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It is known that chronic social stress leads to immunity disorders in humans and experimental animals. It has been shown that the effect of stress is also manifested in changes in the level of expression of genes involved in the functioning of various physiological systems in the brain of mice, in particular, in the hypothalamus. It was noted that in stressed animals, genes involved in the processes of carcinogenesis and apoptosis change their expression, and in animals without signs of developing a malignant process, but under conditions conducive to tumor growth. In this regard, we used the RNA-seq method to study the expression of cytokine response genes in the hypothalamus of male mice under the influence of chronic social stress caused by repeated experience of defeats in intermale confrontations, compared with control individuals. Multidirectional changes in the expression of cytokine genes, their receptors and genes performing a regulatory function were detected (IL17d, IL18, IL33, Csf1r, Csf2ra, IL11ra1, IL13ra1, IL2ra, IL3ra, IL5ra, Lifr, Cish, IL4i1, Irf1, Irf5, Irf9, Jak2, Socs3, Stat3, Tgfb1, Tlr3). Thus, it has been shown that changes in the cytokine response in the brain under the influence of stress occur at the level of changes in gene expression. In this case, we should not talk about the activation of the system or a decrease in its activity, but about the disruption of its functioning. Next, we analyzed the correlations between the level of expression of genes of the cytokine system and the main genes of carcinogenesis and apoptosis that we studied earlier (Akt1, Bag6, Foxp4, Mapk3, Mapk8, Nol3, Pdcd10, Xiap). The Akt1, Jak2, Stat3 genes were identified, for which the maximum number of correlations was found, moreover, negative correlations were most characteristic of Jak2, and positive correlations were most characteristic of Stat3 and Akt1. In addition, protein-protein interactions between genes of carcinogenesis and apoptosis and genes of the cytokine system were analyzed using the String database in mice under chronic social stress. It was confirmed the key role of these genes in the development of dysfunction of cytokines in the brain.

The paper describes some biological features of the radioprotective effect of double-stranded RNA preparation. It was found that yeast RNA preparation has a prolonged radioprotective effect after irradiation by a lethal dose of 9.4 Gy. 100 % of animals survive on the 70th day of observation when irradiated 1 hour or 4 days after 7 mg RNA preparation injection, 60 % animals survive when irradiated on day 8 or 12. Time parameters of repair of double-stranded breaks induced by gamma rays were estimated. It was found that the injection of the RNA preparation at the time of maximum number of double-stranded breaks, 1 hour after irradiation, reduces the efficacy of radioprotective action compared with the injection 1 hour before irradiation and 4 hours after irradiation. A comparison of the radioprotective effect of the standard radioprotector B-190 and the RNA preparation was made in one experiment. It has been established that the total RNA preparation is more efficacious than B-190. Survival on the 40th day after irradiation was 78 % for the group of mice treated with the RNA preparation and 67 % for those treated with B-190. In the course of analytical studies of the total yeast RNA preparation, it was found that the preparation is a mixture of single-stranded and double-stranded RNA. It was shown that only double-stranded RNA has radioprotective properties. Injection of 160 μg double-stranded RNA protects 100 % of the experimental animals from an absolutely lethal dose of gamma radiation, 9.4 Gy. It was established that the radioprotective effect of double-stranded RNA does not depend on sequence, but depends on its double-stranded form and the presence of “open” ends of the molecule. It is supposed that the radioprotective effect of double-stranded RNA is associated with the participation of RNA molecules in the correct repair of radiation-damaged chromatin in blood stem cells. The hematopoietic pluripotent cells that have survived migrate to the periphery, reach the spleen and actively proliferate. The newly formed cell population restores the hematopoietic and immune systems, which determines the survival of lethally irradiated animals.

