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The effect of chemically synthesized nanocomposites (NCs) of selenium (Se/AG NC), copper oxide (Cu/AG NC) and manganese hydroxide (Mn/AG NC), based on the natural polymer arabinogalactan (AG), on the processes of growth, development and colonization of potato plants in vitro was studied upon infection with the causative agent of potato blackleg-the Gram-negative bacterium Pectobacterium carotovorum -and the causative agent of ring rot-the Gram-positive bacterium Clavibacter sepedonicus ( Cms ). It was shown that the infection of potatoes with P. carotovorum reduced the root formation of plants and the concentration of pigments in leaf tissues. The treatment of plants with Cu/AG NC before infection with P. carotovorum stimulated leaf formation and increased the concentration of pigments in them. A similar effect was observed when potatoes were exposed to Mn/AG NC, and an increase in growth and root formation was also observed. The infection of plants with Cms inhibited plant growth. Treatment with each of the NCs mitigated this negative effect of the phytopathogen. At the same time, Se/AG and Mn/AG NCs promoted leaf formation. The Se/AG NC increased the biomass of Cms -infected plants. The treatment of plants with NCs before infection showed a decrease in the intensity of the colonization of plants by bacteria. The Se/AG NC had the maximum effect, which is probably due to its high antioxidant capacity. Thus, the NCs are able to mitigate the negative effects of bacterial phytopathogens on vegetation and the intensity of colonization by these bacteria during the infection of cultivated plants.

The removal of pollutants, including heavy metals, from the aquatic environment is an urgent problem worldwide. Actively developing nanotechnology areas is becoming increasingly important for solving problems in the field of the remediation of aquatic ecosystems. In particular, methods for removing pollutants using nanoparticles (NPs) are proposed, which raises the question of the effect of a combination of NPs and heavy metals on living organisms. In this work, we investigated the role of CuO-NPs in changing the toxicity of Cd and Pb salts, as well as the bioaccumulation of these elements in a culture of the microalga Desmodesmus communis . It was found that CuO-NPs at concentrations of 10, 100, and 1000 µg L -1 had no effect on the viability of microalgae cells. On the 14th day of the experiment, Cd at a concentration of 1 mg L -1 reduced the viability index by 30% and, when combined with CuO-NPs, by 25%, i.e., CuO-NPs slightly reduced the toxic effect of Cd. At the same time, in this experiment, when CuO-NPs and Cd were used together, the level of oxidative stress increased, including on the first day in mixtures with 1 mg L -1 Cd. Under the influence of Pb, the cell viability index decreased by 70% by the end of the experiment, regardless of the metal concentration. The presence of CuO-NPs slightly reduced the toxicity of Pb in terms of viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS). At the same time, unlike Cd, Pb without NPs caused ROS production on the first day, whereas the addition of CuO-NPs completely detoxified Pb at the beginning and had a dose-dependent effect on mixtures at the end of the experiment. Also, the introduction of CuO-NPs slightly reduced the negative effect of Pb on pigment synthesis. As a molecular mechanism of the observed effects, we prioritized the provocation of oxidative stress by nanoparticles and related gene expression and biochemical reactions of algae cells. Analysis of the effect of CuO-NPs on the Cd and Pb content in microalgae cells showed increased accumulation of heavy metals. Thus, when algae were cultured in an environment with Cd and CuO-NPs, the Cd content per cell increased 4.2 times compared to the variant where cells were cultured only with Cd. In the case of Pb, the increase in its content per one cell increased 6.2 times when microalgae were cultured in an environment containing CuO-NPs. Thus, we found that CuO-NPs reduce the toxic effects of Cd and Pb, as well as significantly enhance the bioaccumulation of these toxic elements in the cells of D. communis microalgae. The results obtained can form the basis of technology for the nanobioremediation of aquatic ecosystems from heavy metals using microalgae., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

