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In this study, the fungus strain LS-4.2 isolated from the bottom sediments of Lake Lower Suzdalskoe was tested for its algicidal activity. We identified the strain LS-4.2 as Penicillium canescens summing its morphological characteristics with the reported DNA sequence. We revealed that the filtrate of a 7-day culture of the fungus suppressed the cell growth of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa. Our results showed that the filtrate caused rapid M. aeruginosa growth inhibition up to complete cell lysis recorded after 4 days. Living fungal mycelia did not suppress the growth of cyanobacterium. According to the results of this study we suppose that strain LS-4.2 may be a potential bioagent in the control of cyanobacterial blooms.

Astrocytes are subtypes of glial cells involved in metabolic, structural, homeostatic, and neuroprotective processes that help neurons maintain viability. Insulin-like growth factors IGF-1 and IGF-2 are known to have neuroprotective effects on neurons and glial cells through interaction with specific receptors. IGF forms a complex with IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP) in nervous tissue and is released from the complex via IGFBP proteolysis by specific proteases. It has been reported that IGFBP-2, 5 and 6 are cleaved by specific proteases in the central nervous system (CNS), followed by IGF release; however, it was unknown whether IGFBP-4 was exposed to a particular proteolysis in nervous tissue. Using neurons and astrocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell lines (hiPSC), as well as rat brain-sourced primary neuron-glia cultures, we demonstrated that IGFBP-4 is specifically cleaved in nervous tissue by the Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein A (PAPP-A) protease and that this cleavage is IGF-dependent. Our results indicate that astrocyte rather than neuron PAPP-A cleaves IGFBP-4 in nervous tissue suggesting that this may be one of the fundamental mechanisms for IGF interchange between these two types of cells., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of modifying the standard MRI protocol as part of an interdisciplinary presurgical examination of patients with epileptogenic substrates of unknown etiology., Material and Methods: The results of dynamic MRI of 8 patients with a referral diagnosis of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) were analyzed. In 7 patients, epilepsy was the reason for a standard MRI of the brain; in another patient with myasthenia, MRI was performed as part of a comprehensive examination. All patients, in addition to standard MRI, underwent a modification of the real-time scanning protocol to include contrast, tractography (DTI), and perfusion techniques (ASL/DSC). In 1 case, with questionable results, the results of a modification of the standard MRI protocol, high-resolution MRI (HR MRI) and hybrid positron emission CT with 11 C-methionine (PET/CT with 11 C-MET) were combined., Results: Seven patients underwent epileptic surgery and 1 patient was operated on for a tumor. In 4 out of 8 patients, based on the results of a modification of the standard MRI protocol, radiological signs of a neoplastic process were identified, which suggested a low-grade tumor. One of them needed PET/CT to confirm the assumption. The results of pathomorphological examination correlated with the direct diagnosis for surgical treatment. One of the 4 patients was suspected to have dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNET) based on the results of the protocol modification, which was also confirmed by pathological examination. In another 4 patients in whom it was possible to narrow the differential between FCD type II and DNET based on the results of the modification, FCD IIb was pathomorphologically verified., Conclusion: The proposed modification of the standard MRI protocol can significantly facilitate the differential diagnosis between the neoplastic and dysplastic origin of an epileptogenic substrate of unknown etiology, which in turn affects the patient's management tactics.

Aim      To study changes in cardiohemodynamic alterations of the myocardium and heart rhythm disorders at 3 and 6 months following the coronavirus infection.Material and methods   EchoCG, ECG Holter monitoring, and Doppler ultrasonography of hepatolienal blood vessels were performed for 77 patients (mean age, 35.9 years) at 3 and 6 months after coronavirus infection. The patients were divided into the following groups: group 1, with injury of the upper respiratory tract; group 2, with bilateral pneumonia (CТ1, 2), and group 3, with severe pneumonia (CТ3, 4). Statistical analysis was performed with a SPSS Statistics Version 25.0 software package.Results At 6 months after the disease onset, the patients noted an improvement of their general condition. In patients with moderate pneumonia, early peak diastolic velocity (p=0.09), right ventricular isovolumic diastolic time (р=0.09), and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (р=0.005) where decreased, while tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity was, in contrast, increased (р=0.042). Both segmental systolic velocity of the LV mid-inferior segment (р=0.006) and the mitral annular Em / Am ratio were decreased. In patients with severe disease at 6 months, right atrial indexed volume was reduced (р=0.036), tricuspid annular Em / Am was decreased (р=0.046), portal and splenic vein flow velocities were decreased, and inferior vena cava diameter was reduced. Late diastolic transmitral flow velocity was increased (р=0.027), and LV basal inferolateral segmental systolic velocity was decreased (р=0.046). In all groups, the number of patients with heart rhythm disorders was decreased, and parasympathetic autonomic influences prevailed.Conclusion      At 6 months after coronavirus infection, practically all patients noted improvement of their general condition; incidence rate of arrhythmia and cases of pericardial effusion were decreased; and autonomic nervous system activity recovered. In patients with moderate and severe disease, morpho-functional parameters of the right heart and the hepatolienal blood flow were normalized, however, occult disorders of LV diastolic function remained, and LV segmental systolic velocity was reduced.