When calculating short circuit currents in the traction network, it is necessary to take into account the input resistance of the traction substation, including the resistance of the transformers of the substation and the resistance of the power supply system. The input resistance during short circuit is determined based on the equivalent circuit of the external power supply system, of which this traction substation is an integral part. Traditionally equivalent circuit of a three-phase system has the form of a star, in which the resulting resistances in each phase are connected in series with a source of phase electromotive force, and these sources have a common point. Another equivalent circuit in the form of a triangle is possible, in which on each side the resulting resistances are connected in series with the source of linear electromotive force. It is important to note that neither one nor the other type of equivalent circuit is determined by the connection scheme of the transformer windings of the traction substation. It is only necessary to take into account the absence of a circuit for zero sequence currents. All elements of the equivalent circuit, as is known, should be brought to uniform basic conditions. If the parameters of these elements are expressed in named units, then the basic values are the effective voltage values of the main stage and the rated power of the power transformer of the traction substation. If the components of one and the other equivalent circuits are reduced to one stage of the operating voltage, for example 27.5 kV, then for the same elements of the power supply system, the resistance values in the equivalent circuit in the form of a triangle are three times larger than in the equivalent circuit in the form of a star. In this case, the input resistances of the traction substation for the one and the other equivalent circuits are absolutely identical. Therefore, in the calculation of short circuit currents of the traction network, you can use any of these equivalent circuits of the power supply system and traction substation. Formulas for calculating the resistances of the elements of the power supply system and electrical installations, given in the standards, manuals and reference books, relate to the equivalent circuit of the short circuit in the form of a star. When using an equivalent circuit in the form of a triangle, these resistances must first be tripled, and then divided by three when calculating the short-circuit currents. The meaninglessness of such an operation is obvious. The equivalent circuit of the traction substation and the external power supply system in the form of a triangle when calculating short circuits in the traction network has no advantages compared to the traditional equivalent circuit in the form of a star. The information on the linear currents on the primary and secondary windings of the traction substation transformer during a short circuit in the traction network is given, which is necessary to select the settings of its relay protection kit.

Development of new drugs able to decrease the level of “bad” cholesterol, in particular, based on antisense oligonucleotide derivatives (ASOs), remains relevant for the patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and/or intolerant to statins. The goal of the work was to assess the changes in the lipid metabolism caused by variants of joint impact of the ASOs targeted to the mRNAs of its key genes: apoB, PCSK9, and apoCIII. Female C57BL/6J mice; nuclease-protected 13- and 20-nucleotide ASOs, and standard protocols for quantification of lipoproteins (HDL CHL, non-HDL CHL, and total CHL) and ALT in the blood serum were used in the work. The following combinations of ASOs were four times injected to the mouse caudal vein: 1) ASO to apoB, 2) ASO to apoCIII, 3) ASO to apoB and ASO to PCSK9, 4) ASO to apoB, ASO to PCSK9, and ASO to apoCIII, 5) ASO to apoB (three doses), ASO to PCSK9, and ASO to apoCIII (two doses), 6) ASO to PCSK9 and (ASO to apoCIII – only in the fourth administration). Triple weekly administration of these ASO combinations resulted in a decrease in non-HDL CHL by 25, 16, 35, 47, 60, and 7 %, respectively, as compared with the control and 1.8-, 1.5-, 1.9-, 2.4-, 3.1, and 1.24-fold higher HDL CHL/ non-HDL CHL ratio. The subsequent ASO injection with concurrent switching to a high-fat diet after 1 week resulted in a decrease in the non-HDL CHL by 28, 2, 28, 70, 33, and 49 % for ASOs (1–6), respectively, as compared with the control; the HDL CHL/non-HDL CHL ratio was 1.5-, 1.1-, 2-, 3.7-, 1.9-, and 2-fold better. The ALT concentration for all ASO combinations remained within the norm for the control animals, demonstrating the absence of any hepatotoxic effect. The best efficiency of ASOs requires selection of concentrations for single ASOs and their combinations as well as of the order and timing of administration. Thus, a new antisense approach is proposed.