In this work, we present an analysis of the antibacterial activity of TiS 3 nanostructures in water and 0.9% NaCl solution suspensions. TiS 3 nanoribbons 1-10 µm long, 100-300 nm wide, and less than 100 nm thick were produced by the direct reaction of pure titanium powder with elemental sulphur in a quartz tube sealed under vacuum. For the toxicity test of a bioluminescent strain of E. coli we used concentrations from 1 to 0.0001 g L -1 and also studied fresh suspensions and suspensions left for 24 h. The strongest toxic effect was observed in freshly prepared water solutions where the luminescence of bacteria decreased by more than 75%. When saline solution was substituted for water or when the solutions were stored for 24 h it resulted in a considerable decrease in the TiS 3 antibacterial effect. The toxicity of TiS 3 in water exceeded the toxicity of the reference TiO 2 nanoparticles, though when saline solution was used instead of water the opposite results were observed. In addition, we did not find a relationship between the antibacterial activity of water suspensions of nanoribbons and the stability of their colloidal systems, which indicates an insignificant contribution to the toxicity of aggregation processes. In 0.9% NaCl solution suspensions, toxicity increased in proportion to the increase in the zeta potential. We suppose that the noted specificity of toxicity is associated with the emission of hydrogen sulphide molecules from the surface of nanoribbons, which, depending on the concentration, can either decrease or increase oxidative stress, which is considered the key mechanism of nanomaterial cytotoxicity. However, the exact underlying mechanisms need further investigation. Thus, we have shown an important role of the dispersion medium and the period of storage in the antibacterial activity of TiS 3 nanoribbons. Our results could be used in nanotoxicological studies of other two-dimensional nanomaterials, and for the development of novel antibacterial substances and other biomedical applications of this two-dimensional material.

Broad application of CuO nanoparticles (CuO-NP) for industrial and household purposes leads to a continuous increase in their discharge to, and, hence, ever-increasing environmental hazards for aquatic ecosystems. Microalgae-based technologies hold promise for bioremediation of diverse hazardous micropollutants (HMP), including NP, from wastewater. In this study, we tested the ability of the green microalga Desmodesmus sp. to accumulate CuO-NP or their components. We also assessed the tolerance of this microalga to the environmentally relevant concentrations of CuO-NP. Using scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrated that the average size of CuO-NP was 50-100 nm, and their purity was confirmed with elemental composition analysis. Tests of the colloidal suspensions of CuO-NP showed that the hydrodynamic diameter of CuO-NP and their aggregates was below 100 nm. Flow cytometry analysis showed that CuO-NP at a concentration of 100 µg L -1 slightly inhibited the viability of microalgae cells and led to an increase in their oxidative stress. The assessment of the condition of photosystem II showed that CuO-NP exert a multifaceted effect on the photosynthetic apparatus of Desmodesmus sp., depending on the concentration of and the exposure to the CuO-NP. Desmodesmus sp. turned to be relatively tolerant to CuO-NP. In addition, the ICP-MS method revealed increased bioaccumulation of copper by microalgae cells in the experimental groups. The outcomes of this study indicate that the Desmodesmus sp. has a significant potential for bioremoval of the copper-based nanostructured HMP from an aquatic environment.

Due to their chemical, mechanical, and optical properties, 2D ultrathin nanomaterials have significant potential in biomedicine. However, the cytotoxicity of such materials, including their mutual increase or decrease, is still not well understood. We studied the effects that graphene oxide (GO) nanolayers (with dimensions 0.1-3 μm and average individual flake thickness less than 1 nm) and ZrS 3 nanoribbons (length more than 10 μm, width 0.4-3 μm, and thickness 50-120 nm) have on the viability, cell cycle, and cell death of HCT116 colon carcinoma cells. We found that ZrS 3 exhibited strong cytotoxicity by causing apoptotic cell death, which was in contrast to GO. When adding GO to ZrS 3 , ZrS 3 was significantly less toxic, which may be because GO inhibits the effects of cytotoxic hydrogen sulfide produced by ZrS 3 . Thus, using zirconium trisulfide nanoribbons as an example, we have demonstrated the ability of graphene oxide to reduce the cytotoxicity of another nanomaterial, which may be of practical importance in biomedicine, including the development of biocompatible nanocoatings for scaffolds, theranostic nanostructures, and others.

