Vol 31, No 2 (2023)

INTRODUCTION: Use of sodium glutamate solution with food is a widely spread practice. The glutamate-ergic system has been shown to directly participate in the mechanisms of depression, however, up to the moment, no data have been found to evidence that use of sodium glutamate causes depression.

AIM: To study the effect of intake of sodium glutamate on the formation of depression-like behavior in male rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formation of depression-like behavior was evaluated in male rats of Wistar line with 230 g–250 g weight at the beginning of the experiment in the situation of ‘inescapable swimming’ according to the method of R. D. Porsolt, and of ‘hanging by the tail’ according to T. A. Voronina. In the course of the experiment, the rats of the experimental group consumed 1.1% sodium glutamate solution daily for 30 days, the control animals drank water. During the experiment, the rats were kept in individual cages and had free access to water. The animals of the control group (n = 7) had only water in the drinking bowls. The animals of the experimental group (n = 7) were given water in one drinking bowl and 60 mМ (1.1%) sodium glutamate solution (Henan Lotus Flower Gourmet Powder Cо., LTD, China) in the other.

RESULTS: Consumption of 1.1% sodium glutamate solution for 30 days led to reduction of the time of active movements and to increase in the number of periods of immobilization in animals in both tests. Besides, in the tests for depression-like behavior of animals, increased rhythmologic index of depression was found in the group of rats receiving sodium glutamate solution.

CONCLUSION: Based on the results of study, it was found that chronic voluntary consumption of 60 mM (1.1%) sodium glutamate solution for 30 days provokes the formation of depression-like behavior in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Currently, the results of investigation of different types of spinal inhibition in isometric voluntary contraction of muscles have been published. There are separate reports devoted to the role of recurrent and presynaptic inhibition in the regulation of isometric and anisometric voluntary contractions of submaximal and maximal strength.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of the type and strength of muscle contraction with and without performing Jendrassik maneuver on the manifestation of reciprocal inhibition of α-motor neurons of antagonistic muscles of the lower leg.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 8 healthy men aged 20–22 years. Reciprocal inhibition was evaluated by suppression of the amplitude of testing H-reflex of m. soleus in conditioning stimulation of n. peroneus profundus, and of testing stimulation of n. tibialis with 3 msec interval between stimuli. Reciprocal inhibition was recorded in concentric, eccentric and isometric contractions with 50% and 100% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) with and without Jendrassic maneuver.

RESULTS: In performing concentric, eccentric and isometric contractions of lower leg muscles with increase in strength from 50% to 100% of MVC, the activity of reciprocal inhibition decreased. Reciprocal inhibition was most evident in concentric contraction with 50% of MVC strength, less evident in eccentric contraction and was lowest in isometric contraction. With the maximal strength, reciprocal inhibition was most expressed in isometric contraction, less expressed in concentric contraction and was weakest in eccentric contraction. With Jendrassik maneuver, reduction of reciprocal inhibition was more expressed in different types of MVCs in comparison with parameters obtained with 50% of MVC. Using Jendrassic maneuver with 50% and 100% of MVC effort, strongest reciprocal inhibition was recorded in isometric contraction, weaker inhibition in concentric contraction and weakest in eccentric contraction. The effect of Jendrassik maneuver was manifested by weakening of reciprocal inhibition in concentric and eccentric contraction of submaximal force, and by its enhancement in isometric contraction.

CONCLUSION: Variability of manifestation of reciprocal inhibition of α-motor neurons of antagonistic muscles of lower leg in different types of muscle contractions of submaximal and maximal strength is associated with the fact that the pool of segmental motor neurons of m. soleus is controlled not only by a wide spectrum of excitatory cortico- and reticulospinal influences, but also by other kinds of inhibition, thus providing coordinated motor actions.

INTRODUCTION: A balanced diet provides the optimal level of metabolism and is one of key modifiable factors of the primary prophylaxis of chronic non-infectious diseases. Excess of the common fat in the diet is the most common alimentary imbalance in nutrition of the population.

AIM: A comparative characteristics of the level of the alimentary intake and of the main alimentary sources of lipid components in medical university students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: For quantification of entry of lipid components, the method of triple 24-hour reproduction was used. The data on actual nutrition were acquired and analyzed using a specialized questionnaire developed for the given study.

RESULTS: A comparative analysis of levels of intake of the common fat, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids did not identify any statistically significant differences in women and men in both groups the main sources of the common fat and saturated fatty acids were hard cheese, milk chocolate, sausage products, chicken eggs, butter and mayonnaise. The main contribution to the required level of polyunsaturated fatty acids, irrespective of gender, were made by sunflower oil, fish, mayonnaise, nuts, seeds, pizza and olive oil.

