Suicidal Behaviors Among Ukrainian College Students: the Role of Substance Use,Religion, and Depression

Early adulthood is a critical life period associated with increased suicide risk. The present study used a sample of students from ten Ukrainian public universities (N = 1005). Participants were 17 to 24 years of age (M = 19.19, SD = 1.99). The prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation was 26.13% and 5.45% of participants reported a lifetime suicide attempt. Participants were more likely to report higher lifetime suicidal ideation if they had higher rates of alcohol and marijuana use, have met a clinical cutoff point for depression and were older, females, and not affiliated with any religion. The lifetime suicide attempt was associated with clinical levels of depression, increased marijuana use, and non-religious affiliation. These results suggest that mental health, alcohol and cannabis use can increase the risk of suicidality while religious affiliation might be an important protective mechanism for Ukrainian young adults at risk for suicidal behaviors.

     

The effect of insulin and glucagon on splanchnic oxygen consumption

The purpose of these experiments was to measure the influence of insulin and glucagon on the splanchnic oxygen consumption. Two experiments were performed. METHODS: In one experiment, the influence of hyperinsulinaemia was investigated in six healthy subjects, who were studied during a euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp. In another experiment, the influence of glucagon was investigated in seven healthy subjects, who were studied twice during a pancreatic islet clamp with either supplementation of insulin and glucagon, or of insulin alone. In both situations the measurements were performed during euglycaemia. Splanchnic oxygen consumption and net substrate balances were studied by the arterio-hepatic venous catheterisation technique and measurement of splanchnic blood flow in all experiments. RESULTS: During the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp, the splanchnic blood flow increased significantly and the splanchnic oxygen consumption decreased by about 20%, while the net splanchnic glucose output reversed to a net uptake. In the pancreatic islet clamp experiments there was a significant difference between the net splanchnic glucose outputs whether glucagon and insulin or only insulin was supplemented. In spite of this, the splanchnic oxygen consumption decreased by about 20% in both situations, i.e. independent of glucagon supplementation. In both experiments there was a pronounced inhibition of lipolysis, which led to decreased fatty acids availability to the liver. This resulted in a concomitant decrease in hepatic ketone body formation. This decrease could account for about 30% of the decrease in splanchnic oxygen consumption. CONCLUSION: The reduction in splanchnic oxygen consumption can be explained by decreased ketogenesis, decreased protein synthesis and changes in splanchnic fuel selection, while changes in the rate of gluconeogenesis does not seem to play a significant role.     

Fatty acid composition of ovule in kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum Komensky, 1901)

Fatty acid composition of ovules (ovulated oocytes) from kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) was investigated to assess their relationship to gonad biological characteristics, larval size, fertilization, and hatching success. Forty-eight kutum were captured in the wild during the spawning season. Results revealed an inverse relationship between linoleic acid (18:2n-6) and ovule weight (P?<?0.05). Arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) contents showed a direct correlation with the number of ovules per gram (P?<?0.05); the latter had an inverse relationship with the ratio of surface to volume (P?<?0.01). There was a direct and significant correlation between docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) and ovule weight (P?<?0.05). High unsaturated fatty acid levels indicated a direct relationship with egg and yolk diameters and also an inverse correlation with ovule surface to volume ratio (P?<?0.l05). Direct relationships were found between polyunsaturated fatty acids and the diameter of egg and yolk as well as the ratio of surface to volume (P?<?0.05). There was a direct correlation between saturated fatty acid content and the number of eggs (per gram) (P?<?0.01). Total lipid and weight of newly hatched larvae represented a direct relationship (P?<?0.05). Despite living in brackish water and migrating to fresh water during the reproductive season, kutum exhibited greater similarity in ovule fatty acid composition to saltwater fish than species in fresh water. Moreover, with respect to biological characteristics, this species shows more significant relationships with n-3 fatty acids than with n-6 fatty acids.     

Saucerization: A Modified Uncapitonnage Method of Surgery for Pulmonary Hydatidosis

Background

There are contrary opinions regarding the surgical treatment of pulmonary hydatid cysts. We report our experience performing a modified version of uncapitonnage surgery, called “saucerization,” for treating pulmonary hydatid cysts.