When calculating short-circuit currents in the AC traction network, it is assumed that each of the traction substations receives power from uncoupled external power supply sources with known resistances. In some cases, especially when powering a group of traction substations from a high-voltage power line of a longitudinal power supply, the external power supply system affects not only the magnitude of short-circuit currents, but also their redistribution between adjacent traction substations of the interstation area where this circuit is considered. Such unrecorded redistribution can have a negative effect on short circuit protection. The article considers the equivalent circuit of the traction network, taking into account resistance of the external power supply system. Particular attention is paid to the fact that in replacement circuits of direct and negative sequence value of reduced resistance of one phase of a multiwinding transformer, calculated from the short circuit voltage, does not depend on the connection scheme of its windings. It is noted that in some cases it is difficult to obtain a complete scheme of an external power supply system. Considering that the short circuit in the traction network for the external power supply system is remote, it is proposed taking into account the reference network or traction substations as power sources, from which high-voltage transmission lines power the traction substations. Resistance of the supporting substations as power sources must takes into account connected equivalent power system.Such equivalenting should be carried out by known values of currents or short-circuit powers at the inputs of the reference substation or, if such information is not available, by the rated values of the switched-off currents or powers of the switches of high-voltage line connections.The following power schemes for traction substations are considered: each from its own supporting substation, which is part of an electrically uncoupled external power supply system; from the double-circuit high-voltage line of longitudinal power supply when it is powered from different supporting substations; from the supporting network substation, the traction substation receives power from two lines, and from this the traction substations receive power from two lines in a circle pattern.These three common cases cover all the most common power schemes for traction substations. For each of them formulas are given to determine the resulting equivalent resistance of the external power supply circuit, which should be taken into account in the replacement circuit of the traction network.

Aim. A comparative analysis of mertoplasty results for treatment of uterine scar leak by different approaches.Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of hospital records of 51 patients was made, which were divided into three groups depending on the surgical approach used: group 1 – laparotomy access, group 2 – laparoscopic access, group 3 – transvaginal access. All patients had hysteroscopic and ultrasound signs of uterine scar leak after cesarean section (thickness of the myometrium in the scar area less than 4 mm, discontinuity of the scar). One month after the surgery, all the patients were examined by an obstetrician-gynecologist, all had a control ultrasound to assess the condition of the uterine scar. To assess the reliability of differences between groups, differences were considered significant at p

Objective: To assess the potential of a new approach to altering the heart rate by expression inhibition of the SCN5A gene, encoding a classical sodium channel, Nav1.5, with an antisense oligonucleotide derivative in the case study of the mouse. Material and methods: C57BL/6J male mice; oligonucleotide derivative with a length of 15 nucleotides protected from nucleases by the presence of internucleotide phosphorothioate bonds and LNA (locked nucleic acids) blocks at the 5ʹ and 3ʹ ends (ASO); standard injection of ASO in physiological saline solution into the mouse caudal vein; standard technique for determination of the heart rate and blood pressure in mice with a CODA Surgical Monitor (Kent Scientific, United States); and standard quantification of apoB apolipoprotein and lipoproteins HDL-C, LDL-C, total cholesterol, TG, and ALT in the blood serum. Results: ASO decreases the heart rate in mice by 12 % over 10 days and further uniformly accelerates the heart rate to almost initial level by day 16 as well as gently decreases the mean values of systolic and diastolic pressures with their subsequent increase and gradual redistribution of “excess” pressure in the control and experimental animal groups. The level of lipid metabolism in experimental animals is decreased. Conclusions: The new approach to alter the heart rate by inhibition of the SCN5A gene expression with an antisense oligonucleotide derivative is shown to be feasible. The impact is accompanied by minor changes in the systolic and diastolic pressures and a decrease in the level of lipid metabolism. The preparation is promising in terms of the influence on the heart rate taking into account the further insight into its effect at different concentrations and possible insignificant side effects.

Various mutationally impaired genes are often found in malignant tumors of animals and humans. At the same time, a large number of carcinogens demonstrate positive activity in different in vitro tests for mutagenicity. These findings are indicative of a geno- toxic mechanism of carcinogen action. It is considered that chemically active carcinogens induce mutations (and tumors) directly interacting with DNA, while inactive substances are mutagenically activated in the processes of cellular metabolism in target tissues. The aminoazo dyes was found to be activated by N-hydroxilation and subsequent conjugation with sulfuric acid catalyzed by the enzyme sulfotransferase. Previously we found that it is activated metabolites of ortho-aminoazotoluene that are responsible for its inhibitory effect on hormonal induction of tyrosinaminotransferase activity in the liver of sensitive mice. Inhibition of sulfoconjugation of 4-aminoazobenzene, another hepatocarcinogen for mice, by pentaclorophenol was reported to reduce its both mutagenic and carcinogenic activity. In this paper, we confirmed this observation. But we found that, when used ortho-aminoazotoluene, pentaclorophenol inhibited its mutagenic activity, but significantly stimulated the hepatocarcinogenic potency. It seems that carcinogenic action is provoked by unmetabolysed ortho-aminoazotoluene per se or some of its nonsulfated derivatives. The results of our comparative study with ortho-aminoazotoluene and 3.4-benzopyrene are in contradiction with the genotoxic theory of carcinogenesis: both are similarly activated by mouse liver enzymes, but induce tumors in different tissues: the former, hepatocellular carcinomas and the latter, splenic lymphoma. The conclusion was made that the accepted notion about the mechanism of carcinogenesis has to be revised.