Application of new materials and methods in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases is one of the promising research areas in modern ophthalmology. Significant progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases using nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. This paper presents the main achievements and results of original research on this issue. It has been shown that nanoparticles are able to overcome biological barriers, deliver drugs to the target site, and provide the required drug release rate. Modern nanotechnological approaches in tissue engineering are also being actively introduced into ophthalmology, making it possible to create nanoframeworks for growing three-dimensional cellular structures, including arrays of pigment epithelium cells and retinal ganglion cells for the treatment of retinal damage caused by degenerative diseases, injuries and infections.

MXenes are a family of two-dimensional (2D) composite materials based on transition metal carbides, nitrides and carbonitrides that have been attracting attention since 2011. Combination of electrical and mechanical properties with hydrophilicity makes them promising materials for biomedical applications. This review briefly discusses methods for the synthesis of MXenes, their potential applications in medicine, ranging from sensors and antibacterial agents to targeted drug delivery, cancer photo/chemotherapy, tissue engineering, bioimaging, and environmental applications such as sensors and adsorbents. We focus on in vitro and in vivo toxicity and possible mechanisms. We discuss the toxicity analogies of MXenes and other 2D materials such as graphene, mentioning the greater biocompatibility of MXenes. We identify existing barriers that hinder the formation of objective knowledge about the toxicity of MXenes. The most important of these barriers are the differences in the methods of synthesis of MXenes, their composition and structure, including the level of oxidation, the number of layers and flake size; functionalization, test concentrations, duration of exposure, and individual characteristics of biological test objects Finally, we discuss key areas for further research that need to involve new methods of nanotoxicology, including predictive computational methods. Such studies will bring closer the prospect of widespread industrial production and safe use of MXene-based products.

Recently, metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted attention as promising components for the protection and stimulation of plant microclones in tissue culture in vitro. However, the effect of NPs on the genetic mechanisms underlying plant adaptive responses remains poorly understood. We studied the effect of column-shaped CuO NPs 50 nm in diameter and 70-100 nm in length at a concentration of 0.1-10 mg/L on the development of phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria alternata , Fusarium oxysporum , and Fusarium avenaceum in culture, as well as on the infection of downy birch micro-clones with phytopathogens and the level of genes expression associated with the formation of plant responses to stress induced by microorganisms. CuO NPs effectively suppressed the development of colonies of phytopathogenic fungi A. alternata and F. avenaceum (up to 68.42% inhibition at 10 mg/L CuO NPs) but not the development of a colony of F. oxysporum . Exposure to the NPs caused multidirectional responses at the level of plant genes transcription: 5 mg/L CuO NPs significantly increased the expression level of the LEA8 and MYB46 genes and decreased the expression of DREB2 and PAL . Infection with A. alternata significantly increased the level of MYB46 , LEA8 , PAL , PR-1 , and PR-10 transcripts in birch micro-clones; however, upon exposure to a medium with NPs and simultaneous exposure to a phytopathogen, the expression of the MYB46 , PR-1 , and PR-10 genes decreased by 5.4 times, which is associated with a decrease in the pathogenic load caused by the effect of NPs and the simultaneous stimulation of clones in vitro. The results obtained can be used in the development of preparations based on copper oxide NPs for disinfection and stimulation of plant phytoimmunity during clonal micropropagation of tree crops.