CONCLUSION: The level of intake of common fat with the diet exceeds the physiological demand in 95.3% of women and 94.8% of men. A share of saturated fatty acids made more than 10% of the energy value in 92% of female respondents and in 94% of male respondents, which is associated with the excessive quantity of the sources of hidden fat in the diet of students of the two comparison groups, such as hard cheese, milk chocolate and sausage products. In 45% of students, owing to the presence of oils, fish, mayonnaise and nuts in their diet, the level of entry of polyunsaturated fatty acids met the physiological demand.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. At present, of the greatest scientific interest are local deposits of adipose tissue as a possible morphological substrate for the development of this group of diseases. Along with the traditional risk factors, one more risk factor for a poor prognosis of cardiovascular disease can be a change in the thickness of the epicardial fat (EF) and of the interatrial septum (IAS) in case of its lipomatosis.

AIM: To study the significance of EF and of IAS thickness as markers of cardiovascular risk in coronary heart disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 116 individuals with coronary heart disease (55 men (47%) and 61 women (53%), mean age — 68 [61; 72] years). Thickness of EF and IAS was evaluated by the method of echocardiography. The frequency of poor outcomes was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier method, ROC-curve analysis. The differences were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: In the group of patients with unstable angina, the threshold value of IAS thickness was 0.7 cm (p < 0.001), and of EF thickness — 0.8 cm (÷2 = 10.89, p = 0.001), in the group of patients with myocardial infarction — 0.7 cm (p < 0.001) and 0.8 cm (p < 0.001), respectively. In the group of patient with unstable angina, IAS thickness > 0.7 cm (÷2 = 10.3, p = 0.0013) and EF thickness > 0.8 cm (÷2 = 10.89, p = 0.001) demonstrate a poor prognosis in comparison with the parameters below the threshold values. In the group of patients with myocardial infarction, IAS thickness > 0.7 cm (÷2 = 8.4, p = 0.005) and EF > 0.8 cm (÷2 = 9.66, p = 0.0019) demonstrate poor prognosis in comparison with the parameters below the threshold values.

CONCLUSION: In unstable angina and myocardial infarction, the value of IAS thickness > 0.7 cm (p = 0.0013 and p = 0.005, respectively) and of EF thickness > 0.8 cm (p = 0.001 and p = 0.0019, respectively) present a poor prognosis compared to lower values. It is recommended that EF and IAS thickness be determined in echocardiography as an additional marker for a poor prognosis in coronary heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: A new coronavirus infection (NCI) is characterized by catastrophic coagulopathy with development of thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications. The choice of an optimal anticoagulant in these patients remains an important issue.

AIM: To evaluate risk factors for venous thromboembolic complications (VTEC), effectiveness and safety of different variants of anticoagulant therapy (ACT) in patients with NCI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted that involved 370 patients with NCI: group 1 — patients who received low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) — 190 people, group 2 — patients who received unfractionated heparin (UFH) — 123 people, group 3 — patients who took direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) — 57 individuals. Clinical and anamnestic data, frequency of thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications were evaluated. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee and was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. platform.

RESULTS: The existence of chronic venous diseases increases the risk of development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with NCI 6.433 times (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.167–19.093)) (р = 0.001), use of UFH instead of LMWH or DOAC — 3.542 times (95% CI 1.149–10.916) (р = 0.028), use of artificial lung ventilation (ALV) — 5.925 times (95% CI 2.034–17.26) (р = 0.001), high D-dimer level — 2.024 times (95% CI 1.231–3.33) (р = 0.005). The level of C-reactive protein and ferritin decreased in all patients in the course of treatment for NCI, with the lowest levels in patients receiving LMWH (С-reactive protein — 5.8 (1.7–15.0) mg/l, р = 0.004; ferritin — 364 (324–497) µg/l, р = 0.001). Lower fibrinogen levels were recorded in patients of group 1 compared to groups 2 and 3 (2.43 (1.9–3.52) g/l versus 3.37 (2.8–4.92) g/l and 4.1 (2.8–5.25) g/l, respectively, р = 0.002). A high frequency of pulmonary embolism with unspecified source was recorded in patients receiving UFH — 11.4% of cases, with this, the frequency of using ALV in the group with UFH was evaluated as high — 21% of cases.

CONCLUSION: Risk factors of VTEC in patients with NCI are both factors typical of VTEC in general (obesity, chronic vein diseases, elevated D-dimer level), and factors specific of NCI (ALV, hypoventilation). Effective and safe anticoagulants in this group of patients are LMWH that demonstrated low frequency of development of VTEC and of hemorrhagic complications.

BACKGROUND: Forkhead box P3 protein (FOXP3) is expressed in both tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and is reported to be associated with differences in clinical outcomes. Recent literature shows that FOXP3 positive (FOXP3+) T regulator cells (Tregs) influence anti-tumor immunity in solid tumors.

АIM: To explore FOXP3+ Tregs expression related to various prognostic factors in breast carcinoma (BC) in the central Indian population. Our study is also helpful in correlating the role of FOXP3+ Tregs in the survival of invasive ductal BC with different histopathological presentations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective and prospective observational study in which FOXP3+ Tregs was counted in the peritumoral area by immunohistochemistry in 47 consecutive cases of BC operated on and diagnosed already. The patients were followed for 48 to 69 months for disease progression.