Previously, we reported on the development of a therapeutic regimen allowing eradication of primary murine Krebs-2 ascites transplants. This protocol involved multiple injections of dsDNA preparations administered during the NER and HR phases of repair of interstrand DNA cross-links induced by prior cyclophosphamide treatments. Mice treated under this protocol frequently developed secondary ascites, which indicated that some tumor-inducing cancer stem cells could survive the treatment and caused relapse. Further, we observed that animals receiving multiple dsDNA injections developed pronounced systemic inflammatory response. This prompted us to develop a more straightforward treatment regimen based on the synergistic activity of cyclophosphamide and dsDNA preparations, which would allow complete eradication of established primary Krebs-2 ascites and also be less toxic for the treated animals. This protocol relies on a precisely timed single injection of dsDNA during the NER/HR transition period of each repair cycle. Under this protocol, 8-day remission of Krebs-2 engrafted mice was achieved, which was similar to the results of the multiple-injection treatment schedule. We observed an increase in the average life span of Krebs-2- transplanted mice on a single-injection regimen, which was consistent with reduced toxicity of such treatment.

Cumulative evidence obtained in this series of studies has guided the logic behind the development of a novel composite dsDNA-based preparation whose therapeutic application according to the specific regimen completely cures the mice engrafted with otherwise lethal Krebs-2 ascites. The likely mechanism involves elimination of TAMRA+ tumor-inducing stem cells (TISCs) from Krebs-2 tumors. We performed quantitative analysis of TISC dynamics in Krebs-2 ascites following treatment with the cytostatic drug cyclophosphamide (CP) and untreated control cells. In intact ascites, TISC percentage oscillates around a certain value. Following CP treatment and massive apoptosis of committed cancer cell subpopulation, we observed relative increase in TISC percentage, which is consistent with reduced susceptibility of TISCs to CP. Nonetheless, this treatment apparently synchronizes TISCs in a cell cycle phase when they become sensitive to further drug treatments. We describe the regimen of synergistic DNA + CP activity against Krebs-2 ascites. This protocol results in a complete cure of 50 % of Krebs-2 engrafted mice and involves three metronomic injections of CP exactly at the timepoints when repair cycles are about to finish combined with dsDNA injections 18 hours following each CP injection. The “final shot” uses CP + DNA treatment, which targets the surviving yet highly synchronized and therefore treatmentsensitive cells. The first three CP/DNA injections appear to arrest Krebs-2 cells in late S-G2-M phase and result in their simultaneous progression into G1-S phase. The timing of the “final shot” is crucial for the successful treatment, which eradicates tumorigenic cell subpopulation from Krebs-2 ascites. Additionally, we quantified the changes in several biochemical, cellular and morphopathological parameters in mice throughout different treatment stages.

Existence of a small subset of cancer cells referred to as tumor initiating stem cells (TISCs) largely responsible for tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapeutic cytostatic drugs reperesent an important recent paradigm shift. The present work is the first report in the series of papers from our group where we describe the development of anticancer therapy based on the selective targeting of TISCs. Here were characterize a cytoreductive activity of cyclophosphamide (CP), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and combinations thereof against the TISC population present in mouse Krebs-2 ascites. We evaluated engraftment potential of Krebs-2 cancer cells treated in ascites-bearing mice in vivo, followed by re-engraftment to congenic recipient mice in a form of a solid graft. These data indicate that with our approach TISCs can be completely eliminated even from a well-established ascites. We demonstrate that dsDNA-internalizing and CD34-positive cells are more sensitive to the synergistic effects of CP and dsDNA. When Krebs-2 ascites are treated with human DNA 1-12 hours post CP injection, this results in either elimination of cells that internalize TAMRA-labeled DNA (TISCs) or alters their phenotype, which is accompanied with the loss of surface expression of CD34. Next, we show that the timepoint 18 hrs post CP treatment is critical to the ongoing repair process in that it divides the repair into two phases: nucleotide excision repair + dsDNA break repair and homologous recombination. Importantly, both of these phases can be conveniently used for targeting the tumorigenic potential of the graft. In the context of monotherapy, CP is most effective against ascites grafts when administered as serial injections. To achieve maximum efficiency, the timing of consecutive injections must match the time when cancer cells found at G2/M during the first injection enter G1/S and/or the time of active repair via homologous recombination.

