acid (661.31 mg/kg) were identified. Their structures were determined. The experiments have confirmed the antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Secondary metabolites of Tanacetum vulgare extracts have been found to have previously unknown biological activity types; experimental confirmation of their existence will advance phytochemical research and lead to the development of new drugs.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Cytoflavin in patients with dyscirculatory encephalopathy (DE) who had a new coronavirus infection., Material and Methods: 82 patients were examined: 16 (19.5%) men and 66 (80.5%) women aged 58 to 80 years, mean age 69±6 years and 70±6 years, respectively. All patients had moderate vascular cognitive impairment (less than 26 points according to the MoCA test), a history of COVID-19 in the period from 3 to 12 months before the start of the study. Patients before COVID-19 were registered with a neurologist with chronic cerebrovascular diseases with non-demented cognitive impairment of vascular origin. Patients of the main group (MG) received the Cytoflavin from the 1st to the 25 th day of observation, inclusive, 2 tablets 2 times a day against the background of standard basic therapy. Patients in the comparison group received only standard basic therapy., Results: It was found that during therapy with Cytoflavin, patients noted a positive trend in the form of a decrease in the symptoms of cognitive impairment, improved orientation and working memory, concentration of attention and counting. Also, patients in MG noted a decrease in fatigue and depressive disorders, an increase in motivation and a positive attitude, the emergence of interest in life, an improvement in the emotional background of mood, an increase in physical activity and working capacity. Comparing the mechanisms of development of vascular dysfunction, a pathogenetic commonality between DE and the development of consequences in the form of cognitive impairment caused by COVID-19 was noted., Conclusion: Cytoflavin therapy at a dosage of 2 tablets 2 times a day for 25 days can be recommended as part of complex therapy for patients with DE and a COVID-19.