This paper describes an experimental study of the relationships between thermal diffusivity and mechanical characteristics including Brinell hardness, microhardness, and Young's modulus of common pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.), pedunculate oak ( Quercus robur L.), and small-leaf lime ( Tilia cordata Mill.) wood. A dependence of Brinell hardness and thermal diffusivity tensor components upon humidity for common pine wood is found. The results of the measurement of Brinell hardness, microhardness, Young's modulus, and main components of thermal diffusivity tensor for three perpendicular cuts are found to be correlated. It is shown that the mechanical properties correlate better with the ratio of longitude to transversal thermal diffusivity coefficients than with the respective individual absolute values. The mechanical characteristics with the highest correlation with the abovementioned ratio are found to be the ratio of Young's moduli in longitude and transversal directions. Our technique allows a comparative express assessment of wood mechanical properties by means of a contactless non-destructive measurement of its thermal properties using dynamic thermal imaging instead of laborious and material-consuming destructive mechanical tests.

Graphene nanoribbons are a type of graphene characterized by remarkable electrical and mechanical properties. This review considers the prospects for the application of graphene ribbons in biomedicine, taking into account safety aspects. According to the analysis of the recent studies, the topical areas of using graphene nanoribbons include mechanical, chemical, photo- and acoustic sensors, devices for the direct sequencing of biological macromolecules, including DNA, gene and drug delivery vehicles, and tissue engineering. There is evidence of good biocompatibility of graphene nanoribbons with human cell lines, but a number of researchers have revealed toxic effects, including cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. Moreover, the damaging effects of nanoribbons are often higher than those of chemical analogs, for instance, graphene oxide nanoplates. The possible mechanism of toxicity is the ability of graphene nanoribbons to damage the cell membrane mechanically, stimulate reactive oxidative stress (ROS) production, autophagy, and inhibition of proliferation, as well as apoptosis induction, DNA fragmentation, and the formation of chromosomal aberrations. At the same time, the biodegradability of graphene nanoribbons under the environmental factors has been proven. In general, this review allows us to conclude that graphene nanoribbons, as components of high-precision nanodevices and therapeutic agents, have significant potential for biomedical applications; however, additional studies of their safety are needed. Particular emphasis should be placed on the lack of information about the effect of graphene nanoribbons on the organism as a whole obtained from in vivo experiments, as well as about their ecological toxicity, accumulation, migration, and destruction within ecosystems.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most widely studied antimicrobial nanomaterials. However, their use in biomedicine is currently limited due to the availability of data that prove the nanosilver toxicity associated primarily with oxidative stress development in mammalian cells. The surface modification of AgNPs is a potent technique of improvement of their biocompatibility. The synthetic or natural compounds that combine zero or low toxicity towards human and animal organisms with inherent antimicrobial properties are the most promising stabilizing agents, their use would also minimize the risks of microorganisms developing resistance to silver-based materials. We used a simple technique to obtain 30-60 nm AgNPs stabilized with benzyldimethyl[3-myristoylamine)-propyl]ammonium chloride monohydrate (BAC)-a well-known active ingredient of many antibacterial drugs. The objective of the study was to assess the AgNPs-BAC entero- and hepatotoxicity to CBF1 mice upon enteral administration. The animals were exposed to 0.8-7.5 mg/kg doses of AgNPs-BAC in the acute and to 0.05-2.25 mg/kg doses of AgNPs-BAC in the subacute experiments. No significant entero- and hepatotoxic effects following a single exposure to doses smaller than 4 mg/kg were detected. Repeated exposure to the doses of AgNPs-BAC below 0.45 mg/kg and to the doses of BAC below 0.5 mg/kg upon enteral administration also led to no adverse effects. During the acute experiment, the higher AgNPs-BAC dose resulted in increased quantities of aminotransferases and urea, as well as the albumin-globulin ratio shift, which are indicative of inflammatory processes. Besides, the relative mass of the liver of mice was smaller compared to the control. During the subacute experiment, the groups treated with the 0.25-2.25 mg/kg dose of AgNPs-BAC had a lower weight gain rate compared to the control, while the groups treated with the 2.25 mg/kg dose of AgNPs-BAC showed statistically significant variations in the blood serum transaminases activity, which indicated hepatosis. It should be noted that the spleen and liver of the animals from the groups treated with the 0.45 and 2.25 mg/kg dose of AgNPs-BAC were more than two times smaller compared to the control. In the intestines of some animals from the group treated with the 2.25 mg/kg dose of AgNPs-BAC small areas of hyperemia and enlarged Peyer's patches were observed. Histological examination confirmed the initial stages of the liver and intestinal wall inflammation., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Materials from a large family of transition metal trichalcogenides (TMTCs) attract considerable attention because of their potential applications in electronics, optoelectronics and energy storage, but information on their toxicity is lacking. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of ZrS 3 , a prominent TMTC material, toward photoluminescent E. coli bacteria in a bioluminescence test. We found that freshly prepared ZrS 3 suspensions in physiological saline solution with concentrations as high as 1 g/L did not exhibit any toxic effects on the bacteria. However, ZrS 3 suspensions that were stored for 24 h prior to the bioluminescence tests were very toxic to the bacteria and inhibited their emission, even at concentrations down to 0.001 g/L. We explain these observations by the aqueous hydrolysis of ZrS 3 , which resulted in the formation of ZrO x on the surface of ZrS 3 particles and the release of toxic H 2 S. The formation of ZrO x was confirmed by the XPS analysis, while the characteristic H 2 S smell was noticeable for the 24 h suspensions. This study demonstrates that while ZrS 3 appears to be intrinsically nontoxic to photoluminescent E. coli bacteria, it may exhibit high toxicity in aqueous media. The results of this study can likely be extended to other transition metal chalcogenides, as their toxicity in aqueous solutions may also increase over time due to hydrolysis and the formation of H 2 S. The results of this study also demonstrate that since many systems involving nanomaterials are unstable and evolve over time in various ways, their toxicity may evolve as well, which should be considered for relevant toxicity tests.