In the present paper, we report on the series of experiments where multiple regimens of CP and dsDNA injections were tested for targeting the ascites form of murine Krebs-2 cancer in situ. We show that combining CP with cross-linked human and salmon dsDNA results in a synergistic toxicity for ascites-bearing mice, an observation supported by the histopathology analysis of organs and tissues of experimental animals. In contrast, using a composite mixture of native and cross-linked human and salmon DNA after CP injections leads to a significant increase in average lifespan of the treated mice. Further, we demonstrate that repeated rounds of CP+dsDNA injections result in dramatic anticancer effect. The timing of injections is chosen so that they target the cells that were insensitive to the previous treatments as they were in the G2/M phase. 3-4 rounds of injections are needed to eliminate the subpopulation of tumor-initiating cancer stem cells. Our experiments identified the regimen when complete resorption of the primary Krebs-2 ascites occurs in all of the treated animals, followed by a remarkable remission period lasting 7-9 days. Yet, this regimen does not prevent secondary site metastases (either solid or ascites form) from developing, which is likely caused by the migration of ascites cells into adjacent tissues or by incomplete eradication of cancer stem cells. To address these and other questions, we expanded the study and performed histopathology analysis, which indicated that secondary metastases is not the only cause of death. In fact, many animals displayed unfolding systemic inflammatory reaction which was culminated by multiple organ failure. Thus, we developed the concept for treating ascites form of Krebs-2 cancer, which allows elimination of the primary ascites.

Motivation and Aim: Demonstration of the possibility of lipid metabolism regulation by joint action of several antisense oligonucleotide derivatives (ASOs) targeted to mRNAs of closely associated proteins involved in lipid metabolism. Material and Methods: Female mice of the C57BL/6J strain; 13- and 20-mer oligonucleotide derivatives (ASOs) protected from nucleases by the presence of inter-nucleotide thiophosphate bonds and locked nucleic acid (LNA) fragments at their 5’- and 3’- ends; conventional methods of assaying blood serum ALT, total cholesterol, TG, apolipoprotein apoB and lipoproteins: LDL-C, HDL-C. Results: Solutions of ASOs in isotonic solution were prepared in combinations: (1) anti-apoB; (2) anti-apoB + anti-PCSK9; (3) anti-apoB + anti-PCSK9 + anti-apoCIII. Four injections to the tail veins of C57BL/6J mice were done. After three injections of combination (3), done at weekly intervals, the LDL-C level decreased by 25 % with reference to the control, and the HDL-C/LDL-C ratio improved by 42 %. After subsequent injection of the ASOs accompanied by change to high-fat diet, mice exposed to combinations (2) and (3) showed lower LDL-C levels, by factors of 1.5 and 3.5 with reference to the control, and their HDL-C/LDL-C ratios were better two- and fivefold, respectively. In cases of combinations (2) and (3), a significant decrease in TG concentration was recorded, twofold in case of (3). These effects were observed at threefold fat content in the diet. The ALT level decreased significantly with transition from combination (1) to (3), i. e., when the liver experienced heavier load of oligonucleotide matter, which indicates to the absence of hepatotoxicity. Conclusions: The possibility of efficient regulatory joint action of several ASOs targeted to mRNAs of associated proteins is demonstrated by the example of lipid metabolism.