RESULTS: High-grade tumors are prevalent (n = 30) in the study area irrespective of the stage of clinical presentation. Patients who could adhere to their treatment plan remained free of adverse outcomes until the end of our follow-up period of 69 months (p = 0.001). No molecular subtype in our study showed specific predilection towards a high Tregs count in the peri-tumoral area. No other clinical or pathological parameters significantly correlated with FOXP3 +Treg count, including overall survival and disease-free survival.

CONCLUSION: The study shows that luminal human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negativ and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 enriched BC show comparatively high FOXP3+ Tregs count. There is no relation with tumor grade, TNM stage, important immune markers, or overall survival and disease-free survival.

INTRODUCTION: Venous thromboembolic complications occupy one of the central positions in the structure of complications associated with CoronaVirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Characterized by high epidemiological threshold values, as well as an atypical clinical picture, they determine the need for new approaches to early diagnosis and active treatment. Surgical treatment of pulmonary embolism in itself is an extremely controversial method of reperfusion of the pulmonary arterial bed. Concerning pulmonary embolism associated with a new coronavirus infection, we did not find a single clinical case reported in the available literature. The article considers a clinical case of surgical treatment of pulmonary embolism against the background COVID-19 infection, demonstrates a comprehensive approach to treatment and describes peculiarities of the clinical picture.

CONCLUSION: Based on the presented case, one should note the importance of the anticoagulant therapy in a group of people with a virus-specific intervention to prevent recurrence of thromboembolic complications. Complex surgical treatment in combination with the proposed methods of anesthesiological support are the methods of choice in a group of people at intermediate-high and high risk of early cardiac death.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the work is analysis of one of the most important problems of the modern biomedical science — problem of studying the processes of human adaptation to a complex of climatic and geographic factors and conditions of the Far North in the period of increased necessity in realization of the economic, industrial and defense activity of the government. The review presents the data of scientific study of cognitive functions and neurophysiological changes in people permanently living in or arriving to the Arctic zone. In the first part, the factors are considered that evidence different disorders in memory, concentration, efficiency of performing simple and complex cognitive tasks by test persons in conditions of low temperature, seasonal photoperiodicity, a particular working regime, such as rotational team method, etc. The age-related peculiarities of dynamics of the cognitive processes in children and adolescents living in the Arctic region are considered. The second part of the article presents analysis of scientific data on changes of electrophysiological parameters of the brain structure activity under the influence of individual or complex factors of Arctic conditions. In particular, changes of the encephalographic rhythms, evoked potentials, hemispheric asymmetry and parameters of autonomic regulation of the heart rate variability in the initial condition and on exposure to the factors of the Far North, are described. A necessity of individual typological analysis of the adaptation process characteristics depending on the initial regulatory peculiarities, neurophysiological characteristics of people, duration of their stay in the mentioned conditions, is emphasized. Inconsistency or ambiguity of the presented data indicate the importance of using a complex approach to scientific research which should include systemic analysis of the dynamics of neurophysiological characteristics and parameters of achieved effectiveness of modeled or professional activity in the Arctic conditions.

CONCLUSION: The paper substantiates the necessity of elaboration of personalized methods of increasing the adaptive reserves of people working and living in the Arctic zones; one of these may be modern systems based on biocontrol with feedback from physiological systems of a human. Besides, it is noted that application of the principles of the theory of the functional systems formulated by academician P. K. Anokhin, can contribute to deeper understanding of adaptation processes, changes of cognitive and professional abilities, their neurophysiological support in the Arctic conditions.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee joint (KJ) is a common problem. The basic factors impairing the function of the KJ are pain and restriction of movement. Evaluation of function of the KJ in OA is an indispensable part of the diagnostic and treatment process. There exists a problem of a quantitative evaluation of pain and restriction of movement of the KJ in OA, associated with the absence of a single standard for evaluation of the KJ function. In the article, the data are given on the modern possibilities for evaluation of the KJ function in OA. The KJ function is evaluated in clinical examination, functional tests, numerous functional questionnaires, as well as with the use of devices for record of movements. Clinical picture of OA of the KJ is evaluated in the clinical examination which includes diagnostic tests, evaluation of the volume of movement, force of muscles, with conclusions about the phenotype of the disease. Functional tests recommended by OARSI (Osteoarthritis Research Society International) are preferable for express-testing, but not all of them have reference values. Functional questionnaires for evaluation of the KJ function exist in many variants, which impedes their choice and interaction between specialists, and they are characterized by different labor intensity in use. There exists a diversity of devices for evaluation of function of the KJ, some of which are expensive, require special rooms, training of the specialist, and take considerable time. Others are simpler in use and inexpensive, but give less reliable results.

CONCLUSION: The authors showed the possibilities of a comprehensive evaluation, described the problem of the lack of a single standard for investigation of the KJ function. A conclusion is made about the necessity to develop a software-hardware complex that maximally satisfies the criteria of objectivity, accessibility and quickness of use for evaluation of function of the KJ in OA.