Pediculosis is a global problem in public health. An important factor in the efficient eradication of lice is ensuring adequate recognition and treatment of the disease by the population. In the present study, awareness of the population about the physiological properties of head lice, the ways of infestation with head lice, and the methods of treatment and prevention were studied. Perception of the disease by the people who had had head pediculosis and other people around them was identified., (Copyright: © 2019 Oxana V. Kartashova, Liudmila A. Lobuteva, Oksana V. Zakharova, Alisa V. Lobuteva, Anastasia A. Goykhman.)

Aim: to assess clinical efficacy and expediency (appropriateness) of simultaneous single stage combined coronary stenting and closure of atrial septal defect., Materials and Methods: Of total number of patients who underwent endovascular correction of atrial septal defect (ASD) (n=91), in 6 (6.6 %) the procedure of endovascular repair of secondary ASD was combined with performed at same session oronary stenting. Mean age of these patients was 63±6.4 years. Mean diameter of ASD according to transesophageal echocardiography was 13.7±3.1 мм (from 10 to 17 mm). Two patients had dysplasia of atrial septum with pronounced aneurysmal protrusion in the right atrial cavity. Estimate of coronary arteries (CA) involvement SYNTAX score was 14.5±4.9., Results: At initial stage we performed coronary stenting, then ASD closure with occluder. Technical success of combined endovascular procedures was 100 %. Six ASD occluders were implanted in 6 patients. Mean occluder diameter was 21±7,3 mm. Immediately after occluder implantation complete defect closure was achieved in 5 cases, in one case small residual shunt was observed. CA stenting procedure, in one patient after successful recanalization of chronic CA occlusion, in all cases was fulfilled without complications. At control examination after 13.5±1.5 months complete closure of defects was preserved. In all cases significant reduction of right heart chambers occurred. According to echocardiography right atrial volume decreased from 48.6±5.6 to 32.6±3.3 cm3, right ventricular volume - from 45.2±5.1 to 33.4±3.8 cm3, systolic pulmonary pressure fell from 49.7±8.6 to 32.6±6.9 mm Hg. According to control coronary angiography good effect of endovascular procedures was preserved. Tolerance to exercise rose from 68.5±11.8 до 85.3±12.4 W., Conclusion: Same time CA stenting and endovascular ASD closure appears to be safe and effective procedure. The strategy used was not associated with additive risk for a patient and shortened duration of hospital stay.