Aminoazo dyes and other hepatocarcinogenic substances inhibit glucocorticoid-mediated induction of adaptive enzymes, including tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT), in mouse and rat liver. There is a specific relationship between the effect of a carcinogen on TAT induction and its liver carcinogenicity in animals. Presuming tumor development being initiated not directly by the chemicals employed but their metabolically activated derivatives, the question arises whether TAT induction is inhibited by carcinogen metabolites or by their parent compounds. The goal of this paper is to shed some light on the issue. Mouse strains differing in the sensitivity to both carcinogenic and antiglucocorticoid (TAT induction inhibitory) effects of the mouse-specific carcinogen ortho- aminoazotoluene (OAT) underwent a set of experimental procedures: ablation of gonadal and adrenal glands, administration of inhibitors (CoCl2, pentachlorophenol), inducers (3,4- benzopyrene, Aroclor 1254, 20-methylcholanthrene) of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme activities, and others. The results unequivocally confirm that glucocorticoid induction of TAT activity in mouse liver is inhibited by activated metabolite(s) of OAT rather than by its intact molecules. In contrast, nonspecific genotoxic agents such as cyclophosphamide and cisplatin exert no effect on TAT induction by glucocorticoids. The wide occurrence (practically in each TAT-expressing hepatocyte) and rapidly reversible inhibition of enzyme induction by the carcinogen point to the epigenetic nature of this phenomenon.

Injections ofexogenous DNAin combination witha cytostatic agent cyclophosphamide (CP) cause illness anddeathofexperimental mice. This phenomenon is referredto this as delayeddeath. It has been foundthat upon intraperitoneal injections fragments ofexogenous DNAreachthe bone marrowniche andenter the nuclei ofbone marrowcells (BMCs). Also, fragments ofexogenous DNAare capturedfrom culture medium byBMCs generatedex vivo. Upon suchtreatment, the fragments are incorporatedinto cells in a non-degradedform. We estimate that under suchconditions upto 1800 kb ofexogenous DNAcan be present in BMCs as fragments. After ex vivo incubation withBMCs, fragments ofexogenous DNAinternalizedin cells ofbothintact andCP pre-treatedmice become circularized. It has been shown that fragments ofexogenous DNAcan form high-molecular weight structures in vivo. Moreover, fragments localizedin BMCnuclei are suggestedto integrate into chromosome(s) ofrecipient mouse genomes when treatedwithCP andexogenous DNA.

Mice were observed to get sick and die upon administration of exogenous DNA in a specific period of time following their pretreatment with the cytostatic cyclophosphamide (CP) (Dolgova et al., 2011). It was established that exogenous DNA reaches internal compartments of bone marrow cells (BMCs) where it is processed (Dolgova et al., 2012a). Thus, BMCs appear to be the primary targets for the synergic action of these preparations (Dolgova et al., 2012b).In the present study, we show that the copy number for mouse interspersed genomic repeats decreases in the genome of mouse mononuclear cells as a result of interstrand cross-link (ICL) repair after pre-treatment with cytostatic CP. This phenomenon occurs within the time span from 18 to 24 h following CP injection, which corresponds to the final step in the repair of the majority of double-strand breaks (DSBs), as predominant intermediates in ICL repair. Injections of exogenous DNA in CP-pretreated mice preserve the copy number of interspersed repeats at the original level. Our results suggest that the fragments of exogenous DNA participate in ICL-induced DSB repair, thereby compromising the repair process.

The synergic action of the cytostatic drug cyclophosphamide (CP) and fragmented exogenous DNA causes illness and death in mice (Dolgova et al., 2011–2013). The observed «delayed death» effect was most clearly pronounced when the DNA preparation was administered 18 to 30 hours after CP treatment. This time span is designated as «death window».It was found that injections of exogenous DNA result in sustained increase in bone marrow cell (BMC) apoptosis, which occurs throughout the time of DNA administration (18–30 hours). Exogenous DNA, both allogeneic and belonging to various taxa induces BMCs apoptosis. Plasmid DNA has the greatest effect on apoptosis induction.The analysis of reduction and restoration of BMC subpopulations as the mice progressed to death revealed a virtually complete loss of the 12–20-mkm fraction of the cell population (about 3–4 % vs. 35–40 % in the control), which corresponds to the maximum leukopenia on day 3 after CP treatment. However, the relative amount of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from day 15 and till the end of the observation constituted 1,2–1,4 %, which corresponds to the wild-type range. Comparison of BMC smears from the sternal bone marrow of the CP and CP+DNA groups of mice indicates that the BMC populations isolated from CP+DNA animals lack young committed lymphopoiesis progenitor cells. Moreover, the affected mice had immature blast cell types in their blood, which was never observed in healthy or CP-treated mice. Pathological and morphological analyses show that starting from posttreatment day 9, mice that received CP+DNA preparations displayed pronounced morphological changes in their lungs, liver, pancreas, central and peripheral immune system organs, and brain. Most of the pathological changes observed are consistent with severe inflammatory response. This suggestion is proven by structural equivalents of functional involution of lymphoid organs, such as thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes.We speculate that the death of treated animals resulted from multiple organ dysfunctions caused by accidental involution of lymphoid organs and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome, both associated with injections of fragmented exogenous DNA into experimental animals within the «death window», which corresponds to the final step in the repair of the majority of CP-induced double-strand breaks.