Methods

A total of 78 patients with pulmonary hydatid cysts were studied regarding their surgery outcome and the complication rate. The procedure used for cyst evacuation depended on whether the cyst had ruptured. If ruptured, cystotomy was done; otherwise, enucleation was preferred. To deal with the residual cavity in an uncapitonnage manner, we removed the thin margins of the pericyst and closed the bronchial openings at the cavity floor. All patients were followed up at least for 6 months.

Results

The intensive care unit stay ranged from 1 to 9 days. Incomplete lung expansion (six patients) was the main postoperative complication followed by wound infection (four patients) and persistent air leak (≥7 days) (one patient). There was one death. Dependence on mechanical ventilation and subsequent septic shock were also observed. The other patients exhibited no complications during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

Our experience demonstrated a low complication rate associated with removing the thin margins of the residual cavity and changing the shape of it into a “saucer.” The results were satisfactory and comparable to the results of other studies on pulmonary hydatid cysts.     

Usnic acid and its derivatives for pharmaceutical use: a patent review (2000–2017)

Introduction: Usnic acid (UA) is a lichen-derived secondary metabolite with a unique dibenzofuran skeleton and is commonly found in lichenized fungi of the genera Usnea and Cladonia. Usnic acid has been incorporated for years in cosmetics, perfumery, and traditional medicines. It has a wide range of bioactivities, including antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory properties.

Areas covered: This review covers patents on therapeutic activities of UA and its synthetic derivatives published during the period 2000–2017.

Expert opinion: UA demonstrates excellent anticancer and antimicrobial properties. However, its application was withdrawn due to acute liver toxicity reported with chronic consumption. The broad spectrum of its biological activity indicates high the variability of UA’s binding preferences. The main idea to be addressed in the future should include the synthesis of UA derivatives because these might possess increased bioactivity, bioavailability and decreased toxicity. It is noteworthy that UA derivatives possessed better antibacterial, antitubercular, and anticancer activity than the parent compound . Most importantly, UA and its analogs (to a greater extent than UA) can be useful in cancer drug treatment. They have the potential for joint application with other anticancer drugs in order to overcome drug resistance.     

Highly potent analgesic activity of monoterpene-derived (2S,4aR,8R,8aR)-2-aryl-4,7-dimethyl-3,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-chromene-4,8-diols

New chiral heterocyclic compounds with a hexahydro-2H-chromene framework were synthesized by reactions of (1R,2R,6S)-3-methyl-6-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of montmorillonite clay. The analgesic activity of the compounds was studied in vivo. The majority of these compounds showed significant analgesic activity in the acetic acid-induced writhing test; the compounds containing one hydroxy and one methoxy substituents also showed analgesic activity in the hot-plate test. (2S,4aR,8R,8aR)-2-(3-Hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-4,7-dimethyl-3,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro-2H-chromene-4,8-diol was as effective as the diclofenac sodium reference taken in the same dose in both tests. It has low acute toxicity and is very promising for further development.     

The effects of low-level laser irradiation on cellular viability and proliferation of human skin fibroblasts cultured in high glucose mediums

Delayed wound healing is one of the most challenging complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) in clinical medicine. This study has aimed to evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) cultured in a high glucose concentration. HSFs were cultured either in a concentration of physiologic glucose (5.5 mM/l) or high glucose media (11.1 and15?mM/l) for either 1 or 2 weeks after which they were subsequently cultured in either the physiologic glucose or high concentration glucose media during laser irradiation. LLLT was carried out with a helium–neon (He–Ne) laser unit at energy densities of 0.5, 1, and 2 J/cm², and power density of 0.66 mW/cm² on 3 consecutive days. HSFs’ viability and proliferation rate were evaluated with the dimethylthiazol-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The LLLT at densities of 0.5 and 1 J/cm² had stimulatory effects on the viability and proliferation rate of HSFs cultured in physiologic glucose (5.5 mM/l) medium compared to their control cultures (p?=?0.002 and p?=?0.046, respectively). All three doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 J/cm² had stimulatory effects on the proliferation rate of HSFs cultured in high glucose concentrations when compared to their control cultures (p?=?0.042, p?=?0.000, and p?=?0.000, respectively). This study showed that HSFs originally cultured for 2 weeks in high glucose concentration followed by culture in physiologic glucose during laser irradiation showed enhanced cell viability and proliferation. Thus, LLLT had a stimulatory effect on these HSFs.