The article examines the indicators of physical and economic accessibility of pharmaceutical care to patients of older age groups with visual impairment from the perspective of the patient-centered approach. The motives of consumers' behavior when choosing pharmacy organizations and ophthalmic preparations are revealed. The estimation of the consumers' satisfaction with the location of pharmacy organizations and the available in them assortment of medicines for treatment and prevention of eye diseases is given. The consumer perception of the market price of ophthalmic drugs on the Russian pharmaceutical market is represented. It is established that the revealed indicators of accessibility provide an opportunity for a wide choice of medicines for treatment and prevention of eye diseases, taking into account modern methods of pharmacotherapy, individual characteristics of the disease, consumer preferences and financial capabilities of consumers, providing practical implementation of the concept of patient- centered pharmaceutical care for ophthalmic patients of older age groups.

There are questions in the article that study mutual relations of patients of elderly and senile age with pharmaceutical experts. It was revealed that pharmacy organizations are an important element in the life of patients of the third age and noted the high role of the pharmaceutical specialist in their social environment. The article shows the need to focus on the psychosomatic features of elderly patients with proper pharmaceutical counseling and professional communication. It was noted that interaction of patients of the third age with pharmaceutical specialists and their confidence in them has high importance.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are well-known bactericidal agents. However, information about the influence of AgNPs on the morphometric parameters and biochemical status of most important agricultural crops is limited. The present study reports the influence of AgNPs stabilized with cationic polymer polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride (PHMB) on growth, development, and biochemical status of fodder beet Beta vulgaris L. under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. PHMB-stabilized AgNPs were obtained via sodium borohydride reduction of silver nitrate in an aqueous solution. The average diameter of thus prepared AgNPs was 10 nm. It appears that the results of experiments with laboratory-grown beets in the nanosilver-containing medium, where germination of seeds and growth of roots were suppressed, do not correlate with the results of greenhouse experiments. The observed growth-stimulating action of PHMB-stabilized AgNPs can be explained by the change of activity of oxidases and, consequently, by the change of auxins amount in plant tissues. In beets grown in the presence of PHMB-stabilized AgNPs no negative deviations of biological parameters from normal values were registered. Furthermore, the SEM/EDS examination revealed no presence of silver in the tissues of the studied plants., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To show the effects of different factors on development and outcome of early kidney allograft dysfunction., Materials and Methods: Two hundred thirty-one kidney transplant recipients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (125 patients transplanted from 1999-2004) and group 2 (106 patients transplanted from 2008-2013). Age range was 12 to 62 years (group 1) and 7 to 71 years (group 2). Deceaseddonor transplant was more frequent in group 1 (76.8%), and living-donor transplant in group 2 (68.8%). In group 1, transplant was performed for glomerulonephritis or pyelonephritis; in group 2, additional risk factors (18 patients) included diabetes (11 patients), systemic lupus erythematosus (5 patients), amyloidosis (1 patient), and aortic and mitral valve replacement because of bacterial endocarditis (1 patient). In groups 1 and 2, immunosuppression after transplant included cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids; patients in group 2 also had induction with anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies., Results: Primary graft function occurred in 89 patients in group 1 (71.2%) and 83 patients in group 2 (78.3%). Immediately after transplant, delayed graft function included anuria, oliguria, adequate amount of urine, and secondary delayed function (several days of polyuria followed by decreased urine output). Ischemia was a leading cause of delayed renal graft function. Anuria after living-donor transplant was a sign of vascular thrombosis. Rejection was the main cause of secondary delayed graft function, which occurred in only group 1. Survival at 1 year in patients with delayed graft function was 80% in group 1 and 100% in group 2 because of the absence of septic complications., Conclusions: Despite extension of indications, primary functioning of kidney transplants and patient survival increased. Improved care enables long-term rehabilitation of recipients and expanding criteria for kidney transplant.