Community-acquired pneumonia is a polyetiological infectious disease of bacterial or viral nature. In most cases, it is caused by pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Legionella spp. However, despite that a wide range of modern diagnostic methods have been introduced into laboratory practice, the etiology of the disease can be determined only in 40–60% of cases. Here, we analyzed the causative agents of community-acquired pneumonia and relevant markers samples of clinical material collected from patients undergoing treatment in the medical facilities of the city of Saratov and the Saratov Region during the period from July to August, 2020, coupled to increase number of cases of new coronavirus infection COVID-19. Clinical material (oropharyngeal swabs, saliva, sputum, blood and blood serum) was obtained from 129 patients and investigated by using microbiological, immunoserological and molecular genetic methods. For this, there were used transport and nutrient media, diagnostic drugs, reagents, discs with antibacterial domestic and foreign drugs registered in the Russian Federation. As a result, 82 (63.6%) patients were found to have markers of the pathogen COVID-19 (viral RNA or specific antibodies of IgM and/or IgG classes), whereas 42% of cases had overlapped RT-PCR and ELISA data. There was a predominance of severe clinical forms of the disease in the group of patients with pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus (17.1%), compared with pneumonia of another etiology (12.8%). No marked differences in specific pattern of the accompanying microflora and its sensitivity to antibacterial agents were observed in persons with/without markers of COVID-19. While being examined by bacteriological methods, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, S. pneumoniae, M. pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp., both in monoculture and in associations, were isolated from samples of clinical material collected from the majority of patients. In 49.6% of cases, pathogenic microflora, including pathogens causing community-acquired pneumonia, has not been identified, which may be due to the use of antibacterial drugs before the collection of clinical material and treatment applied due to comorbid chronic diseases.

The pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is accompanied by extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, oxidative stress, and inflammation progression, as well as hyperactivation of amine oxidases (AOs), which contribute to disease manifestation. The present study aims to elucidate the effect of semicarbazide (SC), an inhibitor of Cu-containing AOs: lysyl oxidase (LOX), semicarbazide sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO), diamine oxidase (DAO), on PF induced in rats by bleomycin (BLM). Eighteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control, rats of BLM group received BLM (5 mg/kg, intratracheally once), BLM+SC group obtained 0.005% solution of SC (about 50 µg per capita per day) for three weeks starting immediately after BLM injection, and the Control+SC group drank the same solution as BLM+SC group. The content of cross-linked collagen in total bronchi and free radicals in lung, activities of LOX, SSAO, DAO, polyamine oxidase (PAO), Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in lung and blood were measured. BLM injection induced PF that was confirmed histologically and morphometrically as well as by the elevation of the content of cross-linked collagen and free radicals. The activities of LOX and SSAO involved in post-translational modification of ECM and inflammation were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The activities of DAO, and PAO that control polyamine metabolism were also essentially raised. Among antioxidant enzymes, only GPx was activated in the BLM group as compared to control. These changes were absent in the BLM+SC group. SC intake promoted the fact that the histology and morphometric parameters of lung tissue, the content of cross-linked collagen in the bronchi and free radicals in the lung, as well as the activity of the studied enzymes remained at the control level. Our data suggest that SC suppresses the development of BLM-induced PF by inhibiting AOs activities.

On 16 Chinchilla rabbits males of breed with type 2 alloxan diabetes P-glycoprotein functional activity and expression was studied. The diabetes mellitus was modelled by intravenous administration of alloxan monohydrate in the citrate buffer. P-glycoprotein functional activity was assessed by pharmacokinetics of its probe substrate - fexofenadine after its single oral administration. P-glycoprotein expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry method. The inhibition of P-glycoprotein functional activity and expression was followed by decrease of postprandial insulin level and an insulinogenic index and increase of postprandial glucose level in a blood.