Suspensions of Cu nanoparticles are promising for creating the new class of alternative antimicrobial products. In this study we examined copper nanoparticles of various sizes obtained by the method of wire electric explosion: nanopowder average size 50 nm (Cu 50) and 100 nm (Cu 100). The paper presents the complex study of the influence of physicochemical properties such as particle size and concentration of the freshly prepared and 24-hour suspensions of Cu nanoparticles in distilled water and physiological solution upon their toxicity to bacteria E. coli M-17. Ionic solution of Cu(2+) and sodium dichloroisocyanurate was used for comparison study. It has been shown that decrease in the nanoparticle size leads to changes in the correlation between toxicity and concentration as toxicity peaks are observed at low concentrations (0.0001⋯0.01 mg/L). It has been observed that antibacterial properties of Cu 50 nanoparticle suspensions are ceased after 24-hour storage, while for Cu 100 suspensions no correlation between antibacterial properties and storage time has been noted. Cu 100 nanoparticle suspensions at 10 mg/L concentration display higher toxicity at substituting physiological solution for water than Cu 50 suspensions. Dependence of the toxicity on the mean particle aggregates size in suspension was not revealed.

Extensive application of stents coated with a medicinal antiproliferative agent in clinical practice significantly improved late results of endovascular treatment of patients with various forms of coronary heart disease (CHD). The largest clinical experience is gained with the use of sirolimus- and paclitaxel-coated stents (Cypher, J&J; Cordis, and Taxus, Boston Scientific). However recent publications suggest a rather high frequency of late thrombosis after implantation of such stents. The aim of this work was to estimate their efficacy and safety during the 6-8 month follow-up in 712 patients with various forms of CHD to whom 910 sirolimus- and paclitaxel-coated stents were implanted. The immediate positive angiographic result was documented in 98.8% of the cases in group 1 (n=514, 667 Cypher stents) and 96,7% in group 2 (n=198, 243 Taxus stents). Acute thrombosis was documented in 1 patient of each group (p > 0.5). The frequency of restenosis was 2.9 and 3.1% in groups 1 and 2 respectively (p > 0.5). Late thrombosis within 1 year after implantation occurred in 0.4 and 1% of the patients respectively (p > 0.5). Late thrombosis is supposed to be due to a variety of factors, viz. withdrawal of antithrombotic therapy, incomplete stent opening, the use of non-absorbable polymer; suppression of epithelization, etc. All patients undergoing steent implantation are in need of antiaggregation therapy with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel till the cause of late thrombosis is clarified.

The paper gives the results of a study of the biochemical status of general educational school pupils in Orenburg and the Sakmarsky District, Orenburg Region. The findings suggest that biochemical abnormalities found in the urban and rural schoolchildren may result from nutrition that is irrational and inadequate in terms of their age and gender.

The hair levels of metals were measured in the workers of gas-and-chemical industry. The intensity of oxidative stress was estimated from the activity of antioxidative enzymes in the lysates of erythrocytes and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase. An association was found between the content of the metals under study and the intensity of free radical oxidation processes in persons engaged in different production cycles.

The environmental oxidative burden was established in the eastern, central, and western areas of the Orenburg Region. The rate of serum lipid peroxidation (LPO) processes was determined. The level of cholesterol and its distribution by the fractions of lipoproteins of different classes were studied in the region's residents. The residential areas with a high oxidative load are characterized by the higher rate of LPO and the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia.

Of late, inflammatory reactions have been considered to play an important part in the development of atherosclerosis. Acute-phase inflammatory reaction, being initially a protective response directed within the homeostasis system towards lesion repair, may by itself due to various factors favor the development of pathological processes. Considering the role played by inflammation in the development of atherosclerosis, and inflammatory activity in obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM), a range of common and interrelated elements of these processes may be marked out. These are acute phase proteins and cytokines. Insulinoresistance, being the common precursor of obesity and DM, plays the key role in vascular lesion. The use of cytokine activity index seems to be a promising method of revealing patients with high risk of atherosclerosis.

The paper presents an analysis of correlations between long-term results of coronary arterial stenting and anticholesterol therapy with statins in 131 patients with chronic forms of coronary heart disease. The study revealed that anticholesterol therapy, when administered regardless the initial cholesterol level, improved the clinical condition of patients with initial hypercholesterolemia, and lowered the necessity of repeated endovascular procedures for restenosis and the progression of atherosclerotic changes. The necessity of repeated interventions is lowered by statin application rather than by normal levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins.

In various populations of the cultivated and weedy amaranth species, the electrophoretic patterns of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) and malic enzyme (Me) were studied. In total, 52 populations and two varieties (Cherginskii and Valentina) have been examined. Allozyme variation of this material was low. Irrespective of species affiliation, 26 populations and two varieties were monomorphic for five enzymes; a slight polymorphism of three, two, and one enzymes was revealed in three, nine, and fourteen populations, respectively. A single amaranth locus, Adh, with two alleles, Adh F and Adh S, controls amaranth ADH. Two alleles, common Gdh S and rare Gdh F, control GDH; no heterozygotes at this locus were found. The MDH pattern has two, the fast- and slow-migrating, zones of activity (I and II, respectively). Under the given electrophoresis conditions, the fast zone is diffuse, whereas slow zone is controlled by two nonallelic genes, monomorphic Mdh 1 and polymorphic Mdh 2 that includes three alleles: Mdh 2-F, Mdh 2-N, and Mdh 2-S. Low polymorphism of IDH and Me was also found, though their genetic control remains unknown.

The study was undertaken to comparatively assess the results of stenting and transluminal balloon angioplasty (TBAP) of coronary arteries in patients with chronic forms of coronary heart disease concurrent with restenosis of primary TBAP. The data on 77 patients undergone endovascular procedures for restenosis of prior primary TBAP of coronary arteries at the Moscow Research and Practical Center of Interventional Cardioangiology in March 1997 to May 2003 were analyzed. Group 1 comprised 35 patients with a stent implanted at the site of coronary restenosis; Group 2 included 42 patients undergone repeated TBAP. These groups did not significantly differ in main clinical and functional characteristics, the extent coronary bed lesion, the number of diseased arteries and the morphological type of a coronary lesion (p < 0.05). The angiographic success of secondary TBAP, as well as coronary stenting was 100%. Survival was 100% in the late period. A control examination revealed the clinical picture of angina on exertion in 57.1% and 76.2% of the patients in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.039). In the late period, a satisfactory angiographic result of coronary stenting was revealed in most cases (74.3 and 35.7% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively); restenosis was detected in 20 and 59.5% of cases, respectively (p < 0.01); occlusion in 5.7 and 4.8% (p > 0.05). Need for repeated interventional and surgical (aortocoronary bypass surgery) procedures was significantly less after coronary stenting than that after repeated TBAP (20 and 40.5%, respectively). In the late period, the factors significantly increasing a risk for in-stent restenosis were hypercholesterolemia (cholesterol > or = 5.5 mmol/l); the length of restenosis of an operated segment was > or = 18 mm and that of a stent > or = 20 mm. It is expedient to use coronary endroprosthesis to reduce the incidence of repeated restenosis and needs for repeated procedures for myocardial revascularization in the late period.